Orting council rejects resolution to update LGIP signatory; members say language gives too much unilateral authority

The Orting City Council voted 6-1 on April 9 to reject Resolution 2025-06, which would have updated the city’s authorized individual for its Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP) account to the city administrator and granted that individual authority to make amendments to the LGIP documentation.

Maher, a city finance staff member covering for the finance director, told the council the state treasurer’s LGIP required an updated form. “When we sent that to the LGIP, the local government investment pool, which is run by the state treasurer, they said that, we actually need to, update a resolution,” Maher said during the briefing. The proposed resolution would designate the city administrator as the authorized signatory for the LGIP account and use a title rather than a specific name to allow future personnel changes without a new resolution.

Several council members pressed staff about the resolution’s language and process. Councilmember Sprowl asked why the item did not go through the customary committee or study-session review: “So my first question is, why didn't this come to CGA?” Deputy Mayor Mary Koenig asked for clarification about the scope of the authority in the resolution, pointing to a provision that said the designated individual could “authorize all amendments, changes, alterations to the form, or any other documentation, including the designation of other individuals to make contributions and withdrawals on behalf of the governmental entity.”

Councilmember Sprowl repeatedly said the provision appeared to let the designated individual change account documentation and appoint signatories without returning to the council. The city staff said the requested language mirrored the LGIP’s procedural requirements and that the change was primarily administrative; staff also said the finance director had previously recommended the change. The resolution text named the city administrator as the authorized individual but did not specify a person by name.

Councilmember Hogan moved to adopt Resolution 2025-06; Councilmember Gunther seconded. On the final vote the council recorded one aye and six nays; the motion was not adopted. After the vote the mayor and staff indicated the council preferred to return the item to committee for further review.

The finance director was at a conference and did not present; staff covered the item on her behalf. The council did not approve changes to the city’s LGIP account signatories or amendment authority at this meeting.