All state agencies and local governments having members on the council are deemed to be parties to any adjudicative proceeding before the council. For purposes of any adjudicative proceeding, however, the agency or local government representative on the council shall be deemed to be a member of the council and not a member of the agency or local government. Members of the council shall not communicate with employees of the represented agency or local government, who have participated in the proceeding or who are otherwise disqualified by RCW 34.05.455.