CITY OF SHORELINE

SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL

SUMMARY MINUTES OF WORKSHOP MEETING

Monday, April 17, 2000

6:30 p.m.

Shoreline Conference Center

Mt. Rainier Room

PRESENT: Mayor Jepsen, Deputy Mayor Hansen, Councilmembers Grossman, Lee Montgomery and Ransom

ABSENT: Councilmember Gustafson

1. CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Jepsen, who presided.

2. FLAG SALUTE/ROLL CALL

Mayor Jepsen led the flag salute. Upon roll by the City Clerk, all Councilmembers were present, with the exception of Councilmember Gustafson.

Upon a motion by Deputy Mayor Hansen, seconded by Councilmember Ransom and unanimously carried, Councilmember Gustafson was excused.

3. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT AND FUTURE AGENDAS

Robert Deis, City Manager, said 98 volunteers attended the Volunteer Breakfast. He reported that staff will present Phase 2 of the Development Code to Council during one of the May workshops.

4. COUNCIL REPORTS

Councilmember Lee reported on her attendance at the Regional Water Quality Committee meeting. She said King County is considering the elimination of the fee for the surface water program in unincorporated areas. She noted her opposition to this as another example of an urban subsidy of these areas. She said the Suburban Cities Association (SCA) also opposes this proposal.

Deputy Mayor Hansen reported on the SCA meeting in Algona-Pacific.

Mayor Jepsen noted that the Lake Forest Park City Council may participate in a dinner meeting May 8. He reported on his attendance at the Richmond Beach Community Council meeting, at which the siting of the wastewater treatment plant was discussed. He mentioned that he walked 175^th Street with Public Works staff to discuss how to implement the vision of gateways. He noted ongoing discussions regarding I-5 access for solid waste trucks—he said the trucks currently use 175^th Street and drive over the new sidewalk there.

5. PUBLIC COMMENT

(a) Patty Hale, 16528 8^th Avenue NE, thanked Council for the Volunteer Breakfast. She went on to report the accomplishments of a Shoreline girls fast-pitch softball team, the Shoreline Rage: it has won five consecutive games, and it has qualified for a national birth. She commented that teams in Snohomish County had access to school fields, and she wished the same could be said for Shoreline.

(b) Carol Henry, 17001 Aurora Avenue N, represented Parker’s Casino. She described her efforts to secure a City permit for a pari-mutuel betting operation. She noted conversations with City staff, and she asserted that staff misled, misguided and lied to her. She asked Council to reconsider its moratorium.

(c) Chuck Potter, 419 S 146^th Street, Seattle, represented Emerald Downs. He explained that State law allows the track one off-site betting establishment in each county. He said no county or local government has rejected a satellite site during the previous five years. He noted a lack of problems at such sites. He explained that the previous King County site in Kirkland was inadequate because it could only operate two days each week. He asked Council to reconsider the Parker’s site.

(d) Kevin Haynes, 18045 8^th Avenue NW, supported Parker’s as the Emerald Downs simul-cast site. He commented that the proposal is good for the horse racing industry in the region, which he said is still recovering after near collapse four years ago.

(e) David Osgood, 1411 4^th Street, Suite 1424, Seattle, spoke as the attorney for Parker’s. He noted that King County Superior Court Judge Robert Alsdorf has temporarily restrained the City moratorium. He asserted that the rights of his client vested upon its application for off-track betting on March 8. He said the moratorium is in contravention of Washington State law. He commented that the proposed off-track betting site is good for Parker’s, the City and for the State of Washington. He urged Council to reconsider.

(f) Walt Hagen, 711 N 193^rd Street, thanked Council for its position on gambling in Shoreline. He asserted that it is up to the citizens of the community to decide whether to support an off-track betting site in Shoreline. He said Council has represented citizens well in this case.

Mayor Jepsen expressed support for the Shoreline Rage. He mentioned that the City and School District are working to draft a memorandum of understanding to improve access to facilities. Mr. Deis said the School Board will consider draft language for the memorandum of understanding at a workshop May 1.

Mayor Jepsen said the City is required by law to hold a public hearing on the moratorium on locating satellite pari-mutuel betting establishments within Shoreline within 60 days of the Council decision to enact the moratorium.

Councilmember Ransom commented that the vesting rights of Parker’s will be decided at, or subsequent to, the court hearing on April 20.

6. WORKSHOP ITEMS

(a) North City Sub-Area Plan

Planning and Development Services Director Tim Stewart and Assistant Planning and Development Services Director Anna Kolousek reviewed the staff report and described the process for developing the North City sub-area plan. The proposal includes a five-day design charrette involving the core stakeholder groups—area residents, businesses, financial institutions and developers.

Mayor Jepsen invited public comment.

(1) Ken Howe, 745 N 184^th Street, suggested the Area A-2 annexation process as a model for North City sub-area planning. He said North City residents should have the opportunity to vote on whether the City should prepare a sub-area plan and on any plan subsequently proposed.

(2) Patty Hale, 16528 8^th Avenue NE, spoke as Chair of the Ridgecrest Neighborhood Association. She asserted that the association wants very much to be part of the sub-area planning process, given the inclusion of part of Ridgecrest in the North City sub-area map. She suggested the revision of the map to include all of the business district around 165^th Street and 5^th Avenue NE.

(3) Dennis Lee, 14547 26^th Avenue NE, advocated a strong outreach effort to make sub-area residents feel informed. He commented that residents’ support for the process can lead to the amenities that will integrate the business district and the neighborhood. He stressed the importance of traffic planning.

(4) Gretchen Atkinson, President, North City Business Association, commented that many issues have been addressed, and many decisions already made, in two previous charrettes for the North City business district. She hoped that the proposed process would not be repetitive. She said the association is looking forward to working with the City, but she questioned how many business people who be able to participate in all five days of the proposed charrette. She advocated the inclusion of the North City, Ridgecrest and Briarcrest neighborhood associations in the sub-area planning process.

Councilmember Montgomery asked about the length of the proposed charrette. Ms. Kolousek indicated that the geographic and analytical scope of the previous North City guidelines charrette was minimal. She confirmed that stakeholders may participate in that portion of the charrette focusing on their area of interest alone. Mr. Stewart acknowledged different levels of involvement of different participants. He stressed the importance of a core group that can devote the time and energy necessary for the charrette to produce high-quality results.

In response to Councilmember Lee, Ms. Kolousek outlined the schedule of a typical five-day design charrette: the first "day" is usually an evening meeting to which everyone is invited, followed by three full working days and a final display day for people to talk with the team preparing the information that staff will use to draft subsequent documents.

Councilmember Lee expressed concern that small business owners may not be available for the three full working days. Mr. Stewart noted opportunities for public input after the charrette.

Councilmember Lee asked whether the special overlay district standards will focus on the vicinity of the North City business district. Ms. Kolousek and Mr. Stewart indicated that standards could focus on parts of the sub-area or could apply throughout the sub-area. Mr. Stewart said the sub-area planning process will identify desirable development and then establish regulations to accomplish it.

Mayor Jepsen advocated that the North City sub-area planning process have an immediate impact on the North City business district and 15^th Avenue NE. He noted that the City has committed funding in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for this purpose. He suggested that staff narrow the sub-area to focus on the commercial/ business and multi-family aspects in the sub-area plan. He mentioned the transition between single-family neighborhoods, multi-family housing and neighborhood business as another aspect for inclusion. He said he has not heard strong demand for new design standards for the North City neighborhood.

Councilmember Grossman stressed the importance of participation in the charrette of the developers likely to make the proposal a reality. He questioned whether such developers could participate in a five-day charrette. He encouraged staff to provide opportunities for meaningful contributions in a shorter period of time. He supported Mayor Jepsen’s recommendation to focus the sub-area plan on the North City business district.

In response to Councilmember Grossman, Mr. Stewart confirmed that the sub-area plan will replace that portion of the Comprehensive Plan to which the sub-area plan pertains.

Councilmember Ransom noted his expectation that the sub-area plan would focus on development of the North City business district into a regional or commercial business area and on surrounding mixed-use and multi-family development. He pointed out that the proposed sub-area is much broader. He favored greater concentration on the completion of the economic development project in North City. If the sub-area plan does not restrict itself to the North City business district, he did not feel the Ridgecrest business area at 165^th and 5^th NE should be segregated out, but that the plan should include all of it.

Councilmember Montgomery supported the identification of the North City business district as a primary focus of the sub-area plan given the potential there for economic development. She went on to express support for the inclusion of the surrounding residential neighborhoods in the sub-area plan.

Ms. Kolousek said the overlay district need not include set boundaries nor dictate zoning on absolutely every property. She said the sub-area map was meant to identify a "circle of influence" around an emphasis on the North City business district. She explained that the "hard edges" of the sub-area result from the City limit on the east and I-5 on the west; whereas, the edge is more vague on the south.

Councilmember Grossman supported the key participants that staff has identified for participation in the design charrette.

Deputy Mayor Hansen supported the staff proposal. Noting that detail design will concentrate on the North City business district, he asserted the importance of obtaining input and approval from constituents in the surrounding area. He supported the stakeholder groups that staff has identified for participation.

Mayor Jepsen reiterated that the time demands on participants should be realistic. Acknowledging the value of broad perspective and participation, he identified the North City business district, the surrounding multi-family housing and the interface with surrounding single-family neighborhoods, as the primary focus. He asserted that the sub-area should not be bigger than what the City can afford to consider.

Noting a flyer she had received, Councilmember Lee clarified that Council will never levy a tax on a sub-area to fund improvements unless the taxpayers in the sub-area support and approve the proposal.

In response to Mayor Jepsen, Ms. Kolousek confirmed that staff will present the sub-area proposal to the North City Neighborhood Association and the North City Business Association. She said the City will also mail approximately 200 invitations to participate.

Mayor Jepsen suggested that staff reconsider the length of the charrette in light of Council direction, the availability of participants and the goal to create a sub-area plan that the City can begin to implement using funds budgeted in the CIP.

Mr. Stewart said staff will focus on the North City business district, especially on the relationship of the district and the surrounding neighborhoods. He commented that staff will reconsider the demands on participating stakeholders. Finally, he encouraged Councilmembers to provide staff with the names of people to invite to participate in the process.

In response to Councilmember Ransom, Mr. Stewart said the sub-area plan will inform the City improvements funded in the CIP. He explained the goal to leverage the improvements to encourage economic investment on neighboring private properties.

Mayor Jepsen asserted that the $400,000 currently budgeted in the CIP for North City improvements should fund both design and construction.

(b) Status Update Report for the Aurora Corridor Project

Bill Conner, Public Works Director, Chuck Purnell, City Engineer, and Tim Bevan, Consultant with CH2MHill, presented the staff report. Mr. Purnell briefly reviewed the pre-design study process leading up to Council approval of the preferred alternative in August 1999. Mr. Bevan reviewed the program schedule through construction of the initial segment during 2002 and 2003.

(1) Ken Howe, 745 N 184^th Street, noted past features of Aurora Avenue. He suggested underpasses at 175^th Street and 185^th Street to meet the needs of local traffic. He said air quality on and near Aurora Avenue is currently poor. He asserted that the preferred alternative will concentrate traffic and create longer waits at traffic lights, thereby worsening air quality further.

(2) Kristina Stimson, 2155 NW 201^st Street, read a letter to Council concerning the Aurora Corridor Pre-Design study. She said the needs of Shoreline residents should come before those of north-south through traffic along Aurora Avenue. She advocated that Council give highest priority to the consideration of improvements to ease east-west traffic congestion and to achieve pedestrian safety. She recommended that the City recess the center traffic lanes at critical intersections. She suggested the reevaluation of Alternative 3.

(3) Naomi Hardy, 17256 Greenwood Place N, encouraged Council to consider the neighborhoods immediately adjacent to Aurora Avenue. She supported the emphasis on clean air, surface water and safe habitat. She advocated that the City resolve problems on Aurora Avenue in the right-of-way, rather than move them into the neighborhoods. She strongly opposed opening side streets near Aurora Avenue to additional traffic. She expressed concern about 170^th Street adjacent to Shorewood High School. She noted the impact of Aurora Square on surface water management.

(4) Dennis Lee, 14547 26^th Avenue NE, warned about greater cut-through traffic as drivers seek to circumvent congested intersections. He asserted the need to plan for the greater amounts of east-west traffic likely to result from additional population growth.

(5) Clark Elster, 1720 NE 177^th Street, advocated Alternative 3 as the best way to address commute traffic flowing from the west side of Shoreline to I-5. He recommended lowering Aurora Avenue under 175^th Street and 185^th Street to address congestion at these intersections. He opposed the mid-block U-turns envisioned in the preferred alternative. He said future traffic on Aurora Avenue will exceed the capacity of the preferred alternative.

(6) Walt Hagen, 711 N 193^rd Street, asserted that the preferred alternative improves Aurora Avenue cosmetically without improving the flow of traffic, especially east and west across Aurora Avenue. He noted the potential impact on east-west traffic of the Woodway Highlands development and of the possible siting of a wastewater treatment facility at Pt. Wells. He questioned how the City will create "theme business centers" on Aurora Avenue without removing existing businesses.

In response to Mayor Jepsen, Mr. Conner confirmed that environmental review will begin with the scoping meeting in May and that the survey/mapping, preliminary engineering and environmental review will cover the full length of the Aurora Corridor in Shoreline.

Mayor Jepsen advocated a true linkage of the Aurora Corridor and Interurban Trail projects to minimize disruptions to businesses that adjoin Aurora Avenue and the Interurban Trail. Mr. Conner agreed that staff will add information on the Interurban Trail timeline to the program schedule for the Aurora Corridor. He said he did not know if construction of the Interurban Trail will begin in April 2002.

Mayor Jepsen advocated a scoping meeting to begin the environmental analysis for the Interurban Trail as soon as possible after the May 8 meeting for the Aurora Corridor to insure the coordinated progress of the two projects.

Mayor Jepsen recommended that staff include "Vacate Right-of-way" among the focus items in the current phase of work on the Aurora Corridor. He said the City should take advantage of opportunities to reclaim right-of-way.

Councilmember Lee stressed the need to provide businesses on Aurora Avenue with a clear idea of the next steps of the Aurora Corridor project. Mr. Purnell noted that staff will go door-to-door later in the year to advise business owners of the impacts of the project on their properties. Councilmember Lee advocated the use of translators to overcome language barriers.

In response to Councilmember Ransom, Mr. Purnell explained that the current timeline runs through completion of construction of the first segment of the Aurora Corridor project (between 145^th Street and 165^th Street). He said the City will phase additional construction as additional funding becomes available.

Councilmember Ransom questioned the physical parameters of the first segment. Mr. Purnell said staff has not yet defined the specific limits (e.g., where improvements will begin and end).

In response to Councilmember Ransom, Mr. Conner said the City intends to fund most of the Aurora Corridor project through grant funding. He acknowledged the City needs $46 million more in grant funding for the project.

Councilmember Ransom asked whether staff will seriously consider the changes proposed in public comments. Mr. Conner acknowledged the importance of the issues citizens raised (e.g., east-west traffic flow, air quality). He said staff will do the best it can to address these concerns within the scope of the alternative the City selected in August.

Mayor Jepsen commented that Council adopted, and directed staff to implement, Alternative 2.

Councilmember Ransom noted the lack of participation of Asian business owners in previous phases of the Aurora Corridor project. He asked how the City can overcome the language barrier and other obstacles to their participation. Noting the significance of the Aurora Corridor project as "an engine of change" in Shoreline, Mr. Conner said the City will likely invent processes for collaboration with stakeholders, especially with businesses.

In response to Councilmember Ransom, Mr. Purnell said staff will specifically address the impacts to parking on private properties and impacts to access to private properties. Mr. Conner mentioned that the City has not yet determined the location of the right-of-way.

Councilmember Grossman commented that disruptions are inevitable from a project of the size of the Aurora Corridor Project. He stressed the importance of ongoing communication with those affected.

Referring to the work schedule for preliminary engineering/environmental documenta-tion, Mayor Jepsen identified two key opportunities for staff to verify policy direction with Council: 1) as the right-of-way policies and procedures manual nears completion in August; and 2) as the draft design nears completion in September. Mr. Deis said staff will ask Council to adopt the right-of-way policies and procedures manual.

In response to Mayor Jepsen, Mr. Conner said staff has not specifically planned to prepare an EIS.

(c) Curb Ramp and Sidewalk Repair Update

Mr. Conner reviewed the staff report.

Mayor Jepsen invited public comment.

(1) Patty Hale, 16528 8^th Avenue NE, thanked the City for installing curb ramps and repairing sidewalks to make Shoreline more "walkable." She advocated a City standard to replace street trees that must be removed to repair sidewalks.

(2) Charlotte Haines, 836 NE 194^th Street, thanked the City for installing curb ramps and repairing sidewalks.

Mayor Jepsen supported City attention to Meridian Avenue and 5^th Avenue NE, but he questioned the investment of City funds for sidewalk repairs and curb ramps along 15^th Avenue NE given that the North City sub-area plan could result in significant street alterations within the next year. Mr. Conner proposed the delay of improvements along 15^th Avenue NE until staff can determine whether and how they fit with the North City sub-area plan.

In response to Mr. Deis, Mr. Conner described how staff deals with street trees that disrupt sidewalks. He acknowledged that the City does not have a program to replace trees that staff must remove to repair sidewalks.

Councilmember Grossman commented that most of the curb ramps that staff has proposed to install along 15^th Avenue NE will not be in the area affected by the North City sub-area plan. He advocated that staff attend to the improvements on 15^th Avenue NE beginning in the south. Mr. Conner agreed. He said staff will delay improvements along 15^th Avenue NE in the vicinity of NE 175^th Street until it can determine that they will not be affected by the North City sub-area plan.

Councilmember Montgomery advocated the replacement of street trees the City must remove to repair sidewalks. She commended the curb ramps installed along 185^th Street.

In response to Councilmember Lee, Mr. Conner said the City could include tree replacement costs in the curb ramp and sidewalk repair project. He proposed replacement with six-foot trees of a kind that would put roots down, instead of sideways, and refill the canopy.

Councilmember Ransom supported the replacement of trees. He commended staff for the curb ramp and sidewalk repair program and noted widespread public approval.

7. CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMENT

(a) Patty Hale, 16528 8^th Avenue NE, advocated that the City continue to repair sidewalks and install curb ramps along 15^th Avenue NE south of NE 165^th Street. She commented that the residential neighborhoods included in the North City sub-area map should not become a source of local-improvement-district funding for improvements to the North City business district. She proposed a "service area" map with concentric circles illustrating varying concentrations of service. She advocated renewed focus on the business district.

(b) Gretchen Atkinson, North City Business Association, encouraged Council to continue the repair of sidewalks and installation of curb ramps along 15^th Avenue NE in the vicinity of NE 160^th Street. She said a sub-area plan focused on the North City business district will not affect these sidewalk improvements. She stressed that the improvements are important to public safety.

Mayor Jepsen commented that preparation of the North City sub-area plan should not delay development in North City. He clarified that the City should delay sidewalk repairs and curb ramp installation along 15^th Avenue NE in the North City business district only.

8. EXECUTIVE SESSION

At 9:10 p.m., Mayor Jepsen announced that Council would recess into executive session for five minutes to discuss one item of property acquisition and for 25 minutes to discuss one item of current litigation.

At 9:51 p.m., the executive session concluded, and the workshop meeting reconvened.

9. ADJOURNMENT

At 9:52 p.m., Mayor Jepsen declared the meeting adjourned.

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Sharon Mattioli, CMC
City Clerk