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Milton resident urges council to tighten rules on phone and computer use during meetings
Summary
A Milton resident told the council she believes council members should not use phones or computers to solicit or receive information from the public during meetings and asked the council to amend its procedures resolution to limit device use to emergencies or research only.
A Milton resident asked the council Monday to clarify its procedures to restrict council members’ use of phones and computers for communicating with the public during meetings.
“Susan Johnson, Milton,” said during public comment. Johnson referenced the council’s procedures (identified in her remarks as Resolution 24-1977, adopted Sept. 18, 2024) and a state rule, which she cited as “RCW 42 dot 17 a dot 5 5 5,” and asked the council to revise its policy to state that devices “are for emergency situations only or for research purposes, but not for communicating with the public during a meeting.”
Johnson said she observed what she believed was a council member reading and responding to texts during a broadcast study session and followed up with a public disclosure request. She said records provided by the member showed phone use after the meeting began that referred to an agenda subject. “A citizen who attends a study session is not able to ask questions on an agenda. So why may a phone be used to retrieve a question from a citizen?” she asked.
Johnson also noted the staff time and cost associated with public disclosure requests and framed the change as part of expectations that council members be “open, transparent, and be the best stewards of public dollars and be above reproach.”
The mayor acknowledged the comment and moved on to the next speaker; the transcript records no formal council response, motion, or staff direction on the item during the meeting.
Johnson’s request was presented during the meeting’s public comment period; no formal rule change or agenda item to amend Resolution 24-1977 was scheduled or approved at the May 5 meeting.
