This is a KSPS PBS election special, a debate featuring candidates for Spokane City Council President.

Hello.

And thank you for joining us.

I'm Kristi Gorenson.

KSPS is pleased to bring you this debate featuring the candidates running for Spokane City Council president.

The council president is elected by a citywide vote, gets one vote on the seven person council and sets the agenda for and presides over the body's meetings.

They also communicate with the mayor's office and city departments, help set the council's priorities and participate in active debates over ordinances and policies that steer city government.

It is a big job.

Let me introduce the job seekers to you.

Betsy Wilkerson currently serves on the City Council representing District two.

She is also owner of Moore's Assisted Living Center.

Kim Plese is the former owner of Plese Printing and Marketing.

Last year, she ran for Spokane County Commission seats.

Welcome to you both.

For the debate, the candidates will answer questions from two Spokane journalists Nate Sanford of the Inlander and Brandon Hollingsworth with Spokane Public Radio.

Candidates will have one minute for answers.

They are allowed to rebuttals limited to 30 seconds each.

So let's begin.

Kim will take the first question, and that will come from Brandon.

Thank you, Kristi.

And thank you both for being here and speaking with us today.

I wanted to begin with a current going concern for the mayor's office and the city council, city government in general, which is the budget deficit, at least $20 million going into 24.

Different estimates have come up with even some higher figures than that.

What is the city council president's role in helping shape and solve the budget deficit that city is facing?

Well, the mayor puts the budget together and the city council basically approves it and they go back and forth.

The city council president is a leader of the city council and can make suggestions, go back and forth with the mayor of where to cut and where to spend money.

The my priority in this for the city is public safety.

So that is one area where I will not cut.

But what we need to do is that the mayor's budget right now is basically priority based.

And so, again, public safety is number one, but it's also like freeze hiring, things like that, which I agree with.

There are some tax increases which, you know, I as as a taxpaying citizen, it's really hard to keep continuing to pay taxes, which is understandable.

So I am as solutions provider.

So what I would do is look and see how we can grow our business is develop housing, which generates tax income that will help us your time in the future.

Thank you, Betsy.

Thank you.

And thank you for having me.

Yes, the council, that's one of their primary duties.

We legislate and we are the financial arm of the city.

The mayor does submit a budget to us.

Council drives that with its priorities.

We do have a budget director in our office that has been helping us ring the bell for two years, that we have a structural deficit.

So we look at the priorities.

We look at open vacancies in the city.

Maybe those won't be filled.

We are looking at, yes, revenue increase because our revenue is not keeping up with our expenses.

That is council's job.

So other things we're looking at in the city, we have not looked at all of our fee structure for over ten years.

So we've been on autopilot not looking at are we really charging the real cost of services that are being delivered.

And I talk about an increase in compensation because our employees deserve that.

So it is the council's primary role and responsibility is to oversee the budget, and that will be approved by us.

Thank you, Betsy.

You'll take the next question from Nick.

Yeah.

Thank you both so much for being here.

This question is specifically directed to to Betsy.

And I want to ask about the city's Resource and Assistance center, which is the 250 bed homeless shelter that's operated by the city.

It's been more than a year since the shelter opened, but it still lacks indoor bathrooms.

And in May, city council approved funding to install bathrooms at the shelter.

But those plans seem to have stalled.

And now winter is coming and people staying there are still using outdoor porta potties, which are unreliable and have, you know, some some issues there and why why does the shelter still lack indoor bathrooms?

Whose responsibility was it to make that happen?

So when the facility opened last year, I just want to make it clear the administration never gave us any options to housing for homeless.

It was two track or nothing.

We did approve the funding for that.

And this is the structural how our government set up.

We funded that.

That got sent to the administration to send out the request for proposals for that work to be done.

They said it was stalled and then the conversation around the regional approach came up.

So we start looking at are we going to invest in a building that we don't own almost $2 million?

Will the regional homeless Coalition pick that up?

So it stalled for two reasons Administration didn't execute.

And then the conversations of where do we go next?

Because we know we cannot continue to fund that center and currently in the budget is only funded through next June.

So even if we put in bathrooms, we would not have return on our investment.

Can you can have a minute to respond if you'd like.

Well, I just want to remind everyone that my opponent is the finance and administration headed the Finance and Administration Committee and the city council majority kept putting off approving this shelter.

It was an idea that the mayor put in place.

And, you know, frankly, winter's coming right now.

And, you know, there's we really need to have that shelter.

They they'll they'll have a roof over their head and I know that people have said it's not homey enough and there's porta potties, but it's better than the situation that they had at Camp Hope, which was, you know, out in the elements, not safe.

So and I know it is not a sustainable facility as far as tax dollars go.

And, you know, I want our city to belong and join the homeless authority that they have.

Rick Romero and a few people have put it together.

Betsy.

So when the track shelter was sent to us, we kept asking what is the total cost of the track?

Shelter in the administration could never give us anything definitive.

So we were being fiscally responsible.

The numbers kept changing.

They didn't have the contracts in place.

Then another provider was brought on in the middle of the contract.

We have to be responsible to the citizens as well and be fiscally responsible for that.

So to say that it was council's fault is not accurate.

And yes, we want them to have a place to stay during the winter, which is why we have committed to funding at least through June.

Let's move on to the next question.

Kim, you'll take this one from Brandon.

We mentioned the regional Homelessness Coalition in the most recent round of answers there.

So I would like to focus on that for just a moment, because that's obviously a going concern not just for Spokane, but other municipalities in the county.

This is the next great conversation around homelessness in the Spokane region.

Can you give me your strongest argument in favor of the regional homelessness approach and your greatest concern for it?

Well, the biggest, strongest point that I agree with in joining the homeless authority is getting all the people that deal with homeless that know, you know, how I've worked in the city funds so many different organizations when it comes to the homeless about pulling all the the experts together and figuring out the best way that we can get people out of, you know, the homeless situation, whether it's crisis intervention, housing, drug addiction, you know, things like that.

I did meet with Rick Romero, one of the three individuals that put together the plan for the homeless authority.

And the only setback right now is we we don't know the costs of what it would take to put it together.

So they're working on that.

And I'm excited to hear, you know, the plan.

Thank you, Betsy?

Absolutely.

In support of a regional approach.

I have said many times before, homeless people do not know the boundaries of the cities.

You can be in Spokane one minute and in the valley the next.

In Spokane is the central hub.

So this whole collaboration is an exciting venture for us.

We have many more things we need to do a regional collaboration on and bringing the providers in.

The biggest challenge is the cost.

Currently, Spokane share is a disproportionate burden on providing services to our homeless and unhoused people.

We will contribute the biggest chunk of money toward this organization.

So yes, we want to have another seat at the table.

We want to have more input on how it's going to be operated because we want the best outcomes for our citizens as well.

So going forward, working with our providers who have really not been engaged is going to be the opportunity and the challenge.

Kim.

You'll take this next question from me.

and it's about the track shelter again.

Last week you suggested that the M the city could perhaps do cutbacks and consider serving only two meals a day at the shelter instead of three.

I just kind of want to get a bit more detail on kind of that and what you would hope to accomplish with that.

And then if there are any other cutbacks at the shelter that you would want to consider.

Well, that was just a suggestion.

And I did get a lot of comments about that and said, you know, that's not going to do much to cut back.

And I think that the Salvation Army and the people that are serving at that facility, you know, they're doing the best that they can.

Well, and it's a low barrier shelter.

And I've heard that they you know, the people that are in the shelter are still doing drugs in the shelter.

And I think that there needs to be accountability and not have them be able to do drugs.

There are 350 people there.

There needs to be more accountability, like how are we helping these people get out of homelessness, getting them connected with family, whatever it takes.

So this was only supposed to be a temporary solution and there's still 350 people and eight in that shelter.

Betsy?

Yes, it was supposed to only be a temporary solution.

The administration has not brought forward any other plans or opportunities for anything different.

We talk about accountability.

There is accountability required of the people who are there, and there's accountability for the provider who is running those services.

I think the providers are doing great, but you have 300 people in a warehouse which is larger than some of our small towns with no government structure.

They come in, they sleep and they eat.

I was disappointed to hear my opponent talk about two meals a day because when you don't have anything else, you look forward to the next meal, how it breaks your day.

We're not trying to make a comfortable, but we do want it to be an humane place to be if you have nowhere else to be.

I would bet on that.

You may well again bring up Camp Hope, which I personally think was an absolute disaster.

Over $24 million was spent on Camp Hope to get those, you know, anywhere from 200 to 600 people out of homelessness and out of that hole.

All that money that was spent.

Only nine people were permanently housed.

You know, they lost track of 223 people that they couldn't account for.

So, you know, the trench health care is really something temporary, I think, right now, because winter's coming.

We can't cut back in any way, shape or form.

We just need to figure out ways of getting that homeless authority and getting all that, you know, the people that are involved in the homeless services here in Spokane to get together and figure out a better solution.

Absolutely.

Camp Hope should have never happened.

However, if we had not gotten money from the state because the city certainly didn't have those types of resources to invest in relocating the homeless people to where they are right now, they would still be there.

And I have to question where Miss please is getting her data on the numbers that was served.

How's because we have not gotten consistent data either.

So I just want to make sure if we're going to quote data, let's quote the correct data.

Kim.

You'll take this next question from Brandon.

All right.

I want to talk about public safety here and specifically what the city council's relationship to Spokane's police department should or ought to look like, The two of you over the course of the primary season earlier this year framed it very differently.

As Wilkerson has pointed out, budget request have been granted.

The city Police Department is being funded.

There were unfilled positions, but the those have been funded.

There they are.

They are waiting to be filled.

But there are systemic issues across the country in filling law enforcement jobs right now.

And as police, you have talked about how there's more to the formula, do you think, than that, that there's something missing in terms of rhetoric and and a sort of an attitude issue?

And I wanted to give you the opportunity to explain again what you think.

Ideally, the council's relationship looks like with the police department.

Well, I, I really, truly believe and my opponent's actions and the city council needs to be doing a better job supporting our police department than they're doing right now.

You know, my opponent protested a police precinct in her own district that they clearly wanted.

You know, she was invited to when it opened and she outwardly protested that.

She also recently there was an email where her in our current temporary city council president were, you know, making fun of our police department.

I did a six hour ride along with the police department, and they told me flat out that they don't feel like they're supported.

They have a huge recruitment issue.

And when the city council really is out there saying that by by their actions, that they don't support the police department, it's really hard to get officers to come to Spokane.

And and we're short on hundred officers right now.

And, you know, crime is skyrocketing in our town.

I would like to you know, your time is out.

Oh, sorry.

Thank you.

My Ms..

Please continue to say that council does not support the police and that there is this perception that the laws we have made, the ordinances is anti-police.

We support the police, but we also have a whole community that we have to engage with and represent.

I again challenged the numbers last night.

Ms.. Police had 100 vacancies and the mayor said 70 vacancies.

Inconsistent information.

That's what Council has been receiving.

Also with the approval of a new contract that has helped last Friday.

The chief says recruitment is up higher than it has been, especially with laterals.

Who can hit the ground running.

So there was a financial component to make coming to Spokane more attractive because we're were not competitive.

But this rhetoric that council does not support is police really has to stop, is divisive, and it's not true.

I would like to.

Well, there's one thing with when you're back's against the wall right before election season, you approve a police contract and actually supporting them.

Those are two very different things.

It really is.

That's right.

Thank you.

We'll move on to the next question.

Betsy, you'll take this one first from Nate.

Yeah, I want to follow up on public safety.

The Spokane Police Department is the the most well-funded department in the city.

Do you think that their current funding levels are sufficient?

Just generally, what percentage of the city's general fund should go towards the police department?

That's a difficult question to answer, because we're looking at just the outward facing officers.

But there is also all the people who are behind the scenes that are making the police department work.

I can tell you we increased our budget 22% last year to meet the needs of the citizens of Spokane for buying cars, which was an issue that we had no control over funded positions that have not been filled, funded, necessary equipment so they would be safe on their job.

Funded the academy so we had better state of the art training facilities for officers.

Currently, I don't want to misquote, but I believe police is almost at 38% of the budget or possibly a little higher.

Right.

Thank you.

Well, a few years ago, our city council voted by Teslas for the police department over the objections, I believe, of the police department.

And they're really not effective.

We don't have the infrastructure to have electric cars.

I've heard from the police department that they the officers with all their gear and things like that, can't even fit in the cars to drive.

So, you know, another way that our city councilwoman Gertie, really has not used money well in that regard.

Right.

Just want to let you both know that you have both used your 30 seconds rebuttals as we continue forward.

So, Kim, you'll take this next question from Brandon.

Before I ask my question.

Question, I want to follow up on Nate's.

He asked what percentage of the general fund should go to the police departme Well, personally, the most important thing and I'm in not personally, but our entire community believes public safety is number one.

So I would say, you know, whatever is budgeted right now personally I think is not enough because crime is up.

Both shootings, I mean, you hear on the news every single day about, you know, shootings in our park.

And, you know, a woman was assaulted in Riverfront Park a few days ago.

And I think that it's important.

I just, you know, whatever it takes to make our our our city safe is extremely important.

And, Ms.. Wilkerson, should it be higher or lower current funding levels?

It's, like I said, is running about 38% in the budget.

If we have to maintain that to maintain our level of service, that does come at a cost to other services that the city provides to our other residents, whether that's fire, whether that's our people.

Pick up our garbage.

Street sweepers, snow removal, all the clerks behind the scenes.

There is a give and take in that.

So there has to be a balance and that is what city council has to decide.

And then my question shifts into kind of a similar direction, but with a different department.

The mayor's office.

This is another area of disagreement between the two of you.

What is the council's role, ideally in its relationship with the executive branch, with the mayor's office in this place?

You take the first one.

Well, there needs to be more collaboration between the city council president and the mayor.

And I see, you know, you read in the news almost every single day of and argument that they're not getting along.

I mean, recently they formally did a censure, which personally was I've heard this from a lot of people as well, a complete waste of time, taxpayers time and things like that.

To put her in front of, you know, the city council and and make her look bad, I think that there needs to be a lot more collaboration.

And I would I would ask my opponent, why aren't you doing more to work together for the betterment of the people that we serve, that they serve.

So I and I know I will do a much better job at that collaborating whoever wins the race.

That's the way our government is structured there is to administrative in the legislative branch.

We will not always agree.

Collaboration is always the goal.

However, collaboration is a two way street.

The administration currently has not included council in on a lot of their decisions or a lot of things they have not executed on.

So if you don't have the best information or you're not invited in to the decision making process, that is a failure of communication.

Always, it could be better.

And like I said, really what we're talking about is not about individual people.

It's not about the mayor.

It's about the office.

It's not about the council president.

It's about the council office and really what is best for the citizens of Spokane and how can we make the most impact.

All right.

Thank you, Betsy.

You'll take this next question from me.

Yeah.

I wanted to keep asking you about the role of the mayor.

The mayor's race this year is casting a pretty big shadow over these city council races.

You know, Betsy, you've been campaigning with Lisa Brown.

You're clearly a supporter of hers.

Kim you've been campaigning with Mayor Woodward.

So I was curious, I want to ask you both, starting with Betsy, is are there any issues where you and Lisa Brown disagree?

We do.

We do.

So, first of all, we will not agree on everything just because we have alignment of some similar ideas in how we want to move forward.

One area we don't agree on is our sustainable the action plan that is made up of experts and citizens.

She's talking about how we can move that faster.

We're looking at what is the process and the funding to do that.

That is one area.

We have some disagreements also around some public safety issues, how we want to address those.

So, again, we are not a rubber stamp.

We will disagree.

Disagreement can be healthy for our community to really come up with the best solutions.

And then if we can, are there any areas where you and Mayor Woodward disagree?

Oh, I'm sure we've disagreed on a few areas of spending and things like that.

And but I know that we can work together.

I think that the the issues that I've had in the past of the city council and the mayor, it just seems like it's so public.

It's always about, you know, who's right in this situation.

And I know that I'll do a much better job communicating.

I mean, that that was my business communication and marketing and, you know, working together.

I've been a leader in this community for years.

And and, you know, I believe that I'll do a much better job whoever gets elected.

Kim, in your advertisements and on the campaign trail, you've noted that, you know, crime is increasing, homelessness is increasing.

You know, drug use in parks.

Does it does any of that criticism extend to the current administration who's been in power for the past four years, or does that does that responsibility fall in city council?

Well, I think it partially yes.

Follows on because that's one of our jobs is keeping the peace and public safety.

So it really does fall on, you know, the city council and the city council president.

So I think that they could have done a lot better job.

And again, it's about, you know, the narrative, you know, coming up with a better community policing method.

And it's really worrisome because crime in our city affects every part of our community.

It affects your time zone.

I'm sorry.

Oh, Oh, and we're running short on time.

So, Betsy, if you would like, I would like to respond to that.

So once again, council does not supervise a police department.

That is the administration's role.

We have funded them.

How they execute that is in the mayor's purview.

Staffing is an issue.

But once again, to blame council for everything that has gone wrong with this city really is just not true.

We have continued to provide what was asked of us to help them achieve their outcomes.

All right.

Well, that will be the last question.

Time now for closing statements.

And Kim, you'll go first.

Oh, great.

The choice is clear in this election.

I believe that I will be an effective city council president, not a political one.

I intend to get things done just as I had to do with my in my business.

I took care of my clients, my employees, my family and my community.

I am embedded in this community.

I will take that same experience and apply it to to be your next city council president.

The public's interest will be front and center.

I won't play the political games that have negatively impacted our city.

I will get down to business.

I for making Spokane a healthy city for businesses and families.

I'm for protecting our downtown, our parks and our neighborhood.

I will be transparent.

I will be accountable.

We can't afford to move any slower on issues of public safety, homelessness and housing.

The voters choice is crystal clear.

I'm Kim.

Please, and I would appreciate your vote.

Thank you.

Thank you, Kim.

Betsy.

Thank you again for having me.

Yes.

The choice is crystal clear.

I am an experienced leader that listens.

A leader who knows the job.

Council over these last three years has set up the Sustainability Action Plan, which is required by state.

We set up the Housing Action Plan.

We set up a traffic plan.

Council has come up with the plans that have not come out of the administration side.

A leader who knows the community deeply embedded for years.

Because I can find solutions that works for everyone.

And I show up, Spokane asks and I show up, and I ran a positive campaign.

That was my commitment to the voters when I started.

I'm a leader who loves this city.

I want to see Spokane like we all do a safe, healthy and vibrant city for generations to come.

I'd be honored to have your vote.

Well, that will do it for this debate.

Our thanks to each of the candidates.

Thank you.

As well as two reporters, Nate Sanford and Brandon Hollingsworth.

For all of us at KSPS, thank you for watching.