Public Officials in Private Meetings: Where Do We Draw the Line?

One of Puyallup’s last daffodil farms - fated to become an industrial center - is now in a political crossfire after a private meeting between Puyallup officials and the Van Lierop land applicant became public knowledge.

Two members of the Puyallup Planning Commission, Steve Hastings and Chris McNutt, have been criticized for attending the June meeting with representatives of the Van Lierop property development. Both are running for city council in the upcoming election. Also at the meeting were Mayor Rick Hansen, John Knutson and Tom Swanson, who have maintained the conversation was about general issues in the area—not the slated 13-acre commercial development plan on the Van Lierop property.

(Read more in The Tacoma News Tribune).

“This could be one of the largest single transactions in Puyallup’s history,” said councilmember Kent Boyle during the July 16 city council meeting. “When you walk into a room as a council member or planning commissioner and see something that could be a conflict of interest, you need to turn around and walk out the door.”

Influence on Elections

During the July 10 Planning Commission public hearing, commissioners Hastings and McNutt were criticized for attending the meeting with influential supporters of their campaigns. McNutt admitted that Van Lierop has endorsed his city council bid—as did others in attendance at the private meeting. Hastings’ campaign is self-financed, so he isn’t required to claim financial endorsement, according to The Tacoma News Tribune.

Other City Council members who attended the meeting defended the actions of the commissioners during the July 16 Council meeting, saying the meeting was about infrastructure and utilities development on Shaw Road and the rezone wasn’t mentioned.

“We may not like developers, but they still have the constitutional right to communicate with government,” said Councilman Tom Swanson, who was in attendance at the meeting. “They wanted to make sure they, as private citizens, had their story told.”

Knutson said the debate was “junior high-level garbage” and that it is his duty as a civic leader to understand the needs and concerns of all Puyallup—including developers. He also stated that no one knows what goes on at a lot of meetings that include city leaders - including trail development - at the Chamber and at volunteer organizations in the city.

“I went out and looked at what the people want and need, and I met with people to find out what they want and need,” said Knutson. “No law was violated—the reason we’re talking about this is strictly political […] I’m willing to meet with property owners to discuss any future zoning.”

Future of Van Lierop Still Hangs in the Balance

On July 24, the Planning Commission voted 3-2 to deny a zoning change requested by Schnizter West that would allow for broader industrial use at the site, already zoned for manufacturing. Hastings and McNutt both recused themselves from the hearing and the voting process on the rezoning at Van Lierop.

“For those who suffer from the thought that this is pristine farmland—it is, but it’s all zoned out,” said councilmember Steve Vermillion at the July 16 Council meeting. “If you have illusions of not coming down Shaw Road and seeing warehouses, a McDonalds or whoever else decides what goes there, that’s the scenery you’re going to get. It’s been etched in stone since 2009.”

Although it’s not clear what will be developed on the Van Lierop property, the intent is for development that can create jobs and revenue.

“This application is Mr. Lierop’s,” said Schnizter West spokesman Jeff Harmer. “This is his application we’re supporting.”

When it comes to ethics, the question of propriety still hangs in the air.

“Where the hell is the transparency here? This isn’t political, it’s about what’s right, what’s wrong and what’s fair,” said Boyle. “We have to ask ourselves, it is right for our planning commissioners to attend meetings like this?”

The City Council is expected to review the Planning Commission’s decision to deny the zone change at the Sept. 3 city council meeting.