City of Liberty Lake: Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.555 for misuse of public facilities or resources to support or oppose a candidate or ballot measure. (EY24 OCT24)

Case

#161020

Respondent

City of Liberty Lake Officials

Complainant

Gayle TenBrink

Description

The complaint alleged that City of Liberty Lake Officials may have violated RCW 42.17A.555 by misusing public facilities or resources to support or oppose a candidate or ballot measure.

PDC staff reviewed the allegations and evidence submitted; the applicable statutes, rules, and reporting requirements; the response(s) provided by City of Liberty Lake officials, including Mayor Cris Kaminskas and City Clerk Kelsey Hardy; City of Liberty Lake meeting materials and video recordings; and other relevant information, to determine whether the record supports a finding of one or more violations. 

Staff has determined that, in this instance, the failure to properly notice the September 17 and October 1 meetings does not amount to a violation that warrants further investigation.

Pursuant to WAC 390-37-060(1)(d), however, the City of Liberty Lake will receive a formal written warning concerning the extent to which members of the City Council engaged in advocacy regarding ballot initiatives at the September 17, 2024, meeting without proper notice to enable public participation, and concerning the lack of proper notice for the October 1, 2024, meeting. The formal written warning will include staff’s expectation that the City of Liberty Lake include all required elements when publicly noticing meetings in which councilmembers express a collective decision or vote upon a motion in support of or opposition to a ballot proposition. The Commission will consider the formal written warning in deciding on further Commission action if there are future violations of PDC laws or rules.

Based on this information, the PDC finds that no further action is warranted and has dismissed this matter in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1).

Disposition

Case Closed with Written Warning

Date Opened

October 22, 2024

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.555

Documents

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