CITY OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL
Monday, January 28, 2019 Conference Room 303 - Shoreline City Hall
5:45 p.m. 17500 Midvale Avenue North
PRESENT: Mayor Hall, Councilmembers McGlashan, Scully, McConnell, Chang and Roberts
ABSENT: None
STAFF: Debbie Tarry, City Manager; John Norris, Assistant City Manager; Eric Friedli, Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services; Susan Villamarin, Senior Management Analyst; Lynn Gabrieli, Administrative Assistant III; and Allison Taylor, Deputy City Clerk
GUESTS: Allegra Calder, Parks Funding Advisory Committee Facilitator
Parks Funding Advisory Committee Members in Attendance: David Chen, Bill Franklin, Philip Herold, Joan Herrick, Jean Hilde, Julian Larson, Esaac Mazengia, Jeff Potter, Sarah Raab McInerny, Betsy Robertson, and Nan Skinner. Unable to Attend: Don Bell, Carolyn Hope, Yvette Perez, Cecelia Romero, and Sally Wolf
At 5:42 p.m., the meeting was called to order by Mayor Hall.
Eric Friedli, Director of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services; welcomed members of the Parks Funding Advisory Committee (PFAC) and gave an overview of the committee’s formation and process to-date. He shared that the Committee, facilitated by Allegra Calder of BERK Consulting, was comprised of members from a variety of neighborhoods throughout Shoreline and had been chosen from a robust applicant pool. He reviewed the prior meeting topics, which have ranged from orientation and information to prioritization and development of decision criteria. Mr. Friedli displayed the Committee’s Investment Opportunity Cost Summary, which offers options for full and partial development of identified projects. He shared that the guiding criteria for the Committee reflect the shared values and priorities of location within under-served areas, equity of access, appeal to user groups, and operational affordability. Mr. Friedli concluded by explaining that the Committee’s remaining four meetings will focus on narrowing down their recommendations. He shared the evening’s suggested discussion questions.
Jeff Potter, PFAC member, thanked the City and Council for the support and communication provided to the PFAC. He said he was interested in hearing Council’s interests and priorities for Parks Funding.
Sara Raab McInerny, PFAC member, shared that she is impressed with the level of citizen involvement encouraged by the City. She said she is excited to learn how to apply the Committee’s established criteria. She posed the question to Council of how to balance funding between large and small projects.
Mayor Hall read the discussion questions:
1. What does the Council see as the purpose of having a community center and pool?
2. How does the Council balance the City’s goals and values of parks, recreation and open space and the potential property tax impact of between $250 and $350 per year for a median-valued Shoreline home?
3. What are the Council’s values around a signature Shoreline Park, versus parks located throughout the City?
4. What have you heard from your constituents regarding park investments in the community, including parks that may not be included in the priority park investment list?
Councilmember Roberts asked for clarification of the definition of a signature park. Philip Herold, PFAC member, replied that the PFAC wants to know if the Council was more interested in serving Shoreline residents or in drawing visitors to the City. Mayor Hall stated that while there are financial benefits to non-residents spending time in Shoreline, his focus is on supporting the interests of the taxpayers.
Councilmember Scully said that he feels the City’s parks are in good shape and the Community and Aquatics Center is an urgent priority to him, since the opportunity could be lost. He told the PFAC that it is important to identify needs in their prioritization process and said he would like to hear opinions on if the pool is a necessary element. He said he likes the idea of a Community Center that draws residents of all ages.
Councilmember Chang said that a Community and Aquatics Center would be a gathering place and reminded everyone of the importance of providing a location to foster connections. She shared that she is interested in looking for additional sources of funding and suggested creating a Shoreline Parks Foundation to help drive the project forward.
Councilmember Roberts encouraged everyone to think long-term when planning the Center, and to not forget the goal of meeting needs for the next several decades. He said it is important for all facets of a shared space to feel integrated for users. The possibility of expanding the current design was discussed, and Councilmember Roberts said any design expansions should incorporate, not separate, spaces and keep mobility challenges in mind. Mr. Herold commented that the additional costs of adding elements to the design is not as significant as he thought it would be.
Councilmember McConnell stated that she values the community input Council has received on the proposal to date, since it provides impetus and direction for reevaluation. She said she appreciates the breadth of perspectives shared by members of the PFAC. She offered that she feels Shoreline needs an indoor gathering space, and that it is exciting to be part of planning this inspiring legacy piece.
Betsy Robertson, PFAC member, offered that she prioritizes land acquisition because of the high rate of development in Shoreline. Councilmember Scully said the creation of a structured approach to land acquisition would be useful, but said he is cognizant of creating competing interests with the proposed Community and Aquatics Center.
Mayor Hall stated that it is important to target resources for funding outside of Shoreline. He said it is difficult to secure grants to fund indoor pools. He expressed an awareness that if the City ends up with a design that is not a good fit for a bond measure it may mean turning to other funding options. He said that if a bond is used for funding, the approval of a Community and Aquatic Center is controlled by the voters, so the Council and PFAC need to be thoughtful in discerning how the community will get behind the costs. He reminded everyone that it is of importance that residents understand the long-term value in the creation of a shared community space.
David Chen, PFAC member, stated it is important to find balance between opportunities and amenities. He asked for Council’s thoughts on what placemaking means and asked how they weigh options. Councilmember McGlashan replied that to him, placemaking means remembering that the project is a “community center with a pool” and that he would like the space to include a Senior Center and be available to everyone, not just those who can afford it.
Ms. McInerny asked if the City is in conversation with the School District around the shared needs inherent with an Aquatic Center. Mayor Hall and Debbie Tarry, City Manager, assured her that there were many levels of ongoing discussions. Mayor Hall said he has reminded the District that since they rely on the City Pool to meet their programming needs, they must be prepared to help in funding. Ms. Robertson said she was happy to hear the School District is engaged in conversation about the pool and asked for additional information of the timing of the upcoming King County Levy, which may be a funding resource.
Mayor Hall said that since the outcome of the Levy and the potential impact on funding for Shoreline’s project will not be known during the PFAC’s meeting schedule this year, it would be most helpful if the committee would focus on prioritization and identifying projects that could be supported by funding sources outside of bonds. He shared that Rod Dembowski, King County Council Chair, has mentioned the idea of adding a Regional Aquatic Center in the northern part of the County, which would relieve Shoreline of some of the need.
Allegra Calder, the PFAC Facilitator, said she appreciates the reminder of the importance of the emphasis on the Community Center portion of the project. She asked Council for the depth and breadth of prioritization and feedback that would be helpful to them.
Councilmember McConnell said she is clearly hearing from the portion of the community that feels the current design is “not enough”. She added that the School Board is receiving the same message from their constituents. She said that once the Council is really clear on what the community wants, the City can carefully plan to maximize the benefits of the investment.
Potential fundraising and Bond specifics were brainstormed, with discussion on the most effective ways to create a Bond Measure that is appealing to voters and meets a broad set of needs. Mayor Hall led conversation around the strategy behind the appropriate timing for placement on a ballot.
Councilmember Chang added that a bigger Aquatics Center would have the capacity to host outside groups and could bring additional economic activity to the community. Councilmember Roberts explained that while the cost of the Aquatics Center is a huge expense, when looked at amortized over a longer term it seems much more palatable.
Ms. McInerny asked what the feedback on the design was from senior residents. Councilmember McConnell said that the city is aging, and the timing is right for a new Senior Center. Mr. Herold reminded Council that seniors historically vote more than any other demographic. Mayor Hall shared some history on the Senior Center and its affiliation with the City and said the current leadership seems to be interested in having conversations about a shared space. He said it is valuable to remember that the intent to create a Community Center that serves all abilities and ages is different than committing to a dedicated meeting space for any one demographic. Councilmember Chang reported on a recent meeting with the director of Sound Generations and said the organization is hopeful that their space needs will be met in the new Community and Aquatics Center.
Jean Hilde, PFAC member, said it is easy to “get lost in the noise” of very vocal community spokespeople. She said to ensure equity it is important to remember the needs of those who do not speak up.
Mr. Chen directed the conversation to access and equity. He commented that use fees would be a barrier for entry for many Shoreline residents and said he hoped the City would be intentional in establishing equitable fees. Mr. Friedli said that with the School District’s addition of early-dismissal Wednesdays the City offers drop in programs free of charge to fill the childcare gap for Shoreline families. Ms. Tarry said that the Council has funded scholarships for childcare but does not currently have an established income-based fee schedule.
Councilmember Roberts suggested the PFAC consider moving their evaluation metric from a ranking to a scored system, since it would allow for more flexibility in prioritization.
Mayor Hall concluded by saying that while the Community and Aquatics Center should serve all residents, it does not have to be a regional Aquatic Center. Mr. Norris confirmed that the prioritization that is the next steps for the PFAC will be extremely useful for the City as it revises and focuses the design concept and scope.
At 6:49 p.m. the meeting adjourned.
/s/Allison Taylor, Deputy City Clerk
CITY OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL
Monday, January 28, 2019 Council Chambers - Shoreline City Hall
7:00 p.m. 17500 Midvale Avenue North
PRESENT: Mayor Hall, 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 Black History Month
Mayor Hall read a proclamation declaring the month of February 2019 as Black History Month. He asked all citizens to reflect on past successes and challenges of African Americans and look to the future to improve society. DarNesha Weary, the Association Director of Member Engagement for the YMCA of Greater Seattle, and members of the Northside Step Team accepted the proclamation. Ms. Weary described the dedication of the dance team and dancers Mikayla Weary, Cedella Dean, Keiara Johnson, Mikayla Sullivan, and Melanie O’Brien shared the history of the art and the importance of the team and dance in their lives.
3. REPORT OF CITY MANAGER
Debbie Tarry, City Manager, provided reports and updates on various City meetings, projects and events.
4. COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Chang shared that she attended the recent King County Regional Transit Committee meeting. She reported that in early 2019 the committee will be establishing a workplan with a focus on King County Metro’s long-term plans in conjunction with the Sound Cities Association.
Councilmember McGlashan said he attended the Sound Transit Board Meeting, at which the Staff updated the Board on the status of the Lynnwood Link project. He reported on the work that will be started soon and shared that Sound Transit will have a Shoreline area Community Meeting with updates on the project on February 26, 2019.
Councilmember Scully gave an update on the All Home Advisory Board, saying it is in the middle of a governance review on homeless outreach. He shared that the organization’s goal is to create a centralized authority to eliminate duplication of service and to ensure that people who do participate in the process get the services they need, where they need it.
Councilmember McConnell shared a reminder about the upcoming activities near and around the Viaduct/Tunnel in recognition of the closure and opening of the new route.
Mayor Hall said that this evening’s Council Dinner Meeting included the Parks Funding Advisory Committee. He explained that the Committee is a group of volunteers who have been looking at fund raising opportunities and prioritization for future parks improvements. He said upon completion of the research they will be delivering their recommendations to the City Manager.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
JonAnn Cruver, North City resident, spoke on the future of the Senior Center on behalf of the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center. She spoke on the importance of serving the wide needs of the senior demographic and urged Council to include the Center in the decision making while planning a Community Center.
John James, Shoreline resident, spoke in favor of dedicating space for a Senior Center within the Community Center design. He said that as a corporate sponsor of the Senior Center he is impressed with the services provided there and shared examples of the breadth of the activities and sense of community the Center offers.
Theresa LaCroix, Shoreline resident, spoke on behalf of the Senior Center and requested that the City include 6,000 square feet of dedicated space and a commercial kitchen for a Senior Center in the proposed Community and Aquatics Center. She asked Council to recognize the possibility for a great partnership in the new Community Center.
Gloria Kawabori, Lake Forest Park resident, said she is impressed with the number of classes offered and shared that she has taken advantage of many of them. She reminded Council that it has been said that the way a community regards and treats its elders reflects the soul and the heart of the community.
Kathleen Randall, Shoreline resident, encouraged the Planning Commission to be forward-thinkers and install underground utilities for the potential Community and Aquatics Center to avoid the possibility of weather-related outages.
6. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
The agenda was approved by unanimous consent.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Upon motion by Councilmember Roberts and seconded by Councilmember Chang and unanimously carried, 6-0, the following Consent Calendar items were approved:
(a) Approving Minutes of Regular Meeting of November 19, 2018
Approving Minutes of Regular Meeting of November 26, 2018
Approving Minutes of Special Meeting of January 7, 2019
(b) Approving Expenses and Payroll as of January 11, 2019 in the Amount of $2,535,939.69
|
*Payroll and Benefits: |
||||||
|
Payroll Period |
Payment Date |
EFT Numbers (EF) |
Payroll Checks (PR) |
Benefit Checks (AP) |
Amount Paid |
|
|
12/16/18-12/29/18 |
1/4/2019 |
82368-82614 |
16061-16083 |
72828-72833 |
$657,634.19 |
|
|
$657,634.19 |
||||||
|
*Accounts Payable Claims: |
||||||
|
Expense Register Dated |
Check Number (Begin) |
Check Number (End) |
Amount Paid |
|||
|
12/31/2018 |
72696 |
72707 |
$112,738.62 |
|||
|
12/31/2018 |
72708 |
72724 |
$7,915.35 |
|||
|
1/3/2019 |
72725 |
72731 |
$86,648.12 |
|||
|
1/3/2019 |
72732 |
72732 |
$580.00 |
|||
|
1/3/2019 |
72733 |
73740 |
$6,582.76 |
|||
|
1/10/2019 |
72741 |
72760 |
$104,209.58 |
|||
|
1/10/2019 |
72761 |
72775 |
$102,821.34 |
|||
|
1/10/2019 |
72776 |
72778 |
$305.00 |
|||
|
1/10/2019 |
72779 |
72799 |
$1,017,536.68 |
|||
|
1/10/2019 |
72800 |
72814 |
$8,886.49 |
|||
|
1/10/2019 |
72815 |
72817 |
$36,625.66 |
|||
|
1/10/2019 |
72818 |
72824 |
$393,041.32 |
|||
|
1/10/2019 |
72825 |
72827 |
$414.58 |
|||
|
$1,878,305.50 |
||||||
(c) Adopting Resolution No. 433 – Employee Handbook Updates
(d) Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Contract with Perteet Inc. in the Amount of $1,483,824 for the N 175th Street - Stone Avenue N to Interstate 5 Project
(e) Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Contract with BHC Consultants in an Amount Not to Exceed $83,565 for Preliminary Design of the Stormwater Pump Station and SCADA Improvement Projects
(f) Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Contract with The Blueline Group, LLC in the Amount of $120,000 for On-Call Development Review and Construction Inspection Services
8. ACTION ITEMS
(a) Interviewing City Council Applicants for City Council Position #6
Mayor Hall reflected that over 50 candidates applied for the City Council vacancy and six were identified as finalists by the Council. He said that this morning Rebeca Rivera withdrew her candidacy, so five people remain for the interview process tonight. Prior to Council posing the interview questions, Mayor Hall described the process for each candidate. The interview questions were the same for all candidates.
Question 1: Councilmember McConnell asked the candidate to share why they are interested in serving the City Council and how their experiences and skills would make them the best qualified candidate.
Question 2: Councilmember Scully stated that often the City Council must adopt policies to address competing goals. He said that one area that can be challenging are goals to protect the environment and goals that protect an individuals’ right to use their property as they would like. He asked how the candidate would balance the goals of protecting the environment and allowing people to use their property.
Question 3: Councilmember McGlashan said that in addition to Council meetings, Councilmembers generally serve on regional committees, attend community events, and meet with community groups, residents, and businesses. He asked how the candidate would balance the time required to serve on the Council with other responsibilities, interests, and activities they may have.
Question 4: Councilmember Roberts asked the candidate to tell the Council about a time when they were on a team and did not like the direction the team was going. He asked what the Candidate’s response was, and what they learned.
Question 5: Councilmember Chang asked the candidate to share how they have familiarized themself with the issues the City Council will be required to address in the next few months, and what are the two primary issues the candidate believes will be most important for the Council to address, whether from those on the current workplan, current Council goals, or new issues the candidate thinks needs to be added.
Question 6: Mayor Hall asked that as Shoreline is increasing in diversity, what will you do to be inclusive of our entire population, especially encouraging residents who may not have previously participated in the City’s Boards, Committees, or Neighborhood Associations?
Question 7: Mayor Hall asked that, if appointed, would the candidate intend to run for election in the Fall?
Candidate #1, Jennifer Greenlee
Question 1: Ms. Greenlee said she is interested in serving on the City Council because she has been a resident since 2011 and has been looking for more opportunities to get involved in the community in which she enjoys living. She said that she is an attorney by education and works for the City of Seattle, so is familiar with the political environment and policy making. She has spent time as an investigator and is capable in decision making after collecting facts and doing research. As a mediator she would bring her listening skills and seeing differing opinions and identifying the underlying issues that cause conflict.
Question 2: Ms. Greenlee replied that it is important to look at the overall impact on the neighborhood and community, not just the individual. She said benefits, economic and other, have to be considered.
Question 3: Ms. Greenlee said that many of her recent obligations outside of work have ended so she would be able to devote time as needed. She elaborated that she has been involved in a statewide committee and a City of Seattle committee for the past several years, but those responsibilities have ended.
Question 4: Ms. Greenlee responded that she did not have a good team environment example but has been in a leadership position where she had to take a group of people from non-productive behaviors and move them towards how the group needed to function. She shared about taking on management of a team at the Washington State Human Rights Commission that had been experiencing conflict and dysfunction, and said she has the ability to listen to people and bring them on board with her vision.
Question 5: Ms. Greenlee explained that she has tried to stay informed about what is going on in Shoreline in several ways, including social media groups, the City Council page and City e-notifications for Council agendas, and watching City Council meetings online. She said the overarching issue she thinks is important is supporting growth and density in a way that is equitable and preserves the character of Shoreline. She elaborated that this topic leads into considerations of traffic and transportation, affordable housing, and making sure the needs of the City are met as the population increases.
Question 6: Ms. Greenlee offered that one of the ways to make connections is to go where the people are and to be willing and open to listening. She said she would not wait for people to come to her, but also would attend community events and gatherings in order to have conversations with residents.
Question 7: Ms. Greenlee replied that she had not decided but was considering the possibility.
Ms. Greenlee concluded stating that someone once told her “if you are not at the table, you are on the menu”. She said when this opportunity presented itself she wanted to be at the table. She explained that in her time in Shoreline she has noticed the changes in the community and said she enjoys all that Shoreline has to offer. She stated that she would like the City to keep its neighborly feel even as it grows.
Candidate #2, David Chen
Question 1: Mr. Chen shared that one of the reasons he wanted to be part of City Council is the perception he has of individuals that share the leadership. He said he grew up in Shoreline, and the City is very special to him. Serving on Council would provide the opportunity to be a conduit to the residents and give them a platform to address their priorities. He elaborated that the underlying strengths of the community and the promotion of civic engagement were important to him. He said he has had the opportunity to serve in many board governance roles, which have similarities to Council’s role. He said he has loved being part of workgroups focusing on affordable and transition housing and homelessness, and that he feels there is a huge confluence in City, non-profit, and private organizations coming together to address these issues.
Question 2: Mr. Chen responded that balancing is really about clarity on expectations and priorities. He referred to the “tragedy of the commons” and explained that it was a situation where public land could be subject to damage or degradation because there is not clarity around ownership. He said he believes in firm private property rights with established and enforced boundaries that do not act as a detriment to the greater community.
Question 3: Mr. Chen thanked his family and friends for all the support he has for childcare, and said it is specifically because of the community building Shoreline promotes that he is able to engage and be involved. He spoke to servant leadership and the benefits of proximity.
Question 4: Mr. Chen said that the hallmarks of any team should be respect and civility. He recommended that in times of disagreement it is best to challenge and improve the process without being contrarian. He spoke to the traits of a good leadership and the importance of standing behind the consensus of the group.
Question 5: Mr. Chen shared that he has spent time reading Council materials and has created a highlighted workplan for familiarizing himself with Council issues. He said that the transparency of the City government has made accessing that information facile. He said major topics for the community include economic resiliency, barriers to entry into permanent housing, and the related ongoing epidemic of addiction.
Question 6: Mr. Chen stated that the first step to being inclusive is understanding the operational definitions in place and how successes are measured. He suggested looking at ways to make small impacts that would increase access to community events and shared his early experiences with helping his family access resources. He said talking to leaders in underserved communities would help target actual needs.
Question 7: Mr. Chen said he intends to run for a Council seat, if appointed. He said it was important to him and his family to serve the community and act as a good role model, offering consistent and sound leadership and creating a legacy for the community. He said he would like the opportunity to have conversations with residents who never thought they would be engaged with the City government.
Mr. Chen concluded that he is honored to be considered for a Council position and thanked Council for their work. He described Shoreline as a “City of Peers”, where everyone has a voice and can, and does, contribute. He said he hopes to leave a legacy of community involvement.
Candidate #3, Betsy Robertson
Question 1: Ms. Robertson stated that her involvement with the City has grown steadily over the last several years, beginning with membership on the Parks Board. She described being able to work on improving a City she is proud of as one of the greatest pleasures of her life. She shared memories of her first connections to Shoreline and said her involvement has made her want to do more for the City, and work on a higher platform. She described herself as an active listener with an ability to understand and authentically represent people from all walks of life.
Question 2: Ms. Robertson said that she is familiar with this problem from her work on the Parks Board. She said people need to be able to do what they want to do on their property, and it is the job of City representatives to inform and educate them on the impact of their decisions. She described the importance of setting reasonable parameters for the health of the community while still protecting individual rights.
Question 3: Ms. Robertson responded that she considers herself an “unofficial evangelist” for Shoreline. She shared her pride in the City and that she would welcome additional opportunities to represent it. She said life is about managing competing priorities and serving on Council would be an important part of her life. She shared the ways in which she handles her time and said she would allocate time in a way that is appropriate to the office.
Question 4: Ms. Robertson reflected on a time she was asked to take on a project that she felt did not align with the values of the organization. She said she asked questions and expressed concerns, but when overruled she executed the assignment to the best of her ability.
Question 5: Ms. Robertson replied that she has spent time looking through previous Council meeting materials and had the advantage of already working on some of the Council’s priorities through her current participation in City business. She said the future of the proposed Community and Aquatics Center is a huge issue. She added that keeping Shoreline affordable and handling homelessness is a critical issue to be discussing as a City and as a region.
Question 6: Ms. Robertson said that it is important to encourage communication and participation whenever possible. She said that she chairs a multicultural event at her daughter’s school and that as a member of the Parks Board she is an advocate for cultural services and believes the City should serve the multitude of cultures it represents.
Question 7: Ms. Robertson said that if appointed, she intends to run for City Council in the Fall.
Ms. Robertson concluded that she is not driven by political ambition and is most comfortable working behind the scenes. She said she is motivated to serve Shoreline and to represent underserved individuals and neighborhoods and to use her strengths to make the city stronger. She offered that there is great value in the experience she has had in working for the City, as she is familiar with City processes and values and has already demonstrated a commitment to service. She explained that her appointment would bring geographic and gender diversity to the Council. She said she lives in a neighborhood where development is being felt, and it is a perspective that must be represented.
Candidate #4, Eben Pobee
Question 1: Mr. Pobee stated that he values joy and inner fulfillment and looks for how he can improve any place he is. He said he has lived in Shoreline for six years and has found it to be a wonderful place. Looking to contribute to the success of the City, he enrolled in the first CityWise class to better understand City operations and strategies. He said he has a passion as a community servant to bring his skills to Council to help make Shoreline a better place.
Question 2: Mr. Pobee replied that impact should be considered in every action an individual decides to take. He said he strongly believes that everyone has a right to use their property as they wish but should evaluate the pros and cons before acting. He said it is the City’s duty to provide education around impact, since people might not be aware of the repercussions of their decisions.
Question 3: Mr. Pobee said that the way a person uses time can be efficient or inefficient, and he is an efficient person. He offered that he would be glad to actively serve on external committees with the best interests of the citizens of Shoreline in mind.
Question 4: Mr. Pobee shared that he has respectfully disagreed with actions on teams he has been on in the past, always with concern for continuing collaboration and achieving a shared purpose. He shared details of his work as a liaison and explained that he kept the contributors focused on working together to achieve a single purpose.
Question 5: Mr. Pobee reflected that reading is a big part of his preparation, and said he also finds value in in-person discussions. He said the two topics of importance to him are messaging of the planned tree retention and replacement for the Sound Transit Light Rail Project and the development of the proposed Community and Aquatics Center.
Question 6: Mr. Pobee said that recently the Shoreline School District released statistics that confirm the increasing diversity in the City. He said he is a strong advocate for inclusion of individuals from different backgrounds, perspectives, and skills and if given the opportunity to serve on Council, he would work to get more people involved. He thanked the Council for hiring a Diversity and Inclusion Manager and in creating the CityWise project, which gave him a great understanding of the internal and external operations of Shoreline’s government.
Question 7: Mr. Pobee said he would run for City Council in the Fall if appointed. He thanked Council and Staff for making such an effort to involve members of the community. He said that he still is aware there are very few people of color around him, although he feels the Council and Staff are doing everything possible to change this. He said that in his conversations with Shoreline residents from Africa he understands that not everyone feels they are heard. He committed to making sure Council’s efforts for diversity would not go to waste if he is appointed.
Mr. Pobee concluded that he was excited to be a candidate and is looking forward to the opportunity to serve.
Candidate #5, Rebeca Rivera, withdrew her candidacy prior to the interviews.
Mayor Hall recessed the meeting at 8:44 p.m. and reconvened it at 8:49 p.m.
Candidate #6, Genevieve Arredondo
Question 1: Ms. Arredondo shared that she is disillusioned with what is happening in national government, and said people are not listening or talking to each other and that large groups of people who are often marginalized are being left out of the conversation or degraded. She said these actions have inspired her to make a difference in her local community, which will have a larger impact on the world. She shared that she was born in Mexico and immigrated to the United States as a child. She said she feels her skills and background would benefit Council by helping connect to the growing immigrant population and engage them in the process and include them in the building of the community.
Question 2: Ms. Arredondo replied that while you want to give credit to the work people have done to obtain property and build their homes, at the same time protecting the environment is integral. She said that it is a balance and depends on the specifics of the issue. She offered that solutions and compromises need to be explored, and if it is an issue that will affect the health and vitality of the greater community then that impact needs to be considered.
Question 3: Ms. Arredondo explained that she currently works part time, so has time to commit to attend meetings, and her husband has a schedule that is flexible enough to support family needs.
Question 4: Ms. Arredondo recounted an experience when a person in leadership took credit for the work of others. Ms. Arredondo shared that she took the time to explain to the person how this was affecting the team. She said that her advice was not taken into account, so in subsequent team meetings she made the effort to create a positive and open environment and highlight the work of her team members.
Question 5: Ms. Arredondo said she has watched past Council meetings, read Vision 2029, familiarized herself with them 2018-2020 Council Goals, and researched the demographics of Shoreline. She said the two goals that stand out to her are racial equity and social justice, which to her includes policing forces having good relationships with the public and regular community connections. She commended Council for the efforts they make to ask for input. She said it is also important to ensure Shoreline has economic vitality to attract both large investors and small businesses and stay a strong community.
Question 6: Ms. Arredondo said she will continue to go to community events and meetings as well as use her Spanish language abilities to reach out to people who may not feel connected. She offered that she would go door-to-door to introduce herself to residents. She said it is important to talk to, include, and invite, as many kinds of people as possible to contribute to the community.
Question 7: Ms. Arredondo said she would run for City Council in the Fall.
Ms. Arredondo concluded by listing the factors that led her to apply for the Council position. She shared her drive to listen to community members and address their needs proactively. She reflected on the impact being an immigrant made on her and said she has spent the majority of her adult life making sure the most marginalized populations have equal access. She addressed the growing concern of the rising cost of living and the need for diverse housing choices. She said it is important to not only provide social services and meet the needs of the growing population but also protect the history of those who have built Shoreline. She described herself as a woman of action who is not daunted by obstacles and described her approach to problem-solving. She spoke to her vision for Shoreline and commitment to doing the work necessary.
(b)
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Evaluate
Candidate Qualifications
RCW 42.30.110(1)(h)
At 9:06 p.m., Mayor Hall recessed the Council into an Executive Session for a period of 30 minutes as authorized by RCW 42.30.110(l)(h) to evaluate the qualifications of a candidate for appointment to elective office. He said the Council is expected to take final action following the Executive Session. There were no Staff in attendance.
At 9:37 p.m. Mayor Hall reconvened the meeting.
(c) Appointing and Oath of Office for New City Councilmember to fill Council Position No. 6
Councilmember Roberts moved that the City Council appoint [ ______ ] to fill the Council position vacated by former Councilmember/Deputy Mayor Jesse Salomon and to serve until a qualified person is elected at the next general election in November 2019. The motion was seconded by Councilmember McGlashan.
Councilmember Chang moved to amend the motion to insert the name Betsy Robertson. The motion was seconded by Councilmember McConnell.
Councilmembers reflected on the high quality of all finalists and thanked them all for offering to bring their skills to City Council. It was noted that Ms. Robertson brings both geographic diversity and prior City/community involvement to the Council.
The amendment carried 6-0.
The main motion as amended was approved unanimously, 6-0.
Jessica Simulcik Smith, City Clerk, administered the oath of office to the newly appointed Councilmember Betsy Robertson.
Councilmember Roberts moved to extend the meeting for ten minutes, which was seconded by Councilmember McConnell, and approved unanimously, 7-0.
(d) Electing a Deputy Mayor
Ms. Simulcik Smith described the process for electing a Deputy Mayor to serve the remainder of the 2018-2019 term.
Councilmember Chang nominated Councilmember McConnell, and Councilmember McGlashan nominated Councilmember Scully.
Councilmember McConnell was elected Deputy Mayor by a vote of 4.
9. ADJOURNMENT
At 10:00 p.m., Mayor Hall declared the meeting adjourned.
/s/Jessica Simulcik Smith, City Clerk