Everett City Council rethinks switch from night meetings

Published 10:52 pm Wednesday, January 20, 2010

EVERETT — Night City Council meetings are back on the table.

Councilman Shannon Affholter on Wednesday night asked for an ordinance that would move council meetings back to evenings, with the exception of one morning meeting a month. No decision was made.

The issue wasn’t on the agenda, but Affholter said such a decision would be a good compromise that would allow the greatest number of people to sit in on city business.

Affholter was one of four councilmen who voted Jan. 6 to dump night meetings in favor of mostly daytime meetings.

The vote came without any public notice or comment — a political move that seems to have angered people as much as the decision.

People upset with the change filled the council chamber seats and stood alone the walls Wednesday. As city leaders spoke, a petition made its way around the room for an initiative to appear on the ballot so citizens could vote on the matter.

Affholter told the packed room it was time for the council to find common ground.

“I hope the council comes together and moves forward to do what’s right for all the people in the city of Everett,” he said.

Jeff Moore, the newest councilman who provided the swing vote for morning meetings, spent 10 minutes explaining why he had made the original decision. He said at least one morning meeting might be a good way to provide flexibility for citizens and the most efficient government.

A half-dozen people signed up to urge the council to move back to night meetings. They cited the city charter and state law, and in one case, invited the council to attend a public showing of a documentary about building a better community.

It’s time the council looked not just at meeting times but the way it does its business, said Barb Lamoureux, who lives in north Everett.

“Do it soon before we lose more people to apathy,” she said.

The matter won’t be put to rest until at least Feb. 17 so people have ample notice and opportunity to weigh in. Council President Paul Roberts requested two special 6:30 p.m. meetings Feb. 3 and Feb. 10 for the first two readings of the ordinance.

Roberts told the crowd: “As a council we are trying to work through issues in a constructive fashion.”

Debra Smith: 425-339-3197, dsmith@heraldnet.com.