CITY OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL
SUMMARY MINUTES OF JOINT DINNER MEETING
Monday, March 19, 2001
6:00 p.m.
Shoreline Conference Center
Highlander Room
Shoreline City Council
PRESENT: Mayor Jepsen, Deputy Mayor Hansen and Councilmembers Grossman, Gustafson, Montgomery and Ransom
ABSENT: Councilmember Lee
STAFF: Larry Bauman, Interim City Manager; Kristoff Bauer, Interim Assistant City Manager; Joyce Nichols, Community and Government Relations Manager
Shoreline Water District
PRESENT: Bob Chute, President; Mike Harrigan, Vice President; Ron Ricker, Secretary
STAFF: Cynthia Driscoll, Manager; Dave Calvo, Water System Superintendent
The meeting convened at 6:07 p.m. All Councilmembers were present with the exception of Councilmember Lee.
Mayor Jepsen welcomed the Shoreline Water District Board of Commissioners. He explained the purpose of the meeting to enable Councilmembers and Commissioners to get to know each other.
President Chute expressed the Commissioners' interest to discuss the District. He said the District intends to continue to provide water services, and the Commissioners do not want any votes that would tear the neighborhood apart.
Mayor Jepsen mentioned the recent earthquake. Interim City Manager Larry Bauman described problems the City experienced with the 800-megahertz radio system. He noted communication difficulties with the District and other entities. He invited the District to participate in the King County "Sound Shake" exercise this summer.
District Manager Cynthia Driscoll described the District response to the earthquake. She discussed the seismic retrofitting of the District reservoir scheduled for the summer.
Continuing, Ms. Driscoll addressed potential cooperation between the District and the City. She distributed a handout on this issue.
Secretary Ricker discussed the current draft of the Water Supply Association (WSA) contract. He distributed photocopies of a letter to Interim Assistant City Manager Kristoff Bauer, which included an executive summary of key terms. He reviewed the history of water supply discussions with the City of Seattle, including the division of the Cascade Water Alliance (CWA) into the WSA and CWA. He noted District concern about the CWA process and the District preference for individual contracts. Ms. Driscoll commented that the WSA formed simply to negotiate contracts and included no dues.
Secretary Ricker reviewed the handout that Ms. Driscoll had distributed. He noted District and City agreement on the goal of one water system serving Shoreline and their disagreement on City operation of the system. He described the potential of a three-to-four-year conflict over City assumption of the District.
Deputy Mayor Hansen agreed that the City supports the consolidation of water services under one provider.
Councilmembers and Commissioners discussed the District service area within the City of Lake Forest Park.
Vice President Harrigan discussed another handout addressing past City concerns. He invited the City to participate in the District rate-setting process.
Commissioners discussed District plans to build and develop new facilities on the old Department of Natural Resources (DNR) property, which will enable the District to sell its building in North City.
Secretary Ricker invited Councilmembers to join him at upcoming meetings of the regional water supply committees. Councilmembers and Commissioners discussed the committee meetings and the obligations of those in attendance.
Vice President Harrigan noted concerns regarding the supply of potable water in the region.
Mayor Jepsen left the meeting at 7:05 p.m.
Vice President Harrigan discussed District interest in providing staff to the City to facilitate interaction. Ms. Driscoll said the District considered a number of ways the organizations could work together.
Responding to Mr. Bauman, Ms. Driscoll clarified that the District is interested in sharing the potential of the DNR property but that the District is not interested in separating its administrative staff from its operations staff.
At 7:10 p.m., Councilmembers Montgomery and Gustafson left the meeting, and the meeting adjourned.
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Kristoff Bauer, Interim Assistant City Manager