Monday, April 27, 2015 -- Proceedings of The Eighth Meeting of the Charter Review Commission

The eighth meeting of the Whatcom County Charter Review Commission was held on Monday, April 27, 2015 in the new Ferndale Public Library.

The meeting was called to order at approximately 6:30 pm by commission chairman, Ben Elenbaas.

After the flag salute and roll call, the floor was opened to public comments. Ferndale Mayor Gary Jensen welcomed everyone to Ferndale.

There was a short explanation by attorney Dan Gibson about a complaint that someone was reading their email during commission meetings. He explained that's his job. He may be searching for documents, or doing other research in support of the commission proceedings.

  

Several folks were on hand to speak out against Proposed Amendment 1 by Joe Elenbaas: Shall the Charter be amended to provide for election of council members within the council district from which the candidate was nominated?, and a few people opposed Proposed Amendment 16 by Wes Kentch: Shall the Charter be amended to increase transparency in funding between Whatcom County and nonprofit non-governmental organizations (NGOs)?

Minutes from the previous meeting were approved by general consent.

Proposed Amendment 9 by Todd Donovan: Shall the Charter be amended to provide for the election of Councilmembers countywide and by districts from which the candidate was nominated? was discussed. Commissioner Donovan provided more transition language for the amendment. After quite a bit of discussion about how the districts might be apportioned, and with proposed amendments to strike the at large positions, the proposed amendment failed 4-11 with Donovan, Mackiewicz, May, and Stuen in favor.

Proposed Amendment 12 by Jon Mutchler: Shall the Charter be amended to include a new section to require compliance with the Washington State Open Public Meetings Act? was discussed. Commissioner Mutchler was motivated by the occasional appearance of City of Ferndale government in the papers for violations of the open meetings act. The amendment is intended to raise awareness and make compliance with the act be the default position for all of Whatcom County. Dan Gibson raised some concerns about legal complications and over-bureaucratization that could occur with such an amendment. There was a motion to strike the enforcement clause, which should be redundant in a charter amendment, passed by unanimous consent. The proposed amendment failed 5-8-2 with Donovan, Joe Elenbaas, Kentch, Mackiewicz, and Mutchler in favor; Langley and May abstained.

Proposed Amendment 13 by Eli Mackiewicz: Shall the Charter be amended to include four political parties, instead of two, in the districting process? was discussed. Commissioner Mackiewicz had a few corrections and updates to his amendment, that he read into the record. Several technical questions were raised (election theory can get complicated). The discussion was going along quite amicably, but time was running out. So this amendment was scheduled for the May 11, 2015 regular Commission meeting.

Proposed Amendment 14 by Jon Mutchler and Todd Donovan, Shall the Charter be amended to lower the threshold requirement for ballot signatures for Whatcom County Charter changes from 20% to 15% for citizen initiatives?; Proposed Amendment 15 by Jon Mutchler, County Auditor duties and responsibilities amendment; Proposed Amendment 16 by Wes Kentch, Shall the Charter be amended to increase transparency in funding between Whatcom County and nonprofit non-governmental organizations (NGOs)?; Proposed Amendment 17 by Richard May, Shall the Charter be amended to include a section on districting restrictions?; were all scheduled for the May 11, 2015 regular Commission meeting.

Here is the audio from the full meeting (our apologies - the soundtrack is a little noisy this time; the meeting room windows were open, so there was a lot of traffic noise, and the commission didn't have their PA system):



The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:25 p.m.

Eighth Charter Review Commission Meeting Scheduled for April 27, 2015, 6:30 PM (Monday)

The eighth meeting of the Charter Review Commission will be held on Monday, April 27, 2015, 6:30 PM in the Ferndale Library, 2125 Main Street, Ferndale.

Agenda

1. Call to Order 
2. Roll Call 
3. Pledge of Allegiance 
4. Public Session
   Members of the public will have 3 minutes to address the Commission on any subject. Each speaker should state his or her name for the record. To submit handouts, please provide one for each commissioner and two for staff and the record. 
5. Approval of Minutes for April 13, 2015 
6. Old Business: Discussion and Possible Vote on Proposed Charter Amendments for Voters at the next General Election
   The Commission will take a mid-meeting break if necessary.
   
   Proposed Amendment 9 from Todd Donovan: Shall the Charter be amended to provide for the election of Councilmembers countywide and by districts from which the candidate was nominated?
   
   Proposed Amendment 12 from Jon Mutchler: Shall the Charter be amended to include a new section to require compliance with the Washington State Open Public Meetings Act?
   
   Proposed Amendment 13 from Eli Mackiewicz: Shall the Charter be amended to include four political parties, instead of two, in the districting process?
   
   Proposed Amendment 14 from Todd Donovan and Jon Mutchler: Shall the Charter be amended to lower the threshold requirement for ballot signatures for Whatcom County Charter changes from 20% to 15% for citizen initiatives?
   
7. Old Business: Proposed Charter Amendments for Voters at the next General Election
   The Commission voted to forward these proposed amendments to Whatcom County voters. They will not be discussed at tonight’s meeting. However, any commissioner may move to reconsider these amendments during any meeting.
   Proposed Amendment 1 from Joe Elenbaas: Shall the Charter be amended to provide for election of council members within the council district from which the candidate was nominated?
   
   Proposed Amendment 2 from Joe Elenbaas: Shall the Charter in Article 5.40 and Article 5.60 be amended to increase the "concise statement" limit from 20 words to 40 words?
   
   Proposed Amendment 3 from Ben Elenbaas: Shall Charter Section 8.20 be amended to prohibit the County Council from proposing Charter amendments on matters that have been approved by a 2/3 majority of voters?
   
   Proposed Amendment 5 from Todd Donovan: Shall the Charter be amended to facilitate voting on initiative and referendum?
   
   Proposed Amendment 6 from Ken Bell: Shall the Charter be amended to apply term limits to the County Councilmembers?
   
   Proposed Amendment 10 from Chet Dow: Shall Charter Section 8.23 be amended to prohibit the County Council from proposing any Charter amendment to Charter sections 2.12 or 2.13?
8. New Business County Auditor duties and responsibilities amendment.
9. Adjourn 

The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on May 11, 2015 at the Civic Center Garden Room, 322 N. Commercial, Bellingham, Washington.

Monday, April 13, 2015 -- Proceedings of The Seventh Meeting of the Charter Review Commission

The seventh meeting of the Whatcom County Charter Review Commission was held on Monday, April 13, 2015.

The meeting was called to order at approximately 6:30 pm by commission chairman, Ben Elenbaas.

After the flag salute and roll call, the floor was opened to public comments.

Keith Willnauer (assessor) and Debbie Adelstein (auditor) addressed questions about what impact proposed Amendment 8, "Shall the Charter be amended to provide voter education concerning county officials' election titles by requiring ballots to refer to the Assessor as the "Property Assessor" and the Auditor as the "Auditor and Elections Officer"?", would have on the operations and cost of government. They both seemed to think the cost would be minimal, but both wondered why it is really necessary.

There was a large crowd present for this meeting, due to the the local progressive community sending out an "all hands on deck" call for their supporters to show up to pack the house with those that wish to retain the “at large” voting system in the charter now, in opposition to proposed Amendment 1, "Shall the Charter be amended to provide for election of council members within the council district from which the candidate was nominated?". The house was especially packed, because the local libertarian and conservative community caught wind of this, and brought in their own reinforcements. It is hard to say how evenly packed, in fact, the house was.

Chairman Ben Elembaas invited the first speaker to be RE Sources organizer, Matt Petryni. Petryni asserted that a change to council representation by district was a move by the coal interests to further their agenda. There was a bit of a dust-up between the RE Sources people and Chairman Elenbaas when Mr. Elenbaas proceeded to read Petryni's entire "call to arms" email. The email essentially repeated Mr. Petryni's testimony, but some people seemed incensed to hear the same message from Mr. Elenbaas. This was called "uncivil" by some in later testimony. It was at least entertaining political theater.

The testimony went on for about an hour and a half. Many of the speakers seemed to be unaware that any decision by The Commission would simply go to the voters on the November ballot. If they were aware, then it exposed an unwillingness to put it to a vote of the people.

Some speakers were outraged that The Commission also had approved proposed Amendment 3, "Shall Charter Section 8.20 be amended to prohibit the County Council from proposing Charter amendments on matters that have been approved by a 2/3 majority of voters?", or proposed Amendment 10, "Shall Charter Section 8.23 be amended to prohibit the County Council from proposing any Charter amendment to Charter sections 2.12 or 2.13?" (these sections address changes in the nomination and voting of council members; many political scientists believe legislators should not be able to modify rules affecting their own positions). Again, many speakers seemed to believe The Commission has the last word, and will be passed into law. 

The Commission can only make recommendations to voters on the November ballot.

In the short time remaining after the last speaker was heard, and after the break, The Commission chewed through a bit of the now-smoldering agenda.

Proposed Amendment 8 was discussed, and failed on a 6~9 vote, with Donovan, Mutchler, May, Walker, Mackiewicz, and Ryan in favor.

Proposed Amendment 13, "Shall the Charter be amended to include four political parties, instead of two, in the districting process?", was discussed, but scheduled for the April 27, 2015 regular Commission meeting.

Proposed Amendment 12, "Shall the Charter be amended to include a new section to require compliance with the Washington State Open Public Meetings Act and impose a civil penalty on violations of the Act?" was approved to be scheduled for the April 27, 2015 regular Commission meeting for further discussion.

Commissioner Bell proposed that the Commission schedule a public hearing prior to the final vote on all proposed amendments. The commission preferred to continue to allow "open session" as the traditional, historic public input method. The rest of The Commission seemed to agree that hearings are usually reserved for final legislation and rule-making, rather than simply putting options on the November ballot. 

Finally, a new proposed Amendment 14 was introduced. "Shall the Charter be amended to lower the threshold requirement for ballot signatures for Whatcom County Charter changes from 20% to 15% for citizen initiatives?", and was scheduled for the April 27, 2015 regular Commission meeting for further discussion.

Here is the audio from the full meeting:



The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:50 p.m.

Make sure your vote counts!

The local progressive community has sent out an "all hands on deck" call for their supporters to show up at the April 13, 2015 Charter Review meeting.  They are doing this to pack the house with those that wish  to retain the unfair “at large” voting system in the charter now.

What is at stake?  

• On February 23 the Charter Review Commission passed  Proposed Amendment 1 to return elections for the Whatcom County Council to a vote of the people in districts.  Each district would only vote for the representative in their district. The progressives that will attend on Monday do not want people to vote on this alternative.
• Currently we have an "at-large" voting system where the entire county votes for each  representative, which essentially makes all of Whatcom County one big district. The progressives believe that "at large" voting will retain a council that only believes in their one sided view of things. They are right.
• The progressives believe the "at large" system will retain a county with no diverse voices of the several communities in the Whatcom County only theirs. They are right.

FACT:  the City of Seattle voted to elect their representatives by district vote in 2013.  Read an analysis of that charter amendment here.

FACT: The election results for the Charter Review Commission itself reflect quite clearly that there is a great deal of unrepresented diversity in thought throughout Whatcom County.

Progressives want you to believe their view is the only view.  

• They say that our elections are fair even though in the 2013 County Council race, Ken Mann, and Carl Weimer did not win the vote of the people in their district.
• They will continue to send out mass emails full of lies and misrepresentations all designed to subvert  the will of the people in Whatcom County.
• Don't let the progressives take your vote away!  Please show up on Monday April 13 and make sure  you voice is heard for diverse views on the County Council.

Charter Review Commission
6:30 pm, Monday, April 13, 2015
Civic Center Garden Room
322 N. Commercial

Seventh Charter Review Commission Meeting Scheduled for April 13, 2015, 6:30 PM (Monday)

The seventh meeting of the Charter Review Commission will be held on Monday, April 13, 2015, 6:30 PM in the Civic Center Garden Room, 322 N. Commercial Street, Bellingham, WA 98225.

Agenda

1. Call to Order
   
2. Roll Call
   
3. Pledge of Allegiance
   
4. Public Session
   Members of the public will have 3 minutes to address the Commission on any subject. Each speaker should state his or her name for the record. To submit handouts, please provide one for each commissioner and two for staff and the record.
   
5. Approval of Minutes for March 23, 2015
   
6. Old Business: Discussion and Possible Vote on Proposed Charter Amendments for Voters at the next General Election.
   
   The Commission will take a mid-meeting break if necessary.
   
   Proposed Amendment 8 from Jon Mutchler: Shall the Charter be amended to provide voter education concerning county officials’ election titles by requiring ballots to refer to the Assessor as the “Property Assessor” and the Auditor as the “Auditor and Elections Officer”?
   
   Proposed Amendment 13 from Eli Mackiewicz: Shall the Charter be amended to include four political parties, instead of two, in the districting process?
   
   
7. Old Business: Proposed Charter Amendments for Voters at the next General Election
   The Commission voted to forward these proposed amendments to Whatcom County voters. They will not be discussed at tonight’s meeting. However, any commissioner may move to reconsider these amendments during any meeting.
   
   Proposed Amendment 1 from Joe Elenbaas: Shall the Charter be amended to provide for election of council members within the council district from which the candidate was nominated?
   
   Proposed Amendment 2 from Joe Elenbaas: Shall the Charter in Article 5.40 and Article 5.60 be amended to increase the "concise statement" limit from 20 words to 40 words?
   
   Proposed Amendment 3 from Ben Elenbaas: Shall Charter Section 8.20 be amended to prohibit the County Council from proposing Charter amendments on matters that have been approved by a 2/3 majority of voters?
   
   Proposed Amendment 5 from Todd Donovan: Shall the Charter be amended to facilitate voting on initiative and referendum?
   
   Proposed Amendment 6 from Ken Bell: Shall the Charter be amended to apply term limits to the County Councilmembers?
   
   Proposed Amendment 10 from Chet Dow: Shall Charter Section 8.23 be amended to prohibit the County Council from proposing any Charter amendment to Charter sections 2.12 or 2.13?
   
   
8. New Business
   
   Pending Amendment 12 from Jon Mutchler: Shall the Charter be amended to include a new section to require compliance with the Washington State Open Public Meetings Act and impose a civil penalty on violations of the Act?
   
   Pending Amendment from Todd Donovan and Jon Mutchler: Shall the Charter be amended to lower the threshold requirement for ballot signatures for Whatcom County Charter changes from 20% to 15% for citizen initiatives?
   
   
9. Adjourn

The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 27, 2015 at the Ferndale

Library, 2125 Main Street, Ferndale.