I try to watch every Council meeting, will occasionally critique the Elected on my blog and send links of these posts by email to mayorcouncil@redmond.gov so they know "I'm not talking behind their back"; but most of all they can hopefully learn from what I've observed. Councilman Hank Myers labels me a gadfly because I have been doing this for years. He values the gadfly role and on several occasions has thanked me. Hank recently told me he reads my blog; I have a good relationship with him. Recently Councilmember Kim Allen thanked me on Facebook for being "a facilitator over all the years." I value my relationship with Hank and Kim. .
Other than Councilmembers John Stilin, David Carson, Hank and Kim I can't recall any other Councilmember giving me feedback on this blog. Though, once a long time ago President Hank Margeson told me he read it. The Mayor has appeared to ignore me over the many years I've been reporting. He finally surfaced this week by email. Other than asking me for minor edits on a post, his email was less than encouraging to put it mildly. I think my main problem in communicating with John Marchione is he hates public scrutiny and only wants to hear constructive criticism behind closed doors. It's certainly not because I haven't emailed him on various issues over the years. My impression is the Mayor is too busy with regional and downtown matters to listen to the residential community. Some of his supporters say John always responds to emails. This has not been the case for me. .
Our elected persistently ask (if not beg) the public for participation and feedback on the affairs of the city. Marchione said in the mayoral debate he tries to reach out to the community with televised Council and Commissioner meetings, the Focus magazine, the city website and visits to the elementary schools. John should be giving even more attention to the neighborhoods, especially with "the town turned upside down" from rapid development. He is weak on Public Outreach and rarely listens to the residents and for that sole reason I'm voting for Fields. Otherwise, I think he's a good city administrator and leader. I do appreciate the one or two times he held a coffee at the Senior Center long ago,
John Stilin holds a coffee at Soulfood every Tuesday at 3 pm. Mr. Stilin,, Ms. Allen are members of the "Education Hill of Redmond" Facebook Group and at times participate. Mr Myers is working with Ms. Allen to hold Q&A "listening sessions" in the neighborhoods. Councilmember Tom Flynn recently wrote an excellent piece in the Redmond Reporter. Of course our elected are getting copious feedback from the community with this election. For this, we should thank Steve Fields.
As stated, I've chosen to participate in the affairs of the city with my blog. Like 99% of my neighbors I find it intimidating and usually non productive to go to City Hall Council Meetings and participate. Most of my neighbors don't even know the meetings exist or are televised. If they did watch a Council meeting many would probably find them scripted, stale, boring and above the level of the people.
However, this week's Council meeting was a breakthrough moment especially for the Mayor--it appears he's listened. I've never heard him participate so much at a business meeting -- nor the Council so active and skillful in inviting him into the conversation. The Ombudsman Report was lively and broad. The dais was humming. I only pray this will not be a one-time event. You can see for yourselves by tuning into Comcast RCTV channel 21 on Tuesday nights at 7:30 pm. Or watch the meeting online here.
Opinion by Bob Yoder
Other than Councilmembers John Stilin, David Carson, Hank and Kim I can't recall any other Councilmember giving me feedback on this blog. Though, once a long time ago President Hank Margeson told me he read it. The Mayor has appeared to ignore me over the many years I've been reporting. He finally surfaced this week by email. Other than asking me for minor edits on a post, his email was less than encouraging to put it mildly. I think my main problem in communicating with John Marchione is he hates public scrutiny and only wants to hear constructive criticism behind closed doors. It's certainly not because I haven't emailed him on various issues over the years. My impression is the Mayor is too busy with regional and downtown matters to listen to the residential community. Some of his supporters say John always responds to emails. This has not been the case for me. .
Our elected persistently ask (if not beg) the public for participation and feedback on the affairs of the city. Marchione said in the mayoral debate he tries to reach out to the community with televised Council and Commissioner meetings, the Focus magazine, the city website and visits to the elementary schools. John should be giving even more attention to the neighborhoods, especially with "the town turned upside down" from rapid development. He is weak on Public Outreach and rarely listens to the residents and for that sole reason I'm voting for Fields. Otherwise, I think he's a good city administrator and leader. I do appreciate the one or two times he held a coffee at the Senior Center long ago,
John Stilin holds a coffee at Soulfood every Tuesday at 3 pm. Mr. Stilin,, Ms. Allen are members of the "Education Hill of Redmond" Facebook Group and at times participate. Mr Myers is working with Ms. Allen to hold Q&A "listening sessions" in the neighborhoods. Councilmember Tom Flynn recently wrote an excellent piece in the Redmond Reporter. Of course our elected are getting copious feedback from the community with this election. For this, we should thank Steve Fields.
As stated, I've chosen to participate in the affairs of the city with my blog. Like 99% of my neighbors I find it intimidating and usually non productive to go to City Hall Council Meetings and participate. Most of my neighbors don't even know the meetings exist or are televised. If they did watch a Council meeting many would probably find them scripted, stale, boring and above the level of the people.
However, this week's Council meeting was a breakthrough moment especially for the Mayor--it appears he's listened. I've never heard him participate so much at a business meeting -- nor the Council so active and skillful in inviting him into the conversation. The Ombudsman Report was lively and broad. The dais was humming. I only pray this will not be a one-time event. You can see for yourselves by tuning into Comcast RCTV channel 21 on Tuesday nights at 7:30 pm. Or watch the meeting online here.
Opinion by Bob Yoder
I'm sorry you got your feelings hurt. Consider, however, that in this election the mayor has been subjected to a concerted smear campaign of insinuation and innuendo accusing him of corruption without any evidence or facts. You have contributed to that and supported that, by running posts with unsubstantiated accusations. It's hard not to get a little dirty yourself when you get down in the mud.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous -- Thank you for participating here but why don't you identify yourself when you accuse me? I put myself on the line every time I post.
ReplyDeleteMost of what I've written during this election has been my opinion not factual reporting. I've made a point to invite readers like you to send in your "letters". I wouldn't be surprised if some things you've said about Steve Fields to your friends were "unsubstantiated accusations. That's just what goes on in an election. When the Mayor took his $137,000 job representing the voters he knew he would have to put up with the "dirt" as well as the commendations. It comes with the job. Listening to readers is something I deal with.
It doesn't hurt as bad as you think so please go ahead and say whatever is on your mind but next time leave your name.
Bob you need to choose whether you report on facts or share opinion. You cannot do both and expect everyone to read and engage on your blog. If you choose to report on opinion then you have to recognize people will disagree with you. If you are always in disagreement with someone you can't expect them to regularly read and respond to your site. Why would they?
ReplyDeleteIf you choose to be a fact based site and a forum for public dialog you need to take a different tone. You are not encouraging a two sided dialog in the way you are talking or responding. You need to write in such a way that you acknowledge there is a perspective other than yours that may have some validity or that perspective will never engage you in conversation. As manager of this site you should be a moderator not chief negotiator if you really want two sided dialog.
Don't say negative things about an anonymous poster. Not leaving their name does not devalue their thoughts or comments. And when you come after someone like this you are discouraging a two sided dialog.
Jason, thanks for your feedback. I agree with many of your points. Emotions have been stirred from this election and I'll admit my opinions have recently dominated the blog. Yes, it's become a bit of a soapbox.
ReplyDeleteIt takes a lot of time and research to report accurately and factually. I do it when I can but my participation here is not a full time job and I don't get paid for it.
If people find my blog and read it that's great. If they get turned off and leave that's too bad but I understand. If it doesn't generate comments or discussion I (and readers) will have to live with it. I'm not a journalist, nor do I have the time to be one.
Thanks again for taking the time to comment and improve this site.
Bob, one thing I wanted to dispel from your original post is this notion of public involvement being only recently embraced by Mayor Marchione. In fact, this was prominently featured in the Budgeting by Priorities initiative that was set forth in the mayor's first term. In fact, community outreach has been a key component of any major program/project that has been proposed. Now, that said, we cannot compel residents to come out and give us a piece of their mind. I would say that a full 90% of hearings have exactly zero people (pro or con) coming out to testify. We don't have the power to subpoena folks to come out and share their thoughts.
ReplyDeleteOh, and one other thought on the mayor's meeting participation. The meeting is a "Redmond City Council" meeting, not "Redmond Mayor & Council Meeting". In a Strong Mayor form of government the mayor's job at council meetings is to facilitate the functional and parliamentary aspect of the meeting. He's already expressed his opinion in the matter by how the proposal is framed and detailed out. If you want to see interaction, tuning into a study session would be advisable since that's where discourse about the issue would be more likely and appropriate.
Thank your for your comment Council-member David Carson. Let me respond one point at a time.
ReplyDelete1, It's my understanding the number of citizens participating in each priority has been reduced from two citizens to one citizen.
2. I don't see innovative community outreach to the neighborhoods addressing rapid growth issues. This elections proves the need is there. Certain councilmembers are thinking about it now and some are doing it but I'm not satisfied with the Mayor's attempts. He has no personal visibility in the neighborhoods other than elementary school visits and recently the Food Drive.
3. The old ways of "community outreach" are becoming obsolete. If you became a member of Ed Hill Facebook Group you'd see. Q&A listening sessions proposed by Hank M and Kim are desperately needed. Too few residents are attracted to City Hall meetings or even know about them. Hopefully, if the Mayor and Council can keep it up like you all did in last Tuesday's meeting more residents would be drawn in and become steady viewers with more interest in city affairs.
4. As we know formal hearings, etc just don't work. The Mayor's active participation in the last council meeting was a giant step in allowing the viewing public to understand the Mayor's thinking, his activities and personality. I consider his council meeting participation this week an important form of community outreach. I hope he keeps it up.
5. The thinking and perspective on what a Mayor-Council Meeting is needs to be re-evaluated.
The Mayor may have "already expressed his opinion" to Council but the viewing public has been excluded -- up until last Tuesday. I agree with you about the Study Sessions being a preferred venue for listening in on the Mayor but was flabbergasted to see him in action during the Business Meeting. He's found a way to be functional and use parliamentary facilitation while inserting his opinion and community activities without interrupting council deliberation. He elevated himself from managing meetings to a form of representation and outreach.
I hope we can sit down and have a beer sometime! I'd really like to know you better. Heard nothing but good things about you.
1. Yes, it was reduced by necessity in that it's quite difficult (even putting out announcements yielded too few applicants) to find enough folks to devote as much time as is necessary. The initiative that I referred to was not just within the budget process, but having meetings out in the community (like at the VFW hall), but the number of venues is quite limiting and turn-out was still pretty low.
ReplyDelete2. Mayor Marchione is at virtually every community event and fundraising event that touches Redmond because I see him at them and when he's not it's typically because he's at a regional meeting/obligation. He's one of the most accessible people you're ever going to meet, so I'm just not sure how you have this view of him, but we all have a different perspective of everyone we know.
3. I am a member of the Ed Hill group but it took a week or 10 days to get approved. I've known of its existence for maybe a month, but it does seem like there's more grouching than constructive conversation thus far.
4. There's a couple of things that every resident in Redmond should (but probably doesn't) know about Redmond City Council meetings and its participants:
a. We take the business of the city seriously.
b. We're all just people and none of us takes ourselves too seriously.
c. We like to have fun which is why you will hear quips and comments that are self-deprecating as well as aimed at one another in nearly equal measure.
d. We're respectful to each other unless we're in the middle of executing point c.
e. While we don't always agree on policy (which would be mind-numbingly boring), we don't take it personally and usually we are able to take our differences and make something constructive out of them.
5. Well, obviously I have a much different perspective on the mayor, but the other thing that is fully his responsibility and that is that often times we have staff members waiting to present material to the council, so I think he doesn't want to keep them around longer than necessary. He's a professional and drawing out a discussion that needn't be is wasteful of their time. I dare you to watch council meetings from other jurisdictions and compare them to Redmond's and I think you'll see that they all pale in comparison when it comes to accessibility and good-humored nature.
David, have you really watched Council meetings at other jurisdictions? I've caught a few of the joint meetings you have with neighboring cities and found them interesting (but not that entertaining -- most of them seemed serious to me). But then, I'm the viewing public so don't have an inside to the good-humored interactions you speak of.
ReplyDeleteI will admit I'm not being respectful of the Mayor by calling him weak. I could have used a better choice of words; I haven't found him respectful of me so I guess I'm playing tit for tat. And I still maintain he needs to work on greater Outreach in the neighborhoods.
I'd never make it as a politician! I personally don't know how you in Council do it while maintaining your outside jobs. You guys really amaze me.
RE: The Mayor's Outreach to the neighborhoods.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention in this post many years ago the Mayor held 1-2 coffee chats in the Senior Science Center. There was lots of input from the community and John handled it well. This was years ago. (I've since edited this post to account for it.) I also forgot to give him credit for him visiting the neighborhoods during National Night out.