Six candidates seeking three of the seven Bonney Lake City Council seats, along with an unopposed incumbent mayor participated in a forum Oct. 15 hosted by the Bonney Lake Chamber of Commerce.

Attending were Dan Swatman and Andy Gomen, candidates for Council Ward 1; Donn Lewis and David Bowen for Council Ward 4; and Randy McKibbin and Lynda Dabson for Council at large, Position 1. Mayor Neil Johnson, who is running unopposed, also attended.

Most of the questions asked were centered at business.

Council Ward 1

Dan Swatman, the at large, Position 1 representative, said businesses are important to the city as a revenue base, contributing money from sales tax revenues.

Swatman pointed out that all the property taxes paid by citizens will not even fund the city’s police department.

His opponent, business owner Andy Gomen, said the best way for government to help business is to “get out of their way.”

Gomen believes changes need to be made to the city’s sign ordinance and that business signs need to have better exposure to traffic on state Route 410.

“The ordinance won’t allow you to have signage to get exposure that can effect your business,” Gomen said. “I don’t think a lot of people of the current council understand how those little things can affect us.”

Swatman said government not interfering with businesses is important, but “there’s a line.”

“Not everyone gets to have the great big sign facing 410 because all the residents will come hang the city council,” Swatman said.

He said residents don’t go to the South Hill because of the traffic and signage.

“We need to have that environment where people want to come here,” Swatman said.

Gomen said he feels the Traffic Impact Fee and system development charges cripple small businesses.

“I think this community could use a little better business sense on the council,” Gomen said. “People who are in tune to the economic and economic pulse that is going on.”

Swatman said most of the city’s improvements – like the Interim Justice Center, streetlights, underground utilities and sidewalks – are not costing current businesses anything.

“All of that is paid for by impact fees and they are extremely important,” he noted. “Businesses do not pay a 100 percent of the impact. We’re not saying businesses don’t provide any value, but they need to share.”

As for the importance of the Chamber of Commerce, Swatman said he supported the city funding the group.

He said it’s important for the chamber members, who are working in the community, to communicate with the council on problems they may encounter.

“I would like to hear a lot more from the chamber,” Swatman said.

When asked about attracting business to town, Swatman said the Eastown area is critical for the city which could use light manufacturing or industrial businesses.

“That’s why it is important the council doesn’t back off its planned development for Eastown,” he said. “We need to get the infrastructure out there to allow business to come there.”

Gomen believes the chamber is a good indicator of what is going on in the business community. He also feels the group has a problem-solving skills which can be utilized by the city.

He said he didn’t believe the council is doing enough to promote business.

Council Ward 4

Lewis, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel, said the city can go out and recruit businesses.

“We have empty store buildings that need new businesses in them,” Lewis said. “We can recruit outside the area – perhaps out of the state.”

He said the city could use a large motel or hotel.

“A lot of people come to the area, spend money here, go to restaurants and other stores,” he said.

Lewis said he would like to see more medical facilities along state Route 410.

“I believe if we can get medical facilities here, if will allow people to come to us instead of us going to Sumner, Puyallup or even Renton,” he said. “I’d like to be able to go here for medical or dental treatment.”

He said he also believes it is important to have an emergency medical facility inside the city.

Incumbent Councilman David Bowen, finishing his first term on the council, said the city depends on sales taxes for revenue, but the city needs to be optimistic, not unrealistic.

“Because of greatest money comes from sales taxes, people only spend money when they feel optimistic,” Bowen said. “If they feel things are so dire, then they won’t spend money.

We’re not in great times, but were not in a Great Depression,” he said.

Bowen said the city’s incentive program for business helps, but cutting the SDCs for housing could being more people into the city.

“More people means more customers,” he added.

Bowen suggested business and developers be allowed to pay impact fees over a period of time, instead of all at once.

Lewis also said the Chamber of Commerce can play an important role in bringing people to Bonney Lake with various activities and events.

Council at Large, Pos. 1

Randy McKibbin, a business owner and former chamber president, said economic development is important for the city.

He feels the chamber is going in the right direction and can be a valuable asset.

“I may get 10 or 12 customers a day, but they all have something to say,” McKibbin said. “They talk about where they eat and where they shop. We need that pulse.”

McKibben has served 10 years on the Planning Commission.

Lynda Dabson, who has lived in the community for 28 years, said he decided to run for the council because she wanted to give back to the city.

“According to the relationship established with my neighbors and others in the community, I think I can help them out better by doing this,” Dabson said.

Dabson said she feels the council can help “lift up the marketplace” that businesses rely on.

“There are different things (the council) can do to help people who live here, enjoy living here and want to stay here and support the local businesses,” Dabson said.

She said residents would like to see more businesses come to Bonney Lake and she’s concerned about empty spaces in the strip shopping centers.

She said the chamber provides great networking for local businesses.

Chamber Executive Director Lora Butterfield served as moderator and timekeeper during the hour-long forum.