This Friday, November 1st, at 3 PM, the Clyde Hill City Council is hosting a critical budget meeting, open for residents to attend in person at City Hall or remotely here. Facing a budget deficit, the Council took an unusual approach by delegating budget strategy to two councilmembers, Lisa Slivka and Steve Sinwell. They met with the city’s Finance Director and City Administrator early this week. For a decision this impactful, Clyde Hill deserves full council participation, in a public meeting, not negotiations behind closed doors.
The timing of this meeting is, unfortunately, telling. Holding it at 3 PM on a Friday—prime working hours for most—essentially excludes many residents from participating. In fact, some cities in Washington recognize that holding meetings during work hours or on Fridays discourages public input and, therefore, prohibit these times. However, our Council has opted to proceed regardless, making resident involvement a challenge. Nothing says “we don’t want public input” quite like a Friday afternoon meeting.
So why does this matter? The decisions made in this meeting with our city staff could impact Clyde Hill’s essential services and future development projects. With budget shortfalls possibly affecting everything from maintenance to public safety, these choices are fundamental to the community’s quality of life. The Clyde Hill Coalition believes all residents deserve the chance to have their voices heard, especially when transparency is lacking, and decisions are being made by a small, closed group.
This meeting is a chance for residents to step up, request transparency, and show the Council that we care deeply about our city’s future. Attached is the packet that discusses potential service reductions (click here). Join in this Friday at 3 PM—whether in person or online—and let’s send a clear message that the budget is everyone’s business, not just the responsibility of a select few.