01/12/2010 City CouncilJanuary 12, 2010
The Edmonds City Council meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Council President Bernheim in
the Council Chambers, 250 5th Avenue North, Edmonds.
ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT
Steve Bernheim, Council President
Adrienne Fraley- Monillas, Councilmember
Strom Peterson, Councilmember
Michael Plunkett, Councilmember
Dave Orvis, Councilmember
DJ Wilson, Councilmember
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
STAFF PRESENT
Sandy Chase, City Clerk
Jana Spellman, Senior Executive Council Asst.
COUNCILMEMBER WILSON MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON, TO
APPROVE THE AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
1. INTERVIEW APPLICANTS FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL VACANCY.
Council President Bernheim stated that 20 minutes was scheduled for each interview. He encouraged
candidates to manage the twenty minutes as they wished with regard to their comments and allowing time
for questions.
The following applicants were interviewed:
Roger Hertrich
David Freese
Lora Petso
Michael Young
Charles LaNasa
Alvin Rutledge
Diane Buckshnis
Ron Wambolt
Stacy Gardea
Kerry Ayers
Interviews concluded at 8:43 p.m.
Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes
January 12, 2010
Page 1
2. DISCUSSION ON THE GOVERNMENT CHANNEL 21 POLICY AND REQUEST TO
BROADCAST A DOCUMENTARY -STYLE VIDEO, "MONTGOMERY TO MEMPHIS."
Council President Bernheim explained the video, Montgomery to Memphis, is a biography of the role of
Martin Luther King in the civil rights movement in the United States. He requested that the Council
modify the Channel 21 Policy sufficiently to permit the viewing and broadcast of this video. He also
asked for Council agreement to broadcast the video once a day at 5:00 p.m. beginning Friday, January 15
through Monday, January 18.
He noted that the guidelines currently allow for information regarding Edmonds community events such
as festivals and displays. He proposed modifying the guidelines per the following motion:
COUNCIL PRESIDENT BERNHEIM MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
PLUNKETT, TO MODIFY THE GUIDELINES TO PERMIT THE BROADCAST OF
INFORMATION REGARDING OFFICIAL HOLIDAYS OBSERVED BY THE CITY OF
EDMONDS AND EDMONDS COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS FESTIVALS AND DISPLAYS.
Responding to Councilmember Plunkett's question, Council President Bernheim proposed making the
change to the guidelines permanent.
Councilmember Wilson commented that it is always better to apply a general rule under which specifics
would follow. He noted this change would allow anything about Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc. to be
shown without Council approval. His preference would be that anytime the public airwaves are used, that
Council approval be obtained. There may be some instances where well- intentioned ideas may not be
something he could support. He would like to have it come to Council for deliberations. He preferred
that the policies be left unchanged, and that Council approves the airing of this video. He will vote
against the change to the policies, hoping that Council can just approve the video and that any fixture
video would also require Council approval.
Council President Bernheim stated with regard to the Christmas question, it is an official holiday of the
country and documentaries regarding the meaning of Christmas and its role in creating an official holiday
in the United States would not be objectionable to him. He noted that there are currently rules against
religious proselytizing and religious related broadcasts that would weed out inappropriate broadcasts. He
is not in favor of getting the proposed video broadcast without changing the rules because the current
rules do not allow it. If Council has concerns in the next couple of weeks, he would be happy to look at
the rules further then. He would like to adopt the change now in order to be able to broadcast the
proposed video now in time for the holiday.
Councilmember Wilson suggested amending the motion to add Council approval required for any future
film. He used the example of a video concerning Easter, an official holiday.
Councilmember Peterson stated he likes the idea of expanding the use of Channel 21 for issues like this.
He suggested a friendly amendment to add the language "with Council approval regarding any broadcasts
that falls under this change."
Council President Bernheim, the maker of the motion, and Councilmember Plunkett who seconded the
motion, agreed to the friendly amendment.
THE VOTE ON THE MOTION AS AMENDED CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes
January 12, 2010
Page 2
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WILSON, TO
APPROVE THE BROADCASTING OF THE VIDEO. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes
January 12, 2010
Page 3