Editorial: Puyallup zip code isn’t as important as commitment to city

For six years, Gary McLean has been making the daily trek from Des Moines to Puyallup without complaint.

Des Moines is his home; he’s lived there for nearly 20 years and living within Puyallup’s city limits wasn’t significant as when he was the city attorney. But now he’s Puyallup’s city manager.

Along with that comes different responsibilities and expectations.

Last week city council decided to waive the regulation requiring McLean to move to Puyallup by a 4-2 vote. Council members Rick Hansen and John Knutsen both feel it’s important for the city’s leader to live within the city so that he will experience the level of service in Puyallup.

The other four disagree.

McLean already spends the majority of his time in Puyallup. He works 60-hour weeks and returns on the weekend for various events. Living within the city limits wouldn’t mean he was any more committed to this community than he already is.

And if it’s simply a matter of having a Puyallup zip code, try this: Former City Manager Jim Bacon is the only city manager in almost two decades to have lived in Puyallup, which was required when he moved here from another state. But, he also owned homes in Seattle and Arizona, with no one to keep track of how much time he spent here versus there.

The important thing is for McLean, or any Puyallup city manager, to competently complete the jobs the council outlines for him. The council members are the ones who are voted into office by their neighbors, they are the ones who represent this community. McLean is here to make sure their plans are executed.

McLean said moving to Puyallup is something he would seriously consider in the future. At the moment, though, it would take money out of Puyallup’s budget and potentially hurt his own finances in today’s housing market.

It’s something council members should explore again in a year. By that point, this economic slump might have shifted, leaving the city with a better budget and the housing market in better shape. Mayor Don Malloy suggested putting something in writing requiring a follow-up conversation and the council was remiss in shooting it down.