The way it's supposed to work
Written by Rebecca Carr
Wednesday, 29 April 2009 09:51
The past few weeks of city meetings have been a solid example of how the public process is supposed to work, and how Mukilteo citizens can have a direct and positive impact on important decisions affecting their lives when it does.
It started last August when the City Council unanimously approved a staff recommendation to ban scuba diving at Lighthouse Park.
We don't fault their reasoning at the time the information they had was the Washington Cities Insurance Authority's opinion that allowing scuba diving could put the city at financial risk should a diver be injured in our waters.
When word got out among the dive community around February that one of their top diving spots was now off limits, divers from as far away as Tacoma and Vancouver flooded council chambers, filling up the seats, lining the walls and spilling out into the hallway.
The divers told the council of the treasure trove of colorful, vibrant sea life lurking below the surface of Lighthouse Park, of the park's unique natural features that draw divers from all over the state (and some from surrounding states) and of the potential revenue for downtown businesses that divers bring to town when they visit.
Further, they explained safe diving protocol, agreed to abide by any city-imposed safety regulations, and pledged to do whatever they could to help the city realize its new vision for an underwater park.
The council listened. Not only did it unanimously reverse the ban, but went a step further, approving council president Randy Lord's suggestion of marketing the city as a dive destination, tying diving in with the annual Lighthouse Festival and investigating the possibility of an underwater park somewhere off the shores of Mukilteo.
Recreation and Cultural Services manager Jennifer Berner, despite initiating the ban, went back to WCIA asking how to allow diving while still protecting the city's interests.
Despite surely being overwhelmed by the standing-room-only crowd of frustrated divers, Berner listened to their arguments and found a way to make it work for all parties involved.
Further, Berner jumped right on board with the reversal in direction, embracing the idea of an underwater park and quickly putting her talents to work connecting the divers with community Beach Watchers volunteers.
Kudos to the council for listening to public input, acting on it and taking it a step further by voting to approve an underwater park.
Kudos to the divers for remaining professional and respectful throughout the process. We've witnessed more than a few Jerry Springer-esque attacks over the years that serve no purpose except to alienate the decision makers and shut down open dialogue.
This group was polite, prepared, followed protocol and even offered to actively participate in the planning, creation and maintaining of an underwater park.
We also commend the divers for respecting the ban while it was in place, despite their opposition. If they're representative of the local dive community, it would be an asset to our city, and we would be proud to work with it.
Throughout the process, Berner conducted herself with class and professionalism. She readily admitted the ban was a hasty move that should be reversed, gathered the information needed to make it happen and thanked the divers for educating her, the city staff and the council on their sport.
A lesser person would have dug in her heels, refused to admit the ban was no longer necessary and continued to fight for it. Berner proved once again what an asset she is to the Mukilteo community and city staff.
We just have one tiny beef: why aren't all city meetings this heavily attended?
