CITY OF SHORELINE

SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL

SUMMARY MINUTES OF DINNER MEETING

Monday, June 14, 1999

6:00 p.m.

Shoreline Conference Center

Highlander Room

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; Tim Stewart, Planning and Development Services Director; Joyce Nichols, Community and Government Relations Manager

GUESTS: Judy Clibborn, President of the Suburban Cities Association (SCA)
Lynda Ring Erickson, SCA Executive Director

The meeting convened at 6:25 p.m. All Councilmembers were present.

Mayor Jepsen explained the purpose of holding informal dinner meetings with intergov-ernmental partners. He said one of the key goals is to ensure that tax dollars are spent wisely among various taxing authorities.

Judy Clibborn, SCA President, explained that they had requested meetings with all the City Councils of member jurisdictions. She provided a brief history of SCA, noting it began as an organization of mayors only, in essence a mayors’ dinner club. In 1994, when Metro and King County merged, the SCA was asked to represent all of the County’s cities. She explained that SCA’s purpose is to share information; deal with interlocal agreements involving King County; and be involved with the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC). She said the PSRC cities discussed the role of the City of Bellevue and representation on the PSRC. She said SCA has not approved giving Bellevue representation on PSRC and other organizations.

Continuing, Ms. Clibborn explained how SCA is organized and how the leadership has attempted to balance representation. She said SCA avoids issues that affect only a few cities. She described the SCA budget and the value that SCA member cities receive from their membership. She said there are savings in costs to cities resulting from SCA involvement.

Councilmember Lee asked if the departure of Bellevue has hurt SCA. Ms. Clibborn responded that Bellevue’s biggest reason for leaving SCA was that as a big city its role was diluted by SCA. She said that dealing with Bellevue should be focused on keeping everyone together in taking a regional approach to issues.

Lynda Ring Erickson, SCA Executive Director, felt that the existing issues surrounding Bellevue’s departure from SCA may help clarify the roles of the various organizations.

Mayor Jepsen questioned the status of Regional Government and Finance (RF&G). He felt there is confusion that needs resolution.

Ms. Clibborn responded that King County officials will say that RF&G is dead. She pointed out that the County would not respond to SCA regarding its RF&G proposal.

Mayor Jepsen suggested that if RF&G cannot be resolved through the Growth Management Planning Council (GMPC), perhaps it could be brought through a different door.

Ms. Clibborn responded that the GMPC would be a venue for discussing RF&G issues, such as human services.

City Manager Robert Deis pointed out that human services are on the GMPC agenda for review on Wednesday, June 16, with some very specific suggestions about funding responsibilities.

Dr. Erickson brought up the issue of animal control and pet licensing and how it would be funded in the County.

Mayor Jepsen described the Council’s 1999 work plan and pointed out that items #3 and #4 are very much focused on RF&G issues. Until RF&G is resolved, it will be difficult for the City to fully complete these goals.

Ms. Clibborn pointed out that the population of unincorporated King County is down to approximately 300,000, while SCA cities represent approximately 600,000 residents. She described the King County Council as stating that it represents regional issues. However, it generally acts locally—focusing on local, not regional, solutions.

Dr. Erickson concluded that future issues for SCA to focus on include transportation and Sound Transit. Also ripe for discussion is the issue of representation. RF&G will also likely be one of the issues when the economy turns downward. She explained that one way to protect City interests is to use the interlocal agreement for GMPC, so that any Countywide Planning Policy would require 70 percent of the population in the jurisdictions and at least 12 jurisdictions to be approved.

Ms. Clibborn stated that since Bellevue left, with only two analytical staff and one support staff, SCA has spent the last four months reacting.

Mayor Jepsen asked how Bellevue’s leaving ties up resources in SCA. Ms. Clibborn responded that most of the staff time is spent answering letters and responding to the news media.

Councilmember Lee pointed out that some issues that are important to Shoreline, such as human services and transportation, are listed as low priorities on the SCA work plan.

Mayor Jepsen wrapped up the meeting and thanked the guests from SCA for their attendance.

The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

____________________________
Larry Bauman
Assistant City Manager