City Council Takes Time Out Will Assess Goals, Performance At Retreat

The Spokane City Council is in retreat - a weekend retreat, that is.

Council members will forego their usual Monday meeting in favor of a two-day talk session aimed at setting this year’s priorities and finding ways to improve their public image.

The retreat starts Sunday afternoon and continues all day Monday at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute.

Unlike last year’s retreat that cost taxpayers about $10,000 for an out-of-town “facilitator” and overnight hotel accommodations, this is a quieter, lower-cost affair.

The city is paying about $2,600 for Ed Coker of Spokane’s Critical Data to lead council discussions, said Councilwoman Phyllis Holmes, the retreat’s organizer.

“This is cheap-cheap-cheap,” she said.

Holmes said the outcry over the cost of last year’s retreat had nothing to do with this year’s changes.

“I don’t do anything based on somebody else’s upset,” she said. “But we do like to give business to someone local.”

The retreat agenda includes discussions about:

Adopting leadership qualities aimed at improving the council’s image.

Adopting a “code of ethics.”

Reviewing council and staff relationships.

Reviewing last year’s priorities and results.

Setting council goals for 1996.

Drafting a vision for the city.

Setting a date for the next retreat, when the council will evaluate its progress.

Forming a committee to evaluate City Manager Roger Crum’s job performance.

Crum’s contract is up for negotiation.

Councilman Chris Anderson isn’t attending the Sunday session of the retreat, saying he avoids weekend activities that keep him away from his family.

“I’m so convinced that nothing of substance will be accomplished at this meeting,” Anderson said. “It’s little more than a social gathering for the council.”

The retreat is open to the public, but only council and staff members will be allowed to comment on agenda items.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: COUNCIL RETREAT Sunday’s session begins at 4 p.m. in the fourth-floor conference room of SIRTI, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Monday’s session begins at 8:30 a.m. in the same spot.