Doug Clark: Boisterous City Council meeting should boost ratings

It’s only natural to be a bit nervous at the start of a new year, wondering whether the next 12 months will be a boom or a bust.

But though 2015 is barely a week old, I will say with confidence that Spokane is in for a banner year, at least as far as City Hall is concerned.

My prediction is based on the following headline that appeared on the front page of Tuesday’s S-R.

“City Council disrupted by rowdy crowd.”

I haven’t been this optimistic about local government in decades.

“City Council disrupted by rowdy crows” is about the only headline I can think of that would be even more compelling.

It’s been ages since our council was watchable. Frankly, until war broke out during Monday’s meeting, I had all but given up hope that any progress would be made on the government-as-entertainment front.

Now, like a kid who missed a circus where the monkeys escaped, I’m kicking myself for not being there.

In a display of grand theater, Council President Ben Stuckart banged the meeting to an early close with his gavel and left the chambers in a huff.

He was apparently ticked off by a large, boisterous group of citizens who want to repeal a pet law of Stuckart’s that prevents cops from asking people about their immigration status.

I don’t know where Stuckart went after his departure, which is why I’m a big supporter of body cameras.

Not just for on-duty cops, but for elected officials, too.

We taxpayers pay their salary, after all. So why shouldn’t we able to visually tag along while the mayor gets a free lunch or peek in on some council member rendezvousing with a contributor (wink-wink) in an underground parking garage at midnight.

Using body camera footage would also be a tremendous ratings boost for our TV coverage of Spokane government.

Many people have forgotten just how popular televised Spokane City Council meetings were back in the late 1990s.

The council often pulled more viewers to Channel 5 than the “The Weakest Link” game show, which was aired at the same time on a major network.

There was good reason for this. The council at the time was inhabited with colorful, combative characters who made meetings “must-see” TV.

Council members Steve Eugster and Roberta Greene didn’t just debate an issue. Their disagreements often took on the quality of a cage match.

The viewing public loved it.

Getting back to Monday night, it appears that citizen George McGrath deserves a lot of thanks and maybe even a Mayor Condon Coin for contributing to the evening’s chaos.

Saying McGrath is a regular at City Council meetings is like saying the bed bug is a regular at certain sketchy motels.

This man hasn’t missed a meeting since Manito Park had a zoo.

According to our news account, Councilman Jon Snyder took control of the meeting after Stuckart flew to his chicken coop or wherever he went.

Snyder, in a rare display of animation, “had a police officer escort (McGrath) from the chambers” after old George hollered into the microphone.

“There was no way in hell I was going to let them shut off that microphone,” McGrath told a reporter after the meeting.

I have an appeal to make to our council members, and that is to …

Keep the momentum going!

Sure, the natural tendency is to slip back into that pasty cadaverous group where the flag salute is often followed by the sound of spectators snoring.

So listen up, officials. You’re the Seattle Seahawks now, hungry for another batch of rings.

Keep the crazy churning and mark my words, visitors soon will have to make reservations three weeks in advance for a ringside seat.

And here’s another idea.

Once the crowds come, the city can make some extra revenue selling commercials for the TV broadcasts.

And, no, I don’t mean the crass toothpaste and hemorrhoid cream ads that we get on regular cable.

I’m talking about those sneaky, noncommercial commercials that public television and public radio get away with.

ANNOUNCER: “Tonight’s City Council meeting is underwritten by endowments at the Déjà Vu Showgirls, Spokane’s premier gentlemen’s club.”

Stay tuned, folks. It’s gonna be a great year!