CITY OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL
Monday, September 19, 2016 Conference Room 303 - Shoreline City Hall
5:45 p.m. 17500 Midvale Avenue North
PRESENT: Mayor Roberts, Deputy Mayor Winstead,
Councilmembers McGlashan, Scully, Hall, McConnell, and Salomon
ABSENT: None
STAFF: Debbie Tarry, City Manager, John Norris, Assistant City Manager; Eric Bratton, Communications Program Manager; and Bonita Roznos, Deputy City Clerk
GUESTS: Jason Morado, Senior Project Manager
At 5:51 p.m., the meeting was called to order by Mayor Roberts.
Eric Bratton, Communications Program Manager, introduced Jason Morado, ETC Institute Senior Project Manager, and said he will be presenting 2016 Citizen Satisfaction Survey results.
Mr. Morado provided an overview of the methodology used in the survey. He presented the respondents’ demographics and displayed a map identifying where they reside in Shoreline. He said the Survey has a 95% confidence level and a plus or minus 3% margin of error. He shared results revealed that residents are generally satisfied with city services; Shoreline rated at or above the national average in 22 of 33 areas assessed; and the overall quality of services ranked 12% higher than both regional and national averages. He conveyed that the flow of traffic and congestion, and the quality of police services are the two areas the City needs to address, and that the quality of human services ranked third. He reviewed overall satisfaction ratings trends, the most significant rating increases and decreases for 2004, 2014, and 2016, and the Importance-Satisfaction ratings.
Councilmembers discussed the police services results and how to help people feel safe. They questioned the quality of human services and code enforcement results. They stated the City does not provide direct human services, and asked if respondents were indicating that too much or too little code enforcement is provided. They discussed stormwater management results, and noted the increase in satisfaction could be attributed to addressing stormwater issues at Ronald Bog. They discussed the sidewalk maintenance results, and inquired about the neutral rating.
At 6:45 p.m. the meeting was adjourned.
/S/ Bonita Roznos, Deputy City Clerk
CITY OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL
Monday, September 19, 2016 Council Chambers - Shoreline City Hall
7:00 p.m. 17500 Midvale Avenue North
PRESENT:
Mayor Roberts, Deputy Mayor Winstead, Councilmembers
McGlashan, Scully, Hall, McConnell, and Salomon
ABSENT: None
1. CALL TO ORDER
At 7:00 p.m., the meeting was called to order by Mayor Roberts who presided.
2. FLAG SALUTE/ROLL CALL
Mayor Roberts led the flag salute. Upon roll call by the City Clerk, all Councilmembers were present.
(a) Proclamation of the Mayor's Day of Concern for the Hungry
Mayor Roberts read a proclamation declaring September 19, 2016 as Mayor’s Day of Concern for the Hungry. Reverend David Marshall of St. Dunstan Episcopal Church accepted the proclamation. He thanked Josef Hinkofer for coming up with the idea for their Feed the Hungry Program, Liz Hinkofer for her volunteer efforts, and Safeway for providing the food. He said they are feeding people at five different homeless encampments and at the Church. He expressed his gratitude to the Council for acknowledging the important work that is being done with the homeless.
3. REPORT OF CITY MANAGER
Debbie Tarry, City Manager, provided reports and updates on various City meetings, projects and events.
Mayor Roberts shared that as part of Shoreline’s Healthy City Campaign, the Kids Move Challenge challenged kids to exercise at least 60 minutes a day for 30 days. He announced that Logan Vega, Isaac Van Horn, and Jane Stebbins are the winners of the Challenge, and presented them each with a Razor scooter, helmet, and pads. The winners shared how they stayed active and took a photograph with Councilmembers. Mayor Roberts congratulated all the kids that participated in the Challenge.
Mayor Roberts invited Shoreline residents to participate in the Monster Mash Dash 5K Fun Run on October 8, 2016.
4. COUNCIL REPORTS
There were no Council Reports.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
Marcus Falk, United We Stand Richmond Beach, shared he has been homeless for almost two years and that drugs led him to the streets. He said the Camp gave him a sense of community, safety, and enabled him to get into a methadone program. He said he has been clean since 2014, and talked about camp participants. He thanked the Council for allowing the Camp to be at the Church, and St. Dunstan's for supplying food.
Lance Young, Shoreline resident, asked that his comments be included as comments of record for the 145th Street Station Subarea Plan. He referenced an email he sent to Councilmembers today, and stated that extra attention should be given to developing the wetlands around the wetland park. He shared that the quality of life, purity of water, forest canopy, and the wetlands in the 145th Street Subarea Plan need to be preserved. He noted that there are power lines in the area that cannot accommodate taller buildings. He requested that this area and the area immediately next to Paramount Park be kept at R-6 zoning.
Laura Mork, Shoreline resident, thanked Council for improving the Aurora Corridor and asked them to take leadership on having a non-motorized bridge across Interstate 5 near 147th. She said it will be pleasant for crossing I-5, walking to the Light Rail Station, and help people not drive.
Yoshiko Saheki, Shoreline resident, predicted that the Levy Lid Lift and ST3 will pass, but said funding for a non-motorized bridge will not be provided. She asked Council to focus on what is doable within the next 20 years and suggested phased zoning. She said transit oriented development is walking distance to the Station, and the first phase in the Station walkshed.
Janet Way, Shoreline Preservation Society, asked that her comments be included in the record for the 145th Street Station Subarea Plan. She noted that staff information indicates that the critical areas will be protected, and said this has not always happened. She stated the Arden View tree cutting violation, Aegis Critical Areas Reasonable Use Permit, and the loss of Pevely Pond are all examples where critical areas were not protected. She recommended keeping R-6 zoning around Paramount Park and phased zoning around the Station. She pointed out that Council is scheduled to take action on this item on the same day as the presidential debate.
Jeff Eisenbrey, Shoreline resident, commented that the proposed zoning for the 145th Street Station Subarea is out of character with the City. He shared that wetlands delineations, critical slopes, and recharge areas are not represented on the maps, and street names are missing. He questioned funding new schools and recommended looking at how other cities plan. He commented MUR-70 will surround the only park accessible in the low income neighborhood and will keep the sunlight out in the evenings. He asked Council to reconsider the proposed zoning.
6. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
The agenda was approved by unanimous consent.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Upon motion by Councilmember McConnell and seconded by Councilmember Hall and unanimously carried, 6-0, (Councilmember Salomon was out of the room) the following Consent Calendar item was approved:
(a) Minutes of Special Meeting of August 15, 2015 and Regular Meeting of
August 15, 2016
8. ACTION ITEMS
a) Adoption of Res. No. 395 - Prohibition of Non-Essential City Related Travel to
the State of North Carolina
John Norris, Assistant City Manager, provided background on the passage of House Bill (HB)-2 – “Bathroom Bill” in North Carolina. He explained that the National League of Cities (NLC) Board of Directors made the decision not to move the 2017 NLC Conference scheduled in Charlotte, N.C. He recounted Council’s discussion, at the August 8, 2016 Dinner Meeting, that HB-2 does not align with Council values. He said Council agreed that they cannot, in good conscious, expend public monies to travel to North Carolina. He then reviewed Resolution No. 395 and said it directs staff to send copies to the following entities: Sound Cities Association; Association of Washington Cities; National League of Cities; Mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina; Governor of the State of North Carolina; and the North Carolina State Legislature.
Mayor Roberts opened Public Comment. There was no one wanting to speak and Public Comment was closed.
Councilmember McGlashan moved adoption of Resolution No. 395 prohibiting non-essential City related travel to the State of North Carolina. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Hall.
Councilmember McGlashan said Shoreline is a more inclusive place to live and has experienced the largest increase in same-sex couples with children in King County. He said he cannot support the values expressed in HB-2 and the expenditure of money is the best way to demonstrate a position. He asked Council for their support and to not send taxpayer’s dollars to this state.
Councilmember Hall echoed that he is fortunate to live in a community that values diversity and cares about equal rights. He said Resolution No. 395 provides a way to effect these values in other parts of the country.
Councilmember Salomon shared information on the creation of HB-2, and how it implies that people who do not fit traditional gender expressions are perverted or dangerous. He said he does not believe this is true or that science would show a correlation. Although some people are dangerous, you cannot tell by looking at a person’s gender, sexual identity, or organs. He shared that some people are born without having fully male or fully female organs, and he cannot support a state that requires a person’s gender to be checked before entering a bathroom.
Councilmember McGlashan commented on the NLC Board’s letter stating they are not moving the 2017 Conference because they do not want to punish Charlotte. He said North Carolina would also receive Conference funds.
Mayor Roberts stated his support for Resolution No. 395 and said it reflects Shoreline’s values. He urged Councilmember McConnell, and NLC Boardmember, to encourage the Board to move the 2017 Conference. He advised Councilmembers to encourage Sound Cities Association and Association of Washington Cities to take action and request that the Conference be moved.
Councilmember McConnell said she supports Resolution No. 395, and although she will miss performing her boardmember obligations, the message Council is sending of recognizing and supporting all lifestyles is much more important.
The motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
9. STUDY ITEMS
(a) Discussion of the Citizen Satisfaction Survey Results
Eric Bratton, Communications Program Manager, provided history on the City's Satisfaction Survey conducted every two years since 2004, and introduced Jason Morado, ETC Institute Senior Project Manager.
Mr. Morado provided an overview of the methodology used in the survey. He presented the respondents’ demographics and displayed a map identifying where they reside in Shoreline. He said the goal was to receive 700 surveys and 905 were received. He noted that the Survey has a 95% confidence level and a 3% plus or minus margin of error. He said results revealed that residents are generally satisfied with city services; Shoreline rated at or above the national average in 22 of 33 areas assessed; and the overall quality of services ranked 12%, higher than regional and national averages. He conveyed the flow of traffic and congestion, and the quality of police services are the two areas the City needs to address, and that the quality of human services ranked third. He commented that the City’s overall dissatisfaction rating is relatively low. He reviewed overall satisfaction ratings trends, the most significant rating increases and decreases for 2004, 2014, and 2016, national benchmarks, and the Importance-Satisfaction ratings identifying opportunities for improvement for each category surveyed.
Councilmember McGlashan asked if the Survey makes a distinction between the level of satisfaction of sidewalk maintenance and the availability of new sidewalks. Mr. Morado responded yes, that it was surveyed in a couple different ways.
Mayor Roberts thanked the 905 Shoreline residents for completing the Survey.
(b) Discussion of Ord. No. 755 - Complete Streets Program
Nytasha Sowers, Transportation Services Manager, and Nora Daley-Peng, Senior Transportation Planner provided the staff report. Ms. Daley-Peng explained what a Complete Street is and how the new Aurora Corridor is a good example of one. She noted how the goals and policies of the Transportation Master Plan support a Complete Streets approach, and provided examples. She reviewed proposed Ordinance No. 755 and explained how the Ordinance would benefit the City. She asked for Council’s feedback and stated adoption of the Ordinance is scheduled for the October 3, 2016 City Council Meeting.
Councilmember Hall stated that although the City has been performing some of the Complete Street approaches identified in the proposed Ordinance, that it is good to put it in the Shoreline Municipal Code as a clear policy of the City.
Councilmember McGlashan asked if passage of the Ordinance will generate a map of roads that will have a Complete Street treatment in the future, and on how the grant process works. Ms. Sowers responded that Complete Streets can be highlighted in the Transportation Master Plan mapping, and Ms. Delay-Peng explained how the grant process works.
Councilmember Salomon expressed how he struggles with Council always being presented with ideas on important projects for the City to take on that ultimately require spending more tax dollars. He said roads have been built for cars without considering other forms of transport and we need to broaden our thinking to be more inclusive given global warming and congestion issues. Therefore he said he supports the Ordinance.
Mayor Roberts asked if the Ordinance addresses lane specifications. Ms. Daley-Peng replied that it looks at facilities within each street for all modes, but it does not dictate dimensional widths.
(c) Discussion of Preliminary View of the 2017 Budget and 2017-2022 Capital
Improvement Program (CIP)
Sara Lane, Administrative Services Director; Tricia Juhnke, City Engineer; and Grant Rapp, Budget Analyst, provided the staff report. Ms. Lane explained why the Budget is developed, provided a 2016 General Fund overview and said the anticipated ending balance is $2.5 Million. She reviewed supplemental budget requests, fund reserve balances, full-time employee counts, salary and benefit considerations, and revenue and expenditure forecasts. She shared that the 2017 forecast assumptions assumes passage of the Levy Lid Lift. She provided a 10 Year Financial Sustainability Plan update.
Ms. Juhnke reviewed projects added to the 2017-2022 CIP. She presented policy issues, noted the use of Real Estate Excise Tax funds for grant matching instead of general fund contributions, and shared it is not the most stable funding source for grant matching. She then reviewed general fund contributions to capital projects.
Ms. Lane presented the 2017 Budget and 2017-2022 CIP Schedule and said adoption by Council is scheduled for November 21, 2016.
Councilmember Hall asked Councilmembers their thoughts on having a non-motorized bike/pedestrian bridge as a priority, and requested it be listed as a capital improvement project. Ms. Tarry responded that a feasibility analysis is being conducted and the City is working with Sound Transit, but it would help to hear Council’s feedback.
Councilmember Scully said he supports the non-motorize bridge and the rail trail, and would like to see the money come from the LED lights and the Aurora median retrofits funding. He expressed concern over the SCORE Jail Contract and having Shoreline Police Officers transport inmates down to the jail, taking them out of service during that time. He requested information on police overtime costs and loss of police patrol hours to determine if the paper savings from the jail contract outweigh the loss of police services. He said the City needs to prepare for minimum wage and sick leave, and questioned the $2.2 Million allocated for the North Maintenance Facility due to watershed issues at the site.
Deputy Mayor Winstead agreed that the bridge project should be elevated and requested more information on the rail trail.
Councilmember Salomon said he believes the bridge is important, and explained that the LED lights and the median retrofits will provide future savings. He suggested more scrutiny be given to the design costs for the North Maintenance Facility.
Councilmember McGlashan said he supports the bridge and a trail connecting the Stations, and requested adding the rail trail to the walkshed map.
Councilmember McConnell said she supports the bridge if the City can secure funding, and asked for costs. She advised staff to continue to work with ST on design planning in the interim. She said the median retrofits will also contribute to safety.
Mayor Roberts advised that a Lid for I-5 or a pedestrian bridge be incorporated into city policy. He asked if grant match funding can be increased, and for additional information on grant matching and fund balance. He asked how the wastewater utility will fit into budget discussions. Ms. Tarry responded that Ronald Wastewater District’s (RWD) Board will move forward with adopting their 2017 budget, which she anticipates being presented at a Council Dinner Meeting in January. Ms. Lane added that RWD Budget will be added to the City’s as a 2017 budget amendment.
10. EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 8:51 p.m., the Council recessed into Executive Session as authorized by RCW 42.30.110(1)(i). Staff attending the Executive Session included Debbie Tarry, City Manager; John Norris, Assistant City Manager; and Margaret King, City Attorney. The Executive Session ended at 9:01 p.m. and the Council Meeting reconvened.
Deputy Mayor Winstead moved to authorize the City Attorney to enter into a settlement. The motion was seconded by Councilmember McConnell, and passed unanimously, 7-0.
11. ADJOURNMENT
At 9:04 p.m., Mayor Roberts declared the meeting adjourned.
/S/ Jessica Simulcik Smith, City Clerk