Council discusses ordinance authorizing canceling workshops, Hamilton disagrees

Published 12:07 am Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Bonney Lake councilmembers once again discussed canceling future workshops during their June 2 workshop.

Deputy Mayor Dan Swatman presented a proposed ordinance authorizing the cancellation of council workshops based on a lack of business or due to an anticipated lack of quorum before the council.

Councilman Mark Hamilton said he disagrees with canceling workshops.

“I frankly think workshops are more important than the regular meetings,” Hamilton said.

He said he feels regular meetings are “boring.”

“We all dress up in our monkey suits, come together and we vote,” Hamilton stated. “It pretty much been said and done. It’s went through a committee process, all been discussed, attorneys look over it, vote yea or nay, then go home.”

Hamilton said workshop gives councilmembers the opportunity to sit together and face each other during discussions.

“We can have ongoing discussions,” Hamilton said. “It’s a good time for councilmembers to bring items and question staff. We can find out were we all are at.”

Hamilton said he feels the council loses a lot by not meeting each week.

He also said he didn’t like the way citizen comments are received by the city.

“I personally would rather have citizens’ comments at this meeting where we are all sitting together, have a conversation and find out what’s going on.”

Currently, citizens talk at regular meeting, but the councilmembers don’t respond, Hamilton said.

“At workshops, it’s open discussion for councilmembers to bring whatever,” he said. “These are the meetings that are really important.”

Hamilton said he dislikes communication via e-mail with city staff, but would rather question them on public record a department head about an issue within the city.

“That department head has to respond, knowing perfectly well that he or she is on record,” Hamilton said.

Swatman said he wanted to make sure the council is being effective in a cost-effective way.

“It is very valuable for the council together, but there are significant resources (attorney and staff) required at the meeting and take that time out of their other duties,” Swatman said. “There is a lot of money and a lot of talent sitting around this table.”

Swatman said he hoped the ordinance is used infrequently.

Councilman James Rackley said other cities do not have council workshops, but noted it saves the council time rather than taking more time for discussion at council meetings.

“I am for the workshops, but not if they’re unnecessary,” Rackley said.

Swatman suggested adding language in the ordinance to state the council shall strive to have at least one council workshop a month.

“That gives us a little bit of direction,” Swatman noted.

Councilman Dave Bowen said if the workshop is canceled, the council should have an open discussion period at the following city council meeting if there is something a councilmember wants discussed.

Swatman said that can be easily done by modifying the agenda during the meeting. He said some city council hold open discussion at the end of their meeting.

Mayor Neil Johnson said he remembers just two workshops being canceled since coming on the council.

Reach Dannie Oliveaux at doliveaux@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald or 360-802-8209.