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Woodinville narrows Olympia and DC delegations after debate over quorum and OPMA
Summary
Council debated whether to send the full council to AWC City Action Days and a DC trip but limited the official Olympia delegation to three members to avoid Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) concerns and nominated Mayor Millman and Deputy Mayor Randolph for the Washington, D.C. visit; votes were 5–2.
Council discussed representation for upcoming Association of Washington Cities City Action Days in Olympia and a separate 2025 Washington, D.C. legislative visit to lobby for community partnership fund requests.
Mister Hill summarized the events and recommended three council members attend the Olympia conference to avoid a quorum of the council meeting outside a public forum. City attorney Ganson explained OPMA concerns about a majority of council members meeting outside an open public meeting and advised that sending fewer than a quorum avoids the appearance of private council business.
Council member Taylor moved to invite the entire council; that amendment failed on a roll-call vote. The council then approved the original nomination to send three representatives to AWC and later voted 5–2 to nominate Mayor Millman and Deputy Mayor Randolph to represent the city at the Washington, D.C. legislative visit. Several council members emphasized that delegation members will be expected to adhere to the council’s preapproved legislative priorities and coordinate closely with staff and the city’s federal lobbyists.
Council member Bess Campbell said she would privately fund travel to Washington, D.C. and criticized the proposed all-male delegation; others responded that the staffed, coordinated approach has produced successful federal funding in the past. Final votes: motions to keep delegations below a quorum and to nominate the named DC representatives both passed 5–2.
The decisions set the city’s official representation while preserving caution about OPMA compliance and ensuring delegates adhere to council-approved priorities.
