Letter To The Editor: Open Letter To The Renton City Council; Honor The Initiative Process

Dear Mr. Rich Zwicker, Ms. Terri Briere, Mr. Greg Taylor, Ms. Marcie Palmer, Mr. Randy Corman, Mr. Don Persson, Mr. Ed Prince:
 
As the legislative branch of Renton's municipal government, you are being asked tonight, April 2nd, to take action on the recent Renton City Library Initiative.  This is a Citizen's Initiative signed by at least 6,383 currently registered Renton voters and Certified by King County Board of Elections last week. 
 
Mayor Denis Law and City Administrator Jay Covington have asked each of you a vote to decline taking action on the Initiative. Fortunately, the Initiative is not some form of messy popularity contest. It is a legal form of State-sanctioned citizen involvement with our local government ensuring voters a rightful process in contesting government action or policy on which we disagree. As such, the State's RCW both Define the process under which citizens may bring the Initiative and further, Limit the allowable range of legislative response to a Certified Initiative.
 
Councilpersons Greg Taylor, Randy Corman and Marci Palmer have each displayed the courage and independence of thought to listen consider to citizens and vote to oppose the Administration's direction so far.  This past weekend, Mr. Corman had the courage to publish his own research into State Law in this matter. As his investigation notes, Council action is limited by State Law to one of two courses of action on a legally Certified Petition. Also, for the sake of those who believe voters should have known annexation to the KCLS meant giving up our two libraries at their present locations, please see Mr. Corman's blog regarding the process and timing for that decision by the Council.
 
Paraphrasing (I am not a lawyer...) the two permissable courses of action are:
1.) Direct the City Administration to maintain Our Downtown Renton Library at its present site over the Cedar River, renegotiating contracts as necessary, or
2.) Direct the City Administration to put any proposed relocation of the Downtown Library on a public ballot and acheive a simple majority of voters in favor of such a move.
 
There is no third 'Decline to Recognize/ Reject/ Nullify' action open to the Council at this stage.
 
The clarity and transparency of Mr. Corman's Blog are appreciated. We expect each of you to uphold State Law and honor the Initiative Process in this matter. 

Sincerely,

David A. Keyes
Renton