SUMMARY MINUTES OF WORKSHOP DINNER MEETING

Monday, December 11, 2006 Shoreline Conference Center

6:00 p.m. Highlander Room

PRESENT: Mayor Ransom, Deputy Mayor Fimia, and Councilmembers Gustafson, Hansen, McGlashan, Ryu, and Way

ABSENT: none

STAFF: Bob Olander, City Manager; Julie Modrzejewski, Assistant City Manager; Joyce Nichols, Communications and Intergovernmental Relations Director

GUEST: none

Mayor Ransom called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m.

City Councilmembers described their activities at the National League of Cities (NLC) Conference last week in Reno, Nevada.

Councilmember Gustafson discussed a mobile workshop he attended on clean-up efforts on Lake Tahoe, which is located in both California and Nevada. A commission, made up of members of the two states’ officials as well as federal representatives, was created to address these efforts. He also attended sessions on multi-agency clean-up efforts, affordable housing, school-city partnerships, and activities for youth when they aren’t in school. He also attended a workshop regarding youth in city government. Another session addressed the issue of “green” construction with regard to municipal buildings. He stressed the need for incentives for “green” building. Other sessions focused on the subjects of local government collaboration in youth programs and youths and teens involvement in educational programs for the disadvantaged.

Councilmember Ryu attended the sessions on the seven policy initiatives NLC is focusing on for 2007. She said the Conference of Mayors group is already pushing its priorities in the Congress, which may be a better approach than NLC to get its agenda accomplished. She suggested that perhaps NLC should change to this strategy. She also reported on a session involving Community Development versus Economic Development. The presenter said there are no “silver bullets,” but the regional economy is the arena you have to work in. Cities have to focus their efforts and adjust to the business/economic cycle rather than the political cycle. Jurisdictions also have to determine what is their “regional” economic development geographic area. She stated that Shoreline’s geographic area is probably North King/South Snohomish County. Councilmember Ryu also attended a session on how to work well with staff to create a stronger community. She noted that Shoreline is already doing some of the things they recommended, and she felt we were headed in the right direction. She attended (along with other Councilmembers) the opening remarks made by former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros, who discussed the need for the closest possible proximity between housing and jobs.

Councilmember McGlashan attended his Community and Economic Development Steering and Policy Committee meetings. Again, affordable housing was the major topic of discussion. He has a PowerPoint presentation he wants to share with our Housing Strategy Advisory Committee. He attended a session on right-of-way fees and how to use those to protect this public asset. He reported that he saw a lot of very interesting, useful-looking products and technologies in the exhibit hall.

Councilmember Hansen said he has notes from the business meeting. He reported that he attended housing and public works (re-trach) project sessions, a Chinook in the City (WRIA 9) workshop, and pandemic flu sessions.

Mayor Ransom declared the meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

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Joyce Nichols, Communications and Intergovernmental Relations Director