8-21-02 COUNCIL MEETING (Click here for packet info)

(This is a reprint of a front page "quickie" recap from the 8-21-02 council meeting

Hearings were held on Ord. 787, 792 and 793 (for PUDs).

Klara Fabry from WSDOT ironically came to give update on 522 progress, but she, and thousands of others (including PC Member hopeful Jeff Kirkman), were stuck in a major traffic jam due to a lethal accident. (read the Herald story on this) Ms. Fabry said there was no state funding for a Rt. 2 corridor EIS (Big surprise!), and if funding was available it would cost approx. $8 million. It would take about two years, assuming it was a "corridor" EIS rather than a "project" EIS (do not know the difference between the two, but apparently a project EIS is more extensive). 522 improvements to fales Road has been funded, with expectations to begin construction possibly next year. (We will be transcribing her comments.) NOTE! Mark your calendars! A hearing/open house will be held Tuesday, September 5th (time & place yet uncertain) for public review and comment on semi-controversial changes to Rt. 2 due to 5th Street improvements. It was urged that everyone come and give their input. I made a request (during closing public comments) that the city get out early and specific information on proposed revisions so folks could get an idea of what is being proposed, also that it be a "real" hearing where everyone can hear what all others say, rather than an open house with no simultaneous and general communication.

Cynthia Tuohy from VOA spoke to enlist council support to write ordinance to consider exempting "non-profits" from having to pay traffic impact fees. (VOA is perhaps the best and most worthy example of such an exemption, doing wonderful work in the community, but we urge caution when writing such an ordinance, considering other types of non-profits operating as not-so-non-profit.)

PUBLIC COMMENTS: Carolyn Case of the PD spoke eloquently about the current condition of the PD (we will do a transcription of this, too.) John Dick expressed displeasure at the continuing status of the police department situation. Mayor Rowe commented on this, and we plan on doing a transcription of that segment, too.

INTERVIEWS FOR PLNG. COMM. CANDIDATES:

Ron Hammond pulled his name for consideration, Jeff Kirkman was held up in traffic, and Trenda Wolter was a no-show, also possibly stuck in traffic. Janie Botting was interviewed, with Jeff Kirkman's interview held later in the meeting after extricating himself from the 522 mess. The mayor nominated Janie Botting over Jeff Kirkman because he said "I like to keep a gender balance" on the planning commission, then apologized to Jeff because it wasn't Jeff's fault he was "born the wrong sex." Champeaux, Boucher and Raney abstained from voting and McPherson and Everett voted against confirmation. (Councilmember Everett's commment was that consideration and appointment should be based on experience; also, it was illegal to take actions based on gender. After further discussion, and a decision to "hold" the process open until Ms. Wolter's situation could be determined, it was decided to table until next meeting.)

ACTION ITEMS: Ord. 792, Parking, tabled; Ord. 790, appeal process, passed unanimously 2nd reading; Ord. 789, Retainage Bonds, passed unanimously 2nd reading; Ord. 793 PUDs, 1st reading, all ayes with Everett abstaining; Ord. 787 Conditional use, passed unanimously, 2nd reading; Rosewood Preliminary Plat approval, all ayes with Everett abstaining (due to lack of time made available to review info); North Park bond release, passed unanimously; Minutes from 7/17/02 council meeting, passed unanimously (after clarification); Boucher dedication of land for park, all ayes to table, with Boucher Abstaining (Dusty had asked the lawyer if he should recuse himself from voting).

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

• PD Staffing - two candidates have been selected, pending results of extensive background and testing requirements.
• Discussion primarily between Dusty Boucher and Jeff Everett re whether the Minutes of June 19th meeting should include a written word-for-word transcription of Ed Boucher's 45-minute plea to council to deny the Willow Run appeal fo his short plat, which he made during closing public comments at that meeting, Dusty argued it would set a bad precedent, open up Pandora's box and cost the city a great deal of money to do a transcription. Jeff's position was that he felt statutory ethics were violated and he wanted it in the minutes so it could be recorded in the event of any future audits. (During closing comments, I offered the city my transcription of that 45-minute exchange which has been on this website for weeks, and suggested the city should take it, and both the city and our recording of the exchange, and have someone else -- ideally an objective party -- review and certifiy it for correctness. This subject will be reviewed at the next coucil meeting. Mr. Ed "Chico" Boucher responded to my offer of the transcription by saying he agrees with Dusty on the transcribing, and then made the following comment: "There's a lot of, there's a lot of times that how something is transcribed doesn't necessarily represent exactly how it was. And if you guys do get a, decide to get a transcriber, I, I hope it's a qualified one. The other thing -- I mean, not just taking it off some internet, you know, 'cause, you know, like the, like some papers they don't always have all the truth." Mr. Boucher also expressed surprise on the vote of the PC candidate: "On one side -- and this is just a comment -- on one side we have a lady and her husband that's, you know, lived her for 40 years and done nothing but good for this whole community. And unfortunately, I'm a little biased, but on the other side we've got somebody talking about 5,000-foot lots that in reality was not even happy with 15,000, 20,000 foot lots that went out of his way to cost people a lot of money. And I just think there's, it should be a simple choice." Mr. Boucher also made a comment criticial of Councilmember McPherson (we assume it was related to the change of form of government): "Perry's got something going on right now that's, you know, it's not really, uh, clear how involved how the council is in it, versus as an individual."
• Cel Chavez supported having audio and transcriptions available so taxpayers could "find out exactly what went on," and said, "It's my right to know what goes on here. And if somebody changes those minutes, then what good does it do to have them? Isn't it the public's right to know what goes on?" Kenton Coy urged that Sky Valley Weekly News be selected as the city's official paper (for the purpose of posting legal notices).

COUNCILMEMBER RANEY read into the record a letter from The Municipal Research Center (mrsc.org), regarding his, Jeff Everett's and Perry McPherson's "involvement" in the proposal to revise Sultan's form of government, to "This would collaborate and verify what City Attorney Thom Graafstra has told Mr. McPherson, Mr. Everett and myself with regards to our involvement with the PAC, ProSultan. "Mr. Raney, you called and asked if your involvement in a PAC that is pursuing a reorganization to council-manager form of government will cause Appearance of Fairness or other legal problems becasue you are also a council member. As we discussed, you are allowed to be involved in this political activity while remaining on the council. RCW 42.17.130 prohibits the use of city funds or facilities to support or oppose a ballot measure, but your own personal expenditures and work for this political goal are in no way illegal. You should be able to vote on any related issues that come before the city council, such as passage of any related resolution, which is part of the procedure for [unintelligible] the issue placed on the ballot. You can send out information regarding the issue from your home to other individuals, including councilmembers, so long as city funds or facilities are not used. You should not get involved in discussions with other council members concerning the issue, either by phone, online or in person, if the discussion involves a majority of the council. We encourage you to review any related concerns you have with the city attorney. You can contact mrsc for further advice. Jim Dougherty [spelling uncertain], Legal Consultant, Municipal Research and Services Center." (Read 8-22 Seattle Times' article: Redmond may eliminate mayor-council form, too.)

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