Soap Lake councilmembers balk at government change

SOAP LAKE — Several Soap Lake city councilmembers are voicing disapproval over a ballot proposition that, if passed, would institute a city manager form of government.

Soap Lake Proposition No. 1 relates to the city adopting a council-manager form of government and ending its current mayor-council system. The proposition was placed on the November general election ballot because of the efforts of councilmember Robert Brown and former councilmember Maynard Hagan. In a press conference the two men held last month they stated they gained support from their fellow residents who are fed up with the city’s current form of government. They said they gathered signatures from 10 percent of city residents who voted in the last general election, which allowed the measure to be placed on the upcoming November general election ballot.

During Wednesday’s council meeting city attorney Katherine Kenison told the council they can collectively decide to either oppose or support the proposition. Under the Public Disclosure Commission and state statute guidelines the city has the ability, under a limited exception, to make use of a public facility for the purpose of engaging in what the PDC defines as “political activity.”

“So if the council wishes to engage in the conversation and potentially express a collective decision about Soap Lake Proposition No. 1 it can do so under that limited exception in the state statute as long as it’s at an open public meeting that has been advertised,” Kenison told the council.

In response to the council’s direction, Kenison drafted two versions of a resolution for the council’s consideration detailing the council’s opposition to the proposition. The council did not vote on the resolution and decided to give residents a formal opportunity to weigh in on the subject at the Sept. 21 council meeting.

The council did decide to read the highlights of one of the resolutions Kension drafted however. Some of the key points raised in the resolution include:

• Under the council-manager statute the council is prohibited from interfering with a city manager's administration.

• The city manager is accountable to the city council and can be removed by a majority vote at any time.

• A mayor has veto power, while a city manager has no veto power.

• A mayor is elected, while a city manager is appointed by the council.

• A mayor serves a four-year term, but a city manager's term is indefinite.

• A mayor may appoint city department heads subject to council confirmation, but a city manager can appoint department heads without council confirmation.

• If the proposition is approved city code must be reviewed and modified to reflect a city manager form of government.

• Once a city changes its form of government it cannot change it again until the new form of government has operated under its current form for at least six consecutive years.

Councilmember Judith Tramayne highlighted some of the potential financial impacts that a city manager form of government could have on the city.

“The average monthly salary for a city manager, now our mayor makes $600 I want you to know this, an average monthly salary for a city manager is $9,482 to $10,154,” Tramayne remarked. “Now over a six-year period that is going to be about $600,000 that we don’t have.”

Councilmember John Glassco noted that Soap Lake residents that are using city utility services could be looking at paying a substantial amount extra per month to pay the bill for the addition of a city manager.

Brown previously stated that, based on his research, a city the size of Soap Lake would be looking at paying between $60,000 and $65,000 for the added expense of hiring a qualified city manager. He suggested going about paying for a city manager by using excess revenue the city is currently receiving, but not using.

“Right now we have revenue coming in (to the city) in excess of $140,000 that’s not being used,” Brown previously said. “The purpose of government when they collect money from citizens is to use the money for a purpose. That’s not being done.”

The council opened up Wednesday night’s meeting to those in attendance to speak their support or opposition to the proposition. There was no concrete stances taken on the issue by the citizens in attendance, rather most of the dialogue came from citizens asking specific questions in regard to what a city manager would look like in the city. Several citizens said it would be ideal to have a qualified city manager, but noted the city currently does not have the finances to take on a city manager’s salary, so it's not a feasible option.

Hagan chose not to discuss his reasoning behind the change in government and said he will present his case at the Sept. 21 meeting. Brown did not attend Wednesday’s meeting.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com