CITY OF SHORELINE

SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL

SUMMARY MINUTES OF JOINT DINNER MEETING

Monday, February 8, 1999 Shoreline Conference Center

6:00 p.m. Highlander Room

Shoreline City Council

PRESENT: Mayor Jepsen, Deputy Mayor Montgomery, Councilmembers Gustafson, Hansen, King, Lee and Ransom

ABSENT: None

STAFF: Robert Deis, City Manager; Larry Bauman, Assistant City Manager; Kristoff Bauer, Assistant to the City Manager

Shoreline School Board

PRESENT: President Grace, Vice President Parsons, Board members Bryce and Robinson

ABSENT: Board member Giboney

STAFF: Dr. Marlene Holayter, Superintendent of Schools; Ken Kanikeberg, Executive Director of Business Services; Marjorie Ledell, Director of School and Community Relations; Frank Hrnicek, Director of Support Services

The meeting convened at 6:11 p.m. All Councilmembers were present with the exception of Councilmember Hansen, who arrived shortly thereafter.

President Grace explained the purpose of the Council and the School Board reconvening for another dinner meeting. Mayor Jepsen expressed appreciation for the two entities working together.

President Grace raised the subject of general operating principles between the Council and the School District. He asserted that both entities must be concerned about staff commitment regarding new areas of mutual cooperation. He suggested that School Board members and Councilmembers review potential areas of cooperation during the next month and provide feedback through him and Mayor Jepsen.

Councilmembers and School Board members discussed the mutual accessibility of the two entities.

Vice President Parsons suggested quarterly joint meetings of the School Board and Council, with three more meetings during 1999. Once established, these meetings could possibly occur only twice a year.

Councilmember Gustafson suggested regular, ongoing communication between Council and the School Board regarding issues that affect both organizations.

President Grace recommended that he, Mayor Jepsen, City Manager Robert Deis and Superintendent Dr. Marlene Holayter meet prior to the quarterly meetings.

Board member Robinson supported regular meetings of City and School District staff.

Mayor Jepsen said Shoreline expects a collaborative working relationship between its staff and the School District’s staff.

President Grace raised the topic of reporting mechanisms, in addition to quarterly and monthly meetings, for addressing issues. Councilmember Gustafson suggested that a representative of the School District attend a City Council meeting on occasion to report highlights of what is happening in the District and that a City staff member do the same for the School Board.

Councilmembers and School Board members went on to discuss the use of City and School District publications to highlight areas of mutual cooperation.

Ken Kanikeberg, Executive Director of Business Services, introduced the issue of an interlocal agreement between the School District and the City. He said the School Board approved an interim agreement in February 1997 to continue the agreements that had been in place between the District and King County. He asserted the need to implement a new agreement. He noted the meeting earlier in the day between City and District staff and Councilmember Gustafson.

Kristoff Bauer, Assistant to the City Manager, explained the purpose of the earlier meeting was to discuss a series of issues identified by the City. He said some of these issues will be easy to resolve, while agreement on others may require some time.

Mayor Jepsen suggested use of a matrix to identify issues for discussion by the City and the School Board.

Mr. Deis explained that the process is meant to identify those issues on which the City and the School Board agree and to determine how the City and the School Board will address those issues on which they do not agree and cite the pros and cons of those items.

Mr. Bauer said City and District staff could work to bring the issues back to Council and the School Board in a month. Mr. Kanikeberg commented that it may take five weeks to bring the issues back to Council and the School Board.

Councilmember Hansen arrived at 6:45 p.m.

Mr. Deis committed that City and School District staff will work together during the next five weeks to prepare a matrix for review by the Council and the School Board.

Mr. Kanikeberg introduced the discussion of the skateboard park. He reviewed the history of the Paramount Park School, including:

• Construction of the school building in 1954;
• Closure of the school in 1971;
• The sale of one acre of property at the site in 1978;
• The lease of the building to Montessori of Seattle and the senior center between 1974 and 1988; and
• The demolition of the building in 1991 after the determination that it was a maintenance and safety liability.

Mr. Kanikeberg went on to highlight points from the interlocal agreement between the School District and King County relating to the Paramount Park School play field:

• Recitals:
  • The District owns the property;
  • Athletic facilities would be built on the property;
  • The master plan for the property included a soccer field and two new baseball backstops;
  • Additional facilities were subject to the terms of the agreement; and
  • The District paid $147,000 to demolish the school.
• Terms:
  • Demolition and Design:
    • The County reimbursed the District for $100,000 of the demolition costs for all improvements;
    • The County was to prepare design and cost estimates;
    • The design and installation of structures was limited to storage and/or restroom facilities;
    • The County was to pay for all construction; and
    • The District was to approve all estimates and contracts.
  • Joint Use and Termination:
    • The District would have first priority for use;
    • The County was responsible for ongoing maintenance;
    • The District could declare the need for the property for a school and terminate the agreement upon six-months notice; and
    • The District was required to reimburse the County’s construction costs, less five percent for each year after completion of construction.
  • General Terms and Purchase Option:
    • The agreement covered a 25-year period, plus annual renewal periods, unless either party cancelled it 30 days before an anniversary;
    • There would be no rent or user fees between the parties;
    • If the District elected to sell the property, the County had the option to buy it during the 90 days after notice by the District; and
    • The purchase price was established as "fair market value" less the remaining, undepreciated value of the County’s improvements.

Mr. Deis highlighted key points in the City’s efforts to site a skate park in the community:

• The establishment of the skate park as a Council priority in spring 1996;
• The City’s attempt to establish a temporary skate park at the site of the former U&I store in the summer of 1996;
• The transfer of Shoreline parks from King County to the City in June 1997;
• The skate park feasibility study the City conducted in July 1997, which identified Shoreline Center as the preferred alternative;
• Opposition to the Shoreline Center site by the School District in July and August 1997;
• Neighborhood opposition to the Richmond Highlands site in the fall of 1997;
• The proposal by the Church of the Nazarene in the spring of 1998 to develop a skate park in partnership with the City and the subsequent failure of the proposal during the summer of 1998;
• The reconsideration of site alternatives by City staff and Council in September 1998, which identified Paramount Park and Twin Ponds Park as preferred alternatives; and
• Neighborhood opposition to the Twin Ponds Park site and relatively less opposition to the Paramount Park site at meetings with the Ridgecrest and Parkwood Neighborhood Associations during the fall of 1998.

Mr. Deis noted citizen comments during the town hall meetings about the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan that the east side of Shoreline is receiving less attention than the west side in terms of park improvements.

In response to President Grace, Mr. Bauer said the capital costs for a skate park range from $135,000 to $170,000, depending on the site and amenities.

Board member Robinson said his experience as a police officer at the University of Washington is that the skateboarders attracted to the university are the same ones who the police arrest for vandalism, graffiti and other crimes.

Councilmember Ransom mentioned a survey at Einstein Middle School that showed that 95 percent of students want a skate park. He asserted that skate parks at the middle schools would be highly used.

Vice President Parsons pointed out that Twin Ponds Park has less residential property surrounding it than Paramount Park.

Mayor Jepsen asserted that a skate park will be located somewhere in Shoreline. He said there is no question that it is needed. He noted the poor condition of Paramount Park, and he asked about its future use.

President Grace said the School Board needs to discuss the future use of Paramount Park.

Mr. Deis volunteered City staff to assist the School Board if needed.

Noting the decrease in the school-aged population, Councilmember Ransom said it is unlikely that enrollment will require the development of a school at Paramount Park.

President Grace summarized the intent of the School District and the City to: hold quarterly meetings of the School Board and Council; hold monthly meetings between the School Board President, the District Superintendent, the Mayor and the City Manager; to communicate formally and informally on emerging issues at the earliest available opportunities; work together during the next five weeks to prepare a matrix for consideration by Council and the School Board on outstanding issues.

The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

___________________________
Larry Bauman
Assistant City Manager