A move to change Federal Way’s form of government for the first time in its 18-year history is driven by two men who’ve fought City Hall over their own private property issues.
Switching from a city manager to a strong, elected mayor would help fix what ails Federal Way, according to Roy Parke and Dave McKenzie.
Parke had a longstanding battle with the city over flooding at his former property. McKenzie objected to the presence of a halfway house, the now-defunct Oxford House, across the street from his home.
While some say they have axes to grind, the two activists say that’s not why they’re pushing for change.
McKenzie said the council didn’t listen to residents’ concerns about several controversial projects: the purchase and development of Celebration Park, the $21 million community center, and the Sound Transit center and parking garage.
“Virtually everyone I know feels the city is not responsive to the needs of the people,” McKenzie said.
Barbara Reid leads a group that strongly disagrees. She said the current council-manager system is already accountable because council members listen and answer to the public, and voters decide whether to keep them in office.
Reid said an elected mayor won’t be more responsive but could wind up at odds with the council, leading to a divided government.
“What we have is working well for us,” Reid said. “Why would we want to change it?”
Voters in the state’s eighth-largest city will decide Feb. 19 whether to switch to a strong, elected mayor.
Federal Way would be the largest city in the region with that type of government. Voters would elect a mayor every four years, starting in November.
Under the current form, the City Council elects the mayor – a mostly ceremonial position – from its ranks every two years, while a professional city manager runs the city.
Strong, elected mayors, like the ones in Auburn, Kent and Gig Harbor, work full time directing city operations.
In Federal Way, he or she would serve in addition to the seven City Council members, said City Attorney Pat Richardson, and would vote only to break ties on council votes.
SINCE THE BEGINNING
Federal Way has had a council-manager form of government since the city incorporated in 1990.
Parke and Reid lead opposing sides on the ballot measure that would shake things up.
Parke, 56, owns and drives a semitruck for a living. He submitted petition signatures on behalf of a group he founded called Accountability Comes to Town, or ACT. He turned in 2,870 signatures. Of those, 2,207 were deemed valid by King County – enough to put the measure on the ballot.
Residents should directly elect a mayor “so whoever runs the city is directly accountable to the people,” Parke said. “Right now, the city manager runs the city.”
Reid, 77, is retired from the marketing-communications field. She is chairwoman of Federal Way Works, a group founded to oppose the strong-mayor measure.
The Federal Way Chamber of Commerce also doesn’t like the measure, its board of directors having voted 15-0 in December to oppose it. One member abstained.
“They feel the council has made substantial changes for the business community and downtown Federal Way,” said Tom Pierson, the chamber’s chief executive office.
H. David Kaplan, a member of Federal Way Works, said he prefers a city manager because the position requires professional training and education.
“A mayor doesn’t have to have any qualifications whatsoever except more votes than anyone else,” said Kaplan, 73, a retired journalist and public relations worker.
A City Council provides more accountability because at least four council members have to approve actions, Kaplan said.
He was one of three people who wrote a voters pamphlet statement against the measure. It says an elected mayor could require a $250,000 increase in the city budget to pay for a mayor’s salary and benefits, support staff and office costs.
THE COSTS
McKenzie doesn’t believe an elected mayor would cost that much. The city already has plenty of administrative staff, he said.
“If anything, I think they could cut down on staff,” said McKenzie, 54, who works as an aerospace quality systems consultant.
But there are expenses associated with making the change. The city’s pro-rated cost for the election is estimated between $77,000 and $111,000.
In addition, City Manager Neal Beets’ contract includes a provision that would pay him five months’ severance if his job is eliminated due to a change in form of government. That separation cost: $60,005.
Before Beets started as city manager in August 2006, efforts were under way to put the measure on the ballot, and he anticipated it in his contract language.
Beets’ current salary is $144,012. Under the strong-mayor system, a city administrator is usually hired to assist the mayor. An administrator can earn as much or more than a city manager.
If the measure passes, Beets said he would not be interested in the city administrator job and would pursue a city manager post elsewhere or perhaps a position with King County or the state.
McKenzie said the cost of paying Beets should not distract from the issue at hand.
“I firmly believe this is ultimately about accountability and saving more than that,” McKenzie said.
OTHER EXAMPLES
Federal Way doesn’t have to look far to see an effective strong-mayor system.
Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis runs his city with a firm hand, making personnel moves and setting a course for downtown redevelopment. Lewis is popular, has few vocal critics and plans to run for a third term in November 2009.
On the Federal Way City Council, however, the strong-mayor measure has caused division.
Council member Jim Ferrell said he supports the change to bring accountability, leadership and vision to the city.
“The person who runs our city on a day-to-day basis should be an elected representative of the people,” Ferrell said.
McKenzie said he would like Ferrell to be mayor, but that’s not what the election is about. Ferrell said he doesn’t know if he would be interested in the job. He already works full time as senior deputy prosecuting attorney for King County.
“This is the biggest issue to face the city of Federal Way since its inception,” Ferrell said. “We have a lot of people who desperately want accountability.”
But Jack Dovey, who was elected by the council last month as mayor, opposes changing to a strong mayor.
“I feel the system we have now works well,” said Dovey, who stressed he was speaking as a citizen and not as mayor.
“I think it gives citizens an opportunity to voice their opinion and decide if council members are doing a good job,” he said – and if they’re not, vote them out of office.
Steve Maynard: 253-597-8647
FEDERAL WAY FOES
A look at two groups, the first, pro-strong mayor; the second, against.
Accountability Comes to Town
• $6,820 cash
• $5,273 in-kind donations
No City Council members contributed to this campaign.
Federal Way Works
• $12,945 cash
• $1,500 in-kind contributions
Donations include $500 from Federal Way City Council member Eric Faison, $100 from council member Linda Kochmar, and $50 from council member Jeanne Burbidge.
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