By Gwen Davis

At the last city council meeting, Councilmember Peter Kwon asked council members to agree to pass a resolution to protect ethnic diversity, especially in the wake of recent council decisions and unflattering news coverage. However, it failed due to other council members' vote. But tonight, he brought it up again, and after a debate among the council, the resolution was approved.

“I’d like to make a motion that should not come as a surprise,” Kwon said as a preface, near the end of the meeting.

He said he’d like to again draft a resolution to establish a tolerance for diversity resolution.

Residents were indeed asking for this, the mayor said of Kwon’s request.

But Councilmember Kathryn Campbell was “fearful” that “someone would be left out." Is it solely ethnic, or does it encompass other facets of humanity such as age and disability, she asked.

Kwon said SeaTac is one of the most diverse cities in Seattle. He said that all other cities in Seattle have an ethnic resolution.

But other council members also did not want a diversity resolution.

Councilmember Pam Fernald: “It’s not that I’m against a resolution… My job that I get paid for is to represent everyone in the city and to have a resolution to me is saying 'you don’t represent everyone', and you have to have a piece of paper that you do,” she said.

“People need to have faith in us that we are representing them… People have never asked us for this in the past. I don’t feel a need for a resolution.”

Kwon: “I felt exactly like that,” Kwon said. “I also felt that I completely represented everyone in the community, and it was all good.”

“But what was eye-opening is when I went to the community, they said that not everyone feels the council represents them,” he said. “They don’t feel safe or represented.”

“They said the city has been silent over the whole thing,” he continued. “Why don’t they have a resolution?," people have asked, he said. "Tukwila has something, Seattle has something, why doesn’t SeaTac have it?”

But Fernald was set.

“For me, I think that if you don’t feel represented, tell us you don’t feel represented and tell us why,” she said.

Kwon: “People don’t feel safe to come to council meetings,” he said. “They read the newspapers, and this is how they feel. They are not going to come to the council members. I’ve asked over 150 people, and they say for a resolution all across the board. All I’m asking is the council to come up with a draft.”

Councilmember Erin Sitterley: “I’m a doer not a talker,” she said. “I agree with Pam that words are just words. If we don’t do things to back up our words... But there’s also no harm that comes from a resolution. Having a simple resolution is not a big deal.”

Fernald changed her mind, as the conversation continued.

“If Peter said he’s knocked on 150 doors, it’s probably been 200,” she said. “But I think this has to be a give or take… You guys in TV land and everywhere need to come back and help us.”

Councilmember Tony Anderson: “I think we should do it. We are not trusted. A lot of stuff has happened in the last few months… if at least we give them something in their hands that says we’re going to honor you, we’ll have something that they can hold us accountable.”

Mayor: “I think we should do it.”

Campbell changed her tone.

“If it's inclusive rather than exclusive, I’m in favor of it.”

It was unanimously approved.

Public Testimony

First in the meeting was public testimony. Three topics were primarily brought up: the lawsuit that is facing SeaTac, the proposed hydroplane race on Angle Lake and the diversity resolution (that had not yet been passed).

First testifier: “This is in response to an article I read in the Highline Times,” regarding the lawsuit that SeaTac was slapped with. “I have a hard time swallowing and believing in it. It runs six thousand dollars a day in interest if this isn’t paid.”

He read what the judge had said in the article, regarding SeaTac’s irresponsibly, dishonesty and actions. “It’s unacceptable,” he said.

“It’s amazing that something could go on this long and not everyone in the council is aware of what’s happening,” he said. “Where is the city going to get the money to pay for this? I have heard that insurance is not going to pay it… Is the city going to raise taxes for the people? Taxes are going to astronomical, people won’t be able to afford it.”

Another testifier: “I’m here representing myself, I live on Angle Lake,” he said. “I don’t have any prepared notes, but I’ll speak from the heart. I have really enjoyed my time on the lake, it’s a nice little lake, small-town feel. Part of that lake is hydroplanes. I know two individuals who race. Today, it’s a quiet place, it’s a wonderful neighborhood, every now and then you see a motor boat.”

“What I appreciate about it is it's quiet,” he continued. He summed up: “What I want to say is once in a while, Angle Lake can use a little bit of excitement, it will do no harm. It will bring people to the neighbored. I’d encourage you folks to think seriously about it.”

Another four testifiers spoke in favor of the hydroplanes.

“We have to get the parks department and wave the speed limit in order to allow this event to occur,” one of them said. “We put together a survey and went around the neighborhood to 180 home fronts around the lake, and the survey was to get the opinions of lake front people to gets their opinions” about whether they would be in favor.

The results covered 180 houses and only five houses couldn’t be reached for comment.

“We had 230 votes who were in favor of the event, 26 who were indifferent, and 41 who were against the race,” he said.

Around 80 percent of people where not against the race.

“We want to make everyone aware that we love the lake the way it is,” he said. “But a little change is good and we’d like to bring two days out of the year” where there would be something different.

But he also said that his group is aware of the detriments of the hydroplanes, although those detriments are minimal. There will be noise, for instance, but the 4th of July also has noise. Pollution is not a concern, especially compared to other types of vehicles.

“This is an organized, professional event,” he ended. The race will be cornered off. “This is a one-time trial event,” he concluded. “I hope you support us.”

One testifier was passionate by hydroplane races.

“We want to see what it’s like, participate in it, and evaluate it after it’s over,” he said.

“If any people have concerns about taking care of the lake, it’s those living on the waterfront,” said another hydroplane testifier. “We, who live on the lake are most concerned about noise, we all know what the issues are and we all are comfortable that this is going to be a great event. It’s a great community event. It will bring the community together."

Another testifier talked about the diversity resolution that Councilmember Peter Kwon introduced. “I want to give my support of it,” he said.

“I feel having this document holds the council accountable if [discrimination takes,” he said. "Having the wording and resolution in place gives us the policy and wording in place to address problems that may occur later."

Another testifier talked again about the lawsuit, reported in the Highline Times. “The ethics of this city has damaged myself,” he said. “For a council member to sit in that trial and be asked ‘has the city done anything wrong?’ and you say ‘no’ how dare you be on that council."

One testifier thanked a couple council members for funding and the mayor for his transparency. “Kudos to you,” he said. He, along with a following testifier, then also supported Angle Lake.

Key City Issues

The acting city manager briefed the council about the nine city staff positions for which the city has been recruiting.

One favored staffer has been wooed to Amazon and “will be a huge loss,” the acting city manager said.

“One of the things we’ve been working on is pubic service and trying to get to great costumer service,” he also said. Another staffer then displayed a poster entitled Costumer Service Standards.

“It’s been well-received,” he said. “Kudos go to the staff."

Committee meetings have been challenging to schedule, he said. Therefore, steps are being taken to update one of the rooms the meetings take place. Safety and security will also be strengthened.

Angle Lake Issue

The council then took up the Angle Lake issue.

The code would need to be augmented to allow for the race. These ordinances would address public safety, special use and training.

The public training part would need to have further discussion in loop committee, council members decided.

“I went around Angle Lake and talked to a whole bunch of folks,” Kwon said. “Many supported the races, but did not support the training.”

The training creates “wakes” which might damage the environment, he reported.

Deputy Mayor Pam Fernald put a motion to make sure the hydroplane race would only take place once.

“But if we have the event next year, we’ll have to pass another bill to make this decision,” said Councilmember Tony Anderson. The motion is unnecessary, he said.

The amendment means the council has to come back and modify it again, but as it is, they’d only come back if it’s a failure.

But others also supported the amendment.

“Assuming it is a one-time trial, and it’s a success and everyone wants it, we’d have to come back.” Kwon said. “I know one of the biggest concerns of the folks on Angle Lake is that this may not be someone thing they want, but something that will come back every year. This would be insurance for them. I don’t see an issue with it. I have no problem putting this through and then us coming back.”

Council members debated whether to create this amendment.

The amendment was voted on and was passed.

The speed limit change was also approved.

Parking

A presenter talked about the current ordinance about parking and noise, saying it did not work, according to people all across the board. She presented a new proposal. However, the presenter’s proposal was “confusing” to council members, but all acknowledged that this process was “arduous”.

The ordinance in its present form was voted to be maintained.

Other Ordinances

Other ordinances regarding ethics were discussed, particularly about allowing current elected officials to run for other offices. However, terms were loosely defined, council members decided. They passed the original motion.