It's a rainy day and I am without work so it's a good time to express my observations and feelings again about how I think our elected councilmembers and mayor run our city and how they could improve. I will admit that I have become picky and pestering especially with the mayoral election underway so my apologies for being a Monday Morning Quarterback, but unfortunately I am one of the rare everyday citizens that is engaged with local government.
The city council meeting last night was one of the most functional meetings I've seen in a long time (with the exception of the Mayor's silence -- which I will address soon.) James Johnston, a neighbor shared his expertise during Items for the Audience for improving the noise problem from Marymoor Park concerts. This same neighbor is very vocal on the "Education Hill of Redmond" Facebook Group and several councilmembers are finally paying attention to us through this vehicle. It would be great if all our neighborhoods (including the Downtown neighborhood) had a Facebook Group for input but so far the City government hasn't facilitated this and continues to miss out in how we feel. The City of Kirkland has "neighborhood associations" which organized a Council Candidate Debate. Redmond neighborhoods aren't even close. Fortunately Councilman John Stilin has found the Education Hill facebook group and has observed and participated in it. John Marchione and Council have been dealing with the Marymoor noise for over 8 years without results; it finally took chatter from the Facebook Group to help John Stilin identify the problem and bring it to the attention of government. The discussion with King County during the Council Meeting was truly one of the most productive and thorough deliberations I've seen for a neighborhood issue. Stilin and the Council in general shined. It would have been healthy for the city if our government was just as functional on "city growth issues." But, it's too late for that and a contested mayoral race is on.
What was glaringly noticeable last night at the Council meeting was the Mayor's lack of participation and representation during the Marymoor deliberations. The Mayor was full of "Thank You's" and minor management of the agenda. He looked weak and is weak in this regard. While council certainly wasn't under Marchione's grip last night, the Mayor was complacent and non-responsive to the neighborhoods on the important Marymoor issue (as he is on the Downtown neighborhood growth issue.) He also has a problem conveying his representation on regional issues during council meetings. He is touted for being a leader on regional issues but he rarely brings up the specifics of his representation locally during council meetings, OP-ED's or the like.
In a Steve Fields Q&A that resident and blogger Paige Norman conducted, Mr. Fields was asked: "What do you think is the primary role of the Mayor in Redmond?" Mr. Fields answered: "The Mayor is the only full-time, elected position that exclusively represents and answers to the people who live in Redmond. This creates a unique position. The citizens need to trust the leadership and the word of the Mayor."
"Full time" . "Word of the mayor" "Represents and answers to the people" Fields nails it.
The Mayor needs to take notice and be more open and representative for the people. His silence is deafening. Thank you Mr. Fields.
Opinion by Bob Yoder
The city council meeting last night was one of the most functional meetings I've seen in a long time (with the exception of the Mayor's silence -- which I will address soon.) James Johnston, a neighbor shared his expertise during Items for the Audience for improving the noise problem from Marymoor Park concerts. This same neighbor is very vocal on the "Education Hill of Redmond" Facebook Group and several councilmembers are finally paying attention to us through this vehicle. It would be great if all our neighborhoods (including the Downtown neighborhood) had a Facebook Group for input but so far the City government hasn't facilitated this and continues to miss out in how we feel. The City of Kirkland has "neighborhood associations" which organized a Council Candidate Debate. Redmond neighborhoods aren't even close. Fortunately Councilman John Stilin has found the Education Hill facebook group and has observed and participated in it. John Marchione and Council have been dealing with the Marymoor noise for over 8 years without results; it finally took chatter from the Facebook Group to help John Stilin identify the problem and bring it to the attention of government. The discussion with King County during the Council Meeting was truly one of the most productive and thorough deliberations I've seen for a neighborhood issue. Stilin and the Council in general shined. It would have been healthy for the city if our government was just as functional on "city growth issues." But, it's too late for that and a contested mayoral race is on.
What was glaringly noticeable last night at the Council meeting was the Mayor's lack of participation and representation during the Marymoor deliberations. The Mayor was full of "Thank You's" and minor management of the agenda. He looked weak and is weak in this regard. While council certainly wasn't under Marchione's grip last night, the Mayor was complacent and non-responsive to the neighborhoods on the important Marymoor issue (as he is on the Downtown neighborhood growth issue.) He also has a problem conveying his representation on regional issues during council meetings. He is touted for being a leader on regional issues but he rarely brings up the specifics of his representation locally during council meetings, OP-ED's or the like.
In a Steve Fields Q&A that resident and blogger Paige Norman conducted, Mr. Fields was asked: "What do you think is the primary role of the Mayor in Redmond?" Mr. Fields answered: "The Mayor is the only full-time, elected position that exclusively represents and answers to the people who live in Redmond. This creates a unique position. The citizens need to trust the leadership and the word of the Mayor."
"Full time" . "Word of the mayor" "Represents and answers to the people" Fields nails it.
The Mayor needs to take notice and be more open and representative for the people. His silence is deafening. Thank you Mr. Fields.
Opinion by Bob Yoder
I'm glad that Bob Yoder takes an interest in city government and reports on it for people, but this was just wrong: "What was glaringly noticeable last night at the Council meeting was the Mayor's lack of participation and representation during the Marymoor deliberations. The Mayor was full of "Thank You's" and minor management of the agenda. He looked weak and is weak in this regard." Bob, you must realize that most mayors do not attend city council meetings, right? The purpose of a city council meeting is city council business. I hope Steve Fields, if he wins, does not feel it would make him appear "strong" to interrupt council business with his own opinions during the city council meetings. I'm guessing, as an experienced mid-level manager, he would realize this, but you never know.
ReplyDeleteThere are two components to the Redmond City Council meetings: 1) the business meeting over which the Mayor presides yet still has the authority, however rare, to participate in the deliberation and 2) the Council Study Sessions where Council sits with Staff and the Mayor to review issues that are on the Mayor's agenda. Much of what is vetted during Study Sessions gets put on the Consent Agenda. Study Sessions are an excellent venue for the Mayor to express himself yet he is silent and rarely participates.
ReplyDeleteThe Mayor should be vocal and express his opinion about the council items; however he seems to be more reactive when queried rather than proactive. I have yet to be at a council meeting where the mayor is NOT in attendance; I haven't attended Study sessions, so I don't know about that.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, the council seems to follow whatever the Mayor's opinion is, regardless of what taxpayers / citizens seem to want. It seems to me that if the council only does what the mayor wants, the citizens aren't being represented by any of their elected officials.
If we want to change this, maybe we need to change the elected officials in office.
In last Tuesday's Business Meeting (10/20) the Mayor participated more than I've ever seen him. Council was humming too.
ReplyDeleteGood job, elected! Keep it up as much for the benefit of the viewing audience as for yourselves.