CITY OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL
Monday, April 23, 2018 Conference Room 303 - Shoreline City Hall
5:45 p.m. 17500 Midvale Avenue North
PRESENT: Mayor Hall, Deputy Mayor Salomon, Councilmembers McGlashan, Scully, McConnell, Chang, and Roberts
ABSENT: None
STAFF: Debbie Tarry, City Manager; John Norris, Assistant City Manager; Shawn Ledford, Police Chief; Mark Konoske, Police Captain; Pat Raftis, Police Captain; and Bonita Roznos, Deputy City Clerk
GUESTS: King County Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht and King County Undersheriff Scott Somers
At 5:45 p.m., the meeting was called to order by Mayor Hall.
Councilmembers spoke about the positive partnership with the King County Sheriff’s Office and how it supports Council Goal 5 - Promote and enhance the City’s safe community and neighborhood programs and initiatives. They expressed appreciation for Shoreline Police Officers’ commitment to the community.
Deputy Mayor Salomon arrived to the meeting at 5:47 p.m., and Councilmember McConnell arrived at 5:55 p.m.
Sheriff Johanknecht and Undersheriff Somers spoke about the Sheriff Office’s Long-Term Strategic Plan, and shared it was developed in 2011 but was not implemented due to a change in leadership. They stated that the Plan is still viable and is being implemented starting with an internal audit of employees. They will also be reaching out to stakeholders and contract partners for feedback to help inform a SWOT (strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis to help build and sustain public support and safety. They acknowledged challenges in their hiring process, and shared that they are hiring personnel to expedite the background check process, adding a fulltime recruiter, a civilian engagement staff member, and other administrative positions. Ms. Tarry said that the City can provide data from Shoreline Citizen Satisfaction Survey results to assist with their SWOT analysis.
Councilmembers asked how contract cities can provide assistance with the Long-Term Strategic Plan; about hiring police officers that reflect the Community’s diversity; and when will their diversity and inclusion efforts be reflected in officer personnel. They inquired about the hiring process, vacant positions, how to inspire people to be police officers, and training programs to help police work with youth. Sheriff Johanknecht responded that it will take three to four years to see diversity and inclusion efforts reflected in personnel. She shared that the goal is to hire 60-90 new officers this year, and that it takes approximately nine months to hire a new officer, and less for lateral positions. She stressed the importance of having one on one conversations with youth, and addressing barriers for youth, like not having a positive connection with law enforcement. She said there are School Resource Officers, but no specific training programs for interacting with youth. Undersheriff Somers discussed a need for system infrastructure changes to recruit a diverse staff, and shared challenges related to hiring people of color. He talked about the need to recruit young people and find what opens the heart of someone to have the ability to serve and protect the community.
Councilmembers spoke about the importance of retaining the RADAR (Risk Awareness, De-escalation, and Referral) Program and inquired about its status. Chief Ledford responded that King County Councilmember Dembowski supports the program and that they are looking for sustainable funding for the program.
Councilmembers expressed concern about changing from the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) System to the new National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), and how it will show an increase in crime rates. They asked if historical crime data or some type of parallel reporting can be offered to reflect what would have been reported by the UCR System. Sheriff Johanknecht stated that they have been manually collecting data since January 2018 and the go live date for the reporting system transition is July 2018. Undersheriff Somers added that there is not the ability to extract both points of data on the new system. Ms. Tarry shared that the City has been informing the Shoreline community about the new reporting system.
Councilmembers inquired about the Sheriff’s approach to discipline. Sheriff Johanknecht replied that she approaches the matter fairly, consistently, with dignity and respect, and holds people accountable to standards and rules.
At 6:47 p.m. the meeting adjourned.
/s/Bonita Roznos, Deputy City Clerk
CITY OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL
Monday, April 23, 2018 Council Chambers - Shoreline City Hall
7:00 p.m. 17500 Midvale Avenue North
PRESENT: Mayor Hall, Deputy Mayor Salomon, Councilmembers McGlashan, Scully, McConnell, Chang, 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. FLAG SALUTE/ROLL CALL
Mayor Hall led the flag salute. Upon roll call by the City Clerk, all Councilmembers were present.
(a) Proclamation of Volunteer Week
Mayor Hall read a proclamation declaring April 22 through April 28, 2018 as Volunteer Week in the City of Shoreline. Washington Native Plant Stewards Ginger Gunn, Bill Turner, Carter Case, and Barb Guthrie accepted the proclamation. Ms. Gunn thanked the Council for providing citizens with volunteer opportunities and for partnering with the King County District Washington Native Plant Stewards. She shared that the Stewards work in six Shoreline Parks.
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 presented.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
Pam Cross, Shoreline resident, spoke about the opioid crisis, and shared why she feels the City should ban Safe Injection Sites in Shoreline.
Paul DePrez, Ridgecrest resident, stated that he attended a meeting to discuss improvements in downtown Ridgecrest and voiced his concern about damaged and unrepaired sidewalks presenting safety hazards in that neighborhood. He also said the bike lanes installed on 5th Avenue are unsafe.
Ginny Scantlebury, Shoreline resident, expressed appreciation to the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department for coordinating program activities, and to the City for the funding they provide to the Senior Center. She announced the Senior Center’s Annual Fundraiser is scheduled for May 17, 2018.
Greg Logan, Highland Terrace resident, questioned why the City Manager and City Attorney are allowing an industrial sized backhoe loader and drop box to be used illegally in a residential zone in his neighborhood.
Carolyn Ahlgreen, Shoreline resident, distributed compostable straws to Councilmembers, and said they are a better alternative than paper straws.
6. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
The agenda was approved by unanimous consent.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Upon motion by Councilmember McGlashan and seconded by Councilmember Roberts and unanimously carried, 7-0, the following Consent Calendar items were approved:
(a) Approving Expenses and Payroll as of April 6,2018 in the Amount of
$1,343,378.13
|
*Payroll and Benefits: |
||||||
|
Payroll Period |
Payment Date |
EFT Numbers (EF) |
Payroll Checks (PR) |
Benefit Checks (AP) |
Amount Paid |
|
|
Prior period check voided/reissued |
15439/15504 |
$0.00 |
||||
|
3/11/18-3/24/18 |
3/30/2018 |
77388-77613 |
15505-15524 |
69930-69934 |
$781,766.89 |
|
|
$781,766.89 |
||||||
|
*Wire Transfers: |
||||||
|
Expense Register Dated |
Wire Transfer Number |
|
Amount Paid |
|||
|
4/5/2018 |
1132 |
$2,862.89 |
||||
|
$2,862.89 |
||||||
|
*Accounts Payable Claims: |
||||||
|
Expense Register Dated |
Check Number (Begin) |
Check Number (End) |
Amount Paid |
|||
|
3/29/2018 |
69800 |
69813 |
$48,535.85 |
|||
|
3/29/2018 |
69814 |
69831 |
$49,674.55 |
|||
|
3/29/2018 |
69832 |
69847 |
$72,823.54 |
|||
|
3/29/2018 |
69848 |
69855 |
$2,713.53 |
|||
|
4/5/2018 |
69856 |
69869 |
$264,578.50 |
|||
|
4/5/2018 |
69870 |
69886 |
$77,042.65 |
|||
|
4/5/2018 |
69887 |
69902 |
$21,995.65 |
|||
|
4/5/2018 |
69903 |
69919 |
$16,962.25 |
|||
|
4/5/2018 |
69920 |
69929 |
$4,421.83 |
|||
|
$558,748.35 |
||||||
(b) Adopting Ordinance No. 814 - Amending Ordinance No. 812 for Uncompleted
2017 Operating and Capital Projects and Increasing Appropriations in the 2018 Budget
(c) Adopting Ordinance No. 815 - 2018 Budget Amendment - Amending Ordinance
No. 814 to Increase the Appropriations in Certain Funds
(d) Adopting Ordinance No. 820 - Establishing a Park Impact Fees Fund and
Housing Trust Fund
(e) Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into an Interlocal Agreement for the Purpose of Data Sharing
8. STUDY ITEMS
(a) Discussing the 2017 Annual Police Services Report
Police Chief Shawn Ledford, and Police Captains Mark Konoske and Pat Raftis provided the staff presentation. Chief Ledford introduced the K-9 Unit team of Canine Rexo, handler Deputy Josh Holmes, and trainer Sargent Randy Potter. Deputy Holmes provided background on Rexo. Sargent Potter stated that Rexo’s training should last a year, then he will be crossed trained in narcotics, and anticipates him serving with the City for nine years.
Chief Ledford provided an overview of the makeup of the Shoreline Police Department. He reported that 31,066 calls for service were received in 2017, representing a 24% increase since 2013, and a 49% increase since 2010. He reviewed the dispatched calls for services and crime activity data. He said emergency calls for service are still under 5 minutes and he is pleased with the on-views numbers. He reported that Part-1 Crime and Burglary show a slight increase, and the Shoreline Citizen Satisfaction Survey identified burglary and property crimes as high priorities for the Police Department. He presented a chart showing 2017 residential/commercial burglaries, and said burglaries on the eastside of the City increased by 24%, while westside burglaries decreased by 31%. He presented strategies the Police are using to address these issues.
Captain Konoske reviewed robbery and theft data, and reported robberies are up 62%, and thefts are up by 7 %. He shared that teenagers were the single largest category to increase, as both perpetrators and victims. He reviewed traffic data, and crime prevention efforts coordinated by Officer Paula Bates and commended her on doing an outstanding job.
Captain Raftis provided an update on the RADAR (Response Awareness De-escalation and Referral) Program, and stated that the City is purchasing two electric motorcycles that will help with policing on trails and in the parks, as well as help police connect with the public to reduce crime.
Chief Ledford reported that car prowls increased by 10%, vehicle theft decreased by 7%, and he advised that residents need to remove personal items from their vehicles to deter break-ins. He reviewed community outreach efforts, highlighted the Nurturing Trust Program, and said they will be launching a class on Personal Safety and Response. He reviewed police cost comparisons, noted that Shoreline’s cost per capita is $222, and stated the Police Budget is $12 Million which comprises 25% of the City’s total Budget.
Councilmember Roberts asked how many crimes go unreported and if the comparable cities list presented should include other residential cities like Shoreline. Chief Ledford responded that some crimes go unreported so they are hard to measure. He said calls for service are steadily increasing indicating people are comfortable in calling the police. He stated other cities similar to Shoreline can be added to the comparable cities list.
Councilmember McGlashan asked if Deputy Holmes volunteered for the K-9 Unit position, if he will be off the street while Rexo is trained, and if Rexo is counted as a sworn officer. Chief Ledford responded that Deputy Holmes volunteered and that the K-9 Unit is a highly sought after position. He said Rexo is not included in the number of sworn positions.
Councilmember Chang asked if the Police Department is at the appropriate staffing level for the City. Chief Ledford responded that it is something he looks at regularly, and he believes the current staffing level is adequate because they are able to get to calls in a timely manner. He said the Sheriff's Office will also be conducting a study on this issue.
Deputy Mayor Salomon noted that there are no huge spikes in the statistics, and questioned what it means that calls for police services have increased. Chief Ledford responded that area checks are their top calls and he thinks that is a good thing. He said he is glad the community trusts the police and call for service. He would rather have the public call to have the police check things out than for his officers to have to take a report of a burglary.
(b) Discussing the Draft Sidewalk Prioritization Plan and Sidewalk and ADA Transition Plan Funding Recommendations
Senior Transportation Planner Nora Daley-Peng, City Engineer Tricia Juhnke, and Administrative Services Director Sara Lane provided the staff presentation. Ms. Daley-Peng reviewed how the American Disability Act (ADA) Transition Plan and the Sidewalk Prioritization Plan are two concurrent but separate projects. She stated that the Pedestrian System Plan, from the 2011 Transportation Master Plan (TMP), served as the baseline for sidewalk prioritization, and recalled that the Sidewalk Advisory Committee (SAC) was established to address sidewalk safety, equity issues, and funding alternatives. She displayed a map of the 2011 TMP System Plan and noted that significant strides in sidewalk repair and expansion have not been completed due to a shortage of funding. She reviewed the work performed to date by the SAC and showed a video identifying sidewalk issues.
Ms. Daley-Peng compared the 2011 and 2018 Sidewalk Prioritization Criteria, and explained it is now a data-driven process scored on safety, equity, proximity, and connectivity measures. She stated that there are 118 projects for 64 miles of sidewalks, at of cost of $377 Million, categorized into high, medium, and low priority projects. She said high priority projects total 15 miles at a cost of $112 Million. She said SAC’s preferred strategies and recommended funding sources are to use a Sales & Use Tax for sidewalk repair and the ADA Transition Plan, and to use property tax revenue for new sidewalks.
Ms. Juhnke spoked about the existing sidewalk network and implementing the ADA Transition Plan to comply with ADA requirements. She said results from the sidewalk field condition assessment and review are currently being evaluated, and preliminary estimates anticipate repair and replacement of 20% to 25% of non-compliant sidewalks and curb ramps, at a cost of $44 to $50 Million. She said existing funding is $190,000 to $200,000 per year, but added some funding will come from redevelopment and capital improvement projects.
Ms. Lane presented potential sources to generate funds for sidewalk repair and expansion over the next 20 years are a Vehicle License Fee (VLF) that would generate $14.6 – 47.8 Million at an average cost to households of between $34 - $101; Sales & Use Tax that would generate $28.4 or $56.8 Million at an average cost to households of $57 or $115; and a Property Tax Levy of $10 Million at an average annual cost to households of $30. She reviewed the details of each funding source. She recommended adopting the $20 VLF now, and an additional $10 in 24 months for repair of existing sidewalks; and placing a 0.2% Sales & Use Tax measure on the November 2018 Ballot to raise funding for new sidewalks.
Ms. Daley-Peng then presented Council Discussion items.
Councilmember Chang expressed concern that there is not enough weight placed on the safety criteria, which negatively impacts the overall score for some of the high priority projects. She said she would like to see safety worth 50% of the points. Ms. Daley-Peng replied that the SAC took a hard look at that and their goal was to take a balanced approach to the project which is presented in the scorecard.
Councilmember McGlashan stated he likes the emphasis placed on all four criteria.
Councilmember Roberts asked clarifying questions about the scorecard, how flexible the Sidewalk Plan is, how often it will be reviewed and updated, and if special consideration was given to segment gaps to connect to parks, other than the 1.4 mile radius. Ms. Daley-Peng responded that the Plan will continuously be monitored and updated, it is flexible to make adjustment to leverage gaps, and explained the additive provided to connect to the parks.
Mayor Hall stated that fine-tuning the Plan will occur with the TMP, CIP, and grant funding allocations. He said this is a great starting point with the prioritization scorecard and map as presented.
Councilmember McConnell asked about overlaps in the equity criteria, said it is possible that a person with a disability also has a low income, and thinks proximity to a park should be given more weight than equity.
Councilmembers agreed that sidewalk repairs are priority.
Councilmember Scully stated the City has had problems with sidewalks since its incorporation in 1995, and understands the shear cost to address the issue can be overwhelming to Council and the Community. He said a new funding source is required and recommended that a single funding package be put together to get all of the work done. He stated he supports staff’s recommendation to address repair and new sidewalks, but with separate funding sources. He recalled that he originally voted against the VLF because he wanted to vote on a complete package. He said he supports using a Council manic VLF for sidewalk maintenance, a 0.2% Sales & Use Tax dedicated to debt services for new sidewalks, and continuing with the City’s General Fund Contribution. He shared that a sales tax allows everyone that uses the City to share in contributing to sidewalk funding.
Councilmember Roberts said there are practical limits on how much voters and residents will say they can afford, and Council needs to be cognizant that some people are trying to afford to continue to live here. Therefore, he said he supports a 0.1% Sales & Use Tax increase to maintain existing sidewalks, and keeping the existing General Fund contribution. He noted he supports a sales tax increase because it is paid by both Shoreline residents and non-residents. He stated he is not supportive of the VLF increase at this time.
Deputy Mayor Salomon said he has spoken to approximately 1,000 Shoreline residents since January, and the most talked about item is the recent increase in property taxes due to the McCleary decision. He shared that people are afraid that they are going to get taxed out of their homes. He said Council needs to be careful about how to move forward and he does not think now is the right time to be raising taxes.
Councilmember Chang agreed that there is not capacity for a property tax ballot measure right now. She said the City needs to repair sidewalks and be ADA compliant, and she would like to see a secure source of funding. She said she supports the VLF for sidewalk repair and a sales and use tax ballot measure for new sidewalks.
Councilmember McGlashan said he does not believe the Council should be talking about a long term strategy for putting new sidewalks into a system that the City cannot currently maintain. He said he supports the 0.2% Sales & Use Tax over the VLF because it gives residents the decision making power on sidewalk funding, and it allows non-residents to share in the cost.
Councilmember McConnell spoke about voter tax fatigue. She said she prefers to go out to vote for the 0.2% Sales & Use Tax, and if it fails, then decide whether to bring back the VLF. She said it is fair to have non-resident shoppers pay for sidewalks too. She shared her thoughts on a new Aquatic Center being an asset the community can get behind, more so than building new sidewalks.
Mayor Hall called attention to the lack of infrastructure funding from the State, and pointed out Shoreline has been making progress in this area, like the improvements to Aurora Avenue, Safe Routes to School, and other sidewalk installations in the City. He said it is now a safety issue, he hesitates doing nothing, and recalled that there was not a lot of public outrage over the VLF. If there is a ballot measure, he thinks it should be a 0.2% sales and use tax, and he supports bringing back a $20 VLF.
Councilmember McGlashan said something has to be done to fund sidewalks, and he supports a $20 VLF and 0.2% Sales & Use Tax.
Councilmember Roberts requested information on the routes eligible for Safe Routes to School
Grants, and stated he supports the 0.2% Sales & Use Tax, but not the VLF.
Mayor Hall confirmed Council’s desire to move forward with a ballot measure for a Sales & Use Tax of 0.2% for sidewalks. Mayor Hall, and Councilmembers Chang, Scully and McGlashan requested that staff also bring back the VLF Ordinance.
Ms. Daley-Peng concluded with the next steps in the process.
9. ADJOURNMENT
At 9:29 p.m., Mayor Hall declared the meeting adjourned.
/s/Jessica Simulcik Smith, City Clerk