Does an elected City Council represent you?
As a former City Councilmember and Mayor, the relationship between the public and the City is critical. Some have said that the City Council is elected and, by default, automatically represents the residents based on the election. If this were true, there would be no need for public hearings or public comment. Not only are public hearings and comments required by law, but only 36% of registered voters voted, and the winning candidates received between 18% and 21% of the total registered voters, or about 10% of total residents. That’s hardly a mandate or substitute for public process!
The Open Public Meetings Act requires that certain decisions be made in open meetings. Recent votes have been 6-1 with little or no discussion from the dais, creating some doubt about the fairness of the entire process. Minority opinions need to be respectfully acknowledged and documented, not ignored.
Likewise, boards and commissions need to provide their best recommendations without pressure for a particular issue. I have witnessed direction given to commissions based on anticipated City Council preference, which undermines the independent opinions of our boards and commissions. We must restore their significant, independent, role in the review of proposed policy.
Taskforces and ad hoc committees are another way to engage residents in the evaluation of potential policy changes. Today the list of “stakeholders” in those discussions typically includes dozens of government agencies, developers, property owners, or builders who might be impacted, and the same two or three residents over and over. While there are times when it’s difficult to find residents with the time or desire to serve in this capacity, we have recently received over 1000 comments on land use policy decisions. Surely we can provide some of these highly engaged residents with a seat at the table with meaningful ad hoc committees and taskforces.
Creating a sense of community starts with leaders who listen first, act second and keep residents at the heart of every decision.
How many of you have had a specific question and been instructed to submit a Public Records Request (PRR) or “go to the website”? How about researching a legal notice of a development action? Most of this information is available from the City, but it’s certainly not easy to research.
And recent changes in permit processes have reduced both the notice requirements and time limits for public participation. We need to establish responsibility to assist the public when questions arise. This could be a rotating schedule for existing employees to answer questions from the public, or a public training opportunity where interested parties can learn how to find information. I’m sure there are other ideas as well, and we simply must allow access for residents who want deeper understanding of issues.
I believe the people of Sammamish should shape the future of this city—not the other way around. You deserve open doors, honest answers, and a seat at the table. I see unnecessary division in our community, and I pledge to do everything possible to turn that around. Despite the varied viewpoints expressed in our social media and public meetings, there is no doubt that everyone wants the best for Sammamish. We need to establish that baseline agreement and live up to it.