A deeply divided SeaTac City Council will vote Tuesday, July 27 on whether to place a resolution on the November ballot to change the city's form of government.

Based on the debate at the July 13 council meeting, the motion is likely to fall one vote short.
The importance of the debate was underscored by the fact that Deputy Mayor Gene Fisher, a commercial fisherman, voiced his opinion via satellite telephone from a boat approximately 100 miles out in the Pacific Ocean. Councilman Tony Anderson also participated in the discussion by telephone.

Fisher and newly elected council members Rick Forschler and Pam Fernald supported placing the ballot on the ballot. But Tony Anderson, Mayor Terry Anderson, Councilman Ralph Shape and Councilwoman Mia Gregerson opposed it.
Fernald requested that action be delayed for two weeks, moving the vote to July 27.

Forschler made the motion to submit the change of government proposition to King County Elections to be placed on the Nov. 2 general election ballot.

The proposition would eliminate the current city manager/council form of government in favor of an elected mayor system.
Currently, the council hires a city manager to run the day-to-day operations of the city, including supervising staff. Council members elect one of their own to serve as mayor. The mayor's chief duties are presiding over council meetings and representing the city at ceremonial functions.

Under the proposed plan, the mayor would be elected by voters and act as chief executive of the city. The mayor could hire a professional city administrator to work with staff.
Tukwila has an elected mayor while Burien, Normandy Park and Des Moines use SeaTac's current system.

An elected-mayor proposition, placed on last November's ballot by citizen initiative, failed by nine votes.
Fisher and Fernald contended that King County Elections did not count all eligible ballots. They said they helped submit valid signature cards for approximately 25 voters whose signatures had been challenged by Elections staff but the votes were not added to the totals.
"The majority of those were for the proposition," Fisher declared. "So I already know that the majority of citizens approved it."
Shape noted the proposition has been before voters three times before and been rejected each time.

"I am disappointed in this resolution," Shape said. "I hoped for a cohesive council but the intent of this is to split the council."
Gregerson said the $30,000 it would cost to run an election could be used for other more important priorities.

Fisher responded that the city would have to pay for an election if another citizen initiative is submitted next year.
"The cost is the same amount this year as next year," Fisher said.

Earl Gipson, sponsor of the previous proposition, told the Times/News that he will resubmit the resolution next year if the council does not place the measure on this November's ballot.

Lawmakers also heard a complaint from an apartment-complex owner about noise, traffic problems and crime associated with the nearby Club Monte Carlo at 15222 International Boulevard. The club is located at the site of the former Funsters Casino.
SeaTac bought the SeaTac Center, which includes the club for $12 million. The center is on the corner of International Boulevard and South 154th Street, across from the Tukwila light-rail station.

The apartment owner called for the city to shut down the club.