CITY OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL
Monday, May 1, 2017 Council Chambers - Shoreline City Hall
7:00 p.m. 17500 Midvale Avenue North
PRESENT: Mayor Roberts, Deputy Mayor Winstead,
Councilmembers, McGlashan, Scully, McConnell, and Salomon
ABSENT: Councilmember Hall
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, with the exception of Councilmember Hall.
Deputy Mayor Winstead moved to excuse Councilmember Hall for personal reasons. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Scully and passed unanimously, 6-0.
3. REPORT OF CITY MANAGER
Debbie Tarry, City Manager, provided reports and updates on various City meetings, projects and events.
4. COUNCIL REPORTS
Mayor Roberts reported he and Councilmember McConnell attended the Multicultural Elected Local Officials Meeting and discussed community policing, and efforts cities can take to ensure the voice of everyone in the community is heard. He commented on all the activities that took place this past weekend in Shoreline.
Deputy Mayor Winstead reported there was a great turn out for the Million Step Challenge at Paramount Park School and described the ways participants can now log their steps.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
Greg Logan, Shoreline resident, commented on the documents he previously sent to the City Council. He said the Highlands Utility Yard Conditional Use Permit (CUP) conditions were made in error and requested that they be rescinded. He said the conditions added a landscape waste drop box to the permit as a function of the Utility Yard. He pointed out there are actually two different uses taking place, a non-conforming use for the utility and maintenance yards, and the second for green waste disposal. He read comments from the Hearing Examiner regarding the use of the drop box for yard waste recycling. Mr. Logan emphasized the drop box should not be related to the utility use. He said the Utility Yard is a non-conforming use and the drop box should not be considered a part of that. He said they are using a backhoe loader to slam a pike into the drop box which would not happen in any other residential zone.
6. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
The agenda was approved by unanimous consent.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Upon motion by Councilmember McConnell and seconded by Councilmember McGlashan and unanimously carried, 6-0, the following Consent Calendar items were approved:
(a) Approving Minutes of Regular Business Meeting of March 20, 2017 and of
Special Meeting of April 10, 2017
(b) Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Interlocal Agreement with the
Washington State Department of Transportation to Obligate $3,892,500 of
Surface Transportation Program Grant Funding for Design of the SR-523 &
Interstate-5 Interchange Project
(c) Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Contract with H.W. Lochner in an
Amount not to Exceed $1,259,744 for Design and Environmental Services for the
SR-523 & Interstate-5 Interchange Project
8. ACTION ITEMS
(a) Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Contract with Shreve Construction in the Amount of $5,403,050 and with VECA in the Amount of $407,719 for Construction of the Police Station at City Hall Project
Dan Eernissee, Economic Development Manager, and Shawn Ledford, Police Chief, provided the staff report. Mr. Eernissee provided background on the Police Station Project. He recounted a Police Station Feasibility Study was completed in 2013 with the recommendation to repurpose City Hall to accommodate the Station, which was approved by the City Council. He shared the benefits of having the Police Department located on the City Hall Campus and promoting the theme “One City, One Team”. He stated design and costs were provided to the Council on May 16, 2016, and contract approval is scheduled for this evening. He anticipates completion of the project in spring of 2018. He displayed City Hall Campus design elements, the Police Station addition, and plans for the 1st and 3rd floors. He reviewed the bid process and stated Shreve Construction was selected for the construction contract and VECA for the technology package contract.
Chief Ledford reviewed the design layout for the new Police Station and highlighted the improvements. He noted the Station will have a more functional lobby with a separate area for fingerprinting services, a sally port for prisoner transfer, a backup emergency operation center, and a report writing room. He stated although there will be temporary holding cells, combative offenders will be taken directly to the Sheriff’s jail.
Mr. Eernissee displayed a drawing showing the reconfiguration of the City Clerk’s space, and remaining space on the first floor, and then reviewed the project schedule.
Deputy Mayor Winstead asked about the lobby sound attenuation and said she requested that sound squares be installed to improve the acoustics. Mr. Eernissee responded that sound deadening panels are being installed.
Mr. Eernissee said the total cost of the project is $8,819,429.00, allocated revenue is $7,761,628.00, and pointed out there is a $1,057,800.00 funding gap. He explained the gap is due to the increased cost of construction, clarity of the project at 100% design phase, and other associated costs. He presented established revenue sources and proposed revenue sources, and noted it includes a General Fund contribution of $503,200.00.
Councilmember Scully moved to authorize the City Manager to execute Contract No. 8682 with Shreve Construction and Contract No. 8757 with VECA for construction of the Police Station at City Hall Project, including $105,000.00 for matching siding. The motion was seconded by Deputy Mayor Winstead.
Councilmember Scully said the project is essential, looks great, and he supports the $105,000.00 for the matching siding. He said he does not agree with security glass for the Clerk’s Office.
Deputy Mayor Winstead agreed that this is a necessary project and shared the reasons why she likes bringing the Police to the City Hall Campus. She said putting the glass in the Clerk’s Office is a necessary safety measure.
Councilmember McConnell described how police officers and residents will benefit from the new Police Station. She shared why she likes the extra security on the first floor, and asked about the seizure revenue allocated to the project. Chief Ledford replied the money has already been seized and it is going through the process to determine how long before the City receives the money.
Councilmember McGlashan asked about the future of the buildings east of the Campus, police vehicle access to the station, and clarified that the remediation claim funds are actually reimbursement funds. Mr. Eernissee responded the former medical office will be used as the construction office and Jersey's will continue to operate. He pointed out Police access to the station, confirmed the funds are reimbursement funds, and explained remediation funds have not been calculated as revenue in the past.
Mayor Roberts stated he is happy to see this project move forward and be completed. He expressed concern about glass for the Clerk's Office. He said he wants the lobby to be a warm and inviting space and he is not sure how people will react to being separated from staff by glass.
The motion passed unanimously, 6-0.
9. STUDY ITEMS
(a) Discussing Ordinance No. 775 - Repealing Shoreline Municipal Code Chapter 2.25 –
Library Board
Eric Friedli, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director, provided the staff report. He provided background on the establishment of the Library Board and its function. He reviewed the process that led to the consideration of sunsetting the Board, including meetings with the King County Library Services Director and the Library Board. He said the Library Board recommended incorporating their functions into the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services/Tree (PRCS) Board, and having one meeting per year where the Library Board Director gives a presentation.
Deputy Mayor Winstead mentioned a public comment against the dissolution of the Library Board, but says she feels comfortable with the PRCS Board handling any issues.
Mayor Roberts asked about the Library’s “Friends of Group”, and how many other cities have Library Boards. Mr. Friedli responded that they are a strong advocacy group and different from the Library and PRCS Boards. He said there are about ten other cities in King County’s Library System that have Library Boards and they provide different levels of activity.
Mayor Roberts confirmed that Councilmembers are supportive of the Ordinance proceeding in the process.
(b) Discussing the 2016 Police Services Report
Shawn Ledford, Police Chief, displayed the Shoreline Police Department’s Organizational Chart, and said they are fully staffed with 52 officers. He reviewed 2016 police calls for service, crime activity, and burglary service data. He noted the increase in calls for service, decrease in on-views, and increase in emergency response times from the previous year. He said they are researching what the driver behind increased calls for service is. He shared that there is a police emphasis on property crime, school safety, park safety, and neighborhood traffic safety. He reviewed community outreach and police relationship building efforts. He described the Warrant Release Program initiated last year to reduce bookings on low level offenses like Driving While License is Suspended or Revoked Third Degree (DWLS-3). He presented police cost comparisons and said Shoreline is at $225.00 cost per capita.
Councilmember Salomon commented that he is happy to hear burglaries are down. He said he is disturbed about the increase in response time for Priority X calls for service, and questioned why it has increased over the past year. Chief Ledford responded that a couple of bank robberies came in as Priority X calls but turned out to be false alarms, and Metro bus disturbances in Seattle also skewed times up. He said the new records management system, hopefully, will more accurately reflect response times. Councilmember Salomon asked how police handle city border jurisdictional issues. Chief Ledford answered usually both agencies will go to the scene and decide jurisdiction when they get there. Councilmember Salomon asked about the inverse correlation between increasing collisions and decreasing citations. Chief Ledford stated they are taking a closer look at this relationship. Councilmember Salomon asked what the driver of the increase for calls for service is, and if it indicates an increase in crime. Chief Ledford answered that his Department has been putting the message out to the Community to not hesitate to call 911, which could explain the increase in calls, but he said general crime numbers are down. Councilmember Salomon asked what percentage of crimes are solved and prosecuted. Chief Ledford responded that the District Attorney’s Office does not prosecute by jurisdiction so the percentage is hard to determine, and that burglary and car prowl crimes are much harder to solve than murder. Councilmember Salomon asked how often burglaries happen when the homeowners are home. Chief Ledford responded most burglaries occur during the day when the homeowner is away.
Deputy Mayor Winstead said it is good to see Shoreline’s crime activity is lower than surrounding cities due to police efforts. She said she is very happy to see the DWLS-3 strategy and appreciates the steps taken to help people get their license back.
Councilmember Scully said he is happy to see the Police Department policy on inquiring about an individual’s immigration status, and commended Officers for performing outreach in the Community about it.
Councilmember McGlashan asked if car prowls are increasing in park-n-ride areas or around the City, and if tagging is on the rise. Chief Ledford said park-n-rides and parking lots of big businesses are targets for car prowls, and said he will review the data. He said taggers are usually high school aged. He shared a tagger was recently identified and charges have been recommended to the Prosecutor’s Officer. Councilmember McGlashan commended Chief Ledford’s efforts to keep police patrols in the City instead of spending their time transporting prisoners to the King County South Correctional Entity.
Councilmember Salomon asked about specific hate graffiti targeted towards Jews and what charges are being filed. Chief Ledford responded it will be a misdemeanor graffiti charge mandated by the Revised Code of Washington and filing standards.
Mayor Roberts asked if there is an increase in tagging. Chief Ledford responded that some tagging has come to his attention, and he will research the tagging data and report back to Council. Ms. Tarry stated there has been a spike in tagging over the last few weeks and shared the Customer Response Team is working with the Police and School Resource Officers on this issue.
Mayor Roberts mentioned the Cops and Card Program in the City of Bothell and asked if Shoreline will be participating in the program. Chief Ledford said it sounds like a good program and he will look into it after it is established.
10. EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 8:40 p.m., Mayor Roberts recessed into Execution Session for a period of 45 minutes as authorized by RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) to discuss with legal counsel matters relating to agency enforcement actions, or litigation. He announced the Council is not expected to take final action following the Executive Session. Staff members attending included City Manager Debbie Tarry, Assistant City Manager John Norris, City Attorney Margaret King, and Public Works Director Randy Witt. The Executive Session ended at 9:18 p.m.
11. ADJOURNMENT
At 9:18 p.m., Mayor Roberts declared the meeting adjourned.
/S/ Jessica Simulcik Smith, City Clerk