HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-01-11 Special Minutes - Council Candidate Interviews for Position #3Tukwila City Council Special Meeting
City Hall Council Chambers January 11, 2016 — 5:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
SPECIAL MEETING
Mayor Ekberg called the Special Tukwila City Council Meeting to order at 5:04 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; Bob Giberson, Public
Works Director; Gail Labanara, Public Works Analyst; Joyce Trantina, Project Development Manager;
Laurel Humphrey, Council Analyst; Melissa Hart, Deputy City Clerk,
Mayor Ekberg provided an overview of the agenda. The Council candidate interviews is a Council
process, and he turned over chairmanship of the meeting to Council President Duffie.
Rachel Turpin, City Attorney, stated that in order to protect the integrity of the candidate interview
process, candidates will remain in the lobby until it is their turn. However, all candidates have been asked
to be present for these introductory remarks.
Council President Duffie asked the Council Analyst to explain the process for candidate interviews this
evening.
Laurel Humphrey, Council Analyst, stated City Council Position # 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 TMC process, the Council reviewed the draft application form, 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 that were invited to interview for the position are available for review in the agenda
packet. Five candidates will be interviewed this evening. Ms. Humphrey reviewed the process for
interview questions, and the optional Executive Session.
Rachel Turpin, City Attorney, stated her comments relate to the topic of an Executive Session. Ms.
Turpin explained the Washington State Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) requires that all City Council
meetings and discussions occur in an open meeting. RCW 42.30.110 does allow certain Council
discussion to take place in Executive Session. One of the exceptions set forth in the statute allows the
Council to meet in an Executive Session to evaluate the qualifications of a candidate for appointment to
elective office. However, the candidate interviews and final action appointing a candidate to elective
office shall occur in a meeting open to the public. The term "evaluate" is not defined within the OPMA. In
1999, the Washington State Supreme Court found (in the Miller vs. City of Tacoma case) that in the
absence of a statutory definition of "evaluate," it was acceptable to use the general dictionary definition of
the word. The Court reasoned that a City Council can meet in Executive Session to "discuss and
consider the worth, quality, and significance of the applicant's qualifications." Individual Councilmembers
can also express their opinions on such matters. Thus discussion of an applicant's qualifications is
allowed in an Executive Session, even if that discussion would generally be considered action under the
OPMA. However, final action must be made during an open meeting. Ms. Turpin said her role during an
Executive Session is to ensure there is no violation of the OPMA.
Tukwila City Council Special Meeting Minutes
January 11, 2016
Page 2 of 2
Ms. Humphrey stated the time clock will be used for the interview process and reminded the candidates
they will each have 30 minutes to complete the interview questions. When the 30 minutes is up, the
interview is considered complete.
Ms. Turpin asked the candidates in attendance this evening to exit the Council Chambers until their
interview time.
NEW BUSINESS
Council candidate interviews for Position #3.
The applicants were escorted into the Council Chambers and interviewed in the following order.
a. Charles Tyson
b. Jun Castillo
c. Khali Mohamed
d. Brian Kennedy
e. Dennis Martinez
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.
3. Describe what your top City Council policy priorities would be if you are appointed.
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 announced that the Council interview process will continue on Wednesday,
January 13, 2016, beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
ADJOURNMENT
6:32 p.m. MOVED BY KRULLER, SECONDED BY QUINN THAT THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL BE ADJOURNED. MOTION CARRIED 6 -0.
Melissa Hart, Deputy City Clerk
APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: 2/1/16
AVAILABLE ON CITY WEBSITE: 2/2/16