City Searches For Consensus, Finds Protest Pickets Greet Meeting Of Citizens’ Steering Committee

The strange scene at the Spokane Opera House might have played on stage.

Inside, a committee charged with finding out the kinds of services residents want from the city dined on French toast, bacon and fruit.

Outside, a small group of protesters made it clear what they don’t want: a $45,000 consultant contract kicked off with breakfast for a select few.

City Councilman Chris Anderson moved back and forth between the two groups, but his heart was clearly with the pickets.

“I don’t want to participate in providing tokens to a process that will be so manipulated by an outside consultant,” said Anderson, who declined breakfast at the Tuesday morning meeting.

While protesters waved signs declaring “City Hall arrogance, live today,” and “Council glamour school, only $45,000,” residents chosen by council members met with city department heads and a Seattle consultant.

The assignment of the so-called Community Partners: Find out the community’s needs and how the city can meet them.

“As (Councilman) Mike Brewer said, ‘The city should do for citizens what they can’t do for themselves,”’ said Councilwoman Phyllis Holmes.

The city recently hired Cary Bozeman, former mayor of Bellevue, to lead the 29 residents.

During breakfast, Bozeman urged the group to get out and talk to residents. The city needs to streamline services - so it needs to know the community’s priorities, he said.

With his $45,000 contract, Bozeman’s already started the project by hiring two more consultants - one to do surveys and another to organize focus groups, he said.

“You’re going to represent your public during the next three months,” Bozeman told the group. “We hope you engage many more people to find out how we should spend the precious dollars that we have.”

The city’s facing a tight budget for 1995 and a tighter one in 1996. Sales tax revenues are down 3 percent this year over last - meaning an expected $350,000 won’t make the bank. Errors in property tax assessments could cost the city another $500,000.

Some things the city’s grown accustomed to doing could crumble, Bozeman said. “There will be some sacred cows herded out during the process.”

Outside, about 10 residents - some of them part of a group commonly referred to by council members as the “gang of nine” - called the plan a waste of money, adding the city could get the same advice for free.

“They could have had 10 times this many people at a citizens’ retreat,” said George McGrath, a frequent spending critic. “They’re not looking for truth, just the answers they’ve already decided.”

Mayor Jack Geraghty, taking a break from the meeting to plug his parking meter, grumbled the group could take part instead of standing outside.

“I see the gang of nine is here in all its glory,” Geraghty said. “Why aren’t they in there listening and joining in?”

Inside, department heads sold their programs to the community group - including what they do and how well they do it.

Dennis Hein, director of Solid Waste, said he hadn’t been picketed since the council voted on the incinerator. “This is honestly the first time I’ve been picketed by a City Council member,” he said with a laugh.

While some joked about the protest, the hecklers distressed at least one group member, who said she was there to give to her community. For that, she was getting criticized.

Sheri Young, co-owner of a small business, said she was angered by the pickets. “I feel very honored to be part of this process. This is my chance to tell the city how I feel.”

The group’s co-chairman, Chris Marr, said the purpose was to be “inclusive. There’s plenty of room in this whole thing for everybody.”

Anderson listened to only some of the presentation, spending most of his time outside.

“I don’t understand why we can’t talk to people in our community without a guru,” he said, adding he also refused to submit names for the group.

Holmes refused to let Anderson cool her ardor for the project, saying there are two kinds of people.

“There are the kinds of leaders who get a job done, and there are the kind that want to be seen doing it,” she said.

Nearly 50 people attended the breakfast, which cost taxpayers about $500. Money for the meal and the consultant will come from the $200,000 set aside to develop a city communications program.

City officials realize that giveaways like breakfast hit taxpayer hot buttons. They reason that the group members volunteered for a 3-monthlong process that will feed on their spare time.

“We’re asking grass-roots people to take a block of their time,” said Assistant City Manager Bill Pupo. “The least we can do is provide them something to eat and drink.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: These sidebars appeared with the story:

WHO’S IN THE GROUP Members of the Community Partners group and their areas of expertise include: Joyce Jones of the northeast neighborhood/library. Celina Pearce, northeast neighborhood. Mel West, Nevada/Lidgerwood neighborhood. Micheal Holmes, arts/higher education. Jeanette Harras, Logan neighborhood. Sandra Buss, North Hill neighborhood. Elinor Nuxoll, senior citizens. Don Jamison, Browne’s Addition neighborhood. Dale Stedman, transportation. Carol Barber, South Hill neighborhood/parks. Glen Cloninger, architect/building. Ron Tan, arts/business. Sheri Young, small business/Indian Trail neighborhood/design review. Bruce Walker, architect. Gus Simpson, civic leader. Bob Herold, higher education. Chris Marr, business. Dr. Robb Heinrich, medical. Mel Hogue, labor. Elinor Magnuson, Community Colleges of Spokane Foundation. Rob Fukai, Spokane School District 81. Marcia Griffin, Emerson/Garfield neighborhood. The Rev. Lonnie Mitchell, East Central neighborhood/clergy. The Rev. Happy Watkins, East Central neighborhood/clergy. Maureen Peterson, sister cities. Barry Barth, media. Jack McManigal, public safety. Angel Troutt, youth. Meena Nandagopal, youth.

WHAT’S NEXT The Community Partners will hold a series of meetings on what services residents want and report back to the City Council in early October.