A Seattle-based group that advocates for open government gave a Puyallup city councilman an award Tuesday for opting out of small-group sessions with the city manager and fellow council members over concerns about transparency.
The Washington Coalition for Open Government presented Councilman John Knutsen with a Key Award during this week’s City Council meeting. Toby Nixon, coalition president, said the award is given to people who take a stand for open government.
The meetings, which have been discontinued, drew some public criticism this summer.
Council members were meeting in rotating groups of two or three with the city manager, out of the public eye, to hear updates on matters such as road projects.
Meetings never included a quorum, or majority, of the seven-member council, city officials said. They described the sessions as purely informational, with no council meeting agenda items discussed or votes taken.
Knutsen opted out of attending. He told The News Tribune on June 24 that he didn’t think the sessions were “consistent with the appearance of openness.” At least one other council member –Rick Hansen – later said he no longer would attend.
City Manager Ralph Dannenberg said Wednesday that the sessions were intended as another way to keep the council informed, and that he consulted with state open government experts beforehand.
“We’re not hiding. We’re not attempting to keep any information secret,” Dannenberg said.
He said he believes the last session was held in June and that no future meetings are planned.
City leaders said they didn’t know the coalition was giving Knutsen the award until Tuesday’s meeting. Nixon said during his brief presentation that while the rotating sessions may not have violated the letter of the state Open Public Meetings Act, “the coalition has long held the position that such meetings violate the spirit of the act.”
Knutsen thanked the coalition for the award. No other council members offered comment at that time.
Knutsen, 66, has been on the council since 2008 and represents District 1 on the northern end of the city.
Sara Schilling: 253-552-7058 sara.schilling@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/street
