LYNNWOOD—For its Business Meeting at 6 p.m., Monday, May 13, the Lynnwood City Council is expected approve $3.4 million in water main repairs, enter into an agreement with WSDOT for the 196th St SW/Scriber Creek Culvert replacement project, review the appointment process of officials, and discuss filling the vacancy left by the resignation of the Councilwoman Shirley Sutton.
Councilwoman Shirley Sutton Resignation and Council Vacancy Process
In an email sent to the Lynnwood Times from former Councilwoman Shirley Sutton, she shared that a driving force leading to her decision to resign from the city council, was the “total lack of leadership in the Administration.”
“The decision to put off the Financial Audit only solidified my fear that there is more afoot at The City that meets the eye,” wrote Sutton. “The Administration’s reluctance to do an audit and put it back on The Council by having The Finance Director stall by coming back to The Council for a definition of “Full Financial Audit”, seriously?! “
She added that the council should not enter budget season without an audit of the city’s financials and processes.
“This, as well as the personnel issues, in my judgment, the administration has miss-managed, has brought me to a point I can no longer sit with… I no longer can lend my good name to such an organization,” wrote Sutton.
Council Member Sutton, position #1, abruptly resigned from the City Council on Tuesday, May 7. The council has 90 days to fill this position before the county assumes responsibility. The council will discuss the process for filling the vacancy as outlined in Resolution 2010-13.
Edits to City Council Confirmation Process
Section 2.06.010 Scope needs to be amended to reflect having an elected municipal court judge, and that the Economic Director and the Community Development Director are now combined into a Director of Development and Business Services. Other changes may also be suggested by council members for consideration at a business meeting.
To view supporting documents, click here.
Other Business
The council is expected to authorize millions in contracts for the Mayor Christine Frizzell to sign and approve $6.6 million in payment vouchers listed in its consent agenda:
- Council to approve payment vouchers of $5,087,095.36 in claims and $1512,994.10 in payroll.
- To authorize Mayor Frizzell or her designee to a contract with Solenis to begin providing the polymerization products needed at the wastewater facility at the cost of no more than $216,000 per year.
- Authorize the Mayor to enter into and execute on behalf of the City, a contract with Granite Construction Company of Everett, WA for construction services related to the Water Main Replacement Program, in an amount not to exceed $3,422,689.85 with an additional 10% contingency for a total amount of $3,764,958.84.
- Authorize the Mayor to enter into and execute on behalf of the City, an agreement with the Washington State Department of Transportation for the 196th St SW/Scriber Creek Culvert replacement project.
The meeting will be held both in-person and can watch the live streaming of Council Meetings at www.lynnwoodwa.gov/Government/city-council/city-council-meetings and via Zoom.
One Response
Thank you Shirley for clarifying your reasons to resign. It echoes what plenty of your voters in Lynnwood have been discussing when we gather as neighbors & friends! I think it is important that voters hold the council, mayor & especially her self appointed staff to a strict code of accountability & demand transparency.
A third party audit of expenditures, duties, authorizations etc is a really good start toward that. Especially at a time when we are making major shifts in “who we want to be as a city” moving forward.