10/23/00 City Council Minutes

CITY OF SHORELINE

SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL

SUMMARY MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING

Monday, October 23, 2000

7:30 p.m.

Shoreline Conference Center

Mt. Rainier Room

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

ABSENT: Councilmember Montgomery

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

Members of Boy Scout Troop 853 led the flag salute. Upon roll call by the City Clerk, all Councilmembers were present with the exception of Councilmember Montgomery.

Councilmember Lee moved to excuse Councilmember Montgomery. Deputy Mayor Hansen seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

3. REPORT OF CITY MANAGER

City Manager Robert Deis noted the cancellation of the executive session later in the meeting.

Next, Mr. Deis presented the following item for Council to add to the agenda: motion to authorize the Interim City Manager to execute a contract in the amount of $17,500 with Bob Murray and Associates for City Manager recruitment services.

Mr. Deis reported that the Growth Management Hearings Board postponed its hearing on Pt. Wells from today until November 13.

Mr. Deis presented the Council 2000-01 Work Plan. He explained that the document includes a one-page summary of the nine Council goals and four pages of greater detail to explain Council intent regarding each goal.

Councilmember Gustafson advocated the inclusion of the skate park in the detailed description of Council goal number three concerning capital improvement programs. Councilmember Ransom agreed.

Finally, Mr. Deis discussed a memorandum regarding the proposed City contribution toward employee benefits in 2001. Councilmembers expressed support of the proposed contribution amount.

Mayor Jepsen commented that Mr. Deis is leaving to become Deputy County Executive of Sonoma County, California. He and other Councilmembers noted the City's accomplishments during the four years that Mr. Deis served as City Manager. They thanked Mr. Deis for his contributions. Mayor Jepsen presented a plaque on behalf of the City in appreciation for Mr. Deis' outstanding professional service.

Mr. Deis reviewed events during the past four years. He complimented Council for creating a successful organization by providing direction, supporting staff and allowing staff to manage. He noted projects the City has undertaken to revitalize Shoreline. He thanked Council for its support.

4. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None

5. PUBLIC COMMENT

(a) Tim Crawford, 2326 N 155^th Street, read from a letter he received from John Dixon, who identified himself as Plant Steward at Twin Ponds Park. He asked the City to inform him in writing who Mr. Dixon represents.

(b) Ros Bird, President, Shoreline Arts Council, thanked Mr. Deis for his contributions as City Manager. She thanked Council for declaring October National Arts and Humanities Month. She noted recent and upcoming events.

(c) Sharon Cass, 2320 N 149^th Street, commented that Mr. Dixon has threatened neighbors of Twin Ponds Park. She asked why the City allows Mr. Dixon to work at the park. She asserted that in-fill in the park has caused flooding on neighboring properties.

Mr. Deis explained that Mr. Dixon is a volunteer and that he does not represent the City. He expressed concern about the alleged behavior of Mr. Dixon toward neighbors of Twin Ponds Park. He said staff will investigate.

Regarding possible flooding of properties neighboring Twin Ponds Park, he said staff will review the Customer Response Team database and report back to Council.

6. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Councilmember Gustafson moved to approve the agenda. Councilmember Grossman seconded the motion.

Councilmember Lee moved to transfer item 8 (b) to the consent calendar as item 7 (f) and to add an item authorizing the Interim City Manager to execute a contract in the amount of $17,500 with Bob Murray and Associates for City Manager recruitment services as the new 8 (b). Deputy Mayor Hansen seconded the motion.

Deputy Mayor Hansen clarified his preference to add the new item to the consent calendar.

Deputy Mayor Hansen withdrew his second.

Councilmember Lee restated her motion to transfer item 8 (b) to the consent calendar as item 7 (f) and to add an item authorizing the Interim City Manager to execute a contract in the amount of $17,500 with Bob Murray and Associates for City Manager recruitment services as 7 (g). Deputy Mayor Hansen seconded the restated motion, which carried unanimously.

A vote was taken on the motion to approve the agenda, as amended, which carried unanimously.

7. CONSENT CALENDAR

Deputy Mayor Hansen moved that Council approve the consent calendar. Councilmember Gustafson seconded the motion, which carried 6-0, and the following items were approved:

Minutes of Workshop of October 2, 2000
Minutes of Dinner Meeting of October 9, 2000

Approval of expenses and payroll as of October 5, 2000 in the amount of $1,515,110.57

Motion to authorize a $3,000 expenditure of Mini-Grant funds for the Echo Lake Neighborhood Association to purchase benches and picnic tables for Shoreline Park

Motion to authorize expenditure of $5,000 in Mini-Grant funds for the Ridgecrest Neighborhood Association to purchase trees for the Ridgecrest Neighborhood

Resolution No. 170 adopting Revisions to the Personnel Policies and Code of Ethics for the City of Shoreline to correct and clarify policy related to financial conflicts

Motion to approve the agreement for services of an Interim City Manager and to authorize the Mayor to execute the agreement

Ordinance No. 250 amending Shoreline Municipal Code Section 9.05.010 defining public disturbance noise to exempt certain emergency activities and activities within the City right-of-way

Motion to authorize the Interim City Manager to execute a contract in the amount of $17,500 with Bob Murray and Associates for City Manager recruitment services

8. ACTION ITEMS: OTHER ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS

(a) Report and Recommendations by the Shoreline Fire Department regarding the Proposed Emergency Medical Services Levy

J. B. Smith, Chief, Shoreline Fire Department introduced Commissioners Jon Kennison and Scott Keeny. He went on to review the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) 2002 Task Force Update.

Mayor Jepsen expressed support of Chief Smith's recommendations. He thanked Chief Smith for representing Shoreline on the task force.

In response to Councilmember Gustafson, Chief Smith explained that Advanced Life Support (ALS) units transport patients in life-threatening situations at no charge. He said commercial ambulance companies transport many of the patients who receive Basic Life Support (BLS), and they charge for the service. He commented that the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system could "drive out" commercial ambulance companies if it used transport fees as a funding mechanism. He said the EMS system would then face the increased costs of providing secondary ambulance services or the possibility that it would have an insufficient number of transport vehicles to respond to a major emergency.

Councilmember Ransom questioned the recommendation for a minimum six-year levy term instead of for permanent funding. He asserted that paramedic services in King County are essential, and he advocated more permanent funding with periodic adjustments as necessary. Chief Smith said he also supports permanent funding. He explained that elected officials participating on the task force wanted to reassess and provide input about the system on a regular basis given that it is based on property taxes.

In response to Councilmember Ransom, Chief Smith explained that under the proposed plan the County will fund the operation of another ALS unit in Shoreline during peak hours, 12 hours a day. He said the Shoreline Fire Department hopes to keep the unit in operation 24 hours a day "through creative staffing and financing."

Councilmember Grossman asked about community education to enable the public to better understand when to call for EMS and, thereby, assist in the appropriate allocation of limited EMS resources. Chief Smith said the Shoreline Fire Department added a staff member last year to provide information and education in the community. He mentioned initiatives in the strategic plan to improve training and protocols for dispatchers. On the other hand, he stressed that many people who should call for EMS do not do so. For example, he noted a program to educate the elderly about how to respond to chest pain.

Councilmember Grossman mentioned the issue of diversity awareness. He noted the sensitivity of some cultures about the kinds of services. He commented on the differing levels of awareness about the financial implications of calling for EMS.

Mayor Jepsen confirmed Council consensus in support of the recommendations in the EMS 2002 Task Force Update:

A minimum six-year levy term;
A future study of transport fees with no implementation during the next levy period;
ALS unit growth needs, including an additional half unit for Shoreline Fire Department; and
The need for Consumer Price Index (CPI) based funding increases to prevent cost shifting.

(c) Transmittal of the 2001 City of Shoreline Budget

Finance Director Debbie Tarry reviewed the impacts on the 2000 City budget of the passage of Initiative 695 (I-695). She then reviewed the ramifications of Initiative 722 (I-722). She went on to discuss the implications of each of the following four scenarios:

If voters pass I-722, and the State Supreme Court finds I-695 Constitutional;
If voters pass I-722, and the State Supreme Court finds I-695 Unconstitutional;
If voters do not pass I-722, and the State Supreme Court finds I-695 Constitutional; and
If voters do not pass I-722, and the State Supreme Court finds I-695 Unconstitutional.

If it were necessary to use expenditure reductions alone to offset lost revenues under the first scenario, Ms. Tarry estimated reductions of approximately five percent in the Public Safety budget and approximately 20 percent in all other department budgets. Mr. Deis said these amounts are comparable to the expenditure reductions that staff identified last year to offset revenue losses due to passage of I-695. He mentioned that five percent of the Public Safety budget equals $300,000, which represents three full-time officer positions.

Mr. Deis reviewed the criteria for 2001 budget decision making. He went on to review key priorities in the 2001 budget. He also reviewed elements of the 2001 budget that represent major changes in fund level over the 2000 budget.

Mr. Deis attributed the increase in the size of the City budget, from roughly $67 million in 2000 to roughly $80 million in 2001, to an increase in capital spending of over $12 million. He stressed two variables that could affect the implementation of the third year of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP): 1) federal review of City plans for compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA); and 2) potential property purchases (e.g., for right-of-way).

Reviewing 2000 property tax rates in Shoreline, Mr. Deis commented that the City accounts for only 10.4 percent of property owners' tax bills. Mr. Deis went on to review the schedule of the budget workshops November 6 and 13, and November 20 if necessary.

9. CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMENT: None

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Cancelled

11. ADJOURNMENT

At 9:25 p.m., Mayor Jepsen declared the meeting adjourned.

___________________________
Sharon Mattioli, CMC
City Clerk