Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Charter Review topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves professional services contract to staff Charter Review Commission
Summary
The council approved Motion 26-085, authorizing a professional services agreement to hire a coordinator for the Charter Review Commission as recommended by the commission’s hiring committee; council staff said the charter requires the county to provide funds to the independent commission.
The Snohomish County Council voted 5-0 on Feb. 17, 2026, to authorize Motion 26-085, allowing the County Executive to sign a professional services contract to provide coordinator support to the Charter Review Commission. The motion cites the commission’s recommendation of a preferred candidate.
Heidi Bizzizzo addressed the council for the record and said the Charter Review Commission voted to authorize its hiring committee to interview top candidates and recommend a coordinator. "Snohomish County Charter section 8 clearly establishes the Charter Review Commission as an independent elected body, and the council arguably has a non delegable duty to authorize the expenditures of charter mandated funds as requested by the majority of the commission," Bizzizzo said.
Bizzizzo told the council the hiring committee recommended the top candidate and that a proposed professional services agreement was drafted and submitted to the council as Motion 26-085. Council Member Mead asked for clarification about the council’s role in the process; Bizzizzo replied that the commission acts independently and that the council’s role is administrative and fiscal — the county must execute payments and provide funds for the commission’s duties.
A council member referenced ethical concerns raised during public comment the prior week and asked whether an ethics commission review had occurred; Bizzizzo said she was not aware of any such review.
After brief discussion, Councilwoman Ehring moved approval of Motion 26-085; the motion was seconded and the council approved the contract 5-0 (Council Chair Dunne, Vice Chair Loh, Council Member Nering, Council Member Mead, Council Member Petersen). The council recessed until its 11:00 a.m. committee meeting.
The motion record filed with the council identifies the proposed coordinator in the motion materials as "Peter Condiles." The hiring committee’s recommendation and the council action complete the administrative authorization for the county to finalize the professional services agreement.
