The Bellevue City Council ended the debate over the scope of a conflict of interest probe by leaving that decision up to an independent investigator.
Last week, the council tabled talk of the investigation when members hit an impasse over a suggestion that Council Members Grant Degginger and Claudia Balducci should be included in any investigation. The discussion began as a result of a failed deal between Council Member Kevin Wallace’s property company and GNP Railway to bring a rail line down the BNSF corridor. Wallace championed that same stretch as a spot to place East Link light-rail tracks.
A unanimous 7-0 vote Monday night gives the outside investigator, Jeffrey Coopersmith, the ability to examine documents and interview council members, and then decide the scope of the investigation.
Council members showed a collective reluctance to give full control of the investigation to a consultant, but agreed that it needed to be done, and leaving it up to him was a way to depoliticize an issue that has led to several heated exchanges between citizens and council members.
All council members supported the agreement, but some were disappointed that the debate had spiraled in several different directions, and led to a broader outcome.
“I had hoped this council could make a strong statement to the public that when an allegation of misconduct by one of us, we would act swiftly and decisively, and we have done neither,” Balducci said. “We have acted slowly and indecisively, but it is an action, and that’s better than nothing.”
Deputy City Attorney Kate Berens said the investigation will address Wallace Properties’ failed deal with GNP to help finance a rail project from Snohomish to Renton. According to a Memorandum of Understanding between the two companies, Wallace Properties would contribute $500,000 while additionally helping raise money for the project. It would then have a chance to develop property around the line.
The $49,500 agreement with Coopersmith gives the investigator the chance to look at other council members, as well. Degginger and Balducci have already been cleared by City Attorney Lori Riordan of any conflicts as a result of their other commitments. Degginger has been accused of conflicts of interest because his law firm has represented Sound Transit, and Balducci has been called out because of her involvement as a board member of Sound Transit.
The goal of running the investigation this way, council members said, would be to once and for all “put to bed” a lot of the controversy that has surrounded discussions and decisions on light-rail.
“We should have respect and confidence in our council members; we shouldn’t be looking over each other’s shoulders all the time,” said Deputy Mayor Conrad Lee. “No governing body, no organization could function that way.”
Agenda Memo: Conflict of Interest Investigation
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