HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-03-04 Special Minutes - City Council Retreat2023 Council Retreat
Meeting Minutes
March 4, 2023
8:00 a.m.
City of Tukwila Justice Center
City of Tukwila
City Council
PRESENT
City Council: Cynthia Delostrinos Johnson, Council President: Kathy Hougardy, De'Sean Quinn,
Kate Kruller, Cynthia Delostrinos Johnson, Mohamed Abdi
Staff Laurel Humphrey
Facilitator: Nancy Campbell
Council President Delostrinos Johnson called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m.
Ms. Campbell facilitated a discussion and activities focused on the theme of working effectively as a
team. The meeting's goals were:
1. Get to know one another
2. Practice braver conversations and collaboration
3. Clarify roles and expectations
4. Enhance understanding of Councilmember's working styles
5. Create agreements about working together moving forward.
The 2023 Tukwila City Council Retreat was adjourned at 3:30 p.m.
Attachment:
Facilitator Summary dated March 7, 2023
6zoo Southcenter Boulevard • Tukwila, Washington • 98188 - Tel: 206-433-1800 • www.tukwilawa.gov
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From: Nancy M. Campbell
To: Cynthia Delostrinos Johnson
Cc: Laurel Humphrey
Date: March 7, 2023
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Thank you for organizing time for the Tukwila City Council members to meet and discuss
Council processes and working agreements. I very much appreciate the opportunity to
work with such dedicated public servants.
This memo summarizes activities engaged in and agreements reached during the retreat,
and a discussion of possible next steps. Thank you again for the opportunity to facilitate
your Council retreat. It is my honor to serve the Council, and by extension the community
of Tukwila.
Attendance
Council members who attended for the full day include President Delostrinos Johnson,
Kathy Hougardy, Kate Kruller and Thomas McLeod. Council members who attended for
part of the day were De'Sean Quinn and Mohamed Abdi. Council memberTosh Sharp did
not attend. Laurel Humphrey, Legislative Analyst, also was in attendance for the full
session.
Purpose and Goals
Council members agreed to the following purpose and goals for the session.
Purpose: To commit ourselves to doing our best work together.
Goals:
1. Get to know one and other.
2. Practice braver conversations and collaboration.
3. Clarify roles and expectations.
4. Respectfully challenge and question what we do and how we do it.
5. Create agreements about how we work together moving forward.
Council members engaged in several activities to enhance their understanding of each
other, their belief about what constitutes effective leadership, and how to engage with
each other to enhance understanding of not just issues presented but how to most
effectively present issues.
Council members present agreed that they are choosing to function like a team. To do
this requires reaching agreement about how members interact with each other and staff,
as well as what structure is needed to support their goal of doing their best work together.
It was agreed that draft agreements will be taken to a work session for all members to
discuss and modify or revise as needed. Members will decide how often these agreements
need to be reviewed for compliance. Agreements may be drafted for inclusion in the
Council Rules of Procedure.
Working with Staff
Council members agreed to work with the Mayor and City Administrator to create a safe
and trusting relationship between Council and staff members. Agreements regarding
Council members interaction with staff include:
1. Council members will always first seek to collaborate with the administrative staff
and always assume the staff want a successful outcome and what is best for the
City. Council members will refrain from assigning or implying negative motives for
staff recommendations or behavior.
2. Communication with staff will be with a respectful tone that acknowledges the
expertise, experience and intent of the staff.
3. If Council members have a concern regarding something staff says in any setting,
they will address that concern to the City Administrator.
Working with other Council Members and the Body
Council members engage in many meetings, events, and activities to fulfill the duties of
their respective positions. Meeting time is limited but the work that needs to be
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accomplished is great. To make the most effective and efficient use of meeting time,
members developed the following behavior and process agreements.
1. Barring circumstances that may be outside of our control, members agreed to
review meeting materials in advance of the meeting and as much as possible,
direct questions for clarification or additional information to the City Administrator
in advance of the meeting.
2. During City Council meetings, council members will only speak when
acknowledged by the Presiding Officer.
3. Members agreed not to engage in "side bar" conversations (to include verbal and
electronic) when another Council member or staff is speaking. Council members
will refrain from showing body language that provides commentary regarding
what a speaker is saying. Examples include eye rolling, faces showing
disagreement, turning away from the speaker, etc.
4. Members agree to engaging in conversations on the dais with brief and relevant
commentary that does not duplicate another member's comments.
5. Council members must limit questions during the public comment period to those
that are needed for clarification. If a council member would like to ask a question
of a public commenter, they will have no more than two minutes for such questions.
6. After thanking someone who contributes during the public comment period, the
Presiding Officer will inform the contributor that the follow up to their question or
concern will take place in the following days after the meeting.
Next Steps
Next steps will involve taking the above agreements to a Council work session for further
refinement to ensure agreement and understanding by all members.
Additionally, members agreed that the Council President will meet with the City
Administrator to discuss the proposed agreements and other issues. Members are
seeking clarification and agreement with the Administrator regarding his role in
meetings:
• Members want clarification regarding his role during public comment when the
issue raised is not one of policy but is administrative in nature.
• Members want to discuss the Administrator's role during council meetings that will
help ensure that staff feel safe and secure when coming before council.
• Members want to discuss ways in which issues and problems can be framed as a
shared responsibility between administration and the Council.
• Finally, the President will explore if there is value in having an intergovernmental
session with the three branches of government to review and discuss the Council
agreements and any other suggestions for enhancing ways to work best together.
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