[0:00] All right. The special council meeting of September 8th, 2026 is now called to

[0:05] order. If anyone attending the meeting here in the council chambers would like

[0:08] to borrow some amplifying headphones, please let us know. All right. I don't

[0:13] see anyone. Uh we are now going to stand for the pled of allegiance.

[0:22] I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

[0:28] republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and

[0:35] justice for all.

[0:40] » All right. Thank you. Mary, will you please do roll call?

[0:43] » Yes, I will. >> Council member Blush

[0:45] » here. >> Council member Aniscoco

[0:47] » here. Mayor Sherman >> here.

[0:49] » Deputy Mayor Staff is absent this evening. Council member Gilmore

[0:52] » here. >> Council member Gutierrez

[0:54] » here. >> All right. I have a statement on behalf

[0:56] of Deputy Mayor Staff. She says, "In honor of fairness and equality to all

[1:00] applicants, council members, and to our community, I fully recuse myself of the

[1:04] entire council interview and appointment process at this time. Thank you to every

[1:08] applicant that showed interest and commitment to serve this wonderful

[1:11] community. I look forward to working with our next council member.

[1:17] So, next, the city manager, Mark Ziggler, has details for us about the

[1:21] interview process. >> Great. Thank you, Mayor Council. Um, as

[1:26] we discussed, uh, last week at the council meeting, um, the regular council

[1:31] meeting, um, we discussed a group interview process with all 10 of the

[1:36] applicants at this time. um as of right now. Anyway, we had two applicants

[1:42] withdraw uh late last week and then we have two applicants that haven't shown

[1:46] up to the room tonight. So, I'm open suggestions if you want to move further

[1:50] without those group interviews. But, I'll talk about that first. We talked

[1:53] about a group interview process. It'd be one question. All the candidates,

[1:57] applicants would be in the room asked the same question. We moved to an

[2:02] executive session at that point where the council would um exit the chambers

[2:06] to go to a meeting room in the civic center and discuss the qualifications

[2:10] that the applicants come in and make a decision on on where to move forward

[2:15] from there. Um that process would be a nomination period where we take the

[2:19] council would give nominations. Um at that point the mayor would ask to close

[2:23] the nominations if it felt felt like that you know there weren't any forward.

[2:26] we we'd close the nomination portion with a motion and a second and then

[2:32] choose uh go through a voting process to choose the members and move forward from

[2:36] there. At that point, we proposed that we'd go into individual question and

[2:41] answer sessions where we'd have individual applicants here in the room.

[2:44] Um the rest of the applicants we'd move um outside uh for transparency um sake

[2:50] and then go through a short interview process with each individual applicant.

[2:54] move then again to executive session and come back in to make the final decision

[2:59] as nobody candidate walked in. I guess in

[3:04] the meantime right now um we have six six applicants so I'm certainly open to

[3:09] suggestions if we want to stay with the agenda as proposed or move just move

[3:13] into um the individual interviews um I'm open to that. So, since we have the

[3:21] six that are here, I propose that we ask them all the questions um instead of

[3:26] just the one and then narrowing it down. >> Second.

[3:29] » Yeah. Do the group interview. >> All right. Great. Okay. So, our process

[3:33] at this point would be to ask Mary to draw names. We have random names on um

[3:38] the raffle tickets. You're not necessarily winning anything other than

[3:43] other opportunity to sit up at the table earlier than others.

[3:47] » Yes. Um, so we'll have we'll draw the six names out of there. Mary, you can

[3:51] just leave. You don't have to take anybody out unless you already did that.

[3:54] » I didn't. >> Okay. You don't take anybody out. We'll

[3:56] just skip through that. >> Okay. I think maybe

[3:58] » All right, we're at seven. >> Okay, we're at seven. So, sorry.

[4:03] » We will go back to the original plan. Is that

[4:07] » You want to interview all of them? >> Yeah, I think we interview all of them.

[4:09] Why not? >> Does everybody else want to still

[4:11] interview all of them since all seven are here?

[4:13] » Yeah, might be able to do the regular. >> Okay, go ahead. We can nominate them.

[4:17] body gets a chance. >> So, as I said, so Mary will pull the

[4:20] names. That'll be the order. First name will be first first up. They'll take the

[4:24] hot seat and we'll move through those. If uh the applicant that is not in there

[4:30] uh is in there but not here, we'll just skip on to the next number. So, right.

[4:34] » Okay. So, we'll still assign them a spot to see these.

[4:37] » No, no, no. We'll just skip through that just so you don't have to dig through

[4:40] and pull them out if that's okay with council.

[4:42] » Yep. >> Yeah. Perhaps. So if we agreed that

[4:45] we've reached the deadline, then basically there's seven people.

[4:49] » We're going to go ahead and ask them all the questions.

[4:51] » Oh, no, that's fine. I mean, but we if the eighth person comes in in the next

[4:55] five minutes or are we done now? >> I don't know who it is, honestly. So,

[4:59] » I am very much hoping that um we don't have to change the rules at this point.

[5:04] » Yeah. >> Okay.

[5:07] » All right. So I >> is that is that a consensus then council

[5:11] that we'll proceed with the individuals that are that are here at this point?

[5:14] » Correct. Okay. >> All right. Sounds good.

[5:16] » I appreciate the clarification. >> All right.

[5:20] » Okay. So >> if you will, Mary.

[5:21] » Okay. Are we good? I'm gonna do it from the corner here. Turn the microphone on.

[5:26] It's my bowl. >> Okay.

[5:30] » We got faith in you. >> The chief is watching over.

[5:33] » That's right. Legit, guys. Okay. So first will be applicant seven which is

[5:40] Jason Sap. >> Okay.

[5:44] » And then next

[5:47] will be applicant two which is Walter Dilk.

[5:59] » Okay. This I think is the applicant that is here. Mr.

[6:03] Y okay three.

[6:09] » Next is applicant six which is David Reza Reza.

[6:22] Applicant eight which is Pete Stevenson. is fourth

[6:30] and then fifth will be applicant five which is Kenneth Moley.

[6:41] Sixth will be applicant number four which is Sam Lumis.

[6:48] And our last interview slot will be applicant three, which is Ross

[6:53] Gallagher.

[6:57] » Pardon me. >> That's it.

[6:59] » That's it. Terrific. Okay, >> let me make sure I have everybody here.

[7:04] You just give me a quick minute to get a paperwork straight and everybody here to

[7:08] get their paperwork straight if they so choose.

[7:10] » So, um, I think everybody's doing anyway.

[7:13] » Great. At Hopkins, if you don't mind, we are going

[7:16] to ask you other than Mr. Sap is your first to get to step up to the to the

[7:20] plate here. Um, we've got a table. I've got some water we'll take out with you

[7:24] if you don't mind and we'll come out and get you when we're when we're finished

[7:27] and uh for for fairness and transparency. Um, we appreciate that.

[7:36] » Thank you.

[7:41] Feel this overkill now.

[8:04] » This computer is ridiculous. >> You don't need it right now, do you?

[8:10] But they're all here. >> Yeah, they're right here.

[8:14] » Oh, yes. Let me clarify that, too.

[8:19] » All right. >> Here's a hard question.

[8:26] » No, I got to talk to those. >> I wor

[8:33] already. >> So, we'll rotate through questions.

[8:36] » Okay.

[8:42] Okay.

[8:48] » Council, do you all have copies of the questions? Yes.

[8:53] » Yes. Yes. Yes.

[8:59] » Make I'm going to make sure somebody gets off the ladder before we start.

[9:03] » Oh, bit of a distraction. All right. Done.

[9:07] I hope you followed all safety protocols.

[9:10] » Check this out.

[9:13] » All right.

[9:17] » Thank you. >> It's actually not bad.

[9:23] » All right. And before we get started, does anybody need a cough drop ahead of

[9:26] time? >> All right. Seen that. Okay. Great.

[9:30] » And council, for clarification on the questions, there's number one and

[9:34] there's an alternate. Just skip the alternate. Okay.

[9:36] » That you'll see under number one here. >> Got it.

[9:39] » Just skip that one and then um >> and then we'll move on.

[9:44] » Pardon me. >> So, I'll do the first and then George

[9:46] will be the second. Third. Is that how we're going to do that?

[9:48] » That that works for me. And then and then you'll have a second one. Mayor.

[9:51] » Oh, great. Okay. Sounds good. >> So, I'm going to ask question number one

[9:58] and then we'll go this way, George. And all the way through if that works,

[10:01] everybody. Great. Then everybody gets to ask a question at least one. Okay,

[10:06] fantastic. Are we ready? >> Yes, ma'am.

[10:10] » All right, so um we're going to ask question number one, Jason. Do you have

[10:15] any specific local issues that motivated you to apply for the council vacancy?

[10:22] » Um I'd have to say my biggest

[10:30] issue that concerns me is our

[10:36] um emergency management plan.

[10:42] I think that that is something that needs u

[10:46] immediate attention and I would like to see us be able to uh

[10:53] turn that into a robust uh plan for our community so that we're

[10:58] not caught off guard in case the unspeakable should happen.

[11:04] All right. >> Go ahead.

[11:07] » All right. Given the homelessness and affordable housing are complex

[11:10] legislative matters with divided community perspectives, what approach

[11:14] would you take to these challenges as a council member?

[11:18] » Uh, as a council member, um, I think that we need to

[11:25] try to look at this as a systemic issue. Um, I believe that we'd have the

[11:33] resources available, nonprofit organizations and and all the, like I

[11:39] said, the resources that are available for the homeless and and the unhoused.

[11:44] Um, we need to make sure that those resources are presented to those people

[11:50] that are in the highest need and that they're available,

[11:56] that they know what those resources are. I know if that would entitle community

[12:02] outreach um or just you know some some form of

[12:08] disseminating that information but um I'm aware that we have about believe the

[12:14] last count is 2,180 services that are available to people

[12:19] here in in our area in Mason County. there's services tailored to just about

[12:27] every individual situation. So I think I think we need to make sure

[12:32] that those services are available for those people and if if they refuse the

[12:36] services um repeatedly and we need to look at

[12:41] some other alternative um method to to try to help these people is I do believe

[12:48] that we need to get our community to be healthy and

[12:54] thriving. Everybody needs to be doing well. So that's that is

[13:00] concern that I I have as far as how we can reach out to these people and give

[13:04] them those services. >> Great.

[13:09] » Can you describe a time when you had to balance your personal beliefs with the

[13:12] broader interest of the community?

[13:17] Um, I mean,

[13:26] my personal beliefs typically take a backseat to the facts.

[13:32] Uh, I don't I don't let my my personal opinions are my own and I don't assume

[13:40] that anybody shares those other than me. So, I I tried to the facts and and try

[13:47] to try to make my decisions based on the data instead of what my personal beliefs

[13:55] might may be because my my beliefs could change. Um I'm openminded. So if I'm

[14:00] presented with new information that I wasn't previously aware of, I I can

[14:06] change my mind and and come to different conclusions. So personal beliefs aren't

[14:11] aren't something that that drive my decision making.

[14:15] solely. It's going to be more on the facts and data that represents.

[14:22] » Thank you.

[14:29] » Sorry, just taking a quick note. >> No, you're fine.

[14:33] » All right. Question number three. Actually, I guess this is four. What

[14:37] policy area do you believe will have the greatest impact on the city's future

[14:41] over the next three to five years? public safety would have to be my answer

[14:46] for that one. Um, I think we we obviously have some contention on some

[14:54] of the resources that we've given our police department here recently. Um, I

[15:00] think that we need to we need to hammer that out and

[15:06] straighten it out so that everybody's, you know, on the same page or at least

[15:10] we have a shared uh opinion on on how we should handle that situation. But I I

[15:18] believe that that public safety uh over the next 3 to 5 years would be the

[15:25] greatest impact for our city. We need we need to a strong um police force that

[15:31] that is uh enabled to enforce our ordinances and and regulations here in

[15:40] the city.

[15:43] » Okay. >> All right. How would you prioritize the

[15:47] allocation of city resources while balancing community expectations for

[15:52] services during periods of limited revenue or budget constraints?

[15:59] Um

[16:02] well the community expectations for services

[16:08] fluctuates. Uh it's going to go up and down with public opinion. Uh our

[16:14] resources are pretty static. What we have to work with

[16:20] is what we have to work with. So, we're going to have to make the best decisions

[16:25] with those resources to provide community services for the general

[16:34] community and not not um cater to any specific uh groups or

[16:42] individuals. We're going to need to

[16:47] focus on on the revenues that we do have. We have um

[16:53] you know, we have a budget currently that's that's

[16:58] in a in a decent state, but you know, that that could

[17:03] change um with, you know, taxes depending on what the the

[17:11] governor or the state legislature decides to to pass uh with their laws.

[17:16] So, we could be restrained on on the our ability to utilize those funds.

[17:25] So, we would we would have to look at what's necessary for the greatest uh

[17:32] impact for our community and I would I would say those things would fall in um

[17:38] areas like public safety uh like our our pavement index um you know our water uh

[17:47] infrastructure has really

[17:51] » focus a lot of attention on that especially since we're looking at

[17:57] expanded housing market here in the midst of

[18:03] » All right. And then it looks like

[18:08] um I get to the next question which says is what does ethical public service mean

[18:13] to you and how would you practice it as a council member?

[18:19] um ethical public service. Uh that I would interpret that as being

[18:27] transparent and and open.

[18:32] I would practice that as a council member by following all the rules and

[18:39] and regulations and policies that we already have in place for council

[18:43] members such as, you know, all your communications are open to FOYA

[18:50] requests. And yeah, other than that, you know, ethics

[18:57] would be

[19:07] I would I would have to say maintaining, like I said, a transparent

[19:13] position so that that people know where you stand, you know, as far as any

[19:18] policies or issues go.

[19:24] » And I think that's everything. Can I can I suggest that they get like one minute

[19:28] closing and tells us about who they are >> because the public doesn't know. We we

[19:32] we know >> it's up to the council. Absolutely. We

[19:36] just we have to allow everybody to do that.

[19:38] » Like just like one minute or something. >> I mean,

[19:41] » can we get a clock? >> Mark.

[19:45] » I got two. That's why he gets the big bucks.

[19:48] » Can we get a >> I mean we know who they are.

[19:55] Do you want it? No. Do you want it? Do you want it specifically at one minute

[19:59] or just kind of raise my hand when we make one and then we can good?

[20:03] » Okay. Go ahead. Tell us a little bit about yourself at about one minute,

[20:07] Jason. >> All right. My name is Jason Sap. I'm a

[20:11] husband and a father of six children, ages 19 to one. Um, I'm work here

[20:19] locally. Um, we've lived here in Shelton. My wife and I moved our family

[20:24] up here in 2018. So, we're living here for eight years. Um, the first couple

[20:32] three, four years we lived uh in the UG and then we moved downtown and we've

[20:38] been participating in the local government for the last two and a half

[20:44] years. Um, I'm I'm here because I want to make sure that Shelton is a thriving

[20:52] community and one that is safe for families of all backgrounds to raise

[20:58] their children today and and tomorrow and in the future.

[21:05] » Perfect. >> Right on.

[21:06] » Great. That worked out really well. >> Thank you very much.

[21:10] » Thank you. Appreciate it. Thanks. Good suggestion.

[21:15] » That's because we don't know. Nobody else knows,

[21:18] » right? >> Yeah. Give them an extra 60 seconds.

[21:24] » All right.

[21:49] All right. Thank you for coming.

[21:54] » Are you ready? >> I am ready.

[21:56] » Okay, great. So, I'm going to start you off with question number one.

[21:59] » Awesome. >> Uh,

[22:01] you're Walter Scott Dilk, correct? Okay. And

[22:06] » my name. >> Perfect. I want to make sure we got the

[22:07] right person every time. Great. >> Perfect question. All right. So, um,

[22:12] first question for you is, do you have any specific local issues that motivated

[22:17] you to apply for the council vacancy? >> Good question. I, um, I do have a trans

[22:24] son and I think, uh, pride proclamation is probably the major focus of why I put

[22:36] my hat in the ring. I also was a boy scout in Grace Har County when I was

[22:43] growing up. I grew up in Westport and so civic responsibility was something that

[22:50] I cherish and felt like I wasn't able to do in the past. So I really when I saw

[22:58] this opportunity I thought okay that's what I want to do.

[23:03] » All right. Given the homelessness and affordable

[23:08] housing are complex legislative matters with divided community perspectives,

[23:13] what approach would you take to these challenges as a council member? Well,

[23:17] initially I want to say foundationally I think um homelessness

[23:23] and addiction and mental health are my key focuses in my career and um they all

[23:33] surround the the problem of homelessness and um I think that kindness over

[23:44] anything else is the most most important thing we can do making sure our citizens

[23:50] are cared for and not push them off to Olympia or whatever other community they

[23:57] might have. So having a functional response for their health health and

[24:03] safety.

[24:06] » All right. Can you describe a time when you had to balance your personal beliefs

[24:10] with the broader interest of a community? Um there's all types of that

[24:16] in my career as a therapist, a mental health therapist. I um I

[24:23] have been therapist for many different types of people and it's a single

[24:30] oneonone event unless I'm doing a couple which I do um on occasion and they have

[24:38] many different beliefs and system and um both political and religious that I

[24:46] don't aspire to or don't necessarily agree with, but if they work

[24:52] for that client, then they have to work for the people. And I think being a

[24:57] representative is balancing at all the time. I do think that um even though we

[25:06] may see things differently, it's it's a good politics is about finding the

[25:13] compromise. >> Thank you.

[25:24] All right. What policy area do you believe will have the greatest impact on

[25:28] the city's future over the next three to five years?

[25:31] » Was that policy? >> Yes. What policy area? Um

[25:36] well ex I mean growth I think is the most important thing I think you know to

[25:42] um have a a serviceable community we need to um be available for people

[25:51] moving in and expansion and um support that and all that that brings. So I

[25:58] think being an attractive community is important in that regard.

[26:05] I'm gonna interrupt. Scott, I apologize. The questions are right in front of you

[26:09] if you need to reference any of those. >> Thank you.

[26:11] » Um, we're on number four now. >> Yes.

[26:14] » Okay. >> Okay. Is that

[26:19] okay? How would you prioritize the allocation of city resources while

[26:24] balancing community expectations for services during periods of limited

[26:29] revenue or budget constraints? prioritizing obviously we need to

[26:34] prioritize safety and health right um in my perspective I think that means all

[26:41] kinds of health including mental health that's my key area but I also think that

[26:47] you know safe water making sure the police force is available and other um

[26:57] necessary needs like power and infrastructure and

[27:03] all of that are probably the priorities in any community including Shelton

[27:09] Washington.

[27:12] » Thank you. >> All right. And then

[27:16] next question is, what does ethical public service mean to you and how would

[27:21] you practice it as a council member? ethical is something that is

[27:28] fully um core to my value system. Um overarching and unchanging because I

[27:37] believe ethical is morality. Um I don't necessarily abide by a faith

[27:44] anymore but I do abide by an ethical consistently overhonest

[27:51] um principle in which guides my everyday. So, I'd say that um balancing

[27:59] that as a council member means making sure things are running according

[28:06] to rules, making sure um we engage in the community in a

[28:15] disclosing important information that is necessary for making

[28:23] a good decision about any kind kind of policy or important concept to the

[28:30] community. >> All right. And then our last question

[28:35] for you is you have one minute to tell us what you'd like to tell us about

[28:38] yourself. >> All right. So I, as you know, I'm

[28:43] Scottdale. I grew up in Westport, Washington. So not too far away. Um,

[28:48] Grace Harbor. I've been in Olympia area before I moved here. um most of my life

[28:55] where I graduated both from both Evergreen State College and St.

[29:00] Martins's University for a masters in counseling psychology. Um, I, as I

[29:08] mentioned before, in my community in Westport, I was

[29:14] member of the scout troop and have a foundation of

[29:20] moral, ethical, responsible decisions. Um, some things that uh I value are

[29:29] family, um, friends,

[29:34] community. I enjoy walking. I have a dog that many

[29:39] of you have probably seen cuz I walk down railroad almost every

[29:46] day. >> You're at a minute. You'll

[29:48] » wrap it up right there. I appreciate it. All right. You good? Okay.

[29:51] » Thank you so much.

[29:56] So, uh, David

[30:28] Hello council. >> Hello

[30:33] David. >> Is your last name different on your aim

[30:38] tag than it is on here? >> It is David Resa.

[30:41] » Okay. Thank you. >> Res is normally easier. So I put that

[30:44] down just so >> Okay.

[30:46] » Pronunciation. Also, sorry I was a little late, guys. I have a

[30:50] four-year-old. >> All right. Okay. Are you ready?

[30:55] » Okay. >> And the questions, David, are right in

[30:57] front of you. If you need to reference those throughout the interview, feel

[31:00] free. We'll start at the top. Even though they're

[31:02] » there's a redundant number there for number one. We'll start at the top.

[31:06] » So, we'll start with question number one. And do you have any specific local

[31:09] issues that motivated you to apply for the council vacancy?

[31:13] » Uh, not exactly. Um, I had a specific local issue with the food trucks that

[31:18] made me interested in city council. Um, but I don't

[31:25] I wouldn't say it made me want to be a part of city council. It just let me

[31:29] understand who's in it, how it works. Um, I always pretty much just thought

[31:33] there's a mayor and the mayor controls everything. And I I really like this.

[31:37] It's like a little bit of a democracy in it and some checks and balances and I I

[31:42] just think that's an awesome thing. And uh that's actually what made me want to

[31:46] do it. But I found you guys from local issues.

[31:51] » All right. >> Given that homelessness and affordable

[31:55] housing are complex legislative matters with divided community perspectives,

[31:59] what approach would you take to these challenges as a council member?

[32:04] » Um okay. So that's difficult. I I have my own

[32:09] opinions on a lot of stuff, but what I'm really interested in is figuring out

[32:13] what the town themselves want. And I've noticed it's really divided on this. We

[32:18] have a lot of uh lot of people who live here who all they want to do is help

[32:23] them and they they want to do um more programs for the homeless and unhoused.

[32:30] I think that's what they prefer. And the other side of town just can't stand

[32:34] them. Couldn't care less. And I I think it's

[32:38] my opinion wouldn't matter as much as what the town wants and what the people

[32:43] want and I I'd have to vote and care more in their direction. Um, so my I

[32:49] mean my approach I think would just be to listen to what the town folk or the

[32:54] constituents is the right word. I like town folk. We're a small town, you know,

[32:58] other than we have a Walmart, we're really a small town. So it it it's more

[33:02] what the town folk would want and what they would like to do with that. Um I I

[33:08] think what I would need to also do is be part of the research in it like all the

[33:12] study sessions that you guys have. I think we my best bet would be to listen

[33:16] really good to everything like that and then try to figure out what the people

[33:22] themselves want and weigh the two together. You know, you got to care

[33:25] about the people, but the facts and and what's uncovered in study sessions

[33:30] matter almost as much. And I'd weigh them together before I put anything to

[33:34] vote. I wouldn't just use my own personal opinions uh for

[33:39] uh affordable housing or grants or anything like that or what to do with

[33:44] homeless or unhoused. Uh and I I think it would also depend on how they are

[33:48] homeless and unhoused. If they're just vagrants or if they're transient or if

[33:52] they're uh addicted to substances and they actually need help. It it would it

[33:57] would vary kind of case by case.

[34:03] Can you can describe a time when you had to balance your personal beliefs with

[34:06] the broader interest of a community? >> Yeah. Um,

[34:11] this ties back straight to my business. Um, well, I own a trucking company. That

[34:15] that part's not it. I'm also a part owner in a food truck and we sell

[34:20] seafood. I do not eat seafood. Um, do not care for seafood one bit. But when

[34:25] we wanted to open this, we actually went online and we went on Shelton Talks, a

[34:30] local group in town, and we asked the town to take a vote on what kind of food

[34:34] they wanted, if they wanted a new pizza place, a seafood place, uh if they

[34:38] wanted a barbecue place, and our highest votes ended up being to do a seafood

[34:44] place. So, we now own a seafood truck and serve seafood and cheese steak

[34:49] sandwiches, which was, I believe, the second highest vote. uh regardless of

[34:54] what my personal beliefs were for it. >> Okay.

[35:04] » What policy area do you believe will have the greatest impact on the city's

[35:07] future over the next 3 to 5 years? Um,

[35:13] whatever we do with housing, um, I believe,

[35:18] uh, council member Miguel said we are one of the top 10 growing, uh, zones in

[35:23] the nation. So, I think that everything aside, um, most important thing is how

[35:30] are we going to handle that growth? I think our businesses at this point can

[35:35] pretty much handle it. our housing. I don't think can um I think what we need

[35:40] to do is focus on what we can do for developments in town.

[35:45] I I think we're kind of pretty tight in town. I think a lot would go to the

[35:49] county and we'd probably have to work with them on how to uh expand our public

[35:55] utilities to assist with that. Um, but any

[36:00] any infrastructure that we have in the city limits would need to be figured out

[36:06] pretty soon before we have too many people here and all of our public

[36:10] utilities end up um overwhelmed and unable to handle it.

[36:20] How would you prioritize the allocation of city resources while balancing

[36:24] community expectations for services during periods of limited or budget

[36:29] constraints?

[36:32] » Oh man, that one's a good one. Um, I guess I would go I think we would

[36:38] triage it. I think we would start with like most important emergent kind of

[36:43] needs which would basically be like um how to handle sewer, how to handle

[36:49] garbage, um law enforcement and

[36:55] our roads and bridges would be the most important first and that would be like

[37:00] level one. Um I would when we have limited revenue and budget, I would look

[37:05] at where we can trim fat. um what we can do if if there's any assets that we can

[37:12] that we own that we aren't making use of if we're able to rent them or lease

[37:16] them. Um any sort of grants we can get. I

[37:22] remember hearing in city council that uh the city has issues. Sometimes they're

[37:26] too busy to try to find grants. I think we can try to find some grants to help

[37:29] make that up depending on what they are and what the problems are. And then I

[37:35] would put stuff like um events that are net loss. I would put

[37:41] those on the back burner until the city is not net negative um in order to try

[37:47] to help balance the budget as good as I can. I mean I need help with the rest of

[37:52] the council to figure out what that can be trimmed and what can't. I think that

[37:57] would be the best way is to start with a triage and go from like level five

[38:02] urgent to level one. Very nice to have but unfeasible.

[38:08] » All right. Uh what does ethical public service mean

[38:12] to you and how would you practice it as a council member?

[38:16] » Um I think the best thing to do is to not be part of quidd proquo. I don't I

[38:22] think that um anything that would benefit my businesses financially, which

[38:29] I don't think my trucking company really does much work in town, so I ignore

[38:33] that. Um our food truck is in town and there's a lot of uh there's a big mess

[38:40] going on with that right now. I would not want anything to do with that while

[38:45] I'm on council. I would I mean I'd make my opinions heard, but voting wise, I

[38:50] would want to recuse myself from everything involving that. Um or anybody

[38:55] I know if it's someone I know personally and a vote comes to do something with

[39:01] them or something that would affect them, whether it benefit or hurt them,

[39:05] uh or their business, I I just think I want nothing to do with it. Uh, I'd make

[39:10] it very clear to the council and or the public if need be that I have an

[39:15] interest in this or I know somebody that means something to me that has an

[39:20] interest in it and I have no comment on it or I I want nothing to do with it

[39:25] when it comes time to do something for it. I think that's the most important

[39:30] part of being in council is that is you can't do what's beneficial for you. You

[39:35] have to do what's beneficial for the town folk themselves.

[39:44] Just a second.

[39:52] Okay. And so our last question for you is in approximately one minute, what

[39:58] would you like us to know about you? >> Oh man. Um, let's think. Um, I don't

[40:05] know. I am I've been here for 5 years. I was a big believer on if you come

[40:12] somewhere, you don't change it to what you had before. Um, so like I immigrated

[40:16] from Canada to the US and became a US citizen when I was four, I

[40:22] do not believe anything that we had in Canada specifically should be forced on

[40:26] our country. And since I'm an immigrant here and I was a guest here for so long,

[40:31] I had no business changing that. Um, I moved from a very Republican state to

[40:35] here and I don't believe I should force all of what I had there growing up onto

[40:42] a town if they see it differently. Um, so that's my biggest I mean I've been

[40:48] here 5 years. I feel like I I deserve to change a little bit of stuff as long as

[40:53] the general consensus of the town agrees with it. But I believe that anything I

[40:58] grew up with, since I voluntarily moved here, I I should follow what this town

[41:04] wants over what I want myself. And I've always felt like that pretty much

[41:09] anytime I've voted um or uh taken part anything like that.

[41:16] » All right. Well, thank you so much. Appreciate that.

[41:31] How about that?

[41:55] questions. >> All right,

[42:00] Peter Stevenson. >> I'm here today.

[42:02] » So, good. Welcome. So, are you ready?

[42:06] » Um, give me just a moment to look over these questions

[42:11] » and we will verbally ask them also. >> Yeah.

[42:15] » All right. Okay. So, question number one, do you

[42:19] have specific local issues that motivated you to apply for a council

[42:23] vacancy? >> I mean, specific motivation on issues

[42:29] being things that have happened in public like uh the fact that Goose Lake

[42:36] caught fire. Uh that that piqu my interest learning about the super fun

[42:40] cleanup site, you know, that that definitely motivated me to take a closer

[42:44] look. Um, but no, I'm uh I'm here because I want to improve Shelton and I

[42:51] think I can be an asset to doing so. >> All right.

[42:57] » Given that homelessness and affordable housing are complex legislative matters

[43:01] with divided community perspectives, what approach would you take to these

[43:04] challenges as a council member?

[43:14] I mean the elephant in the room is the over

[43:17] overlappinging of problems of mental health issues, homelessness and drug

[43:22] addiction can't be ignored. It's not easy to untangle. It's not easy to

[43:27] separate. But human beings are human beings. Everybody needs a place to live.

[43:33] I advocate doing what we can for the folks that can accept the help extended.

[43:42] All right. Can you describe a time when you had to balance your personal beliefs

[43:46] with the broader interest of a community?

[43:50] » Um, yeah. I uh I myself am agnostic. I don't believe in a god, but I don't see

[43:58] proof that there isn't one either. And that's come up a lot in everyday life in

[44:04] simple terms of taking the pledge of allegiance to that flag earlier in this

[44:08] council game. Now, under God, I don't personally believe in, but I understand

[44:13] the ethic behind it and I appreciate that.

[44:16] » Thank you. >> All right.

[44:20] » What policy area do you believe will have the greatest impact on the city's

[44:24] future over the next three to five years?

[44:30] That's a complicated question. The policy impact that I think could

[44:35] greatest impact I mean if if we're talking about 3 to

[44:42] five years

[44:46] I think it would be education reform. I mean every every day I drive past the

[44:50] banner that celebrates our literacy rate and I'd like to see that number continue

[44:55] to rise. I think that does the improved public. I think that's the most benefit

[45:01] us directly.

[45:06] » How would you prioritize allocation of city resources while balancing community

[45:11] expectations for services during periods of limited revenue or budget

[45:16] constraints?

[45:25] I mean when it comes to priority alloc sorry nervous I apologize when it comes

[45:31] to prioritizing what funds to distribute obviously we can't have lights and

[45:38] generators turning off so people's lives and unfortunately products in some cases

[45:44] come first you know uh that being you know a supermarket loses power I would

[45:49] prefer to keep those freezers on rather than lose the stock of the entire

[45:53] supermarket. Um I I think I would take those examples and try to apply that to

[45:59] the town's budget. What cannot be sacrificed and what unfortunately could

[46:05] we provide the volunteer power to cover?

[46:12] » All right. And my next question for you is, what

[46:17] does ethical public service mean to you and how would you practice it as a

[46:20] council member? >> Uh, ethical public service for me is

[46:26] doing the best that I can for what my constituents believe is the appropriate

[46:31] path forward while also following the guidance of the law.

[46:37] I genuinely think there are a lot of

[46:41] people that are too quick to go, let's burn it all down. And There are also way

[46:46] too many people that are saying it works perfectly.

[46:49] So for ethical public service, yeah, I I

[46:53] want the job to be done transparently for the betterment of the community.

[47:05] All right. And then our last question for you this evening is you have

[47:09] approximately one minute to tell us whatever you want to tell us about you.

[47:14] Um, yeah. My name is Pete Stevenson. Uh, I grew up in New York. Um, about 20

[47:20] minutes outside of New York City. Uh, I've been in Shelton for over a decade

[47:26] at this point. When I was 21, I got my wilderness emergency medical technician

[47:31] license. Uh, I did urban and wilderness EMT work

[47:37] for about five years before I decided I had had enough. Uh, I moved out to

[47:42] Washington to pursue college and uh, I picked Evergreen.

[47:48] Wasn't for me. It's a little bit too heavy. But, uh, I ended up falling in

[47:54] love with the town of Shelton. I really like this place. I like the fact that we

[47:58] are the gateway to the Olympics. Spent a lot of time outdoors.

[48:03] And it really bums me out that, you know, we have nothing NLES affiliated,

[48:10] Outwardbound affiliated like Shelton sits on one of the greatest national

[48:15] parks in the country. People should be flying from all over the planet to see

[48:19] it. >> All right. Thank you so much.

[48:23] » Thank you for your time. >> Yeah. Thank you.

[48:31] » Questions. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

[48:36] A lot of money. >> So, so after this next one, can we take

[48:40] a five minute for a bathroom break? Okay, great. Is everyone good with that?

[48:44] » Okay, great. Okay.

[49:19] There's the questions for you, but we will also ask you in person. All right.

[49:24] So, Kenneth Mullet, correct? >> Yes.

[49:26] » All right. Welcome this evening. Are you ready?

[49:30] » As ready as I can. >> All right. So, question number one is,

[49:34] do you have any specific local issues that motivated you to apply for the

[49:39] council vacancy? >> Uh, I think uh primarily in kind of a

[49:45] lived experience uh had a a tenant who had a struggle to pay her rent. um

[49:51] single income. She had a large family and you know at some personal

[49:57] strain uh you know supported her in what she was doing and recognizing that her

[50:02] community don't necessarily have a lot of that available. There weren't

[50:06] necessarily other options. If she had fallen from where she was, there wasn't

[50:12] a lot of options to pick her up. Um and aligned with the strategic plan that

[50:18] decides to put out you know managing the city's growth or keeping character and I

[50:23] think the character is leading kindness you know if you have the the ability you

[50:27] know extend it as you can and then manage growth so people don't fall

[50:31] through from where they are and they have places they can catch and strateg

[50:40] » given that homelessness and affordable housing are complex legis legislative

[50:44] matters with divided community perspectives. What approach would you

[50:47] take to these challenges as a council member?

[50:51] » Excellent question. Uh I think I know as a council we recently voted on

[50:56] approaches to uh uh reducing at least the impact of the unhoused. Um I think

[51:04] one is that we follow through with plans we have made. you know, regardless of

[51:08] how we approach them, uh they were made thoughtfully uh and considerably and and

[51:13] we need to follow through to find the effect of that. Um I think there's also

[51:16] been recommendations to have uh mitigation sites. Uh I think that one

[51:21] has a lot of efficacy. I know there's challenges there, but I think mitigation

[51:25] sites where we can colllocate services that can both address and mitigate and

[51:31] and again with humanity uh and respect and also respect for our community, its

[51:37] livability, its walkability and its enjoyability. So, uh, answers are stick

[51:43] through the plans we've already put the time, attention, and effort to to both

[51:47] come up with and and we just follow through regardless of how we approach

[51:52] that decision. You know, follow through on these choices to find the positive

[51:56] outcomes. >> All right.

[51:59] » Can you describe a time when you had to balance your personal beliefs with the

[52:02] broader interest of a community?

[52:08] uh in in here uh balance meaning uh where conflicts with my personal beliefs

[52:15] » um I yeah so what you believe in something but you're that it's better

[52:20] for the community to do it this way but >> I guess I guess a relevant example might

[52:28] be having paid attention to many recent council meetings a lot of citizens very

[52:34] feel very strongly about flat cameras and I personally have a conflict view.

[52:38] Uh I know those block cameras are uh a force multiply and in a rural community

[52:44] with limited resources, it's tough to effectively uh maintain peace and law

[52:49] with those limited resources and these tools are are force multipliers.

[52:54] At the same time, uh you know, I've personally been a victim of two debt

[52:59] breaches uh at a large uh credit company and while I was getting a security

[53:04] clearance and you know, the Clance housing agency had every sensitive bit

[53:10] of information you can conceive about me and not in those situations did I have

[53:14] any control over that breach but I was a victim and felt the effect of it. Um, so

[53:19] you know, I have a personal concern of uh, you know, how that information is

[53:24] housed and and where it is, but where were those concerns satisfied? Um, or if

[53:32] as a community we decided that safety and what those spot cameras provide uh,

[53:37] maybe offset or outweigh those. Um, much like uh, you know, the ordinance

[53:43] regarding to the unhoused, right? whether I believe it or not, you know,

[53:46] if I'm on the council, that's what the decision was extensively the decision of

[53:50] the community in general and any follow through.

[53:55] » Thank you. >> What policy area do you believe will

[54:00] have the greatest impact on the city's future over the next 3 to 5 years?

[54:05] » Uh, I think the ones that contribute most to increasing the tax base, which

[54:09] we desperately need. Um and not just that uh in and in in route to that uh uh

[54:16] providing more uh looking at the list of the employers who employ the most you

[54:22] know is limited in their ability to grow and and meet the growth that we

[54:27] anticipate uh uh that we will see in Shelton um can't necessarily match that.

[54:33] So, uh, the the short answer to that is increase one our tax breaks and then our

[54:39] tax base and then increase the diversity of where that comes from. Um, and you

[54:45] know, I I read ahead and that's in the strategic plan. Uh, I think it's a

[54:49] robust strategic plan. I appreciate it goal of both matching that growth, being

[54:54] prepared for it, but also keeping character shelter.

[54:59] Uh, a big reason why I'm here is that uh in one in 2016, June 4th, I rolled down

[55:06] my my driveway in my new house and there were 26 community members waiting to

[55:11] help me move in. And 3 days later, uh, I left uh a large family uh in a place

[55:19] they were not from and didn't know, but I left him in in hands that I was I was

[55:23] confident and comfortable with. And that's never changed. Shelton's a place

[55:26] I call home the longest in all of my life. Um, and my kids life. Um, and so

[55:32] that's important to me. Um, and so, so again, to circle back, uh, increase the

[55:37] tax base, uh, both contributes to and and the diversity while keeping the

[55:43] character of the city. I would love to appreciate.

[55:47] How would you prioritize the allocation of city resources while balancing

[55:51] community expectations for services during periods of limited revenue or

[55:57] budget constraints? That that question comes from something

[56:01] that is faced by the council all the time. Uh my my best answer there is is

[56:07] seek to find

[56:11] as council members you're representative of the citizens of Shelton. Um and if we

[56:18] are engaged enough locally and we find out what what they mean, you know, what

[56:24] feeds again feeds that growth, what builds that character. Um and uh

[56:33] and then make decisions that might be difficult. Uh

[56:38] though faced with those difficult decisions, um ensure that we've done the

[56:44] work to to make sure that difficult decision isn't just us making a

[56:49] difficult decision without having researched and gain

[56:55] informed ourselves of the best path. And once you're faced with that, decide and

[57:00] and cuts are are hard but necessary. Everybody would love for every resource

[57:06] to be fully um fully funded uh longevity, but that's that's simply not

[57:11] the case. So easy answer to that is integrity, informing myself and and

[57:18] honestly seeking the the will input uh the best outcomes for

[57:25] the city in general. All right. Okay. And the next question

[57:31] is, what does ethical public service mean to you and how would you practice

[57:35] it as a council member? >> Ethical public service uh

[57:41] when we go when we're alone at night and it's just

[57:46] us in our pillow, you know, we have to sleep with our own conscious. I think

[57:49] that starts there. I I appreciate having you clean conscious where I don't have

[57:54] to worry about um what I've done how they come back. I think that ethical

[57:59] public service means that you what you do particularly in public service is and

[58:04] should be transparent that you shouldn't be afraid of that that you should learn

[58:08] from that transparency. Uh embrace it. Um

[58:13] uh and how would I practice it? I would continue uh in an intentional life where

[58:19] um I don't want to live with regret. You know, I don't want to have uh anything

[58:23] that I hold in secret that I won't tell in public. Um and I approach it with

[58:29] thoughtful, honest uh and and and true to myself uh services.

[58:37] » All right.

[58:41] And our last question for you this evening is you have approximately one

[58:48] minute to tell us whatever you'd like us to know about you.

[58:53] » Questions. >> So, so again since the day I moved in

[58:58] and this town in actual hands and effort embrace me openly. I've I've traveled uh

[59:06] fairly extensively professionally and personally and

[59:10] overlapping a time I've been in Shelton. Even though I've been in places that I I

[59:14] had a current and a past love for, there's something always draws me back.

[59:20] There's there's aspects of of this city that I appreciate, I love, and I would

[59:24] love to see grow. Um, I respect everybody up here. Um, it is not an easy

[59:29] job. Uh, it's a lot more guts than glory. And

[59:34] if chosen, I look forward to both building bridges in the community,

[59:40] finding ways we can increase our collaboration and and meet that

[59:44] strategic plan that robust, you know, many hours in creating strategic plan

[59:50] because the character of Shelton was delivering the guy. Uh, I fell in love

[59:54] with the character of Shelton on June 4th, 2016. And as I rolled up and and I

[59:59] didn't know any one of those people and since every stranger has only been a

[1:00:04] stranger very shortly, I've only had positive interactions here and I would

[1:00:09] love to to extend that. >> All right. Thank you so much.

[1:00:13] » Let's go get it. >> All right. So, we're going to take a a

[1:00:19] five minute we're going to take a five minute bathroom break and then we'll

[1:00:23] come right back to it. All right. Great. >> Session for our council interview

[1:00:28] questions and the next up is Samuel Lewis. Would you rather be Sam or

[1:00:33] Samuel? >> Sam.

[1:00:34] » All right, Samuel. We have the questions for you there and then we are going to

[1:00:38] ask them verbally to you. Um, let me know when you're ready.

[1:00:42] » All right, cool. Great. Um, question number one. Do you have a specific local

[1:00:47] issues that motivated you to apply for the council vacancy?

[1:00:51] » Um, technically I've been considering it for

[1:00:56] years for various different reasons, but this time around actually the answer

[1:01:01] would be yes. um mostly uh around the homeless issue with the different uh ups

[1:01:08] and downs with homeowners, homelessness, businesses and so on and so forth and

[1:01:14] what to do about that. And and the reason why is because when I was

[1:01:18] considering um applying for the council member,

[1:01:23] somebody that I didn't even know called and asked if I actually apply

[1:01:30] because I have the knowledge of the homeless issue and I've been working on

[1:01:34] it for years. So just ask me. >> All right.

[1:01:42] » Right. Given that homelessness and affordable housing are complex

[1:01:45] legislative matters with divided community perspectives, what approach

[1:01:49] would you take to these challenges as a council member?

[1:01:54] » Actually, that's a good question. Um, and to me, they're

[1:01:59] kind of two separate issues. Um, they seem to be one in that you got

[1:02:05] homelessness out here and then you need housing and affordable homes to put them

[1:02:09] in. But there's also agencies that are working toward getting the homeless

[1:02:16] housed in different manners like uh

[1:02:22] different uh types of renting houses to put multiple people in

[1:02:28] them or building smaller community type housing. And so the the people working

[1:02:34] on the homeless issue have multiple avenues that they can work with and with

[1:02:40] doing their thing too. And then affordable housing just needs to happen

[1:02:45] for not just for us, but I mean that's a national issue. It's just basically got

[1:02:50] to at least in Washington state anyway where we got to have more affordable

[1:02:54] housing. So we just need to make sure that we have legislation and ordinances

[1:02:59] and whatnot that will step up and help us out with making sure that happens.

[1:03:06] Can you describe a time when you had to balance your personal beliefs with the

[1:03:10] broader interest of the community?

[1:03:14] » Actually, that's a tough one. Um,

[1:03:23] actually I can't come up with an issue on that that I can think of. Um, if I

[1:03:30] did, it would be probably around the homeless issue that I have my own

[1:03:35] thoughts about how things should go, but I also know that some of my thoughts

[1:03:40] just aren't going to work. And so, my thoughts are based on my own beliefs.

[1:03:46] But I see that uh there are people out there that just aren't going to measure

[1:03:50] up to that. So, that's about as close as I can get to answering this question.

[1:03:55] There's just things that just need to be done with the that maybe I might not

[1:04:00] agree with

[1:04:03] my own theology but just necessary. >> Thank you.

[1:04:12] » What policy area do you believe will be will have the greatest impact in the

[1:04:16] city's future over the next three to five years?

[1:04:21] Um actually it goes back to the question you basically been asking um getting the

[1:04:30] homelessness to be noted an eyesore issue um and also not a impact on city

[1:04:38] resources with the fire department police so on and so forth. If we can

[1:04:43] minimize that, there's more money in the budget to go with other things. But

[1:04:48] also, if we can get the building codes and all that good

[1:04:54] stuff in order so that there could be more building and um housing popping up

[1:05:01] around

[1:05:06] businesses and whatnot. Just get our zoning and all that good

[1:05:11] stuff. ironed out a little bit.

[1:05:16] » How would you prioritize the allocation of city resources while balancing

[1:05:21] community expectations for services during periods of limited revenue or

[1:05:25] budget constraints?

[1:05:31] Um, in my mind, some of it's

[1:05:37] a general that uh there are some city services like the

[1:05:43] police and the fire department. Well, I know some contracted out, but those

[1:05:47] things just have to be funded and and funded to the point where that they're

[1:05:52] effective and not restricted. And then there's city staffing and whatnot that

[1:05:59] that just needs to happen. I mean, you got to keep the city running. So, there

[1:06:03] are some things that you just got to pay for. Then there's other things that

[1:06:07] might be able to go along the wayside. I mean, can't too many people complain

[1:06:14] about the library. I don't see where that's very expensive at all.

[1:06:19] But there are some things that the city does pay for that, you know, just put on

[1:06:25] the back burner for a while. >> All right.

[1:06:30] What does ethical public service mean to you and how would you practice it as a

[1:06:34] council member? >> Ethical um that simply means just

[1:06:41] taking into consideration the people that um

[1:06:46] people in and who you're working for. You're not working for yourself. You're

[1:06:51] working for the the community and the people that are affected by your

[1:06:56] decision. So, you put your own personal purposes and your own personal desires

[1:07:04] aside as you serve those that you've been appointed to to serve. So,

[1:07:12] basically just put the people first and your own wants and desires.

[1:07:18] at all. >> All right. And then our last question

[1:07:24] for you this evening is it's not really a question. It's an opportunity for you

[1:07:29] to tell us a little bit about yourself. We'll give you about one minute to tell

[1:07:32] us whatever you want to tell us about you. Um,

[1:07:37] on the homelessness issue, that's probably my biggest strength, I would

[1:07:42] think, is that I've been working with the homeless since pretty much since

[1:07:45] I've been in shelter for the last 18 years. I started working with

[1:07:51] the shelter down here and I've gotten to know what works, what don't work, and

[1:07:58] and some pretty good ideas on how we could move forward. And I realized none

[1:08:03] of it is easy and there's no single solution and there's really no real

[1:08:08] solution but there's things that can help and so that's been my motivation

[1:08:14] for years upon years. put a lot of research into not just what would work

[1:08:19] here, but also looking at what works everywhere else. And so, um, about

[1:08:26] myself, that that's probably where I put most of my energy and time is working

[1:08:32] with the homeless. on several different boards and I I also am the president of

[1:08:40] nonprofit runs the shelter the emergency shelter.

[1:08:46] Um so >> about a minute Sam if

[1:08:50] » that's it >> you can wrap it up

[1:08:52] » and so I I would think that that would be my strength and my motivation and

[1:08:56] really what I'm all about. >> All right thank you so much we

[1:09:00] appreciate it.

[1:09:24] Will the real Rosa please stand?

[1:09:41] Good evening,

[1:09:47] Ross Gallagher, I presume. >> Yes.

[1:09:50] » Perfect. >> Um,

[1:09:52] » that's today. >> Great. Yes,

[1:09:55] » the questions that we will be asking are also in front of you, but we will ask

[1:09:58] them to you verbally also. So, let me know. Are you ready? Perfect. So, I'm

[1:10:03] going to start with question number one. Do you have any specific local issues

[1:10:08] that motivated you to apply for the council vacancy?

[1:10:15] » No, I wanted to work with the board. I've worked with

[1:10:20] previous boards and I feel like my background is a good

[1:10:26] asset to the city. >> Okay.

[1:10:32] » Given that homelessness and affordable housing are complex legislative matters

[1:10:35] with divided community perspectives, what approach would you take to these

[1:10:39] challenges as a council member?

[1:10:43] But I keep changing laws

[1:10:48] and all that and I I'd have to study up on it and also

[1:10:54] add my influence on making a decision.

[1:11:02] » Can you describe a time when you had to balance your personal beliefs with the

[1:11:05] broader interest of a community?

[1:11:10] But I'd like to end Seven Street Speedway,

[1:11:16] but uh

[1:11:23] no, my my police is for the future of Shelton.

[1:11:29] Uh I've lived here 59 years and I've seen a lot of things happen.

[1:11:36] Even when Simpson pulled it up and They had formed an intergovernment

[1:11:42] council and Nep and some of the other electives

[1:11:47] wanted figure you know we got to kind of roll

[1:11:51] the sidewalks up. So they had a meeting at the high school

[1:11:56] and they decided is this a retirement community

[1:12:02] or employment or blue collar or terrorist?

[1:12:07] That's 40 41 years ago and we still don't know what we are.

[1:12:16] What policy area do you believe will have the greatest impact on the city's

[1:12:20] future over the next three to five years?

[1:12:25] » Well, I've been involved in a lot of things. I'm the guy that actually

[1:12:27] designed Boner

[1:12:32] and but finding a balance with the community

[1:12:38] that's very difficult. There's too many factors coming at you

[1:12:43] all the time. But I've dealt with budgets. I've dealt

[1:12:48] with the six million deficit the county when I was county commissioner.

[1:13:01] All right. How would you prioritize the allocation of city resources while

[1:13:07] balancing expectations for services during periods of limited revenue or

[1:13:11] budget constraints? >> I don't see that.

[1:13:16] » Number four. >> Number four.

[1:13:22] » Oh, number four. Excuse me.

[1:13:32] This budget is set up with property tax and sales tax

[1:13:39] and you do get some revenue from the feds,

[1:13:44] but we have to prioritize what the needs are

[1:13:49] and a lot of people want law enforcement.

[1:13:54] So like when I was county commissioner, I had to lay off

[1:13:58] couple three or four deputies. That wasn't too popular,

[1:14:03] but we just have to move along.

[1:14:11] » All right. And my next question for you is, what

[1:14:16] does ethical public service mean to you and how would you practice it as a

[1:14:21] council member? >> I do it every day.

[1:14:26] I've done it in the past. I've been elected the elected official.

[1:14:31] for 15 years, but I still practice ethics. Anything I

[1:14:37] do.

[1:14:45] » All right. And our next question is off script. You won't see it. It's not so

[1:14:49] much a question as it's an opportunity for you to tell us in about one minute

[1:14:53] whatever you want us to know about Ross Gallagher.

[1:14:59] You came prepared. >> Like I previously mentioned, I did

[1:15:04] elected for 15 years of service. I've lived in this community for 59 years.

[1:15:11] I've been married for 47. I resigned.

[1:15:18] I was a state senate finalist back in 1996.

[1:15:25] I was on make mason transit board change and expanding the board what I do in my

[1:15:32] service. I was president of the aging area agency on aging. I was a board

[1:15:39] member on board which is pollution stuff. I was on the subcommittee of

[1:15:44] growth of manhood and I've testified a few times in the

[1:15:49] senate hear. >> All right. Thank you so much for your

[1:15:54] time.

[1:16:03] » All right. >> So, we're at the point of an executive

[1:16:07] session. So, you you' announce that at this point we're scheduled for 15 15

[1:16:12] minutes and we'll >> we'll uh enter back into the chambers

[1:16:16] after 15 minutes. >> So, I know they're not in here, but I

[1:16:18] want to say thank you to all our candidates. We are we're moving on to

[1:16:22] the executive session to discuss the qualifications of the applicants and uh

[1:16:27] hopefully appointment to an elective office pursuant of RCW42.30.1101H.

[1:16:36] The executive session will last 15 minutes. We will reconvene at

[1:16:41] Oh, somebody do some math for me. >> 37.

[1:16:46] » All right. 7:37. There will be action to follow. All

[1:16:51] right. >> And we can go in the back. Aaron, if

[1:16:54] you'll let

[1:17:22] Oh yeah,

[1:17:26] » I was going to but thank you for just in case because I appreciate that.

[1:17:48] Wow.

[1:18:08] Are we ready? All right. >> All right. We are back in session. I

[1:18:13] just want to say thank you so much for everybody who um applied tonight. That

[1:18:19] was that was super exciting to have so many people care about our community um

[1:18:23] and then want to get involved. that is um that that shows that our community

[1:18:29] has some some members that really care and that's really important to us on

[1:18:33] council. So, thank you so much for that. >> And I also appreciate everybody who came

[1:18:37] and applied. That is great. Last time I didn't think we had um three people, not

[1:18:42] 10. So, that was pretty exciting. Thank you everybody for applying for uh for

[1:18:46] this. Appreciate the work of whoever we picked.

[1:18:49] » Anyone else? All right. So, we are off and running.

[1:18:54] Um, at this point, council members, the floor is open for nominations. No second

[1:18:58] will be needed. All right. Nominations.

[1:19:03] » I nominate Jason Sap. >> All right.

[1:19:06] » I nominate Kenneth Mobley. >> All right.

[1:19:09] » I nominate Walter Scott Dil. >> All right. I nominate Sam Lumis.

[1:19:18] » And I move to close nominations. >> All right.

[1:19:23] Let's do that. Okay. So, can we get >> You need a second to close.

[1:19:28] » All right. Can we get that second? >> All right. Second. We have a motion and

[1:19:33] a second to close nominations. Um, so we have four nominations. Is that

[1:19:39] correct, Mary? >> Yes.

[1:19:40] » All right. The first candidate who receives it will be three votes tonight

[1:19:44] will be appointed. If no single candidate receives three votes in the

[1:19:49] first round, the process will be repeated until a candidate receives the

[1:19:53] required number of votes. City clerk Ricker

[1:19:57] » Ricker >> Ricker will begin the roll call vote.

[1:20:01] Sorry, I usually say your first name. >> Would you like me to do this up there?

[1:20:04] Is that easier than in the corner? >> Wherever you're most comfortable.

[1:20:09] » Okay, so do the roll call vote. Council member

[1:20:13] Blush. Oh. Um, Jason Zap,

[1:20:18] » Council Member Anisco, >> Kenneth Moley,

[1:20:22] » Mayor Sherman, >> uh, Sam Lumen,

[1:20:27] » Council Member Gilmore, >> Kenneth Moley,

[1:20:30] » Council Member Gutierrez, >> Kenneth Moley.

[1:20:34] » All right. Uh, it looks like we have three votes for Kenneth Moy. So,

[1:20:41] congratulations, Kenneth Moley. we will be on our city council. Thank you so

[1:20:46] much.

[1:20:49] All right. Once again, I want to say thank you to

[1:20:53] everyone who participated, who cared enough, and for showing up tonight cuz

[1:20:58] honestly, not everybody did. So, thank you so much. All right, we are going to

[1:21:03] uh adjourn this meeting at was that 7:41 p.m.

[1:21:07] Awesome.

City Council Special Meeting - September 8, 2026

Transcript