CITY OF SHORELINE

SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL

SUMMARY MINUTES OF WORKSHOP MEETING

Monday, July 17, 2000

6:30 p.m.

Shoreline Conference Center

Mt. Rainier Room

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

ABSENT: Councilmembers Gustafson and Montgomery

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 call by the City Clerk, all Councilmembers were present with the exception of Councilmembers Gustafson and Montgomery.

Councilmember Lee moved to excuse Councilmembers Gustafson and Montgomery. Councilmember Ransom seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

3. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT AND FUTURE AGENDAS

Assistant City Manager Larry Bauman discussed a memorandum to Council from Kristoff Bauer, Assistant to the City Manager, concerning the King County Wastewater Services Plan siting process.

Mayor Jepsen noted the five meetings of the Siting Advisory Committee (SAC) beginning July 20. He advocated a more detailed Council discussion of the siting process on or before August 21. He requested Councilmembers' feedback on the Draft Policy Siting Criteria.

Mr. Bauman said Mayor Jepsen and City Manager Robert Deis will meet with Snohomish County Executive Bob Drewel on July 28 to discuss City participation in the Snohomish County Municipal Urban Growth Area (MUGA) process regarding Point Wells.

Mr. Bauman mentioned that Mayor Jepsen, City staff and King County Director of Natural Resources Pam Bissonnette met last week to discuss Snohomish County use of the 1st Avenue NE transfer station during work on a Snohomish County facility. Mayor Jepsen reported that he and staff asserted Council opposition to the proposal in light of the Snohomish County MUGA process, Point Wells and King County's failure to assist the City on these issues. He said Ms. Bissonnette agreed to research these issues and report back to City staff.

Mayor Jepsen said County staff will provide a presentation regarding the master plan process for the Shoreline/1st Avenue NE transfer station to Council in September. He mentioned the potential availability of mitigation funds for cities, such as Shoreline, affected by transfer stations.

Mr. Bauman provided information on the Transportation Reform and Improvement Plan (TRIP 21) proposed by King County Executive Ron Sims.

In response to Councilmember Ransom, Mr. Bauman said bus services that King County Metro suspended in February on routes 302, 314 and 315 will not be restored even if voters approve the proposed 0.03 percent sales tax increase.

Councilmember Ransom confirmed that the proposal will generate a total of $750 milllion over five years, yet the only benefit to Shoreline would appear to be the light rail extension to Northgate.

Mayor Jepsen recalled that Council conditioned its support of the sales tax increase on the restoration of transit services in Shoreline. He supported the recommendation that "King County invests an equivalent amount of service hours that have been lost in Shoreline to be redeployed in Shoreline."

Councilmember Lee asserted that the cuts in non-commuter bus services in February affect people who need the services most: senior citizens and people without vehicles.

Jack Whisner, King County Metro Transit Planner, explained that the $750 million in capital projects funding in the TRIP 21 proposal is from one third (0.01 percent) of the 0.03 percent sales tax increase. He said the proposal designates approximately $350 million to Link light rail and $200 million each to the south and east King County areas. He described a proposal to restructure bus services by reconfiguring routes to restore transit coverage that King County Metro cut in February.

In response to Mr. Bauman, Mr. Whisner said the proposed restructuring will not occur if either the County Council decides not to place the TRIP 21 proposal on the ballot or the ballot measure fails. He noted the likelihood of further transit service cuts if the ballot measure fails. He explained the combination of revenues and savings needed to make up the revenues lost after passage of Initiative 695: revenues from two thirds of the proposed 0.03 percent sales tax increase; the reduction of 135,000 annual hours of service; administrative reductions; and increased fares.

Councilmember Grossman asserted the importance of providing bus services for people who cannot afford automotive transportation.

Finally, Mr. Bauman provided an update on construction of the new Richmond Beach Library. He said crews completed excavation for the building pad. He noted a delay: the concrete subcontractor will not start work at the site until tomorrow.

4. COUNCIL REPORTS:

Councilmember Lee said she attended the July 13 meeting of the Regional Water Quality Committee. She mentioned that Council will receive copies of materials she received on the Endangered Species Act.

Councilmember Grossman expressed his appreciation for the perseverance of those pursuing mass transit in the Puget Sound region in light of the traffic congestion he recently experienced on Interstate 5 in Los Angeles, California. Also, he mentioned his efforts to increase his participation on the King County Economic Development Council.

Noting his participation on the King County Jail Advisory Committee, Councilmember Ransom said the County will increase jail costs seven percent while decreasing jail services. He suggested that the City consider participating with one of the suburban cities that provides jail services. Also, he mentioned his participation in the Association of Washington Cities Conference in Spokane.

Councilmember Lee reported that she and City staff met with members of the Shoreline Korean community August 11.

5. PUBLIC COMMENT

(a) Terry Green, 613 N 179th Street, represented the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce. She requested that the City renew discussions about joint funding of a part-time staff position to enhance the Chamber's tourist and information center.

(b) Bill Clemens, 19704 21st Avenue NW, thanked Council, and Mayor Jepsen in particular, for City involvement in the King County Wastewater Services Plan siting process. He expressed concern that the criteria of the siting process may be insufficient to meet the needs of Shoreline.

Mayor Jepsen suggested that Council discuss the request of the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce at its upcoming retreat. He expressed appreciation for Mr. Clemens' comments, and he encouraged citizens to attend the SAC meetings.

6. WORKSHOP ITEMS

(a) Code Enforcement Program

Tim Stewart, Planning and Development Services Director, provided a brief history of the City code enforcement program. Code Enforcement Officer Sherri Dugdale discussed the current code enforcement case load, the categories of cases and possible proactive projects (given case history, the current case load and the results of a community code enforcement survey). She went on to review specific case studies.

Mayor Jepsen asked about potential proactive projects. Mr. Stewart said staff has identified junk cars/right-of-way and sub-standard housing (particularly abandoned housing) as areas of potential focus. He requested Council input. He said staff can then prepare a proposal for consideration during the Council retreat. Mayor Jepsen asserted the difficulty of choosing areas of focus. He noted that he is more aware of debris and garbage than cases of sub-standard housing but that debris and garbage are much less serious than sub-standard housing, which concerns issues of life and safety.

Councilmember Grossman agreed that the City should address life and safety issues first. He suggested involving the Council of Neighborhoods in a proactive code enforcement project.

Mayor Jepsen asserted the importance of "Strike 2 or 3" enforcement and acknowledged the cost in City resources. He said code enforcement may become easier as the City establishes its expectations for code compliance.

In response to Councilmember Ransom, Ms. Dugdale said Shoreline Police handle noise complaints concerning barking dogs and car alarms.

Councilmember Ransom said citizens have asked if City staff conducts routine, systematic checks throughout Shoreline to identify "trouble spots" (e.g., junk cars). He asked if staff maintains the anonymity of complainants. Ms. Dugdale explained that staff operates on a complaint basis. She said staff accepts and responds to anonymous complaints.

Councilmember Lee asserted that health and safety issues should be the City's first priority in code enforcement. She commented that a backlog of open cases is inevitable given Customer Response Team (CRT) services.

Councilmember Grossman encouraged citizens to discuss problems with their neighbors.

(b) Budget and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Plan Policies

Finance Director Debbie Tarry explained that staff is reviewing the Financial Management Policies that Council adopted in 1995. She said staff will present revisions and enhancement for Council consideration and adoption over the next year. She went on to discuss the Budget and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Plan policies and recommended changes by staff.

In response to Councilmember Lee, Ms. Tarry confirmed that most of the changes to the Budget and CIP Plan policies represent the formalization into one document of policies the City already follows.

In response to Councilmember Lee, Ms. Tarry said laws allow the City to include funding for ongoing maintenance and operation in the budgets for particular CIP projects. She noted that staff is proposing a policy to require that CIP projects include funding plans for maintenance and operating costs. She acknowledged that City CIP projects have not previously included such funding plans.

In response to Councilmember Ransom, Ms. Tarry said staff will identify anticipated maintenance and operation costs of CIP projects within the six-year CIP. She confirmed that the City will still use General Fund revenues to cover maintenance costs. Mr. Bauman said the City will not build anything for which it cannot identify funding to cover ongoing maintenance and operation.

Councilmember Ransom noted that the cost to maintain ball fields is approximately $7,000 per acre. He said City plans to develop additional ball fields must address the ongoing costs to maintain them.

Mayor Jepsen commented that capital projects already include contingency amounts. He asked if the capital contingency accounts that staff proposes to budget within the capital improvement funds duplicate these amounts. Ms. Tarry said the 2000 City budget included separate capital contingency accounts. She explained the intent to set aside sufficient funds to allow the City to address unexpected changes and proceed on a normal course of business. Continuing, she said the City has maintained an unreserved fund balance of ten percent in each operating fund. She explained that staff proposes to decrease these to five percent given the limited purpose of the funds and the stability of the revenue sources.

Mayor Jepsen supported the policies proposed for the operating funds, but he asserted that the contingency accounts proposed for the three capital improvement funds seem excessive.

Councilmember Ransom said annual revenues to the Street, Arterial Street and Surface Water Management Funds have regularly exceeded transfers to capital and operating funds, creating reserves for projects.

Mayor Jepsen explained his understanding that the City budgeted projects annually that fit the annual budget (i.e., expenses did not exceed revenues). He did not remember a policy of City expenses being ten percent less than revenues. Councilmember Lee and Deputy Mayor Hansen concurred.

With regard to capital funds, Deputy Mayor Hansen asserted that the City will always have more demand for projects than it can fund. He said the City will continue contingency budgeting based on the funds available and project priorities.

In response to Councilmember Ransom, Ms. Tarry confirmed that under the proposed policies a Surface Water Management Operating Fund of $2 million would include $100,000 not obligated for expenditures.

Councilmember Ransom noted that the City receives approximately $500,000 annually in surface water management revenues and that the surface water capital improvement fund once contained $3 million. He asked if the proposed policies require the City to maintain ten percent of the $500,000 or of the $3 million. Ms. Tarry explained that the proposed policies require the City to maintain ten percent of the amount budgeted in the current year. For example, she said the contingency account in the surface water management capital improvement fund would total $50,000 in a year in which the City budgeted to spend $500,000. She reiterated that the contingency is intended to address any unanticipated impacts of the capital project.

Noting that capital improvement projects each include ten percent contingencies, Councilmember Lee expressed concern about adding a ten percent contingency account within each capital improvement fund.

Mayor Jepsen questioned whether the proposed policies to add a ten percent contingency account within each capital improvement fund and a five percent unreserved fund balance in each operating fund were too financially conservative. He suggested that staff provide additional information regarding these proposed policies.

Councilmember Ransom suggested that Council consider creating a building fund within the City budget. Mayor Jepsen said the City has included a City Hall project within the budget. Ms. Tarry noted the inclusion of this project in the General Capital Fund.

Councilmember Grossman expressed concern that overly conservative financial policies could limit the short-term operating ability of the City.

Deputy Mayor Hansen pointed out that the City generally allocates unexpended funds at the end of each year to capital funds. He said conservative financial policies do not necessarily mean the City is trying to save up money. He commented that the City is trying to operate as efficiently as it reasonably can.

Councilmember Grossman said the City should be cautious not to set aside reserve funds to do something that it could accomplish more efficiently through the debt market without sacrificing services to citizens.

Mayor Jepsen said Council will address the budget process during its upcoming retreat and during the fall.

7. CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMENT: None

8. ADJOURNMENT

At 8:16 p.m., Mayor Jepsen declared the meeting adjourned.

 

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Sharon Mattioli, CMC
City Clerk