PubliCola has learned from several sources at city hall that Mayor Mike McGinn plans to announce that his liaison to the city council, Tim Killian, is being reassigned to a position working to implement the city's medical marijuana policy and an upcoming education initiative that the mayor plans to announce in the next few weeks. This afternoon, the mayor's office confirmed that Killian will technically be moving to the city's department of Finance and Administrative Services but will "still be working under the mayor's office."

Asked whether McGinn was dissatisfied with Killian's performance as council liaison, his communications director Beth Hester paused and responded, "Number one, we don't comment on the performance of staff in general, and number two, the mayor thinks Tim is very talented and will do a good job in this new role." Killian coordinated two statewide medical-marijuana campaigns.

McGinn's policy director Ethan Raup will formally take over Killian's liaison position. According to council staffers, though, Raup has informally filled that position for months.

Initially, we heard Killian would be leaving. Contacted by phone, Killian said "that's not exactly accurate" and that he "may stay on in a different role" at the city.

Additionally, Derek Farmer, a policy analyst who joined McGinn's team after volunteering on his campaign, is going on part-time status to attend divinity school at Seattle University, and Matt Fikse, the mayor's special projects director, is leaving to start a public-affairs consulting firm. Fikse's last day was Friday.

In other staffing news, Jerry DeGrieck, a policy advisor at the city's human services department, is joining the mayor's office as a human services advisor.