CITY OF SHORELINE

SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL

SUMMARY MINUTES OF JOINT DINNER MEETING

Monday, November 12, 2002

Shoreline Conference Center

6:00 p.m. Highlander Room

City Council

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

ABSENT: Councilmembers Gustafson and Montgomery

STAFF: Steve Burkett, City Manager; Bob Olander, Deputy City Manager; Julie Modrzejewski, Assistant City Manager; Joyce Nichols, Communications and Intergovernmental Relations Director; and Denise Pentony, Police Chief

Shoreline Fire District

PRESENT: Jon Kennison, Chair; Jim Fisher, Board member; and Scott Keeny, Board member

STAFF: J.B. Smith, Chief; and Ron Mehlert, Deputy Chief

Mayor Jepsen convened the meeting at 6:25 p.m. There were self-introductions around the table.

Fire Chief J.B. Smith discussed the Fire District’s financial position, noting the District placed a levy lift on the ballot which was approved by the voters and now provides up to $1.50/per thousand in property tax (it was previously $1.37). Chief Smith discussed how dependent the Fire District is on property taxes and said he hoped the current levy will provide enough funding for the next three years. He said this will depend on the terms of the next labor contract, which will be negotiated in the last year of the three-year levy. Chief Smith noted that the District is able to go out for capital budgets in excess of the one-year limit in much the same way a school district can. He concluded that in January 2003 salaries will increase at the level of the Consumer Price Index and another one percent on July 1, 2003. Health benefits have been increasing by twenty percent or more; however, the District has been able through the last contract to cut those increases.

Steve Burkett, City Manager, then described the City of Shoreline’s finances, including the impacts of recent voter-approved initiatives. He said the City’s sales tax revenues are flat and at tonight’s meeting the Council will be discussing the impact of passage of Initiative-776. He said staff is recommending cuts in city street and road services to make up for the $484,000 that will be lost from the Street Fund due to passage of I-776. Mr. Burkett said the City’s budget is on track for 2003, but the out years will have to be scrutinized carefully because by that time revenues are not projected to meet expenditures. He concluded that the City has no debt and good reserves, but the future is uncertain.

Turning to the issue of tax abatement impacts, Mr. Burkett explained that the City is looking for ways to increase its commercial property and retail sales tax base. The Council will soon be evaluating a ten-year tax abatement program to encourage multi-family housing. North City could be designated as a pilot area for this ten-year program of deferred taxes. New taxes could be abated on the residential building portion of the development, although the land itself would remain on the tax rolls. He said there are arguments on both sides of the proposal. Mr. Burkett noted that he has spoken with both Chief Smith and the School District about the impacts should the City Council move forward with the program.

Chief Smith added that the District looked at the potential service demands for North City and it could absorb the impacts of a multi-family project in that area.

Councilmember Ransom expressed concern about tax abatement, in that sometimes the developer does not do a good job of estimating impacts (on schools, for example) and the project then becomes a drain on public services. Deputy City Manager Robert Olander responded that the City could put a cap on the number of units that could be built or provide other safeguards.

Deputy Mayor Grossman noted there is always an issue of unintended/unanticipated impacts. However, these can usually be mitigated.

Chief Smith talked briefly about the fire prevention contract, noting that meetings have been scheduled between the District and the City to work on Development Code issues. He said staff will be developing a work plan to ensure that the Fire Code is up-to-date. This will be brought to the respective elected officials.

Turning to emergency operations planning, Police Chief Denise Pentony provided an update on progress toward developing an emergency operations plan. She said it is her responsibility to head up emergency operations for the City. She said the plan should come to the City Council early in 2003. She also discussed the Emergency Management Council, a group composed of individuals from the City, public schools, police, fire, Shoreline Community College, Crista Ministries, and Ronald Wastewater District, all of whom will coordinate efforts in the event of an emergency.

Deputy Mayor Grossman commented that the Echo Lake Neighborhood has tried to get its PTA and neighborhood to become aware of how to be prepared in a disaster. He noted it is difficult to get people involved in these preparedness efforts. He advised that the PTA should be kept in the loop of emergency planning.

Councilmember Chang mentioned the power outage last week that caused a back-up on Aurora Avenue and elsewhere. He inquired about the possibility of training civilian members of City staff to direct traffic. Chief Pentony responded that this could be looked at but training would definitely be required. Chief Smith added that Washington State law requires that traffic flaggers have specific training.

Mayor Jepsen declared the meeting adjourned at 7:29 p.m.

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Joyce Nichols, Communications and Intergovernmental Relations Director