1. CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Norm Childress called the study session to order at 6:45 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

Present were: Mayor Childress and Councilmembers Helen Darr, Bill Flory, Jan McDonald, Javier Rodriguez and Joan Souders. Councilmembers Pam Horner and Robert Morales were absent.

Staff present were: City Administrator Scott D. Staples, City Attorney Jack Maxwell and City Clerk Anita Palacios.

2. THE POLITICAL REPRESENTATIONS OF LATINOS IN WASHINGTON – IAN WARNER, WHITMAN COLLEGE

Council discussed a November 4, 2005 report written by Ian Warner, a student at Whitman College, entitled “The Political Representations of Latinos in Washington.” The report focused on the discrepancy between Washington’s growing Latino population and the level of Latino representatives on city councils around the State. The basis of the study was derived from cities around Washington State, in which Latinos comprise a much larger percent of the population than their political representation suggests.

Mr. Warner based his report on Yakima County as it represented a county with a prevalent Latino population. He chose the City of Sunnyside as his case study after ranking the Latino population in each city in Yakima County in comparison to its percentage of Latino representation on its respective city councils.

Council discussed Mr. Warner’s claim that the lack of voting for council positions by districts versus at-large under-represented the Latino population. Following discussion, Council agreed that the current at-large election of councilmembers serves the community well.

In his report, Mr. Warner also indicated that a voter mobilization effort would rectify the low level of Latino participation in elections.

Council discussed the need to provide voter registration information to the citizens of our community in English and Spanish. Staff was directed to include voter registration information on the City’s website and in the City’s newsletter.

3. ADJOURNMENT

The study session adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

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Mayor Norm Childress Anita Palacios, City Clerk