I worked as a city planner for Bremerton when it operated under the three commissioner form of government. I saw a clear difference in the decision-making process under the two systems, regardless of the individuals involved. With a three-member commission it only takes two votes to make any decision. It may not be as efficient, but it tends to be more representative. In the case of Bremerton, which has a nine-member council, it takes five votes to make a decision.
Some people feel that nine members is too many, because it tends to be cumbersome.
On the other hand, others feel it is very effective because it allows for more council committees, which can dig more deeply into issues than the council as a whole can. A nine-member council also provides better representation for the various neighborhoods. Some say that a seven member council would be the best of both worlds because it is large enough to provide good representation, but small enough that it is less cumbersome. These are the kinds of issues that must be weighed. I also experienced the three-member commissioner system first hand as a Tracyton Port Commissioner.