CITY OF SHORELINE

CITY OF SHORELINE

SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL

SUMMARY MINUTES OF WORKSHOP MEETING

Monday, March 15, 1999

6:30 p.m.

Shoreline Conference Center

Mt. Rainier Room

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

ABSENT: Councilmember Lee

1. CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 6:31 p.m. by Mayor Jepsen, who presided.

2. FLAG SALUTE/ROLL CALL

Mayor Jepsen led the flag salute. Upon roll by the City Clerk, Councilmembers Gustafson and Ransom, in addition to Mayor Jepsen, were present. Councilmembers Hansen and King and Deputy Mayor Montgomery arrived later in the meeting.

Councilmember Gustafson moved to excuse Councilmember Lee. Councilmember Ransom seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

(a) Proclamation of "Absolutely Incredible Kid Day"

Mayor Jepsen awarded a plaque to representatives of the Camp Fire Boys and Girls and read the proclamation establishing March 18, 1999 as "Absolutely Incredible Kid Day" in Shoreline.

Councilmember King arrived at 6:35 p.m.

3. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Councilmember Hansen arrived at 6:38 p.m.

Joyce Nichols, Community and Government Relations Manager, provided an update of bills under consideration in the State Legislature.

Ms. Nichols said the Buildable Lands Bill, now designated Substitute Senate Bill 5914, has passed out of the Senate Rules Committee and awaits action on the Senate floor. She noted changes in the current bill from the bill originally proposed, and she explained why the City should continue to oppose the bill.

Ms. Nichols went on to discuss:

Senate Bill 5745, which would lower the maximum tax rate on charitable bingo and raffles from ten to 5 percent; the bill passed the State Senate on a vote of 31-14; passage of the bill could cost the City $49,000 in estimated revenue;
Senate Bill 5790, which would have required cities to designate certain gambling tax revenues to roads and to education about compulsive gambling, died in committee; and
Senate Bill 5814, which previously proposed to lower the maximum tax rate on social card games from 20 to ten percent, is still alive as a title-only bill that could be amended and considered on the Senate floor.

5. PUBLIC COMMENT

(a) Ann Lynn Koski, 16025 Dayton Avenue N, discussed surface water problems on her property which she said resulted from logging on an adjacent property. She asserted the City had not responded adequately to her concerns.

(b) Jules Liptrap, 1307 N 165^th Street, noted rumors that someone plans to build apartments and condominiums along a waterway near 165^th Street. He said this is park property. Next, Mr. Liptrap commented that boarded up and abandoned buildings thwart City efforts to beautify Aurora Avenue N. He advocated that Council consider legislation to allow the City to condemn such buildings.

Mr. Deis requested that Ms. Koski speak with City Engineer Mike Gillespie and Assistant City Manager Larry Bauman to enable staff to investigate her situation further. He directed Mr. Bauman to follow up with Mr. Liptrap about the property near 165^th Street.

Mayor Jepsen advised that Council has been discussing how the City can become more aggressive about requiring property owners to rectify derelict buildings. He said the City is currently doing as much as it can under State law. He agreed that the City ought to be able to do more.

In response to Councilmember King, Mr. Deis said the City Attorney has undertaken procedures concerning the burnt-out restaurant on Aurora Avenue N near 205^th Street. He commented that the City is working to improve the poor code it inherited upon incorporation. He noted this as one of Council’s objectives for 1999. He advised that the owners of the U&I property on 175^th Street have assured staff that they will submit a development application this summer and subsequently tear down the existing building.

There was Council consensus to discuss "Council Reports" after "Workshop Items."

6. WORKSHOP ITEMS

(a) Quarterly Report by King County Councilmember Maggi Fimia

King County Councilmember Maggi Fimia introduced Diane Yates, lead staff for human services and labor issues for King County District One.

County Councilmember Fimia mentioned that the issue of Regional Finance and Governance (RF&G) remains unresolved. She said the County is addressing RF&G issue by issue and city by city instead of through a comprehensive agreement. She expressed her support for a regional agreement.

Councilmember King said the Board of the Suburban Cities Association (SCA) would strongly support the reopening of RF&G negotiations.

County Councilmember Fimia said she has offered to serve as one of the negotiators for the County in RF&G negotiations. She mentioned swimming pools as a problematic issue. She explained her proposal to handle pools similarly to how the County and suburban cities handle libraries: the County would operate pools as a regional service; each city could choose whether to participate in the regional system; and citizens would tax themselves to operate and maintain the whole system.

Mayor Jepsen asserted the difficulty of establishing a unified position on RF&G given the large number of suburban cities. He said the effort invested to develop the SCA RF&G proposal, and the support for it among SCA member cities, was unprecedented. He noted that Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore and Bothell had each indicated that they would ratify the SCA proposal. He said he would be disappointed if the County and the City of Seattle never considered it.

County Councilmember Fimia responded that the SCA proposal provides a starting point for renewed discussions. She asserted the need to discuss how to adjust the existing tax system to reflect the current governance structure. She suggested the consideration of systems implemented elsewhere in the country (e.g., Minneapolis, Minnesota).

Councilmember King emphasized that all 37 SCA member cities supported the SCA proposal on RF&G.

County Councilmember Fimia distributed a letter that she intends to send to the Board of Sound Transit reiterating the concern of elected officials in North King County about the lack of service for North King County residents in Phase I of the regional transit plan. She said the letter invites Sound Transit board members and staff to meet with city councilmembers from Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Bothell and Woodinville on April 27. She mentioned her goal to collect the signatures of the mayors and city councilmembers of the five cities for inclusion with the letter.

County Councilmember Fimia announced the town hall meetings on livable communities that she will hold at the Shoreline Library on April 13 from noon until 2 p.m. and from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. She invited Shoreline Councilmembers to showcase a couple City projects at the meetings.

County Councilmember Fimia referred to a list of small grants projects funded in 1999. Ms. Yates said County Councilmember Fimia funded 28 of the 35 requests she received.

Next, County Councilmember Fimia discussed the Interurban Trail. She said the County will transfer funding for the project to Shoreline, and the County and the City will revise the language in the parks contract to designate Shoreline as the project lead. She advised that the County will coordinate with the other jurisdictions along the trail corridor.

Ms. Yates explained that the County is collecting information from the jurisdictions along the trail corridor to prepare a map of the trail from the ship canal to downtown Everett. She said the map will show: the location of the completed trail sections; the location of "missing links"; the sections of the trail for which funding has been secured; the sections for which funding has not been secured; and the location of transit access points, economic centers, parks and schools. She noted that each jurisdiction will submit a narrative of the status of their projects, including funding, community support and obstacles. She said the County will then develop a work plan and a timeline.

Mayor Jepsen asked about the participation of the City of Seattle. County Councilmember Fimia said the Interurban Trail is included in the neighborhood plans for Seattle neighborhoods (e.g., Haller Lake, Bitter Lake). She asserted that applications for federal funding for the Interurban Trail will be very competitive because the trail is regional, involving multiple jurisdictions. Noting her recent appointment to the Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Board, she said she will support the applications for federal funding for the trail.

Mayor Jepsen mentioned that City Councilmembers raised the issue of federal funding for the Interurban Trail during their meetings with Congressional representatives while in Washington, D.C. at the National League of Cities (NLC) Conference. Councilmember Gustafson noted that the Congressional representatives were very receptive.

County Councilmember Fimia went on to discuss the Seventh Annual Youth Summit scheduled for March 29. She expressed her hope that a Youth Council will emerge from the Youth Summit to be an ongoing voice for youth in the community. She suggested that her office and the cities of Lake Forest Park and Shoreline could staff a Youth Council. She said she would provide funding for Youth Council staff out of her communication and staff funds.

County Councilmember Fimia next discussed the technology center proposed for Shoreline Community College and the technology training needs of transit workers. She explained that development of transit technology training capabilities will broaden the base of potential funding for the technology center.

Finally, County Councilmember Fimia discussed the Regional Wastewater Treatment proposal. She agreed that the amount of wastewater will exceed treatment capacity within ten years. However, she favored the strategy of maximizing investments in the existing wastewater treatment infrastructure over the County Executive’s preferred plan to build a third wastewater treatment plant. She asserted that the strategy of maximizing investments will cost $300 million less than the County Executive’s preferred plan while still meeting, or exceeding, forecasted capacity needs. She commented that she has not seen figures to justify the immediate construction of a third treatment plant.

In response to Councilmember Hansen, County Councilmember Fimia mentioned a memo from CH2MHill to HDR Contractors to corroborate her statement that it is possible to expand the West Point Treatment Plant by 15 percent within the terms of the settlement agreement with the City of Seattle.

Referring to the tables on page 12 of the Council packet, County Councilmember Fimia noted that capacity charges in 2000 under the County Executive’s Preferred Plan are three times higher than those under the strategy of maximizing investments in existing infrastructure.

In response to Mayor Jepsen, County Councilmember Fimia said the City of Seattle wants a two-tiered capacity charge. She noted the City of Seattle assertion that the infrastructure to serve new suburban growth is more expensive than that to serve urban in-fill growth.

County Councilmember Fimia clarified her support for a north end location for a third wastewater treatment plant and for "land banking" for a third plant. However, she asserted that the County can postpone construction of a third plant until 2040 or 2050.

In response to Councilmember Ransom, County Councilmember Fimia said passage of the County Executive’s Preferred Plan is not a foregone conclusion. She noted that the plan has not yet passed, that she and two other County Councilmembers voted against it and that there is no clear majority in favor of it.

Mayor Jepsen noted the City’s positions on projects in Referendum 49, the status of the Shoreline Community College library and the Buildable Lands Bill under consideration in the State legislature.

Councilmember King said Council supports the County Executive’s Preferred Plan and the need for additional capacity. She commented that Richmond Beach residents are concerned about the costs of the County Executive’s Preferred Plan.

Mayor Jepsen said Council definitely supports additional capacity, but it has not taken an official vote on service strategy. He mentioned that he looks to the County Council to help the region reach this decision.

Councilmember Gustafson expressed appreciation for County Councilmember Fimia’s presentation. He asserted the importance of regular meetings between her and Council.

(b) Proposed Surface Water Small Projects to be Constructed in 1999

Gail Perkins, Public Works Operations Manager, and Edward Mulhern, Surface Water Coordinator, reviewed the staff report.

Councilmember King expressed opposition to the expenditure of funds to separate stormwater sewers from wastewater sewers. She asserted that King County-Metro should treat stormwater to reduce pollution runoff into Puget Sound. She expressed strong support for the surface water small projects.

In response to Councilmember King, Ms. Perkins said surface water problems in the areas the City recently annexed have been minimal. She noted a detention facility on Macaleer Creek that staff must monitor and manage.

In response to Councilmember Gustafson, Ms. Perkins advised that some of the calls the Customer Response Team (CRT) still receives pertain to a few outstanding surface water small projects and that many others pertain to larger issues, such as open drainage ditches and potential neighborhood drainage assistance programs.

Mayor Jepsen said the City has made a significant impact on surface water problems by expending a relatively small amount of money. He encouraged staff to consider surface water small projects in the light of changes (e.g., in City road standards) that could require the City to undo or redo them in the future.

Mayor Jepsen noted that design and construction management account for 30 percent of the expenditures for the proposed projects. Ms. Perkins said this amount is typical for surface water small projects.

In response to Councilmember Gustafson, Ms. Perkins said the listing of certain Puget Sound salmon runs for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) will not affect the proposed surface water small projects.

(c) Short and Long Term Work Priorities for the City of Shoreline and the Shoreline School District

Mr. Deis reviewed the prioritized list of short-term and long-term projects that the Shoreline School Board prepared from the list of topics on which the City and the School District intend to collaborate.

Mayor Jepsen agreed with the projects that the School Board identified, but he disagreed with the order of priority the School Board proposed. He suggested the following changes: 1) the designation of "Signage for City programs on school property" as a short-term issue for joint committees of City and School District staff; 2) the designation of "City/School District funding, governance, limitations" as a short-term issue for the City Manager and the School District Superintendent; and 3) the designation of "Goals for human and youth services" as a short-term issue for joint committees of City and District staff. He asserted that clarification of funding restrictions and roles for human and youth services will allow the City and the School District to address "After-hour and non-school use of School District property" as a mid-term issue. He proposed the addition of population forecasting to the list of short-term issues about which the City and School District should start to exchange information.

Councilmember Gustafson supported the designation of "After-hour and non-school use of School District property" as a mid-term issue. He recommended that the City and School District develop policies and procedures beginning with one facility. He stressed the need to complete the interlocal agreement between the City and the District.

Mr. Deis suggested that mid-term refer to the two-year period of 2000-2001.

Councilmember Gustafson advocated the designation of "Emergency management services" as the second short-term issue for joint committees of City and District staff to address (after funding and governance limitations). He proposed the creation of a youth council as a joint project of the City and the School District. Mayor Jepsen suggested the inclusion of this under "Goals for human and youth services."

Mr. Deis mentioned that the City included parking at Shoreline Center in the 1999 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget.

Councilmember Gustafson commented that District Superintendent Dr. Marlene Holayter invited him to participate on a citizens advisory group.

Mr. Deis advised that he will meet with Superintendent Holayter to discuss the revisions that Council has proposed and that he will arrange a follow-up meeting of Mayor Jepsen, School Board President Paul Grace, Superintendent Holayter and himself. He said the final priority list can serve as the agenda for future joint meetings between Council and the School District.

Councilmember Ransom asserted that "After-hour and non-school use of School District property" is critical for a variety of uses, including recreation. He recalled that the School District committed to community use of school facilities when it proposed the bonds to fund their construction. He said the School District has overlooked some of those commitments. He advocated that the City review the commitments included in the bonds.

3. COUNCIL REPORTS

Councilmember Gustafson commented on the value of attending the NLC Conference and of meeting with Congressional representatives. He noted the following issues for Council and staff attention: electronic commerce; Y2K; ESA; 2000 Census; and National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Phase II.

Deputy Mayor Montgomery mentioned the value of attending the NLC Conference.

Mayor Jepsen reported that he and Councilmember Gustafson attended the official grand opening of the Walgreens store in North City.

Councilmember King advised that the Walgreens store has drawn the attention of other businesses to locating in North City.

Councilmember Ransom noted that he obtained information and materials on affordable housing and economic development at the NLC Conference. He said he served on the NLC Human Development Subcommittee which addressed "social assurance" issues such as health care and homelessness.

7. CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMENT: None

8. EXECUTIVE SESSION

At 8:44 p.m., Mayor Jepsen announced that Council would recess into Executive Session for approximately 30 minutes to discuss one item of litigation and one item of potential litigation.

At 9:29 p.m., the Executive Session concluded, and the workshop reconvened.

9. ADJOURNMENT

At 9:30 p.m., Mayor Jepsen declared the meeting adjourned.

___________________________
Sharon Mattioli, CMC
City Clerk