Laurelhurst Community Club
Serving 2800 Households and Businesses in Seattle’s Laurelhurst Neighborhood
February 8, 2008
Wayne Barnett, Executive Director
Ethics and Elections Commission
700 Fifth Avenue, Suite 4010
P.O. Box 94729
Seattle, Washington 98124-4729
RE: Steinbrueck Employment at Children’s
Dear Mr. Barnett:
Thank you for providing the Laurelhurst Community Club Board of Trustees with the advisory opinion issued by the Ethics and Elections Commission regarding employment of former Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck at Children’s Hospital to assist with its master planning process. Thank you also for the information you provided in our recent telephone conversation.
In our conversation, you indicated that the advisory opinion issued was based upon the letter submitted by former Councilmember Steinbrueck and interpretation of the Ethics Code as it applies to the information that he provided. You indicated that more specific information would be necessary about the scope of his work to review the matter again.
We have since been in touch with Children’s and former Councilmember Steinbrueck to request copies of any employment contract or agreement, memorandum of understanding, correspondence relating to the employment or similar documents and clarification on what involvement he would have with city agencies such as the Department of Planning and Development. Enclosed is the letter that we wrote.
Today we heard back from Mr. Steinbrueck. He indicates that he does not yet have a final agreement with Children’s about employment, but that even if he did he wouldn’t provide it because he says it is proprietary. He is willing to meet with our Board of Trustees, but that would likely just result in the same very general information that he provided to the Ethics and Elections Commission. We have learned over the years that it is extremely important to have everything in writing.
Could you please advise as to how we can obtain additional information about Mr. Steinbrueck’s employment at Children’s as it relates to the role of the Ethics and Elections Commission? Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Jeannie Hale, President
3425 West Laurelhurst Drive NE
Seattle, Washington 98105
206-525-5135 / fax 206-525-9631
ENC.
cc: Suzanne Petersen, Children’s Hospital; Peter Steinbrueck