CITY
OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE
CITY COUNCIL
Monday, May 10, 2004
Shoreline Conference Center
PRESENT: Mayor Hansen, Deputy Mayor Jepsen, Councilmembers Chang,
Fimia, Grace, Gustafson, and Ransom
ABSENT: none
1.
CALL TO ORDER
The
meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Hansen, who presided.
2. FLAG SALUTE/ROLL CALL
Mayor
Hansen led the flag salute. Upon roll
call by the City Clerk, all Councilmembers were present.
(a)
Recognition
of Outgoing Planning Commissioners
Mayor
Hansen presented plaques of appreciation to Marlin Gabbert and Brian
Doennebrink for their service on the Planning Commission. He noted that Mr. Gabbert was appointed to
the City’s first Planning Commission in 1995 and served during the creation of
the City’s first Comprehensive Plan and development of the City’s own land use
regulations. Mr. Doennebrink served one
term, and under his leadership as Chair the Planning Commission held its first
retreat and developed its first ground rules and public participation
information.
Mr.
Gabbert said it was an honor to serve on the Planning Commission for eight
years and assist in the development of the City. Mr. Doennebrink said it was a privilege to serve the citizens of
Shoreline and he enjoyed his experience and the synergy he found among the
Commissioners and the common focus on finding solutions rather than emphasizing
differences.
3. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Steve
Burkett, City Manager, introduced the City’s new Parks, Recreation and Cultural
Services Director, Dick Deal, who has been serving as Interim Director for the
past few months.
4. REPORT OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
Mayor
Hansen complimented staff on the opening of Trail of Cedars from Meridian
Avenue, across the street from Evergreen School, to Twin Ponds Park. He said the opening included a very
interesting nature tour of the park.
Councilmember
Ransom noted that he is preparing for the National League of Cities Human
Development Committee meeting in June.
Councilmember
Chang reminded Council of the visit of the delegates from Shoreline’s sister
city Boryeong starting on Wednesday.
Mayor
Hansen said the City has helped the Arts Council acquire a showmobile and its
purchase will be fully funded when it arrives in June. He congratulated everyone involved in
fundraising.
Councilmember
Grace commented on tonight’s dinner meeting with the Shoreline Chamber of
Commerce. He said the Chamber, Council
and staff had a very productive discussion and came up with many good ideas
about mutual projects. He said it was a
very positive evening and such meetings should occur on a regular basis.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
(a)
Stan
Terry, Shoreline, said consumers make choices about whether to patronize
businesses along Aurora Avenue. He said
he does not patronize Aurora businesses because he does not feel it is safe to
be there. He said unrestricted access
may not be safe and consumers will go elsewhere. He felt that the median in the Aurora plan will enhance safety
for everyone.
(b) Samuel Davies and Peter Gregory, from Boy Scout Troop 317, said they were attending the meeting for their communications badge.
(c) Joanne Whitehead, Executive Director of ARC (Association of Retarded Citizens) of King County, said a sizeable number of people in the state connected with people with disabilities favor downsizing and consolidation of the large congregate care facilities. She provided background on her organization, which has been in operation for the past 70 years in the State of Washington. She explained that 30 percent of the State’s developmental disabilities budget goes to support the three percent of the population, those who live in institutions. There are thousands waiting for services who cannot get them because of the State’s history of using institutions. She said people have been moving out of institutions voluntarily for the past fifteen years. Ten states have already closed part or all of their large institutions. She distributed a FAQ sheet and information from the State of Maryland.
Councilmember
Chang said he has spoken with many residents of Shoreline with disabilities,
and there are a significant number.
They require compassion from the community. It has been suggested that a Disabled Assistance Committee be
formed to gather the names and addresses of those with disabilities in the
event of an emergency. The committee
could also consider ways to more effectively serve those with
disabilities. He said he already knows
individuals who would be willing to serve on such a committee.
Councilmember
Fimia noted that the Aurora merchants are not asking for unrestricted
access. They are asking whether there
are additional access points on the median that can be made available to them. This would maximum the amount of access and
minimize the impacts. She added that
she had always believed that medians had to be raised, but two-way left turns
are also considered a type of median (unrestricted medians).
Continuing,
Councilmember Fimia asked if there could not be a compromise solution found for
Fircrest. She suggested that the State
might be able to open up the medical facilities to the community. Perhaps the most disabled could stay at
Fircrest. She said the “3%/30%”
statistic quoted by Ms. Whitehead has to change, but she thought there might be
ways to use the facility in a broader sense.
Councilmember
Fimia asked to have an update on Saturday’s Friends of Fircrest March at the
end of the meeting.
6. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Deputy Mayor Jepsen moved
approval of the agenda. Councilmember
Gustafson seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Upon motion by Councilmember Ransom,
seconded by Councilmember Gustafson and unanimously carried, the following
consent calendar items were approved:
Minutes
of Special Meeting of April 19, 2004
Minutes
of Dinner Meeting of April 26, 2004
Minutes
of Regular Meeting of April 26, 2004
Approval
of payroll and expenses as of April 23,
2004
in the amount of $836,998.92
Resolution
No. 216 ratifying an amendment to
10. ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion by Deputy Mayor
Jepsen, seconded by Councilmember Gustafson and unanimously carried, the
meeting was adjourned at 8:07 p.m.
_________________________
Sharon Mattioli, City Clerk