By Gwen Davis

It was a large and charged meeting Wednesday night.

The Delridge Neighborhoods District Council discussed -- among a large forum of other Seattle district councils -- the city's proposed changes to the district councils.

Participants were angry with the changes.

The city announced last week that the district councils would be substantially changed due to lack in diversity.

The meeting was held at the Highland Park Improvement Club.

“The news last week was a surprise to say the least,” the chair of the Delridge district council said. They were expecting a dialogue and conversation in what would happen going forward. “That did not happen,” he said. “We were not brought into the process… The decision that came down made a lot of people mad. I’m mad now,” he said. “But tonight’s not about being mad.”

“The city frequently makes decisions which aren’t the best decisions,” he said.

Usually, the city asks the districts for their feedback, according to him.

“We are more than the narrative we are currently being cast by,” he said. A "bad decision" has been made, he said, and "bad decisions" can and should be reversed.

He asked if the interests of all neighbors of the participants’ respective councils were represented. He got an overwhelming yes.

“But your average district council has 15 people in it and tend to be white and tend to own houses — and that is the whole story,” he said, mimicking how the city has written the councils up. “But we are a representative democracy.”

Not everything that is in the report is necessarily disagreed upon, he said. But the overall narrative needs to change.

He asked the various district councils the questions.

First: What do you do?

Volunteers from districts stood up and said they seek information from people, across the community, and work to build relationships, and give people the budgets and resources they need.

“This is another way to wedge the neighborhoods apart from each other, rather than pull them together,” one participant said.

“We do a lot of great things,” another participant said. “We worked on the light rail… and got a station back on the map,” he said. “That is equity.”

Everyone wants diverse council participants, he said. “Let’s not throw out the whole system,” he said.

A volunteer from Ballard district council said, “we are empowered as active community members — when we hear something going on in the community… we are empowered to go out there and get city departments to respond. When has a city department relied on volunteers to do it’s job on outreach?” she asked.

“We have tried to get the city to do outreach, but they were obstructionist at every turn,” she continued. Her council however, “went out and met community members where they were,” she said.

“Community councils are some of the groups represented, but we also have,” museums and other city organizations that also represent neighborhoods.

Another participant said he served on many councils. “I say that not to brag but because I have a significant amount of experience,” with this topic, he said. “I have seen the hard work of my neighbors here in Delridge,” which helped save public spaces, and much other work. “The list is long,” he said. The councils may not be diverse, however, they work on behalf of everyone, including un-voiced residents.

“Are we perfect? Of course not. But should we give up because we’re not perfect? Of course not,” he said. “Most of this is our city leaders not filling their roles. We have to continue to work on behalf of our communities. Everyone has the voice. Don’t punish those that show up who make this world a better place. Work with us, not against us, and make my be a better place for everyone.”

“To summarize,” the facilitator said. “We are a massive collection of representation by proxy… Thank you district councils.”

Second question: What are your goals? What do you really want to accomplish?

“These district councils do not get credit for what they do for the city,” one participant who is not on a district council said. “I looked at the 27-year grant that were put into place for the district councils by the city — and they were all given to [causes throughout the whole. There was a lack of factual information,” she said.

“We’re figuring out how to divide the burden, so it does not fall on just a few,” another district council member said. She said she wanted to figure out how to recruit more volunteers.

She also asked why the city isn’t providing things for the district councils, such as facilities. “Then we could go out there and do the fun stuff and make it fun for other people. How do we create community instead of just a volunteer network.”

Participants said they wished the city would have hired a consultant to help advise the city about changing the councils.

District council members affirmed they were committed to serving the entire community. They would go out and meet community members where they are, participants said. They would translate materials, if needed. They would prioritize youth activities, sidewalks, safe routes to school, reasonable public transit and more hours for the community centers.

"I am able to do all my [council because I'm 50 and I'm not 20," another participant said. "They can't scapegoat the volunteers."

Amanda Kay Helmick, a district council member said she wants respect. People in the city don't come to the meetings, and then make the council members the "bad guys".

Another volunteer said the work councils do cost peanuts. It would be far cheaper for the councils to be given more authority so they could do more. It would be more efficient and save the city money.

The city often takes credit for work the district councils do, another participant said.

"It's a big struggle for neighborhood groups to get out there, and then have a department that you're tethered to, create this type of situation," another participant said, who's tied to the city.

"It's hard to support your neighbors when people are pounding you on the head from the city," she acknowledged.