Letters
Shades of Skippers??
Published on Thu, Jul 8, 2010 by Bob RinehartRead More Letters
Editor:
When learning about the proposal being considered by the Edmonds city council to change our governance structure from mayor to city manager, my immediate thoughts went to the recent council discussions on the Skippers property.
Both proposals have merit as subjects for serious discussion… but once again one can argue strongly that the timing is simply not right.
We do not have economic stability right now.
The city is currently faced with as serious a budget crisis as it likely has ever confronted, as evidenced by the fact the council will be considering placing a $3 million dollar levy on the ballot in either November 2010 or February 2011.
Should such a levy pass, the city will have resolved the budget problem – but only in the short term.
If it fails we will see severe cuts in service.
Not a pretty picture.
The city has a crying need to devote serious attention to identifying new revenue sources; and while the broad based Citizens Economic Development Commission has been doing good work on this challenge, the council itself needs to roll up its sleeves and give it more attention.
One could also cite the upcoming labor negotiations with city staff – yet another challenge that requires full attention. And it would be difficult to make the case that we have political stability.
Shortly we will have two members of the council who are appointees, four in their first term, only one who has served more than one term – and, in a little over one year four positions will be up for election!
In this unstable economic and political environment, does it make sense to shift to a governance structure that is founded on primary guidance and direction to a city manager by the city council?
I don’t think so.
I urge the council to table this one once again – and devote your time (and ours) to the critical issues that need to be on the agenda.
Bob Rinehart
When learning about the proposal being considered by the Edmonds city council to change our governance structure from mayor to city manager, my immediate thoughts went to the recent council discussions on the Skippers property.
Both proposals have merit as subjects for serious discussion… but once again one can argue strongly that the timing is simply not right.
We do not have economic stability right now.
The city is currently faced with as serious a budget crisis as it likely has ever confronted, as evidenced by the fact the council will be considering placing a $3 million dollar levy on the ballot in either November 2010 or February 2011.
Should such a levy pass, the city will have resolved the budget problem – but only in the short term.
If it fails we will see severe cuts in service.
Not a pretty picture.
The city has a crying need to devote serious attention to identifying new revenue sources; and while the broad based Citizens Economic Development Commission has been doing good work on this challenge, the council itself needs to roll up its sleeves and give it more attention.
One could also cite the upcoming labor negotiations with city staff – yet another challenge that requires full attention. And it would be difficult to make the case that we have political stability.
Shortly we will have two members of the council who are appointees, four in their first term, only one who has served more than one term – and, in a little over one year four positions will be up for election!
In this unstable economic and political environment, does it make sense to shift to a governance structure that is founded on primary guidance and direction to a city manager by the city council?
I don’t think so.
I urge the council to table this one once again – and devote your time (and ours) to the critical issues that need to be on the agenda.
Bob Rinehart