CITY OF SHORELINE

 

                          SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL

SUMMARY MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING

                                   

Monday, April 24, 2017                                     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 Volunteer Week

 

Mayor Roberts read a proclamation declaring April 23 - April 29, 2017 as Volunteer Week in the City of Shoreline. Karen Thielke, longtime Shoreline resident and Library Boardmember and Arts Council Volunteer, accepted the proclamation. Ms. Thielke thanked the Council for the opportunity to be a volunteer, and said she is accepting the proclamation on behalf of Mary Lynn Potter, who volunteers once a week at City Hall.

 

3.         REPORT OF CITY MANAGER

 

Debbie Tarry, City Manager, provided reports and updates on various City meetings, projects and events.

 

4.         COUNCIL REPORTS

 

There were no Council Reports.

 

5.         PUBLIC COMMENT

 

There were no speakers for Public Comment.

 

6.         APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

 

The agenda was approved by unanimous consent.

 

7.         CONSENT CALENDAR

 

Upon motion by Deputy Mayor Winstead and seconded by Councilmember Hall and unanimously carried, 7-0, the following Consent Calendar items were approved:

 

(a)   Approving Expenses and Payroll as of April 7, 2017 in the Amount of  

$1,328,450.89

 

*Payroll and Benefits:

Payroll           Period

Payment Date

EFT      Numbers      (EF)

Payroll      Checks      (PR)

Benefit           Checks              (AP)

Amount      Paid

3/12/17-3/25/17

3/31/2017

71301-71521

14855-14870

66430-66434

$695,169.63

$695,169.63

*Wire Transfers:

Expense Register Dated

Wire Transfer Number

 

Amount        Paid

3/28/2017

1119

$2,335.03

$2,335.03

*Accounts Payable Claims:

Expense Register Dated

Check Number (Begin)

Check        Number                 (End)

Amount        Paid

3/28/2017

66037

66037

($58.00)

3/28/2017

66315

66315

$58.00

3/30/2017

66316

66324

$581.80

3/30/2017

66325

66336

$26,736.74

3/30/2017

66337

66353

$13,437.12

3/30/2017

66354

66371

$150,096.20

3/30/2017

66372

66381

$13,226.50

3/30/2017

66382

66387

$300.00

3/30/2017

66388

66409

$149,048.58

3/30/2017

66410

66428

$57,928.44

3/31/2017

66429

66429

$65,700.00

4/6/2017

66435

66445

$75,422.06

4/6/2017

66446

66452

$18,810.78

4/6/2017

66453

66474

$58,450.21

4/6/2017

66475

66481

$1,207.80

$630,946.23

 

(b)   Adopting Ordinance No. 773 - 2016 Budget Carryover

 

(c) Adopting Ordinance No. 774 - Amending Chapter 3.35 of the Shoreline

     Municipal Code to Establish the Wastewater Utility Fund

 

(d)  Adopting Ordinance No. 777 - Amending the 2017 Final Budget

 

(e) Adopting Ordinance No. 778 - Amending Chapter 3.01 Fee Schedule of the

     Shoreline Municipal Code to Correct an Inadvertent Omission and Clerical

     Error

 

(f) Adopting Ordinance No. 779 - Amending Chapter 3.01 Fee Schedule of Shoreline

     Municipal Code in Relationship to Fee Waiver for Transitional Encampments

 

8.         STUDY ITEMS

 

            (a) Discussing the 2018-2023 Transportation Improvement Plan 

 

Nytasha Sowers, Transportation Services Manager, and Randy Witt, Public Works Director, provided the staff report. Ms. Sowers explained the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) is required by law and identifies Shoreline transportation projects for the next six years. She reported the 2018-2023 TIP totals $364,370,740. She said projects expected to be completed this year are the Bicycle System Plan Implementation; Meridian Avenue N and N 155th Street Intersection Phase Changes; Echo Lake Safe Routes to School; and Citywide Radar Speed Sign installations. She reported the 2017-2018 TIP project changes were the 145th/I-5 Interchange Project; the 148th Non-motorized Bridge; the Trail Along the Rail, and new sidewalks project cost updates. She reviewed 2018 and 2019 TIP Priorities, and said the Public Hearing is scheduled for May 8, 2017, and adoption by the Council on May 22, 2017.

 

Councilmember Hall asked why the 25th Avenue Sidewalk project was moved up in the priority list. Ms. Sowers replied it was moved up because of impacts to the neighborhood and for frontage improvements for the North Maintenance Facility (NMF). Councilmember Hall stated since the NMF has been delayed, he would like the Council to address the sidewalks as they were originally prioritized.

 

Councilmember Scully acknowledged a letter submitted by Mr. McCormick regarding the Point Wells Project and Blue Square Real Estate’s plan revisions that include a second access road to the development. He said this changes the City’s calculus on this issue and asked if Project Plan 18 - Point Wells Potential Mitigation Projects need to be adjusted. Mr. Witt responded no changes are needed at this time.

 

Councilmember Scully asked about Project 11 - N/NE 175th Street Corridor Improvements and the warranty arrangements on the original pavement. Mr. Witt responded the road was originally chip sealed and did not take in the hot weather. He said the City’s worked with the vendor over the last few years to fix it. The fixes are not working, and the pavement has continued to deteriorate.

 

 

Deputy Mayor Winstead concurred with Councilmember Hall regarding the 25th Avenue Sidewalk Project. She said since the NMF Project has been delayed, the sidewalk project should move down the list and other projects should be addressed first.

 

Councilmember McGlashan asked what the purpose of Park and Ride analysis is. Ms. Sowers responded that it addresses transit needs and the Aurora Village Transit Center.

 

Mayor Roberts noted the Cascade K-8 and Home Education Exchange schools have moved into the Aldercrest Annex near the 25th NE Sidewalk Project and asked if this use was considered in the sidewalk prioritization effort. He also asked about the status of the 25th Avenue Drainage Project. Ms. Sower responded that it was not because there was not an active school at the site when the 25th Avenue Sidewalk project was initially prioritized. Mr. Witt said the 25th Avenue Sidewalk Project was advanced to coincide with the development of the NMF, but now that the project is not moving forward, staff is recommending putting the sidewalk on hold while  Council address policy considerations for the 25th Avenue Drainage Project.

 

Councilmember McGlashan asked about plans for a roundabout at Greenwood and 160th Avenue. Mr. Witt responded that Shoreline Community College, the School District, and the City have an interest in that intersection, and said a design will be performed to see what can be done to improve it.

 

(b) Discussing the 2016 Year End Financial Report

 

Sara Lane, Administrative Services Director, and Rick Kirkwood, Budget Supervisor, provided the report. Ms. Lane presented city wide budget activities and reported the City exceeded the budget by 14%. She reviewed General Fund Revenues and said the majority of revenue sources were positive with the exception of the Utility Tax Fund. She said this is due to the decrease in telecommunication tax and natural gas collections. She reviewed General Fund Expenditures, sales tax by sector, permits by type, recreation revenue, and Real Estate Excise Tax. She said the General Fund Balance is $11.97 Million. She presented Other Funds and said they all had positive fund balances.

 

Councilmember Salomon noted that 2016 was the first year the City collected marijuana revenue, and asked how much revenue was collected. Mr. Kirkwood estimated it to be $30,000 but he said he would get the exact number and report it back to the Council.

 

(c)   Discussing the 2016 Annual Traffic Report

 

Kendra Dedinsky, Traffic Engineer, and Captain Abigail Steele, Shoreline Police, provided the staff report. Ms. Dedinsky reviewed the purpose of the annual traffic report. She reviewed traffic volumes from eight city locations and said there has been an increase in daily traffic volumes and transit ridership. She displayed a speed differential map and noted most speeding occurs on streets like 5th Avenue, and shared it is a concern with the anticipated opening of the Light Rail Stations. She presented Shoreline collision statistics and stated the overall collision trend is ticking up, but the overall injury collision trend is still down. She said data is comparable to regional trends and showed how they compared to King County’s collision trends.  

Councilmember Hall asked clarifying questions about King County Collison data and if it includes data for the City of Seattle. Ms. Dedinsky responded the data is for roads King County owns and maintains and does not include City of Seattle streets.

 

Ms. Dedinsky displayed a map depicting injury collisions from 2014-2016. She noted on average there has been one injury collision per year, and said drivers’ impaired by alcohol and drugs contributed to these collisions. She reported that driving under the influence doubled during this period. She said 27% of crashes in Shoreline involved people driving and using cell phones. She reviewed non-motorized collision data, noted a decline for 2016, and said the data is still trending upward.

 

Ms. Dedinsky described Washington State’s Target Zero Collision Reduction Strategy, containing engineering, enforcement, and education components. She provided examples of these strategies and said they are used to inform strategies implemented in Shoreline. She then presented high collision locations, and noted that mitigation recommendations for these locations are identified in the staff report and in the Transportation Improvement Plan.

 

Councilmember Hall pointed out the data reveals state roads have the most collisions, but noted the State has not considered targeting speeds in their Target Zero Program to reduce fatalities. Ms. Dedinsky replied that she has talked to Washington State Department of Transportation staff, and said they are open to reducing the speed limit by 5 miles per hour, but is unsure of a timeframe. Councilmember Hall questioned why there is not a collision report for Interstate 5. Ms. Dedinsky responded that the State has exclusive right of way control.

 

Mayor Roberts asked about collision data for 145th Street. Ms. Dedinsky responded the data was included in the 145th Corridor Study and is part of the story the City is telling the State.

 

Councilmember Scully commented that NE 5th Avenue is classified in the highest speed differentials and that it does not appear to have significant collisions. He asked if the speed limit is set too low. Ms. Dedinsky explained why she is hesitant to raise speed limits. Deputy Mayor Winstead shared that she also does not want speed limits raised on this street.

 

Ms. Dedinsky displayed a map depicting high pedestrian and bike collision locations. She reviewed collision reduction strategies implemented in 2016 and results from strategies implemented over the past three years. She said the Aurora Avenue North Improvement Project reduced injury collisions by half.

 

Captain Steele presented police enforcement statistics and noted a decrease in activity in 2016 and said the decrease can be attributed to the transition of traffic personnel and injuries. She reported traffic complaints decreased in 2016 but the number of abandon vehicles more than doubled. She attributed the increase to more reporting of abandoned vehicles, and Customer Response Team and Police efforts. She reviewed reduction strategies implemented in 2016, and next steps in the enforcement and education components.

 

Councilmember Hall stated he struggles with impacts on the Community caused by State policies that go beyond what the City can address. He commented on the amount of cut through traffic Shoreline receives during peak commute times with drivers diverting from State roads and using streets like Meridian, 5th, and 15th  Avenues, and going at a faster speed than what is allowed. He said he wants to continue to explore strategies to reduce movement from I-5 to Shoreline streets. He said he would like an onramp meter installed at 145th to south bound I-5 to discourage cut through traffic and make Shoreline streets safer.

 

Councilmember McGlashan asked about the use of speed zone cameras in City of Seattle school zones and if drivers are being ticketed. Ms. Dedinsky responded school zone areas are monitored by speed zone cameras and tickets are generated from captured license plates. She is reaching out to Seattle to inquire about their results. Councilmember McGlashan asked why some traffic circles do not have traffic signs. Ms. Dedinsky responded most circles are implemented without signs unless incidents occur and a safety measure is needed. Councilmember McGlashan asked if an uptick in traffic ticketing is anticipated with the implementation of the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). Captain Steele responded that the new system should not affect traffic reporting.

 

Deputy Mayor Winstead said the stop sign at 196th and Ashworth Avenue has made a big difference in how traffic flows through that intersection. She asked what the City Council can do to deter cut through traffic on Meridian, and said she would like to see more police patrols on this street. Ms. Dedinsky responded that a metering ramp at 145th is one strategy, and shared there is an improvement project slated to improve the entire corridor. She said other traffic constraints, tolling, and a metered onramp can all be considered.

 

Councilmember Scully said he is opposed to putting a metered on ramp on 145th because the interchange is already challenging and slowing it down further would only impede traffic. He also expressed concern with speed cameras.

 

Councilmember Hall agreed that policy should not harm residents. He explained why the 145th onramp to I-5 is not metered, and shared his preferred solution is for the State to make I-5 work.

 

9.         ADJOURNMENT

 

At 8:13 p.m., Mayor Roberts declared the meeting adjourned.

 

/S/ Jessica Simulcik Smith, City Clerk