MUKILTEO, Wash., April 18, 2022 – The Mukilteo City Council will be voting to approve the mayor’s DEI and Planning commission appointments at its 6 p.m. Regular Business meeting today. To review the agenda items in detail, click here.
Planning Commission Appointment (AB22-36)
Mayor Marine will be recommending the reappoint of Jerry Bush and Tim Krivanek to the Planning Commission with a 6-year term of April 18, 2022 to April 18, 2028.
Jerry Bush has served on the Planning Commission since 2013 and is the President/CEO of a regional commercial mechanical contracting business. He has served as President of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Washington, Trustees of Union Health Trust and Union Educational Trust, a member of the Mukilteo Boys and Girls Club Campaign, and a previous chair of the Planning Commission (2015).
Tim Krivanek has served on the Planning Commission since 2017 and is a Senior Business Operation Manager at Boeing. He has served on Boards such as the Seattle Symphony Chorale and ArtsFund Seattle. Krivanek is a community advocate for social justice serving with Leadership Snohomish County and also volunteers for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission Appointments (AB22-32)
Despite Mukilteo Mayor Joe Marine during an interview with radio talk show host Jason Rantz stating that he would probably reappoint the same three DEI commission applicants the city council voted against back in March, proposed appointee Ewa Wheeler for Position 3 was replaced with original applicant Sandra Holzer, another affiliate of the Mukilteo School District.
At Council’s meeting March 7, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Commission candidates Gauri Sanghvi for Position 1 (term ending December 2024), Michael Dixon for Position 2 (term ending December 2024), and Ewa Wheeler for Position 3 (term ending December 2022) were not approved 2-3 with Council Vice President Elisabeth Crawford and Councilman Tom Jordal voting in favor; Council President Steve Schmalz, councilmembers Louis Harris and Riaz Khan voting no; and council members Jason Moon and Richard Emery abstaining.
Councilman Harris and Council Vice President Crawford, who both serve as council liaisons to the Mukilteo DEI Commission, questioned the mayor’s choices making the points that the three candidates who were not chosen to advance were “highly qualified.”
During the March meeting, Mayor Marine admitted he did not consult with council liaisons Harris and Crawford nor with the DEI Chair in the decision. Members of the council referred to Mukilteo Resolution 2014-02 to justify their accusation against the mayor of a process violation. A resolution is a non-binding “formal expression of opinion” according to the Municipal Research and Services Center, a nonprofit organization that provides legal and policy guidance to governments across Washington state.
However, in doing research, the Lynnwood Times confirmed with the city that at least going back to 2019 for all mayoral appointments to commissions and boards under Mayor Jennifer Gregerson, it appears that no other member of a commission or board joined the mayor when an interview was conducted. Below are the Lynnwood Times’ findings:
| YEAR | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOARD/COMMISSION | Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Rosehill Community Board Planning Commission Parks & Arts Commission Civil Service Commission |
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Parks & Arts Commission |
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Rosehill Community Board Planning Commission Parks & Arts Commission Historic Preservation Commission |
| # OF APPLICANTS | 13 | 3 | 21 |
| # OF INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED | 0 | 1 | 14 |
| # OF INTERVIEWS WITH ATTENDEES | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NOTICE TO COUNCIL | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NOTES | The city was unable to provide any data to confirm that the mayor interviewed seven of the 13 applicants. | The city was unable to provide any data to confirm that the mayor interviewed two of the 3 applicants. | The city was unable to provide any data to confirm that the mayor interviewed seven of the 21 applicants. |
The data showed that in no instance was the council provided notice and in 60% of the proposed appointments, no interview was conducted. During this 3-year period, none of the mayor’s appointments were rejected by the council.
Research further showed that current Council Vice President Crawford, launched her political career with a 2019 appointment to the Parks & Arts Commission but the city was unable to provide any evidence that an interview was conducted nor if a member of the commission joined Mayor Gregerson for the interview.
The Lynnwood Times is awaiting confirmation from the city if Resolution 2014-02 was followed in the appointments of the City Administrator and city directors.
The Lynnwood Times will be reaching out to the city and legal experts to inquire if the city could be in a legal quagmire by now adhering to a policy which, at least going back to 2019, it appears to not have followed.
Tonight the council will motion to appoint Mayor Marine’s recommendations of the following applicants to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission to fill three vacancies as listed:
- Sandra Holzer to Position 1 for a term ending December 31, 2024: A seven-year resident of Mukilteo who is a Family Liaison with the Mukilteo School District where she helps to improve communication between parents, schools, and mental health providers. She is a current member of a local school’s Equity Team.
- Michael Dixon to Position 2 for a term ending December 31, 2024: A resident of Mukilteo for 14 years. He owns Dixon Insurance Agency in Mukilteo and has a Bachelor’s and Masters of Business Administration from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He serves on the Mukilteo Water and Wastewater District Commission, and previously served as Commissioner with Alderwood Water and Wastewater District. He also sits on the YMCA Board of Advisors and is part of the newly formed Diversity and Inclusion task force for the board.
- Gauri Sanghvi to Position 3 for a term ending December 31, 2022: A resident of Mukilteo for a year and 5 months who has several degrees and certifications for financial planning, business, and teaching. She was a teacher in India, a banker in Canada, and has been a broker in Washington State since 2011. Sanghvi is also President of the GFWC Cascade Women’s Club, was a founding member of Sahara Group of Indo-Canadian Women and volunteered with Abbotsford Community Service. She has lived in 4 countries, speaks three languages, and is passionate about helping people from all backgrounds succeed in life.
Consent Agenda
- Waste Water Treatment Plant Erosion Repair Design Task Order
- Stormwater CCTV Pipe Inspection Vendor Contract Supplement
- Stormwater CCTV Pipe Inspection Consultant Contract Supplement
- ILA between City of Everett and City of Mukilteo Relating to Mukilteo Lane
- Opioid Litigation Memorandum of Understanding
Mukilteo City Council meeting Time and Location
This meeting will be held both in-person and electronically by Zoom. The Public can attend the meeting in person or watch the meeting live, 6 p.m. April 18 via Zoom using the link below:
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
