CITY OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL
Monday, October 4, 2021 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) Proclamation of Safe Shoreline Month
Mayor Hall spoke about the importance of implementing emergency preparedness procedures to make the community a safer place.
3. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
The agenda was approved by unanimous consent.
4. REPORT OF CITY MANAGER
Debbie Tarry, City Manager, provided an update on COVID-19 and reported on various City meetings, projects, and events.
Councilmember Roberts moved to excuse Mayor Hall from the September 27, 2021 Council Meeting for personal reasons. The motion was seconded by Councilmember McConnell and approved by unanimous consent.
5. COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember McGlashan shared updates from the recent SeaShore Transportation meeting, which included transit reroutes to serve the newly opened Light Rail Stations, voting on the SeaShore Agreement, and discussing the upcoming legislative agenda.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
Jackie Kurle, Shoreline resident, encouraged ongoing transparency, oversight, and communication to the public in relation to the Enhanced Shelter.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Upon motion by Deputy Mayor Scully and seconded by Councilmember Chang and unanimously carried, 7-0, the following Consent Calendar items were approved:
(a) Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of September 13, 2021
(b) Adoption of Ordinance No. 938 - Authorizing a One-Year Extension to the Right-of-Way Franchise with Frontier Communications Northwest (dba Ziply Fiber) Originally Granted to Verizon Northwest Inc. (Ordinance No. 522) to Construct, Maintain, Operate, Replace, and Repair a Cable System Over, Along, Under, and Through Designated Public Rights-of-way in the City of Shoreline
(c) Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Amendment to the Agreement with the South Correctional Entity (SCORE) Regional Jail for Jail Services
(d) Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Extension of the Current SeaShore Transportation Forum Agreement
8. ACTION ITEMS
(a) Action on Ordinance No. 944 – Amending Ordinance No. 776 and Ordinance No. 694 Amending SMC 3.27 for Property Tax Exemption conditions within the Light Rail Station Subareas and within the MFTE Areas
Nate Daum, Economic Development Program Manager, delivered the staff presentation. Mr. Daum explained the purpose and criteria associated with the Multi Family Tax Exemption (MFTE) Program, which is the City’s primary affordable housing tool that designates residential targeted areas (RTAs). He stated that the current MFTE incentive is a 12-year property tax exemption (PTE) that brings a public benefit of 20 percent of units affordable to renters at 80 percent of Area Median Income (AMI). He listed the RTA locations both with, and without, completed MFTE projects and said the development community has communicated that the limited activity in the Light Rail Station areas is due to the 99-year affordable requirement associated with the 12-year PTE period.
Mr. Daum reviewed Council’s previous discussion about establishing a longer tax exemption period. He summarized the financial impact of a sample 12-year MFTE project and said proposed Ordinance No. 944 covers the extension and expansion of MFTE in Light Rail Station subareas, establishes a 20-year MFTE program, and adopts a 12-year extension for existing 12-year MFTE program projects. In response to Council direction from the previous discussion, he shared information on staff’s work to address the questions and reviewed the resulting three amendments to the proposed Resolution: expanding the MFTE station area RTA to match the entirety of station area boundaries; creating an application fee waiver to switch to a 20-year program; and clarifying 20-year program eligibility criteria regarding scheduled frequency of high-capacity transit.
Councilmember McGlashan moved adoption of Ordinance No. 944 – Amending Ordinance No. 776 and Ordinance No. 694 Amending SMC 3.27 for Property Tax Exemption conditions within the Light Rail Station Subareas and within the MFTE Areas. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Roberts.
Councilmember McGlashan said the City should take advantage of this pilot program opportunity and said he supports the Ordinance as proposed.
Councilmember Roberts moved to replace the map shown in Exhibit A to the Ordinance No. 944 Attachment I, 185th Station Subarea, with a new map as shown in Attachment B to tonight’s staff report and to delete SMC 3.27.030 Attachment H, 145th Street Station Subarea, and replace it with a new map as shown in Attachment C to tonight’s staff report. The motion was seconded by Councilmember McGlashan.
Councilmember Roberts said this matches the Comprehensive Plan zoning for the Station areas and it makes sense to have the MFTE match the Comprehensive Plan. Councilmember McGlashan expressed support for the amendment, saying it will give more ability for property owners and developers to make informed decisions. Mayor Hall agreed, saying if a property is rezoned based on the Comprehensive Plan, then it should enjoy those benefits without additional Council action.
The motion to amend passed unanimously, 7-0.
Councilmember Roberts thanked staff for their work on additional research regarding affordable housing projections. He said in the future he would like the Council to consider if setting the AMI at 70 percent makes more sense for affordability requirements.
Councilmember Roberts moved to amend SMC 3.27.020(c) as shown in Exhibit A to Ordinance No. 944 to add the time parameters of 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. each day of the week to the definition of high-capacity transit which reads as follows: (c) High capacity transit means public transit providing a substantially higher level of passenger capacity and operates with at least 15 minutes scheduled frequency during the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. each weekday”. The motion was seconded by Deputy Mayor Scully.
Councilmember Chang asked if the definition of high-capacity transit matches that of other organizations. Mr. Daum said the City opted to provide additional specificity and Mayor Hall said the clarification helps avoid confusion.
The motion to amend passed unanimously, 7-0.
Councilmember McGlashan moved to add a new section, Section 2, to Ordinance No. 944 and renumber the existing sections accordingly to read as shown on page five of the staff report. The motion was seconded by Deputy Mayor Scully.
Councilmember McGlashan said it makes sense to allow 12-year PTE applications to switch to a 20-year program.
The motion to amend passed unanimously, 7-0.
Mayor Hall thanked staff for working with the legislature and industry and community groups to craft something that works for the community, and he expressed appreciation for the additional information provided in the staff report. He recognized that having projects built, even with the MFTE, is a strong net revenue gain.
The main motion to approve Ordinance No. 944 as amended passed unanimously, 7-0.
(b) Action on Resolution No. 483 – Requiring Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccinations as a Qualification of Employment or Public Service with the City of Shoreline, as a Qualification for Providing Contracted Services at City Facilities, Authorizing the City Manager to Develop Additional Rules and Parameters for Implementing this Requirement, and Establishing a Deadline of Full Vaccination by December 1, 2021
John Norris, Assistant City Manager, delivered the staff presentation. Mr. Norris reviewed the background of discussion of this Resolution and recognized the heightened transmission rates of COVID -19 primarily due to the Delta variant. He summarized the vaccination requirement and to whom it would apply and explained how this potential action has been communicated to employees and Union partners. He stated that administrative procedures will outline the medical/religious exemption process. He concluded by saying that staff recommends adoption of proposed Resolution No. 483.
Councilmember Chang moved to adopt Resolution No. 483. The motion was seconded by Councilmember McConnell.
Councilmember Chang said this Resolution shows employees and members of the public that they are cared for. Mayor Hall concurred.
The motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
9. STUDY ITEMS
(a) Discussion of Ordinance No. 941 - Repealing Shoreline Municipal Code Chapter 9.25 Retail Carryout Bag Regulations Due to State Preemption
Autumn Salamack, Environmental Services Coordinator, delivered the staff presentation. Ms. Salamack reviewed the specifics of the new statewide plastic bag ban. She said the intent of the ban is to reduce pollution by prohibiting single use plastic carryout bags and charging a fee for acceptable bags in retail establishments. She displayed the categories of use to which the ban does not apply, noted the deadline for use of existing single use bag inventory has passed, and said Ecology will begin investigating reports of non-compliance on October 1, 2021.
Ms. Salamack said the key changes for local retailers are the establishment of a pass-through fee increase for paper and plastic bags, a requirement of 20 percent post-consumer recycled content for thick reusable plastic bags, a general prohibition of single use bags for take-out food and liquids, and the implementation of a new reporting platform for non-compliance. She reviewed the ways retailers were notified of these changes and she stated that RCW 70A.530 preempts Shoreline Municipal Code Chapter 9.25, so proposed Ordinance No. 941 repeals Chapter 9.25 in its entirety.
Councilmember Robertson expressed support for Ordinance No. 941. Councilmember Roberts said the biggest thing to be aware of is that the State law preempts the City from enforcing the legislation. Mayor Hall noted that the City legislation regarding plastic bag use has interrupted over eight million single use bags from being used and Deputy Mayor Scully spoke to the benefits of the City’s action. It was agreed that Ordinance No. 941 would return as a Consent Item.
(b) Discussion on Joining the Race to Zero and the Local Governments for Sustainability - ICLEI150
Autumn Salamack, Environmental Services Coordinator, delivered the staff presentation. Ms. Salamack stated that Shoreline was invited to join the Cities Race to Zero through the Local Governments for Sustainability/ICLEI150 commitment form. She said the Cities Race to Zero is an initiative to cut global greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and to zero by 2050. By joining, Shoreline would recognize the global climate emergency, commit to keeping global heating below 1.5 degrees Celsius, commit to inclusive climate action at the center of all urban decision making, and invite other partners to join the City in climate action. She said joining the Cities Race to Zero would support the upcoming update to Shoreline’s Climate Action Plan. She said Shoreline is a current member of ICLEI/Local Government for Sustainability, which is working with cities to join Cities Race to Zero to support the Paris Agreement.
Ms. Salamack said the four requirements of joining the Cities Race to Zero are pledging to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 2050; planning actions to achieve the targets; proceeding with high-impact action during 2021; and publishing and reporting Race to Zero targets, actions, and progress. She listed the benefits of joining the initiative and described the next steps as completing the ICLEI150 Race to Zero Commitment Sign-On form, declaring a climate emergency via resolution, and taking at least one high-impact action in 2021.
Ms. Salamack concluded by stating that joining the Cities Race to Zero would demonstrate Shoreline’s ongoing commitment to climate action and provide a strategic, science-based context for kicking off the Climate Action Plan update and provide technical assistance to help implement actions as soon as possible.
Councilmember Roberts said he supports this concept and asked for examples of potential high impact actions. Ms. Salamack said most revolve around the key areas of reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMTs) in the community; increasing the number of VMTs that come from electric vehicles; increasing the energy efficiency of all buildings in the community; and electrification of new buildings and opportunities to transition existing buildings to electric. It was confirmed that there is no penalty on the City if the goals are not achieved.
Deputy Mayor Scully asked if local government has the power to pass an ordinance or fund a program that could enforce any of the key areas mentioned. He does not see local steps that can be taken to increase electric VMTs. Ms. Salamack agreed that it is a stretch, and said the program is designed for local government, so their actions and strategies are ones they believe can be done at that level.
Councilmember Robertson asked for more information on the expectations surrounding the high impact action requirements. Ms. Salamack said the expectation is that, within a year of joining, Council will identify the actions that will help the City meet the 2030 and 2050 goals. She noted that this would be done in conjunction with the Climate Action Plan update. Councilmember Robertson commented that if the City goes this route, she encourages the City to involve local leaders to build community support. Councilmember Chang said the City may be able to meet two high impact actions, since the energy requirements of new commercial construction is under consideration.
Mayor Hall said he supports this action. It was agreed that joining the Cities Race to Zero would return as a Consent Item.
10. ADJOURNMENT
At 8:18 p.m., Mayor Hall declared the meeting adjourned.
/s/Jessica Simulcik Smith, City Clerk