Official Statement from the desk of Council Member Michael Cathcart

The following is a statement from District 1 Council Member Michael Cathcart:

"I was hesitant to support the proposed Council rule changes tonight because of important improvements to the legislative process and public participation in filling vacant City Council positions, and concerns about certain parts of the overall package, especially changes to testimony time and the meeting day.

I voted yes tonight for two main reasons. First, this begins to fix a flawed and, frankly, outdated legislative process that has often required the Council to act on amendments before the public has had a real chance to weigh in on either the legislation or the amendments. That's a serious problem, and it needs to change. People should not come here prepared to testify only to find that the issue has already been resolved or adopted before they get a chance to speak. That's backwards. I pushed for a better process, and I'm pleased to see meaningful progress.

Second, these rules improve the vacancy appointment process by providing a real public opportunity for candidates to answer questions before a decision is made. Whether that appointment lasts a few months or nearly two years, the public deserves a genuine chance to evaluate candidates and make informed recommendations to their representatives. That's an important improvement, and I strongly believe it should be part of this discussion. I'm glad that the most restrictive testimony proposals were ultimately dropped.

The concept of an express lane, along with preserving individual testimony at the second reading, represents a compromise I believe will function better. I'm pleased this approach was chosen after earlier proposals would have overly limited public participation. Some of those plans would have forced people to address the entire agenda within a single time limit or wrongfully required residents to rank which items matter most to them.

I very much appreciate that Council moved away from those ideas. However, my vote in favor should not be seen as an endorsement of every element of the rules package. I still have serious concerns about some parts. I remain opposed to the unnecessary change of the meeting day and worry about modifications to public testimony, including reducing individual speaking time from three minutes to two. Local government is supposed to be closest to the people. That means our process should prioritize public access, not restrict it.

Our responsibility is to govern transparently and be accountable for every action we take. As the Council progresses, I will continue advocating for expanded public testimony options, so Spokane residents have more meaningful opportunities-rather than fewer-to be heard on decisions that directly impact their lives."