CITY OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL
Monday, August 10, 2020 Held Remotely via Zoom
7:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Mayor Hall, Deputy Mayor Scully, Councilmembers McConnell, McGlashan, Chang, Robertson, 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. ROLL CALL
Upon roll call by the City Clerk, all Councilmembers were present.
(a) Proclaiming “Celebrate Shoreline”
Mayor Hall said Shoreline is celebrating its 25th Birthday this month and spoke to the continued work in developing the City. He said that due to the guidelines against large gatherings during the pandemic, the City will not be hosting the normal celebratory events and he described the alternative ways the City is recognizing this milestone.
3. REPORT OF CITY MANAGER
John Norris, Assistant City Manager, shared an update on COVID-19 and provided reports and updates on various City meetings, projects and events. He described the events scheduled to “Celebrate Shoreline” and listed ways people can get involved.
4. COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember McConnell said she attended a joint meeting of the three Transportation Forums and said it was announced that King County Metro is in the midst of a General Manager transition. She shared updates on impacts to the transportation entities related to repercussions of COVID-19.
Deputy Mayor Scully said he attended one of the last meetings of the current iteration of the All Home Coordinating Committee. He said there continues to be a push for completion of the Regional Action Plan. He is not hopeful that there will be significant change in the level of service provided to North King County because this area has a lower proportion of homeless people than other parts of the County.
Councilmember Chang said she served on a panel discussion at Metro’s annual meeting and had the opportunity to express how much Metro services and transit-oriented development are an essential part of the City’s economy.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
Corinne McKisson, Shoreline resident and Program Manager at COMPASS Housing Alliance at Ronald Commons, spoke on behalf of the community members who are without permanent shelter. She expressed support for the proposed shelter and described it as a successful model to fulfill a great unmet need.
David Lowe, Kenmore resident, spoke as a representative of the Kenmore/Bothell interfaith group. He shared his experiences working with Lake City Partners in hosting a temporary winter shelter and spoke in support of the proposed homeless shelter.
Meghan Peterka, Shoreline resident, shared that she is hearing an ‘us vs. them’ mentality in the community. She said it would be wise to recognize each other as friends and allies, and engage and participate with one another.
Stephanie Henry, Shoreline resident, said she has been the co-coordinator for the shelter at Ronald United Methodist Church and has volunteered at the Shoreline Emergency Shelter. She said the unhoused in the community should not have to uproot their connections and that a permanent shelter on the transit corridor is a critically needed resource. The opportunity at the Oaks is a perfect situation and she urged the Council to take the necessary steps to proceed with it.
Dawn Jordan, Shoreline resident, said her Black and Indigenous daughter was the victim of a retaliatory hate crime by an adult after peacefully protesting in her neighborhood. She said that following a community rally in support of her daughter, her family has faced backlash, harassment, and demands to be quiet. She shared the history of her experience in Shoreline and said she has never felt safe here. She said there has been no response from the Shoreline Police Department, and the entire community needs to be held accountable.
Vivian Korneliussen, Shoreline resident, spoke in strong support of the proposed 24/7 homelessness shelter and said it is important to provide stability to homeless people.
Bruce Amundson, Shoreline resident, spoke in support of the proposed gift of public art to the City and encouraged Council to accept the sculpture, explaining that it would complement the efforts to bring art to Aurora Avenue.
Sudeeptha Jothipraka said he supports the creation of a homeless shelter but opposes the proposed location. He said the decision should not be made in isolation, and that due diligence should be done in reviewing its proximity to other amenities in the community.
Joanne Godmintz, Shoreline resident, spoke in opposition of the homeless shelter, as proposed. She referenced her professional experience working with the homeless and mentally ill, and said her preference would be to dedicate the location to create housing for women and children.
Jen Britt commented on the possible closure of the dog park at Fircrest. She said it is very important to her life and encouraged the Council to keep it open.
Diane Pfeil, Shoreline resident, spoke in opposition of rezoning the Oaks Nursing Home parcel. She referenced Senate Bill 582, that would establish new sections to several areas of the Revised Code of Washington, regarding the citing of homeless encampments within 1000 feet of a public or private school or early learning facility. She listed the number of youth-based businesses and facilities near the proposed homeless shelter location and said that the low-barrier, minimum rules approach, may not guarantee the safety of the children who are in close proximity to the facility.
Kathleen Russell, Shoreline resident, spoke on behalf of Save Shoreline Trees. She said they have concern for several conifers at the development taking place at 2355 North 147th Street. She asked the City to explain how protection plans for trees at private construction sites can be enforced in a timely manner.
Stan Ciez, resident of Brier, said the property he owns in Shoreline is near the proposed homeless shelter. He described unnerving incidents that have occurred since the methadone clinic opened nearby and said he has had to install fencing to protect the equipment stored at his property. He said the decision on the shelter seems to be being pushed through quickly.
Gaurav Bansal, Shoreline resident, said he is in favor of a homeless shelter, but not at the proposed location. His concerns include the placement on Aurora and the proximity to a school and a park, and the fact that it may contribute to rising crime in the area.
Stephanie Angelis, Lake Forest Park resident, recognized that Shoreline is on stolen native land. She stated that as a long-time Shoreline resident and property owner, she supports providing housing for the homeless. She spoke in support of Dawn Jordan and her daughter related to the recent racial tensions and police response in their neighborhood. She listed ways in which she is requesting the City to take action in response to these events and urged the Council to use their voices and privilege and speak up.
Mayor Hall stated that there is no place for racism but recognized that it still exists and that there is a lot of work to be done.
6. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
The agenda was approved by unanimous consent.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Upon motion by Deputy Mayor and seconded by Councilmember McGlashan and unanimously carried, 7-0, the following Consent Calendar items were approved:
(a) Approving Minutes of Regular Meeting of June 22, 2020
(b) Approving Expenses and Payroll as of July 24, 2020 in the Amount of $2,222,335.66
(c) Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Conditional Gift Agreement for the Acceptance by Donation of the Sculpture Unofficially Titled “BIG RED”
8. ACTION ITEMS
(a) Public hearing to receive citizens comments on Ordinance No. 893 - Interim Regulations to Allow for Additional Extensions of Application and Permit Deadlines Beyond Those Provided for in SMC Title 20 Due to COVID-19 Impacts
Rachael Markle, Planning Director, delivered the staff presentation. Ms. Markle gave an overview of Ordinance No. 893, reviewed the interim regulations, and described the application and permit extensions that Ordinance No. 893 authorizes for a period of six months.
Mayor Hall opened the Public Hearing. Seeing no public testimony, he closed the Public Hearing. No additional action was taken.
(b) Public hearing to receive citizens comments on Ordinance No. 895 - Interim Regulations for Outdoor Dining
Andrew Bauer, Senior Planner, delivered the staff presentation. Mr. Bauer gave an overview of Ordinance No. 895 and described the interim regulations established for a period of six months.
Mayor Hall opened the Public Hearing. Seeing no public testimony, he closed the Public Hearing. No additional action was taken.
(c) Adopting Resolution No. 464 - Approving the Purchase of Real Property Located on the South Side of North 185th Street, Identified as Short Plat No. 98038, Recording No. 19991105900005; King County Tax Parcel Nos. 7276100015, 7276100016, 7276100017, 7276100018, and 727610TRCT; and Authorizing the City Manager to Take the Necessary Steps to Complete the Property Purchase
Nate Daum, Economic Development Program Manager, delivered the staff presentation. Mr. Daum said this land acquisition flows directly from the Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces (PROS) Plan adopted in 2017. He shared background on the PROS Plan implementation and the association with Council Goals, provided an overview of the grant-supported financing plan, and described the parcels included in the purchase. He stated that Staff recommends the purchase and reviewed the next steps, which include a period for public comment.
Mayor Hall opened the Public Comment period. Seeing no one who wanted to comment, he closed the Public Comment period and recognized there was written comment submitted prior to the meeting.
Councilmember Chang moved to adopt Resolution No. 464, approving the purchase of real property located on the south side of North 185th Street and authorizing the City Manager to take the necessary steps to complete the property purchase. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Robertson.
There was general support expressed for Resolution No. 464.
Councilmember Chang said there are many positives about this acquisition, including location and the fact that it will be paid for by the King County Conservation Futures Tax Grant. She commended staff for the work behind securing this grant to add parkland to our system.
Councilmember Robertson said this is a wonderful addition to the network of parks and she looks forward to the naming process.
Councilmember Roberts said he has long recognized the potential of these parcels, and there is a great opportunity to maximize this natural space.
Councilmember McConnell agreed that this is a wonderful acquisition and conveyed concerns expressed to her about maintenance costs and the preference for expanding open space in areas of the city where it is not as available.
Mayor Hall said the park lands acquired since the 2006 Parks levy has preserved trees and allowed for substantial replanting in the City.
The motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
9. STUDY ITEMS
(a) Update on City Council Goal #5, Action Step #7 - Siting a Shelter/Navigation Center in North King County to Serve Homeless Single Adults
Colleen Kelly, Community Services Manager, delivered the staff report. She was joined by Nora Gierloff, Planner Manager, who was available for Council questions. Ms. Kelly said staff is seeking Council direction related to public outreach and development of interim regulations to allow a Navigation Center to be located at 16357 Aurora Avenue North. She reviewed that Council Goal #5, Action Step #7 is to begin the process of developing partnerships in support of siting a 24/7 shelter/navigation center in North King County. She described the development of a North King County Shelter Task Force and recognized the importance of community outreach as a component of the work.
Ms. Kelly described the developments since early June toward siting the shelter, beginning with notification that the facility would be for sale and the announcement of a State of Washington Commerce Grant specifically focused on expanding shelter capacity around the state. She said these events prompted staff to inquire with King County about including funding to lease or purchase the facility in the Commerce Grant application. King County staff then reached out to King County Housing Authority to discuss the possibility of an acquisition partnership. As additional conversations occurred, the potential to continue moving forward remained plausible. If the project stays on track, a 24/7 navigation center could be up and running by the start of 2021, directly achieving Council’s Goal.
Describing the challenges of the project, Ms. Kelly said the majority of the proposed shelter site is zoned R-48, but homeless shelters are not an allowed use in R-48 or R-18 zones. She acknowledged that the pace at which things are developing has precluded the City from beginning a meaningful dialog with the community before now. And there is a time pressure since King County is seeking assurance that the City supports the proposed use at this site. She said staff recommends capitalizing on these unique circumstances, which center on a site that is basically shelter-ready and could function well within the COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, while working internally to develop and implement a community outreach plan, and develop interim regulations that would allow a Navigation Center to operate on this site. In conclusion, Ms. Kelly listed the proposed next steps if Council concurs with the recommendation to proceed.
Most Councilmembers expressed support for proceeding with the process.
Deputy Mayor Scully said that during his time on the All Home Board he learned a lot about what is important in homelessness support and explained why “housing first” is the most successful approach. He said he supports putting a homeless shelter in Shoreline for humanitarian and public order reasons. The most important part of this proposal is that the City does not pay for it. He recognized the benefits of the site’s proximity to Therapeutic Health Services, the Interurban Trail, and transit, but also acknowledged that this part of the City has a bit of a concentration, so it is important to do outreach and to listen to the public carefully in case anything is being overlooked. He said he cannot picture a more appropriate facility to get people the support and services they need.
Councilmember McConnell said she has identified pros and cons to the proposal and is still considering both. She wants to hear more from her colleagues and take time to read through the comments. She pointed out the location is near the Richmond Highlands fields where youth are present all day. She said on a positive side, it would be a stable use of the property, which has changed ownership several times over the years. She noted there is a fence the separates the property from single family residences, and she hopes it would remain in place. .
Councilmember Robertson acknowledged that this process is happening much faster than anticipated, but that it feels like a gift. She said that the need for a shelter is real, as are the concerns the community is expressing. She said that while housing is priority, support services are also critical. She wants to continue to evaluate the potential impact to the neighborhood.
Councilmember Chang asked if the capacity of the shelter would increase after the social distancing guidelines are lifted, and Ms. Kelly said that there is no plan to increase the number of residents, post-pandemic. Councilmember Chang asked for details on the requirements for entry to the shelter. Ms. Kelly said it would be low-barrier entry, meaning ease of access for as many people as possible. She said there will be a code of conduct that imposes limitations on site. Councilmember Chang asked about the impact on the nearby childcare facilities, and Ms. Gierloff said the current homeless regulations are based on operational considerations, not spacing.
Councilmember Chang confirmed that right now King County is asking if the City would be in support of a shelter/navigation center on the site. Her concern is that King County’s long-term plans include eventually expansion to include supportive housing with a navigation center, so the navigation center would become a permanent part of the City. She said she understands the need and how the pieces have fallen into place, but when she agreed to including this as a Council Goal back in February, she thought Council would be discussing multiple sites and talking about the pros and cons of siting a facility. There are costs that have not been addressed, such as increased police and fire response, and there will be impact on the adjacent neighborhoods, and potentially Shoreline Place. She observed that there has been a lot of focus on rebuilding Shoreline and wondered if siting the shelter this close to the City would damage the potential for development. She said what bothers her the most is if Council gives the okay to proceed tonight, community outreach would happen after the fact. She concluded that she has concerns about concentrating human services in that part of the City and does not feel comfortable proceeding until she has a better understanding of the details and the long-term ramifications.
Councilmember McGlashan said he initially had some major concerns, but now agrees with Deputy Mayor Scully’s observations. He thinks this opportunity has dropped in the City’s lap. He reflected on the ways in which the community has supported those in need and said the current approach of “housing first” will make a difference. He does not want the area to be like Pioneer Square. He said the facility is ideal for the need and although the process is moving fast, any other time when opportunities knock, the Council does whatever they can to take advantage of them.
Councilmember Roberts said many of those who are living without a home in Shoreline are connected to the community and we need to do everything we can to support them, and housing comes first. He said the School District estimates that one student in every classroom has parents who are living in transitory housing. He wondered if there will be more people experiencing homelessness once the eviction moratorium ends. He said it should not be assumed that everyone who is without a home will commit a crime or abuse substances. He recognized that this parcel comes with challenges, but he knows Shoreline is a compassionate and welcoming community.
Mayor Hall said the City has been dealing with homelessness as a crisis for two decades, so while the site may have come up quickly, the issue has not. He said this is a chance for government to act quickly and efficiently but he does not want to shortcut the public process because the impact to neighbors is important to address. He said the Council is committed to the City’s principles of equity and justice, and he spoke about economic justice. He said it will be important to understand how security will be managed. He concluded by asking “if not here, where? If not us, who? If not now, when?” and said this is a chance to make the community a safer place by providing shelter.
Mayor Hall noted that this is not the end of a process, nor a final decision. He asked if anyone on the Council objects to informing King County that they support moving forward with next steps and public outreach.
Councilmember Chang said she does not agree with moving forward without more of a public process. She commented that while there has been a lot of talk about unsheltered children and families, this shelter is designed for single adults from all of North King County. She said she wants to make sure the neighborhood to the west is protected, because this will be a big change for them.
Deputy Mayor Scully asked staff to research the suggestion that the facility would generate an increase in police and fire response, and said since the facility’s current use is as a nursing home, it probably would not see an increase in need for emergency services.
Councilmember Roberts asked what the interim regulations mentioned in the staff report would cover, and what a rezoning process would entail. Ms. Gierloff said it would be a multi-step process, given the timeline that King County has requested. She explained that an interim ordinance would allow time to discuss criteria and conditions that might be included operationally as part of a navigation center. She said given that interim decisions are time limited, there would also need to be a follow up zoning code amendment process during which decisions would be made on the zoning for the property. Councilmember Roberts said he would hope that any application fees would be waived for this site-specific rezone. Ms. Gierloff added that the current underlying Comprehensive Plan would be compatible with the new zoning, so only a zoning change would be needed.
(b) Discussing Ordinance No. 898 - Amending SMC 8.12 Rules for Use of Shoreline Park Facilities
Eric Friedli; Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Director; delivered the staff presentation. He said the Ordinance proposes amendments to the established Park Field and Facility Rental Operations. He listed the facilities included in the facility rental programs and said in 2019 staff undertook a rental process review, which included the development of an operations manual and the review and clean-up of the Shoreline Municipal Code. He gave an overview of the Field and Facilities Rentals Operations Manual and described the efforts toward streamlining the permitting process. He said the PRCS Tree Board and staff recommend approval of Ordinance No. 898 when it returns to Council for action.
Councilmember Robertson commended the work done on streamlining and updating the processes.
It was agreed that the Ordinance would return as a Consent Item.
(c) Discussing the Eastside Off Leash Area Lease Agreement with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
Eric Friedli, Eric Friedli; Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Director; delivered the staff presentation and Nate Daum, Economic Development Program Manager was available for questions. Mr. Friedli reviewed the financial obligations of the new lease agreement, which he said was calculated by a fair market value assessment. The appraisal showed that Fair Market Value is $4,356/month, which is a significant increase from the current lease amount of $200/month. He described the termination policy and said if the decision is made to terminate, staff would recommend establishing James Keough Park as an interim off leash area and described the costs that would be associated with implementing the change. He said staff recommends accepting the lease rate for a limited amount of time until the City can negotiate reasonable rent with the State based on the results of the review appraisal contracted by the City. He offered the alternative approach of terminating the lease and vacating the area and working towards opening an interim off leash park at James Keogh Park, dependent on funding.
Most Councilmembers expressed support for negotiating the rate of the lease agreement.
Councilmember Roberts asked if the City has contacted the City’s Legislative Delegation for support. Mr. Norris replied that Jim Hammond, Intergovernmental Relations Manager, is aware of the issue, but because of the larger issues with the Fircrest Campus, Mr. Hammond is being cautious and is interested in the outcome of tonight’s conversation. Councilmember Roberts said it is a popular and needed park and he likes the idea of the City maintaining a connection with the Fircrest Campus. He said this situation adds things to consider when discussing the next Parks bond.
Councilmember McGlashan asked about how much of James Keough Park would be sited as a dog park. Mr. Friedli said it would be about one third to one half of the property, which is like the size of the Fircrest dog park. Councilmember McGlashan asked if there was any consideration for using the North Hamlin property, as an eastside dog park. Mr. Friedli said James Keogh and Ridgecrest Parks were considered because they were identified as sites for off leash areas in the concept design process several years ago. Councilmember McGlashan said he is a little concerned about the equity of removing an east side dog park. He does not want to site a permanent east side dog park on the west side. He wants to continue the lease, if negotiations have a reasonable outcome, while other east side sites are evaluated.
Councilmember Robertson agreed with the value of keeping a presence at Fircrest but said the rent increase is unsustainable for an extended amount of time. She wants to keep a dog park on the east side, but she would also like to see something done at James Keough, preferably without having to undo it later when other park improvements are made. She supports finding a new location for an east side off leash area as soon as possible if the lease negotiation is not successful. She observed that if dog parks are not available, people will use open spaces and parks that are not designated as such.
Councilmember McConnell said that, because of the drastic rent increase, it seems the State does not want to retain the Shoreline Dog Park as a tenant. She wants to keep a dog park on the east side and would consider continuing the lease if the negotiations were able to drop the lease to $2000 a month or less. She commented that it would not be a good use of funds to spend $75,000 to build an interim dog park
Councilmember Chang agreed that the proposed lease rate is not sustainable. She asked how else DSHS could use the area, based on current zoning. Mr. Daum said any use would have to be in accordance with the Campus designation. He commented that Fircrest is the only Campus Zone that does not yet have a Master Development Plan. Councilmember Chang asked why the increase is so high and about the availability of Ridgecrest during the nearby construction. Mr. Friedli said the land is available but there is only street parking. She said it seems like it should be considered, since it is on the east side. She also noted $75,000 seems like a lot to spend on an interim park.
Deputy Mayor Scully said it is important to have dog parks that are easy to access. He said he is leaning towards doing what we can to keep the current facility open because of the access it provided, although he expressed frustration with the way the State is handling the lease.
Mayor Hall cautioned about using I-5 as the east/west dividing line for Shoreline, since Aurora is closer to the center of the City and pointed out that James Keough Park is east of the center point of the City. He said Council should be careful with the expectation of having every amenity available on both sides of I-5. He said the access to James Keogh Park is not insurmountable. He agreed with Councilmember Robertson’s observation that if off leash dog parks are not available, people will use any park they have access to, but also observed that people who do not follow the leash laws will continue to do so no matter where a dog park is located.
Mayor Hall summarized that a majority of the Council want to keep a dog park east of I-5. He said, based on conversations with State staff, it is his opinion that they do not want the dog park on the Fircrest Campus. He said location is not the biggest priority to him, but it is important to have two year-round off leash dog parks. He echoed Deputy Mayor Scully’s frustration, but he does not want to punish dog owners, so he thinks the City should do everything it can to continue operations at a reasonable cost and immediately beginning the public process of relocation.
Mr. Friedli concluded that he will work with the Economic Development Manager and the Intergovernmental Relations Manager to negotiate a more reasonable lease rate and will start to look closer at potential locations, including Ridgecrest Park.
10. ADJOURNMENT
At 9:52 p.m., Mayor Hall declared the meeting adjourned.
/s/Jessica Simulcik Smith, City Clerk