Maple Valley council members Layne Barnes and Noel Gerken have announced they will not be running for another term this year.

Both of their terms end at the end of this year.

Barnes said his reasons for not extending his 16-year service to the city included providing the council with an opportunity for an “infusion of fresh ideas.”

Gerken wrote in his letter that he wants to let a “new voice” be heard on the council.

Gerken was first appointed to the council in April 2003, then ran for the seat and won. Prior to that, he served on the Economic Development and Legacy Site committees for the city.

Barnes also serves on a host of committees, including the audit committee and several county-wide committees and councils.

Gerken and Barnes stated in their letters they both plan to stay involved in city matters.

Three other council members’s seats will be on the November ballot – Deputy Mayor Sean Kelly, Councilman Dana Parnello and Councilwoman Linda Johnson.

Those council members have not indicated yet whether they will run for re-election or not.

Barnes and Gerken’s letters are on page four of this issue.

Correction: A previous version of this article stated Barnes served on the council for 16 years. It has been updated.