CITY OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL
Monday, May 17, 2004 Shoreline Conference Center
PRESENT: Mayor Hansen, Deputy Mayor Jepsen, Councilmembers Chang, Fimia, Grace, Gustafson, and Ransom
ABSENT: none
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Hansen, who presided.
2. FLAG SALUTE/ROLL CALL
Mayor Hansen led the flag salute. Upon roll call by the City Clerk, all Councilmembers were present, with the exception of Councilmember Ransom, who arrived shortly thereafter.
(a) Proclamation of “Law Enforcement Torch Run Day”
Mayor Hansen presented the proclamation to Police Chief Denise Turner and Jill Rogers of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department. With Ms. Rogers were Special Olympic athletes Laethen Wene and Jeremy Winn, who described their participation in Special Olympics.
(b) Presentation by Harborview Medical Center
David Jaffe, Chief Executive Officer of Harborview Medical Center, provided an overview of Harborview’s services, which include the only Level 1 adult and pediatric trauma center serving a four-state region. He explained that Harborview’s mission is to serve the communities throughout King County and provide a key component of the regional safety net for priority populations. These include persons incarcerated in the King County Jail, mentally ill patients, substance abusers and persons with sexually transmitted diseases, those without health insurance and the poor, burn victims, specialized emergency care, and victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Despite its mission to serve all people, regardless of their ability to pay, the hospital maintains a positive operating margin of one percent, or approximately $4 million. He emphasized the fact that Harborview provides $47 million worth of charity care, or 30 percent of all charity care provided in the state. He concluded by noting that the board of trustees was the driving force behind the effort to engage the public and tell the Harborview story.
At Councilmember Fimia’s request, Dr. Jane Guiltinan, naturopathic physician and member of Harborview’s Board of Trustees, elaborated on the outreach program and her approach to integrated medicine.
Councilmembers Fimia, Grace and Gustafson spoke highly of Harborview’s services and quality of care.
3. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT AND FUTURE AGENDAS
Kirk McKinley, Aurora Corridor and Interurban Trail Project Manager, invited the public to participate in an open house at the Shoreline Conference Center on Wednesday, May 19, to provide input on the design concepts for the Aurora Corridor and Interurban Trail Pedestrian Bridge projects. He distributed a brochure entitled “Public Art and Urban Design Opportunities.”
4. COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Chang reported on the Boryeong visit and displayed a large photograph of the Boryeong coastline given to the City of Shoreline. He thanked the Council and staff for their efforts at hosting the three-day visit. He noted that the City of Boryeong was able to establish relations with the City, the Shoreline School District, Shoreline Community College, and the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce. He was confident that the relationship would continue to grow and develop in the coming years.
Mayor Hansen commented favorably on the visit, noting that the Boryeong Mayor and Council President also participated in the open house on the Comprehensive Plan.
Deputy Mayor Jepsen also recognized Cheryl Lee, Ros Bird, Vicki Stiles, and Mayor Hansen for the work they did to make the visit a success.
Councilmember Ransom commented on his participation in the various sister cities events. He reminded Council of his participation at the National League of Cities Steering Committee for Human Development meeting the first week of June.
Deputy Mayor Jepsen reported on his recent visit to Washington D.C. to participate in the NLC Community and Economic Development Steering Committee meeting. He said that the focus of the group would be to restore full funding for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and Section 8 voucher funding. He said he is working with the Association of Washington Cities and other municipalities to demonstrate the success of the block grant program, noting that funding could be in jeopardy for fiscal year 2005.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
(a) Vicki Westberg, Shoreline, said the Fircrest march on Saturday demonstrated the strong support for keeping an excellent institution open. She believed that closing Fircrest would not save money and would provide residents with less stability and consistency. She felt that instead of downsizing the facility, it should be expanded by admitting more residents and encouraging more use of the grounds. She said Fircrest is rich in local pride and history, and Shoreline would lose a flagship institution if it closes.
(b) Janet Way, Shoreline, concurred with the previous speaker’s comments. On another topic, she said the Fircrest march illustrated to her the inadequacy of sidewalks in Shoreline. She said pedestrian safety is very important to Shoreline residents and that review of the Comprehensive Plan and creation of the Transportation Master Plan will be opportunities to address this inadequacy. She said she heard that the City imposed some special stipulations for organizers of the march. She said she would like the City to accommodate the expression of passion and interest instead of putting up impediments to free speech.
(c) Steve Mall, Shoreline, asked the Council to recognize the plight of residents and family members at Fircrest School. As an executive board member of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which represents the nurses at Fircrest, he asked the Council to look at what drives the political decisions in the state. He noted that only Councilmembers Chang and Fimia were at the Fircrest march on Saturday. He asserted that the same level of service could not be provided by any of the other options being offered. He urged the Council to take care of the most vulnerable people, who will be “displaced, dislocated, mistreated, and mismanaged” if Fircrest closes.
(d) Daniel Mann, Shoreline, concurred with previous comments. He also said that an unstated objective of City planners is to make Stone Avenue N a through street at N 175th Street, which would be a violation of every promise that has been made to the neighborhood. He said the neighborhood has given “more than its share” in terms of growth management, noting it has grown from 75 family units to over 100. He said making Stone Avenue N a through street would destroy the residential character of the neighborhood and create a pedestrian safety hazard.
(e) Jim Leigh, Shoreline School District Board Member, thanked everyone involved in making the Boryeong visit a success, especially Councilmember Chang. He hoped that this relationship will create a legacy of progress that will continue into the future. He recognized Janet Way and Tim and Patty Crawford for their efforts to improve the environment, and urged the Council to do likewise. He said although there is progress on the Aurora Corridor, the City seems to be alienating Aurora businesses. He noted the word “progress” has two “r’s” -- one representing the rights of citizens; the other representing the responsibility of public officials.
(f) Stacy Lindbom, Shoreline, described the rampant growth in her neighborhood along Stone Avenue N, noting that children can no longer play safely due to numerous parked vehicles and speeding traffic. She said there are 13 new houses and approximately 27 new vehicles on her street, and making it a through street will only make matters worse. She said her neighborhood has “paid the price,” and that the City does not care about her concerns.
(g) Donna Lee, Shoreline, concurred with previous speakers regarding Stone Avenue N. She described the ongoing parking problem in front of her home, and said making Stone Avenue a through street is “ridiculous.” She said although she signed a request for traffic circles, they are not a solution to the City’s traffic problems. She characterized the intersection at Top Foods and N 175th Street as a “nightmare,” and said the City should do something to address these situations.
(h) Richard Wilson, Lake Forest Park, outlined his experience working in the disability field for the past 20 years and asked the Council to educate itself on Fircrest and on the broader issue of care for the disabled. He said there are 9,000 families waiting to receive services from the state, and many of these do not favor a congregate care setting. He said the issue is about “people” and civil rights, noting the disabled have the same desires to contribute to the community and share close contact and intimate relationships.
(i) Michael Pollowitz, Shoreline, explained that his non-profit organization, Parkview Services, supports over 500 people with developmental disabilities in King County. He said the effort to consolidate state institutions is not a criticism of Fircrest, but a statement about the more than 9,000 individuals and families who receive little or no support services statewide. He said consolidation would free up millions of dollars that could be used to support many elderly people who have been waiting for state funds to become available. He estimated that 3 percent of disabled people living in institutions consume almost 30 percent of the state’s developmental disabilities budget.
Regarding Stone Avenue, Steve Burkett, City Manager, said the Transportation Master Plan would identify the pros and cons of numerous proposals, most of which the City would not likely implement due to budget constraints. He said while Stone Avenue is not a high-priority transportation proposal, all proposals should at least be considered as the master planning process moves forward.
Mayor Hansen said he is not aware of any proposal to develop Stone Avenue as a through street, although the Council should consider all proposals. He encouraged the neighborhood to contact the City’s Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program as a possible means of addressing traffic issues.
Regarding Stone Avenue, Deputy Mayor Jepsen emphasized the need to keep the City’s growth in perspective, noting that the City increased the minimum lot size from 2,500 square feet to 7,200 square feet. He pointed out that Mr. Mann was among many others that subdivided lots.
Councilmember Chang wished to be assured that the Stone Avenue issue would be taken seriously. He stressed the need for neighbors to educate the Council on such issues so it can make rational decisions. He thanked Mr. Leigh for his comments and the cooperation of the school district. He expressed support for Fircrest, noting that it is a very strategically important site for the City.
Councilmember Fimia felt the root of the Stone Avenue issue is that neighbors were surprised to hear the proposal because of prior promises made that the street would not be opened. She emphasized the fact that the Council sets the policy, adding that consultants should be careful how they communicate with the public since they don’t really know the neighborhoods or understand the issues. She wondered what other potential issues are out there that need to be addressed. She also felt the Council should proactively advocate for Fircrest. She said the City could take the lead in helping to bring stakeholders together to find a mutually beneficial solution. She felt the facility could be profitable and generate revenue in much the same way Harborview Hospital does. She feared the City might not get the desired result by taking a passive approach.
Mayor Hansen emphasized the need to consider all ideas in the Transportation Master Plan, noting he has not made any promises regarding Stone Avenue.
Councilmember Ransom said the Council listened to the concerns of Stone Avenue residents in the past, and it will continue to listen. He doubted that any project would be seriously considered for Stone Avenue in light of the many higher priority items in the Transportation Master Plan. He expressed concern about the potential loss of 760 jobs at Fircrest, but clarified that the state legislature is the decision-maker on that issue.
Councilmember Gustafson pointed out that people would be surprised by many of the items in the Transportation Master Plan since it is a long-term proposal that considers many possibilities. He expressed assurance that Council would listen to concerns and try to make the best decision possible.
Councilmember Fimia said although the state legislature is the key decision-maker on the Fircrest issue, the Council has a responsibility to advocate for its citizens.
Deputy Mayor Jepsen asked if staff could provide more accurate estimates on how the closure of Fircrest would impact the City of Shoreline’s economy. He also asked for clarification of Mr. Mall’s comments relating to the inadequacy of other options.
He then encouraged citizens to join the Shoreline Sister Cities Association, explaining that it is a membership organization that survives on membership dues.
6. WORKSHOP ITEMS
(a) Annual Police Service Efforts and
Accomplishments Report
Shoreline Police Chief Denise Turner presented the fourth annual police report and reviewed the department’s performance in terms of its goals to reduce crime and the fear of crime and to provide high quality, cost-effective and accountable services. The purpose of the report is to provide a review of public safety activities, examine trends for future planning, incorporate citizen satisfaction and perceptions of safety, and to benchmark the department against comparable agencies. Her report included the following points:
Councilmember Grace asked Chief Turner what crime prevention recommendations she would make for the 2005 budget. Chief Turner recommended an enhanced Blockwatch program and increased involvement of citizen volunteers.
Responding to Mayor Hansen’s question about citizen participation on regular patrols as occurs in Lynnwood, Chief Turner pointed out that Shoreline citizens have been trained to regularly patrol City parks and vacant homes, as well as monitor handicap parking. She felt Shoreline’s citizen patrol program could be enhanced through additional training and coordination of resources.
Councilmember Ransom expressed concern about the rise in auto thefts. He felt the City could possibly enhance its citizen volunteer program by creating police reservists, who could provide more ”eyes and ears” in the community. He noted that other jurisdictions have reported an 80 percent recovery rate for stolen vehicles due to citizen activism.
Deputy Mayor Jepsen noted that all of the recent car prowls in the Richmond Beach neighborhood were due to unlocked cars. He emphasized that everyone must be responsible for securing their personal items. He expressed interest in understanding why Part 1 Crimes and response times increased, and suggested that the City pursue a proactive traffic enforcement program for 2005.
Councilmember Fimia pointed out that the Council could not address the problem of increasing crime until more accurate statistics are collected. She said while the statistics are helpful, they only tell part of the story. She wondered if a quarterly report would be more effective.
Chief Turner explained that she wanted to present the report before she left her position at Shoreline, which meant presenting it one month before it was finalized. She acknowledged that this is an annual report, and that she was not able to adequately collect and analyze all of the data.
Mr. Burkett said that crime is often cyclical and even criminal justice experts cannot adequately explain why the overall crime rate has decreased over the past five years. He said the department’s problem-solving task force does its best to identify and analyze particular areas of concern so it can hopefully reduce the crime rate.
Councilmember Chang commended Chief Turner for her dedicated service during the last four years, noting that Boryeong delegates were very impressed with her during their recent visit. He said he would like to see the Block and Business Watch programs expanded, and would like to understand why response times have increased.
Councilmember Gustafson wondered if the increased crime rate is because businesses have been more effective in apprehending shoplifters.
Chief Turner explained that the retail theft program has reduced shoplifting responses and has streamlined the way offenders are arrested. She noted that several stores are very effective at catching offenders.
Councilmember Gustafson felt there is a correlation between the crime rate and the awareness by local businesses. He also felt the School Resource Officer (SRO) plays an important role in the education aspect of crime prevention. Chief Turner agreed that the SRO program has been an effective program.
Responding to Councilmember Fimia, Chief Turner provided arrest statistics for drug-related crimes. She said more detailed information would be provided to the Council in an updated report.
(b) 2004 First Quarter Financial Report
Steve Oleson, Budget Analyst, presented the 2004 First Quarter Financial Report. He reviewed revenues and expenditures for the General Fund, Development Services Fund, Street Fund, and Surface Water Management Fund. His report included the following points:
Councilmember Ransom commented on the increase in gambling revenues and on the potential impacts of Initiative 864, noting that Council may want to consider a levy lid lift. He speculated that I-864 would not reduce individual’s property taxes by 25 percent.
Debbie Tarry, Finance Director, concurred, noting that individual property taxpayers would see a much lower decrease because not everyone would receive the 25 percent reduction. She noted that local governments that have already approved levies would be exempt from the provisions of I-864; therefore, the fire district levy would not be affected.
Mr. Burkett explained that a levy lid lift could be proposed in September, but this option is not realistic since the Council would need to make a decision in July. He noted that other options include the November ballot or special elections in the spring of 2005, depending on the disposition of I-864.
Deputy Mayor Jepsen suggested that staff provide two budget scenarios: one with the 25 percent reduction ($1.7 million) and one without.
Councilmember Ransom asked if there has been any discussion about whether I-864 would be sustained if it passes, since the court has overturned past Eyman initiatives.
Ian Sievers, City Attorney, said he has not heard any discussions of weaknesses, constitutional or otherwise, relating to I-864. Ms. Tarry said she has not heard discussions relating to I-864, but she had heard some discussion about another Eyman initiative regarding property and gambling taxes.
Mr. Burkett noted that any initiative that passes would likely be challenged in the courts.
7. CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMENT: none
8. EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 9:35 p.m., Mayor Hansen announced that the Council would recess into executive session until 10:00 p.m. to discuss property issues. At 10:00 p.m. he announced that the meeting would be extended for 30 minutes. At 10:29 p.m. the executive session concluded and the meeting reconvened.
9. ADJOURNMENT
At 10:30 p.m., Mayor Hansen declared the meeting adjourned.
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Sharon Mattioli, City Clerk