City Council meets with Park Board

After several weeks of growing tension between the Spokane Park Board and City Council, the two bodies talked things over Friday.

The City Council recently rejected two nominees from Mayor Dennis Hession to serve on the board – decisions that some Park Board officials say is playing politics with a body that’s supposed to be independent.

Council members say there should be a more diverse representation of Spokane on the board, and they’re fulfilling their duty to appoint a quality board.

“Are we doing everything possible to try to gather in that cross section?” asked Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin.

Ron Rector, the Park Board’s vice chairman, said the board is open to exploring new ways to expand diversity on the board.

“We should work together and figure out a way to have the best possible process, if you will, to have more people involved,” Rector said. “But I don’t think we should just stop the world.”

Much of Friday’s meeting was spent on other parks issues like the need for swimming pools and a project to build a sports complex near Joe Albi Stadium.

While most of the gathering was cordial, there were a few tense moments, like an exchange between City Councilman Brad Stark and Park Board member Larry Stanley.

Stanley said if things don’t change, he’ll leave the board.

“There are too many organizations that want good volunteer help, dedicated help that comes from the heart, to put up with some of the stuff that I’ve been seeing in the last several weeks,” he said.

City Council members, however, said they’re unwilling to rubber-stamp mayoral appointments. They noted that they have been conducting interviews for nominees of all other city boards.

“You’ve got to understand the position we’re in too,” said Stark. “You guys are in control of $11 million of public taxpayer dollars, and you have essentially zero accountability.”

Stanley noted that he’s an unpaid, unelected volunteer.

“I don’t like your inference, I’ve got to tell you, because I am challenged constantly and defending constantly, way beyond what you have any idea of,” Stanley said.

The City Council recently refused to back the reappointment of Elizabeth Schoedel to a second five-year Park Board term despite Hession’s request. The mayor has responded by saying city rules allow Schoedel to continue serving on the board until a replacement is picked, and he doesn’t intend to forward another name.

But at Monday’s council meeting City Councilman Al French, who is running for mayor, pointed to city charter language that says if the council rejects a mayoral nominee for any city board, the mayor has 90 days to forward the council another name or “the city council shall select a suitable person to fill the office.”