- Public makes
council meetings better than TV
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- SUNNYSIDE (3-16-98)--Sunnyside city council
meetings are more fun than watching TV, and at least
one person testified to that fact last night.
- After their blazing March 9 workshop,
councilmen listened to considerable public comment
geared toward dousing any remaining fires smoking
among councilmen and between them and top staff.
Councilman Chad Werkhoven circulated a memo to
his colleagues addressing the problem even before any
citizens spoke.
"As was very evident at last night's (3-9-98)
workshop, our staff seems to be having difficulty
understanding what we as a council expect," said
Werkhoven's memo.
He proposed circulating throughout the city a
poster designed to bring all city staff and citizens
on board to move Sunnyside toward four major
goals:
- Improving the safety and appearance of our
city.
- Working to enhance infrastructure and
streamline city regulations to increase economic
development.
- Maintaining our conservative fiscal policy by
not spending more than we make.
- Above, all, we will listen to our citizens
(custsomers) and put their concerns first.
- To staff he said "In each and every report or
request for action given to the council, we want to
know how the particular action or policy will further
one or more of the above goals.
"We want to hear every possible reason why your
recommendation is the way to go and how it is
different and better than alternatives.
"We want your ideas and input on how your
department can further our goals."
- Werkhoven said to staff that "You have the
unique opportunity while working under this council to
let your creative juices flow and to try new and
different ideas to improve the quality of life.
"Not every new idea or policy will work. But you
can count on our support if you are working toward
this goal," Werkhoven said.
Acting City Mgr. Mark Kunkler noted Sunnyside
city staff are a talented group, who have been
"through a lot of hard experiences."
"We know this is a group which would like to
work toward the goals," he said. He said city staff
also have a wider group they're accountable
to--including state government and to all the people
of Sunnyside."
Kunkler noted past councils set a "Heritage
Village Theme" for Sunnyside, to give the town a
flavor of its own. But that sort of got lost in the
shuffle somewhere, he indicated.
Kunkler said he needed to know from the council,
for example, things like whether the city should
require developers to include amenities like parks in
their developments, or whether the city should charge
new parks to taxpayers.
"We (the staff) are problem solvers. We want to
see that you succeed," he told the seven councilmen.
But he indicated specific policies would have to be
generated by the council, likely from councilman chats
with Sunnysiders.
- City Finance Director Bud Schatz said staff
have always worked for (Werkhoven's stated) goals.
"Every one of those goals has 50 or 60 specifics
beneath it," he said.
- Schatz used an analogy about an employee who
asks his boss what's expected of him.
"You can be expected to be on time every
day--but the boss won't tell you what that time,"
Schatz said. That, he indicated, is what councilmen
are asking of staff.
Schatz said the city has already spent $15
million in years past making the kinds of improvements
that would fall under Werkhoven's goals.
"Improve what safety? What appearance? I know
it's a start, but if we're going to use it for the
city to follow, what is to be included?," Schatz
asked.
- Councilman Roy Anciso, who has always defended
city staff, said "We must listen to our staff. They
work hard, and they're citizens, too," he said.
Mayor Ed Prilucik indicated the bulk of city
expenditures are for services which tend to be almost
invisible and taken for granted.
As he did two months ago, he again requested a
staff-council retreat to set up a strategic plan for
the city.
Then it was time for citizens to light into the
council for setting their department heads onto the
hot seat last week.
Rev. Chad Beeman told the council they need to
meet with their staff first and warn them they're
going to be questioned publicly about
anything.
"This is the first I've heard that you have
confidence in your department heads. It has seemed to
me you have no confidence in them," he said. Beemen
urged the council get out into the city and talk to
citizens they feel reflect their own views, but talk
as well with citizens who don't.
School Principal Dennis Birr agreed with the
Mayor the council needs a retreat, but that it should
include staff.
"Taking shots at your department heads is not
what we elected you to do. You need to remember that
two of you barely squeaked by (in last November's
election)" Birr said. He urged the council not to get
involved with management, but to involve both citizens
and department heads in decision making.
At this point Mayor Ed Prilucik reminded the
audience that the community also needs to stay in
contact with the council (Readers can do that by
navigating to P. 13 of Yakima Valley News).
"You need to communicate with your elected
officials," Prilucik said.
- Former Councilwoman Irene Berk then stepped up
and accused Councilman Mike Farmer of "making an
unfair remark" toward Police Chief Wallace Anderson
last week.
"I and my husband are here to support the chief.
Please let him do his job," Berk said.
Al Tebaldi, former police chief of both Pasco
and Sunnyside, told councilmen that Chief Anderson's
paying for his own vehicle saves the city a lot of
money.
- "And it provides another umarked car for
stakeouts. He does it. I've used mine for such things.
He's not making money by using his own car," Tebaldi
said.
Pete Sartin said he welcomed the change in
councils. But he told new councilmen that "You need to
make your staff aware of what they will be asked about
in a public meeting."
Sartin indicated he owns a fleet of trucks, and
is aware of the high cost of leasing, insuring, and
maintaining vehicles. He urged the city to get the
stats, to see whether its cheaper to lease a car for
the chief or give him $375 a month to pay for his
own.
"If he needs it, give it to him gracefully,"
Sartin said.
Bob Thomas, Sunnyside High School principal,
said "the chief and his troops--and the fire
department--have been outstanding with their help" at
his school.
"When we've made a call for help, the chief has
been there in his own private car within two or three
minutes. We support (city emergency staff), and hope
you will support them, too," Thomas told the
council.
In other business, the council:
- Agreed to bring to closure March 23 hiring
procedures and qualifications of a new city
manager.
- Agreed to meet with Yakima County Commissioners
at 6:30 p.m. April 21 to get to know each other and
discuss everything from Washington's Growth Management
Act to county-city building permit conflicts. County
commissioners asked for the informal chat, which will
take place at a restaurant.
- Approved a parade license for Chief Joseph
School. The parade is set for April 5, and will course
from Central Park, down Franklin, onto 6th, and down
to the school grounds near Lincoln Ave.
- Acknowledged C. Speck Motors' notification of
intention to annex, and referred it to the Planning
Commission.
- Confirmed Ellen Bird to a seat on the Parks and
Recreation Commission until April 7, 2001.
- Approved liquor licenses for TM Market, 417
Cemetery Rd; Bi-Mart, 110 W South Hill Rd.; Pizza Hut,
2000 Yakima Valley Hwy.; Skipper's, 2150 Yakima Valley
Hwy; and Valley View Market, 107 W. Lincoln
Ave.
- Approved monthly bills totaling
$398,859
- Approved contracts for the Washington Micro
Enterprise program for 1997-98.
- Announced Free Disposal Day at the Terrace
Heights and Cheyne landfills from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
April 18. Those interested can direct questions to
(509) 574-2450.
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