The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2016-01-13 Special Minutes - Council Candidate Interviews for Position #3 (Continuation from 1/11/16 Special Meeting)Tukwila City Council Special Meeting City Hall Council Chambers January 13, 2016 — 5:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING Mayor Ekberg called the Special Tukwila City Council Meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL Melissa Hart, Deputy City Clerk, called the roll of the Council. Present were Councilmembers Joe Duffie, Dennis Robertson, Verna Seal, Kathy Hougardy, De'Sean Quinn and Kate Kruller. CITY OFFICIALS Allan Ekberg, Mayor; David Cline, City Administrator-, Rachel Turpin, City Attorney; Gail Labanara, Public Works Analyst; Joyce Trantina, Project Development Manager; Laurel Humphrey, Council Analyst; Melissa Hart, Deputy City Clerk. Mayor Ekberg explained that upon completion of the candidate interviews, the Council can then convene into an Executive Session. The interviews commenced on January 11, 2016 and will conclude this evening. The Council candidate interviews is a Council process, and as was the case on January 11, 2016, Mayor Ekberg turned over chairmanship of the meeting to Council President Duffie. Laurel Humphrey, Council Analyst, recapped the information that was shared on Monday, January 11, 2016. City Council Position No. 3 became vacant on January 1, 2016, and state law designates that the remaining Councilmembers will appoint a qualified individual, and the Tukwila Municipal Code (TMC) states that the Council will conduct an application and interview process. Following the process per the TMC, the Council reviewed the draft application form and proposed process and interview questions at the November 23, 2015 Committee of the Whole Meeting. Ms. Humphrey explained the City published a Notification of Council Position Vacancy on November 30, 2015. The application period was open until 5:00 p.m. on December 28, 2015. The application materials for the eligible candidates who were invited to interview for the position are available for review in this week's agenda packet. Five candidates were interviewed on January 11, 2016, and the remaining three candidates will be interviewed this evening. I► _ 4" Council candidate interviews for Position #3. The applicants were escorted into the Council Chambers and interviewed in the following order. a. Thomas McLeod b. Jonathan Joseph c. Laura Garris Each applicant was asked the 7 questions listed below. 1. Provide a brief introduction and overview of your qualifications, i.e. skills and experiences, for the position of Tukwila City Councilmember. Include your involvement within the community and service on local committees, boards or commissions in Tukwila or other communities. 2. Please describe your vision of the Tukwila community for the next decade. Include comments on quality of life, economic vitality, and community safety. 1 Describe what your top City Council policy priorities would be if you are appointed. Tukwila City Council Special Meeting Minutes January 13, 2016 Page 2 of 4 4. Tukwila is a unique community. Regionally, the City is seen as a small town with big -city issues. Recently the City has experienced considerable development. How do you think the City can best respond to and serve our residential community while addressing the needs of a growing business community? 5. Describe your decision - making style, and provide examples of successful collaboration within a team. 6. As a Councilmember, at times you will be faced with some very difficult decisions where some people may clearly benefit from your decision and others may not. How will you address situations such as this? 7. This Council position requires a substantial time commitment as outlined in the application. Do you understand the time commitment required, and what is your availability for honoring it? Council President Duffie thanked all the applicants that applied for Position #3. EXECUTIVE SESSION — To evaluate the qualifications of the candidates for elective office (not to exceed one hour); pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(h). Start: 6:15 p.m. Mayor Ekberg announced the Executive Session will last no more than 60 minutes, and no decisions will be made during the Executive Session. Attendees: Allan Ekberg, Mayor; Rachel Turpin, City Attorney; Laurel Humphrey, Council Analyst; Tukwila City Councilmembers Joe Duffie, Dennis Robertson, Verna Seal, Kathy Hougardy, De'Sean Quinn, Kate Kruller. End. 7:08 p.m. 7:15 p.m. Mayor Ekberg reconvened the Special Meeting. NEW BUSINESS Discussion and motion to appoint a new Councilmember to Position #3 on the Tukwila City Council. Laurel Humphrey, Council Analyst, explained that Mayor Ekberg will facilitate the nomination and voting period as a neutral party. After the Council has the opportunity to provide general remarks about the process and candidates, Mayor Ekberg will ask for nominations from the Council. Councilmembers can nominate a candidate from the interview pool, or if the Councilmember's preferred candidate has already been nominated, the Councilmember may pass. Councilmembers may also nominate another candidate to advance to the voting. The nominations require a motion. However, the nominations do not require a second. Once all the Councilmembers have nominated candidates for consideration, a motion and second will be needed to close the nomination pool. Once the Council is ready to vote, Mayor Ekberg will ask the Deputy City Clerk for a roll call vote. The Councilmembers will be called in the order of seniority, and upon their name being called, the Councilmember will state the name of their candidate choice. If a nominee receives four or more votes in the first round, he or she will be appointed to Council Position #3. If at the end of the first round of voting, a candidate does not have four votes, the second round of voting will commence. The voting process will repeat until one candidate receives four votes. Mayor Ekberg invited the Councilmembers to make opening remarks. The Councilmembers exchanged comments and offered the following remarks relating to the applicants for City Council Position #3 to include: There was an impressive amount of community commitment and skill sets presented by the applicants; The amount of experience, community involvement and commitment to the City by the applicants is noteworthy; The applicants provided their history in the City, and brought forward examples of the current affairs of the City; and There was a great deal of proactive attitudes within the applicant pool. Tukwila City Council Special Meeting Minutes January 13, 2016 Page 3 of 4 The Councilmembers also thanked all of the applicants for showing interest in Council Position #3 and encouraged them to run for open Council positions in the future. Mayor Ekberg asked for appointment nominations from the applicants who have been interviewed. COUNCIL PRESIDENT DUFFIE NOMINATED JONATHAN JOSEPH FOR CITY COUNCIL POSITION #3. COUNCILMEMBER ROBERTSON NOMINATED JUN CASTILLO FOR CITY COUNCIL POSITION #3. COUNCILMEMBER SEAL NOMINATED THOMAS MCLEOD FOR CITY COUNCIL POSITION #3. MOVED BY ROBERTSON, SECONDED BY KRULLER TO CLOSE THE NOMINATION PERIOD. MOTION CARRIED 6 -0. Mayor Ekberg opened the floor for Council discussion or comments about the nominees. Council President Duffie spoke in favor of the motion to nominate Mr. Joseph. He was impressed with Mr. Joseph's resume, and Mr. Duffie feels the candidate is thinking of the future and the younger generation. Councilmember Robertson stated he would be comfortable sitting with any of the nominees. He spoke in favor of his nominee, Jun Castillo, and his experience in management and budget reductions. Information provided during the interview process was reflective of his ability to make difficult budget decisions, similar to what the City could be facing in the next few years. Councilmember Seal also feels she would be comfortable with any of the nominees, and they would bring a new perspective to the Council. Ms. Seal spoke in favor of her motion. She feels Mr. McLeod would bring passion and has excellent experience in finance. In her opinion, Mr. McLeod views issues through all angles and finds a balance. Councilmember Hougardy, Quinn and Kruller exchanged comments on all three nominees to include: The examples of the team assessment presented by Mr. Castillo were impressive; Mr. McLeod is very comfortable with financial numbers and would bring the human element to situations; Mr. Joseph would bring fresh ideas to the Council, and he spoke of an impressive vision for the City's homeless community; Mr. Castillo demonstrated his ability to listen and learn during situations; Mr. Joseph has a very impressive outlook on the future and changes for the better; and Mr. McLeod had interesting ideas about sidewalks within the City and a creative vision for the Tukwila Pond Park. The Councilmembers thanked all the applicants for expressing interest in the Council position and for their commitment to the City. Mayor Ekberg reviewed the voting process to be used by the Councilmembers. When the Deputy City Clerk states their name, they will respond stating the name of the candidate they wish to appoint. If a nominee receives four or more votes in the voting round, that person will be appointed to Position #3. Melissa Hart, Deputy City Clerk, conducted a roll call vote on those nominated First round of voting: DUFFIE JOSEPH ROBERTSON CASTILLO SEAL MCLEOD HOUGARDY MCLEOD QUINN CASTILLO KRULLER MCLEOD As no candidate received 4 votes, the second round of voting will commence. Tukwila City Council Special Meeting Minutes January 13, 2016 Second round of voting: DUFFIE JOSEPH ROBERTSON CASTILLO SEAL MCLEOD HOUGARDY MCLEOD QUINN MCLEOD KRULLER MCLEOD Page 4 of 4 Council President Duffie stated that Thomas McLeod has received four votes for Council Position #3. MOVED BY ROBERTSON, SECONDED BY SEAL TO APPOINT THOMAS MCLEOD TO POSITION #3 ON THE TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL. * Thomas McLeod thanked the Council for the nomination and he accepted the appointment to Tukwila City Council Position #3. *MOTION CARRIED 6 -0, TO APPOINT THOMAS MCLEOD TO POSITION #3 ON THE TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL. Mayor Ekberg thanked all of the applicants for applying for the open position. Mr. McLeod will be sworn in at the January 19, 2016 City Council meeting. ADJOURNMENT 7:57 p.m. MOVED BY DUFFIE, SECONDED BY ROBERTSON THAT THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL BE ADJOURNED. MOTION CARRIED 6 -0. r Melissa Hart, Deputy City Clerk APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: 2/1116 AVAILABLE ON CITY WEBSITE: 2/2/16