Charter Review Commission Hears Differing Views on Number of Commissioners

Presentations from Citizens’ Salary Commission, Council Chair and former Council legislators heard

From the Charter Review Commission Outreach Committee

The next meeting of the San Juan County Charter Review Commission (CRC) is on Saturday March 10th at Grace Episcopal Church in Lopez Village from 8:30 am to 2pm (with a break for lunch). Public input is welcomed and there is time set aside to hear your comments at 9:00 am again at 12pm (after lunch). At this meeting the CRC will hear presentations from County Council member Jamie Stephens, former County Council member and County Commissioner Bob Myhr and former County Commissioner Rhea Miller. At this meeting the CRC will be discussing the role of the Administrator and the separation of powers between the County Council and the Administrator.

The CRC is charged with reviewing the Charter “to determine its adequacy and suitability to the needs of the County.” Changes that they propose will be put on the ballot for the public to vote on in November.

At their March 3rd meeting on Orcas, the CRC heard presentations from former freeholder and County Council member Gene Knapp and Dick Evans, a member of the Citizens’ Salary Commission.

Mr. Knapp gave his impressions of how the charter is doing.  He expressed a strong feeling that the hiring of a professional administrator has been very good for the county and that it is the best part of the charter.  It is also his opinion that the current six-district system provides better representation. Mr. Knapp also expressed support for the Citizens’ Salary Commission.  All in all, he feels that the charter is working well.

Mr. Evans provided an overview of the Citizens’ Salary Commission, which sets the salaries for all of the elected officials in San Juan County. He noted that the Salary Commission does not review budget information, but is rather charged with setting salaries that are “commensurate with their duties.”  The salary commission received staff support from the County’s HR department. He expressed concern about the ability of the Salary Commission to actually set the Sheriff’s salary due to overriding guild agreements.  In response to questions from the CRC Mr. Evans strongly supported continuing to have the Salary Commission set the salaries for all of the elected officials (not just the council members) and wondered whether they could also review the salaries for non-elected county employees.

In the public comment periods the CRC also heard from OPAL executive director Lisa Byers, former County Commissioner John Evans, County Council member Patty Miller and community member Kyler Townsend.

Ms. Byers spoke strongly in favor of a full-time three-member commission. She commented that campaigning countywide has real value and allows an on-the-ground experience of the subtle differences between island communities.  She also spoke in favor of a professional, appointed administrator and suggested that the CRC consider a legislative aide position to support the commissioners as well.

Mr. Evans reiterated his support for a three-member commission or council and his belief that the current six-member council is much too expensive. In response to a question about the potential cost of countywide elections, Mr. Evans suggested that new online ways of communicating have made countywide campaigns more affordable and accessible.

Ms. Miller reminded the CRC of her advice that they consider the problems they are trying to solve, and then propose solutions. This approach, of identifying the problem, identifying the solution and then identifying new problems associated with the solutions, she emphasized, would avoid creating new unintended issues.  She expressed concern about the potential increase in cost with a return to countywide elections and that the ability to campaign is not necessarily associated with the skills needed once elected.  While she did not express a preference for a particular number of council members, Ms. Miller noted that with a part-time system the voters get six brains for the price of three.

Mr. Townsend expressed his concerns about a lack of public engagement. He stated that a larger council has created a more adversarial atmosphere and suggested that more funding should be provided for community outreach.  He used the CAO process as an example of something that the community is very concerned about, but about which he doesn’t feel there is enough dialog between the county and the community. He encouraged the CRC to remember that transparency and community oversight are essential to democracy.

During their working session the CRC adopted a tentative schedule for approving draft Charter Amendment language (the draft to be completed by June 2nd) and reaffirmed their majority support for a three-member council.

The working model of the CRC includes a three-member full-time council, countywide non-partisan elections and maintains the powers of initiative, referendum and mini-initiative. At upcoming meetings they will address the potential consolidation of departments, whether any currently elected positions should be made appointed, the Citizens Salary Commission, the role of the county administrator and the separation of power between the Administrator and the Council. Findings supporting the working-model are available at the CRC website (www.sanjuanco.com/committees/charterreview)

The schedule of meetings through March can be found at the CRC website. The March 17th meeting will be at the San Juan Grange from 8am to 2pm.  You can also find documents relevant to the Charter review process on the CRC website.  The CRC encourages members of the public to attend their meetings and to contact any member of the Commission to voice their opinions (contact information is also available at the website).