Everett City Council

December 9, 2020 The Work Session of the Everett City Council was called to order at 4: 04 p. m., December 9, 2020, Microsoft Teams, remotely via Council President Tuohy presiding. Upon roll call, it was found that Mayor Franklin, President Tuohy, and Council Member Roberts, Vogeli, Bader, and Stonecipher were present. Council Members Moore and Murphy were expected to be a few minutes late. Welcome and Context Setting: President Tuohy provided a welcome message that addressed the ongoing challenges of the COVID- 19 pandemic and structural deficit. She stated the work session was intended to set priorities and timelines, and to verify that the Mayor and Council are in agreement regarding decision making, especially relating to the budget and city needs. President Tuohy introduced Facilitator Lisa Fitzhugh, Creative Cloud. Mayor Franklin concurred with President Tuohy' s comments. She agreed that there is important work ahead for long- term and long- standing challenges that the city has faced for years. She stated setting priorities is first and foremost, and she looks forward to working with Lisa and the Council to determine the best path forward. Lisa Fitzhugh provided an overview of the work session agenda. She emphasized the three goals that were discussed with Lisa in individual assessments prior to the meeting: 1.) Gain more understanding, trust, and alignment, 2.) Gain an understanding of a shared assessment of the leadership dynamic and current working relationships, and 3.) Introduce a new collaborative leadership model. Council Member Moore entered the meeting at 4: 14 p. m. 412  December 9, 2020 Check- in and Ground- in: Lisa opened the discussion by asking the Mayor and each council members to answer the question: " What do you love most about where you live?" Council members and Mayor Franklin all shared what they love about Everett and their neighborhoods. What' s Our Landscape - Assessment from Creative Ground interviews: Lisa provided an overview of conversations she had with Mayor Franklin and council members prior to the meeting. She stated that she deduced the following constraints from those assessments: Bandwidth problem— council members can be stretched thin due to having full- time jobs on top of serving as council members Staff cuts - communication issues due to fewer employees Requirements under the Open Public Meetings Act and not having enough time to work through issues Need for stronger bridges— could be stronger relationships among Council members, Administration and City staff Shared experience of acknowledging prior voting regrets Making headway on hard choices regarding the budget Council members concurred with the overarching assessments provided by Lisa and provided individual testimony to those assessments. Our Shared ' Why': What connects us as elected officials for the City of Everett: Lisa next asked President Tuohy and Council Member Stonecipher to highlight the relevancy of a shared purpose. President Tuohy, Council Member Stonecipher, and Mayor Franklin all spoke about what connects them and the common goal of a shared purpose. 413  December 9, 2020 Lisa stated she posed the following questions to Mayor Franklin and council members prior to the meeting, and she asked each to share their responses: 1.) Why were you inspired to run for an elected office? 2.) What do you imagine when you see a thriving city of Everett? 3.) What do you believe your role is as an elected official during these times? Each group member shared their answers to the questions and commented on what others said that resonated with them. Discussion ensued regarding shared purpose, goals and ideals for the Everett community, and how those goals can be achieved. At 6: 06 p. m. the work session recessed for a short break and readjourned at 6: 20 p. m. Shared Priorities: Where can we focus our investments?: s Lisa facilitated a group exercise where she asked each council member and Mayor Franklin to share their priorities for the remainder of their elected term: The following topics were discussed by council members and Mayor Franklin as priorities: Structural deficit Budget Housing Big non- general government funds, such as transit Climate change Mentoring incoming council members when Districts take effect Communication with residents Transportation Put before the voters a property tax measure Annexations Economic recovery r 414  December 9, 2020 Introduction to a possible collaborative leadership model: Mayor Franklin and Council members commented on idea of a collaborative leadership proposal. Lisa reviewed suggestions on how to have a collaborative leadership proposal, which were provided prior to the meeting. Discussion ensued regarding restructuring liaison assignments, rethinking Subcommittee structure, and the possibility of assigning council members to staff departments. Where we go from here: Lisa stated that this is just the first work session, and there will be a follow- up work session in January. Council members and Mayor Franklin all stated they would continue to provide input about collaborative leadership options, and that a team of three - Council Members Tuohy, Vogeli, and Moore - would work with Administration to carefully consider different options. Lisa said she will continue compile her notes and share them with the group. The follow- up work session is tentatively scheduled for January 6, 2021, but may be pushed back a week depending on the Council schedule. The City Council Work Session adjourned at 7: 40 p. m. 7 - 7; Deputy' City 772 V:,,,° Clerk Read and approved as printed. il'u t/ -1 Council Pre ' de t 415