CITY OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL
Monday, June 13, 2005 Shoreline Conference Center
6:00 p.m. Highlander Room
PRESENT: Mayor Hansen, Deputy Mayor Jepsen, Councilmembers Chang, Fimia, Grace, and Ransom
ABSENT: Councilmember Gustafson
STAFF: Steve Burkett, City Manager; Bob Olander, Deputy City Manager; Julie Modrzejewski, Assistant City Manager; Joyce Nichols, Communications and Intergovernmental Relations Director; and Rob Beem, Human Services Manager
Mayor Hansen called the meeting to order at 6:25 p.m.
The meeting began with a discussion of where the City is in the process of procuring audited financial statements from the gambling establishments in Shoreline. Steve Burkett, City Manager, reported that staff has received information from Drift-on-Inn, Club Hollywood and Parkers and will soon get information from Goldie’s. Information has not yet been received from the Hide-Away or the Golden Nugget. Mr. Burkett said he would follow-up with the City Attorney whether Cascade Bingo has applied for a license to operate a cardroom.
On another topic, Councilmember Grace reviewed the progress by a Council subcommittee looking at human services needs as a follow-up to discussions at the Council retreat. He reported that he, Deputy Mayor Jepsen, and Councilmember Fimia met and discussed:
Councilmember Grace said that Councilmember Fimia’s focus was to try to raise the human services issues to the level of a Council goal. In this, she differed from the goal of the other two committee members.
Councilmember Fimia added that raising the issue of human services to a Council goal would give it added attention from staff and the public. She was not sure what the mechanism is to direct staff to put the appropriate level of emphasis on the issue.
Councilmember Grace said he is satisfied with the goals the Council has already set. He would like to discuss with staff what can be done this year, versus developing a longer term plan.
Councilmember Ransom said that Council should take a formal position elevating human services to a goal, at least by motion, or other agencies will not take the City seriously, particularly in the area of affordable housing.
Councilmember Grace believed that the City is beyond that and needs to develop a framework for making decisions on human services. He said affordable housing may not be the highest need once Council has studied the issue.
Councilmember Fimia responded that her issues are with the process. She pointed out that there is a finite amount of staff time available. She did not understand the mechanism by which this issue could be raised to a priority for human services staff.
Mr. Burkett noted there are many, many things that staff pursues that are not Council goals. He said that absent direction from the Council, staff will keep operating in the same fashion in the human services area. If Council asks for a different course of action, staff would prepare information and let the Council know the impact on staff and the resources needed to proceed.
Councilmember Fimia wished to have staff identify human services needs in areas of affordable housing and homelessness.
Deputy Mayor Jepsen pointed out that these items did not make the list of Council goals at the restreat. Council agreed to have a subcommittee look at the issue. Now Rob Beem, Human Services Manager, has done that.
Councilmember Chang said the question is how the City is going to provide resources to meet the human services needs. He said the City has to develop ways to solve the problem. The question is how can we use the money we have to get the best result?
Councilmember Fimia suggested asking staff to finish the assessment and develop a recommendation.
Mr. Beem shared a memo and information with Council from his handout on the 1999 Youth Services Policy review and assessment of other human services needs.
Councilmember Grace said Council should approach the assessment from a perspective that goes beyond budgetary considerations. He wanted to consider partnerships and ways the City can leverage other funds.
Mayor Hansen agreed that the City cannot solve these problems alone. It will be important to pursue partnerships.
Mr. Beem said he will complete his data gathering and assessment and provide Council information for discussion. He said he would touch base with the subcommittee during the information-gathering process and develop a proposed work plan for Council review in identifying needs.
Moving on to another topic, Deputy City Manager Olander gave Councilmembers a revised copy of Ordinance No. 388, which makes some housekeeping corrections to add back into the ordinance items that were inadvertently omitted.
Mayor Hansen adjourned the meeting at 7:25 p.m.
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Joyce Nichols, Director of Communications and Intergovernmental Relations