CITY OF SHORELINE

SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL

SUMMARY MINUTES OF WORKSHOP MEETING

Monday, December 3, 2001

6:30 p.m.

Shoreline Conference Center

Mt. Rainier Room

PRESENT: Mayor Jepsen, Councilmembers Grossman, Gustafson, Lee and Montgomery

ABSENT: Deputy Mayor Hansen and Councilmember Ransom

1. CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m. by Mayor Jepsen, who presided.

2. FLAG SALUTE/ROLL CALL

Mayor Jepsen led the flag salute. Upon roll call by the City Clerk, all Councilmembers were present with the exceptions of Deputy Mayor Hansen and Councilmember Ransom.

Upon motion by Councilmember Lee, seconded by Councilmember Gustafson and unanimously carried, Deputy Mayor Hansen and Councilmember Ransom were excused.

(a) 2001 Legislative Summary and Issue Identification

City Manager Steve Burkett explained that State Senator Darlene Fairley is ill. Council did not address this item.

3. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT AND FUTURE AGENDAS

Mr. Burkett provided an overview of the agenda for the next Council meeting.

4. COUNCIL REPORTS

Mayor Jepsen congratulated John Chang, who voters elected to City Council position #1.

Mayor Jepsen noted that the King County Council is scheduled to take action December 10 on the candidate sites for the BrightWater treatment plant. He said the County Council will visit four potential sites December 6. He asked staff to determine when the County Council will visit Point Wells and to participate in the process.

5. PUBLIC COMMENT: None

6. WORKSHOP ITEMS

(a) N 205th Street Traffic Signals Ownership Transfer

Public Works Operations Manager Jesus Sanchez reviewed the staff report. He noted that the City cannot legally accept the subject traffic signals at this time. He said City Attorney Ian Sievers has stated the need to condition the transfer of ownership of the traffic signals on the mutual acceptance and agreement between the City, the City of Edmonds and King County of boundaries at 205th Street. He mentioned a verbal agreement between the parties on the key issues concerning 205th Street boundaries. He said County staff is drafting language, which staff will present to Council for its review during the first quarter of 2002.

In response to Councilmember Lee, Mr. Sanchez said the traffic signals on 205th Street at Meridian Avenue, 1st Avenue and 5th Avenue are "second-generation lights," which require less maintenance than older signals, and are in "fairly good condition." He explained that ownership of these signals will revert to the City automatically upon establishment of the boundaries.

Mr. Burkett explained that the City contracts with the County for maintenance of its 39 traffic signals. He said the proposed 2001 City budget designates $250,000 for that contract. He acknowledged that this amount will increase slightly if the City takes responsibility for the two traffic signals on 205th Street under discussion.

Responding to Mayor Jepsen’s question about the total number of traffic signals on 205th Street and the cost of maintaining them, Mr. Sanchez offered to determine the exact number and the associated costs prior to next week’s meeting. Mayor Jepsen asserted the importance of understanding what the City is committing to.

In response to Councilmember Montgomery, Mr. Sanchez projected that the upgrading and synchronization of the traffic signals on 205th Street at Aurora Avenue and the Home Depot entrance will be finished during the first part of 2002.

Councilmember Montgomery questioned the element of the proposed transfer agreement whereby the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) "agrees to retain ownership and operation of street lights on the overpass after it provides for a new and separate power feed to the signals" (page seven of the Council packet). Staff explained that WSDOT included this element for the benefit of the City of Edmonds, which is participating in the negotiations on the traffic signals.

Councilmember Gustafson questioned the statement (on page six of the Council packet) that "The average cost per year for maintaining City of Shoreline traffic signal equipment at one signalized intersection is $6,150." Mr. Sanchez offered to research the components of the average cost. He conjectured that much of the cost relates to administrative overhead.

Interim Public Works Director Art Maronek mentioned the expense of inspecting and maintaining traffic signal controllers. He suggested that the City investigate a contract for these services with the City of Seattle.

Councilmember Lee asked about the "bigger picture" of traffic signals on 145th Street, as well as those on 205th Street, and the interrelationship of traffic signals in Shoreline and those in neighboring jurisdictions. Mr. Sanchez said he is participating in discussions to resolve the boundary at 145th Street. He explained that the City of Seattle will take responsibility for all of the traffic signals on 145th Street.

Mr. Burkett said the City is unhappy with how the traffic signals on 205th Street at Aurora Avenue and the Home Depot entrance function now. He said they will function better after being upgraded, and he asserted that the City will be able to insure that "they function to meet our needs" by taking ownership of them. He commented that the State, as a much larger organization, cannot be as attentive to each of its traffic signals as the City can to its signals.

Mayor Jepsen expressed concern about the ability of staff to manage the contract with the County to synchronize traffic signals to facilitate the flow of traffic in Shoreline. He commented that City ownership of the two signals on 205th Street will accomplish little if the City is unable to manage them. Mr. Sanchez said staff plans to make the traffic signal on 205th Street at Aurora Avenue functional. He said Roads Supervisor George Dicks will work with the County to insure the signal is synchronized.

Mr. Maronek asserted that the City has an opportunity to take advantage of the professionalism of County traffic engineering staff and of the County's need for customers to improve the functionality of its traffic signal system.

Continuing, Mayor Jepsen asked if the agreement transferring ownership of the two traffic signals on 205th Street dictates how the City can operate the signals. Noting that Aurora Avenue and 205th Street are both State highways, Mr. Burkett explained that the City will need State approval before making any significant changes in how it operates the signals. Mayor Jepsen recommended that the agreement include language committing the State to a "timely approval process."

Councilmember Grossman expressed support for City control over resources in Shoreline, but he objected to the transfer to the City of State and County responsibilities without the transfer of the related revenue sources. He said two traffic signals are "no big deal," but he asserted the cumulative financial impact on the City of multiple transfers of State and County responsibilities.

Mr. Burkett noted that the City took responsibility from the County for 39 traffic signals upon incorporation. He commented that the County did not have any revenues dedicated to maintaining traffic signals to transfer to the City.

Mayor Jepsen pointed out that the State has been maintaining the traffic signals on 205th Street at Aurora Avenue and the Home Depot entrance. He asserted the validity of concern about cumulative financial impacts given the question over the number of traffic signals to be transferred to City ownership.

In response to Councilmember Grossman, Mr. Sanchez confirmed that City control of traffic signals provides opportunities to explore cost-effective technologies to improve traffic flow. He mentioned that staff will be conducting an inventory and condition assessment of City traffic signals and that it will subsequently present a phased plan of improvements and expenses to Council.

Mr. Burkett estimated the cost to improve all City traffic signals to the latest technology to be $2-3 million.

Councilmember Montgomery supported City assumption of the two traffic signals on 205th Street. Noting that traffic congestion is a major issue, she said anything the City can do to improve the function of the two signals will improve quality of life. She stated the effectiveness of the synchronization of traffic signals on Aurora Avenue, and she commented that such technology is less expensive than adding another lane to the street.

Mayor Jepsen requested that staff follow up on the questions that Council raised to enable it to move forward on this issue at its next meeting.

(b) Continued Discussion of the Proposed 2002 Budget and 2002-2007 Capital Improvement Program

Mayor Jepsen explained that Council completed discussion of the proposed budget and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) at its November 26 meeting.

(c) Municipal Services Inventory and Analysis

Mr. Burkett and Senior Management Analyst Eric Swansen reviewed the staff report. Mr. Swansen discussed the criteria staff used to assess different services, and he identified three roles the City may play: direct service provider; partner; and advocate.

Councilmember Gustafson said the Municipal Services Inventory will help the Council to establish a future vision.

In response to Councilmember Gustafson, Mr. Swansen said the input of over 20 key stakeholders helped staff to assess services and to identify gaps in City services for further consideration in a statistically-valid survey of Shoreline residents.

Councilmember Lee said it is time for Council to revisit the vision statement. She expressed her hope that the proposed citizen survey will gauge support for different services, thereby enabling the City to take action.

Continuing, Councilmember Lee addressed the second-to-last bullet in the gap analysis (page 17 of the Council packet). She said the City should set aside sufficient funds to maintain and repair City vehicles, equipment and machinery.

Councilmember Montgomery commented that the services in the last two bullets in the gap analysis (i.e., maintenance of City equipment and risk management) are not appropriate in a citizen survey. She said "those are things that we have to do." She expressed her eagerness to see the results of the survey.

Councilmember Grossman agreed. He supported the combination of analysis, stakeholder interviews and statistically-valid surveys to assess City services.

Mayor Jepsen said the preliminary draft of the Municipal Services Inventory includes a lot of good information. He advocated that staff identify how much the City spends on the services identified in the appendix for each service area. He explained this as another method for determining if the City is dedicating money and resources correctly.

Councilmember Gustafson asserted the importance of obtaining ongoing feedback from groups and organizations such as the Council of Neighborhoods, the Teen Council, the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Advisory Committee and the Planning Commission. He said such groups "need to be built into the loop" to insure that Council receives their input prior to its strategic planning retreat.

Mr. Burkett said the Municipal Services Inventory provides a foundation both for assessing opportunities for increasing services and, during times of lower revenues, for assessing which services to preserve.

Councilmember Gustafson expressed concern about the impact of online retailing on local and State sales tax revenue.

7. CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMENT: None

8. ADJOURNMENT

At 7:58 p.m., Mayor Jepsen declared the meeting adjourned.

 

__________________________
Sharon Mattioli, CMC
City Clerk