CITY OF SHORELINE

SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL

SUMMARY MINUTES OF JOINT DINNER MEETING

Monday, May 22, 2000

6:00 p.m.

Shoreline Conference Center

Highlander Room

Shoreline City Council

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

ABSENT: Councilmember Lee

STAFF: Robert Deis, City Manager; Larry Bauman, Assistant City Manager; Kristoff Bauer, Assistant to the City Manager

Lake Forest Park City Council

PRESENT: Mayor Hutchinson, Councilmembers Goss, Herzog, Kiest, Olstad, Sterner, Thompson

ABSENT: Councilmember Armanini

STAFF: Doug Jacobson, City Administrator; Sarah Phillips, Community and Government Affairs Manager

The meeting convened at 6:25 p.m. All Shoreline City Councilmembers were present with the exception of Councilmember Lee. All Lake Forest Park Councilmembers were present with the exception of Councilmember Armanini.

Mayor Jepsen welcomed the guests from Lake Forest Park. He explained the purpose of the meeting to address issues of mutual concern. He noted that such issues include water, the Endangered Species Act, transportation, transit and a Youth Council.

Mayor Jepsen mentioned that the City has been reviewing water services in Shoreline. He asked about the interests of Lake Forest Park in determining future water services.

Robert Deis, City Manager, explained that the City Comprehensive Plan calls for the City to be involved in utility services and to review delivery options. He noted the potential impact on Lake Forest Park, given that the Shoreline Water Department serves both cities.

Mayor Hutchinson said his first question is whether there is a potential benefit to Lake Forest Park customers within the Shoreline Water District. He stressed that Lake Forest Park has an interest in whatever Shoreline decides to do.

Deputy Mayor Hansen commented that the City may eventually be better off operating its own water utility. He noted that the tax revenues that Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) collects from the Shoreline customers it serves go to the City of Seattle budget.

Councilmember Thompson pointed out that the SPU wastewater system is similar to the SPU water system in the manner of deciding who should be the service provider for Lake Forest Park.

Councilmember Kiest inquired as to the benefits of assuming the Shoreline Water District. Kristoff Bauer, Assistant to the City Manager, explained that some costs could be reduced through efficiencies and the reduction of related overhead expenses.

Councilmember Thompson said the Lake Forest Park City Council has not done enough analysis of water services to develop an opinion on the issue.

Doug Jacobson, Lake Forest Park City Administrator, said Lake Forest Park is reserving judgment regarding water services. Regarding the wastewater utility, he noted that the city may want to exercise its option to manage the wastewater utility within Lake Forest Park.

Councilmember Kiest commented that Lake Forest Park citizens are not eager to lose their voting rights in the Shoreline Water District should the City of Shoreline assume the water district. He said those customers believe that they receive a high level of service.

Mr. Deis said the analysis of service should include the amount that customers pay for the level of service they receive. He asserted that cities provide a higher level of oversight and accountability because of the higher level of citizen participation.

Councilmember Grossman said one has to question the decisions of the Shoreline Water District when one considers the policies it is pursuing. He asserted that District plans to use water from Lake Washington are questionable given the unlikely possibility of obtaining the necessary water rights.

Councilmember Ransom questioned the actions of the Shoreline Water District regarding the Cascade Water Alliance.

Councilmember Thompson said Lake Forest Park does not want to be perceived as delaying a decision by Shoreline.

Councilmember Kiest said the city would like to work with the 40 percent of Shoreline Water District customers residing in Lake Forest Park.

Mayor Jepsen asked the Lake Forest Park City Council to consider whether it would like to assess any of the information that City of Shoreline staff has gathered about water services and the Shoreline Water District or whether it wants to wait to respond to City of Shoreline actions.

Councilmember Thompson suggested that Shoreline send Lake Forest Park a formal letter outlining options regarding water services that Shoreline is considering that they wish Lake Forest Park to consider simultaneously.

Councilmember Goss recommended that in the interests of the citizens of each city, both city governments should work towards the goals of the highest, most efficiently run water district.

On another issue, Mayor Hutchinson thanked the Shoreline City Council for making the teen program at the Aldercrest Annex a partnership. He asserted the value of the cities' partnership in Club Kellogg as well. He said he would like to explore a partnership with the City of Shoreline in summer recreation programs in the schools.

Mr. Deis commented that the Shoreline and Lake Forest Park City Councils have similar philosophies: to keep youth active. He noted that the Shoreline City Council has invested in improving youth services.

Noting that Lake Forest Park and Shoreline both have students attending Shorecrest High School and Kellogg Middle School, Councilmember Kiest encouraged the city councils to collaborate on youth programs.

Mayor Jepsen thanked the Lake Forest Park City Council and staff for attending the joint meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

 

 

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Larry Bauman, Assistant City Manager