Yakima mayor calls for ethics code

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Yakima Mayor Dave Edler made a public pitch Monday for a code of ethics governing the City Council.

In the annual State of the City address to the Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce, Edler spoke out in support of an ethics ordinance used by the city of Richland that was recently introduced by Councilwoman Sonia Rodriguez.

Speaking before some of the city's most influential business leaders, Edler called himself a victim of "personal injustices" and said a code of ethics was "absolutely needed in our community."

"We need representation that is done in an open and honest way," he said to a round of applause.

Asked later what he meant by "personal injustices," Edler complained that he was "flat out lied to" in the runup to the council's surprise vote in April on a new budget policy. Then-Councilman Neil McClure immediately resigned in protest, and the council's adoption of a new budgeting process sparked allegations that votes had been lined up beforehand.

"That's not the way the citizens of Yakima want their business handled," Edler said.

Some council members believe the proposed ethics ordinance is an attempt to make them look bad -- and boost political points for Rodriguez, who is seeking to retain her seat -- in the wake of Yakima's open-meetings controversy. The ethics proposal was quietly deferred last week to a study session for further review.

Among the political leaders in attendance were state Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, retired state legislator Alex Deccio and Yakima County Commissioner Mike Leita. Rodriguez and Councilwoman Maureen Adkison also were there.

In a 10-minute speech that touched on economic development, crime and a multimillion dollar project to build two railroad underpasses, Edler acknowledged the council's recent successes and squabbles.

With the pending expansion of the Capitol Theatre adding luster to the revival of downtown Yakima, the mayor and City Manager Dick Zais said the city's economic future looks bright. Zais noted the city has secured another $1 million for downtown sidewalk improvements.

He estimated that in addition to the total $13 million in public investment, another $60 million has been poured in by private investors and commercial entities.

Despite the national recession, Zais noted that the city managed to avoid dipping into reserves to balance the city's budget last year. And though the city faces a projected $4 million shortfall in next year's budget, no tax increases are being considered, Zais said.

"Make no mistake about it," he said, "we're still going to have to make adjustments ... painful adjustments."

Edler and Zais defended the city's plan to build railroad underpasses on Lincoln Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

The city has secured $34 million for the work -- more than enough to complete the first underpass -- but officials have estimated the entire project could cost as much as $43 million. Construction is set to begin later this year.

Edler said the underpass project not only will help boost the local economy and improve public safety, it will also help ports on the West Coast compete with government-subsidized Canadian ports and railroads for years to come.

"We need to start paying attention to our decaying infrastructure," he said. "If we refuse to do that, we will be in trouble."

The mayor and Zais also pointed to the city's falling crime rate, which they said has dipped 9 percent this year. While that's good news for the public, Zais said, it has resulted in perhaps unsustainable jail costs, as more people are being arrested and taken off the street.