CITY OF SHORELINE

SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL

SUMMARY MINUTES OF WORKSHOP MEETING

Monday, March 5, 2001

6:30 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 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Jepsen, who presided.

2. FLAG SALUTE/ROLL CALL

Mayor Jepsen led the flag salute. Upon roll by the City Clerk, all Councilmembers were present, with the exception of Councilmember Lee.

3. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT AND FUTURE AGENDAS

Interim City Manager Larry Bauman provided an update on the minimal damage to City infrastructure and facilities from the February 28 earthquake. He said staff has identified communications problems that occurred after the earthquake for attention and resolution. He also reported that Paramount Park Neighborhood Group, Inc. and Howland Homes each submitted appeals of the grading permit and State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) determination of nonsignificance for the Paramount School Park Improvements. He concluded by noting two community meetings: March 6 to discuss the transit-oriented development (TOD) at 192nd Street N and Aurora Avenue N; and March 14 regarding the 3rd Avenue NW Drainage Improvements.

4. COUNCIL REPORTS

Councilmember Ransom reported on a session on water districts and water issues at the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) legislative conference. He discussed the concerns that legislators expressed about the State financial situation.

Councilmember Montgomery reported that Councilmember Grossman will replace her on the Seashore Transportation Forum. She attended the February 21 meeting, at which King Country Metro Transit Planner Jack Whisner anticipated that bus route 358 will change in June from 20-minute to 15-minute headways Monday through Friday and from 30-minute to 20-minute headways on Sundays. She said Metro is considering the consolidation of bus routes 318 and 302.

Continuing, Councilmember Montgomery said she attended the forum on Sound Transit that the Suburban Cities Association (SCA) sponsored February 23. She reported that representatives of People for Modern Transit, which formed in 1996 and which recently reorganized, spoke at the forum. Joni Earl, Sound Transit Acting Executive Director, also addressed the forum.

Mayor Jepsen recommended continued advocacy of the restoration of Metro bus service levels in Shoreline to the levels that existed prior to passage of Initiative 695.

Deputy Mayor Hansen noted his participation at the AWC legislative conference and in SCA efforts to develop a strategic plan.

Mayor Jepsen reported that he and the mayors of Bothell, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore and Woodinville held their first monthly meeting to discuss issues of common interest. The first meeting concerned alternatives following the dissolution of the Human Services Roundtable. He went on to provide brief updates on the City Manager selection process and the King County Brightwater Treament Facility siting process.

5. PUBLIC COMMENT

(a) Tim Crawford, 2326 N 155th Street, represented Twin Ponds Fish Friends. He read a letter to the City from Douglas G. Hennick, Area Habitat Biologist, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding Thornton Creek.

(b) Patty Crawford, 2326 N 155th Street, represented Twin Ponds Fish Friends. She questioned the assertion of Aegis Assisted Living that it is improving Thornton Creek habitat. She advocated that the City clarify its treatment of stream-side property owners.

(c) Mark Chomos, 1406 NW Richmond Beach Road #2, described his recent interaction with a Shoreline Police Officer and complimented the City on the quality of the Shoreline Police Department.

(d) Roger Chouinard, 16036 5th Avenue, objected that he did not receive information on rates during the transition to the new garbage collection service. He asserted that Lake Forest Park and Bellevue have considerably better contracts for garbage collection than the contract the City negotiated with Waste Management.

City Attorney Ian Sievers said Mr. Hennick commented on the Aegis Assisted Living project during the application process and at the subsequent appeal hearing. Mr. Sievers explained that the Hearing Examiner denied the appeal and that the matter is now on appeal to King County Superior Court.

Mayor Jepsen acknowledged that some materials published in advance of the transition to the new garbage collection service seemed confusing. He pointed out that, unlike in other jurisdictions, garbage collection service is not mandatory in Shoreline. Mr. Bauman said staff is working with Waste Management to clarify the information the company provides to customers. He said the City contract with Waste Management includes an overall reduction in rates for standard service and a broader range of service options from which customers may choose.

In response to Deputy Mayor Hansen, Interim Assistant City Manager Kristoff Bauer reviewed the competitive process by which the City contracted with Waste Management for garbage collection service. Deputy Mayor Hansen suggested that staff provide copies to citizens of the analyses the City used to select Waste Management.

6. WORKSHOP ITEMS

(a) Subarea Planning 2001

Tim Stewart, Planning and Development Services Director, introduced Planning Manager Kirk McKinley, who reviewed the staff report.

Councilmember Grossman was away from the meeting between 6:56 p.m. and 7:25 p.m.

Mr. McKinley identified the following issues related to the Ronald District Sub-area (Aurora Avenue from N 175th Street to N 192nd Street):

Next, Mr. McKinley noted the following aspects of the Westminster District Sub-area:

Mayor Jepsen questioned the timelines for those Westminster-related activities that staff has indicated will occur without a sub-area plan (page six of the Council packet).

Councilmember Grossman advocated that the City undertake sub-area planning for the Ronald District first. He said the ambiguity of what may happen in the area is causing anxiety for business people involved with it. Also, he contrasted the potential for redevelopment in the Ronald District with the obstacles to redevelopment (e.g., ownership and leasing structures) in the Westminster District.

Mayor Jepsen asserted the need to address both the Ronald District and the Westminster District.

Mr. Stewart explained his view that the land-use issues in the Westminster District seem more localized, related to the parcel owners and the long-range plans for redevelopment. He said the issues in the Ronald District are more external, related to efforts at building consensus among neighboring residents and other stakeholders.

Economic Development Coordinator Jan Briggs said she participates as a team member on the Aurora Corridor Project. She said the City could use federal funds and funds from the Economic Development Project to conduct the following specific analyses of the Westminster area during 2001 in support of the Aurora Corridor Project: market feasibility, design feasibility, financial feasibility and ownership patterns.

Mayor Jepsen supported the selection of the Ronald District for 2001 sub-area planning, with the following conditions: 1) an understanding that Aurora Square is a defined area with multiple owners with whom the City should work to identify opportunities; 2) the vacation of Westminster Way should support economic development (not be solely an engineering solution to the Aurora Corridor); and 3) an understanding of when Council will consider and adopt policies concerning whether to vacate Westminster Way. He asserted that the Economic Development Program Strategy is not aggressive enough. He said the City should be more active in "selling and attracting what we want."

Mr. Stewart said the environmental assessment establishing the final design of the first phase of the Aurora Corridor Project will address whether and how to vacate Westminster Way. Mayor Jepsen said the City is preparing the environmental assessment and it should therefore have the answers about whether and how to vacate Westminster Way. Ms. Briggs said there's still time to provide Aurora Corridor Project Coordinator Anne Tonella-Howe with the analysis she needs on issues such as vacating Westminster Way.

Mayor Jepsen supported the inclusion and consideration of issues such as the vacation of Westminster Way in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the first phase of the Aurora Corridor Project. He said staff should be able to say when the DEIS will be issued.

Councilmember Gustafson expressed concern about proceeding with the first phase of the Aurora Corridor Project without first identifying the desired final product in the Westminster District. Mr. McKinley said if Council selects the Ronald District for 2001 sub-area planning, staff will at the same time undertake the "ground work" in the Westminster District to enable the City to complete a sub-area plan for that district the following year.

Councilmember Ransom said he previously favored the selection of the Westminster District for 2001 sub-area planning. He based his perspective on the belief that businesses along Aurora Avenue would benefit from additional time to adjust to future changes and the belief that the Westminster District—and Aurora Square in particular—held the most potential for commercial redevelopment. He said he has since talked to many business people, and he has learned that: 1) those with businesses along Aurora Avenue do not want the City to delay Ronald District sub-area planning; rather, they want the City to make decisions as soon as reasonably possible to enable them to plan and adjust; and 2) business people are pessimistic about the potential for short-term redevelopment of Aurora Square. He explained that he now favors the selection of the Ronald District for 2001 sub-area planning as a means of supporting businesses along Aurora Avenue. He expressed his hope that the Westminster District will become a viable business area, but he acknowledged that it seems less promising than he previously thought.

Councilmember Montgomery agreed with the selection of the Ronald District for 2001 sub-area planning to enable businesses along Aurora Avenue to plan and implement decisions. She expressed enthusiasm at the prospect of Richmond Highlands neighborhood residents and Aurora Avenue business owners collaborating in a design charrette.

Councilmember Gustafson left the meeting between 7:50 p.m. and 8:04 p.m.

Deputy Mayor Hansen reiterated his previous support for the selection of the Ronald District for 2001 sub-area planning. He said the redevelopment of Aurora Square will be a long-term project. He asserted that a sub-area plan of the Ronald District will encompass key developments that he does not want to see delayed.

Mayor Jepsen confirmed Council direction that staff undertake sub-area planning for the Ronald District. He reiterated his interest in receiving answers to the questions he raised earlier about the Westminster District. Mr. Bauman said staff will report to Council as soon as possible about the vacation of Westminster Way and surface water management solutions for the Westminster District.

(b) Economic Development Program Strategy

Ms. Briggs presented the staff report. Based on Councilmembers' prior input, she had reordered the "Goals" of the Economic Development Program (page 37 of the Council packet) to make redevelopment of underutilized or deteriorating areas the first goal, and she had revised the "Measurements of Success" (page 37 of the Council packet) to read as follows:

Mayor Jepsen reiterated that the Economic Development Program should be more aggressive. He acknowledged the importance of the "Core Services" (page 38 of the Council packet), but he asserted his perception that the City misses opportunities because it is not aggressively talking with businesses seeking to locate within the region. He stressed the importance of Core Service IV, "Conduct liaison activities," and he advocated greater emphasis on it. He said the City must explain to business representatives why they should locate in Shoreline even though they could locate elsewhere for less.

Councilmember Grossman agreed that the City needs a vision of the direction in which it is heading and that it needs to be proactive in realizing that vision. He explained the value of the North City Sub-area Plan for providing a clear picture of the types of businesses likely to be interested in the proposed redevelopment. This enables the City to identify and target the developers involved in such projects. He noted the lack of sub-area planning on Aurora Avenue, and he expressed enthusiasm about the selection of the Ronald District for sub-area planning in 2001. He said developers with whom he has talked have objected to street problems in Shoreline and the unpredictability of uses on adjacent properties.

Mr. Stewart said North City continues to be a top staff priority for economic development. He said staff will advise Council if the cultivation of investments in North City require more than 30 percent of Ms. Briggs' time.

In response to Councilmember Ransom, Mr. Stewart estimated economic development in North City as "a 30-year buildup." He noted completed, ongoing and planned activities. Commenting that redevelopment of North City will require significant investment of private capital, he said the City is doing whatever it "can to attract that kind of investment." Ms. Briggs said developers have asked, and she has responded to, specific questions about the development code and the market regarding key sites in North City. She explained that those developers are now determining whether the potential revenue is sufficient to support the projects under consideration.

Mayor Jepsen listed the significant investments the City has made and will make in North City, and he asserted the necessity of investing staff time to support them.

Councilmember Ransom mentioned plans to change provisions of the Comprehensive Plan that relegate automotive-related businesses along Aurora Avenue to Aurora Village. He asked if automotive businesses like Chuck Olson Chevrolet are permitted within current zones along Aurora Avenue. Mr. Stewart explained that the Development Code allows a broad range of business types along Aurora Avenue. He said the City is interested in moving toward more intensive land uses than those of automotive-related businesses. He acknowledged the importance of the existing automotive-related businesses along Aurora Avenue. Councilmember Ransom identified automotive sales as the source of a large portion of City sales tax revenues.

In response to Councilmember Ransom, Mr. Stewart said automotive-related businesses are not in a special-use category.

In response to Deputy Mayor Hansen, Mr. Stewart reported that the property south of N 175th Street near the intersection with Midvale Avenue N has been cleared and that the City has approved the site plan and building permit for the new development.

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

7. CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMENT: None

8. ADJOURNMENT

At 8:34 p.m., Mayor Jepsen declared the meeting adjourned.

 

___________________________
Sharon Mattioli, CMC
City Clerk