Skeptics of SeaTac’s city government didn’t prevail in the November elections but they are still keeping a close eye on City Council actions.
An ordinance to allow City Manager Todd Cutts more latitude in approving city expenses narrowly passed April 10 by a 4-3 vote.
And for the second meeting in a row, approval of travel expenses and reimbursement expenses for city officials who attended a National League of Cities (NLC) convention in Washington D.C. was pulled off the consent agenda for a more thorough discussion.
Previously, Cutts could approve expenses that did not exceed $5,000. The council on its consent agenda approved expenses from $5,000 to $35,000. Expenses over $50,000 were dealt with on the regular agenda.
The proposed ordinance authorized the city manager to OK expenses up to $50,000 without council approval. The council still would approve expenses over that limit.
The expenses include supplies and equipment, public works contracts and annual leases or rental of city facilities.
Councilman Rick Forschler said he would support rasing the lower limit to $10,000 but was uncomfortable with the $50,000 figure.
Councilwoman Pam Fernald said the current system was working well. She said surrounding cities with higher approval limits had s a strong mayor system and were generally larger cities.
Declared Councilman Barry Ladenburg, ”If we can’t trust him with $50,000, we need a new city manager. We should allow him some flexibility. He is not going to go nuts with this.”
Councilman Dave Bush said the lawmakers should not “micromanage” Cutts.
Mayor Tony Anderson, Deputy Mayor Mia Gregerson, Ladenburg and Bush voted for the ordinance. Forschler, Fernald and Councilwoman Terry Anderson voted against.
During public comments, resident Vicki Lockwood noted expense reports for the NLC convention are still tricking in. She questioned how council members could approve the reimbursements without knowing the full amount to be requested.
Cutts, Tony Anderson, Gregerson, Ladenburg and Bush attended the convention.
Councilman Forschler again asked that the expense account item be pulled from the consent agenda.
Forschler said he would vote to approve the expenses.
“I’m trusting they’ve done the right thing,” Forschler added.
But he noted that former Deputy Mayor Gene Fisher, who was defeated in his re-election bid, was accused of charging too much to the city on his credit card after placing charges for other council members’ meals on the card.
“People are watching. People are alert,” Forschler observed.
Various explanations for the expenses followed including unfamiliarity with filling out the forms, differing lengths of stays and varying charges for different hotels.
Mayor Anderson guessed that Gregerson’s meal expenses were less because she ate salads.
Gregerson said she would be happy to go over her expenses with anyone.
The reimbursements were approved unanimously.
Lawmakers also approved a $10,000 donation for the annual Fourth of July fireworks display at Angle Lake. Residents along the lake put on the private display. Angle Lake Park is kept open late as a public viewing site.
It appeared 2011’s display would the final year for the city’s contribution after considerable controversy last year.
At last week’s meeting, Ladenburg reminded Forschler that Forschler had promised last year to volunteer for a private fundraising drive to replace the city’s share.
Forschler replied he had offered but was not contacted.
Gregerson said lake residents raise money in addition to the city’s donation to put on the fireworks.
Tony Anderson, Terry Anderson, Gregerson, Ladenburg and Bush voted for the funding. Forschler and Fernald voted against.
Council members also heard a presentation by Port commissioner John
Creighton on the Port of Seattle’s Century Agenda. The agenda is the Port’s strategic plan for the next 25 years.
Creighton noted the Port celebrated its centennial last year.
The commissioner said the Port plans to add 100,000 more Port-related jobs at Sea-Tac airport and its maritime division while reducing its environmental footprint. He noted that would mean a total of 300,00 Port-related jobs in the region.
At the airport, Creighton said the Port wants to triple its air cargo.
“We can’t do it unless we expand Sate Route 509,” Creighton noted.
The extension of SR 509 from South 188th Street to Interstate 5 has been stalled for over a decade.
The Port is also seeking to double international air travel going through Sea-Tac with the airport becoming the “Gateway of Choice” for foreign travel.
Gregerson asked Creighton about ‘fair wage’ jobs at the Port.
Creighton replied that it is a “tricky issue” with longshoremen making very good wages while other jobs, primarily occupied by immigrants, are low paying.
He said there are “competitive issues” because airline are still struggling with costs following the 9-11 attacks.
Gregerson observed that when city residents have low-paying jobs at the airport, SeaTac has to pick up the slack in human services costs.
