Bunkers on Executive Sessions

“I never said i would never not have executive sessions,” Bunkers said, “because there’s a real need for it.

“The law says you have to hold them for certain reasons.”

He said that, by Washington law, there are “specific reasons you would hold them. One is litigation. One is for the sale of city property. One is if it deals with a personnel issue that is (confidential) . . .”

Bunkers has had one Executive Session, on Feb. 9. ” It was dealing with strategies for bargaining units. The announcement for that meeting  I explained it very clearly, which never used to be done. I spelled out why it was going to be done.”

The announcement was as follows:

“The City Council will convene into a special meeting and recess into an executive/closed session pursuant to RCW 42.30.140 (4)(b) ‘that portion of a meeting during which the governing body is planning or adopting the strategy or position to be taken by the governing body during the course of any collective bargaining, professional negotiations, or grievance or mediation proceedings, or reviewing the proposals made in the negotiations or proceedings while in progress.’ “

A second Executive Session had been scheduled for last Monday, but was cancelled.

The second Executive Session of Bunkers’ tenure has been rescheduled, for March 5, at 2 p.m. “That’s for litigation,” Bunkers said.

Again, the announcement cited the Revised Code of Washington:

RCW 42.30.110 Executive Sessions “(i) To discuss with legal counsel representing the agency litigation or potential litigation to which the agency, the governing body, or a member acting in an official capacity is, or is likely to become, a party, when public knowledge regarding the discussion is likely to result in an adverse legal or financial consequence to the agency.”

Bunkers did elaborate slightly, saying City Council will be discussing a lawsuit against the City’s storm drain fees.

“I am certainly not a proponent of Executive Sessions,” Bunker said. “We have gone out of our way to avoid them.

“I’m a total advocate of an open government.”

Indeed, City Council meetings have become much more interactive, with frequent opportunities for public comment.