Jim Ferrell has brought much needed energy, activism and a sense of urgency to the mayor’s job.

Although he was helped by an improving economy and former Mayor Skip Priest’s conservative fiscal control, Ferrell had a pretty good first year as mayor.

It was not the perfect performance that some of his staff want the public to believe, and some caution on spending decisions should be considered, but overall it was a good year nonetheless. There were many community building events, such as his Neighborhood Connections program, and the Veterans Flag Plaza that helped set a new tone for the city. And at this point in his four-year term the improvements should be weighted higher than some of the questions and concerns.

However, for many of the successes there is also a counter balance in community viewpoint, and his tendency toward hyperbole results in higher expectations than might be achievable. Not every idea is a “game changer” and not every department director is a “star.” Those descriptions could put undue pressure on his staff regarding performance. On a personal level, Ferrell remains the same friendly and approachable person he has been, although some have noted a thin skin when criticized.

On one hand, Ferrell and the Council moved forward on building the Performing Arts and Conference Center, which we hope will be the solution to our economic challenges that its supporters say it will. On the other hand, Ferrell lost some credibility as he ran against the Performing Arts and Conference Center as a candidate. Also, candidate Ferrell said he would push for a public vote on the project. Residents never saw him take leadership on that issue once he was in office. If the Performing Arts and Conference Center is a big success in three years the voters may forget those two issues. But an opponent may not.

Also, Ferrell led the efforts to acquire the former Target site, which may be a huge asset in the future. But, City Hall’s lack of clarity on the need to spend $8.2 million in taxes has left the public in a skeptical mood. Four different reasons have emerged from city leaders on why the purchase was important, causing some residents to harbor suspicions. The differing explanations make it appear the purchase may have been more of an impulse buy rather than a thoughtful considered purchase.

The new downtown park is an attractive addition, but it cost three times what the public was told it would cost and may be reduced in size in the future. In it’s zeal to put the park in place, the city administration bypassed the city Park Board. While there were apologies to the board, it again appeared more impulsive than an inclusive process in the decision.

Ferrell gained huge local political points by helping save the Federal Way Public Health facility. It will allow the facility to continue to serve many people who desperately need help. But by failing to work collaboratively, Federal Way may find itself in an awkward position in the future when needing support from other municipalities.

Ferrell’s administration followed election results and proposed policies to implement the legalization of marijuana. However, the City Council balked and extended the moratorium. It is the Council’s legislative prerogative to disagree with the mayor’s administration, however Ferrell never joined the fray in a manner to support the voters’ will. That leaves  a significant number of resident voters wondering what happened to majority democracy. And it leaves another political opening.

In a shock to a recovering city’s economic needs, Weyerhaeuser announced it was leaving the city. It’s hard to blame Ferrell and city government for Weyerhaeuser’s decision. But politics can be both fair and fickle as many supporters of former mayor Priest have pointed out that candidate Ferrell blamed Priest for some businesses leaving town during Priest’s term of office. The Weyerhaeuser property could become an important issue in 2017 when Ferrell is up for reelection.

Ferrell did make some staff changes as expected. But only Finance and Economic Development directorships were actually filled by outsiders who might bring fresh ideas to City Hall, and it is too early to evaluate their performance. City Hall watchers have noted that there is still a lack of experience in a strong mayor form of government at the executive level in city government. With little or no knowledge of how the new form of government is supposed to operate, it will be difficult for Ferrell to learn the differences, which can be subtle but important.

As the readers will note there is a lot of good in Ferrell’s first year, and there are also areas he will need to improve. But it’s only his first year and the impulsiveness and tendency toward hyperbole can be prescribed to the natural enthusiasm from the new job.

For Ferrell it has been a time for learning and on the whole he did well his first year. With a year of experience, a more seasoned approach should be evident in 2015.

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn: bjroegner@comcast.net.