CITY OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL
Monday, April 30, 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 Music4Life
Mayor Hall read a proclamation declaring May 2018 as Music4Life Month in the City of Shoreline. Music4Life Community Outreach Volunteer Garry Mulligan accepted the proclamation. He stated Music4Life was founded in 2007 by David Endicott and provides lovingly used instruments to students in need which has helped change lives.
3. REPORT OF CITY MANAGER
John Norris, Assistant City Manager, provided reports and updates on various City meetings, projects and events.
4. COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Roberts reported attending the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) Executive Board Meeting. He said they recommended adoption of the Regional Transportation Plan, and it is scheduled to be presented to the PSRC Assembly at the annual meeting in May.
Mayor Hall reported attending the City’s Annual Volunteer Soiree, and thanked volunteers for their service to the City. He reported meeting with Senators and Representatives for Shoreline in Washington, DC to advance the City’s Federal Legislative Agenda.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
Ryan Mielcarek, Director of Strategic Initiatives for Compass Housing Alliance, introduced Tina Ellison, Housing Services Manager, and Ed Sterner, North Urban Human Services Alliance. Mr. Mielcarek thanked the Council for declaring May 14-18, 2018 Affordable Housing Week in Shoreline, and expressed appreciation for Council’s proactive stance on affordable housing. Ms. Ellison said they have two properties in Shoreline, the Shoreline Veteran Center and Ronald Commons, and talked about the services they offer to improve quality of life. Mr. Sterner talked about the goals of Affordable Housing Week and invited Council to the Ronald Commons Hospitality event on Thursday, May 17, 2018.
Carmen Rumbaut, Edmonds resident, talked about steps the Council can take to promote discontinuing the use of plastic straws in Shoreline, and how plastic straws negatively impact the environment.
Tom McCormick, Shoreline resident, reported the Developer for Point Wells has resubmitted its building application to Snohomish County, and he encouraged the Council to get involved in the City's letter to the County regarding this issue. He urged the Council to take a firm stance on the vehicle 4,000 ADT limit, and on height and parking limits.
Geneva and Sara Betnel, North City residents, encouraged the Council and the Community to discontinue using plastic straws, and listed other places that no longer use them.
6. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
The agenda was approved by unanimous consent.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Upon motion by Councilmember Roberts and seconded by Councilmember McGlashan and unanimously carried, 7-0, the following Consent Calendar items were approved:
(a) Approving Minutes of Regular Meeting of March 26, 2018
(b) Adopting the 2018-2020 City Council Goals and Work Plan
(c) Adopting Resolution No. 427 - Extending an Interfund Loan to the General Capital Fund for the Police at City Hall Project from the General Fund in an Amount Not to Exceed $2,100,000 with Interest Charges
(d) Adopting Ordinance No. 819 - Subdivision Procedure Code Amendment
8. STUDY ITEMS
(a) Presenting and Discussing King County Land Conservation Initiative
Eric Friedli, Park, Recreation, and Cultural Services Director, introduced Darren Greve, King County Natural Resources and Parks Strategic Policy Advisor, who then provided the presentation. Mr. Greve recalled that he presented the Land Conservation Program to Council in the past, and stated the Program is now ready for action. He said the vision of the program is to protect the region’s remaining and most vital greenspaces for everyone, and within a generation. He reviewed the initiative’s timeline, the categories of land to preserve (farmlands, forests, natural lands, rivers, trails, and urban green space), and highlighted the goal to preserve open space that is equitably distributed throughout the region. He reviewed land costs, the Land Conservation Advisory Group's recommendations, the Path Forward Strategy action steps through 2025, and funding alternatives.
Councilmember Chang asked how the designated park land aligns with the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan, and if it is near the Light Rail Stations. Mr. Friedli responded that there are about 27 acres of park land and open space across Shoreline, and he will need to identify land in the Light Rail Station Area. Mr. Greve responded that the map is not set in stone and explained the metrics they used to work with partners to identify park land.
Deputy Mayor Salomon pointed out that the park land identified on the map appears to be in the Highlands, which is not in the lowest third income category, and is highly vegetated. He said he would like to see further mapping information that includes multiple County objectives, shows urban lands, and compares what the County will look like 30 years from now with projected development, with and without this initiative. He recalled the Council retained R-6 zoning adjacent to parks in the Light Rail Subareas with the intention of future park expansion, and asked if this initiative would help pay for this land. He also expressed concern about the direction of King County's development and density goals and losing open space. Mr. Greve responded that he would have to review the map with the GIS mapper to identify where the land in Shoreline is, and he will request a more refined version. He said that $30 Million worth of future park land has been identified in the PROS Plan, and explained that the County is seeking partnerships to make the funding more available.
Councilmember Roberts asked about the census data and questioned if the map is depicting tracks or blocks. Mr. Friedli explained that they are the portion of the tracks that are outside of the walking distance from a park, and said the entire track will meet social equity criteria.
Councilmember Scully expressed that he is not sure he likes the priority areas, and pointed out open space needs to be available to be able to acquire it. He said he is concerned that land not shown within the priority areas on the map will become available but the City will be prevented from asking for the funding. Mr. Greve replied that the Plan is about putting open space on the ground and engaging the Community to figure out what they desire and how they want that green space to look.
Councilmember McConnell expressed concern that the City does not have a lot of space to support this initiative, and questioned if the City will receive funding from a levy for new land acquisition. She talked about land becoming more expensive over time, and said she wants to preserve more land in the Light Rail Station areas to turn into park land in the future. Mr. Greve said the goal of the Advisory Group is for the initiative to benefit all residents. He noted that 5% of funding will be targeted to address equity issues, and said Cities need to ramp up their acquisition for parks.
Mayor Hall asked if Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) have been taken into account as an alternative mechanism to fund the Plan. He shared that over a 30 year period, there is a chance an economic cycle will cause land prices to drop, and he hopes the County would look for these times as opportunities to buy land. He expressed it is great to preserve land before it is all paved over and he appreciates all the work on this initiative. Mr. Greve responded that TDRs are incorporated in the Plan.
Deputy Mayor Salomon noted that backcountry trails are crowded, and asked if this initiative will alleviate this issue, and if it would be detrimental to wildlife. Mr. Greve responded that the initiative will help fill gaps between existing backcountry trails and the water’s edge, but will not address backcountry trails further up into the mountains that the Federal Government maintain. He shared that a 125 miles of trail corridor will be purchased under this initiative, and that the funding is for acquisition and maintenance, but not infrastructure.
9. ADJOURNMENT
At 8:15 p.m., Mayor Hall declared the meeting adjourned.
/s/Jessica Simulcik Smith, City Clerk