CITY OF SHORELINE

SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL

SUMMARY MINUTES OF JOINT DINNER MEETING

Monday, February 10, 2003

Shoreline Conference Center

6:00 p.m. Highlander Room

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

ABSENT: none

STAFF: Steve Burkett, City Manager; Bob Olander, Deputy City Manager; Julie Modrzejewski, Assistant City Manager; Joyce Nichols, Communications and Intergovernmental Relations Director; and Jan Knudson, Economic Development Coordinator and Chamber members

GUESTS Shoreline Chamber of Commerce Board: Caralee Cook, Cheryl Crow, Wally Crow, Terry Green, Barbara Kindness, Beth Piasecki, Joe Renouard, Sherwood Sage, Diana Stephens, and Jerry Wilkins

Mayor Jepsen convened the meeting at 6:35 p.m., welcoming the guests. There were self-introductions around the table.

Board member Terry Green commented on the City’s need to improve communication and to get information out the Chamber members. Mayor Jepsen responded that the Chamber could sign up on the City’s website for project updates.

Board member Wally Crow said that the Chamber is about ready to update its own website and will maintain a City link.

Mayor Jepsen noted that members can always call Councilmembers or staff, and that with Jan Knudson on the Board the Chamber has a direct link to the City.

Mayor Jepsen provided a regional update from the King County Mayors’ meeting. He said that King County is discussing placing a parks levy on the May ballot. He explained that when Shoreline became a city, it took over its parks and the pool. The County is seeking funding for its three regional facilities. It is the Council’s position that Shoreline citizens should pay for their own in-city parks and not pay taxes to King County for those regional facilities.

Continuing, Mayor Jepsen said that King County is also looking for legislative authority to divert 1/10 of a cent in unused sales tax capacity originally authorized for Metro transit to pay for human services. He advised Board members that they should be aware of these issues and their potential effects on Shoreline property and sales taxes. He felt that the County should look at its budget as a whole, and not piecemeal the levies.

Councilmember Hansen pointed out that the County collects more property tax in Shoreline than the City does.

Mayor Jepsen turned to the issue of electronic pulltabs. He said this is a hot subject because it is seen by some as a way to raise revenue for the State. This type of expansion could take away local control over where these establishments would be located. He said local control has been a fundamental premise for dealing with gambling.

City Manager Steve Burkett said in April the City Council will hold its annual goal-setting session. He said the Council will be reviewing its goals and the City’s financial outlook. He advised Chamber members that if there are issues that they think the Council should add to its list, they should let staff know.

Councilmember Hansen commented that Initiative 776 was struck down in the courts today because it addressed more than one subject and violated the impairment of contracts clause in the Constitution. Mayor Jepsen added that the City lost nearly $500,000 to I-776. This loss was absorbed by the Street Fund through cuts in the overlay program and other items. He said this judicial decision, if upheld by the Supreme Court, gives the City a reprieve from the effects of I-776.

Councilmember Ransom turned to a different topic, noting that the City originally had plans to fund a Visitor’s Bureau in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce. He felt there is still a need for such an organization, although this may not be a good time fiscally to pursue this. Ms. Green responded that the Board will discuss this.

Councilmember Gustafson noted that Metro is proposing changes to transit service that will provide improved service for our area. He said a meeting will be held on Tuesday and there is a need to follow this issue. Deputy City Manager Robert Olander added there will be a report on this issue at the March 3 Council workshop.

Mayor Jepsen commented on the proposed Brightwater conveyance system, noting it will impact businesses and residences in the Ballinger area and other areas of the City, where the County will be tunneling and digging portals. He said the Final Environmental Impact Statement should be out this summer and then King County Executive Ron Sims plans to make a decision before the year is out.

Mr. Crow suggested that the Chamber newsletter would be a good vehicle for communication with the business community. He suggested an article about why property taxes are increasing (due to voted-approved school levies).

Councilmember Hansen commented that Shoreline is only able to collect a maximum of $1.60/$1,000 Assessed Valuation. So if setting a levy at that amount increases property tax by more than one percent, we have to roll back our levy amount (as occurred this year). The current amount of the City’s levy is $1.43/$1,000 AV.

Mayor Jepsen offered to send the Chamber a copy of the pie chart that shows where the taxes go and the cumulative effects of voter-approved taxes.

Ms. Green asked when the 2000 Census data on economic analysis will be available and asked that it be sent to the Chamber as soon as the City receives it. Mr. Burkett noted that the City has some data that looked at Census information on poverty rates. He said Shoreline ranks about 14^th out of the King County cities. He offered to provide that information.

Councilmember Ransom said that there was an issue with school lunch subsidies. The reporting requirements were increased and many people did not report. This resulted in totals for participants falling by about fifty percent.

Councilmember Gustafson noted that the School District is looking at continued declines in the number of school-age children and consequent enrollment declines. He thanked the Chamber for its work on the Dollars for Scholars program.

Mayor Jepsen thanked the Chamber Board members for coming and declared the meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

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Joyce Nichols, Communications and Intergovernmental Relations Director