CITY OF SHORELINE

SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL

SUMMARY MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING

Monday, January 28, 2002

7:30 p.m.

Shoreline Conference Center

Mt. Rainier Room

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

ABSENT: None

1. CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by Mayor Jepsen, who presided.

2. FLAG SALUTE/ROLL CALL

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

3. REPORT OF CITY MANAGER

City Manager Steve Burkett acknowledged that Councilmembers have called him to discuss phone calls they received from citizens, who said Shoreline Police had advised them that the City does not have a noise ordinance. He stressed that the City has a noise ordinance, and he mentioned a memorandum to Council outlining staff efforts to improve awareness and enforcement of the ordinance. Mr. Burkett also requested that Council add an executive session to the meeting agenda to discuss personnel issues.

4. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None

5. PUBLIC COMMENT: None

6. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Councilmember Montgomery moved to approve the agenda with the addition of an executive session. Councilmember Ransom asked to pull the minutes of the January 14, 2002 regular meeting from the consent calendar. Councilmember Gustafson seconded the motion, which carried unanimously, and the agenda, as amended, was approved.

7. CONSENT CALENDAR

Councilmember Gustafson moved to approve the consent calendar as amended. Councilmember Hansen seconded the motion, which carried 7-0, and the following items were approved:

Minutes of the Special Meeting of January 7, 2002
Minutes of the Dinner Meeting of January 14, 2002

Approval of expenses and payroll as of January 18, 2002 in the amount of $2,128,108.99

Ordinance No. 297 terminating franchises of Allied Waste Industries, Inc., dba Rabanco Companies; and repealing Ordinance Nos. 181 and 201

8. ACTION ITEMS: OTHER ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS

(a) Motion to adopt Ordinance No. 298, amending Ordinance No. 294 by increasing the appropriation in the Street Fund to fund the provisions in a Memorandum of Understanding with Seattle City Light regarding the operating costs of identified traffic signals and streetlights; and to authorize the City Manager to enter into this Memorandum of Understanding

Art Maronek, Interim Public Works Director, reviewed the staff report. He said staff has started the process of reviewing the Seattle City Light (SCL) inventory of street lights and traffic signals for discrepancies. He noted the staff recommendation that Council adopt Ordinance No. 298 to amend the 2002 City Budget by $208,885 and authorize the City Manager to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SCL.

Mr. Maronek acknowledged other outstanding street lighting issues in Shoreline. For example, he said some residents favor additional street lighting. He noted the need to insure equity of service to Shoreline residents within City financial capacity. He mentioned funding alternatives, including a street lighting utility to help pay for street lighting and undergrounding. He anticipated the need for a substantial amount of work before staff can make a recommendation to Council about long-term means to address community perceptions about service levels and inequities in street lighting.

Mayor Jepsen invited public comment.

(1) Walt Hagen, Shoreline, said he understood the staff recommenda-tion to mean that the City will take financial responsibility from SCL for traffic signals and street lights in Shoreline. He advocated a City inventory and repair program of inoperative street lights. He said inoperative street lights use the same amount of electricity as operative street lights. He noted two inoperative street lights at 6^th Avenue NW and NW 175^th Street and intermittently inoperative street lights at 193^rd Street and Firlands Way and at Crista Way and Fremont Avenue.

Councilmember Gustafson mentioned an inoperative street light at 8^th Avenue NW and NW 200^th Street.

Mr. Burkett clarified that King County previously paid SCL for the electricity for traffic signals and streetlights in Shoreline. He said SCL will continue to maintain streetlights in Shoreline. He encouraged residents to report inoperative streetlights to the Customer Response Team (CRT), which will contact SCL to arrange repairs.

Councilmember Hansen moved that Council adopt Ordinance No. 298 to amend the 2002 Budget by $208,885 and authorize the City Manager to sign the MOU. Councilmember Gustafson seconded the motion.

Councilmember Ransom noted intermittently operative streetlights at N 170^th Street and Meridian Avenue N and N 170^th Street and Burke Avenue N. He advocated consideration of the creation of a street lighting utility. He said staff previously estimated the need for one full-time employee for such a utility. He asserted the value of a street lighting utility to coordinate service and ensure repairs.

Mr. Burkett acknowledged the lack of uniformity in street lighting in Shoreline. He said some residents requested installation of a streetlight, and SCL bills those residents for the related operating costs. He mentioned that staff included questions about street lighting, and the cost to fund it, in the citizen satisfaction survey. He noted that some Shoreline residents oppose street lighting, while others favor more.

Councilmember Chang noted that some neighborhoods pay for street lighting on a monthly basis. He stated the need to insure equity for Shoreline residents and to prevent double payment to SCL. Mr. Burkett said staff will make sure that the City does not pay SCL street lighting costs already paid by Shoreline residents.

Mr. Maronek said SCL can easily identify and verify payments for a "grouping" of streetlights. He explained that identification and verification of the individual streetlights that SCL originally installed at residents' requests is more problematic.

Councilmember Chang said the residents on NE 167^th Street between 15^th Avenue NE and 18^th Avenue NE pay for street lighting. He asked what these residents should do. Mr. Maronek explained that staff must determine whether the City can afford to take financial responsibility for such streetlights and whether residents are willing to transfer control to the City.

Councilmember Chang asked if the City will compensate residents who have paid for street lighting. Mr. Maronek said the City is not now proposing to take responsibility for street lighting for which residents currently pay. He asserted that the City is unlikely to compensate residents retroactively for street lighting costs.

In response to Mayor Jepsen, Mr. Maronek estimated monthly street lighting costs at $1.50 per fixture.

In response to Councilmember Hansen, Mr. Burkett said the City has not paid the first payment on the accumulated unpaid billings, which was due in December 2001. He said the City will pay that payment, and another in 2002, upon Council passage of the ordinance and authorization of the MOU. He clarified that the 2002 City Budget includes funds to pay SCL for current streetlight power use.

In response to Councilmember Gustafson, Mr. Burkett said Shoreline is not the only newly-incorporated city dealing with street lighting. He noted that the water and wastewater districts in some other cities pay street lighting costs.

Councilmember Gustafson acknowledged street lighting as a City responsibility. He advocated that the City: verify the streetlight inventory; address the issue of streetlights for which residents currently pay; and include language in the MOU requiring SCL maintenance and repair of streetlights within a reasonable period of time. Mr. Maronek said SCL maintains streetlights using a demand-response system. He commented that the system works well, provided that residents report problems. Councilmember Gustafson suggested that the City notify residents to report streetlight problems to CRT.

In response to Deputy Mayor Grossman, Mr. Maronek confirmed that City incorporation included the assumption of responsibility for street lighting from King County. Deputy Mayor Grossman commented that the City therefore owes SCL the street lighting operating costs.

Deputy Mayor Grossman asked about the accuracy of the SCL inventory. Mr. Maronek said SCL can now display all streetlights by type and number. He noted a deficiency in tracking the origin of installations given poor King County records. He anticipated that City and SCL staff will reconcile discrepancies and create a "clear and certain" inventory within the MOU period.

Deputy Mayor Grossman said he looks forward to staff suggestions for addressing the issue of equity of street lighting costs and services for Shoreline residents.

Councilmember Montgomery asked if the SCL inventory is sufficiently accurate to prevent the City from paying for streetlights for which residents are already paying. Mr. Maronek said staff can make it a priority to obtain clarification from SCL of all privately-billed systems in Shoreline and to insure against double billing in those areas.

A vote was taken on the motion that Council adopt Ordinance No. 298 to amend the 2002 Budget by $208,885 and authorize the City Manager to sign the MOU. The motion carried 7-0, and Ordinance No. 298 was adopted, and the City Manager was authorized to sign the MOU.

(b) Appointment of Council subcommittees to review Planning Commission and Library Board applications

City Clerk Sharon Mattioli provided a brief overview of the staff report.

Mayor Jepsen suggested that Council also appoint its representative to the Shoreline Water District Advisory Committee.

Councilmember Gustafson moved to appoint Councilmember Hansen as Council representative to the Shoreline Water District Advisory Committee and Council-member Ransom as the alternate. Councilmember Montgomery seconded the motion, which carried 7-0.

Councilmember Montgomery moved to appoint Councilmembers Gustafson and Ransom to a subcommittee to review applications for the Library Board. Deputy Grossman seconded the motion, which carried 7-0.

Mayor Jepsen said he, Deputy Mayor Grossman and Councilmembers Chang, Montgomery and Ransom have expressed interest in serving on a subcommittee to review applications for the Planning Commission.

Councilmember Hansen moved to appoint Mayor Jepsen, Deputy Mayor Grossman and Councilmembers Chang, Montgomery and Ransom to a subcommittee to review applications for the Planning Commission. Councilmember Gustafson seconded the motion.

Mayor Jepsen noted that the proposed five-member subcommittee would represent a quorum of Councilmembers, requiring public notice of subcommittee meetings and public access to subcommittee interviews of applicants. Also, he mentioned that the subcommittee would, in effect, appoint, not recommend, Planning Commissioners, given that it would constitute a Council majority.

Councilmember Hansen withdrew his motion. Councilmember Gustafson withdrew his second.

Mayor Jepsen expressed his interest in promoting economic development in Shoreline and in insuring the representation of a broad range of interests on the Planning Commission.

Deputy Mayor Grossman noted his professional experience in land use and real estate and his participation in community planning efforts prior to his election to Council. He asserted that he could apply both pragmatic and policy perspectives to the process of screening applicants for the Planning Commission.

Councilmember Montgomery said she is able to "sift through" applications, ask questions and listen to people. She noted that she served on the Planning Commission selection subcommittee previously, and she asserted her interest in contributing on the subcommittee again.

Councilmember Ransom mentioned his past participation on the selection subcommittees for the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Advisory Committee and the Library Board. He noted that he has not served on the Planning Commission selection sub-committee. He asserted the value of diverse Council participation on the subcommittee.

Councilmember Chang mentioned his development experience in Shoreline prior to and since City incorporation and his participation on the board of a homeowner's association. He said participation on the subcommittee will also provide him the opportunity to learn more about the selection process.

In response to Councilmember Hansen, City Attorney Ian Sievers confirmed that a subcommittee of five Councilmember would necessitate public notice of subcommittee meetings and public access to subcommittee interviews of applicants.

In response to Councilmember Ransom, Mr. Sievers advised that the selection sub-committee could deliberate its recommendations of candidates in executive session.

Councilmember Gustafson recommended a three-member selection subcommittee. He suggested that each Councilmember vote for three Councilmembers to serve on the subcommittee and that the three receiving the most votes constitute the subcommittee.

Ms. Mattioli called the names of the five Councilmembers interested in serving on the selection committee and identified those Councilmembers voting for each:

• Councilmember Chang received two votes—Councilmembers Chang and Hansen;
• Deputy Mayor Grossman received six votes—Mayor Jepsen, Deputy Mayor Grossman and Councilmembers Gustafson, Hansen, Montgomery and Ransom;
• Councilmember Ransom received two votes—Councilmembers Chang and Ransom;
• Councilmember Montgomery received four votes—Mayor Jepsen, Deputy Mayor Grossman and Councilmembers Gustafson and Montgomery; and
• Mayor Jepsen received the votes of all seven Councilmembers.

Councilmember Gustafson moved to appoint Mayor Jepsen, Deputy Mayor Grossman and Councilmember Montgomery to a subcommittee to review applications for the Planning Commission. Deputy Mayor Grossman seconded the motion, which carried 6-1, with Councilmember Hansen dissenting.

9. CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMENT

(a) LaNita Wacker, Shoreline, requested that Council establish an environmental quality commission. She asserted the importance of such a commission to the preservation of the quality of life in Shoreline. She suggested that a commission review the effectiveness of City ordinances, address tree preservation, air and water quality and the inventory of Shoreline streams, and make recommendations to Council for legislative improvements. She mentioned the clearing of the former Department of Natural Resources property at 25^th Avenue NE and NE 150^th Street. She asserted the loss of trees and hundreds of acres of land to development since incorporation. She advocated preservation of the night sky in Shoreline.

(b) Walt Hagen, Shoreline, supported the request for an environmental quality commission. He went on to assert that citizens expect Council to approve proposals representing the interests of Shoreline residents. He stated that the Planning Commission "has largely rubber stamped those things that went to them." He advocated appointment of lay people to the Planning Commission "who are truly caring about the quality of life in Shoreline."

Mayor Jepsen and Councilmembers Gustafson and Chang supported Council consideration of an environmental quality commission.

Mayor Jepsen noted the appointment of lay people to the Planning Commission as one of Council's primary objectives in the past. Councilmember Hansen said Council has taken care to insure diverse representation on the Planning Commission, and he asserted the independence of the Planning Commission from the Council. Councilmember Ransom commented that Council has deferred to Planning Commission recommendations resulting from strong majority votes.

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION

At 8:45 p.m., Mayor Jepsen announced that Council would recess into executive session for 30 minutes to consider personnel issues.

At 9:15 p.m., Mayor Jepsen announced a 15-minute extension of the executive session.

At 9:40 p.m., the executive session concluded, and the regular meeting reconvened.

11. ADJOURNMENT

At 9:41 p.m., Mayor Jepsen declared the meeting adjourned.

___________________________
Sharon Mattioli, CMC
City Clerk