Port of Olympia commission votes to expand to five members

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On Monday, the Port of Olympia commissioners approved a motion to expand its three-member commission into a five-member one through a ballot proposition.

The Port’s Executive Director, Sam Gibboney, speaking at the June 21 work session of the Commission, explained that the expansion was not a result of a staff proposal. Instead, Gibboney claimed that the proposal was a part of the Port Vision 2050 action plan. “The community has set this as a priority too,” the executive director said. She continued, “the community really articulated a desire [to increase] the port’s ability to make decisions.”

Commissioner Joe Downing, who brought up the proposal, reasoned that the current turnover for the port commissioners creates a lot of “upheaval” among the commission and its staff. Moreover, he believed that a five district commission provides a more just and equitable representation.  

Voting Process

 To explain the process, General Counsel Valiesha Brown explained that the commission had the authority to increase its members under RCW 53.12.115. Brown claimed that the commission can either adopt a resolution or submit a citizen petition which includes signatures of at least 10 percent of the voters in the port district. The plan, according to Jennie Foglia-Jones, Senior Manager of Communications, Marketing & Government Affairs, is to approve a resolution in early July, followed shortly after by the creation and approval of a ballot proposition.

The general counsel continued by explaining the process of adopting a ballot proposition for the increase. Brown said that the general commission needs to either prepare a resolution to create five new districts, with each district having an equal number of population, or they may retain the current three districts and simply add two at-large commissioners.

The general commission needed to submit the proposition to the County Auditor by Aug. 3, 2021, to make it in time for the November 2021 elections. If the voters approved the motion for the five districts, the commission needed to redraw the boundaries and have it submitted to the county within 120 days.

Brown noted that the election for the new port commissioners is scheduled for the next general election. She also mentioned that the election cost for the ballot proposition is currently not in the budget.

If the ballot proposition is made and voters approve it this November, the two new commissioners would be elected in 2022 and take office in January 2023.

Not Yet Ready?

Commissioner E.J Zita agrees that it is necessary to increase the number of commissioners. However, she also expressed some reservations. “I do not think this is the right time or the right way to do it,” she said.

On the other hand, Commissioner Zita believes that the commission should wait for another year for the census data to come in and allow the County to finish its redistricting process. “I don't understand, we don't have the money, we don’t have the staff, so what’s the hurry?” she asked.

Brown clarified that they do not need to wait for the county to finish its redistricting process, as the commission already had the authority to determine the districts.

Commissioner Bill McGregor concluded, “I am strongly for this, I think it's the right thing to do, and I think it's the right time.”

Comments

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  • BobJacobs

    Zita is correct. Changing from a 3-member Port commission is probably a good idea. Doing it now is not. Let the county go first and fund their similar change, then change the Port commission. Cheaper, less confusing. What's the rush?

    Thursday, June 24, 2021 Report this

  • PaulTheOak

    The County currently runs on a Commission structure from the 1800s. We are one of the largest Counties without a Charter and a Council structure. Way overdue. Maybe Port can open the door.

    Friday, June 25, 2021 Report this