Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Arts And Culture topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sedro-Woolley council votes to repeal Arts Commission after heated public comment
Summary
After extensive public comment and debate, the Sedro-Woolley City Council adopted Ordinance 211726 to repeal the municipal Arts Commission and amend city code on art donations; the vote was recorded as 4—to—2 in favor. Residents and commission members said the review lacked documentation and pledged to continue volunteer projects.
The Sedro-Woolley City Council voted to adopt Ordinance 211726, repealing Municipal Code Chapter 2.44 that established the municipal Arts Commission and amending Chapter 2.92 on gifts and donations of artwork.
The ordinance was the subject of a lengthy public comment period and council debate before the final voice vote. Randy Collins, who identified himself as chair of the Arts Commission, told council members the commission had delivered years of volunteer work, including coordinating donated materials and student participation on a metal-salmon roundabout project. "The hypocrisy of eliminating the arts commission while trying to resurrect a historical preservation commission which would require the same city resources you claim are unavailable for the arts is clearly self-serving and contradictory," Collins said. He told the council he had requested public records related to the city's review and found no supporting analysis or meeting notes documenting a formal evaluation.
Resident Andrew Champ urged the council to consider the commission's record and questioned whether the city had made a careful, documented decision. "If art is so important to these people, put their money where their mouth is, raise the money, present it to the city," Champ said during public comment.
Council members debated whether SWAC (the arts commission) had been inactive and whether staffing or budget constraints justified removing the commission. Some council members urged giving SWAC time to demonstrate progress, while others said the council would assume the advisory functions. City staff and the city attorney were available to answer legal and procedural questions during the second reading.
Ultimately the motion to adopt Ordinance 211726 carried; the council announced the vote as four in favor and two opposed. Minutes and the formal ordinance text will be published in the council packet; the repeal takes effect according to the language in the adopted ordinance and the accompanying code amendment.
What happens next: council members who supported retaining the commission suggested the group could reorganize as an independent nonprofit or reconvene volunteer efforts outside formal city commission structures. Members of the arts commission said they intend to continue projects they began without city funding and asked for clearer administration of municipal arts funds and posting of minutes. The city attorney was available during the meeting to clarify appeal and procedural questions; staff said related updates to Chapter 2.92 (gifts and donations) will be posted with the ordinance.
The council moved on to additional business after the vote; no new city funding was approved in connection with the repeal during this meeting.
