Below is a table I compiled from reviewing the history of regular and special meetings on Granicus. The number indicates the number of meetings exceeding 4 hours in the middle column and 5 hours in the right column. Below that you will see the 15-year average, which spanned numerous councils, two iterations of the current mayor and two terms of the former mayor. The 15-year average number of meetings longer than 4 hours was 3.8; 5 hours was 0.87.  Last year we were below average in each category. We had 3 four-hour meetings and no five-hour meetings.Â
Barring errors in my counts or calculations, I see no reason to stifle debate, muzzle elected representatives or concoct new bizarre rules. The data simply does not support that thesis.
- We have a presiding officer whose job is to maintain order in the meeting and recognize members in a manner that permits all members to speak before a member speaks twice on a topic; Rule 2A-4.Â
- If some members are unusually quiet or circumspect, or feel they have difficulty being heard, it is simply unfair to penalize others who speak up. Speak up and say what you have to say. There is no injustice or unfair dominance as has actually been suggested, which in itself is simply a passive aggressive technique to assert dominance, like feigning forgetfulness when finally getting the microphone. Speak up. Debate. We are all adult professionals here.
- We have no technology to measure the floor length of any one speaker nor the number of times anyone speaks, so this rule is a complete waste of time because it cannot possibly be put into practice.Â
Therefore, I suggest we cease discussing time limits and move on to the business of the city rather than critiquing how we differ stylistically or in personality and temperament. We all have the right to do our jobs how we see fit. The overall body has not been demonstrably harmed, nor has the length of our meetings been any longer than normal over the past 15 years; in fact we had slightly fewer long meetings than this body has historically had.
Mike Dixon, Mukilteo Councilman
Mike Dixon was elected to a four-year term in 2023. Born and raised in the U.S. Virgin Islands, he has made Mukilteo his home since 2007. Mike is currently a cleantech executive with GM Energy, owns and operates an insurance agency in Old Town, and is a solar farm investor in the Caribbean. Mike is also a three-time elected water sewer commissioner, former president of the Board of the Alderwood Water & Wastewater District, and current commissioner of the Mukilteo Water & Wastewater District. He holds a bachelor’s degree in management science and an MBA, both from MIT.
According to his bio, his council goals are building a cleantech cluster in Mukilteo, developing the waterfront as a commercial and recreational economic hub in the region, marketing Mukilteo as a welcoming and inclusive city, building policy to support the middle class and ensure our city’s sustainability, working collaboratively to ensure strong and robust long term financial planning and annual budgets, and partnering regionally to help Mukilteo remain an inclusive, sustainable, vibrant and growing city.
COMMENTARY DISCLAIMER: The views and comments expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the Lynnwood Times nor any of its affiliate.
Author: Lynnwood Times Contributor
