More drama at Clark County Council in regard to its representatives on the C-TRAN Board

Councilors debated whether C-TRAN board representatives must follow group mandates, with Michelle Belkot refusing to commit to new voting rules and Glen Yung opposing her nomination.

Glen Yung declined a nomination to accept a seat on the C-TRAN Board of Directors, but was adamant that Michelle Belkot not be placed on the board when she stayed true to her convictions

Paul Valencia
Clark County Today

Glen Yung didn’t want the position, saying he was too busy to accept a new role.

Michelle Belkot declared her willingness to accept the position.

For a split second Wednesday afternoon, it looked like after a year of chaos regarding the Clark County Council and its representation on the C-TRAN Board of Directors, Michelle Belkot was going to be put on the board after all.

Nope. Councilor Glen Yung might not want the job, but he certainly did not want Councilor Belkot back on the job.

Belkot made it clear she would stand by her convictions, noting that the council is not a dictatorship.

The drama surrounding the council’s seats on the C-TRAN board continues.

It appears that the council will have to wait for the return of Wil Fuentes — absent from Tuesday’s Council Time — to have a say.

A recent recommendation by the C-TRAN Board Composition Review Committee will give the city of Vancouver four seats on the C-TRAN board, three to the Clark County Council, and two to be shared by the other cities that make up the C-TRAN boundary.

Currently, Clark County has two seats on the C-TRAN board, filled by Sue Marshall and Fuentes.

If you recall, Fuentes replaced Belkot on the board last year after the council removed Belkot for trying to protect taxpayers from paying operations and maintenance costs associated with light rail on the new Interstate Bridge.

Fast forward to Council Time on Wednesday. Clark County Chair Sue Marshall noted that the council needed a third councilor to take a seat on the C-TRAN Board.

Marshall nominated Yung.

Belkot, who is currently the alternate to the C-TRAN board, had a question.

“So I’m not going to be considered even though I’m an alternate?” she asked.

“I think you could be considered if you’re nominated.”

A second later, Councilor Matt Little not only nominated Belkot but asked that if two people accept the nomination, he would like to hear from them both before making a decision.

Yung declined the nomination, and Belkot enthusiastically accepted the nomination.

“I’ll be happy to serve as the alternate,” Yung said. “I just have a workload that cannot take on another assignment at this point.”

With Yung out, Marshall simply said: “I guess we can vote, but it seems like there is only one candidate running.”

Belkot expressed her passion for transportation issues, noting it was a big part of her candidacy when she was elected to the council.

Yung, though, had concerns. He noted that the council has been working on new language in its Rules of Procedure, which would force board/committee members to vote in whatever direction the council gives.

Last year, Belkot went against the rest of the council when she vowed to protect taxpayers on the light rail issue. She was replaced at the next council gathering.

Belkot has said that historically Clark County councilors have voted separately on C-TRAN board issues. It was never an issue until last year.

Yung wondered how Belkot would react in anticipation of new language in Rules of Procedures.

“If the collective council does give our C-TRAN reps direction, how do you intend to handle that?” Yung asked.

“As you know, it’s not part of the Rules of Procedures and never has been for the Clark County Council. You are trying to adopt a city of Vancouver rule or procedure that has never been something for us.

“Why even get elected if we have to vote in collaboration?,” Belkot continued. “I represent my district. … What would even be the purpose of a councilor getting elected if they would just go along with another group of people. That’s not democratic.”

Yung said it is the council’s purview to assign individuals to a seat.

“Whether we place them on that board or not, it hinges on that person’s willingness to listen to the entirety of the council,” Yung said.

He added:

“You are correct, it is not currently in our Rules of Procedure, but I anticipate it likely will be here shortly, so my question is ‘If it’s adopted … do you intend to follow that?’”

Belkot did not appreciate that Yung is anticipating something that has not yet been brought up for public comment.

Marshall weighed in.

“If the council took a position to direct a vote on C-TRAN, would you follow that or not?” Marshall asked Belkot.

“No. It’s not part of our Rules of Procedure. This is not a dictatorship,” Belkot said.

“I believe we have case law, at this point,” Marshall shot back.

That was in reference to a federal judge dismissing Belkot’s case against her colleagues on the council for removing her from the C-TRAN board last year. The judge dismissed all five claims last week, including an accusation that the four other councilors violated the Open Public Meetings Act.

Belkot refused to back down. Yes, Belkot lost the case, but she still believes she had a case.

“Which is basically a federal judge didn’t agree with OPMA. So there is no existing OMPA. You all can just do what you want,” Belkot said.

With that, Marshall ended the discussion and went to a vote.

Yung and Marshall voted no. Little and Belkot voted yes.

“Motion does not carry. I think we will have to wait and bring this back when we have full council,” Marshall said.

Marshall and Fuentes are already on the C-TRAN board. Yung said he is too busy to add to his workload. Belkot did not receive three votes on Wednesday.

Does that mean Councilor Little will be asked to take that seat?