The troubles facing Spokane Mayor Jim West have revealed a problem with the city’s 4-year-old strong-mayor system of government. That’s one positive result to come out of the awkwardness that now grips the city. Finding flaws is the first step toward fixing them.

The problem in question is the limited recourse that’s available for dealing with a strong mayor whose conduct in office raises doubts about his or her fitness to continue on the job.

Ironically, interest in a strong mayor form of government for Spokane arose out of a council-manager structure that produced so much public acrimony among elected city officers as to hamstring the council and embarrass the city. A new charter, establishing an independent mayor with executive authority, was offered to voters as a solution to the leadership vacuum. The voters approved.

Now, it’s the mayor who is attracting unwanted attention to the city, and the charter allows only one cumbersome procedure for removing him, a recall petition. Unlike in Congress or a state legislature, the seven members of the City Council have no power to launch an impeachment-like procedure. It’s up to a citizen to initiate a recall drive, and the process is legalistic and complex. One Spokane woman has undertaken the challenge only to stumble over procedural hurdles coming out of the starting gate. Fortified by indignation, she’s attempting to correct the shortcomings and keep the process in motion.

In the meantime, calls for West to resign are coming from council members, business and economic development groups that once backed West, and many individual citizens. But it’s the elected mayor’s call whether he stays, goes or takes a vacation.

Council members are talking about proposing a charter amendment to correct the deficiency. It would enable them to initiate a recall election under such circumstances, but it’s highly unlikely to have any bearing on West. It would be November before a charter proposal would go to a vote. Only then, assuming the voters’ OK, could the process even begin. By that time, West may well have moved on.

Still, such an amendment is a necessary precaution, like fire insurance. You hope you never use it, but you’re foolish to go without it.