CITY OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL
Monday, July 17, 2006 Shoreline Conference Center
PRESENT: Mayor Ransom, Deputy Mayor Fimia, and Councilmembers Gustafson, Hansen, McGlashan, Ryu, and Way
ABSENT: none
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:32 p.m. by Mayor Ransom, who presided.
2. FLAG SALUTE/ROLL CALL
Mayor Ransom led the flag salute. Upon roll call by the City Clerk, all Councilmembers were present.
(a) Proclamation of “National Night Out Against Crime 2006”
Mayor Ransom read the proclamation and presented it to North City Block Watch representatives Nancy Phillip and Dave Geddes.
Nancy Phillips said she has resided in the same home in the City of Shoreline for 45 years and is very dedicated to taking care of children. She said she knows her neighbors and it is important to start with the children when they are young. She said folks need to look out for each other. There is an emergency preparedness exercise this fall. She added that she donates the money and her time to this effort because it is her City.
3. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
§Bob Olander, City Manager, provided updates and reports on the
following items:
4. COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Ryu noted that she distributed SeaShore documentation to all Council and requested Council comments on the documents.
Deputy Mayor Fimia thanked the staff for paving the 100-foot stretch from the Interurban Trail to 145th Street N.
Councilmember Gustafson noted that he took his grandson to the low tide beach walk. He encouraged residents to take advantage of this program. He said he attended a Policy Issues Committee meeting and there will be minutes with some issues on them for the Council in the future. He said he also attended the National League of Cities First Tier Suburbs Committee meeting in Bedford, Ohio and will report to the Council at a later date. Some of the issues from that meeting were about housing and the number of foreclosures in some neighborhoods.
Councilmember Hansen attended the Ocean Shores City Council meeting and has been invited to the Emergency Management Services (EMS) kickoff as the President of the Suburban Cities Association. He wanted to poll the Council on the EMS levy.
Deputy Mayor Fimia asked that the EMS Levy be put on the agenda for a future discussion.
Mr. Olander said there needs to be time for the Council to consider this and form a position. He said there is a process to follow when it comes to supporting levies as a full Council.
Councilmember Way requested that Councilmember Hansen obtain literature for the Council whenever he wants them to consider a position on anything in the future.
Councilmember Gustafson commented that he did support the EMS Levy, but would also like more information concerning it.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
(a) Harley O’Neil, Shoreline responded to comments printed in last week’s Enterprise newspaper. He stated that the cost estimates that were done on the Echo Lake project in 2004 was a result of charrettes. He said Beckwith & Associates paid $10,667 to participate, and there were drawings, studies, and other reports created. He said he hopes people will review this because his partners paid over $100,000 for studies.
(b) Bill Bear, Shoreline, noted that the City spent about $7.5 million on the North City Business District enhancement and only $600,000 on human services. He said there are families that are in dire need in Shoreline. He quoted that every month between 20 and 30 families in Shoreline have their water shut off. He noted that human services funding goes to Hopelink and other service agencies to help people facing eviction. He said it is incumbent upon the City to make sure no family or child has to live in degraded conditions, and the City needs to have a budget that prioritizes human needs.
(c) David Fosmire, Shoreline, stated that an appeal was filed regarding the City’s Determination of Non-Significance regarding Ordinance 434. He said this Ordinance leads to adverse environmental impacts and should not be adopted.
(d) Ros Bird, Shoreline, on behalf of the Lake Forest/Shoreline Arts Council, announced the Arts Council’s Summer Concert Series, which occurs every Wednesday nights at 7:00 p.m. She invited the public to Cromwell Park for the next concert and reminded them that in two weeks they will move to Hamlin Park.
(e) Gretchen Atkinson, Shoreline, stated that in 2004 the casinos in Shoreline asked for a reduction in gambling taxes, which was adopted by the Council. At the time, she stated she favored that tax relief. She added that the one casino that complained the loudest donated $8,000 to a group for the election candidates. She said at that time she wondered whether or not the reduction should have been given. Additionally, she said she noticed that many of the Pubic Disclosure Commission (PDC) reports showed thousands of dollars going to Councilmembers and candidates. She added that the casinos need to create a new business plan and be creative to increase revenues and compete. She hoped they did not give those funds to the candidates so they could get a tax reduction.
(f) Mike Jacobs, Shoreline, President of the Innis Arden Board, said the Council did not hear from Innis Arden members who oppose the Determination of Non-Significance (DNS). He said the comment period does not expire until July 24th. He is concerned the Council will vote on this matter tonight before the DNS period is done.
Councilmember Way inquired if the statements by Mr. Jacobs are a part of the record.
Mr. Sievers noted that there is still a SEPA DNS comment period open. He said they are worth putting in the record, but will not have any impact on the decision. He added that Mr. Fosmire did file an appeal with the hearing examiner. He said, however, because this is a legislative matter, there is no administrative appeal. He clarified that the Council should not take action on the tree exemption until the conclusion of the 14-day comment period.
Deputy Mayor Fimia asked Mr. Tovar to clarify the public hearing period on this item.
Mr. Tovar said the SEPA issue is a separate matter and it has a comment period. However, he stated if there are no serious questions the Council can act on this next week.
Mr. Olander responded to Mr. O’Neil and said he was correct that in December 2004 the Council did authorize the City Manager to negotiate an agreement with him subject to other agreements and conditions. He said the plans changed throughout the process and after a long negotiation period the City ended up purchasing the current site on the corner. He summarized that despite the prolonged negotiations, both parties just couldn’t agree.
Mayor Ransom inquired if local churches have human services programs.
Mr. Olander replied that the City staff can find out, but he knew there were churches that provide emergency services funding and low income funding.
Councilmember Hansen noted that the Water District also has a low income assistance program.
Councilmember Gustafson asked if there was any way to preserve the buffer and utilize the area around the south end of Echo Lake as a City park.
Mr. Olander said he could research it, although he believed that there is not very much space. He added that there are only certain recreational uses that can be allowed in a wetland buffer.
Councilmember Gustafson pointed out that there was a vision to add a boardwalk and some access by the YMCA for canoe and water activities.
Councilmember Way said the Richmond Beach Saltwater Master Plan meeting is scheduled Saturday, July 29th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Richmond Beach Saltwater Park. She also inquired if there was another open house at a different time.
Mr. Olander said he would find out and report back to the Council.
6. WORKSHOP ITEMS
(a) Approval of Westminster Triangle Mini-Grant Project
Councilmember Gustafson moved to approve the Westminster Triangle Mini-Grant Project. Councilmember Hansen seconded the motion.
Councilmember McGlashan clarified with Joyce Nichols, Communications and Intergovernmental Relations Director, that the correct amount on page 5 was $1,715.
A vote was taken on the motion to approve the Westminster Triangle Mini-Grant Project, which carried 7-0.
(b) Ordinance No. 433 increasing the General Fund
Appropriation in the 2006 Budget to add a new
Development Review Engineer Position and an on-call
Contract for Engineering Services to perform Permit Review;
and amending Ordinance No. 404, Ordinance No. 414 and
Ordinance No. 420.
This item was adopted at the City Council meeting of July 10, 2006.
(c) Ordinance No. 430, a Site Specific Rezone located at
14539 32 nd Avenue NE
Ian Sievers, City Attorney, inquired if any Councilmembers have had ex-parte contact or a conflict of interest regarding this matter. No Councilmember excused themselves or revealed any conflict of interest pertaining to this item.
Steve Szafran, Planner, provided the staff report and noted that currently there is a condemned single family home on the site. It has been vacant for 10 years and utilized by vagrants as a dumping ground. The applicant is proposing a townhome development, which will consist of two buildings and two townhomes in each building. The City received 13 letters in support of this development and one against it. He concluded that the rezone request meets the goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan by promoting efficient use of land.
Deputy Mayor Fimia moved to adopt Ordinance No. 430, a Site Specific Rezone located at 14539 32 nd Avenue NE. Councilmember Hansen seconded the motion.
Councilmember Hansen supported this development but felt the City should think about rezoning the entire area, consistent with Comprehensive Plan policies.
Councilmember Way agreed and stated she visited the site. She noted there was significant discussion in the Planning Commission minutes concerning a significant tree on the site. She also said there was a petition from members in the community. She inquired if there was a possibility of designing the project around the tree. She said she appreciated the developers taking their time on this project.
Mr. Tovar responded that the Planning Commission had the same question and noted that retaining the tree would be impossible. The Planning Commission recommended removing the tree.
Councilmember Way suggested replacement landscaping to make up for the loss of this tree.
Mr. Szafran noted that the code requires replacement trees.
Mr. Tovar added that the entire subject of tree replacement is a generic issue and it may be a good issue to address in the coming year as part of the Planning Commission work plan. He said there should be general standards so the Council does not have to address this issue parcel by parcel.
A vote was taken on the motion to adopt Ordinance No. 430, which carried 7-0.
(d) Ordinance No. 434 amending the Shoreline Municipal
Code to update regulations relating to tree cutting, amending
SMC 20.50.310 regarding exemptions from permit requirements
for hazardous trees
Mr. Olander recommended that the Council postpone discussion on this item until July 24, 2006.
Deputy Mayor Fimia moved to postpone action on this item until the July 24, 2006 City Council Business Meeting. Councilmember Hansen seconded the motion, which carried 7-0.
RECESS
At 7:49 p.m., Mayor Ransom called for a five-minute recess. At 8:00 p.m., the Council meeting reconvened.
7. STUDY ITEMS
(a) Review of the Gambling Tax Rate
Mr. Olander stated this item is in response to a letter and a meeting with casino owners. After those meetings he and Debbie Tarry, Finance Director, considered proposing a temporary reduction in the gambling tax rate. He pointed out that considering the industry as a whole, there are general trends that are affecting gambling and casinos. He said it is important to look at gambling as a whole, as well as individual profit and loss statements from each casino. He pointed out that there has been a 15 percent decrease in revenues from 2005 to the first quarter of 2006, and the preliminary prediction for the second quarter of 2006 is the same 15 percent decline. He cited five statewide factors for private casino losses:
1) Tribal casinos growth (slot machines, entertainment, larger payouts)
2) Smoking ban
3) Regional non-tribal casinos
4) On-line illegal betting
5) Construction impacts in Shoreline and on Aurora Avenue North
He said the Council should plan for less revenue from the casinos next year, noting that the trend will continue regardless of what the City does. However, he felt the City has a responsibility to lessen the impacts of the Aurora Corridor Project and level the playing field of all City casinos by temporarily reducing the gambling tax to 9 percent until the end of the first quarter of 2007. The gambling tax rate would then automatically return to 10 percent at the beginning of the second quarter. This reduction is recommended by staff as construction mitigation to assist the businesses through this period. The reduction will equate to a tax savings of $187,000 for the casinos. The City can make up that lost revenue from the Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) or another source.
Mayor Ransom called for public comment.
a) Dolores Chiechi, Executive Director of the Recreational Gaming Association (RGA), noted that her organization represents the non-tribal gaming organizations in Washington State. She commented that the overview from the City staff was well presented. She stated that the smoking ban has had a severe impact on the industry, and an informal poll found that about 70 percent of gamblers enjoy smoking. In 1997, the Governor vetoed a reduction in the gambling tax from 20 percent to 10 percent, believing that the industry would be thriving. In 1999 or 2000, there was a federal minimum wage increase which also affected the gambling establishments. She explained that the request from the Shoreline casino owners is not unique, noting that extra expenses cannot be passed on to patrons. She said the gambling industry is still struggling and there are many establishments that are paying more in taxes than the revenue they generate. She concluded that 53 percent of the gambling institutions in the state are operating at a loss.
Councilmember Gustafson asked how Shoreline could enforce the statewide smoking ban for both tribal and non-tribal casinos.
Ms. Chiechi responded that the Council should write the Governor and encourage her to include that in future contract negotiations with the tribe.
Councilmember Ryu asked if the taxes that the casinos pay are based on gross receipts.
Ms. Chiechi noted that the tribal casinos voluntarily pay taxes only when they make a profit; however, non-tribal casinos pay based on gross receipts.
Mayor Ransom asked about the industry’s fixed costs relating to dealers, floor supervisors, security cameras, and guards.
Ms. Chiechi responded that one of the misconceptions is that legislature relaxed the house bank card room regulations. On the contrary, the legislature quadrupled the regulatory requirements on the industry. She added that one player requires one dealer, a pit supervisor, security, and people in the surveillance room for that one player. She concluded that the oversight, regulatory compliance, and the expenses are phenomenal.
Mayor Ransom asked what the other taxes the gambling establishments in Shoreline were paying besides the City’s 10 percent gambling tax.
Ms. Chiechi said they pay a federal tax, state B&O tax, real and property taxes, and a payroll tax.
Mayor Ransom noted that seven of the twelve gambling establishments in Everett have closed.
Ms. Chiechi added that there have been four additional closures in King County in the past two months. She said there were 142 card rooms since the beginning of the 1997 House Banking program and since then 49 of them have closed.
Councilmember Way asked Ms. Chiechi to elaborate on some of the programs the RGA offers to address problem gambling in the communities.
Ms. Chiechi responded that she has served on the Advisory Council for the Washington State Council on Problem Gambling since 2000 and a member of the Problem Gambling Advisory Committee with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). She said this program ensures the funds are going towards the treatment, education and awareness of people with the problem.
b) Harley O’Neil, Shoreline, favored the staff recommendation because it would help offset construction impacts. He commented favorably on the amenities at Hollywood Casino and concluded that the City needs to support the casinos.
c) Mary Abel, Manager at Goldie’s Casino, thanked the Council and the Mayor for considering a reduction in the gambling tax rate to offset losses from the Aurora construction. There have been a number of factors impacting the revenue at Goldies. The smoking ban and Aurora Avenue construction has led to a 26 percent reduction in revenue. She said Goldies still has the same number of employees it has had since 2005, and it may have to make staff cuts. The gambling reduction would benefit the business, but the current recommendation of 9 percent is not enough.
Mayor Ransom added that a worksheet the Council received shows revenues at Goldies has dropped 25.5 percent for the first two quarters of 2006.
Councilmember Way thanked Ms. Able for the chart and asked how many of their 160 employees Shoreline residents are.
Ms. Able estimated that about 25 percent of Goldie’s employees are Shoreline residents.
Councilmember Way requested further information from Ms. Able about traffic on Aurora Avenue.
Ms. Able responded that about one half to three quarters of the people traveling on Aurora are utilizing businesses on the corridor.
Councilmember Gustafson called for a point of order. Councilmember Gustafson stated that a question and answer dialogue between the Council and a speaker is not the Council’s normal procedure.
Mayor Ransom said the Council should allow the affected businesses to respond directly to Council questions.
Councilmember Gustafson said this practice concerns him, and the questions can be answered in a different way. He noted that Council rules limit public comment to 20 minutes. He suggested listening to the speakers and asking questions afterwards.
Deputy Mayor Fimia felt this is a unique situation because certain businesses are being impacted by the construction project. She said the Council is attempting to establish a policy and it facilitates the process if clarification is received while the speaker is at the podium. She commented that an additional 30 or 60 minutes is not an excessive amount of time to clarify the issues.
Councilmember McGlashan suggested the Council follow proper protocols and suspend the Council rules.
Councilmember Way moved to suspend the Council Rules of Procedure to allow speakers to respond to questions. Councilmember Ryu seconded the motion, which carried 4-2-0, with Councilmembers Gustafson and McGlashan dissenting and Councilmember Hansen remaining silent.
Councilmember Ryu inquired if the Golden Nugget was also affected by the construction.
Ms. Able responded affirmatively.
(d) Tony Adams, Shoreline, commented that every dollar that is invested in gambling taxpayers pay at least $3.00 in criminal justice costs, social welfare expenses, high regulatory costs, and increased infrastructure expenditures. This also brings about an increase in compulsive gambling and crime. Each compulsive gambler, he said, adversely affects the lives of ten to twenty relatives, friends, and business associates. He said those who are addicted to gambling show patterns of substance abuse, suicide attempts, neglect, and child abuse. He asked the Council to please consider these comments.
(e) Michael Preston, General Manager of Goldies, stated there is a 25 percent reduction in revenue at Goldies. He said the combined casinos have not had revenues to match the taxes they have paid out to the City this year ($2,650,000) in any year since their inception. He stated the gambling industry is the only industry taxed based on their gross revenues. There are several casino owners that are borrowing money to pay their taxes, he stated. He concluded that prudent leadership is needed so the tax can be reduced to a rate lower than 9 percent.
(f) William Hubbell, Shoreline, on behalf of Drift On Inn Casino and Hollywood Casino, thanked the Mayor, the Council, and the staff for presenting this item. In addition to all other taxes, no other business pays this tax, he outlined. He said he cares about the staff and the people who work for his family. He said over $9,000,000 has been remitted to the City. The Aurora Project will help the City eventually, but he felt that a 6 percent gambling tax is the appropriate rate.
Deputy Mayor Fimia inquired if there is any increased crime statistics associated with the gaming establishments in Shoreline.
Mr. Hubbell replied that the Shoreline police department thanks the casinos for internal, self-policing and keeping the area safe.
(g) Scott Hildebrandt, Shoreline, on behalf of Parker’s Casino, said the gambling employees are being impacted. Additionally, the surrounding businesses are being impacted because those same employees spend their money in the Shoreline area. He encouraged the Council to reduce the taxes to ensure the industry’s longevity. He stated that this tax impacts people and their well-being, not just City statistics.
Councilmember Way inquired if Mr. Hildebrandt’s opinion is that the economy will improve when the Aurora Project is done.
Mr. Hildebrandt replied that he prefers not to speculate on hypothetical situations.
Councilmember Way also asked how many of Parker’s Casino employees live in Shoreline.
Mr. Hildebrandt replied that there are about 25 – 30 percent who live in Shoreline. He added that he tries his best to avoid driving on Aurora Avenue. He said it is hard to estimate how many of his employees drive on Aurora, but he knows the project has impacted Shoreline greatly.
(h) Bill Bear, Shoreline, agreed with a previous speaker regarding the “hidden” costs of gambling. He said some problems are related to compulsive gambling. He said there are social costs of gambling and he thinks there shouldn’t be a tax on gambling. If there wasn’t a tax on gambling there would be a different discussion about the “human” costs of gambling.
Mr. Olander addressed the question of why just the gambling industry is proposed for a tax reduction and not others. He noted that the City cannot tax property or sales taxes because they must be uniform throughout the state. Other taxes, he added, are currently in place through utility franchise agreements and cannot be changed. He said the total daily traffic count along Aurora at the 170th Street N. intersection has dropped approximately 16 percent during construction. He felt that no significant reduction of tax or even the 1 percent reduction will ensure these businesses will stay operational. However, staff has identified the Aurora Corridor Project as a unique impact on their revenue.
Mayor Ransom moved to direct staff to return with an ordinance to reduce the gambling tax to 7 percent for nine months, from July 1, 2006 to March 31, 2007.
Mayor Ransom added that a 3 percent reduction is the limit for Capital Improvement Programs. If the reduction was more than 3 percent the City would have to curtail operating funds, he said. He noted that of the $25,000,000 in taxes the City has received from this industry, it has put $10,000,000 in reserves for the new City Hall. Therefore, the $500,000 or $600,000 loss would allow these five gambling establishments to survive. He said the 3 percent does not cut current service levels, but it might delay some future projects. He commented that less than 1 percent of the state general population is in gambling counseling. As a licensed mental health counselor, he asked the state how many referrals he would get for compulsive gambling. He was told if he received certification and was on the list, he would only get about two per year. This signifies to him that gambling really isn’t a serious problem in Washington. He said more recently the Hideaway and Cascade Bingo have both closed, which represents an annual loss of $160,000 to the City. He said the Council should seriously consider the 7 percent gambling tax rate for a nine-month period.
Councilmember McGlashan inquired if there are more casinos to be built in Mountlake Terrace. He also inquired if the moratorium on building more casinos in Shoreline has been challenged.
Mr. Olander responded he does not know the zoning restrictions in Mountlake Terrace. He also outlined that their gambling tax rate is 10 percent. He also stated that the moratorium has not been challenged. Furthermore, court cases regarding casinos have been confusing, and it would take some clarification from the City Attorney to fully understand it.
Councilmember McGlashan asked if the Hideaway could be reopened with new management.
Mr. Sievers stated that they have reopened.
Councilmember McGlashan unquired about the status of Sparky’s and whether it could reopen as a casino.
Mr. Sievers said the staff denied their non-conforming status, so Sparky’s cannot reopen as a casino again.
Councilmember McGlashan requested the source of Mr. Adams’ information.
Councilmember Gustafson highlighted that the real issues are those that are impacting the gambling industry. He said the Council should take an active role in pushing for a statewide smoking ban in all casinos, including the tribal casinos. He said he would support a 1 percent reduction for 9 months, and then a reevaluation. He was not in favor of a 3 percent reduction of the tax rate. He said the tax rates of all the local cities are 10 percent or higher, and only the City of Fife is less than 5 percent.
Mayor Ransom pointed out that Lake Stevens is also at 5 percent.
Councilmember Ryu said while she is concerned about the social impacts of gambling, the gaming industry in Shoreline is composed of legal businesses. She noted that revenues from state lottery tickets provide funding for education, and until they stop doing it they probably are not going to address the gambling issue in our state. She said she is in favor of Mayor Ransom’s proposal to reduce the gambling tax to 7 percent based on the fact that the gaming industry in Shoreline is projected to have a $4,000,000 reduction in gross income in 2006.
Upon motion by Councilmember Ryu, seconded by Councilmember Way and carried 4-3, with Councilmembers, Gustafson, Hansen, and McGlashan dissenting, debate on this item was extended until 9:40 p.m.
Councilmember Way said it is not productive to destroy the economic base on Aurora Avenue. She said the Council should think about the human impact of the 900 employees working at local casinos. She felt that reducing the gambling tax to 7 percent is fair due to the amount of business the construction has taken away from the casinos. She concluded that casinos are a part of the “fabric” of the City and the Council should embrace that.
Councilmember Hansen said that he voted against the gambling tax reduction last year because he explained at the time that it wouldn’t make a difference. He said the City will be down about $1,000,000 this year if the tax is reduced even more. He felt the Council should look at what capital projects should be cut because further reductions will have a severe impact on the City budget.
Deputy Mayor Fimia characterized this proposal as a “real dilemma” and it needs to be dealt with fairly and smartly.
RECESS
At 9:44 p.m., Mayor Ransom called for a five-minute recess. The Council meeting reconvened at 9:49 p.m.
(b) Arterial Speed Study
Paul Haines, Public Works Director, introduced this item and stated this is the first time the City has discussed how speeds are set and the role and responsibility the Council has in the adoption of speed control on roadways. He noted that the staff report gives detailed information on how drivers are behaving on the arterials in the City. He highlighted that “drivers drive based on the physical conditions of the environment.” He noted that everyone has an opinion on what the speeds should be on any given road. He cautioned the Council not to use their opinion when they deliberate on what the speed should be on any road in the City. He added that if the Council tries to artificially constrain speeds through postings and speed traps then they will force traffic to move elsewhere. Additionally, if speeds are inappropriate they will not survive challenges in court, and non-uniform speeds lead to confusion and unpredictability. He concluded that the City needs to obtain a balance of safety, livability, and mobility that needs to be achieved when setting speed limits. The Transportation Master Plan (TMP) was adopted and it both reaffirmed and changed some of the road classifications in Shoreline.
MEETING EXTENSION
At 10:00 p.m., Deputy Mayor Fimia moved to extend the meeting until 10:30 p.m. Councilmember Ryu seconded the motion, which carried 6-1, with Councilmember Hansen dissenting.
Rich Meredith, Traffic Engineer, reviewed all of the arterials and how they are functioning under the new classifications of the TMP. He said that having a good arterial grid network keeps people moving and preserves neighborhoods. He highlighted that speeds are set with the “85 percentile speed,” which means it is the speed that 85 percent of the traffic is moving. However, there are other factors, which include curves in the road, the width of the road, the number of lanes, and so forth. In any case, all City streets need to have a consistent look and feel. He outlined a map in the staff report which detailed all the arterials in the City. Ho pointed out that the speed study data, the new designations, the 85 percentile speed, and the posted speed are all noted on the map.
Mr. Haines added that the driving behavior and the road classification change map will need to be analyzed more to determine whether the speed limits are correct.
Mr. Meredith outlined the five concerns that need to be addressed when changing a speed limit: 1) safety; 2) enforcement needs and resources; 3) neighborhood concerns; 4) capital improvements; and 5) education. He highlighted that just changing the speed limit on the signs doesn’t necessarily change driver behavior.
Mayor Ransom inquired why 145th Street N. is not on the list.
Mr. Haines noted that 145th Street N. is not a part of Shoreline.
Councilmember Way said the speeds on 145th Street N. and 205th Street N. are factors.
Mr. Haines agreed, but stated they are outside the City limits and the City does connect to those in many places.
Mr. Meredith said 145th Street N. is an important grid connector and a principal arterial, but the City doesn’t own the street. He noted that the advantages and disadvantages of revising the speed limits on arterials are on page 5 of the report.
Mr. Olander suggested that the Council review all of the tables and information in this report and e-mail or call him with any questions.
Councilmember Ryu thanked the staff for their work. She said putting the information in a table is easier to read and understand. She urged the Council to reduce the speeds in school zones, and she appreciated the consistency of speed limits on winding roads throughout the City.
Councilmember Hansen stated that a lot of studying is required before he can give his opinion. However, he urged the Council to consider the considerable amount of citizen concern about speeding in Innis Arden. He noted that they even hired their own policeman to patrol the roads to control speeds along 14th Avenue NW.
Deputy Mayor Fimia said this is going to be a case of “be careful what we wish for” because now that the study is done it will be challenging to complete. She added that the public will ask for exceptions rather than consistency. She pointed out that residents have never asked her to increase speed limits anywhere. She felt the changes and the proposals should be measured with the goals in mind. However, the City should not fall into the trap of focusing on engineering; in other words, the number of cars should not dictate what the driver behavior should be. She added that she would much rather see the speed lowered 5 miles per hour than going up 5 miles per hour. Local streets are a concern with the residents. She felt that 25 miles per hour is too fast for streets without sidewalks. She favored lowering the speed on Aurora Avenue to 35 miles per hour.
Mayor Ransom added that the businesses along Aurora Avenue are asking for a 35 mile per hour speed limit.
Councilmember Ryu moved to extend the meeting until 10:40. The motion died for a lack of a second.
There was Council consensus to schedule this item for a future meeting before December.
Councilmember Gustafson said he will e-mail his questions to the City Manager.
Councilmember Way added that the public should get a copy of these maps and review them and send the City comments.
8. ADJOURNMENT
At 10:33 p.m., Mayor Ransom declared the meeting adjourned.
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Scott Passey, City Clerk