HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2019-041 Resolution for Removal of Council Member Funk From Participation In All City Council Committees and Boards for Six MonthA RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION NO. R-2019-041
authorizing the removal of City Council Member Kay Funk from participation
in all City Council Committee assignments and non -City boards,
committees and commission assignments for a period of six months
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted the applicable Rules of Procedure of the Yakima
City Council, effective in October, 2018, and
WHEREAS, Section K of the Council Rules of Procedure provide remedies for Council
members' violations of the Council Rules of Procedure, the Council Code of Ethics, the Council
Principles of Conduct and other applicable laws and/or regulations, and
WHEREAS, on April 2, 2019, the City Council adjourned to an executive session called
by the Mayor during a regular City Council business meeting in accordance with RCW
42 30.110(f), to receive and evaluate complaints or charges brought against a public officer; and
WHEREAS, following the executive session the City Council resumed its business
meeting, at which time Council Member Hill made a motion to remove Council Member Funk
from all City Council committee assignments and non -City board, committee and commission
assignments for a period of six months, and
WHEREAS, Council Member Hill's motion stated that after Council Member Funk's
untimely, inappropriate and embarrassing comments during the press conference called to
announce the appointment of the police chief, a recent inappropriate and insensitive statement
to the media that Yakima is not a glamorous location, numerous online comments on various
news articles that included statements inconsistent with the position of the majority of the
Council, a continuous verbal campaign against YVCOG, Transform Yakima and its staff
members, completely inappropriate comments about the mental health of a city resident during
a March 14 Healthy Communities and Neighborhood Building committee meeting and during the
same meeting making a comment to an older male resident in attendance that he should report
to her if a female staff member was being naughty while working on an ordinance revision, and
generally behaving in a combative and contradictory manner during Council meetings, he
believes that Council Member Funk had brought discredit to herself and the City and that it was
time for the Council to take action, and
WHEREAS, Council Member Hill stated that he believed Council Member Funk had
violated Sections III, IV, VI and VII of the Yakima City Council Principles of Conduct, which
provide that a Council member should be
III Committed to acting and being seen as acting with integrity and impartiality that will
bear the closest scrutiny
IV Committed to working with City officials and staff in a conscientious and respectful
manner
VI Support a positive and constructive environment for residents, businesses, and City
employees.
VII Refrain from abusive conduct, personal charges, or verbal attacks upon the character
or motives of other members of the City Council, boards, commission, committees,
staff, or the public.; and
WHEREAS, Council Member Hill further stated that he believed Council Member Funk
had violated sections I, II and III of the Yakima City Council Code of Ethics, which provide
I Council members shall maintain decorum and set an example for conduct when
representing the City, and endeavor not to disgrace or embarrass the City while acting in
an official capacity
II Council members shall represent that opinions stated are the member's own and do not
necessarily represent those of the Council unless the Council has voted and passed an
ordinance, resolution or motion that so states the expressed policy
III Council members shall not divulge information discussed in executive session; and
WHEREAS, following the Council members' discussion on the motion, including
responsive statements by Council Member Funk, the City Council voted by a super -majority
vote of five members in favor and two members opposed, to remove City Council Member Kay
Funk from participation in all City Council Committee assignments and non -City boards,
committees and commission assignments for a period of six months,
WHEREAS, as required by the Rules of Procedure of the Yakima City Council, Section
K(2)(iii), this formal resolution of the Council action is necessary; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
In accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Yakima City Council, Section K(2)(iii), City
Council Member Kay Funk is hereby removed from participation in all City Council Committee
assignments and non -City boards, committees and commission assignments for a period of six
months
ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 16th day of April, 2019
ATTEST
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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEM ENT
Item No. 5.B.
For Meeting of: April 16, 2019
ITEM TITLE: Resolution authorizing the removal of City Council Member Funk
from participation in all City Council Committee assignments and
non -City boards, committees and commissions for six months
SUBMITTED BY: Cliff Moore, City Manager
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Per the City Council's Rules of Procedure, the Council voted 5-2 to remove Council Member
Funk from City Council Committee assignments and non -City boards, committees, and
commissions for six months at its April 2, 2019 City Council meeting.
The attached resolution is required, per the Council's Rules of Procedures, to complete the
removal of a Council member from his or her committee assignments.
ITEM BUDGETED:
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
APPROVED FOR
SUBMITTAL:
City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
BOARD/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
resolution
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4/9/019 r Memo