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Bonney Lake council approves staff travel to national ICMA conference amid budget questions
Summary
The Bonney Lake City Council on May 19 approved a resolution authorizing an assistant to attend the International City/County Management Association conference after council members debated an out‑of‑state travel ban, budget impacts and whether employees paying airfare should be allowed.
The Bonney Lake City Council voted May 19 to authorize an assistant to the city administrator to attend the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) annual conference, despite council discussion about an existing out‑of‑state travel ban and ongoing budget pressures.
Councilmember Fullerton raised the issue after reviewing finance committee materials and said the council should be consistent about who is allowed to travel out of state when the city is discussing possible taxes and layoffs. "If we're going to have a ban on out‑of‑state travel then are we going to be like picking — oh, this person gets to go but that person doesn't?" she said.
City staff described the request as similar to a previously approved out‑of‑state request where the employee covered airfare; the staff member slated to attend serves on the Washington City/County Management Association board and has been involved in a Northwest Women's Leadership Academy, which staff said aligns with the employee's duties. Staff also said that the conference costs were budgeted in the city’s training line and that the employee would pay airfare. The agenda bill listed hotel at roughly $1,200, registration about $570 and meals around $150, and one councilmember noted the conference fee cited in discussion was about $1,700.
Council members debated broader policy and budget context. Some members said limiting travel could help reduce costs, while others said out‑of‑state or vendor conferences can provide training and networking that benefit the city. City staff told the council that out‑of‑state travel requires council approval unless specifically identified in the budget and that some recent out‑of‑state requests were approved under similar arrangements.
A motion to authorize AB 26‑43 was moved and seconded during the meeting and approved by voice vote. The motion passed by a vocal aye/nay procedure; no detailed roll‑call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript.
Council asked staff to provide a more detailed breakdown of the city's training expenditures and to return with a clearer policy or spreadsheet showing which trainings are budgeted in which funds. Staff said they would circulate an updated spreadsheet to council members.
