CITY
OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE
CITY COUNCIL
Monday, May 17, 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 6:30 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, with the exception of
Councilmember Ransom, who arrived shortly thereafter.
(a)
Proclamation
of “Law Enforcement Torch Run Day”
Mayor Hansen presented the proclamation to Police Chief Denise Turner and Jill Rogers of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department. With Ms. Rogers were Special Olympic athletes Laethen Wene and Jeremy Winn, who described their participation in Special Olympics.
(b)
Presentation
by Harborview Medical Center
David Jaffe, Chief Executive
Officer of Harborview Medical Center, provided an overview of Harborview’s
services, which include the only Level 1 adult and pediatric trauma center
serving a four-state region. He
explained that Harborview’s mission is to serve the communities throughout King
County and provide a key component of the regional safety net for priority
populations. These include persons
incarcerated in the King County Jail, mentally ill patients, substance abusers and
persons with sexually transmitted diseases, those without health insurance and
the poor, burn victims, specialized emergency care, and victims of domestic
violence and sexual assault. Despite its mission to serve all people,
regardless of their ability to pay, the hospital maintains a positive operating
margin of one percent, or approximately $4 million. He emphasized the fact that Harborview provides $47 million worth
of charity care, or 30 percent of all charity care provided in the state. He concluded by noting that the board of
trustees was the driving force behind the effort to engage the public and tell
the Harborview story.
At
Councilmember Fimia’s request, Dr. Jane Guiltinan, naturopathic physician and
member of Harborview’s Board of Trustees, elaborated on the outreach program
and her approach to integrated medicine.
Councilmembers
Fimia, Grace and Gustafson spoke highly of Harborview’s services and quality of
care.
3. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT AND FUTURE
AGENDAS
Kirk McKinley, Aurora
Corridor and Interurban Trail Project Manager, invited the public to
participate in an open house at the Shoreline Conference Center on Wednesday,
May 19, to provide input on the design concepts for the Aurora Corridor and
Interurban Trail Pedestrian Bridge projects.
He distributed a brochure entitled “Public Art and Urban Design
Opportunities.”
4. COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Chang reported on the Boryeong visit and
displayed a large photograph of the Boryeong coastline given to the City of
Shoreline. He thanked the Council and
staff for their efforts at hosting the three-day visit. He noted that the City of Boryeong was able
to establish relations with the City, the Shoreline School District, Shoreline
Community College, and the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce. He was confident that the relationship would
continue to grow and develop in the coming years.
Mayor Hansen commented favorably on the visit, noting
that the Boryeong Mayor and Council President also participated in the open
house on the Comprehensive Plan.
Deputy Mayor Jepsen also recognized Cheryl Lee, Ros
Bird, Vicki Stiles, and Mayor Hansen for the work they did to make the visit a
success.
Councilmember Ransom commented on his participation in
the various sister cities events. He
reminded Council of his participation at the National League of Cities Steering
Committee for Human Development meeting the first week of June.
Deputy Mayor Jepsen reported on his recent visit to
Washington D.C. to participate in the NLC Community and Economic Development
Steering Committee meeting. He said
that the focus of the group would be to restore full funding for the Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and Section 8 voucher funding. He said he is working with the Association
of Washington Cities and other municipalities to demonstrate the success of the
block grant program, noting that funding could be in jeopardy for fiscal year
2005.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
(a) Vicki
Westberg, Shoreline, said the Fircrest march on Saturday demonstrated the
strong support for keeping an excellent institution open. She believed that closing Fircrest would not
save money and would provide residents with less stability and consistency. She felt that instead of downsizing the
facility, it should be expanded by admitting more residents and encouraging
more use of the grounds. She said
Fircrest is rich in local pride and history, and Shoreline would lose a
flagship institution if it closes.
(b) Janet
Way, Shoreline, concurred with the previous speaker’s comments. On another topic, she said the Fircrest
march illustrated to her the inadequacy of sidewalks in Shoreline. She said pedestrian safety is very
important to Shoreline residents and that review of the Comprehensive Plan and
creation of the Transportation Master Plan will be opportunities to address
this inadequacy. She said she heard
that the City imposed some special stipulations for organizers of the
march. She said she would like the City
to accommodate the expression of passion and interest instead of putting up
impediments to free speech.
(c) Steve
Mall, Shoreline, asked the Council to recognize the plight of residents and
family members at Fircrest School. As
an executive board member of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU),
which represents the nurses at Fircrest, he asked the Council to look at what
drives the political decisions in the state.
He noted that only Councilmembers Chang and Fimia were at the Fircrest
march on Saturday. He asserted that the
same level of service could not be provided by any of the other options being
offered. He urged the Council to take
care of the most vulnerable people, who will be “displaced, dislocated,
mistreated, and mismanaged” if Fircrest closes.
(d) Daniel
Mann, Shoreline, concurred with previous comments. He also said that an unstated objective of City planners is to
make Stone Avenue N a through street at N 175th Street, which would
be a violation of every promise that has been made to the neighborhood. He said the neighborhood has given “more
than its share” in terms of growth management, noting it has grown from 75
family units to over 100. He said
making Stone Avenue N a through street would destroy the residential character
of the neighborhood and create a pedestrian safety hazard.
(e) Jim
Leigh, Shoreline School District Board Member, thanked everyone involved in
making the Boryeong visit a success, especially Councilmember Chang. He hoped that this relationship will create
a legacy of progress that will continue into the future. He recognized Janet Way and Tim and Patty
Crawford for their efforts to improve the environment, and urged the Council to
do likewise. He said although there is
progress on the Aurora Corridor, the City seems to be alienating Aurora
businesses. He noted the word
“progress” has two “r’s” -- one representing the rights of citizens; the other
representing the responsibility of public officials.
(f) Stacy
Lindbom, Shoreline, described the rampant growth in her neighborhood along
Stone Avenue N, noting that children can no longer play safely due to numerous
parked vehicles and speeding traffic.
She said there are 13 new houses and approximately 27 new vehicles on
her street, and making it a through street will only make matters worse. She said her neighborhood has “paid the
price,” and that the City does not care about her concerns.
(g) Donna
Lee, Shoreline, concurred with previous speakers regarding Stone Avenue N. She described the ongoing parking problem in
front of her home, and said making Stone Avenue a through street is
“ridiculous.” She said although she
signed a request for traffic circles, they are not a solution to the City’s
traffic problems. She characterized the
intersection at Top Foods and N 175th Street as a “nightmare,” and
said the City should do something to address these situations.
(h) Richard
Wilson, Lake Forest Park, outlined his experience working in the disability
field for the past 20 years and asked the Council to educate itself on Fircrest
and on the broader issue of care for the disabled. He said there are 9,000 families waiting to receive services from
the state, and many of these do not favor a congregate care setting. He said the issue is about “people” and
civil rights, noting the disabled have the same desires to contribute to the
community and share close contact and intimate relationships.
(i) Michael
Pollowitz, Shoreline, explained that his non-profit organization, Parkview
Services, supports over 500 people with developmental disabilities in King
County. He said the effort to
consolidate state institutions is not a criticism of Fircrest, but a statement
about the more than 9,000 individuals and families who receive little or no
support services statewide. He said
consolidation would free up millions of dollars that could be used to support
many elderly people who have been waiting for state funds to become
available. He estimated that 3 percent
of disabled people living in institutions consume almost 30 percent of the
state’s developmental disabilities budget.
Regarding Stone Avenue, Steve
Burkett, City Manager, said the Transportation Master Plan would identify the
pros and cons of numerous proposals, most of which the City would not likely
implement due to budget constraints. He
said while Stone Avenue is not a high-priority transportation proposal, all
proposals should at least be considered as the master planning process moves
forward.
Mayor Hansen said he is not
aware of any proposal to develop Stone Avenue as a through street, although the
Council should consider all proposals.
He encouraged the neighborhood to contact the City’s Neighborhood
Traffic Safety Program as a possible means of addressing traffic issues.
Regarding Stone Avenue,
Deputy Mayor Jepsen emphasized the need to keep the City’s growth in
perspective, noting that the City increased the minimum lot size from 2,500
square feet to 7,200 square feet. He
pointed out that Mr. Mann was among many others that subdivided lots.
Councilmember Chang wished to
be assured that the Stone Avenue issue would be taken seriously. He stressed the need for neighbors to
educate the Council on such issues so it can make rational decisions. He thanked Mr. Leigh for his comments and
the cooperation of the school district.
He expressed support for Fircrest, noting that it is a very
strategically important site for the City.
Councilmember Fimia felt the
root of the Stone Avenue issue is that neighbors were surprised to hear the
proposal because of prior promises made that the street would not be
opened. She emphasized the fact that
the Council sets the policy, adding that consultants should be careful how they
communicate with the public since they don’t really know the neighborhoods or
understand the issues. She wondered
what other potential issues are out there that need to be addressed. She also felt the Council should proactively
advocate for Fircrest. She said the
City could take the lead in helping to bring stakeholders together to find a
mutually beneficial solution. She felt
the facility could be profitable and generate revenue in much the same way
Harborview Hospital does. She feared
the City might not get the desired result by taking a passive approach.
Mayor Hansen emphasized the
need to consider all ideas in the Transportation Master Plan, noting he has not
made any promises regarding Stone Avenue.
Councilmember Ransom said the
Council listened to the concerns of Stone Avenue residents in the past, and it
will continue to listen. He doubted
that any project would be seriously considered for Stone Avenue in light of the
many higher priority items in the Transportation Master Plan. He expressed concern about the potential
loss of 760 jobs at Fircrest, but clarified that the state legislature is the
decision-maker on that issue.
Councilmember Gustafson
pointed out that people would be surprised by many of the items in the
Transportation Master Plan since it is a long-term proposal that considers many
possibilities. He expressed assurance
that Council would listen to concerns and try to make the best decision
possible.
Councilmember Fimia said
although the state legislature is the key decision-maker on the Fircrest issue,
the Council has a responsibility to advocate for its citizens.
Deputy Mayor Jepsen asked if
staff could provide more accurate estimates on how the closure of Fircrest
would impact the City of Shoreline’s economy.
He also asked for clarification of Mr. Mall’s comments relating to the
inadequacy of other options.
He then encouraged citizens
to join the Shoreline Sister Cities Association, explaining that it is a
membership organization that survives on membership dues.
6. WORKSHOP ITEMS
(a)
Annual Police Service Efforts
and Accomplishments Report
Shoreline
Police Chief Denise Turner presented the fourth annual police report and
reviewed the department’s performance in terms of its goals to reduce crime and
the fear of crime and to provide high quality, cost-effective and accountable
services. The purpose of the report is
to provide a review of public safety activities, examine trends for future
planning, incorporate citizen satisfaction and perceptions of safety, and to
benchmark the department against comparable agencies. Her report included the following points:
Councilmember Grace asked
Chief Turner what crime prevention recommendations she would make for the 2005
budget. Chief Turner recommended an
enhanced Blockwatch program and increased involvement of citizen
volunteers.
Responding to Mayor Hansen’s
question about citizen participation on regular patrols as occurs in Lynnwood,
Chief Turner pointed out that Shoreline citizens have been trained to regularly
patrol City parks and vacant homes, as well as monitor handicap parking. She felt Shoreline’s citizen patrol program
could be enhanced through additional training and coordination of resources.
Councilmember Ransom
expressed concern about the rise in auto thefts. He felt the City could possibly enhance its citizen volunteer
program by creating police reservists, who could provide more ”eyes and ears”
in the community. He noted that other
jurisdictions have reported an 80 percent recovery rate for stolen vehicles due
to citizen activism.
Deputy Mayor Jepsen noted
that all of the recent car prowls in the Richmond Beach neighborhood were due
to unlocked cars. He emphasized that
everyone must be responsible for securing their personal items. He expressed interest in understanding why
Part 1 Crimes and response times increased, and suggested that the City pursue
a proactive traffic enforcement program for 2005.
Councilmember Fimia pointed
out that the Council could not address the problem of increasing crime until
more accurate statistics are collected.
She said while the statistics are helpful, they only tell part of the
story. She wondered if a quarterly
report would be more effective.
Chief Turner explained that
she wanted to present the report before she left her position at Shoreline,
which meant presenting it one month before it was finalized. She acknowledged that this is an annual
report, and that she was not able to adequately collect and analyze all of the
data.
Mr. Burkett said that crime
is often cyclical and even criminal justice experts cannot adequately explain
why the overall crime rate has decreased over the past five years. He said the department’s problem-solving task
force does its best to identify and analyze particular areas of concern so it
can hopefully reduce the crime rate.
Councilmember Chang commended
Chief Turner for her dedicated service during the last four years, noting that
Boryeong delegates were very impressed with her during their recent visit. He said he would like to see the Block and
Business Watch programs expanded, and would like to understand why response
times have increased.
Councilmember Gustafson
wondered if the increased crime rate is because businesses have been more
effective in apprehending shoplifters.
Chief Turner explained that
the retail theft program has reduced shoplifting responses and has streamlined
the way offenders are arrested. She
noted that several stores are very effective at catching offenders.
Councilmember Gustafson felt
there is a correlation between the crime rate and the awareness by local
businesses. He also felt the School
Resource Officer (SRO) plays an important role in the education aspect of crime
prevention. Chief Turner agreed that
the SRO program has been an effective program.
Responding to Councilmember
Fimia, Chief Turner provided arrest statistics for drug-related crimes. She said more detailed information would be
provided to the Council in an updated report.
(b) 2004
First Quarter Financial Report
Steve Oleson, Budget Analyst,
presented the 2004 First Quarter Financial Report. He reviewed revenues and expenditures for the General Fund,
Development Services Fund, Street Fund, and Surface Water Management Fund. His report included the following points:
Councilmember Ransom
commented on the increase in gambling revenues and on the potential impacts of
Initiative 864, noting that Council may want to consider a levy lid lift. He speculated that I-864 would not reduce
individual’s property taxes by 25 percent.
Debbie Tarry, Finance
Director, concurred, noting that individual property taxpayers would see a much
lower decrease because not everyone would receive the 25 percent
reduction. She noted that local
governments that have already approved levies would be exempt from the
provisions of I-864; therefore, the fire district levy would not be
affected.
Mr. Burkett explained that a
levy lid lift could be proposed in September, but this option is not realistic
since the Council would need to make a decision in July. He noted that other options include the
November ballot or special elections in the spring of 2005, depending on the
disposition of I-864.
Deputy Mayor Jepsen suggested
that staff provide two budget scenarios: one with the 25 percent reduction
($1.7 million) and one without.
Councilmember Ransom asked if
there has been any discussion about whether I-864 would be sustained if it
passes, since the court has overturned past Eyman initiatives.
Ian Sievers, City Attorney,
said he has not heard any discussions of weaknesses, constitutional or
otherwise, relating to I-864. Ms. Tarry
said she has not heard discussions relating to I-864, but she had heard some
discussion about another Eyman initiative regarding property and gambling
taxes.
Mr. Burkett noted that any
initiative that passes would likely be challenged in the courts.
7. CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMENT: none
8. EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 9:35 p.m., Mayor Hansen
announced that the Council would recess into executive session until 10:00 p.m.
to discuss property issues. At 10:00
p.m. he announced that the meeting would be extended for 30 minutes. At 10:29 p.m. the executive session
concluded and the meeting reconvened.
9. ADJOURNMENT
At 10:30 p.m., Mayor Hansen
declared the meeting adjourned.
_________________________
Sharon Mattioli, City Clerk