It’s committee meeting time for the Edmonds City Council this Tuesday, June 12, beginning at 6 p.m. Note that these meeting are work sessions for the City Council and staff; while they are open to the public, they are not public hearings.
All meetings are in the Council Chambers, Public Safety Complex, 250 5th Ave. N., in separate meeting rooms as indicated:
Finance Committee, Jury Meeting Room
A. Authorization to sign contract for grant from Snohomish County Tourism Promotion Area to promote Write on the Sound. (5 Min.)
B. Monthly General Fund Update (10 Min.)
C. Public Comments (3-minute limit per person) (10 Min.)
Planning, Parks and Public Works Committee, Council Chambers
A. Discussion regarding Edmonds Half Marathon Event. (15 Min.)
B. Discussion regarding telephone book delivery. (15 Min.)
C. Briefing on Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program (2013-2018). (10 Min.)
D. AT&T Lease Agreement amendment to reflect a change in the type and configuration of the equipment located in their lease area at 8505 Bowdoin Way. (5 Min.)
E. Residential Car Washing and Illicit Discharges. (5 Min.)
F. Report on bids opened June 5, 2012 for the 2012 Waterline Replacement Project and award of contract to D&G Backhoe in the amount of $652,352.23. (5 Min.)
G. Report on bids opened June 7, 2012 for the Talbot Road Storm Drain Improvements Project and award of contract to Kamins Construction in the amount of $317,178.62. (5 Min.)
H. Ordinance amending the Edmonds City Code (ECC) 8.64.065 Parking Provisions on Sunset Avenue. (5 Min.)
I. Authorization for Mayor to sign Addendum No. 2 to the Professional Services Agreement with CHS Engineers, LLC. (5 Min.)
J. Public Comments (3-minute limit per person) (10 Min.)
Public Safety and Personnel Committee, Police Training Room
A. Snohomish Regional Drug & Gang Task Force, 2012-2013 Interlocal Agreement. (5 Min.)
B. Discussion regarding taking minutes/notes during executive sessions. (30 Min.)
C. Public Comments (3-minute limit per person) (10 Min.)
I hope many citizens can attend this evening’s Public Safety and Personnel Committee Meeting at 6:00 PM in the Police Training Room.
A discussion regarding taking minutes/notes during Executive Sessions will take place followed by Public Comments.
As a review, a City Council that included former Mayor Haakenson and current Mayor Earling passed Resolution No. 853 on September 16, 1996. Resolution No. 853 includes the following:
WHEREAS, the City Council finds it to be in the public interest to maintain
summary minutes of executive sessions subject to release in accordance with the provisions of state law, if and when, the reason for the executive session expires;
The City has ALREADY found it to be in the PUBLIC INTEREST to maintain MINUTES – (not notes) of Executive Sessions, SUBJECT TO RELEASE in accordance with the provisions of state law, if and when, the reason for the Executive Session expires.
As such, an argument can be made that the minutes should already be as accurate as possible and that there should probably be an audio or video recording of Executive Sessions.
Many of Edmonds’ elected officials have represented that they support open government and transparency. I continue to challenge ALL of my elected officials to make a true high level commitment supporting open government and transparency. The commitment I continue to request is as follows:
I support the keeping of detailed minutes for all executive sessions. I will closely review the fourteen reasons to conduct executive sessions that are documented in RCW 42.30.110. I will determine which of the fourteen reasons do not require permanent confidentiality. Once those reasons are identified, I will work with my fellow elected officials to clearly establish the point in time the related executive session meeting minutes will be made available to the citizens of Edmonds.
Let’s make the city of Edmonds the beacon for open government and transparency in the state of Washington. Imagine the increase in the citizens’ trust of our elected officials if Edmonds were to do so. The citizens’ confidence that high ethical standards are adhered to during Executive Sessions would greatly increase. The citizens’ confidence that laws are followed and applied equally to all citizens would grow.
The time has come for Edmonds to assert itself as a leader. A great way to do so is to take bold action supporting open government and transparency.