In 2001 the commissioners of the Port of Edmonds voluntarily placed three propositions on the ballot for voters to decide:
1) Increasing the commission from three to five members.
2) Having the additional commissioners represent the district at large.
3) Reducing commission terms from six to four years.
Each measure passed overwhelmingly, getting 65 percent, 75 percent and 89 percent of the vote, respectively.
The three Port of Everett commissioners recently were asked to place similar propositions on the September 2005 ballot. They unanimously voted no and challenged the citizens to put them on the ballot by collecting 5,000 signatures for each measure.
This is not a recall effort. None of the existing commissioners is challenged by these initiatives. It is not a comment on past performance. These are the mechanisms built into state law to provide port districts options for more transparent, accountable, representative government.
The Port of Everett has the authority to levy property taxes without a vote of the people and has collected more than $30 million in the past 10 years. The port owns more than 1,000 acres – much of which includes shorelines of statewide significance – but it is not subject to property tax. The port insures more than $130 million in assets. The port is undertaking several major projects including the marine terminals, the north marina redevelopment and the rail barge facility. It is in the process of selling off 78 acres of publicly owned land on the Snohomish River.
As citizens of Everett’s port district, we are shareholders of a corporation that requires the votes of only two persons to legally make major decisions about this enormously valuable asset, which affects everyone in the region. In fact, one commissioner – by sheer force of personality – could inappropriately dominate the port’s decisions.
Because of the state Open Meetings Act, commissioners are not able to speak with each other regarding port matters unless they are in a public meeting because two commissioners constitute a quorum. All communication goes through the staff, and while they may be entirely professional and well-intentioned, staff members are not accountable to the public.
Currently the three commissioners are elected from the three sub-districts within the port district at staggered, two-year intervals. Each sub-district gets to vote on retaining or replacing its representative only once every six years. Population, economic opportunity and environmental standards have grown and become increasingly more complicated in recent years so a broader, more diverse range of perspectives is needed to assure more representative decisions.
The reduction in term length from six to four years is reasonable. Incumbents may go back to the voters for reaffirmation in perpetuity. Term limits are not implied. But four years is long enough to provide for continuity, while not discouraging potential candidates. The current commission will have a combined total of more than 60 years dictating port affairs when they finish their existing terms.
Under state law, the Port of Everett is a separate entity from the jurisdictions it encompasses. The port acts as its own lead agency in most cases and often the only recourse for an aggrieved public is a costly lawsuit in Superior Court.
Port government is already big, with 67 full-time employees. Two additional commissioners could and should be beating the bush to bring prosperity to the waterfront. The average total cost for each commissioner in 2004 was $23,751. This included an average base salary of $2,400, meeting attendance of $3,826, travel/education of $3,784 and $13,741 in medical expenses. The cost of two additional commissioners would be less than $50,000 – less than the salary of one employee.
As for the cost of putting these measures and candidate positions on the ballot, according to the county auditor’s office, the amount would be less than $30,000 – not more than $200,000, as claimed by the port.
These are not the radical ideas of a few disgruntled citizens. They represent proven actions that respond to the needs of our ever-growing and exceedingly complex world. They are heartily endorsed by a wide cross section of our community, including local developers, marina users, the League of Women Voters of Snohomish County, the Everett Shorelines Coalition, taxpayers and many neighborhood organizations.
If you’d like more information please contact Sue Adams at 360-659-5305 or stop by the Everett Farmers Market at the waterfront on Sundays to sign.
Sign the petitions, then vote yes for a healthy port.
Valerie Steele lives in Everett.
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