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Multiple residents urge council to respect citizen input and recuse when conflicted
Summary
At the Aug. 13 meeting several residents told the council that ignoring citizen work and failing to recuse members with vested interests discourages public engagement; a resident cited the Washington State Planning Enabling Act.
During the public-comment period multiple residents told the council that the town should take citizen input seriously and avoid the appearance of conflicts by recusal when appropriate.
Carolanne Steinebach said, "if you are not willing to take the advice given then you should not seek advice anymore," urging the council to respect volunteer contributions. Paula Mackrow referenced state planning law, telling the council that the Washington State Planning Enabling Act "enforces providing for health and welfare, not economic opportunities," and warned that ignoring the amounts of citizen input discourages active engagement. Mayor and council members heard requests that members recuse themselves if they have a vested interest but also acknowledged quorum constraints can complicate recusal.
The council did not take immediate action on recusal policy at the meeting but public comments were recorded and included in the minutes.
