CITY OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL
SUMMARY MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
Monday, January 3, 2022 Held Remotely via Zoom
7:00 pm.
PRESENT: Mayor Scully, Deputy Mayor Robertson, Councilmembers McConnell, Mork, Roberts, Pobee, and Ramsdell
ABSENT: None
1. CALL TO ORDER
At 7:00 p.m., the meeting was called to order by the City Clerk, Jessica Simulcik Smith.
(a) Oath of Office Ceremony performed by Judge Marcine Anderson on December 22, 2021, for Newly Elected City Councilmembers
Ms. Simulcik Smith stated that on December 22, 2021, King County District Court Judge Marcine Anderson performed the Oath of Office Ceremony for newly elected City Councilmembers John Ramsdell, Laura Mork, and Eben Pobee, as well as re-elected Councilmember Chris Roberts. She stated the ceremony was recorded and she played the video.
2. ROLL CALL
Upon roll call by the City Clerk, all Councilmembers were present.
(a) Election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor
Ms. Simulcik Smith summarized the procedures for electing City Council Officers and opened the floor for nominations for Mayor. Councilmember Robertson nominated Councilmember Scully. There were no other nominations. Councilmember Scully received 7 affirmative votes, and Ms. Simulcik Smith declared him elected Mayor.
Mayor Scully, now presiding, conducted the election for Deputy Mayor. Councilmember Roberts nominated Councilmember Robertson. There were no other nominations. Councilmember Robertson received 7 affirmative votes, and Mayor Scully declared her elected Deputy Mayor.
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
Mayor Scully reported a positive result from the City’s annual review by State Auditor’s office.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
Nathan Hawkins, Shoreline resident, spoke about safety concerns regarding traffic and street structure in the Westminster Triangle area. He expressed a need to designate pathways for cars and pedestrians.
Ann Michel, Shoreline resident, remarked on Seattle City Light’s removal of the fence along the Interurban Trail near Echo Lake Park. He asked Council to object to the removal of the fence for the safety of the community.
Isis Charest, Shoreline resident and member of Save Shoreline Trees, commented on the City’s Race to Zero campaign progress. She said action is needed on tree codes by Council as development in Shoreline increases.
Jackie Kurle, Shoreline resident, encouraged transparency for the community regarding the Enhanced Shelter and requested an update on operational statistics of the shelter.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Upon motion by Deputy Mayor Robertson and seconded by Councilmember Pobee and unanimously carried, 7-0, the following Consent Calendar items were approved:
(a) Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of November 29, 2021
Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of December 6, 2021
Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of December 13, 2021
(b) Authorize the City Manager to Enter into an Interagency Agreement with Department of Commerce and to Accept $40,000 in Grant Funding for Creation of Cottage Housing Development Code Regulations
8. STUDY ITEMS
(a) Discussion of the Annual Traffic Report
Kendra Dedinsky, City Traffic Engineer, kicked off the staff report on traffic data for 2020 by sharing the objectives of the report. She reported the key findings show a decrease in total collisions but a rise in collision fatality. It was reported that most injury collisions occur on high-volume arterial streets and key areas of collisions were reviewed. Ms. Dedinsky discussed collision reduction strategies that could be implemented and possibly funded through the WSDOT City Safety Grant. It was noted that Council should discuss potential projects as a part of the Transportation Improvement Plan, and that Staff is seeking Council’s input to decide on whether to pursue the grant in March.
Shoreline Police Captain Ryan Abbott reviewed their collision reduction strategies referring to Police’s approach of balanced enforcement and education. Shoreline Police continue to address community traffic concerns as they arise as well as advocate for ordinances related to traffic safety. He noted that the COVID pandemic was a significant factor in the reduction of traffic volume, transit ridership, and Police contacts.
Deputy Mayor Robertson thanked staff for the report and commended Council for its recent decision to lower the speed limits on 15th Avenue. She recalled Council last discussed 10th Ave NE & NE 175th Street shortly before she joined Council and asked about the timing for applying for the WSDOT Grant and an outreach plan for Ridgecrest and North City neighborhoods. Ms. Dedinsky reviewed the outreach being conducted on other projects currently underway and elaborated on the WSDOT Grant requirements.
Councilmember Roberts recalled stakeholder’s previously expressed concern over creating congestion if 175th Street went down to a three-lane configuration, and he emphasized the importance of conducting more outreach before a decision is made. Councilmember Roberts asked what can be done, outside of building full sidewalk infrastructure, to narrow a road to make it safer. Ms. Dedinsky said there are plenty of opportunities to lower speeds and she reviewed two examples of traffic calming measures installed on Evanston Avenue North. She also noted that land use and the presence of people tend to lower speeds, so she expects speeds will decrease as areas develop. Councilmember Roberts stated curb radii and raised sidewalks also lower speeds and asked if there are grants the City can apply for to achieve these types of improvements. Ms. Dedinsky confirmed that slowing drivers down as they turn is critical as pedestrians are often hit while crossing the street and the City is pursuing opportunities for these types of improvements.
Councilmember Mork said she recently drove 175th Street at the intersection of 10th Avenue at the time emergency personnel were responding to an accident and one eastbound and one westbound lane was closed. She asked if prohibiting left turns between certain times would relieve any of the issues at this location. Ms. Dedinsky said several low-cost things could be studied and implemented, but she cautioned that turn time restrictions require emphasis and enforcement, which the City has limited resources for. Limiting circulation could also impact other streets and based off her recollection, turn restrictions would not have addressed the injury collisions at this location.
Councilmember Ramsdell asked about qualitative data around citizen reporting, how the City addresses it, and how that information is shared out. Ms. Dedinsky responded that the City receives 300-400 traffic safety complaints annually and reviews and responds to each one of them. Most of the complaints center on local streets. Since addressing safety for each one of the complaints is unattainable, the City refers to traffic collision data to make data-driven decisions on where the improvements should be placed. She noted that cumulative data received through qualitative information from the public is tracked in the City’s asset management system and is shared with the Police, and both entities work together to solve issues.
Councilmember Pobee asked what types of projects the WSDOT Grant could be used for and Ms. Dedinsky explained the Grant focuses on data that shows where serious or fatal collisions have occurred, which would make the segment on 175th Street competitive.
Councilmember McConnell reiterated her supports for the City going after grant money. She said her biggest concern in going down to three lanes on 175th is that the decision is driven by public input including the business community.
Mayor Scully recognized the level of Police enforcement decreased in 2020 due to Covid and that there are current vacancies creating a staffing shortage, but said he is hopeful that the City can bring staffing back to normal levels. He stated he is supportive of reopening the conversation on 175th Street with stakeholders again and applying for the WSDOT Grant but emphasized that at this time there is no commitment to three lanes.
A majority of Councilmembers agreed that speed and street structure are considerable factors to the rate of collisions and expressed support pursing the WSDOT City Safety Grant in March.
10. ADJOURNMENT
At 8:30 p.m., Mayor Scully declared the meeting adjourned.
/s/ Jessica Simulcik Smith, City Clerk