SUNNYSIDE OKS DRUG TESTING

SUNNYSIDE -- City officials Monday night said they hope approving a
measure subjecting all city employees and elected officials to random
drug testing sends a positive message to the community.

After having questions answered about the cost of administering
tests, how they'd be conducted and penalties for testing positive,
council members unanimously approved the measure during Monday
night's regular meeting.

"Which we think sends a message to the entire community that we're
committed to being drug-free by subjecting ourselves to random
testing," City Manager Bob Stockwell said.

Police Chief Ed Radder said his department supports the measure
because it displays his officers' commitment to uphold the law, and
it applies to everyone at the city.

"It was a no-brainer," he said after the meeting. "It's surely one
opportunity for us to make a statement to the community."

But discussions about random drug testing hasn't gone as smoothly in
Yakima, where a deadlock between the City Council and police officers
have sent the matter into arbitration.

Sunnyside city officials, however, have worked with unions the past
two years to agree on the policy that affects both union and nonunion
employees as well as elected officials, Stockwell said.

City employees who test positive for illegal drugs or legal drugs
without a prescription will be fired. Elected officials testing
positive will have to answer to residents during a public meeting,
and their test results will be disclosed, Stockwell said.

He assured council members that there would be an appeals process for
anyone who may test positive for drugs, and that tests would be
conducted along current standards.

Anyone admitting to having a drug problem before being tested would
have an option of seeking treatment without being fired, he added.

Currently, all city employees are drug-tested when hired, and several
employees who have jobs that require driving are already subject to
random testing through Yakima County government.

Under the new ordinance, all city employees and city officials will
be added to the county pool, Stockwell said.

Being part of the larger pool not only reduces the cost, but also the
number of employees or officials from the city who will be tested
annually, he said.

Sunnyside isn't the only city in the Yakima Valley to enact random
drug testing, as Selah also has a similar policy.

But in Yakima -- where police officers are challenging the City
Council's support of random testing -- a decision whether to enact
such a policy may not come until September, when an arbitrator is
expected to make a ruling based on arguments presented late last
month during a hearing.