CITY OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL
SUMMARY MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
Monday, September 11, 2000
7:30 p.m.
Shoreline Conference Center
Mt. Rainier Room
PRESENT: Mayor Jepsen, Deputy Mayor Hansen, Councilmembers Grossman, Gustafson, Montgomery and Ransom
ABSENT: Councilmember Lee
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 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 Councilmember Lee.
Deputy Mayor Hansen moved to excuse Councilmember Lee. Councilmember Gustafson seconded the motion, which carried 6-0.
3. REPORT OF CITY MANAGER
City Manager Robert Deis asked Council to add an executive session at the end of the meeting agenda. He distributed information on "Super Clean Sweep Day 2000," September 16. He mentioned the Hamlin Park Clean-Up September 23 and presentation of the Community Beautification Awards at the September 25 Council meeting.
4. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
(a) Ken Howe, 745 N 184th Street, presented "Pacific Highway History: A Legacy for Shoreline," a display which will be touring Shoreline. He advocated that Council declare Ronald Place and Richmond Highlands Recreation Center as historic landmarks.
(b) Janet Way, 940 NE 147th Street, mentioned a letter she received from Planner Paul MacCready in response to a letter she sent to Mayor Jepsen and Councilmember Lee regarding the Aegis Assisted Living project. Displaying a photograph of a sign at the site of the proposed project, she asserted that the site is park property.
(c) Suzanne Dally, 14741 Aurora Avenue N, objected to the landscaped, 16-foot-wide center median and 12-foot-wide sidewalks, with four-foot-wide landscaped strip, of the Aurora Corridor Project as extravagant and unnecessary.
(d) Veronica Loistl, 1153 N 165th Street, expressed concerns about the Aurora Corridor Project. She commented that the median is unnecessary and that it will cause problems to those attempting to access businesses and neighborhoods. She asserted that 12-foot-wide sidewalks are unnecessary. She requested a thorough review of the drainage along the Aurora Corridor.
Mayor Jepsen thanked Mr. Howe for the touring display.
City Attorney Ian Sievers explained that staff approved an administrative variance for the Aegis Assisted Living project and that the variance has been appealed to the Shoreline Hearing Examiner. He said staff is unaware of any public ownership of the subject property.
Mayor Jepsen clarified that the Aurora Corridor Project includes eight-foot wide sidewalks with four-foot-wide planting strips. He explained that the policies Council adopted for the project allow flexibility regarding sidewalk width. He stressed that the project, including the medians, is still under design.
Mr. Deis said the Citizen Advisory Task Force to the Aurora Corridor Multi-Modal Pre-Design Study recommended the sidewalks and medians to address concerns about safety on Aurora Avenue.
In response to Councilmember Ransom, Mr. Deis agreed to research and report back to Council regarding the 16-foot width of the medians. Councilmember Ransom said representatives of Aurora Avenue businesses have recently expressed concern that the width of the medians could complicate delivery truck access. He asserted the need for additional Council discussion of the medians. Mr. Deis said staff addressed the issue of delivery truck access previously. He asserted that discussion of the locations of breaks in the median is premature given that design work is ongoing.
Councilmember Ransom said consultants to the City have advised Aurora Avenue businesses that the time frame for implementing the sidewalk and planting strip width standards is negotiable but that the standards are not negotiable. Mr. Deis said this concurs with what staff presented to Council.
6. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Councilmember Montgomery moved to approve the agenda, adding an executive session at the end of the meeting. Deputy Mayor Hansen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Montgomery moved approval of the consent calendar. Council-member Ransom seconded the motion, which carried unanimously, and the following items were approved:
Minutes of 2001 Annual Planning and Budget Retreat
Minutes of Workshop of August 21, 2000
Minutes of Dinner Meeting of August 28, 2000
Minutes of Regular Meeting of August 28, 2000
Approval of expenses and payroll as of August 24, 2000 in the amount of $1,096,914.98
Motion to accept the lowest bid for the 2000 Curb Ramp and Sidewalk Repair Program and to authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with West Coast Construction in the amount of $185,766.00 and to execute change orders up to 10% of the original contract amount
8. ACTION ITEMS: PUBLIC HEARINGS
(a) Public hearing to consider citizens' comments on the proposed allocations for the 2001-2002 Health and Human Services Funding Plan
Rob Beem, Health and Human Services Manager, reviewed the staff report on the allocations proposed by the Human Services Allocations Advisory Committee.
Mayor Jepsen opened the public hearing.
(1) Carrie Koelle, 15555 11th Avenue NE, represented the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center. She discussed the services that the agency provides. She expressed appreciation of the funding recommendation for the agency.
(2) Rebecca Waller, represented Senior Services, 1601 Second Avenue, Seattle. She discussed the services that the agency provides. Noting a recent increase in costs, she asserted the importance of the funding recommended for the agency.
(3) Win Hogben, 907 170th Place SE, Bellevue, spoke as Director of Emergency Services for Hopelink. She expressed appreciation of the funding recommended for the agency. She noted that Hopelink is moving its emergency services into Shoreline.
Deputy Mayor Hansen moved to close the public hearing. Councilmember Gustafson seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Motion to approve the recommendations of the Human Services Allocations Advisory Committee for the 2001-2001 Health and Human Services Funding Plan (including General Fund and Community Development Block Grant) and to authorize the City Manager to sign the contracts implementing the approved recommendations
Deputy Mayor Hansen moved to adopt the Human Services Allocations Advisory Committee's recommended 2001-2002 Health and Human Services Funding Plan and the recommended allocations for CDBG Planning/Administration and the King County Housing Repair Fund, as well as the contingency plan, and to authorize the City Manager to enter into agreements for implementing these projects. Council-member Ransom seconded the motion.
Mayor Jepsen commended the work of the Human Services Allocations Advisory Committee. He supported the biannual human services funding cycle.
Councilmember Grossman noted that he serves on the board of directors of the Center for Human Services. He endorsed the human services funding process and the recommendations of the Human Services Allocations Advisory Committee.
Deputy Mayor Hansen expressed support of the Housing Repair Fund.
In response to Deputy Mayor Hansen, Mr. Beem confirmed that loan repayments to the Housing Repair Fund become program income available for reallocation.
Mayor Jepsen noted the improved use of the Housing Repair Fund in Shoreline.
Councilmember Gustafson commended the human services funding process and the work of the Human Services Allocations Advisory Committee. He expressed support of the committee recommendations.
In response to Councilmember Gustafson, Mr. Beem explained that the City seeks completion within two years of the capital projects to which it contributes Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. He said staff is still considering the process the City will use to review capital project funding applications during the second year of each two-year human services funding cycle.
Mr. Deis said staff is researching the designation of such second-year capital funding, together with City funds, toward capital projects to promote economic development.
Councilmember Montgomery noted a letter from Terry Pollard, Director, Shoreline YMCA, in which he declined a capital grant because of encumbrances that would have attached to the property. Mr. Beem asserted that was an unusual situation. He acknowledged the cumbersomeness of using CDBG funds on small capital projects.
Councilmember Gustafson explained that acceptance of the capital grant would have limited the flexibility of the Shoreline YMCA with regard to future development.
A vote was taken on the motion to adopt the Human Services Allocations Committee’s recommended 2001-2002 Health and Human Services Funding Plan and the recommended allocations for CDBG Planning/Administration ($49,990) and the King County Housing Repair Fund ($150,612), as well as the contingency plan, and to authorize the City Manager to enter into agreements for implementing these projects, contingent on the passage of the City of Shoreline budget and the Federal budget. The motion carried 6-0, and the following recommendations were adopted:
Human Services Projects Funded, 2001 and 2002
Senior Services of Seattle/King County:
Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center $ 67,329
Center for Human Services $ 83,925
TeenHope $ 15,000
Crisis Clinic—telephone services $ 5,000
King County Sexual Assault Center $ 4,000
Senior Services of Seattle/KC
Shoreline—congregate meals $ 2,500
East/North Healthy Start $ 9,000
Hopelink—emergency services $ 18,000
Harborview Children’s Response Center $ 5,000
Hopelink—Kenmore Shelter $ 8,000
The Homelessness Project of the Church Council
of Greater Seattle $ 5,000
Food Lifeline $ 5,000
Emergency Feeding Program/Shoreline $ 6,500
Crisis Clinic—Teen Link $ 3,020
TOTAL $237,274
Capital Projects Funded, 2001
Center for Human Services $ 45,000
Shoreline Public Works Dept. $ 71,000
Inland Empire Residential Resources $ 10,000
TOTAL $126,000
9. ACTION ITEMS: OTHER ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS
(a) Motion to adopt the Budget and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Plan Policies
Finance Director Debbie Tarry reviewed the staff report.
Mayor Jepsen invited public comment.
(1) Don Brown, 8727 N 193rd Street, asked if the City is budgeting money to refund the utility taxes it has collected in the event that voters pass Initiative 722 in November.
Councilmember Gustafson moved to adopt the Budget and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Plan Policies. Councilmember Montgomery seconded the motion.
Mr. Deis said he does not plan to include an amount in the proposed 2001 City budget to cover the cost of refunding Shoreline utility taxes. He questioned whether I-722 would withstand a court challenge. He discussed steps the City would take to identify funds should it become necessary to refund utility taxes.
Noting that Council will not adopt the final 2001 City budget until after the November election, Deputy Mayor Hansen said it is unnecessary to include an amount in the proposed budget to cover the cost of refunding utility taxes.
Councilmember Ransom agreed that the courts are not likely, should voters approve I-722, to require the City to refund utility taxes. However, he advocated that staff identify the amount the City would have to refund should it be required to do so. Mr. Deis said he will identify that amount in the transmittal memorandum he includes with the proposed 2001 City budget.
Councilmember Gustafson noted that staff developed two scenarios for the 2000 City budget contingent upon passage of Initiative 695. He asked if it would be prudent to develop two scenarios for the 2001 City budget contingent upon passage of I-722. Mr. Deis said his budget message will address the magnitude of budget cuts necessary to respond if implementation of I-722 were required. He asserted that it would be counter-productive to develop two scenarios again.
Mayor Jepsen highlighted the concurrence between the ten-percent "reserve fund" that Council established and the General Fund Unreserved Fund Balance recommended by the Government Finance Officers Association and the National Advisory Council of State and Local Budgeting. He supported the unreserved fund balance and the General Fund budgeted operating contingency. He questioned the amount proposed for the contingency account within each of the capital funds—he noted that $200,000 represents 6.3 percent of budgeted expenditures in the Surface Water Capital Fund but only 1.3 percent of budgeted expenditures in the Roads Capital Fund. Mr. Deis explained that the contingency accounts will allow staff, with his approval, to spend extra funds on unexpected non-construction related costs to complete a capital project without stopping to obtain Council approval. He offered to report back to Council on the use of contingency account funds.
In response to Councilmember Gustafson, Ms. Tarry said the staff positions participating in the CIP Coordination Team (referenced on page 81 of the Council packet) will remain the same over the development of the CIP.
A vote was taken on the motion to adopt the Budget and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Plan Policies. The motion carried 6-0.
10. CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMENT: None
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 8:45 p.m., Mayor Jepsen announced that Council would recess into executive session for ten minutes to address one item of current litigation.
At 9:06 p.m., the executive session concluded, and the regular meeting reconvened.
12. ADJOURNMENT
At 9:07 p.m., Mayor Jepsen declared the meeting adjourned.
___________________________
Sharon Mattioli, CMC
City Clerk