Latest news with #SpokaneValleyCityCouncil
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spokane Valley voters to decide if additional law enforcement is worth paying more in sales tax
Jul. 15—Primary ballots were dropped in the mail in Spokane County on Wednesday, which means the Spokane Valley City Council's yearslong effort to strengthen public safety will soon be in the hands of the city's residents. Spokane Valley voters will decide in the Aug. 5 election if they're willing to pay more in sales tax in exchange for more deputies, law enforcement equipment and public safety costs. If approved, Spokane Valley Proposition 1 would enact a 0.1% sales tax on purchases throughout the city, bringing the total sales tax to 9%. While revenue from the tax would fluctuate annually depending on the economic climate, city estimates expect at least $2.6 million to be generated in 2026. The ballot measure dedicates the funding to public safety expenses, which includes the court system, detention services and law enforcement provided by Spokane County. Proceeds from the tax could be used to hire more police officers or for other public safety needs. Those in favor of the measure argue it's a fair trade-off that will result in a higher quality of life in Spokane Valley while ensuring the onus of paying for public safety does not fall solely on the city's residents since many Valley businesses, like Costco, are frequented by people who live outside the Valley. The measure's detractors, meanwhile, argue that the city council should find a way to fund additional officers without asking for a tax increase, with some arguing against the need for more law enforcement personnel. The council has said the first priority with the funding would be to add another 10 deputies to the Spokane Valley Police Department. It's part of the ongoing effort to improve staffing levels and police services, which are provided via contract with the Spokane County Sheriff's Office. In 2023, the city hired Matrix Consulting Group for $84,900 to review the efficacy of the city's police work. In its eventual report, the consultant group found police services have not kept pace with the city's growth, and recommended adding 25 deputies to the Valley's dedicated force, three deputies that would split time with the county and at least two civilian positions to handle administrative work. The council approved and funded the addition of 10 deputies and a civilian to the department last year by pulling funding from street maintenance and parks projects and cutting some city positions. In advancing the sales tax measure, the council said an additional revenue source would be needed to fund the remaining recommended deputies. Like many local governments, the city is dealing with a succession of tight budgeting years as sales and property tax proceeds have stagnated, state and federal programs are being reeled back and expenses are on the rise. City Manager John Hohman said internal forecasts project a budget deficit of $1.4 million by the end of the year, which follows 5% cuts across all departments last year enacted to balance the 2025 budget. "Now we're at a point where when you look at, 'How do we provide a balanced budget for 2026?' " Hohman said. "It really comes down to either needing to increase some type of revenue into the city, or we're going to be forced to cut additional items, and now we're going to get into potential service cuts to whatever program that council wants to tackle." Police services are the city's greatest recurring cost, totaling over $41 million, more than half of the city's 2025 general fund budget. That percentage climbs to nearly two-thirds of the city's general fund budget when factoring in other related public safety costs like public defenders, prosecutors and judicial and detention services. Adding to the fray is the sharp rise of those public safety costs, Hohman said, which have grown by around 5% annually since 2021. An increase of $4.7 million is forecast over the next three years, due in part to a recent collective bargaining agreement between the county and sheriff's office deputies. Valley resident Rod Tadlock, who wrote the election guide "against" statement opposing the measure, disagrees that an additional tax is needed to contend with some of the city's financial struggles. He believes the council should redirect existing funding streams toward public safety, but not necessarily to hiring more police officers. He'd prefer the city look at automating policing by investing in cameras, speed readers and more. "There's a lot of things that we have laws on the books for that could be done easily with automation and technology," Tadlock said. "A lot of those things could be monitored and taken care of without having a police officer roaming around." Tadlock had support from Spokane Valley City Council candidate Mike Kelly in preparing the against statement, and at least one sitting council member stands in opposition to the measure alongside him. Councilman Al Merkel decried putting the question to the voters as it worked its way through the council earlier this year, stating he believes the city should fund public safety and the additional deputy positions in full and then make cuts elsewhere in the budget. "The way the city spends money sometimes can be done a lot smarter," Tadlock added. Hohman said there simply aren't any additional cuts to be made without cutting services for residents and laying off city staff members — which is smaller than like-sized municipalities due to Spokane Valley's tendency to contract for work instead of standing up city departments. City leadership have said for decades that contracting keeps the city nimble, the budget from ballooning and services consistent. Hohman added that the city recently tasked the consulting and accounting firm FCS Groups to analyze the city's contract with the county. He's hopeful some cost saving measures will be identified, and said it shows the city's commitment to making the most of taxpayer dollars. Spokane Valley resident and former longtime city attorney Cary Driskell, who wrote the statement in favor of the measure for the election guide, said the city prides itself on being fiscally responsible. He would know, he said, as someone who helped lead the city's incorporation effort two decades ago and then began working for the city within a month of its formation. He left around the start of 2023, after 20 years at City Hall. "I know from personal experience the real, strong fiscal responsibility approach they take to budgeting and oversight of the tax funds," Driskell said. "It is the highest importance for that organization, and you can only scrub for extra funding so many times when it's not there." Driskell said his experience with the city gave him an intimate understanding of how public safety needs have changed over the years, pointing to the 2023 report findings that while the population has grown by 31% and the nature and frequency of service calls grew, staffing has not matched pace. Public safety and by extension a healthy police department are non-negotiables if the city wants to remain an attractive place to live, visit and do business as it continues to grow, Driskell said. "To me, that was the bottom line," Driskell said. "If we want to have the policing levels at a point where the community feels is appropriate, then we're gonna have to come up with a little bit more funding." Tadlock countered that the tax would be an additional burden on families that are contending with tax increases at the state level, as well as broader financial struggles. If the city needs additional funding, he recommended turning to state and federal assistance, not the local taxpayer. "There's so many things that the government gets your money for already," Tadlock said. Driskell said he dislikes additional taxes as much as the next guy, but still believes the 0.1% increase would be more than a fair trade for a stronger Spokane Valley Police Department. A city analysis found nearly 50% of it would be paid by nonresidents, which he said makes it a much more attractive option than a property or utility tax that would fall entirely on Valley residents. "The basic question is, do you want increased public safety?" Driskell said. "If so, at this point in time, after they've already scrubbed their budget, are you willing to pay this additional property tax, understanding that 48% of it will be paid by nonresidents? That's the equation, in my mind." Nick Gibson can be reached at (509) 459-5039 or by email at nickg@
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The city of Spokane Valley and Councilman Al Merkel destined for court following denial of settlement offer
Jun. 4—As the shouting match at the end of Tuesday's city council meeting indicated, it'll be up to the courts to put an end to the ongoing public records dispute within Spokane Valley's city hall. The Spokane Valley City Council voted 6-0 Tuesday to decline a settlement offer proffered by Councilman Al Merkel that would have ended the lawsuit the city filed against him earlier this year as an effort to get the councilman to comply with state and city records-keeping rules. Merkel was not allowed to vote due to the conflict of interest, and refused to leave the meeting for the discussion of the settlement. The lawsuit stems from last year's investigation into Merkel's activity on the social media platform NextDoor launched last June following a complaint from Councilwoman Jessica Yaeger that he was not keeping proper record of his communications on the platform related to city business. A third-party attorney found Merkel to be in violation of both the Washington State Public Records Act and relevant city policies, which eventually led to the council admonishing Merkel and removing his ability to represent the city on regional boards following a failed appeal attempt from Merkel. The council took the extraordinary measure of suing Merkel in February, stating the city still does not have complete copies or access to Merkel's NextDoor records despite the determinations from the investigator and the contracted hearing examiner who ruled on the appeal. If the city were found in violation of the state's public records act by not being able to provide Merkel's materials to the public, it would carry hefty court-ordered fines. Merkel has maintained the opposite; that he's provided everything even though he does not believe his social media use constitutes public records, and that the action is a "frivolous and politically-motivated lawsuit," not one intended to protect the city from legal ramifications. "I want to take it to court," said Mayor Pam Haley. "I want to get the answer, and I want to have it be in black and white." The meeting devolved into a raucous affair pretty quickly after City Attorney Kelly Konkright finished providing an overview of the terms of the settlement offer to the council, which, if approved, would would have led to the lawsuit being dismissed with prejudice. The city could not refile the same claim down the road for events before the settlement took effect. Merkel's settlement terms also dictated that the city would cover his legal expenses past, present and future, "as they pertain to this dispute," and that he and the city identify and agree on an "independent master" to review his social media and determine what activity constitutes a public record moving forward. The city would have had to foot the bill for the role, and Merkel would have been legally obligated to produce only the content the "master" deems to be public records, the settlement terms state. The discussion of the offer drew several Spokane Valley residents, who aired their frustrations with the council, with Merkel and with the general chaos and dysfunction that's dominated the Tuesday meetings since he joined the board at the start of 2024. Allegations and harsh feelings aimed at members of the council, city staff and audience peppered the comments regardless of what side of the dispute the individual supported. Haley made several warnings to the public to maintain decorum, and at one point, usually soft-spoken Deputy Mayor Tim Hattenburg visibly lost his temper as some of Merkel's most ardent supporters ridiculed a perennial critic of his during that individual's opportunity to speak. The raising of voices and flinging of accusations continued at the end of the meeting as Merkel took the opportunity to respond to the earlier denial of his offer during council comments. He said his settlement offer was not an admission of guilt, but was made "to stop the bleeding," and to "spare the public from more legal bills and more headlines, more dysfunction." The councilman also repeated his claims of being politically persecuted, of a conspiracy among city staffers to oust him from power and that he's provided the necessary social media access and records to the city. "They'd rather keep dragging the city through the mud, with lawyers laughing all the way to the bank," Merkel said. "Because, let's face it, they're the only winners here, the lawyers, not the residents, not the taxpayers, certainly not the reputation of this council." Merkel then took aim at one attorney in particular, Konkright, after he tried to counter some of Merkel's claims. Merkel grew increasingly frustrated after an attempt to interrupt Konkright's speaking time, which was denied by Haley. He then began arguing the case with Konkright, citing calls and emails he said counter the city's position and the attorney's remarks. Haley interrupted the back and forth with "Councilmember Merkel, allow other people to talk." "He's interrupting me," Merkel responded. "He's not an elected official." The heated exchange finally came to an end after Councilman Rod Higgins requested a point of order against Merkel for "trying to disrupt the meeting." Haley ruled in Higgins favor. A hearing to consider a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, filed by Merkel's attorney, is scheduled for July 18 in front of Spokane County Superior Court Judge Rachelle Anderson. It will be the first official hearing since the lawsuit was filed.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Spokane Valley City Council to consider settlement with sitting member over public records lawsuit
Jun. 2—Spokane Valley's public records lawsuit against one of its sitting city council members could come to a close without a day in court if the council approves a settlement proposal this week. The Spokane Valley City Council will hear a settlement offer from Councilman Al Merkel Tuesday that would end the city's lawsuit against him — a monthslong legal dispute centered around the councilman's use of the social media platform NextDoor. The city opened an independent investigation into Merkel's NextDoor use last June following a complaint from Councilwoman Jessica Yaeger that he was using the platform as a form of city-related communication without keeping proper records of his activity. Rebecca Dean, a Seattle-based attorney who conducted the investigation, determined Merkel's use likely violated the state's Public Records Act and city code governing council members. Merkel has maintained that he does not believe his activity, whether posts, surveys or messages, constitute public records, and unsuccessfully appealed the investigation findings to the city's hearing examiner last fall. Citing a lack of compliance from Merkel following the investigation, and the hearing examiner's decision to uphold it, the Spokane Valley City Council voted to sue Merkel in February to force him to comply with open records rules. Merkel's fellow members on the city council voted unanimously to strip him of committee assignments, and to publicly censure Merkel — a formal condemnation for his actions — in a special meeting Dec. 19 following the appeal. The punishments are among the most severe available to the council when disciplining a fellow board member, and will remain in effect for the remaining three years of Merkel's term. The settlement offer, passed along by Merkel's attorney Patrick Kirby, comes just before the lawsuit was to appear before Spokane County Superior Court Judge Rachelle Anderson on July 18. If approved by the city council, the settlement would lead to the dismissal of the lawsuit with prejudice, meaning the city could not refile the same claim down the road for events before the settlement took effect. The city would also cover all of Merkel's attorney fees past, present and future, "as they pertain to this dispute," according to meeting materials including in the agenda for Tuesday. Merkel is also requesting the city come to agreement with him on appointing an "independent master" to review his social media and determine what activity constitutes a public record, and to have the city cover the costs of the role. Merkel would only be legally obligated to produce social media posts the "master" determined to be public records, the settlement terms state. The city would pay for an attorney to serve as the "independent master." The city already has a staff that is trained in public record's law to fill records requests, and the city covered the costs of two independent experts already for the investigation and hearing examiner proceedings. The settlement would preempt a court from weighing in on whether, or to what extent, Merkel's activity on NextDoor is a public record. It would also preempt a court from directing him to provide those posts and to comply with state law and city policies moving forward, which is highlighted as a potential concern in the meeting materials. "Both determined Councilmember Merkel violated the Governance Manual social media policy and did not comply with his good faith obligations under Washington case law," the agenda item states. "Councilmember Merkel did not adhere to those determinations, and thus it would remain to be seen whether he would adhere to a third independent attorney's determinations in this regard when not in his favor." City Attorney Kelly Konkright will brief the council on the offer from Merkel at its regular 6 p.m. Tuesday meeting.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
More candidates enter local city council, school races as filing week nears end
May 7—While a couple days remain for interested candidates to throw their hats in the ring, it's already clear the Spokane Valley City Council will look a little different next year. And if one councilman has his way, the council may look drastically different. Councilman Rod Higgins, the longest continuous serving member of the board, said he does not plan to run for re-election. Higgins, 82, was appointed in 2013 and won the seat in an election later that year. He was re-elected in 2017 and 2021. The conservative council mainstay served as mayor of the Spokane suburb from 2016 to 2020. Higgins cited his age and a desire to get fresh perspectives and voices on the council in disclosing his decision not to seek re-election. "I can tell you firsthand, no, I don't think I'm Joe Biden, at least not in that bad of shape yet," Higgins said. "But I can feel that I'm losing a step and stuff, and it's time for somebody else to get in there." Two Spokane Valley business owners, each with prior campaign experience, launched their bids for Higgins' soon-to-be-vacated seat well before filing week, during which candidates across Spokane County declare their intentions to run for public office. Candidates have until 5 p.m. Friday to file to run for city councils, school boards, fire commissions and other local offices. Kristopher Pockell, a software engineer and co-owner of Elixir Sauce Company, and Mike Kelly, an entrepreneur who serves as chief financial officer for Salem, Oregon-based KT Contracting, each hope to win the open seat following the November election. Both ran for the state Legislature in the district encompassing the Valley last fall. Pockell unsuccessfully challenged state Rep. Suzanne Schmidt as an independent, while Kelly fell short in a race for an open Senate seat eventually secured by fellow Republican state Sen. Leonard Christian. Kelly, despite carrying endorsements from several local prominent Republicans, lost steam in his campaign after details of a 1990 drug arrest in his hometown of Portland came to light. Kelly was appointed to the city's planning commission last year by Mayor Pam Haley, after moving to the Valley in 2019. He owns and operates several property management and real estate holding companies, and has worked as a consultant, financial adviser, paralegal, investment counselor and a certified tax preparer. Pockell, a graduate of Spokane Valley's Central Valley High School, said he hopes to focus on supporting first responders, developing the region's economy and ensuring the Valley's infrastructure continues to match pace with the rapid rate at which the city has grown over the past two decades, if elected. Pockell's already started to prepare for the position, he said, by regularly attending council meetings and budget discussions, meeting with the current iteration of the council to come up to speed on big ticket items and through the lessons learned through his campaign last year. "It doesn't have to be as polarizing as you see on a national level," Pockell said of campaigning. "There's room for different voices at the table, and we learned a lot talking to people, learning what they care about and thinking about ideas to solve the problems that we all see all the time." On Wednesday, Lisa Miller, a member of the Spokane County Board of Equalization, became the third candidate vying for Higgins' open seat. While it's her first bid for office in Spokane County, the California transplant previously served two terms on a neighborhood council in Los Angeles. "I love my city and I love Washington State, and I would like to use whatever skills I have to help," Miller said. With experience as a law professor, an administrative hearing officer and general counsel for California Community Colleges, Miller said she has a wealth of legal knowledge to draw from. If elected, she would focus on "supporting public safety in a meaningful way," while maintaining her values as a fiscal conservative, she said. Miller catches as many council meetings as she can, and said she looks forward to connecting with voters on the issues they care about. She pointed to a lengthy debate about laws surrounding electric scooters in Spokane Valley at Tuesday's council meeting as an example of how civically minded Valley residents tend to be. "People really care in this town, and it doesn't really matter if it's a scooter or a tax increase, people care," Miller said. "And I do too." As for the remaining board seats on the ballot this fall, Spokane Valley City Councilwoman Laura Padden and Mayor Pam Haley have filed for re-election, as has Councilman Ben Wick. No one had filed to challenge Haley as of publication deadline, according to state records, but Padden and Wick will have to contend with candidates backed by one of their fellow board members. Councilman Al Merkel won't be up for re-election until 2027, but that hasn't stopped him from getting involved in the 2025 races early. Chaos and controversy have plagued the council since Merkel's arrival, as he's repeatedly butted heads with the board over construction projects, grant applications and the complaints and investigations related to him. Last May, an independent investigator found Merkel repeatedly disrespected city staff and fellow board members, often engaging in "intimidating behavior." In a later, separate independent investigation, Merkel was found in violation of state law and city code regarding public records for his social media activity. Those findings were later upheld by the city's hearing examiner following an appeal by Merkel, and are the basis of a lawsuit the city launched against him earlier this year that alleges he is still not in compliance with state law. After months of failing to find common ground with his peers, Merkel recruited candidates to replace them. Wick, a councilmember from 2012 to 2015 before rejoining the council in 2017, has drawn a challenge from Daryl Williams, an employee of Fairmount Memorial Park who goes by "The Karaoke Guy" while operating his local karaoke pop-up business. Williams, 74, said he has always had an interest in politics and local government and thinks "there is room for improvement" on the Spokane Valley City Council. He believes his general demeanor and approach could help alleviate some of the tension and communication issues between council members, issues that have plagued the board since Merkel joined in January 2024. The West Valley High School graduate added that Merkel encouraged and helped him file to be a candidate for the position. "You're there to represent the people who voted for you, not to pat yourself on the back," Williams said. "I just want to get involved in my community." Merkel's also helped Brad Hohn, manager of the salvage yard High Mountain Horsepower, in his attempt to unseat Padden. Hohn said the council members are good people "for the most part," but he believes they "are losing focus of what the people really want." As an example, he does not believe the city is prioritizing the right infrastructure projects, pointing to the lack of completion of an overhaul of the Trent Avenue and Sullivan Road interchange that's been in the works for years. "You get a lot of people who complain about many different things, or how things should be ran, but yet they don't vote or try to do anything themselves," Hohn said. "It's put up or shut up, you know?" City of Spokane The Spokane City Council will have three seats on the ballot this fall, which continued to draw more prospective candidates as filing week stretched on. The South Hill is home to the only open seat, which is being vacated by Councilwoman Lili Navarrete. The race included two candidates as of Wednesday evening: Alejandro Barrientos, chief operating officer at SCAFCO Steel Stud Company, and Kate Telis, a former deputy prosecutor in New Mexico. For the seat representing northeast Spokane, incumbent Jonathan Bingle filed for re-election and is being challenged by social justice advocate Sarah Dixit, organizing director for Pro Choice Washington and co-chair of the Spokane chapter of the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition. Northwest Spokane Councilman Zack Zappone has a pair of challengers as he seeks reelection: private cigar lounge co-owner Cody Arguelles and Meals on Wheels board member Christopher Savage. The city's three municipal court judges, Kristin O'Sullivan, Mary Logan and Gloria Ochoa-Bruck, each filed for re-election Monday. As of Wednesday evening, Logan was the only to draw a challenge — from former Spokane City Attorney Lynden Smithson. Smithson oversaw the prosecuting side of the office before taking on the top role in an interim capacity in 2022. The council named him city attorney in 2023, a role he held until Mayor Lisa Brown took office in January 2024. Local school districts In the county's largest district, Spokane Public Schools, all four board members in seats up for re-election have filed to retain their seats. Incumbents Nikki Otero Lockwood, Hilary Kozel, Nicole Bishop and Jenny Slagle have yet to draw a challenge in their respective races. East of the county seat, Spokane County GOP Chair Rob Linebarger and Dr. Allen Skidmore, who has a family medicine practice in the Valley, are hoping to join the Central Valley School District. The positions' incumbents, Pam Orebaugh and Tere Landa, respectively, have yet to file for re-election. Beata Cox, Jonathan Horsle and Mike Bly, board members of the East Valley School District, have all filed for re-election and have yet to draw a challenger. Local Subway store owner Carolyn Petersen, who lost a bid to current district 3 seat holder Justin Voelker in 2021, is the sole candidate who's filed for the position as of Wednesday evening. The West Valley School District did not have a contested race as of publication. Incumbents Bob Dompier and Pam McLeod have filed to retain their positions, according to state records. The Mead School District's five-member governing board has two seats up for election this year, and Vice President BrieAnne Gray was the sole candidate to have filed by end of day Wednesday. Gray is seeking re-election for the first time. In southwestern Spokane County, incumbent Elizabeth Winer will contend with Jessica Davis, owner of Airway Heights eatery Wolffy's Breakfast Burgers and Brew, for a seat on the Cheney School District's governing board. Kyle Belock, husband to Cheney City Councilwoman Jacquelyn Belock, filed to run for a separate seat on the board Wednesday.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Proposed Spokane Valley sales tax to boost police moves a step closer to voters
Apr. 2—The Spokane Valley City Council Tuesday overwhelmingly shared a desire to let residents decide if they want to pay higher sales tax to support more police. But the members of the public who spoke at Tuesday's meeting shared a wide range of reasons they support, and oppose, the effort to place a .01% sales tax measure on the ballot this fall to secure funding for an increase in the city's law enforcement. Spokane Valley has long been considered a conservative stronghold, electing predominantly Republican or Republican-backed candidates to the city council and the state Legislature since the mid-1990s. City leadership has taken the fiscal and law enforcement aspects of the ideology to heart, highlighted by the council's 16-year-streak of voting against property tax increases and its ongoing efforts to bolster the Spokane Valley Police Department. Those values have come head-to-head as the city enters phase two of its bid to hire more deputies dedicated to Spokane Valley. They'd like to hire four patrol deputies, a behavioral health deputy, a school resource officer and a sexual assault detective that would split time with the sheriff's office, but need to secure a funding source. The council held a public hearing Tuesday on the plan for a funding source: a .01% sales tax within city limits that would generate an estimated $2.6 million annually. The city council voted 6-1 to advance an ordinance that would put the measure on the ballot for the August 5 primary election, but a final call on whether the question will be put to the voters won't be made until April 15. If approved, the measure would increase the city's sales tax to 9% as of January 1, 2026, and the revenue generated would be dedicated to costs associated with providing public safety services, including "adding new police officers; paying public safety operations, maintenance and capital; providing for law enforcement staffing and retention," according to the current draft of the measure. State law does allow for a portion of the proceeds to go to other city costs, which is noted in the draft. Noticeably missing from the current iteration of the proposition is a sunset date for the tax. Councilman Al Merkel appeared to take issue with the omission of an end date and said he believes the city should find other ways to cover the costs, like cutting other services, before putting it to the voters to decide. He is supportive of the efforts to bolster dedicated police staffing by 25 deputies called for in a consultant's 2023 analysis but believes those additions should be funded in their entirety first, then the city can find necessary cuts in the budgeting process. "Policing is the one critical service that the city provides, and we should fully fund it with the revenues that we have now and then come to the citizens if we need revenues for like-to-haves, instead of needs," Merkel said. Merkel's peers expressed a desire to have voters decide if they would be willing to foot the bill for additional law enforcement positions. Councilman Ben Wick said he opposes additional cuts to city services and highlighted the limited options to secure funding necessary to boost police staffing. The council redirected funding from streets, city staffing and parks projects to hire 10 new dedicated deputies last year, and could look to end the city's pool and swim programs, parks maintenance and economic development efforts to fund the next round of officers if the measure does not pass, said Deputy City Manager Erik Lamb. Other options to secure the funding would include property or utility tax increases, or additional business license fees, according to a city staff report. "There are a number of other priorities that we're trying to accomplish for the city; economic development, for instance, helps all of our other jurisdictions," Wick said. "The property taxes for the library, fire: all of those are done and increased because of our economic development." Mayor Pam Haley echoed Wick's sentiment, highlighting that the city's aquatics program helps save lives, and that she does not want to be forced to make cuts to it. Members of the public who testified at the meeting in opposition to the measure were disgruntled with paying additional taxes in the city, while others cited concerns that additional police staffing would not address the city's public safety needs. Those in the former crowd said they'd like to see the city find additional cost cutting measures, while those in the latter shared a desire to see investments addressing underlying contributors to criminal behavior, like a lack of housing, jobs and social services. Pat Dempsey, vice chair of the citizen's advisory board at the sheriff's office, was one of few who testified in support of the measure. She said she also would like investments made in regional services for homeless people and those struggling with addiction, which is why she appreciates that one of the proposed deputy positions would be paired with a social worker. "This is a way that we help support our homeless, which is one of our biggest issues in this county, in the city, is to help bring the support to the actual people that are homeless," Dempsey said. "These combinations of social workers and deputies together are doing a great job." Councilman Rod Higgins reiterated for the public and his peers that Tuesday's vote only advanced the proposal to a second reading next week as the board continues to mull it over. "Let's not get ahead of our skis here," Higgins said.
