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Kirkland City Council creates task force to develop code of ethics

By on April 9, 2010 in Archived, Government, Headlines

Ethics-Task-Force

At its meeting on Tuesday, April 6, the Kirkland City Council voted unanimously to create a five-member citizen task force to draft a code of ethics and code of conduct for city council members.

The task force will meet for the next few months, taking input from city council members and Kirkland citizens, state laws, and model ethics and conduct codes from other governments around the country. The task force will receive staff support from the City Attorney’s office and the City Manager’s office, and may consult outside experts as needed. The draft will be presented to the city council for consideration later this year. After the code is adopted, it may be expanded to cover other boards and commissions.

Ten individuals submitted applications for appointment to the task force before the deadline. The following five were appointed to the task force on Tuesday:

  • Mary-Alyce Burleigh, retired educator, former Mayor and member of the Kirkland City Council, and founder and former co-chair of the Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods;
  • Kathy Gilles, Corporate Compliance and Privacy Officer at Evergreen Hospital, and member of Evergreen’s Ethics Committee;
  • Carolyn Hayek, attorney, former District Court judge in Federal Way, former national Governance Committee Chair for AAUW, and former member of the Kirkland Planning Commission;
  • Toby Nixon, Senior Standards Program Manager at Microsoft, president of the Washington Coalition for Open Government, and former state representative for the 45th District; and,
  • Sharon Sherrard, retired educator, chair of the Kirkland Interfaith Network, and leader at Lake Washington United Methodist Church.

The city staff report to the council mentioned the following elements that are included in ethics codes of other jurisdictions, and will be considered for inclusion in the Kirkland code:

  • Conflicts of interest
  • Acceptance of gifts and favors
  • Disclosure of confidential information
  • Employment after public service
  • Use of public office or property for personal gain
  • Limitations on campaign activities
  • Representation of private interests
  • Council conduct with other public agencies
  • Incompatible employment or activity
  • Nepotism
  • Individual Council members meeting with individuals or outside agencies

The staff report also mentioned the following elements included in conduct codes of other jurisdictions:

  • Serve as a model of leadership and civility to the community
  • Demonstrate honesty and integrity
  • Practice professionalism and decorum in discussions and debate
  • Avoid personal comments that could offend others
  • Be punctual and keep comments relevant to topics discussed
  • Treat all staff as professionals
  • Be respectful of diverse opinions
  • Listen attentively

The first meeting of the task force, along with members of the ad hoc ethics subcommittee of the city council (Mayor McBride and Councilmembers Asher and Marchione), is planned for April 26.

About Rob Butcher

Editor and Scribbler of Kirkland Views.
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  • http://www.tobynixon.com/ Toby Nixon

    Thanks for posting this, Rob. I’m looking forward to working with the others on the task force to produce an ethics and conduct code for Kirkland that will be a model for other jurisdictions around the state and nation. I know the readers of Kirkland Views have many additional ideas for possible elements of the code that should be considered by the task force, and hope they’ll share them with us!

    • http://www.kirklandviews.com/about/ Rob Butcher

      I would like to offer a suggestion for the ethics task force. I propose the task force establishes a set of ethical standards with regard to online blogs and social media. Such standards would apply to elected officials and department heads at City Hall and discourage them from posting comments or making claims anonymously or under pseudonyms. Elected officials and department heads have a wealth of knowledge that can and should improve the public discourse regarding issues. However, participation in online blogs and social media by elected officials and department heads should be made openly, using their real names. The public should never be mislead as to the identity of these individuals. Elected officials and department heads should be encouraged to participate in discussions with the public, but never under the cloak of a pseudonym.

      Openness and transparency to the public are standards by which the City of Kirkland should always be held accountable.

      Thank you for volunteering for this task force.

      • BOB YODER

        Well said. I don’t know if it’s been a big problem with candidates; they want their opinion heard. However, self-identification by city staff and administrators would be noble.

  • http://www.tobynixon.com Toby Nixon

    Thanks for posting this, Rob. I’m looking forward to working with the others on the task force to produce an ethics and conduct code for Kirkland that will be a model for other jurisdictions around the state and nation. I know the readers of Kirkland Views have many additional ideas for possible elements of the code that should be considered by the task force, and hope they’ll share them with us!

    • http://www.kirklandviews.com/about/ Rob Butcher

      I would like to offer a suggestion for the ethics task force. I propose the task force establishes a set of ethical standards with regard to online blogs and social media. Such standards would apply to elected officials and department heads at City Hall and discourage them from posting comments or making claims anonymously or under pseudonyms. Elected officials and department heads have a wealth of knowledge that can and should improve the public discourse regarding issues. However, participation in online blogs and social media by elected officials and department heads should be made openly, using their real names. The public should never be mislead as to the identity of these individuals. Elected officials and department heads should be encouraged to participate in discussions with the public, but never under the cloak of a pseudonym.

      Openness and transparency to the public are standards by which the City of Kirkland should always be held accountable.

      Thank you for volunteering for this task force.

      • BOB YODER

        Well said. I don’t know if it’s been a big problem with candidates; they want their opinion heard. However, self-identification by city staff and administrators would be noble.

  • Bob Style

    In citing examples of what not to do, the ethics task force should question the private meetings Mary-Alyce Burleigh had with the County, specifically Jane Hague and possibly others, with regard to the discussions held about the recent annexation. I believe the Kirkland City Council was aware of Ms. Burleigh possibly making promises unknown to the entire council. I believe Councilmember McBride was also possibly involved. They probably stepped beyond their authority. The public was not aware of what was going on.

    I’m glad that Mr. Nixon is on the task force. He’s done some good work to insure open government. However, I believe he too will have a problem identifying his involvement in the annexation process if he decides to run for office in Kirkland..

    I applaud the efforts of the ethics task force. Whatever they come up with will probably be better than we have now.

  • Bob Style

    In citing examples of what not to do, the ethics task force should question the private meetings Mary-Alyce Burleigh had with the County, specifically Jane Hague and possibly others, with regard to the discussions held about the recent annexation. I believe the Kirkland City Council was aware of Ms. Burleigh possibly making promises unknown to the entire council. I believe Councilmember McBride was also possibly involved. They probably stepped beyond their authority. The public was not aware of what was going on.

    I’m glad that Mr. Nixon is on the task force. He’s done some good work to insure open government. However, I believe he too will have a problem identifying his involvement in the annexation process if he decides to run for office in Kirkland..

    I applaud the efforts of the ethics task force. Whatever they come up with will probably be better than we have now.