CITY OF SHORELINE

SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL

SUMMARY MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING

Monday, April 23, 2001

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

Upon roll call by the City Clerk, all Councilmembers were present.

(a) Proclamation of "Boys High School Basketball Week"

Mayor Jepsen proclaimed the week of April 23 "Boys High School Basketball Week" in Shoreline. King's High School Basketball Coach Marv Morris and player Mark Freise spoke briefly. Mr. Friese introduced the other members of the Kings High School boy's varsity basketball team in attendance.

3. REPORT OF CITY MANAGER

Planning Manager Kirk McKinley distributed and discussed a draft document outlining roles, responsibilities, principles and the schedule through June 2001 for the Shoreline Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Project. Mayor Jepsen suggested that staff and Council revisit the document at the May 7 Workshop.

Referring to the fourth page of the draft document, Mayor Jepsen asserted his understanding that Council had agreed that a staff-level letter was sufficient. Council-member Lee said she proposed a second letter of elected officials expressing mutual commitment to the project. Mr. McKinley concurred with this understanding from the April 2 stakeholder briefing.

Mr. McKinley went on to discuss the annual amendment process to the Comprehensive Plan. He noted the Planning Commission review of more than 800 discrepancies between the Comprehensive Land-Use Map and the Zoning Map. He mentioned the May 17 public hearing concerning the Commission's review. Staff mailed notices of the hearing to owners and tenants at the addresses of properties subject to zoning changes or revised designation under the Comprehensive Plan.

Public Works Director Bill Conner reported the installation of new traffic signal loops at Meridian Avenue N and N 175th Street.

Finally, Interim City Manager Larry Bauman distributed copies of the Washington State Patrol letter to Shoreline Police Chief Denise Pentony indicating the department's successful completion of a recent systems audit.

4. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None

5. PUBLIC COMMENT: None

6. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Councilmember Lee moved approval of the agenda. Councilmember Montgomery seconded the motion, which carried unanimously, and the agenda was approved.

7. CONSENT CALENDAR

Councilmember Ransom asked that Item 7(c) be pulled from the consent calendar. It became Item 8(c). Councilmember Montgomery moved approval of the consent calendar as amended. Councilmember Ransom seconded the motion, which carried unanimously, and the following items were approved:

Minutes of Joint Dinner Meeting of March 19, 2001
Minutes of Workshop Meeting of April 2, 2001
Minutes of Regular Meeting of April 9, 2001

Approval of expenses and payroll as of April 6, 2001 in the amount of $ 473,764.47

Motion to authorize the Interim City Manager to execute a contract amendment to increase the professional design and inspection support services contract for the Shoreline Swimming Pool Project in the amount of $13,567.00

Motion to authorize the Interim City Manager to execute an agreement in the amount of $26,203.00 with New Beginnings for Battered Women and Their Children to provide domestic violence services to Shoreline residents

8. ACTION ITEMS: OTHER ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS

(a) Motion to accept the lowest responsive bid and adopt Ordinance No. 269 amending the General Capital Fund for the Shoreview Park Improvements Project

Mr. Conner reviewed the history of the Shoreview Park Improvements Project from July 1999 to the present. He also reviewed the staff report, which addressed alternatives, costs and funding for the project. He went on to discuss the environmental impacts of the project and the proposed mitigation.

Deputy Mayor Hansen moved that Council approve Option 3 and adopt Ordinance No. 269 amending the budget to increase the appropriation from the General Capital Fund balance to $2,583,166 to provide funding to complete the Shoreview Park Improvement Project, and authorize the Interim City Manager to execute a contract including the two alternative bids with Ohno, in the amount of $1,989,885.70 and to execute change orders up to ten percent of the original contract amount. Councilmember Gustafson seconded the motion.

Noting the appeal of the clearing and grading permit for the project, Councilmember Ransom asked staff to identify the area the appellant had advocated for mitigation. He also questioned the cost of the second, smaller restroom.

Mr. Conner said the appellant, Shoreview Preservation Committee, is concerned about storm water deposits to Boeing Creek and advocates the location of mitigation in the lower bench area of Shoreview Park. He asserted that this area is "excellent transitional habitat right now," including many native plant species and migratory birds. He said the proposed mitigation will augment this habitat and increase the overall environmental value of the park.

Continuing, Mr. Conner said the second, smaller bathroom will cost approximately $150,000. He pointed out that all of the construction companies bid similar amounts on alternative 1, which included the restroom.

Councilmember Gustafson commented that the cost of the project in 1990 was $1 million. He supported Option 3. He said the hill east of the tennis courts is a good place to view tennis matches. He expressed concern about fencing the area off to establish the mitigation area. He suggested a plan to incorporate seating on the hillside. Mr. Bauman proposed the use of portable bleachers outside of the mitigation area. Mr. Conner said transitional space is likely to be available for seating on the hillside after the mitigation area is established. He said staff will consider spectator seating on the hillside and in the area between the tennis courts and the parking lot.

In response to Councilmember Lee, Mr. Conner confirmed that the budget for Option 3 includes the cost of the equipment for the play area adjacent to the existing soccer field.

Councilmember Lee questioned the amount of increased parks maintenance costs resulting from the improvements at Shoreview Park. Mr. Bauman said staff had increased parks maintenance costs in the 2001 City budget to accommodate the potential completion of the Shoreview Park Improvements Project and the resulting new expenses.

Mayor Jepsen supported Option 3. He noted that the option includes approximately $146,000 for mitigation. Mr. Conner said the City will implement the mitigation through a separate contract. He explained that staff worked with Adolfson Associates Inc. to develop a detailed mitigation plan and to determine a realistic budget for it.

In response to Mayor Jepsen, Mr. Bauman confirmed that staff considers, estimates and budgets expenses to maintain all Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects at a high level upon their completion.

Noting that the City has not yet undertaken the Paramount School Park Improvements Project, Mayor Jepsen expressed concern that the City will use 75 percent of the 2001 General Capital CIP Contingency Fund on the Shoreview Park Improvements Project. Mr. Conner explained that staff has already adjusted the cost of the Paramount School Park project to reflect scope changes. He said staff had not previously adjusted the cost of the Shoreview Park project. After reviewing the status of the other projects in the 2001 CIP, he stated that the City is "basically done for 2001" with $50,000 remaining in the CIP contingency fund.

Councilmember Gustafson said the Richmond Little League is likely to ask about incorporating a concession stand into the second restroom. Wendy Barry, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director, said electrical and water hookups will be available for portable concessions.

In response to Councilmember Gustafson, Mr. Bauman said the Shoreview Parks Improvement Project budget does not include resurfacing the tennis courts. Ms. Barry said staff is completing the contract for resurfacing the tennis courts. She estimated completion of the resurfacing within the next month and a half.

Councilmember Gustafson noted community feedback that the City is making positive efforts to prepare Little League and soccer fields and maintain other facilities. He asserted the need to assure the ongoing involvement of the School District, the Shoreline Community College and the Little League in these efforts.

A vote was taken on the motion that Council approve Option 3 and adopt Ordinance No. 269 amending the budget to increase the appropriation from the General Capital Fund balance to $2,583,166 to provide funding to complete the Shoreview Park Improvement Project, and authorize the Interim City Manager to execute a contract including the two alternative bids with Ohno, in the amount of $1,989,885.70 and to execute change orders up to ten percent of the original contract amount. The motion carried 7-0.

(b) Motion to authorize staff to proceed with the design phase of the 3rd Avenue NW Drainage Improvements Project

City Engineer Chuck Purnell reviewed the staff report.

Mayor Jepsen invited public comment.

(1) Stephen J. Cook, 521 NW 175th Court, expressed concern about the engineering of the proposed storm water conveyance and detention systems. In addition, he stressed that the project will funnel 900 to 1,600 acres of "non-point source pollution" into the two-acre detention area. Finally, he asked the following questions: a) Why didn't the City notify him, as an adjoining property owner, of the project? b) Who will do the engineering? c) What about damage to surrounding homes from the construction? and d) Will the City obtain the proper State permits?

(2) LaNita Wacker, 19839 8th Avenue NW, said one of the proposed detention mitigation options will require removal of six trees, and the other will require removal of 30 trees. Noting that trees absorb a great deal of water, she questioned the removal of any trees.

(3) Ken Cottingham, 350 NW 175th Street, provided a three-page letter from Friends of Boeing Creek-Shoreview Park. He advocated that Landau Associates review the engineering calculations for the proposed storm water conveyance and detention systems. He said a 24-inch sanitary sewer runs diagonally under the area of the North Pond.

In response to Mayor Jepsen, Mr. Conner advised that staff mailed invitations to the March 14 3rd Avenue NW Drainage Improvements Project open house to addresses in a wide area from Richmond Beach Road to south of 170th Street. He mentioned that Mr. Cook and Mr. Cottingham were both on the mailing list.

Mr. Conner acknowledged Mr. Cook's concerns about the engineering and execution of the proposed improvements. He said the project involves a large amount of water, and it must be moved without damage to the conveyance system, the detention pond or Boeing Creek from high amounts or rates of flow or from pollution. He stated that the City will implement the project in accordance with State and federal permits. He explained that the City must remove trees to implement the detention mitigation but that the City will replace the trees with others in another part of the park. He reiterated the staff recommendation to incorporate the detention facility as part of the "overall public environment." He acknowledged the potential for flood damage to amenities at the site. He asserted that such damage is a "fair trade-off" for the "99 percent of the time" that the area will be dry. He agreed that sanitary sewer and utility lines run through the area of proposed detention mitigation. He said staff must take these facilities into account as it proceeds with the project.

In response to Mayor Jepsen, Mr. Purnell said Otak assisted with the preliminary design study for the 3rd Avenue NW drainage project. He noted that Otak will designate a geotechnical engineer to participate in the final design of the project.

Councilmember Ransom expressed concern about the capacity of the North Pond alone to contain runoff from a 100-year storm and about the potential damage if a larger North Pond detention facility were to fail. He asked if construction of a new facility in the Boeing Creek Open Space would reduce the risk and damage of a failure by creating a separate detention area. Mr. Purnell indicated that the two detention mitigation options are equally viable. He noted that reconstruction of the North Pond following the washout on January 1, 1997 included an emergency spillway capable of handling flows from a 500-year storm. He indicated that a new facility in the Boeing Creek Open Space would either drain to the North Pond to take advantage of this spillway or have a separate spillway, which would also meet the 500-year-storm criteria.

Councilmember Ransom asked if staff had presented information about the storm water management aspects of the two detention mitigation options to the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Advisory Committee. Mr. Purnell said staff discussed the two options with the committee and responded to committee questions.

Councilmember Ransom noted citizen concern about pollutants in the 3rd Avenue drainage. Mr. Purnell said the Shoreline Municipal Code requires that any major drainage project include water quality features. He explained that staff would incorporate passive mechanical devices to separate oils and trash from storm water before it enters the detention pond. He asserted that the project will provide a net benefit in pollution prevention. He said appropriately designed and properly maintained systems will preclude any pollution hazards.

Deputy Mayor Hansen moved that Council authorize staff to proceed with the design of the 3rd Avenue Drainage Improvements consisting of the 3rd Avenue conveyance solution (Option 1) and the North Pond detention mitigation (Option A). Councilmember Lee seconded the motion.

Councilmember Grossman noted 1987 litigation referred to in the letter from Friends of Boeing Creek-Shoreview Park. City Attorney Ian Sievers said he is not familiar with the lawsuit. Councilmember Grossman asserted the need to determine the applicability of the litigation before Council decides how to proceed.

Continuing, Councilmember Grossman noted a citizen comment that the City has not followed through on a January 1997 commitment to provide trees as part of the reconstruction following the washout. He asserted the need to meet previous commitments.

Finally, Councilmember Grossman noted that mailing lists for invitations to public meetings such as the March 14 open house differ from those for Council meeting agendas. He recommended that staff notify citizens when an issue, about which it has notified them previously, is due to come before Council.

Noting his ongoing unease over the January 1, 1997 flooding event, Councilmember Ransom said he favored the construction of a second facility in the Boeing Creek Open Space.

In response to Councilmember Ransom, Mr. Purnell said the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Advisory Committee unanimously supported detention mitigation Option A.

Mayor Jepsen said he first favored detention mitigation Option B—he noted that the City has not revegetated the open space since reconstructing it following the 1997 washout. He explained that the staff report caused him to reconsider and instead favor the expansion of the existing facility (i.e., Option A). He stressed the need to investigate the implications of the 1987 litigation referenced in the letter from Friends of Boeing Creek-Shoreview Park. .

Councilmember Grossman supported the approach of considering detention ponds as amenities instead of as functional but unaesthetic solutions to surface water management. Mayor Jepsen agreed.

In response to Councilmember Lee, Mr. Purnell confirmed that staff will continue to consider both the 3rd Avenue and the 6th Avenue conveyance solutions. He said staff thinks the 3rd Avenue conveyance solution may be more cost effective.

Mayor Jepsen proposed that Council postpone the motion pending research of past litigation.

Councilmember Gustafson moved that Council postpone until May 14 the motion to authorize staff to proceed with the design of the 3rd Avenue Drainage Improvements consisting of the 3rd Avenue conveyance solution (Option 1) and the North Pond detention mitigation (Option A). Deputy Mayor Hansen seconded the motion, which carried 7-0.

(c) Ordinance No. 270 adding "Information System Project Manager" as a new position and as a new classification to the City's Classification and Compensation Plan

Councilmember Lee moved that Council approve Ordinance No. 270 adding "Information System Project Manager" as a new position and as a new classification to the City's Classification and Compensation Plan. Councilmember Ransom seconded the motion.

Councilmember Ransom said the staff report did not include information about a salary survey or alternate process by which staff arrived at the suggested pay range. Human Resources Director Marci Wright explained that staff surveyed the City's ten comparable jurisdictions. Staff received responses from seven of the ten jurisdictions, and two of the responding jurisdictions reported no match. The median of the maximum annual salaries of the five other jurisdictions was $61,896. Usually, staff would recommend the range that meets or exceeds the median (i.e., range 51). However, Ms. Wright said staff identified the Network Administrator position in Finance as a comparable, internal position and, therefore, recommended range 50.

A vote was taken on the motion to approve Ordinance No. 270 adding "Information System Project Manager" as a new position and as a new classification to the City's Classification and Compensation Plan. The motion carried 7-0.

9. CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMENT

(a) LaNita Wacker, 19839 8th Avenue NW, opposed cyclone fencing around storm water detention areas as unaesthetic. She supported a multiple-use approach to detention ponds that considers them as park amenities as well as surface water management facilities. She went on to advocate discussion of public use and historic preservation of the current Richmond Beach Library building.

(b) Stephen Cook, 525 NW 175th Court, clarified that the January 1, 1997 flooding event at NW 175th Street and 6th Avenue NW was not a "sinkhole" but "an engineering error and resulting blowout." He noted the difference between a retention pond, which slows the rate of water flow, and a detention pond, which holds water and discharges it gradually to "recharge the aquifer." He went on to explain the flooding event at NW 175th Street and 6th Avenue NW.

(c) Ken Cottingham, 350 NW 175th Street, expressed concern about the proposal, included in the 3rd Avenue Conveyance Solution (Option 1), to "trench" from 3rd Avenue NW to 6th Avenue NW at the base of a steep slope. He also expressed concern about detention mitigation Option A expansion of the existing facility from eight acre-feet to 12 acre-feet. He noted the downstream damage that resulted from the previous failure of the North Pond. He said failure of an enlarged pond would result in greater downstream damage. He advocated the construction of a new facility in the northwest corner of the intersection of NW 175th Street and 6th Avenue NW and the development of Boeing Creek Open Space into a park.

Mayor Jepsen said the current Richmond Beach Library building is not the original library location. He explained that the City relies on the Shoreline Historical Museum for historic preservation and that the City uses the King County landmarks list. He noted efforts to preserve the 3rd Avenue NW water tower.

10. ADJOURNMENT

At 9:40 p.m., Mayor Jepsen declared the meeting adjourned.

 

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Sharon Mattioli, CMC
City Clerk