Updated: Suncadia Retreat for City Council and Senior Staff Cost Sammamish Residents About $8,482

The Suncadia Resort retreat the Sammamish City Council and senior city staff members took in early February cost residents at least $8,482.75, the city finance director reported.

The trip for officials to talk policy and improve teamwork has prompted some residents to question why it was held at the Cle Elum resort, more than an hour’s drive away, when economic times remain tight.

While the amount is miniscule compared to the city’s $86 million two-year budget, residents asked whether participants could have achieved their goals closer to Sammamish.

“I like the idea. I think it’s good when you build relationships,” Sammamish resident Danna VanHorn said, as she was shopping. “But we’re in a difficult time. It doesn’t seem like a wise use of money.”

The retreat lasted from Feb. 3 to 5 and the City Council discussed various issues at the meeting, including the cost, financing and amenities for a , Mayor Don Gerend said. 

No formal decision was made at the retreat, at which 19 city or emergency services officials attended at some point, City Finance Director Lyman Howard said.

That number included the five city department directors, as well as the City Manager and City Attorney. On Wednesday, the city released the meeting notes from the trip.

Gerend believes that going on a retreat has benefits.

“I’ve felt they were really productive in the past,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for us to get away from work and just focus on the business of the city for Council and staff.”

The city is responsible for paying Suncadia $3,845.75 for lodging, meals and use of a meeting room, Howard wrote in an email. That amount includes taxes.

That Suncadia amount was lower than the $5,600 estimate for lodging, food and meeting costs. The city also hired Dick Thompson as the meeting facilitator at a cost of $4,637, Howard said.

For Sammamish resident Ron Stoecklin, 50, leaving Sammamish was what raised a question in his mind. He supports the idea of a group of people working better as a team.

“Considering the economic conditions, they should be scrutinizing every expense, even if it’s small,” he said. “To do that at taxpayers’ expense, I think, currently, is asking quite a bit.”

Kelsey Bohl, a student who lives in Sammamish, explained that she is concerned about cuts that public education is facing given the state’s budget – which shaped her view of the retreat.

“I don’t want to put them down,” the 18-year-old said. “But I don’t think it’s good for them to spend our money like this. They can dig in their own pockets if they want to do it.”

With education costs occupying her thoughts, she said the money should have been donated to a public school.

student Mike Brown, 16, called the trip a "waste" of money. "It doesn't matter the amount," he said. "If you can save money, that should be your goal."

The $8,482.75 covers most, if not all, of the retreat. Some participants might submit mileage expenses in the near future but elected officials and senior city staff shared trip costs by driving together, Howard said.

City Councilman  said the retreat helped boost work relationships – and that participants were able to achieve more because of the setting.

He hopes the improved relationships will translate into better city service for residents.

“The retreat was terrific. Council and staff worked through the issues and helped to reset goals for 2011 and 2012,” he wrote in an email request for comment.

“I know some feel it is a waste of money to have the retreat away from home….It cost the city 150 bucks to have me there. If anyone would like me to reimburse them for their portion of the bill please let me know.”

One possibility is to hold a retreat the year after a City Council election and an “off-site” meeting in Sammamish during the other years, Councilman John James said.

“I did find the retreat a benefit when I first joined the Sammamish City Council to get to know the other Council members and establish a working relationship,” James, who formally became a City Councilman in January 2010, said in an email.

“I felt at the retreat this year I was able to get to know the City Staff Department Heads better.”

The City Council also is well aware of the tighter economy in recent years. In late 2010, the City Council sliced $33 million from the 2011-12 city budget, which is $86 million, the city reported.

While the policy retreat was open to anyone, only one member of the public attended, Howard and Gerend said. That person was Caleb Heeringa, a Sammamish Review reporter.

Some residents tossed out a similar idea to James – to hold a City Council retreat at one of the city parks or elsewhere in the city.

“Why not use the resources that we already have, especially in times like these?” Bohl said.

“I think the results could have been achieved locally,” VanHorn said. “There are plenty of places around.”

Gerend was practical in saying whether the City Council will continue the policy retreat at Suncadia. "I don’t know," he said. "Next year is another year."

CITY COUNCILMEMBERS' RESPONSES TO SUNCADIA RETREAT

Sammamish Patch asked the City Council for comment about the retreat. Sammamish Patch will post answers as they are received and should members care to comment.

Here are the full responses from Councilman John Curley and Councilman John James.

Councilman John Curley:

"The retreat was terrific. Council and staff worked through the issues and helped to reset goals for 2011 and 2012. Citizens can look forward to even more outstanding customer service in the year to come. I know some feel it is a waste of money to have the retreat away from home. But we seem to get more work done when we are 'trapped' all in the same place together. I mean 'trapped' in the nicest way. It cost the city 150 bucks to have me there. If anyone would like me to reimburse them for their portion of the bill please let me know."

Councilman John James:

"I had suggested previously in years where we do not have a new Councilmember(s) we consider holding an 'off-site' meeting (not at City Hall) in Sammamish as opposted to going out-of-town. I did find the retreat a benefit when I first joined the Sammamish City Council to get to know the other Councilmembers and establish a working relationship, and I felt that at the retreat this year I was able to get to know the City Staff Department Heads better.

This is an election year for City Council, and I would support going on a retreat if we have one or more new members added to the Council in Janyary or February 2012. The format of the meeting that could also be used at an off-site meeting location within the City limits as well as at a retreat allows the Council to go (through) a significant amount of material regarding finances, the entire opperation of the City as well as current issues and long-term goals and objectives. Therefore, I would support the retreat as an every other year meeting and an off-site meeting in between."

Councilman Mark Cross:

"I am comfortable with the cost and trouble it takes to go on retreat. Personally, I took a vacation day to attend. Last year we welcomed three new Council members onto the Council and I feel the the personal exchanges and really open discussions at the retreat allowed us to include three new voices into the Council and to keep on working on city business throughout the year. 

This is a new year and new issues. Being a little out of the public eye, but with a newspaper reporter with a laptop in the room, we went over a very wide range of issues and projects that will allow us to get to key public discussion and action this year. I do support the retreat effort and think that it is a good use of our tax dollars. This year the plan is to open three new parks and a teen center. Look at the results. In part, I credit the retreat with our being a high functioning City Council."

Editor's note: This story has been revised since it was originally posted on Tuesday. The revision includes comments from City Councilman Mark Cross.