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closeCouncil retreat will stay in Puyallup
City council will use WSU extension center for two-day study session this month
Neil Pierson/of The Herald
The Puyallup City Council has held its annual multi-day study session outside the city limits before, but it’s hard to call that event a “retreat” this year.
The council agreed to hold a two-day study session on Feb. 22 and 23 at the Washington State University Research and Extension Center, which became a part of the city limits during the West Hills annexation last year. The council may convene on Feb. 24 as well, though a location hasn’t been determined for that day and may not be necessary if the group completes its agenda quickly. The sessions, which are open to the public, will take place at the Allmendinger Center beginning at 11 a.m. each day.
The council determined that staying in Puyallup was a priority because of reduced costs and accessibility to the public. Past meeting places have included a resort on the Olympic Peninsula and a hotel in Bellevue. City Manager Gary McLean recently suggested several locations for February’s gathering, including the Sound Transit board room in downtown Seattle.
“My objective was to find a place where we could do a swap so there was no cost to the city,” McLean said. “In other words, this facility could be used by another agency or entity for no charge if we got to use their facility.”
“I oppose anything outside the city,” Councilmember John Knutsen said during a Feb. 2 meeting during which the council sorted out times and locations for the sessions. “We should do our business in our city.”
Councilmember Don Malloy pointed out that local facilities such as the Puyallup Senior Center and Korum Ford have been used for past workshops. Other suggested locations included the Puyallup Public Library, the city’s public works building on South Hill and the council’s old chambers on South Meridian.
Mayor Kathy Turner opposed those locations because they’re already used by city employees or groups like the Daffodil Festival and Puyallup Main Street Association.
“It’s a work day for those people and they use those buildings,” Turner said.
The council will hire a facilitator to keep the meetings running smoothly and help develop solutions. Knutsen said he didn’t want to pay for one, suggesting a city staff member could do it. Other council members said bringing in someone from outside the community made sense.
“There are professionals that get paid to do that...and they have no vested interest,” Councilmember Kent Boyle said. “If you take someone who is currently employed in the city, then you don’t really have somebody that comes without baggage.”
“A facilitator definitely is needed, whether we pay for it or not,” Deputy Mayor Tami Brouillet added.
McLean said facilitators typically aren’t identified publicly before the meeting but the council was considering three candidates last week. All of them have extensive experience as facilitators, he said.
The study sessions figure to focus heavily on the city’s budget. City officials urged the council last week to begin planning early and develop some policy changes for the 2011-2012 biennial budget.