CITY OF SHORELINE

SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL

SUMMARY MINUTES OF JOINT DINNER MEETING

Monday, September 24, 2001

6:00 p.m.

Shoreline Conference Center

Highlander Room

Shoreline City Council

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

ABSENT: Councilmember Montgomery

STAFF: Kristoff Bauer, Acting City Manager; Jan Briggs, Economic Development Coordinator; and Joyce Nichols, Community and Government Relations Manager

Shoreline Chamber of Commerce

PRESENT: President Terry Green; Secretary Sherwood Sage; Past President James Jory; Board members Cheryl Crow, CaraLee Cook, Roger Stephens, Jerilee Noffsinger, and Susan Dodd

ABSENT: Vice President/President-Elect Greg Olson; Treasurer Joe Trevino; Board members Steve Rodriguez and Sarah Strahan

The meeting convened at 6:25 p.m.

After self-introductions, Jan Briggs, Economic Development Coordinator, distributed a proposed final draft of the City’s Economic Development program. She noted it has been discussed with the Chamber Board before this meeting. Staff hopes to bring the program to the City Council on October 8 for review and adoption. Ms. Briggs also discussed the Central Shoreline subarea charrette and outlined the format and process for the four-day event.

Terry Green, Chamber President, initiated a discussion of the City’s permit process and expressed some frustrations among the business community concerning it. She asked if there is a way to brainstorm what people’s problems are and take suggestions back to the City.

Ms. Briggs said the City will probably do an audit of the permit system and interview individuals on the Chamber Board as part of the process.

Ms. Green said that most of the calls she gets are from architects. She mentioned one individual who was ready to abandon his project. She referred him to Ms. Briggs, at which point he was "taken care of." Ms. Green said she refers her callers with permit problems to Ms. Briggs.

Deputy Mayor Hansen stated he would like those calls referred to him to give him an opportunity to help get the facts. Mayor Jepsen agreed that he wants to know as many details of the problem as possible in order to address it. He said without specifics, he can not do much to help.

Ms. Green shared a problem she had with a permit when the City was new. The problem was finally resolved after calls to staff.

Councilmember Grossman said a number of people who had permit problems when the City was new have recently noted service improvement. He said he has continued to impress upon staff the importance of working with people.

Deputy Mayor Hansen pointed out that there are citizens who do not necessarily want permits to be easier to get. It is important to maintain a balance.

Ms. Briggs added that the problem with being a built-out city is that staff has to apply new development codes and standards to already constructed buildings.

Councilmember Gustafson commented that making more of a connection with the Chamber would be a benefit.

Mayor Jepsen reiterated Ms. Brigg’s point. Staff must make determinations about bringing buildings up to code. He mentioned a situation with Parkers Casino, where the building did not have fire protections to comply with current codes.

Past President Jim Jory did not believe that the permit process is the focal point for problems. He said it is a secondary item in terms of the City’s future growth. He discussed the need to have real income growth for people in the City to have the economic model succeed. He posed questions about the existence of a plan to upgrade the technological knowledge of Shoreline residents and about how much fiber-optic cable will be laid down Aurora Avenue. He stressed the need to measure real household income and to have an educated work force to be able to be competitive. He questioned what it means to be a competitive city.

Ms. Briggs responded the Ed Starkey, a consultant on contract, will help the City analyze its competitiveness.

Discussion followed of growth in personal income and where it fits with the City’s economic development plan.

There was general discussion regarding the City’s role as a facilitator of economic development.

The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

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Joyce Nichols, Community and Government Relations Manager