CITY OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL
SUMMARY MINUTES OF WORKSHOP MEETING
Monday, July 7, 2003
Shoreline Conference Center
6:30 p.m. Mt. Rainier Room
PRESENT: Mayor Jepsen, Deputy Mayor Grossman, Councilmembers Chang, Gustafson, Hansen, Montgomery and Ransom
ABSENT: none
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Board:
PRESENT: Dwight Stevens, Chair; Patty Hale, Vice Chair; Carolyn Ballo, Larry Blake, Margaret Boyce, Michael Broili, Herb Bryce, Bill Clements, Londa Jacques, and Bill Martin
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 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 Grossman and Councilmember Hansen, who arrived at 6:45 p.m.
(a) Proclamation of Shorecrest High School Drama Program Week
Mayor Jepsen presented a proclamation acknowledging the success of Shorecrest's award-winning musical production of "Oliver!" to Linda Johnson, head of the Shorecrest Drama Department, and Brian Earp, winner of the "Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role."
(b) Proclamation of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Month
Mayor Jepsen read the proclamation declaring the month of July as "Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Month" in the City of Shoreline. Wendy Barry, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director, accepted the proclamation.
(c) Legislative Report - Senator Fairley
Mayor Jepsen provided a brief history of Senator Fairley's service and thanked her for her leadership and representation on behalf of the City of Shoreline. He noted several City projects for which she was able to secure funding, including the Aurora Corridor and the Interurban Trail Bridge Crossing. He also noted that she assisted in resolving the annexation issue at Point Wells, and that she voted to give local governments options to respond to declining revenues with voter-approved increases in sales and/or property taxes.
State Senator Darlene Fairley, 32nd Legislative District, discussed the significant legislative items that were approved by the 2003 Legislature, noting that she was able to secure resources for Shoreline due to the personal relationships she has cultivated with other key legislators. She pointed out that many of her priorities, including transportation (Aurora Corridor), education, and the arts, were included in the 2003 budget, despite a $2.5 billion budget deficit. She described the legislation that gives local entities the option of raising taxes through voter-approved ballot measures, although she did not necessarily agree with a provision that allocates one-third of revenues to criminal justice. She said she prefers that the revenue go to the General Fund to allow cities to decide how to allocate it. She discussed the benefits of the prescription drug legislation, which allows the disadvantaged to purchase drugs at a discounted rate.
Continuing, she said although Fircrest School will not be closed immediately, it will be downsized over the next three years in order to give residents time to consider other alternatives, noting that revenues will be made available for other residential habilitation centers in the future. She said it does not make sense to keep Fircrest open because of its excessive operational costs, declining enrollment, and a lack of fairness to the developmentally-disabled population statewide. She said the Fircrest legislation funds a study that considers ways to bring the greatest return on the property to the trust fund for the disabled community. Concluding, she explained that the budget was balanced primarily through reductions (as opposed to general tax increases), and that she opposed measures to balance the budget through an expansion of gambling.
Noting a five percent increase in state revenues, Councilmember Ransom asked the Senator to explain why the budget is $2.5 billion more than revenues. He said most businesses would feel that a five or six percent increase in revenues would be something to be thankful for.
Senator Fairley said the government operates differently from business because reliance on government increases during economic recessions. She discussed various reasons for the need for increased revenues, including skyrocketing prescription drug costs, crowded prisons, and higher education needs.
Responding again to Councilmember Ransom’s question regarding the possibility of the state joining a pool to lower prescription drug costs, Senator Fairley said the state will be joining a group plan that increases buying power and uses generic brands to limit costs. She explained the choices made to limit Medicaid costs, noting that increasing costs will likely motivate the indigent to utilize emergency room care only. She emphasized the fact that rising health care costs is the biggest factor influencing the state budget.
Councilmember Gustafson asked Senator Fairley to comment on the fact that the legislature did not approve the salary increases for teachers mandated through the initiative process. Senator Fairley responded that she voted against the increases because it was not equitable to existing teachers, and because the state did not have revenues to fund this proposal. She stressed that teacher salaries and class size are issues that must be addressed in the future.
Deputy Mayor Grossman asked how long it would take to get projects moving and create jobs as a result of the transportation funding package, to which Senator Fairley responded that there could be results right away since many projects have been identified and planned prior to the gas tax increase. However, she noted that the state economist is not optimistic about the short term economic future of the state. She concluded by thanking the Council and City staff for their accessibility and cooperative input on legislative issues.
RECESS
At 7:05 p.m., Mayor Jepsen declared a five minute recess. The meeting reconvened at 7:10 p.m.
3. JOINT WORKSHOP ITEM
(a) Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan
Wendy Barry, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director, said the purpose of the joint meeting is to provide updated information to the Council regarding the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan, and to review the results of the recreation needs assessment. She introduced the lead consultant on the project, Jill Krantz, of GreenPlay LLC.
Dwight Stevens, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Board Chair, asked Board members to introduce themselves and describe their background and interests.
Ms. Krantz reviewed the ten key findings of the needs assessment, which included the following:
Ms. Krantz noted that in addition to the survey, input was solicited from several other stakeholders, including the school district, community college, Arts Council, YMCA, citizens at large, school swim teams, and youth/adult athletic associations. She said the survey and all other input would be considered at future community meetings. She also mentioned that the department mission statement is a driving factor in formulating parks policy.
Continuing, she said the three most visited parks in Shoreline are: Hamlin Park, Richmond Beach Saltwater Park, and Paramount Park. She said the survey reflects that usage among regular park visitors is higher in Shoreline than in other communities. While 80 percent of users rate park conditions as good or excellent, people expressed a need for additional restrooms and trails. The survey indicated a need for small neighborhood parks, outdoor theater, off-leash dog parks, outdoor swimming pool/waterparks, and facilities to accommodate inline hockey and ultimate frisbee. The survey also indicated a level of need for small parks, playgrounds, and baseball/softball fields. She concluded by saying that the community's highest priorities include: 1) operating/maintaining city parks and facilities; 2) preserving the environment and open space; 3) programs for residents of all ages, and families; and 4) providing places for outdoor sports and programs.
Councilmember Ransom suggested that Council may want to consider other items not addressed by the survey, such as lighting and sidewalks. He said the survey indicated that in addition to restrooms, women expressed a preference for more park lighting. He suggested that Council consider the request for new facilities (outdoor theater, off-leash dog park), and that it may want to consider lighting for the Interurban Trail.
Mayor Jepsen advised against lighting facilities too much because it may suggest to people that parks are open 24 hours a day, rather than "dusk to dawn."
Councilmember Montgomery was impressed with the percentage of people using Shoreline parks. She noted that the need for neighborhood parks serves both young families and the elderly. She appreciated the report and thanked members of the Board for their investment in Shoreline parks.
Councilmember Gustafson noted a strong correlation between park use and maintaining/upgrading existing facilities.
Ms. Jacques commented that Paramount Park has evolved into a superior facility because of the walking track, sidewalks, playground, and overall design. She said it is one of the few parks in Shoreline that can be reached by sidewalks.
Ms. Hale emphasized that the survey indicated a need to allocate park resources equally throughout the City.
Mr. Bryce emphasized the need for adequate lighting and sidewalks for pedestrians. He suggested that a "dusk to dawn" policy for parks would severely limit park hours in the winter.
Mr. Clements suggested that further clarification about trails and neighborhood parks will be important in formulating an overall parks policy. He said the City should consider developing underutilized spaces such as the 22-acre Innis Arden Reserve.
Ms. Krantz clarified that the survey asked people to prioritize their needs for the parks they visit most often, which are primarily the larger, community parks. She said it will be important to keep this in mind when considering the costs/benefits of future improvements.
Mayor Jepsen noted that the City's local resources and investment has made a substantial difference since it took control of the parks system from King County. However, he encouraged the Parks Board to consider the fact that the Capital Improvement Plan funds several master plans and studies but does not include funding for implementation. He asked the Board to consider whether CIP money relating to parks improvements is being spent appropriately, and whether master plans without construction funds create undue public expectations.
Councilmember Chang wondered if there were any preliminary designs for the neighborhood park concept.
Ms. Krantz said that conceptual diagrams are part of the present project, and additional feedback would be solicited from the community. She speculated that some improvements could be made relatively quickly and at less cost rather than doing a full-scale master plan.
Councilmember Chang brought up the possibility of working with the Shoreline Sister City Association to explore opportunities for creating small, cultural parks.
Ms. Ballo pointed out that some neighborhoods may not fit the criteria for neighborhood parks, noting that acquisition did not rank high with some respondents. However, she agreed that equitability should be a priority and that Council should seek opportunities to construct parks where possible.
Councilmember Gustafson expressed support for developing master plans because they provide a long-range vision for the City.
Chair Stevens said the public needs to be reminded that master plans do not immediately translate into completed projects.
Councilmember Ransom agreed that master planning is important in establishing an overall vision and perspective for the City park system. He said master plans make it easier to prioritize and decide where resources should be invested. He suggested that the City consider the possibility of developing a neighborhood park in Briarcrest, which currently has no park. He went on to discuss various options for creating beach access, noting that the Richmond Beach Community Council has been contemplating how greater beach access can be provided for the community.
Mr. Broili said the need for more trails could be addressed by connecting parks through existing trails.
Mr. Clements agreed that master planning is essential for major changes in use or design, but some upgrades may fall short of full-scale master planning process. He said the City could save money and time by exploring ways to implement its vision without a master plan. He felt Ronald Bog was one such project that did not need a master plan.
Responding to Ms. Krantz, Mayor Jepsen said that most people generally agree with the vision that the City and Parks department has established, although they always request continued improvement. He said the public input to Council is consistent with the survey results.
Ms. Krantz asked for other thoughts about the survey and public input. She noted that many people in organized sports expressed a strong need for facilities maintenance, although the demographics did not necessarily reflect that concern.
Councilmember Chang felt the survey reflects the difficult economic climate, noting that people favor smaller projects like neighborhood parks.
Ms. Krantz stressed the importance of coupling the survey results with input from the sports leagues and department since the survey includes both users and non-users of parks facilities.
Ms. Hale pointed out that survey question #6 accounts for adult and youth activities, but does not mention facilities that could accommodate both. She suggested that the next survey include questions about multi-use facilities.
Mr. Broili said the parks plan should consider whether the City's facilities will meet the needs of the growing elderly population in the future.
Mr. Martin said the need for more trails could be addressed by connecting the City's trails into a regional trail system (connecting the Interurban Trail to the Burke-Gilman Trail). He favored an approach that achieves savings through leveraging the resources of adjacent cities.
Deputy Mayor Grossman agreed that linkages and collaboration with other jurisdictions is an effective way to enhance the City's parks system, noting that the City has been successful in creating partnerships with the school district and other entities. He said there could be some intermediate solutions to the long-term visioning process that fall short of master planning, noting that master planning is a time-consuming and expensive endeavor.
Councilmember Gustafson stressed the importance of maintaining current facilities and expressed the need for more sidewalks around schools. Ms. Krantz said any good plan should address long-term maintenance costs.
Ms. Krantz asked everyone to list their top three priorities for the new plan.
Councilmember Ransom felt that greater emphasis should be put on acquisition, noting that it is very difficult to acquire land once it is sold.
Mayor Jepsen felt the plan should balance improvements with the City's ability to afford long term operating costs. He also suggested that Council review the standards it established regarding trails.
Councilmember Montgomery felt the City should pursue land acquisition only if it can maintain it current resources.
Councilmember Hansen noted the successful partnership of the City and the Shoreline Rotary on the creation of "pocket parks." He said improvements can be completed quickly and at low cost through such collaborate efforts.
Chair Stevens noted that the City's mini-grant program is another method neighborhoods can utilize for making improvements.
Ms. Hale pointed out that the survey did not necessarily link the need for lighting with trails. She felt the lighting need was associated with facilities such as sports fields. She also felt that people expressed a need for more nature trails as opposed to paved, linear pathways.
Mr. Broili agreed that partnerships are an effective way to upgrade the system by connecting existing trails and facilities.
Councilmember Hansen concurred with Ms. Hale's comment regarding lighting, noting that lighting trails could have negative impacts on adjacent property owners.
Ms. Krantz suggested that the question regarding lighting could be clarified in the Bond Advisory Committee survey.
RECESS
At 8:35 p.m., Mayor Jepsen declared a recess. At 8:45 p.m., the meeting reconvened.
4. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT AND FUTURE AGENDAS
Mr. Burkett described 4th of July activities in Shoreline, noting that the majority of calls for police assistance were related to fireworks. He noted that with Council concurrence, the meeting of July 28 will be cancelled. He concluded by inviting Councilmembers to see the results of the slurry seal experiment on the parking lot of the Richmond Highlands Recreation Center.
5. COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Ransom commented on his attendance at the National League of Cities Steering Committee on Human Development meeting.
Councilmember Montgomery commended the Association of Washington Cities for a very worthwhile summer conference.
Councilmember Gustafson commented on his attendance at the Shoreline Arts Festival, the Community Development Block Grant Joint Recommendations Committee, and the Water Resource Inventory Area 8 meetings. He noted that the Housing Finance Committee approved funding for two programs in the Shoreline area: Compass Center, and Parkview Services (acquisition/rehabilitation for the developmentally disabled community).
Deputy Mayor Grossman reported on the Seashore Transportation Committee meeting and Mayor Jepsen described the issues discussed at the Northend Mayors meeting.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
(a) Anthony Poland, Shoreline, commented on the quiet nature of the 4th of July and expressed disappointment that fireworks displays are banned in the City. He asserted that the City is not providing public beach access in Richmond Beach because it is absolving Burlington Northern of its maintenance responsibilities for the Appletree Lane bridge. He said the bridge is the responsibility of Appletree Lane residents, and that the City shoud not spend its money to rebuild the bridge, which he thinks will block views of the Puget Sound due to new construction requirements. He said this subject will be discussed at a special meeting at the Richmond Beach Congregational Church.
(b) Patricia Peckol, Shoreline, and Jim Leigh, Shoreline, representing the Concerned Citizens of Shoreline, announced that they would be hosting a picnic at Hamlin Park to introduce Shoreline City Council candidates. They said the event will be an opportunity for citizens to get involved in the political process in a fun and relaxing atmosphere. Mr. Leigh thanked Councilmember Ransom for being the only Councilmember to support acquisition at Hamlin Park.
(c) Janet Way, Shoreline, disagreed with the decision to downsize Fircrest School. She asked about the future of the property in Echo Lake currently occupied by Holiday Resort Mobile Home Park. She asked if there were any zoning change proposals or permit applications associated with the property. She asked when the City became aware of the property sale, and whether a master plan or surface water plan is being prepared for the site. She raised the possibility that there could be a potential conflict of interest between the City and the ownership of the property. She also urged Council to address a pedestrian safety issue at the crosswalk at Paramount Park.
Responding to Mayor Jepsen, Mr. Burkett explained that although the Appletree Lane bridge is not designed yet, the City intends to use building techniques that will keep the new bridge at the same level or lower than the present profile. He reminded Council that the bridge will be mostly funded by grants, and that the City’s contribution amounts to about twenty percent ($430,000) of the total cost.
Councilmember Hansen clarified that every member of the Council has expressed interest in acquiring more park space at Hamlin Park if it can be achieved. Councilmember Gustafson noted that the Bond Advisory Committee is considering park acquisition issues as well.
Councilmember Ransom noted that state law provides that mobile home owners are entitled to $7,500 in funding for relocation or to purchase a different mobile home elsewhere if they cannot move their current home.
Mr. Burkett said the Echo Lake property is zoned for commercial business along the Aurora frontage, and R-48 (high density multi-family) in the remaining area. He said the owner has not proposed a change to the property’s zoning or use.
7. WORKSHOP ITEMS
(a) Law Enforcement Mutual Aid and Mobilization Interlocal Agreement
Denise Pentony, Police Chief, explained that this agreement will create the framework to mobilize law enforcement in a coordinated and predicable approach in cases of disaster of an unprecedented size or acts of terrorism or civil unrest. It also enables law enforcement jurisdictions to receive funding for mobilization. She said the Statewide Plan requires regions to engage in regional planning and to create interlocal agreements between participating agencies. The interlocal agreement has been approved by the King County Police Chiefs Association and is ready for adoption by all municipalities, King County, and the University of Washington.
She outlined the benefits this agreement will provide for Shoreline, including enhanced planning and coordination, control, eligibility for mutual assistance and funding, and agreement on issues such as insurance coverage, coordinated press relations, and record keeping. She said the plan will ensure that Shoreline will benefit from the assistance of other law enforcement agencies should a mobilization be required. She noted that Shoreline would be reimbursed if it loaned officers to other agencies, as it would also be eligible for reimbursement from the State if it incurs a mobilization.
Responding to Councilmember Gustafson’s question about how this agreement would have applied to the shooting incident in North City a few years ago, Chief Pentony said the agreement would have streamlined the process because cities would know the structure and protocols for assisting other jurisdictions. She said the shooting incident was dangerous because of the lack of coordination.
Responding to Councilmember Gustafson, Chief Pentony explained that while the local jurisdiction would be in charge of a given emergency, other jurisdictions have the right to refuse requests for assistance if they lack sufficient resources. She confirmed that while the agreement does not commit jurisdictions to helping their neighbors, jurisdictions are committed to helping each other whenever possible.
Councilmember Gustafson asked if the agreement will create any jurisdictional conflicts between the King County Sheriff’s office and the local police serving in Shoreline.
Chief Pentony responded that since the department trains and plans together, she does not see the agreement creating anything but better cooperation and planning. She said if Seattle is called to assist in a Shoreline incident, the King County Sheriff’s command structure would oversee the event. Councilmember Gustafson expressed support for the agreement.
Deputy Mayor Grossman asked about the possibility of including adjacent cities such as Lynnwood or Mountlake Terrace in the agreement.
Chief Pentony said although Shoreline’s region does not include Snohomish County, the statewide plan ties all regions together in terms of training and coordination.
Councilmember Ransom noted that King County has limited involvement with reserve officers as compared with Snohomish County. He asked if the agreement is intended to utilize reserve officers.
Chief Pentony noted that reserve officers are used extensively in King County, and that the agreement does include a provision for using them as long as they are supervised by the command structure.
Councilmember Ransom wondered if Shoreline utilizes reserve officers, noting that Edmonds uses them very effectively for crowd and traffic control, as well as to relieve regular officers. Chief Pentony said Shoreline utilizes reservists and explorers in many different capacities, including the Shoreline parade.
(b) Capital Improvement Plan Discussion
Mr. Burkett said the Public Works Director stated that current law mandates two additional feet of clearance on the Appletree Lane bridge than what presently exists, although that does not necessarily mean the bridge superstructure will be two feet higher. He also said a new legal requirement mandates pedestrian fencing to prevent objects from being thrown onto the railroad tracks.
He briefly outlined the CIP schedule, noting that CIP adoption will be preceded by Planning Commission review on July 10, and a public hearing at the next Council meeting.
Councilmember Ransom noted that used railroad bridges are available for purchase at greatly reduced prices. He asked staff to consider the possibility of purchasing a used bridge for the Interurban Trail pedestrian overcrossing. Jill Marilley, City Engineer, said used infrastructure is included in staff's pool of cost-saving alternatives.
Councilmember Ransom questioned the wisdom of delaying the Ronald Bog Drainage and 3rd Avenue NW Drainage improvements. He asked if the General Fund will need to contribute additional funds to complete these projects.
Mr. Burkett said the plan is to use Public Works Trust Fund Loans to finance the major portion of these projects, which will allow the City to repay these loans from the stormwater utility over time.
Ms. Marilley said the reason for delaying Ronald Bog is to incorporate more information into the Surface Water Master Plan, adding that Ronald Bog has received some relief through various short-term improvements. She said the 3rd Avenue NW project is proceeding as scheduled.
Councilmember Gustafson asked that the CIP document be changed to refer to "Hamlin Park Acquisition." He felt the term "Hamlin Park Addition" was somewhat misleading.
Responding to Councilmember Gustafson, Mr. Burkett said staff will provide additional information on Swimming Pool Long-Term Maintenance.
Councilmember Chang requested additional clarification regarding estimated fees for underground utility connections. He said the estimates from Mr. McKinley do not break down the costs by trench length or number of connections. Councilmember Hansen said there would be further investigation into utility issues as the project progresses.
Mr. Burkett clarified that utility connections are part of a larger project the Council has adopted, not necessarily part of the CIP. He reminded Council that Phase 1 of the Aurora project allows for $5,000 per property for reimbursement, noting that Council could change this policy in the future. He indicated that the connections for larger or more complex properties could cost more than the $5,000 average.
Mayor Jepsen proposed that a cost analysis be performed on specific properties in order to find out estimates for average properties as well as "worst-case scenarios."
Councilmember Ransom said that the Highland Ice Arena may qualify as a "worst-case scenario" because of its multiple connections and significant trench lengths.
Mayor Jepsen said he is still concerned about the master plans in the CIP that have no funding identified for design and/or implementation. He also asked staff to address his concern about the allocation of Full Time Equivalent employees to CIP projects.
Mr. Burkett said that while the mixture of City staff and consultants varies from project to project, he is confident there are adequate staffing resources to implement the CIP.
Councilmember Hansen acknowledged the Mayor’s concerns relating to master plans, but noted that many of these plans are not scheduled for several years. He pointed out that most projects being released now are coming in at an average of 15 percent below estimates. He said if projects are ready to go now, the City could realize some savings due to the supply of interested contractors. He also suggested that the City try to synchronize CIP projects with economic cycles in order to save money.
8. CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMENT
(a) Cindy Ryu, Shoreline, said the CIP should include amore equitable distribution of funds, noting that more City money is allocated to the Richmond Beach Overcrossing than to the Annual Sidewalk Repair Program. She said maintaining what the City already owns is more important than building a bridge that will only benefit 35 households, noting that other cities have property owners pay for improvements through a local improvement district (LID). She requested clarification on the total estimated cost for City Hall and doubted whether there would be more long-term cost savings in owning versus leasing.
Mr. Burkett said the Richmond Beach Overcrossing could be paid for by the adjoining property owners through a LID, although the City has not implemented LIDs in the past. He also explained that some options on the City Hall project require real estate acquisition and the long-term analysis suggests that owning a new City Hall would be more cost-effective than leasing.
9. ADJOURNMENT
At 9:56 p.m., Mayor Jepsen declared the meeting adjourned.
_____________________________
Sharon Mattioli
City Clerk