RSSYakima council member proposes ethics code
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- Spurred by last month's City Council open-meetings controversy, Yakima Councilwoman Sonia Rodriguez on Wednesday announced in a news release that she plans to propose a binding code of ethics for the council.
Rodriguez, who said she'll bring the matter up at the council's next meeting July 7, said the ethics code she has in mind is based on Richland's.
That ethics code, seen as a model by the Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington, expressly bars council members from doing things such as profiting from their positions and disclosing information from closed council sessions.
"It increases the public's trust in government," said Rodriguez, who was appointed to the council last December.
She envisions a scenario in which council members form an ethics committee, as outlined by the Richland ordinance, and wield the power to censure or otherwise punish ethics violators. The council, with help from city legal staff, would have to work out such specifics before the code could be instituted, she said.
One thing noticeably absent from the Richland ordinance is any language dealing with Open Public Meetings Act violations.
In May, four members of the Yakima City Council -- Rick Ensey, Kathy Coffey, Micah Cawley and Bill Lover -- were hit with a lawsuit alleging a violation of that act. Public records indicated that Ensey and Coffey had lined up the support of Cawley and Lover, through a series of
e-mails outside of the public eye, to change the city's budget policy.
The council rescinded the change within days, and the suit was settled early this month, with the city paying $2,500.
Mayor Dave Edler said Wednesday that he likes Rodriguez's idea and believes the council needs to reinforce a commitment to ethical behavior.
"We've just walked through a season where we had to deal with that particular issue," he said. "It's a piece of our reality. Having a code would be something I would welcome."
* Pat Muir can be reached at 509-577-7693 or pmuir@yakimaherald.com.
* View Richland's code of conduct: http://www.mrsc.org/ords/r5c2_26.aspx
She'll have to stop working as a lawyer.
Speaking of Ms. Rodriguez... what ever happened with her offer from KIT? She was going to get back to them last Friday.
Good for Councilperson Rodriguez - a great idea and timely. Why would she have to stop being a lawyer? Are you suggesting that City Council members should be unemployed or retired to serve? It seems to me that the point of ethics policies regarding financial gain would be if one was doing so in the context of their work for the City. For example, getting a kickback from an entity contracting with the City - or - let's say someone on the Council pushes changes in code on behalf of a condo developer and as a result, get's a GREAT deal on one of the condos - I think that's what the ethics policy would cover.
Report Violationlobo - why don't you call the station and find out - or did you just want to insinuate something without research.
Report ViolationWould she support the enforcement of the code of ethics? She doesn't support the enforcement of immigration laws, so one has to wonder.
Report ViolationI find it sad that we have to make laws to keep lawmakers from breaking the law then define ethical for them and tell them they have to BE ethical while they do said job!
Report ViolationThis is nothing more than a re-election stunt.
Report Violationwho cares if it is a election season stunt? It's a good way to at least have a set of ground rules for our city council for ethics which is sadly needed. I don't care who proposed it, they should have already had one in place.
sjuan: when has she stated or demonstrated that she does not support the enforcement of immigration laws? Please give reference.
isitfriday,
Her speech at the Cesar Chavez march was enough evidence for me. You can believe what you want.
"Local leaders including Alex Santillanes of Barios Unidos and Yakima City Councilwoman Sonia Rodriguez gave speeches in support of immigrants rights followed by a peace march through downtown Yakima."
sjuan-
I don't come to the issue with any belief, I've simply never heard her say that she does not support enforcing those laws. Supporting immigrant rights and enforcement of current immigration laws are not mutually exclusive...so I'm trying to find where she has said or demonstrated the claim you make.
In her speech did she say as much? I really just want to understand where that statement comes from since its been tossed around on the boards for some time. Just trying to get to the root of the claim.
isitfriday,
Being in support of "immigrants rights", is just another way of saying you support amnesty for illegal aliens. What rights are legal immigrants currently being denied? None. There's no point in marching for "immigrants rights" unless they are currently being denied their rights. The "immigrants rights" they are demanding, is citizenship (or at least legalization) for those who came here illegally.
isitfriday dont bother
"The greatest enemy of knowlege is not ignorance, its the illusion of knowlege."
I tough Her contender went on vacation during
I'm not voting for a radio guy
Sonia Rodriguez: Selected, not elected!
Report ViolationIt seems the discussion has slipped off topic--immigration reform is a whole other issue.
Of course, ethics are important, and the big surprise here is that there isn't something already in writing . . . like the employee's handbook I am expected to follow in my job. Since the council is supposed to be brought up to speed in an annual retreat, are the no-no's not part of the agenda? Also, I think we assume that when someone is elected to an office, they already know how to treat each other in a civil and professional manner. Perhaps we need a remedial course in statesman (or woman) like behavior.
sjaun automatically equates a march for Cesar chavez with immigraiion rights..HE was a labor leader not a civil rights activists. he fought for farmworkers rights to unionize so sjuan get it right. I was there and she did not speak about not enforcing immigration laws and in fact immigration was not the topic but voting was..so I must say she was speaking to citizens of th e US who happened to be Hispanic and that is probably your real issue.
As for a code of ethics..yes! The three amigos onthe council have been led down a path by smith and company that overshadows their ethics.
So what if the public meetings law says four or more is quorum..the ethics code can define what is a violation for the city charter and then the rules are in print for all to see and know. They cannot hide behind " I don't believe I violated the law..." What you believe and what you did will be determined by your peers.
I don't get this issue about being a lawyer being a conflict. It must be because she is lawyer she thought of it becasue they have pretty strict code of ethics.
As for a election stunt..well well the pot calling the kettle..Micah Cawley's call for martial law on the eastside of Yakima was not a stunt?
At least her's has merit, legal, is doable and needed!
sjuan wrote:
"Her speech at the Cesar Chavez march was enough evidence for me."
A speech you didn't attend? Do you have any even second or even third hand knowledge of what she said in her speech? I didn't think so. So the mere fact that she gave a speech is "enough evidence"? Hmmm.
The statement that anything, "is/was enough evidence for me" is irrefutable evidence of a closed mind, but I don't suppose you have much of a problem with that.
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