Unlike its neighboring cities, such as Mercer Island, Bellevue, Kirkland, Woodinville, Bothell, and Sammamish, which ALL have a council-manager form of government, City of Redmond has a strong mayor-council form of government. Under the strong mayor form of government, mayor has too much power: while the council has legislative power, the mayor has veto power; the mayor is the chief executive officer, centralizing executive power. We have all witnessed the damages done to Redmond and the entire Eastside when the mayor has too much power yet free from checks and balances.

In comparison under a council-manager form of government, the council is powerful, with both legislative and executive authority. Obviously, a body of council with 7 independently elected officials, is much more difficult to be influenced by special interest groups than a strong mayor. Under council-manger form of government, the Mayor can be elected from within the City Council, City Council appoints the city manager.

Here is the reality at City of Redmond: The City Council has no staff support, and has to rely on City staff to draft ordinances. Yet the City Council has no authority over City staff. The mayor has the authority over City staff. If the Mayor does not want things to happen, the Council can’t get anything done. In the example of amending Ordinance #3059, Director Helland told the City Council “I was not proposing to do changes to the Ordinance”, as a result, the City Council had no amendment to vote on. In order to get their things done, the City Council has to play nice with the Mayor.

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