CITY OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL
SUMMARY MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
Monday, October 9, 2000
7:30 p.m.
Shoreline Conference Center
Mt. Rainier Room
PRESENT: Mayor Jepsen, Deputy Mayor Hansen, Councilmembers Grossman, Gustafson, Lee, Montgomery and Ransom
ABSENT: None
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 Montgomery, who arrived shortly thereafter.
3. REPORT OF CITY MANAGER
City Manager Robert Deis noted that Council cancelled its October 16 workshop meeting.
4. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
(a) Frank Moll, 15568 11th Avenue NE, noted his participation on the advisory committee of the North Rehabilitation Facility (NRF). He advised that the NRF buildings are 60 years old and vulnerable to fire. He advocated that Council and City staff help to expedite the construction of a new facility. He mentioned that the Ridgecrest Neighborhood Association supports this request.
Councilmember Montgomery arrived at 7:35 p.m.
(b) Sally Granger, 16804 16th Avenue NE, said she has participated on the NRF advisory committee since 1995. She asserted the excessive costs of running the dilapidated NRF facilities. She quoted from a letter to Governor Gary Locke in which State Representatives Carolyn Edmonds and Ruth Kagi state "The physical condition of the facility poses serious health and safety risks to inmates and staff." She urged the City to expedite the permitting process for new NRF facilities.
(c) Bill Bear, 2541 NE 165th Street, discussed the support of Briarcrest Neighborhood residents of NRF. He mentioned the meeting about the renovation of NRF that the Briarcrest, Ridgecrest and North City Neighborhood Associations sponsored in April. He encouraged the City to support the efforts of NRF to obtain a new building.
Mayor Jepsen said the City is "extremely proud" of its relationship with NRF. He noted a discussion of capital planning and improvements for the NRF facility at a recent meeting with representatives of King County. He asserted that the City is working with the County and the State to facilitate the improvements to the NRF facility.
Mayor Jepsen confirmed Council consensus to suspend the rules to allow U.S. Representative Jay Inslee to speak.
Representative Inslee announced a $6 million line item in a federal transportation appropriations bill for the Aurora Corridor Project. He asserted that the federal government recognizes what the City has been doing, in conjunction with the community, to advance the Aurora Corridor Project. He expressed his support of the project.
Mayor Jepsen thanked Representative Inslee for his work in securing the line item in the appropriations bill.
6. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Councilmember Lee moved approval of the agenda. Councilmember Montgomery seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Gustafson moved approval of the consent calendar. Deputy Mayor Hansen seconded the motion, which carried 7-0, and the following items were approved:
Minutes of Special Meeting of September 18, 2000
Minutes of Regular Meeting of September 25, 2000
Minutes of Joint Dinner Meeting of September 25, 2000
Minutes of Special Joint Workshop of September 21, 2000
Approval of expenses and payroll as of September 20, 2000 in the amount of $1,207,400.59
Motion to authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with Pacific Northwest Title to provide title reports for an amount not to exceed $77,160 for the Aurora Avenue North Corridor Project
8. ACTION ITEMS: OTHER ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS
(a) Ordinance No. 249 granting Metromedia Fiber Network Services, Inc. a franchise to operate an underground fiber optic telecommunications system
Kristoff Bauer, Assistant to the City Manager, reviewed the staff report. He requested that Council adopt Ordinance No. 249 and that Council authorize the City Manager to execute the acceptance agreement included as Attachment B to the staff report.
Councilmember Montgomery moved to adopt Ordinance No. 249 granting Metromedia Fiber Network Services, Inc. a franchise to operate an underground fiber optic telecommunications system and to authorize the City Manager to authorize an acceptance agreement on the City's behalf. Deputy Mayor Hansen seconded the motion.
Councilmember Lee commented that City right-of-way is a limited resource. She expressed concern that Metromedia Fiber Network Services, Inc. (MFNS) could install its system and sell services without any financial commitment to the City. Mr. Bauer reviewed the two fee alternatives included in the franchise ordinance: 1) a six-percent fee on revenues that MFNS generates within Shoreline; and 2) a charge per linear foot. He explained that the proposed acceptance agreement acknowledges the uncertainty in the current situation and preserves the City's rights to enforce its authority as the situation clarifies.
Mr. Deis stressed that future resolution of the franchise fee question in favor of the City will be retroactive to the implementation of the proposed franchise (i.e., the City will collect lost revenues with interest).
Mayor Jepsen asked if the MFNS fiber optic communications cable will interfere with the Aurora Corridor Project. Mr. Bauer said MFNS will be "filling pipe" already existing in the right-of-way.
Councilmember Gustafson supported the proposed ordinance and acceptance agreement as prudent City actions.
In response to Councilmember Gustafson, Mr. Bauer said the proposed ordinance allows MFNS to install fiber optic communications cable as appropriate (e.g., boring, open trenching) given existing infrastructure and City engineering standards. Mr. Deis clarified that along Aurora Avenue MFNS will use the conduit that US Crossing installed previously.
In response to Councilmember Gustafson, Mr. Bauer said it will be a MFNS business decision whether and where to expand its infrastructure beyond the initial construction north on Aurora Avenue and around the Shoreline Park and Ride. He noted the ten-year term of the franchise.
In response to Councilmember Ransom, Mr. Bauer confirmed that the MFNS cabling operation along Aurora Avenue will be much less disruptive than the digging operation that US Crossing carried out previously.
Councilmember Grossman expressed his appreciation for the proposed arrangement. He said it preserves the City's position without unnecessarily hampering a potentially good project.
Mr. Bauer noted a clarification by MFNS Director of Operations Thomas Stames that MFNS will do some digging on Aurora Avenue near 192nd Street where the cable will leave the main trunk line to circle the Shoreline Park and Ride.
Councilmember Gustafson noted the potential value of the MFNS fiber optic communications cable to the location of the Puget Sound Learning Center in a transit oriented development at the Shoreline Park and Ride.
A vote was taken on the motion to adopt Ordinance No. 249 granting Metromedia Fiber Network Services, Inc. a franchise to operate an underground fiber optic telecommunications system and to authorize the City Manager to authorize an acceptance agreement on the City's behalf. The motion carried 7-0.
9. CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMENT
(a) Bill Bear, 2541 NE 165th Street, presented the Briarcrest Neighborhood Association newsletter. He noted the inclusion of a letter to Shorecrest High School students. He mentioned efforts to convene a meeting of neighborhood residents, representatives of Shorecrest High School and City staff to determine a solution to parking problems on 25th Avenue NE.
(b) Edsel Hammond, 18541 Burke Avenue N, expressed concern that the Aurora Corridor Project will drive businesses out of Shoreline and that citizens will have to pay higher taxes to make up the loss in business tax revenues. He noted particular concern about the impact to senior citizens. He said the project is a hardship to businesses on the east side of Aurora Avenue between 175th and 185th Streets. He asked if the City has conducted a study of the tradeoff in costs and benefits of the Aurora Corridor Project. He said the proposed improvements will restrict access to businesses along Aurora.
(c) Jim Greenfield, 1501 4th Avenue, Seattle, represented Metromedia Fiber Network Services, Inc. He thanked the City for its productive attitude. He complimented City staff for finding a way to preserve the City's rights while allowing Metromedia to develop its facilities in Shoreline.
Councilmember Gustafson recommended that the Briarcrest Neighborhood Association invite the new principal and the student council leaders of Shorecrest High School to an association meeting and that association representatives attend a student council meeting to initiate interaction.
Mayor Jepsen commented that the City of Shoreline does not receive a lot of business tax revenues.
Deputy Mayor Hansen said he would not support the Aurora Corridor Project if he thought it would drive businesses out of Shoreline. He asserted that the project will support more business in the long run, thereby making the City less dependent on residential property taxes. He acknowledged the potential for displacement or disruption of businesses. He expressed his hope that the City will assist the businesses that the project affects.
Mayor Jepsen pointed out that the businesses on the east side of Aurora Avenue between 175th and 185th Streets currently have month-to-month leases with Seattle City Light. He went on to note Council commitment to study the number and location of left-turn lanes and U-turns. He asserted that the Aurora Corridor Project will organize the right-of-way to help people "make sense out of the traffic pattern."
Deputy Mayor Hansen stressed the importance of safety on Aurora Avenue. He asserted the value of medians and islands to increasing safety. He opposed a "solid median" the length of Aurora Avenue in Shoreline.
Councilmember Ransom said original proposals described medians of 600-800 feet in length. He asserted that businesses are concerned about medians of this length. He commented that businesses, including sales tax equalization, have provided 65 to 70 percent of City income. He mentioned that most sales tax revenue in Shoreline comes from businesses along Aurora Avenue and in Aurora Square and Aurora Village. He noted the significance of car dealerships and of gambling tax revenues from gambling establishments along Aurora Avenue.
Councilmember Lee said a lot of study, research and analysis has gone into the Aurora Corridor Project, including the consideration of similar projects in other cities. She noted that such projects in other cities have improved business vitality.
Mayor Jepsen commented that City budget revenues derive from property taxes, sales taxes (for which the City depends largely on sales tax equalization) and miscellaneous sources. He asserted that the majority of businesses that contribute to these funding sources will not be affected by the Aurora Corridor Project.
Noting his experience as a commercial real estate broker, Councilmember Grossman said many developers will be interested in commercial projects in Shoreline once the Aurora Corridor Project is underway. He asserted that such projects will create a larger property tax base and generate more sales tax revenue, thereby easing pressure on residential property tax payers. In addition, he said such projects will create more attractive businesses adjacent to residential neighborhoods. He noted the City's intent to proceed conscientiously and to support existing businesses.
10. ADJOURNMENT
At 8:21 p.m., Mayor Jepsen declared the meeting adjourned.
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Sharon Mattioli, CMC
City Clerk