Spokane Valley declines investigation into termination of city manager

Despite a protest outside City Hall on Tuesday and numerous speakers supporting fired city manager Mike Jackson, the majority of the Spokane Valley City Council refused to consider launching an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Jackson’s termination.

Some people have said they do not believe the city provided proper notification for the meeting where Jackson was fired. Jackson has said that Mayor Rod Higgins and Deputy Mayor Arne Woodard met with him the Friday before that meeting and told him he would be fired, leading many to assume that the majority of the council met in private illegally to plan Jackson’s ouster.

Several council members said they objected to the discussion about an investigation because Jackson is on paid leave and his contract won’t officially be terminated until March 30.

“If and until the action with Mr. Jackson is over, this should not move forward,” Higgins said. “It would leave us wide open.”

Council members Ed Pace, Sam Wood and Woodard – who voted with Higgins to fire Jackson – said they agreed. But they also said they would be willing to discuss a potential investigation later.

“Let’s have the discussion again once the contract issue is totally settled,” Pace said.

Councilman Bill Gothmann said that the council was only considering whether to direct staff to prepare a motion authorizing the investigation. It will take more than a week to prepare a motion, which would put any official vote after Jackson leaves the city, Gothmann said.

“There’s no reason, if we have consensus, not to do it now,” he said. “We can specify, let it be after the conclusion of negotiations with Mr. Jackson.”

Wood objected, saying he wanted to push the discussion back. “I don’t want to speak about it tonight,” he said.

“You just don’t want it to see the light of day,” said Councilman Dean Grafos.

At the end of the night, the council agreed to put the discussion about an independent investigation on the pending agenda. Deputy City Manager Mark Calhoun said it will then be up to the agenda committee to put it on the agenda for an upcoming meeting.

Grafos said that Higgins and Woodard sit on that committee and could block it from coming back up for discussion.

Pace responded that Higgins and Woodard were elected to their positions by the majority of the council.

“That’s just the way it is,” Pace said. “You’ve got to live with it.”

Former council member Ben Wick was among the two dozen people who lined Sprague Avenue with signs supporting Jackson and calling for an independent investigation.

Wick said he questions why Jackson was fired. “He’s actually had very good performance reviews,” he said. “He was doing a good job when I was on City Council. I’ve only been off the council for three months now.”

Jackson always made it clear that he was willing to go in whatever direction the council wanted to, Wick said. “I don’t see him being an impediment.”

Resident Jim Pollard said he has problems with how the firing was done. “The four that fired him didn’t say a word,” he said. “It seemed to be a set deal before the doors even opened.”

During the meeting former mayor Tom Towey said the council has gained a reputation of deception. “This saddens me,” he said.

He called for an independent investigation to determine the truth of what happened. “It is my wish that you do not add to the negative perceptions of your deception,” he said.

Resident Cindy Hallett criticized the council for wasting taxpayer money by giving money to a water district that Wood runs, turning down federal money meant for a sidewalk and Pace launching an investigation into the Sheriff’s Office.

She said the majority of the council appears to be following an “extreme far right political personal agenda,” which caused Higgins to bang his gavel. “That’s enough of that,” he said.

A few people spoke in favor of the council’s actions. Resident Gene Strunk said the objections raised by the crowd that packed the council meeting room were as ridiculous as a flying puppy with wings distributing winning lottery tickets.

“You acted within your capacity,” he said.