Public Periscope

Flunking geography

Tipper Gore’s three-hour visit to Spokane last week was scripted carefully by the second lady’s advance staff. Young aides arrived at the Ridpath Hotel two days before Gore to arrange her Monday visit to Volunteers of America and a campaign rally. Despite all the planning, Vice President Al Gore’s wife at times seemed confused. … At one point, she asked one of her top aides if he was with the Spokane media. … Another time, she seemed to lose her sense of direction. … President Clinton is on his way to Washington state, she told the crowd, “but unfortunately, he’ll be somewhat east of here.” Where exactly would that be? Otis Orchards?

Precious moments

Spokane City Council members spent their two-day retreat talking about priorities and vision. … While most of the 11 hours was spent in serious discussions, there were lighter moments. …

Talking about his background, Mayor Jack Geraghty said his grandfather, James Geraghty, had spent 17 years as Spokane’s city attorney, “the city’s longest-serving corporate counsel.” Awhile later, City Attorney James Sloane said he recently had completed his 18th year in the job. … “Actually, I’m the longest-serving city attorney, Mr. Mayor, taking out your grandfather,” Sloane said with a grin. … “We’ll see about that,” said Geraghty with a laugh.

Council members Phyllis Holmes and Roberta Greene suggested the council draft guidelines for the kinds of public testimony allowed during meetings. … “There’s a certain demeanor (a person) should have when testifying …,” Greene said. “Someone told me recently, ‘You’re an elected official. I can say anything I want to you.’ I said, ‘Does that mean I can say anything I want to you?’ He said, ‘No, I’m not elected.”’

The ability to trust one another was a chief concern of several council members. … Most thought good communications are a key ingredient. “We don’t need to talk to the newspaper to talk to each other,” Greene said. “If we’re not in the newspaper and the city’s running, that’s OK.” (Maybe it’s OK with Greene, but we here at “Periscope” would be mighty bored.)

During discussions about attorney Steve Eugster’s proposal for a strong mayor form of government, a joking City Manager Roger Crum said, “I may vote for that.” Voter approval of such a plan would necessitate a job search for Crum. … “Actually, I’m not in favor of that for obvious reasons,” he said a moment later.

Geraghty and Councilmen Chris Anderson and Jeff Colliton volunteered for a committee to draft the process for evaluating Crum’s job performance. … Geraghty said the threesome would be back within six weeks to detail the “process” for council approval. … “For the process?” said Councilwoman Roberta Greene, astounded by the time line. “You need a woman on that committee.”

Something in the air

An awkward moment at the state Commission on Student Learning’s live teleconference last week came when an elderly man in a long black coat asked a rambling question regarding a theory that “air is an intelligent form of life.” It sounded like a science question. … So commission Executive Director Terry Bergeson passed the ball to Spokane School District 81’s Scott Stowell. Stowell, chairman of the commission’s science committee, gracefully talked about how Spokane students study the weather. … Next question, please.

Logging on

Spokane resident Bob Kirkpatrick recently noted on City Hall Link that of 200 messages posted on the computerized bulletin board since Dec. 27, 111 had been posted by city Councilman Chris Anderson. … Anderson sent a message back, saying Kirkpatrick was mistaken. “I actually counted more posts than that,” Anderson said.

, DataTimes MEMO: “Public Periscope,” published Mondays, is compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports.

This sidebar appeared with the story: HOT TOPICS Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority is planning a public workshop on grass-burning regulations at 6 p.m. Wednesday in City Council chambers.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports