HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-01-10 Special MinutesSPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Jim Haggerton called the Tukwila City Council meeting to order at 5:03 p.m. and led the audience
in the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Christy O'Flaherty, Deputy City Clerk called the roll of the Council. Present were Joe Duffie, Council
President; Councilmembers Joan Hernandez, Pam Linder, Dennis Robertson, Verna Griffin, Kathy
Hougardy.
OFFICIALS
Jim Haggerton, Mayor; Rhonda Berry, City Administrator; Shelley Kerslake, City Attorney; Jack Pace,
Department of Community Development Director; Kevin Fuhrer, Finance Director; Bruce Fletcher, Parks
and Recreation Director; Nick Olivas, Fire Chief; Derek Speck, Economic Development Administrator;
Peter Beckwith, Assistant City Attorney; Kimberly Matej, Council Analyst; Christy O'Flaherty, Deputy City
Clerk.
NEW BUSINESS
a. Council Candidate Interviews
Shelley Kerslake, City Attorney, outlined and facilitated the interview process. The applicants were
escorted into the Council Chambers and interviewed in the following order. Each applicant was asked
the 7 questions listed below.
Name:
Allan Ekberg
Dian E. Ferguson
Brian Kennedy
Thomas W. McLeod
Lynn Peterson
De'Sean Quinn
TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL
January 10, 2008 5:00 p.m.
Council Chambers City Hall
Question and Answer Period:
5:08 p.m. -5:22 p.m.
5:24 p.m. -5:36 p.m.
5:36 p.m. -5:48 p.m.
5:49 p.m. -6:05 p.m.
6:06 p.m. -6:27 p.m.
6:28 p.m. -6:40 p.m.
1. Provide a brief introduction and overview of your qualifications 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. At a minimum, include
comments on quality of life, economic vitality, and community safety.
3. If you were appointed, describe what your top City Council policy priorities would be.
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 feel about this
development activity? 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. Do you believe the City's effort to revitalize Tukwila International Boulevard is on the right track? Why
or why not?
6. As a Councilmember, at times you will be faced with some very difficult decisions where clearly some
people will benefit from your decision and others, clearly, will not. How will you address situations
such as this?
7. This Council position requires a substantial time commitment as outlined in the applicant packet and
appointment application. What is your availability for honoring this kind of a demanding time
commitment?
City of Tukwila Page 2 of 4
City Council Special Meetina Minutes ,lanuary 10. 2008
6:40 p.m.
6:50 p.m.
Mayor Haggerton declared a brief recess.
Mayor Haggerton reconvened the Special Meeting.
Earlier in the evening, audience members were allowed to provide questions to the City Attorney to be
asked of each applicant. The City Attorney asked the following 5 questions that had been provided by
audience members.
A. Please articulate your opinion on the importance of public safety as it applies to the budget process.
B. Tukwila is a diverse community racially, culturally, and economically. The role of the City Council is
to establish policy and enact legislation that reflects the vision of the entire community.
Councilmembers, through vigorous analysis, lively discussion, and compromise, ultimately decide
how this City will function. What specific skills, experience, or perception would you bring to this
body, which is not already represented on the Council, in order to ensure all citizens' vision for
Tukwila is represented?
C. Do you believe it is appropriate for government to subsidize private development? Why or why not?
D. Given the issues of global warming and environmental concerns, what would you do to address these
issues, especially regarding the Duwamish River and preserving mature greenscapes?
E. Where do you see the line being drawn between policy- making and administration?
Shelley Kerslake, City Attorney, conveyed that the interview process had ended.
Mayor Haggerton thanked the applicants for their participation in the process.
MOVED BY ROBERTSON, SECONDED BY DUFFIE, TO ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO
EVALUATE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE CANDIDATES (NOT TO EXCEED ONE HOUR).
MOTION CARRIED 6 -0.
EXECUTIVE SESSION Evaluate the qualifications of the candidates for appointment to elective office
(not to exceed one hour); pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(h).
START: 7:29 p.m.
END: 8:25 p.m.
NEW BUSINESS Continued
b. Motion to appoint a new Councilmember to the Tukwila City Council
MOVED BY DUFFIE, SECONDED BY LINDER TO APPOINT DE'SEAN QUINN TO POSITION #7 ON
THE TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL.*
The Councilmembers expressed gratitude to all of the applicants and commented on the exceptional and
diverse qualifications of all those who participated.
*MOTION CARRIED 6 -0.
ADJOURNMENT
8:32 p.m. MOVED BY DUFFIE, SECONDED BY HERNANDEZ THAT THE TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL
MEETING BE ADJOURNED. MOTION CARRIED 6 -0.
f J,�n Haggert�fx '�/layor
Christy O'Flahe(t f, Depufy City Clerk
Approved by the City Council: 1/22/2008