Council Legislation

Proposed Ordinance No. 2023-67

Title: An Ordinance of the Pierce County Council Adopting a New Chapter 2.111 of the Pierce County Code, "Notice of Funding Availability Process."

Status: Passed

Sponsors: Councilmembers Ryan Mello, Robyn Denson, Jani Hitchen

Final votes

October 31, 2023
Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye Nay Aye


Documents
Additional legislative records are available below Collapse All  Expand All
 

Public Comments

Name Date Comment
Colleen Wise 10/29/23 4:21 PM This ordinance N 2023-67 appears to bypass the process of bidding for the opportunity for all to have the chance for these dollars. I ask that you vote no on the ordinance.
John Leslie 10/29/23 9:42 PM This is a disturbing trend. Just as 2023-26 and 2023-68 this Ordinance is unnecessary and lacks transparency. In first reading it looked OK but as I progressed, the controversial topics are prioritized. This is a veiled attempt to fund efforts that many would find objectionable without them seeing scrutiny by the voters. VOTE NO!
Carol Rich 10/29/23 9:58 PM Contracts should be based on merit. No on ordinances that bypass competitive contracting requirements. Money should not be earmarked for certain groups of people regardless of merit. This is a divisive practice. These ordinances lack transparency. Vote NO.
Suzanne Wood 10/30/23 9:33 AM This would discriminate against fair bidding for all and create a sub standard for fair business practice. Vote "NO".
Lance 10/30/23 12:45 PM Here we go again…Radical Socialist Leftist Board Members (Mello, Hitchen, Denson, Campbell) of Pierce County Council are proposing more divisive socialist ordinances on Pierce County. On Tuesday, October 31st the Council is scheduled to vote on a package of ordinances (Ordinances: 2023-62, 2023-67, 2023-68) introduced by Chair Ryan Mello that would allow the Council’s Democratic majority to bypass competitive contracting requirements and earmark money for groups in their districts regardless of merit. This funnels tax payer funds directly to select groups at the discretion of the radical board members. This has the potential to create a “pay for play” scenario and set up back room sweetheart deals to politically favored groups. These proposed packages of ordinances are blatantly unethical, unfair, divisive, and bypass any form of scrutiny, transparency, or accountability. We the citizens, taxpayers, and constitutes deserve a more transparent and accountable government. Our elected officials must represent our values, not their own personal bias, political agendas, or financial lucrative rewards to themselves or their party. The awarding of contracts must go thru a competitive requirements based on merit. It must be done with safeguards mechanisms and transparent procedures already in place to ensure accountability. Responsible government bodies should NOT short circuit the system of checks and balances. Every contract must be done in the sunlight, not in the darkness.
Steve McCoy 10/30/23 1:11 PM Oppose
Barbara b moberg 10/30/23 4:39 PM Vote NO. Again another bill to make it easy for our council members to vote their personal bias’s and giver one group of individuals an opportunity others will not be give, lacks transparency and invites fraud. VOTE NO
Carol A. Krona 10/30/23 5:44 PM VOTE NO on 2063-67!
CHRISTINE 10/30/23 8:52 PM This Ordinance is unnecessary and lacks transparency. In first reading it looked OK but as I progressed, the controversial topics are prioritized. This is a veiled attempt to fund efforts that many would find objectionable without them seeing scrutiny by the voters. VOTE NO!
Ryan Holland 10/31/23 10:29 AM I looked at the written texts of all 3 of these ordinances. I'm concerned about the pick and chose of approvals of funding in this. I ask you please vote NO on this and the other 2 ordinances. People are already financially struggling and this goes against the freedoms of people of Pierce County. Thank you.
S. King 10/31/23 11:09 AM I must agree with the majority, vote NO. This process as written, which is very poorly written, is about council members overstepping their role and making a grab for power and control of taxpayer dollars. Government is about open and fair processes for everyone in the community, not just for those "elected" leaders who, frankly, want to do whatever they want and not be held accountable, but instead should be the example and should absolutely support the continuity of the system, not take advantage of it for personal political gain. Again, I strongly urge you to vote NO on this ordinance and continue to support a fair and open procurement system for all Pierce County funding opportunities.
Gina Sinclair 10/31/23 11:47 AM Councilmembers, I do not support this legislation and am disappointed that my councilmember, who I supported, campaigned for, and voted for, is proposing this. As a small business owner - getting government contracts should be an open and transparent process. This is a clear attempt to avoid a pure competitive process and provide valuable and dwindling funds to those who are in the council's good graces. I will reach out to the executive in hopes that this can be vetoed if passed by a disappointing majority of the council. This is wrong and unfair to those who are not providing campaign funds or hosting fundraisers for these elected officials. I will also add that there are several mistakes and sentences that contradict each other.
Taylor Brown 10/31/23 12:00 PM I am opposed to this legislation changing the current process for awarding county contracts. Government should always maintain a fair and transparent process when contracting with our tax dollars. Taking the transparent process and 'fixing' the outcome for certain orgs is unfair, non-competitive, and feels like a slippery slope to corruption. This one needs to go back to the drawing board.
Mary Mason 10/31/23 2:25 PM Please vote no on this ordinance