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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-03-09 Special Minuteslarch 9, 1983 Tukwila Elementary School ':30 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT AUDIENCE INTRODUCTION OF SPEAKERS DISCUSSION TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING M I N U T E S F O R M O F G O V E R N M E N T Mayor Van Dusen led the Pledge of Allegiance and called the Special Meeting of the Tukwila City Council to order. Meeting was called to receive citizen input on the possible change in the form of government. GEORGE D. HILL, LIONEL C. BOHRER, MABEL J. HARRIS, DORIS PHELPS, JOE DUFFIE, EDGAR D. BAUCH. Approximately 24 citizens attended the meeting. Mayor Van Dusen introduced the speakers for the evening. Mayor Bob Roegner, Auburn, Full -time Mayor. Mayor A.J. Culver, Issaquah, Part -time Mayor. Jerry Osterman, Bothell, City Manager. Dennis Hidell, Council Analyst, explained that Council is looking at two basic forms of government, Council Manager and Full -time Mayor. Each of the invited Speakers explained the form of government they are under and how it works in their City. They explained the Mayor, Council relationships and procedure used to expedite items through Council. They answered questions asked by members of the audience. COMMENT FROM Mr. Eddie Tate, 14251 58th Ave. So., recommended that the City stay AUDIENCE with the form of government we have or go to a full -time Mayor. There is greater accountability with the elected Mayor form of government. Occasionally now you are able to talk to the Mayor. Mr. Phil McGee, 14688 53rd Ave. So., said he concurs with what the previous gentleman said. He said he would prefer to have a full time Mayor and believes, through the process, you could find a Mayor that has qualifications. Mr. Al Pieper, 17083 53rd Ave. So., said the Democratic process that represents us is pretty effective because people are elected by the community however, representing the community and managing the operation of a City are two different things. In a City with a limited number of residents such as Tukwila there are very few people qualified to manage the City and those that maybe won't run for political office. When you consider there are no qualifications required to run for office the chances of getting a qualified manager as a Mayor are not very good. If we had a Council /Manager system the Manager would have to have at least some quilifications to get the job. If the Manager were no good he /she could be terminated by the elected officials. One thing, if Council hired an incompetent administrator, the Citizen's could not get rid of him. Mrs. Connie Meyer, 5545 So. 144th, said she would prefer a Mayor elected by the citizens. Mr. Dick Goe, 5112 So. 163rd Pl., clarified that under the Council/ Manager form of government the Mayor is elected by the Council from their body. Mrs. Janelle Baldwin, 5827 So. 144th, said she is not completely opposed to any of the options. On the emotional side she would prefer a full -time Mayor. The Mayor would by more responsive to the community. On the logical side, she can see the advantages to having a Council/ Manager. It is a hard decision. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING March 9, 1983 Page 2 8:30 P.M. Councilman Morgan arrived at the meeting. Letter L36V Mayor Van Dusen read a letter from George A. Cox, 14462 58th Ave So., who said he likes the principle of a full -time Mayor, elected by the people. If we are to have a City Manager, he should be hired by a seventy -five percent majority of the Council. He rates the part time Mayor as the least desirable option. Mrs. Sharon Mann said she does not live in the City, asked how a City Manager gets the job and how he is relieved of the job. Mr. Osterman explained a City Manager is appointed and serves at the pleasure of the Council and can be removed at any time by a majority vote of the Council. Mrs. Mann said, under the Part -time Mayor operation, the City Admin- istrator is making decisions for him. Mr. Cliff Sweeney, 14949 57th Ave. So., asked if the City considered the City Manager form of government, has Council given consideration to a contract? A City Manager trying to respond to seven bosses and you can have problems. Mr. Hidell assured him Council has discussed it. Mrs. Janelle Baldwin, So.144th, asked what problems arose in a specific City in their attempt to terminate the City Manager. She was told there are many possibilities but no one knew the exact circumstances. There are many checks and balances in this process. Mr. Osterman discussed the benifits of having a contract with the City Manager. It can be benefitial to both sides, it can include termination provisions, the hours of work, performance review, availability to the public and other elements. Residency is required by state law. This can be an important document. Mr. Ken Harris, 14301 Interurban Ave. So., said it seems that the track record for the Mayor of Tukwila is a popularity vote. This is a great disadvantage under our current form of government. He said he believes the City Manager form would put Tukwila on a more business type basis. Mr. Pieper noted the Part -time Mayor is elected by the people and serves 24 hours per day. Mayor Roegner explained that the biggest difference in the full time and part -time Mayors is salary and availability. The Mayor is accountable. Mr. Jerry Erskine, 5316 So. 144th, said he is happy with the form of government we have right now. If we go to another type it should by full -time Mayor. Mr. Bruce Howatt, 14714 58th Ave. So., asked how one person can work 8 hours at a job and do his best then, work for the City and do his best. A person that could do this would have to be a dedicated man. In order to get a person that is qualified to do the best job,you are going to have to have a full -time Mayor. Mr. McGee commented that the Mayor is just as responsible whether he is a Part -time Mayor or a Full -time Mayor. The public has to be the one that decides, that is what our form of government is all about. Mr. Gene Ives, 14247 56th Ave. So., said he would be infavor of a full -time Mayor. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING March 9, 1983 Page 3 Mrs. Jean Howatt, 14714 57th Ave. So., asked if Council is required to have a special election to decide on the form of government? Mr. Hidell said the basic answer is, yes. First, they have to pass a resolution to consider the Council /Manager form of government. Mrs. Mann asked if a City Manager has to live in the City? Mr. Hidell explained that the Manager is selected on a regional basis. The State Law requires that the Manager be a resident of the city. He does not need to be selected from within the City Limits. Mrs. Meyer asked when Council would discuss this again. Mr. Hidell said Monday night at 7:00 P.M. Mrs. Baldwin noted that there seemed to be concern over the availa- bility of a Mayor as opposed to a Manager. After listening to these gentlemen, it seems that they are equally available, 24 hours a day. Mr. Pieper said he would be in favor of the full -time Mayor Position if we could put some qualifications on people running for office- nation wide. Mrs. Morie Finkas, 14252 59th Ave. So., said she would like to vote for the Mayor. 9:15 P.M. There being no further comments from the audience, Mayor Van Dusen closed the Public Hearing. MO& G. ry L. Van Dusen City Clerk