CITY OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL
Monday, April 14, 2008 – 6:00 p.m.
Shoreline Conference Center
Highlander Room
PRESENT: Mayor Cindy Ryu, Deputy Mayor Terry Scott, and Councilmembers Keith McGlashan, Chris Eggen, Janet Way, and Doris McConnell
ABSENT: Councilmember Ron Hansen
GUESTS: Senator Darlene Fairley, Representative Maralyn Chase, and Representative Ruth Kagi
STAFF: Bob Olander, City Manager, Julie Modrzejewski, Assistant City Manager, Scott MacColl, Intergovernmental Program Manager
Mayor Ryu called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m.
Mayor Ryu started the discussion by thanking the Shoreline Delegation for their hard work. Scott MacColl distributed the City’s legislative priorities and the list of bills the City tracked, and asked the Delegation to provide their perspective on how the session went.
Rep. Kagi thanked Councilmember Janet Way for her help on the Evergreen Cities bill. She added that the bill had changed from its original form, removing much of the “unfunded” mandates. The bill includes approximately $600K to develop model ordinances and the Department of Natural Resources will begin an inventory process. Councilmember Eggen stated that the Washington Environmental Council was pleased that the bill passed but they plan to be back to add to it. Councilmember Way thanked Rep. Kagi for her work on the bill.
Rep. Kagi stated that it was a big year for foster care; a new category was created to manage the high needs children and the bill provides $800K to help the courts with judicial assignments that provide continuity for families. She added that since so many children in Shoreline have development disabilities, the City might be interested to learn that approximately $1.8 million in federal and state funding will be used to address those with intensive behavioral needs, including respite care and training to support families.
Senator Fairley said that there were approximately 180 bills in her committee. Unfortunately the Point Wells bill did not pass. She added that the bill would have helped Shoreline and Maple Valley. She believes the bill will return in the next session.
Senator Fairley stated that more funding was added to help cities with gang related and juvenile justice programs and will be managed through a grant process. Senator Fairley stated that the bills regarding executive sessions did not get through committee. However, she anticipates that these bills will return in the next session. She suggested that the Attorney General provide training to city attorneys as a compromise to the bill. In addition, Senator Fairley said that she’d like to craft a bill that would allow families, who have lost a loved one, to plant a “remembered tree” in a city/park open space area. Cities would identify the type of trees that are allowed and the families would need to help maintain the tree for a few years after planting it.
Senator Fairley stated that the cities came out opposed to the wrongful death bill because they considered it an unfunded mandate. She is hopeful that cities and trial lawyers will come to some agreement. Mr. Olander stated that with joint several liabilities, if a party does not have the funds, attorneys will bring cities on as a party, although they are not necessarily at fault.
Rep. Chase said that she was grateful to Bob Olander for meeting with her and the Public Health Lab. She was pleased that they will be required to conduct a risk assessment and she expects the City to be actively reviewing the scope of work. She is concerned that the lab will expand into a BSL 4 level lab.
Rep. Chase stated that the Public Works Trust Fund funded 52 projects. She’s pleased that approximately $10 million was allocated to implement an interest buy down program. Cities would receive the funding and the State would buy down the interest; Rep. Chase considers this program very innovative.
Rep. Chase stated that Shoreline was a model city with regards to sustainability efforts; she noted the contract with Cleanscapes. She mentioned that there is a long-term problem with Cedar Grove in handling the waste stream; the City’s growing recycling efforts would help with this problem. Likewise, Rep. Chase stated that Shoreline is getting a reputation for being so green-oriented.
Mayor Ryu expressed her concern with Cedar Grove. She is concerned that those responsible for the source of the garbage are not being held accountable. Rep. Chase stated that a task force was being set up this summer to address this issue.
Senator Fairley asked about the recent mailing she received regarding Sunset Elementary School. Mr. Olander responded that the City has talked with the School District regarding demolishing the building and converting the property into a City park. However, there is no funding in the capital plan and it is not identified as a high priority.
Councilmember McGlashan asked Rep. Kagi if a concern with foster care is finding parents. Rep. Kagi stated that 15 additional licensers were added to deal with the backlog. Likewise, she added that with last year’s bill to help those in foster care “age out” of foster care, 50 additional children are utilizing this new program.
Mayor Ryu stated that Shoreline has one of the only adult developmental disability (DD) day programs in the area. She has heard that it is so popular that participants have to set their alarm for midnight to register for the program. It appears that the Parks Department is providing some human services. Since this is so popular, and if we could not continue funding it, could the City receive State funding? Likewise, Mr. Olander shared that the City is trying to organize a new summer camp for those with severe disabilities for a trial of 10-15 participants. The staffing ratio is one staff to three participants and a nurse would also be required.
Rep. Kagi stated that the Department of Social and Human Services’ philosophy is that every DD individual should have the opportunity to work and this has resulted in the elimination of many recreation programs for this population.
Mr. Olander thanked the Delegation for being so accessible to the City and asked them what they consider to be a major issue in the next session. They responded that it would be funding the State Budget, education, and transportation issues.
The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
/S/ Julie Modrzejewski, Assistant City Manager