(1) The agency maintains an impartial role in all proceedings pending before it.

(2) The commission consists of three citizen members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate under RCW 41.58.010. Commission members serve on a part-time basis only. All commission members represent the interests of the public. The commission reserves to itself a policy-making and appellate function.

(3) The executive director appointed by the commission under RCW 41.58.015(2) is the full-time agency head with authority to act in administrative and personnel matters. Authority is also delegated to the executive director to make substantive decisions in certain types of cases.

(4) The agency's staff is appointed under RCW 41.58.015(3). Individual members of the agency's staff are assigned to conduct any or all of the types of dispute resolution services provided by the agency.