MAYOR, YOU'RE RIGHT - IT’S ALL ABOUT APPEARANCES



On the November 2, 2009, Edmonds City Council Agenda THERE was Item 9. AM-2579 – Review of construction easement reserved by Ordinance No. 3729. The easement involves the vacated right of way of a platted but unbuilt public alley lying between the reserved construction easement is for the installation of a driveway and retaining wall on property lying north of the alley and east of 8th Ave. N.
Backroom politics and interference - made the council remove this discussion outside of public view.


Mayor Gary Haakenson objected to Council review of this ordinance. By email from his personal email account, Mayor Haakenson violated the Open Public Meetings Act, Ch. 42.30 RCW

Here’s the verbatim email sent by Mayor Haakenson to Councilman Plunkett. For clarity I've added the information in parentheses ().
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From: gary haakenson ghaakenson@yahoo.com
Subject: Next Week
To: “michael plunkett” michaelppp98@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, October 29, 2009, 3:47 PM

The Hearing Examiner is set to hear the Reidy/Theusen case on November 4th. Scott Snyder (City Attorney) and the Reidys attorney have been exchanging nasty emails. Finis Tupper (Community Activist) has been asking questions of Wambolt (Councilman). Maui Moore (former Councilwoman and Mayor candidate) has made a bunch of public records requests bout the matter and she appears to working on Reidys behalf which is odd since she was financially supported by Theusen in the mayoral election two years ago.

DJ (Council President) met with Moore and Reidy last week. DJ has now scheduled an Exec session on the matter for next Tuesday against Mr. Snyders better judgment. He has also scheduled a full discussion agenda item after the exec session to talk about the Reidy/Theusen issue which is against Mr. Snyders advice. Scott basically says the he CP (Council President) can put whatever he wants on the agenda but advised DJ not to with Hearing Examiner case so close to conclusion which will resolve the City’s portion of the matter.

I’ve asked Sandy (City Clerk) to make the case to DJ to remove the agenda item and only add it after the exec session if the Council sees fit.

If he persists and puts it on the agenda, you may want to rally three votes to remove it from the agenda on Tuesday night if you think it wise.

Just trying to keep you in the loop as what he is doing. Why he is doing it is beyond me but if he’s working with Reidy... it must be to get at you somehow.
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All public agencies in Washington are required to conduct government business in open public meetings. The Mayor's request for Councilman Plunkett to rally "Three Votes" is illegal. The Mayor is correct that the Council President sets the City Council Agenda. Mayor Haakensons' interference in the agenda process is contrary to the separation of powers doctrine. Only certain subjects may be discussed in Executive Session outside of public view - real estate, complaints against a public officer or a legal matter. Council discussion about an ordinance vacating an unopened right of way would not be a subject appropriate for an Executive Session.
By all appearances, Mayor Haakenson, you violated the law!

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