SUMMARY MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING

Monday, May 7, 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.

3. REPORT OF CITY MANAGER

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

4. COUNCIL REPORTS

Councilmember McGlashan reported attending the SeaShore Transportation Forum Meeting with Councilmember McConnell. He said a Metro Transit representative provided a presentation on new projects for low transit supported communities, like a community van used for prescheduled trips driven by a volunteer, and Community Ride which is a reservation based service. He said currently 19 communities are being services and volunteer drivers are needed.

Councilmember Hall announced the appointment of Councilmembers Roberts, Chang, and Scully to the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services/Tree Board interview panel. He report attending his first meeting of the Governor’s Southern Resident Killer Whale Task Force, and noted the top three threats to the whales are food source, toxics, and vessel noise. He said cities can help by controlling surface water runoff.

5. PUBLIC COMMENT

There was no one from the public wanting to address the Council.

6. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

The agenda was approved by unanimous consent.

7. CONSENT CALENDAR

Upon motion by Councilmember Roberts and seconded by Councilmember McConnell and unanimously carried, 7-0, the following Consent Calendar items were approved:

(a) Approving Minutes of Regular Meeting of April 2, 2018

(b) Adopting the 2018-2023 Economic Development Strategic Plan

8. ACTION ITEMS

(a) Adopting Resolution No. 429 - The 2018-2024 Transportation Improvement Plan

Nytasha Sowers, Transportation Services Manager, and Tricia Juhnke, City Engineer, provided the staff presentation. Ms. Sowers recalled that the Council discussed the 2019 – 2024 Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) on April 2, 2018, and said Council's questions from that meeting are addressed in the staff report. She noted the Light Rail Access Improvement Projects have been amended, and said the total funding available for each Station is $2,000,000. She reviewed the projects for each Station, and said the total TIP cost is reduced by $1.1M, and now totals $196,363,874. She shared why staff is not recommending improvements at 148^th Street between 5^th Avenue NE and 8^th Avenue NE, and why staff is recommending moving Project #17 Meridian Ave North to the unfunded category.

Councilmember McGlashan moved adoption of Resolution No. 429 the 2019-2024 Transportation Improvement Plan. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Chang.

Deputy Mayor Salomon stated he supports the TIP, but expressed concern about Project #19 - 15th Avenue NE, and Project #20 - NE Perkins Way Improvements. He said the City does not get much in return for the amount of money that would have to be spent, and he probably would not support funding these projects in the future.

Councilmember Roberts explained he would like Project #33 - 3rd Ave NE Woonerf to remain in the Plan for improvements, but not as a “Woonerf”. Furthermore, he would like to change the title of the project to “3rd Ave NE Light Rail Access Improvements”.

Councilmember Roberts moved to change the title of Project 33 to “3rd Avenue NE Light Rail Access Improvements”. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Scully, and failed 2-5 with Councilmembers Roberts and Scully voting yes.

The main motion passed unanimously, 7-0.

9. STUDY ITEMS

(a) Report on the Transportation Impact Fee Business Exemption

Dan Eernissee, Economic Development Program Manager, provided the presentation. He recalled that the Transportation Impact Fee (TIF) was adopted by the Council in 2014, and due to concern expressed by the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce and the business community, a business exemption was adopted in 2016, which is scheduled to expire December 31, 2018. He reported that to-date the City has collected $172,310 in TIF Revenue. He reported that nine businesses, two City projects, and one Human Services organization were exempt from having to pay TIF fees through 2017, and he reviewed the 2018 exemptions year-to-date. He explained that the City is required to offset TIF exemptions, and as of today that total is $372,625.

Councilmember Roberts inquired why the presentation identifies nine businesses that were exempt from paying the TIF, but Attachment A to the Staff Report shows other businesses that paid it. Mr. Eernissee responded that some categories of business are not exempt, and noted that most of the businesses that paid the TIF were residential in nature.

Councilmember Chang asked if the nine exempted businesses would have located here if they were not provided an exemption from the TIF, and she questioned if big retail should be exempt. Mr. Eernissee admitted that is a hard question to answer, but he is sure the TIF could have negatively impacted some businesses, particularly start-ups in their first year. He talked about the quality of life impact businesses have on the community and explained the City’s goal is to bring more retail, restaurants, and hospitality businesses to Shoreline. He said the exemption was not permanent so the Council could reassess their policy decision.

Deputy Mayor Salomon recalled the previous Council’s discussion on how the TIF fee would prohibit small independent businesses from locating in Shoreline and explained the reasons behind Council’s decision to exempt all retail businesses. He said at this point he believes the exemption should continue.

Councilmember McGlashan asked why one Starbucks paid more than another. Mr. Eernissee replied that one location had a drive through that previously existed there.

Deputy Mayor Salomon pointed out how the Jacob’s Well Daycare Center would have been adversely affected by the TIF.

Councilmember Roberts stated he supports the 5-year exemption, and plan to have Council revisit the exemptions in the future; Councilmember Chang said she would like to revisit the exemptions because the list is not what she thinks was intended; Councilmember Scully stated he supports a 5-year exemption; Deputy Mayor Salomon said he would like the exemptions to be permanent, but will support a 5-year exemption; and Councilmember McGlashan said he prefers a 3-year exemption but would support a 5-year.

Councilmember McConnell asked for staff’s recommendation on a permanent exemption, or to continue with the 5-year exemption. Mr. Eernissee explained the pros and cons for both.

Mayor Hall pointed out there is a net loss providing the exemption, and since the desires of the Community can change in the future, he would like to keep a sunset date in the Ordinance.

(b) Discussion of Ordinance No. 821 - Amending Chapter 12.17 of the Shoreline

Municipal Code in Regards to City Council Action on Street Vacations

Margaret King, City Attorney, presented Shoreline’s current procedures for Hearings on Street Vacations, and explained that according to the Revised Code of Washington, a Street Vacation is a Legislative process and not a Quasi-Judicial one. She reviewed staff’s recommended changes to Chapter 12.17 are: deleting City Council Closed Record Hearing; clarifying that the City Council may adopt, reject, or modify the Hearing Examiner’s recommendation; clarifying that the City Council may grant all or part of a vacation; and updating the King County Recorder’s Office name. She concluded by stating the Ordinance is scheduled for adoption on May 14, 2018.

10. ADJOURNMENT

At 7:48 p.m., Mayor Hall declared the meeting adjourned.

/s/Jessica Simulcik Smith, City Clerk