CITY OF SHORELINE

SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL

SUMMARY MINUTES OF DINNER MEETING

Monday, June 24, 2002, 6:00 p.m.

Shoreline Conference Center, Highlander Room

City Council

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

ABSENT: Councilmembers Gustafson and Montgomery

 

GUEST: King County Councilmember Carolyn Edmonds

The meeting convened at 6:25 p.m. All Councilmembers were present with the exception of Councilmembers Gustafson and Montgomery.

King County Councilmember Edmonds outlined come likely cuts in King County’s current expense budget for human services and said that Executive Ron Sims expects to propose about $5–6 million in cuts from the $12 million in the County’s Current Expense (CX) fund discretionary human services budget. She reviewed current human services funding for the First District, which includes Shoreline and totals approximately $500,000, and discussed funding priorities.

Another topic of discussion was the Regional Policy Committee’s work plan for the Human Services in which Suburban Cities will be participating. The goals of this process include an assessment of health and human services issues in the context of King County’s budget problems. The work group will look at possible "tiering" of services in light of shrinking revenues; preserving funding for 2003 as is practicable given current budget shortfall projections; improving service delivery through better coordination and collaboration; and improving strategic planning for greater stability in the future.

Turning to the Metropolitan Parks District Task Force Update, Councilmember Edmonds reviewed the recommendations of the Metropolitan Parks Task Force which was established by Executive Sims to review the situation with revenue shortfalls in the County’s CX fund to fund parks and to make recommendations for ways to improve funding for parks and avoid park/pool closures if possible.

Mayor Jepsen pointed out that Shoreline took over its parks and pool from King County following incorporation. He said he was opposed to a situation in which King County enacts a tax that residents of Shoreline (and residents of other cities) would pay to provide services and facilities outside Shoreline.

Councilmember Edmonds responded that King County’s current subsidy for parks and pools is $20 million in 2002 and is expected to be reduced to $8.5 million for 2003. The pool subsidy alone is $5 million for 16 pools. One option would be to form a pools district to provide support through taxes to fund these facilities.

On the topic of the Regional Transportation Improvement District and King County Council negotiations to craft a compromise on the package, Councilmember Edmonds described the negotiations occurring among the King County Councilmembers to try to reach agreement on a project list and amount for a proposal for the November ballot. She said Councilmember Rob McKenna’s plan increases funding for projects such as the Alaskan Way Viaduct and I-405 at the expense of other projects and transit. Councilmember Dwight Pelz’s plan includes money for a wide array of projects and transit. Unless the two can agree on a compromise by September 20, 2002, the Regional Transportation Improvement District will not be on the November ballot with the statewide transportation funding package (Referendum 51). Referendum 51 would increase the gas tax and other fees to fund statewide transportation projects.

Moving on, City Manager Steve Burkett and Councilmember Edmonds provided an update on the Transit-Oriented Development project. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has said it will look at a trade with King County Metro for the Park & Ride site at 192nd Street and Aurora Avenue. Staff from Shoreline, Metro, and WSDOT will work out the details and the next steps to move the project forward.

As a last item of business, Mr. Burkett distributed a draft letter to King County Metro in response to its request for comments on the scoping for the Brightwater Environmental Impact Statement. He noted that comments are due by June 27, 2002. The draft letter identifies issues and impacts from the proposed wastewater treatment facility and recommended mitigation measures the City believes should be taken by King County Metro. Mr. Burkett asked Councilmembers to review the draft and let him know of any changes they propose.

Mayor Jepsen declared the meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.

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Joyce Nichols, Communications and Inter-government Relations Director