Al Merkel raises concerns about the nomination process
SPOKANE VALLEY – The city witnessed a charged city council meeting on January 30, marked by the nomination of four new members to the planning commission. Despite concerns raised by Councilman Al Merkel about the nomination process, the motion passed with a 5-2 vote, igniting intense debate among council members and prompting public comments.
Deputy Mayor Tim Hattenburg announced the nominations of John Robertson and Justin Weatherman for terms extending from January 1, 2024, until December 31, 2026, and Vadim Smelik for the period from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024.
Mayor Pam Haley revealed that Matthew Hurt’s appointment, initially intended for a one-year term, would now span two years, pending confirmation at the next session.
In justifying her nominations, Mayor Haley stressed the significance of evaluating applicants based on their experience and references rather than solely on interview performance, “What they’ve done in the past, what they might bring to the planning commission, looking at their experience and what they’re doing.” She emphasized the need for geographical diversity among commission members to represent all areas of Spokane Valley effectively. “It’s supposed to be across all areas of our city.”
Councilman Rod Higgins defended the mayor’s authority to nominate commission members, citing the city code, while Mayor Haley reiterated the importance of respecting the established rules and processes.
“Members of the planning commission shall be nominated by the mayor, confirmed by a majority vote of at least four members of the council, nowhere in here does it say that council members should be interviewing people,” said Higgins.
The motion passed with a 5-2 vote, prompting Councilman Higgins to question Councilman Merkel’s motives, leading to a heated exchange.
“Are you purposefully trying to undercut the mayor here?” said Higgins.
“That was a direct accusation of motives. I would like to see the evidence for what you’re trying to represent,” Merkel pointed out.
Kelly Konkright, city attorney, indicated that it was not debatable.
Mayor Haley said that Councilman Merkel was attacking her personally, “which is against the rules of conduct. You’re out of order.”
During public comments, John Robertson expressed gratitude for his nomination but sought clarity on the nomination process, echoing concerns raised by other citizens regarding communication and transparency. “I’d like to understand the process for how it is done, nominating people,” he said.
Matthew Hurt highlighted the lack of proactive outreach from the city government, raising questions about the adequacy of information available for decision-making. “Until yesterday, nobody from the city government took the initiative to call me.”
Marshana Rodgers and John Harding voiced disappointment with the bureaucratic nature of the appointment process, urging a reevaluation of procedures to ensure transparency and citizen input.
“How can you folks vote on somebody if you have no input individually on who or what these people stand for?” said Harding.
Walt Heinecke, a former planning commission member, expressed disappointment at not being consulted about his potential reappointment, underscoring the need for better communication between the council and applicants.
“I understand it’s the Mayor’s prerogative to nominate, I totally respect that, but I was never called to say what I thought about being on the planning commission again.”
In subsequent council remarks, Councilman Merkel emphasized the importance of thorough vetting for planning commission nominees, citing past instances of flawed selection processes.
“It just speaks to me that maybe this process is a little bit broken,” said Merkel.
Councilwoman Laura Padden criticized the lack of a formalized process for nominations, emphasizing the importance of collective decision-making within the council.
“Instead, it was taken upon this council member to interview all these people by himself,” said Padden, who mentioned her own experience in the hiring process for governing bodies.
Councilman Ben Wick expressed concerns about appointing individuals with limited residency and experience in the city, urging further examination of the nominees. “I think we should look at it some more.”
Deputy Mayor Hattenburg underscored the challenges of the selection process and cautioned against hasty decisions to change established procedures. “The time isn’t now to change all our plans tonight,” he stated.
Councilwoman Padden reiterated the need for procedural clarity and collective decision-making within the council, emphasizing the importance of following established protocols.
Mayor Haley called for a vote to end the debate, which passed 5-2, with Councilmen Merkel and Wick voting against it. The meeting concluded amid unresolved tensions and calls for procedural reform.
Clare is an Eastern Washington University graduate and a reporter at Free Press Publishing.
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