Bremerton representatives finally aired their grievances with the Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council (KRCC) in person April 7.

Members of the Bremerton City Council have openly mused of leaving the KRCC altogether at recent study sessions after it unanimously rejected the KRCC’s proposed interlocal agreement March 4.

Bremerton City Council President Greg Wheeler said his issues with the KRCC lie in its organizational structure.

The KRCC currently uses McClure Consulting to manage its administrative duties, but there has been discussion regarding a switch to an in-house staff. Wheeler believes that to employ a competent and willing staff would require an structure that allows upward mobility for its employees.

“You start talking those types of decisions, which is what our goal with KRCC is talking about when you talk about continuity you’re talking about increased costs, significant increases,” Wheeler said. “Personal standpoint: I did not want to come to this table without an equal vote. I did not want to see our city represented with any other structure the way we felt binded here with this in our proposed amendment.”

However, the most controversial topic centered around changes to voting structure, although no decisions were made.

Bremerton representatives, led by Wheeler, requested the board change its voting structure to allow for quorums and a simple majority vote.

Under current guidelines, votes cannot take place if two of the three county commissioners aren’t present, something many Bremerton City Council members have taken issue with.

Bremerton’s proposed changes would have a significant impact to smaller entities like Poulsbo and Port Orchard, which combined have as many members as Bremerton (three).

“Effectively a group of people could get together and make policy for the entire county and not have representation from all the jurisdictions,” said Poulsbo Mayor Becky Erickson. “I find that very disheartening. I think we all need to have voices here.”

KRCC Chair and County Commissioner Robert Gelder echoed Erickson’s thoughts.

“I think we still have, as a board of county commissioners, a responsibility to represent over 250,000 people,” Gelder said. “So it would be disheartening to adopt a voting structure that will allow for this body to convene and take action without inclusion of a jurisdiction that represents two-thirds of the population.”

Gelder and County Commissioner Ed Wolfe asked Bremerton representatives to provide an example of a time in which the absence of two or more commissioners prevented a vote from taking place.

Bremerton City Council members sitting in the audience were invited to share their thoughts.

Councilman Roy Runyon approached the lectern before being recognized by Gelder.

Councilman Dino Davis, Bremerton’s alternate representative on the KRCC board, protested and asked to speak first. Runyon refused.

Runyon didn’t provide an example of a time in which voting was delayed due to missing commissioners but he did cite a time in which commissioners interfered with city economic development.

“We had the opportunity to get a Department of Corrections reception facility in Kitsap County in the city of Bremerton. $250 million capital investment, 550 full time employees, $50 million a year in supplies and services purchase,” Runyon said. “One commissioner decided, for some reason, that it was it was in the interest of the city of Bremerton to oppose that and require a regional siting process that would have to go through KRCC.

“So there’s an example of interference by one commissioner using this platform to control our economic development initiatives. That is very inappropriate.”

(Runyon later acknowledged that he was mistaken when citing the capital investment figure as $250 million. It was actually $167 million. Also, the motion failed because two county commissioners abstained from voting, not one.)

Runyon also cited a statement from the KRCC’s website explaining its purpose. It essentially said the KRCC facilitates dialogue among its members and is responsible for allocating federal and state funding.

“Where in that statement does it say ‘control’? Control of the cities?” Runyon asked.

When Davis was allowed to speak he said he could support a quorum of entities.

“I believe the weighted portion for the commissioners is unduly open to the appearance of impropriety and that’s because of your body having three people and no alternate,” Davis said.

The voting structure discussion will continue at the next KRCC meeting May 5.