Growth panel’s wings clipped

The table has been set for Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon’s first veto.

On a 3-to-2 vote along party lines, the County Council passed an ordinance Wednesday that spells out a new role for Snohomish County Tomorrow, the advisory group of city and county officials that tackles growth issues.

Critics say the changes will shrink the power of the group and limit its ability to weigh in on growth issues and long-range land-use policies.

Not so, says the Republican majority on the County Council that pushed for the changes.

Council Chairman John Koster said the county should consult with its cities on growth, and the changes won’t prevent that. "It doesn’t take anything away from the cities," he said.

Councilman Gary Nelson said the roles of the county’s planning commission, Snohomish County Tomorrow and the County Council have overlapped. And the changes will help clear up confusion about which group is calling the shots on growth planning. "The public deserves better," he said.

Council Democrats Kirke Sievers and Dave Gossett voted against the changes.

"I firmly believe that the county and the cities need to work together cooperatively to solve land-use issues," Sievers said. "The cities in my district oppose this ordinance. They do not believe this ordinance is necessary, let alone desirable."

The county has a history of cooperating with its cities, Gossett added. And not a single city supported the changes.

"I think this ordinance is a major step backward. I think it’s a bad idea," he said.

Reardon, a Democrat, earlier warned the council that he would veto the changes. He stood by that vow Wednesday. The veto would be his first during his five months as county executive.

The changes create the wrong approach to solving growth issues, he said. "It tells the cities that the county knows best when it comes to growth management."

Reporter Brian Kelly: 425-339-3422 or kelly@heraldnet.com.

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