It’s Official: Mayor Joan McBride and Deputy Mayor Penny Sweet to lead Kirkland City Council

UPDATED
The first Kirkland City Council meeting of 2010 started with the ceremonial swearing in of the the new council members. Kirkland City Clerk Kathi Anderson administered the oath of office to Council Members Joan McBride (Position No. 1), Penny Sweet (Position No. 3), Amy Walen (Position No. 5) and Doreen Marchione (Position No. 7) who were elected to office in the November 2009 general election. McBride has been on the City Council since 1998 and has served as Deputy Mayor since 2002. The newly elected members join Council Members Bob Sternoff (Position No. 2), Jessica Greenway (Position No. 4) and Dave Asher (Position No. 6).

Then the council voted on who would serve as mayor and deputy mayor of the City of Kirkland for the next two years. Joan McBride was elected mayor and Penny Sweet was elected Deputy Mayor. Both votes were 6 to 0. Council Member Sternoff was absent during the regular meeting. After the vote, the newly minted mayor called for a five minute break to greet supporters present in the audience.

The Mayor is elected from within the City Council and presides at City Council meetings and represents the City at various ceremonial functions and at community and intergovernmental meetings. This position does not exercise veto power. The Deputy Mayor is also elected from within the City Council and presides over meetings during the absence of the Mayor.

After the break, it was down to business with items from the audience. Three of the speakers implored the new council to act in an appropriate and civil manner – a respect which has been missing from the council in recent years. In a word, the council was asked to behave.

1. No emails, texting or sexting
2. Pay attention while in session
3. Be respectful of each other and of the citizens of Kirkland whom the council serves.

This is sage advice for a city council starting with a clean slate. The ugliness and shenanigans which were so commonplace in years past will be history. Kirkland faces many challenges ahead and we have much work to do to vitalize our community and strengthen Kirkland’s economic wellbeing.

Also of note, the assistant city manager announced a public forum will be held on January 26 to collect input on the selection of a new city manager. Citizens are invited to comment at the public forum on January 26 at 7:00 p.m. in council chambers. What issues facing Kirkland are most important? What skills will be needed to address Kirkland’s challenges?

Congratulations to our new members of the Kirkland City Council! May 2010 be better a better year than 2009.

Note:

The City of Kirkland has a Council-Manager form of government. The voters elect seven at-large part-time City Council Members. The Council chooses a City Manager to oversee the operations of the City. The City Council derives its powers from the laws and Constitution of the State of Washington. All seven City Council positions are elected for terms of four years. Members receive a monthly salary as established by the Salary Commission.

City Council meetings are held the first and third Tuesdays of each month. The meetings are broadcast live on Kirkland KGOV (Comcast Channel 21; Verizon Channel 31) and video streamed to the City’s website at www.kirkland.wa.us. For more information, call Kathi Anderson, City Clerk, at 425-587-3197.