In brief: Ethics panel decides it can’t rule on Stark

Spokane’s Ethics Commission voted unanimously to dismiss a complaint against Councilman Brad Stark on Thursday by deciding it didn’t have jurisdiction over the case.

The complaint was filed last month by Spokane resident Al Berger and accused Stark of wrongdoing before an interview with Rebecca Mack on “The Mark Fuhrman Show” on KGA (1510 AM).

Mack, who said she was unaware someone would file a complaint, wrote in an e-mail to the commission that she was outside the studio when Stark “helped himself to a stapled sheaf of papers I had prepared as background and preparation for my interview with him. … He was reading through them when I re-entered the studio.”

Stark, who is in the midst of a tough four-way primary to keep his seat, argues that the complaint was unfounded and politically motivated.

“The notes were literally eight inches from me. I picked them up, read through them and as Rebecca came back … I laughed. I said, ‘Nice prep notes,’ ” Stark told Dick Haugen, who also has a radio program on KGA.

Last week the commission asked its city legal counsel whether it had jurisdiction.

Assistant City Attorney Mike Piccolo told the commission Stark was performing his own personal political campaign activities, not city business.

– Jonathan Brunt

Boise

Concerns remain on marina rules

New marina rules that would allow some commercial marinas to convert part of their boat moorages from public rentals to private domains have won support from all sides after six negotiated rule-making sessions, but some concerns remain.

On Thursday, Russ Westerberg, representing the Hagadone Corp., told the state Land Board that, although the company didn’t participate in the negotiations, it has concerns, including questions about how the rules might affect nonmarina commercial encroachments on lakes and grandfather rights for existing operations.

Freeman Duncan, attorney for 20 float home owners at Harborview Marina in Bayview, said the owners participated in the negotiations but realized late in the process that a requirement that 50 percent of any commercial marina remain open to the public for boat moorage might be problematic.

Land Board members said a public hearing will be scheduled in early October, likely in Coeur d’Alene, before the rules are finalized. Said Secretary of State Ben Ysursa: “We are all on record that there will be a public hearing.”

– Betsy Z. Russell