CITY OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL
Monday, November 15, 2021 Held Remotely via Zoom
7:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Mayor Hall, Deputy Mayor Scully, Councilmembers McConnell, McGlashan, Chang, Robertson, and Roberts
ABSENT: None.
1. CALL TO ORDER
At 7:00 p.m., the meeting was called to order by Mayor Hall who presided.
2. ROLL CALL
Upon roll call by the City Clerk, all Councilmembers were present.
(a) Proclamation of America Recycles Day
Mayor Hall announced the proclamation of America Recycles Day and spoke to how recycling protects the environment.
3. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
The agenda was approved by unanimous consent.
4. REPORT OF CITY MANAGER
Debbie Tarry, City Manager, provided an update on COVID-19 and reported on various City meetings, projects, and events.
5. COUNCIL REPORTS
There were no Council reports.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
Councilmember Roberts moved to suspend the Council Rules of Procedure to allow all those preregistered for Public Comment to speak for two minutes. The motion was seconded by Councilmember McConnell and passed unanimously, 7-0.
The following members of the public spoke in support of Ordinance No. 948:
Vivian Korneliussen, Shoreline resident, spoke to the importance of addressing greenhouse emissions in buildings and shared information on effects of the pollution created when using natural gas for heating.
Lily Fredericks, Mountlake Terrace resident and Shorecrest High School student, spoke in support of the reduction of the usage of fossil fuels. She emphasized the negative impacts of burning fossil fuels.
Melinda McBride, Shoreline resident, said there is great alternative technology to natural gas heating and shared the associated benefits.
Dennis Heller, Shoreline resident, spoke in support of moving the City toward decarbonization. He said it is a critical point in energy conservation and shared details on the crisis.
Ariana Ylvisaker, Shoreline resident, reflected that the hotter summers have her worried about greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and public safety in the community. She listed the benefits of eliminating fossil fuels.
France Giddings, Shoreline resident, offered responses to concerns that may be expressed by opponents of this Ordinance. She recommended exploring cost-sharing mitigation for new construction.
Lee Keim, Shoreline resident, said humans must act decisively now to have any chance of putting the breaks on global warming, and this Ordinance is the type of forward-thinking action needed.
Hank Rohs, Bothell resident and representative of the Shorecrest High School Climate Justice Club said climate change is at the forefront of his mind and shared the reasons why. He said it is everyone’s duty to slow and prevent climate change and outlined the benefits the Ordinance would mandate.
Kathleen Russell, Shoreline resident, spoke on behalf of Save Shoreline Trees and listed ways in which the City advocates for environmental sustainability and encouraged the Council to support the Ordinance.
Deepa Sivarajan, Seattle resident and Washington policy manager at Climate Solutions, expressed support for the Ordinance and praised Shoreline’s leadership in eliminating fossil fuels in large commercial and multi-family buildings.
Alex Ramel, Bellingham resident and climate policy advisor with STAND.earth, said other communities are implementing these kinds of policies and there is enthusiastic support behind them.
Janet Way, Shoreline resident, spoke to the importance of preventing climate change, including protecting urban forests. She expressed gratitude to Washington State Department of Transportation for preserving trees during the sidewalk construction on Dayton Avenue N.
Linda Lawrukovich, Shoreline resident, said her opinion is that the Ordinance does not go far enough and encouraged looking at the entire green effect to come up with additional solutions.
Isabella Tancreti, Lake Forest Park resident and president of the Climate Justice Club at Shorecrest High School, urged Council to support the Ordinance. She spoke to the life and death impacts of climate change.
TJ Gose, Shoreline resident and member of the Shorecrest High School Climate Justice Club, said as the climate crisis continues, quality of life decreases. He spoke to the impact the changing climate will have on the youth of today.
Alex Sargeant, Shoreline resident, said it is past time to take action against climate change and thanked the Council for supporting this initiative.
The following general public comment was offered:
Jackie Kurle, Shoreline resident, agreed with the benefits of tree preservation on climate change. Additionally, she underscored the importance of public communication relative to the Enhanced Shelter.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Upon motion by Deputy Mayor Scully and seconded by Councilmember McConnell and unanimously carried, 7-0, the following Consent Calendar items were approved:
(a) Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Funding Agreement with the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound Transit) for the City of Shoreline SR 523 (N/NE 145th Street) & I-5 Interchange Project
8. ACTION ITEMS
(a) Action on Ordinance No. 945 - Amending the 2021-2022 Biennial Budget as Amended, According to the Mid-Biennium Budget Modification
Rick Kirkwood, Budget and Tax Manager, delivered the staff presentation. Mr. Kirkwood said this is the first of four actions items being presented tonight related to the budget. He reviewed the mid-biennial budget update process and impact of the amendments. He displayed motion language for potential Amendment 1 proposed by Councilmember Roberts that would provide resources for installation of sidewalk on NE 200th Street. Mr. Kirkwood said staff recommends adoption of Ordinance No. 945.
Deputy Mayor Scully moved approval of Ordinance No. 945 as described by staff. The motion was seconded by Councilmember McGlashan.
Councilmember Roberts moved to amend Ordinance No. 945 by increasing the Roads Capital Fund appropriations by $200,000 for a Northeast 200th Street sidewalk project which will install a sidewalk on Northeast 200th from 30th Avenue NE to the intersection of 25th Avenue NE funded with a transfer to the Roads Capital Fund of $200,000 of General Fund reserves. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Chang.
Councilmember Roberts said there has been lots of public comment on this need. He said this sidewalk would not only serve the children who attend the Aldercrest Campus, but also benefit others in the community. He said staff have indicated that this project is not likely to score well on the Safe Routes to Schools program and so it is important for the City to finish these two segments of sidewalk. Councilmember Chang asked why this would not score well on Safe Routes to Schools program matrix. Tricia Juhnke, City Engineer, shared the criteria for qualification for the program. She said while there is not a history of accidents in the area, and it is a low volume street, it could become more competitive if it was combined with future sidewalk improvement on 25th Avenue NE. She said this would be revisited, but if funding were secured, it would not be available until summer of 2023 because of the grant cycles.
Speaking in favor of the amendment, Deputy Mayor Scully said that since there are systems in place to rank and score sidewalk projects he does not generally support it when Councilmembers champion individual projects. However, he is supporting the proposal now because it makes sense to increase safety near a school and he does not want to see just one priority, like the Parks Bond, getting all the attention and all the General Fund money. He feels that if the Council is going to start pushing individual priorities out of the General Fund, this one is of value. Councilmember Robertson said she sees this project as a community safety project.
Speaking in opposition of the amendment, Councilmember McGlashan said there are other areas throughout the City that also need sidewalks. He does not like it when individual Councilmembers pick a pet project and want to allocate money from the General Fund. Mayor Hall recognized that while the project has merit, it is important to be aware of the established prioritization that included a public process and review of needs as a whole. Councilmember Chang acknowledged the valuable public comment given but feels the sidewalk projects should move forward as prioritized, rather than as individual projects. Councilmember McConnell was on the fence, but ultimately decided she will not support the amendment, since it could be perceived as a pet project. She asked where this segment is on the sidewalk plan and how frequently the prioritization is reevaluated. Ms. Juhnke said it is on the pedestrian priority map at the medium priority level and outlined the criteria used for the determination. She said there is not yet a system for a scheduled reevaluation of scores, but staff recognize it is needed.
Councilmember Roberts emphasized that there is a challenge in the scoring of 200th Avenue Northeast and described the locations adjacent to the segments and said they are not likely to be part of private frontage improvements any time soon. He asserted that proximity to schools should be a higher score than it currently is on the sidewalk prioritization matrix.
The amendment failed, 3-4, with Deputy Mayor Scully and Councilmembers Roberts and Robertson voting in favor.
Councilmember Roberts moved to add the frontage improvements of the north side of Northeast 200th Street from 25th Avenue Northeast to 30th Avenue Northeast in the 2022-2027 Transportation Improvement Plan Update and the 2022-2026 Capital Improvement Plan as a future grant funded project. Ms. Tarry clarified that Ordinance No. 945 amends the 2021-2022 Biennial Budget but it does not amend the out years of the CIP. Given this information, Councilmember Roberts withdrew his motion.
Deputy Mayor Scully said while he had sticker shock at the changes in a Mid-Biennial Budget, for each and every one staff had an explanation that identifies a real need. Mayor Hall concurred.
The main motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
(b) Action on Ordinance No. 946 – Setting the 2022 Regular Property Tax Levy
Rick Kirkwood, Budget and Tax Manager, delivered the staff presentation. Mr. Kirkwood said Ordinance No. 946 allows the City to increase the 2022 Regular Levy to $15.248 Million and that staff recommends adoption of Ordinance No. 946.
Councilmember McConnell moved to adopt Ordinance No. 946, establishing the City’s 2022 Regular Property Tax Levy. The motion was seconded by Deputy Mayor Scully.
Mayor Hall pointed out that percentagewise this increase is greater than in previous years but when the cost of inflation goes up so does the cost of services, and this increase is necessary to maintain the services that the community has asked to be provided.
The motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
(c) Action on Ordinance No. 947 – Setting the 2022 Fee Schedule for Impact Fees
Rick Kirkwood, Budget and Tax Manager, delivered the staff presentation. Mr. Kirkwood said this Ordinance sets the fee schedule for Parks, Transportation, and Fire Impact Fees. He stated that staff recommends adoption of Ordinance No. 947.
Councilmember Chang moved to adopt Ordinance No. 947. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Robertson.
Councilmember Chang said she is a little concerned about the increase on some of the Impact Fees but recognizes that it is due to inflation. Mayor Hall added that the costs are very real and the community has asked to maintain a high level of service, with growth paying for growth, and impact fees are the best way to ensure this. Councilmember Roberts echoed that these fees were set several years ago and are simply being adjusted with inflation.
The motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
(d) Action on Resolution No. 484 – Setting the 2022 Fee Schedule
Rick Kirkwood, Budget and Tax Manager, delivered the staff presentation. Mr. Kirkwood said staff recommends adoption of Resolution No. 484, establishing the 2022 Fee Schedule.
Councilmember Chang moved to adopt Resolution No. 484, setting the 2022 Fee Schedule. The motion was seconded by Councilmember McConnell.
The motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
Mayor Hall recognized the detailed staff work that went into setting the Budget updates.
9. STUDY ITEMS
(a) Discussion of Ordinance No. 948 – Amending the Washington State Energy Code, as adopted by Shoreline Municipal Code Chapter 15.05, to Reduce Carbon Emissions from New Commercial Construction
Ray Allshouse, Building Official, delivered the staff presentation. Mr. Allshouse said Ordinance No. 948 establishes energy code amendments to reduce carbon emissions from new commercial construction and he welcomed Duane Jonlin, the Energy Code and Energy Conservation Advisor for the City of Seattle. Mr. Allshouse said fossil fuels are the key sources of the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. He reviewed the guiding policies, which draw from the Washington State Targets, the 2013 Shoreline Climate Action Plan Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission reduction goals, and the King County-Cities Climate Collaboration policy commitments. He stated that Shoreline’s GHG emissions have increased at a rate that is not on track to meet near or long-term emission reduction goals.
Mr. Allshouse described Seattle’s approach to establishing their building code energy updates and said the context for tonight’s discussion is a function of where the City finds itself now. He said the State Building Code Council has recently commenced rulemaking for the 2021 Washington State Energy Code, and it can be expected that the bulk of Seattle’s current provisions will be incorporated into the State Commercial Energy Code. Mr. Allshouse said the Regional Code Collaboration group worked to establish a recommended energy code amendments package for local consideration. He displayed amendment highlights and said this work simplified the staff effort required to write this Ordinance. He said this decarbonization effort specifically addresses the envisioned ban of fossil fuel-fired heating equipment and water heating services but emphasized that this initiative is not a cost payback over time, but an associated cost to slow global warming. Mr. Allshouse stated that potential action on Ordinance No. 948 is scheduled for December 6, 2021.
Mayor Hall, Deputy Mayor Scully and Councilmembers Chang and Robertson voiced support for Ordinance No. 948.
Councilmember Chang noted that this is not solely related to fossil fuel impacts but is a whole package energy code amendment to reduce climate change impacts. She asked what Seattle’s experience with administration of the code has been. Mr. Jonlin said people are complying with the new code, and a few minor interpretations have been made to accommodate some unclear situations, and shared information on a roadblock with existing buildings switching over from conventional heating to heat pumps. Councilmember Chang said it is good to understand that there is some application to existing buildings. She asked for more information on the use of renewal natural gas, and Mr. Jonlin shared context on its use. Councilmember Chang asked if the proposed requirements to additions and alterations are proportional to the size of the projects, and Mr. Jonlin described the proportionality. Councilmember Robertson is delighted with the direction of this policy and appreciates the input from the community. Deputy Mayor Scully said he is struck with how fortunate Shoreline is to be able to convert to electrical power, to have a community on board with making tough changes to reduce GHG emissions, and a Council with a lot of expertise to gather information. Mayor Hall is glad the Council is moving this Ordinance forward.
Councilmember McGlashan confirmed that townhomes fall under the residential energy code requirement, as do some smaller apartment complexes. There was a discussion of the use of individual, or centralized, water heating in new multi-family housing. It was clarified that individual residences are excluded from the requirements because of the legislation implemented at the State level. Mayor Hall agreed that it would make sense if this could be applied in the residential code and shared examples of the carbon footprint reductions being made in housing in the Station areas. He said even greater efficiencies can be gained by not even building the infrastructure for fossil fuels and looks forward to having the authority to do even more to reduce global warming.
Councilmember Chang asked if early adoption of these codes by municipalities will help at a State level. Mr. Jonlin said having it be more widespread will be a powerful statement.
Councilmember Roberts said it is important to reduce the carbon footprint of the buildings we live in. He shared details on an amendment he submitted to the proposed 2022 Legislative Priorities to include a position statement that Shoreline wants the State legislature to consider allowing cities to make changes to the Residential Energy Code.
It was agreed that Ordinance No. 948 would return as an Action Item.
10. ADJOURNMENT
At 9:02 p.m., Mayor Hall declared the meeting adjourned.
/S/ Kendyl Hardy, Deputy City Clerk