Spokane City Council is debating a significant shift in its internal governance, proposing to grant Council President Betsy Wilkerson near-complete authority over hiring and firing key council office staff. This move, driven by impending budget adjustments, aims to streamline operations and enhance flexibility, but it has sparked debate among council members regarding transparency and accountability.
The Spokane City Council is currently grappling with a pivotal proposal that could fundamentally alter how its internal office operates. Driven by the need for upcoming budget adjustments, the council is considering centralizing the authority to hire and fire certain staff under the purview of Council President Betsy Wilkerson. This significant shift aims to provide greater flexibility and potentially achieve cost savings, but it has also ignited a crucial debate within the council regarding transparency and the balance of power.
The Core Proposal: Centralizing Power for Efficiency
The proposal, introduced as an emergency ordinance requiring five votes to pass, seeks to vest near-complete authority over the hiring and firing of council office staff solely with Council President Betsy Wilkerson. This move comes as the city faces upcoming budget adjustments, prompting a desire for more agile and efficient management of personnel. Council Policy Advisor Chris Wright initiated drafting the ordinance, with legal staff urging its speedy adoption.
The primary motivation behind this centralization is to gain flexibility. Currently, the ordinance regulating staffing authority is prescriptive, requiring at least five concurring votes to terminate a council office employee and four votes to hire one. This process is seen as cumbersome when swift decisions are needed for budget reasons or shifting priorities.
“We need to pass this before there’s a vote or council action on the budget if you want the flexibility,” Wright stated, emphasizing the urgency. He explained that without the new ordinance, any decisions regarding positions would be bound by the existing statute, requiring multiple votes and formal resolutions, as reported by The Center Square.
The proposal is designed to allow the Council President to modify, downgrade, reclassify, or discharge any positions more directly. The five central positions currently identified in the existing statute include:
- Council Director
- Policy Advisor
- Budget Director
- Director of Communications and Engagement
- Manager of Intergovernmental Affairs
Council President Wilkerson has indicated that discussions began in June and included consultations with the city’s human resources director, underscoring the long-term planning behind this initiative.
Navigating the Existing Framework: A Look at Spokane’s Municipal Code
Understanding the significance of this proposal requires a look at the current legal landscape governing personnel decisions within Spokane’s city government. The Spokane Municipal Code (SMC) outlines distinct authorities for the Mayor and the City Council.
According to SMC Section 02.005.010, while the Council and Council President constitute the legislative body, they generally “have no administrative authority over personnel matters except” for specific roles. These exceptions include the appointment, evaluation, and discharge of the hearing examiner, as well as the city council’s full-time, seasonal, project, and interim staff, as further detailed in SMC Section 02.005.030. This section is understood to contain the current multi-vote requirements for hiring and firing council staff, as mentioned in the news report. Each council member, however, already retains full authority over their individual legislative assistants.
This contrasts sharply with the Mayor’s extensive authority over most other city employees. SMC Section 03.01A.100 designates the Mayor as the chief executive and administrative officer, holding final authority over the employment, termination, and assignment of all city employees, excluding elected officers, with certain department head appointments requiring council approval. This makes the council’s direct voting requirement for its own staff unique among city departments, a point Wilkerson highlighted, suggesting the amendment could offer additional privacy for personnel decisions.
The municipal code sections governing these authorities were last updated with SMC 02.005.010 passing on December 16, 2024, and becoming effective January 22, 2025, and SMC 03.01A.100 passing on September 12, 2016, and effective October 29, 2016. These codes are available for review on the official Spokane Municipal Code website.
Debate and Concerns: Transparency vs. Flexibility
Despite bipartisan sponsorship from Councilmembers Paul Dillon and Michael Cathcart, the proposal has not been without its critics. Councilmember Jonathan Bingle, representing the conservative minority, raised significant concerns about the provision stating decisions would be “subject to consultation” with peers.
Bingle questioned the definition of “consultation,” noting that the council majority frequently excludes him and Cathcart from key discussions. This highlights a common tension in governance: the desire for efficient, executive-style decision-making versus the need for broad consultation and transparency, particularly for minority voices.
Chris Wright clarified that the consultation clause is designed to maintain compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act, meaning formal meetings specifically for staffing decisions would be avoided, but the Council President could engage individual members for their perspectives. Furthermore, any personnel decisions made by Wilkerson would need to be consistent with the council rules, which are slated for approval in January.
Councilmember Kitty Klitzke echoed the sentiment for change, citing confusion around the existing ordinance and stressing the need for the council to manage its office more effectively. “This has not given us flexibility to plan for situations where the budget gets tighter or our priorities change,” Klitzke remarked, articulating the practical challenges posed by the current system.
Implications for Spokane’s Governance and Budget
The proposed ordinance holds significant implications for both the internal workings of the Spokane City Council and the city’s broader budget. While the immediate goal is to enhance administrative flexibility and potentially save money through staffing adjustments, the long-term impact on governance could be profound.
The shift to a more centralized authority could enable quicker responses to budgetary pressures and allow for more strategic alignment of staff with the Council President’s priorities. However, it also raises questions about the potential for reduced oversight from individual council members and the concentration of significant administrative power in one position within the legislative branch.
The precise financial impact remains to be seen. Councilmember Dillon noted that any determination about staff cuts would follow the introduction of Mayor Lisa Brown’s budget proposal next month, indicating that the council’s decision on this ordinance is a proactive measure to prepare for potential future budget constraints.
Ultimately, this proposal reflects a broader challenge faced by many municipal governments: how to balance the need for administrative efficiency and fiscal responsibility with principles of transparent, democratic decision-making and accountability to all elected representatives. Spokane’s decision will set a precedent for its future internal governance and the dynamic between its legislative leaders.
