Council Wants Signatures On Strong-Mayor Issue Eugster Told To Get Proof Of Voters’ Mood On Government Reform Plan

Attorney Steve Eugster will have to gather signatures to get his strong-mayor initiative to Spokane voters.

The City Council on Monday decided not to forgo a petition drive and put the measure directly on the fall ballot.

Saying signatures are a barometer for public approval, the council voted 6-1 to leave the measure’s fate in Eugster’s hands.

“If this is what the citizens want, bring forth the signatures,” said Councilwoman Roberta Greene.

Councilman Jeff Colliton cast the lone dissenting vote, saying he thought it was time to resolve the issue of government reform.

Eugster’s initiative asks residents to toss out the city manager’s office in favor of a mayor who serves as the city’s top administrator.

If approved, the measure would make government more accountable, Eugster said.

The initiative proposal calls for the mayor to appoint department heads and a manager to oversee day-to-day business. The mayor would earn at least $80,000 and not any less than the highest-paid city employee.

A seven-member council would include five members elected by district and two elected at-large. The mayor could veto council decisions, but the council could override vetoes with five votes.

Eugster said he hoped the council would put the measure on the ballot because he feared it would be at least a year before he could begin gathering signatures.

“I simply haven’t got the time to do it right now,” said Eugster, who can start gathering signatures immediately. He needs 6,000 valid signatures of registered voters to get the measure on the November ballot; 2,000 if he waits until 1997.

Councilman Chris Anderson last week favored putting the measure directly to voters. But Anderson changed his mind this week. Like several of his colleagues, he didn’t like the idea of “owning” the measure. “I’m not willing to take this on as my proposal,” Anderson said.

Of the seven residents who spoke Monday, six wanted the council to put the initiative on the ballot as soon as possible. “Anyone making administrative decisions should be directly accountable to voters,” said Steve Thompson.

Don Skaufel said he thought Eugster should hit the malls with petitions in hand.

“We got 13,000 signatures in three weeks,” said Skaufel, referring to the petition drive that put the Pacific Science Center to a public vote. “He’ll probably get them. As a matter of fact, I’m sure he will.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Proposed strong-mayor initiative