CITY OF SHORELINE

 

SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL

SUMMARY MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING

 

Monday, July 25, 2005                                                                                                            

Shoreline Conference Center

7:30 p.m.  Mt. Rainier Room

 

 

PRESENT:       Mayor Hansen, Deputy Mayor Jepsen, Councilmembers Chang, Grace, Gustafson, and Ransom

 

ABSENT:        Councilmember Fimia

 

1.                  CALL TO ORDER

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:35 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 Fimia.

 

Upon motion by Deputy Mayor Jepsen, seconded by Councilmember Gustafson and carried 6-0, Councilmember Fimia was excused.

 

            (a)        Proclamation of Boys Soccer Week

 

Mayor Hansen read the proclamation recognizing the Shorecrest High School Boys Soccer Team for earning their first State Championship since 1976.  Coach Teddy Mitalas and team member Teddy Wingo accepted the proclamation and thanked the City for this recognition. 

 

            (b)        Proclamation of National Night Out 2005

 

Mayor Hansen proclaimed August 2 as the 22nd Annual National Night Out and presented the proclamation to Police Captain Dan Pingrey, who urged citizens to get out and meet their neighbors and work together to prevent crime.

 

            (c)        Shoreline Star – Ken & Pearl Noreen

 

Council members joined Mayor Hansen at the podium to recognize Ken and Pearl Noreen as the eleventh Shoreline Star.  Mayor Hansen outlined the Noreen’s contributions to the community through their involvement in the Shoreline South County YMCA Board, Shoreline Community College, Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council, Richmond Beach Congregational Church, Shoreline Breakfast Rotary, Shoreline Public Schools Foundation, Healthy Start, and the University of Washington Band Foundation.  Mr. and Mrs. Noreen accepted the award and thanked the City Council for its hard work and commitment in trying to making the community a better place for residents. 

 

3.         CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

 

§Bob Olander, Deputy City Manager, reported on the following City items:

 

  • Summertime noon concerts in Shoreline City parks
  • Night construction on Aurora Avenue in preparation for traffic lane changes
  • Open house for Aurora Corridor Phase II on August 17
  • Installation of a traffic signal at N. 160th Street, east of Aurora Avenue
  • Update on the 3rd Avenue NW drainage project
  • Neighborhood events for the National Night Out Against Crime on August 2
  • Benefit ice show at the Highland Ice Arena on Saturday, August 13
  • No City Council meetings August 1 or August 8

 

Mayor Hansen commented on the positive progress he has observed on the 3rd Avenue NW project.

 

4.         REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS:  none

 

5.         PUBLIC COMMENT 

 

            (a)        Virginia Paulsen, Shoreline, expressed support for Resolution No. 232 and emphasized the importance of doing everything possible to protect, enhance, and restore the natural environment in which salmon spawn.   She stressed the need to understand the systemic nature of the Puget Sound watershed, noting that natural interactions can be influenced directly, indirectly and reciprocally.  She expressed disappointment that the City has not incorporated zero-impact development strategies into the Aurora Corridor project.

 

            (b)        Norine Federow, Shoreline, described the negative impact that high medical and dental care costs have on Shoreline citizens.   She proposed that the City develop an innovative medical insurance policy that would cover Shoreline citizens and include alternative, complementary treatments in addition to allopathic medicine.  She said the benefits of the City’s capital expenditures will not be felt by people who are suffering at home with medical problems and debt.  She felt people should be more informed about alternative medical practices.  She said this type of medical insurance plan was the dream of Larry Bingham, one of the Shoreline City founders.    

 

            (c)        Janet Way, Shoreline, said she learned at the Beach Walk activity at Richmond Beach Saltwater Park that the environmental health of the Puget Sound marine areas has been reduced by 50 percent.  She suggested that the City consider implementing a marine protected zone, similar to those created in Seattle and other cities.  She noted that the Critical Areas Ordinance has very few provisions that protect the marine environment.  On another topic, she said while the overall WRIA-8 Salmon Conservation Plan is good, segments of the Thornton Creek watershed are not included in the plan.  She urged the City to ensure this area is shown in the plan before it is ratified, noting there are salmon in Thornton Creek as well as McAleer Creek. 

 

6.         APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

 

Councilmember Grace moved approval of the agenda.  Councilmember Ransom pulled Consent Calendar Item 7(c), making it Action Item 8(a).  Action Item 8(a) became Action Item 8(b).  Deputy Mayor Jepsen seconded the motion, which carried 6-0 and the agenda was approved as amended.

 

7.         CONSENT CALENDAR

 

Deputy Mayor Jepsen moved approval of the consent calendar.  Councilmember Grace seconded the motion and the following items were approved unanimously:

           

            Minutes of Dinner Meeting of June 27, 2005 

            Minutes of Regular Meeting of July 11, 2005

           

            Approval of expenses and payroll as of July 14, 2005

            in the amount of $1,441,497.05

 

                       

8.         ACTION ITEMS: OTHER ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS

 

            (a)        Resolution No. 232 ratifying the Water Resource

                        Inventory Area – 8 Salmon Conservation Plan

 

Paul Haines, Public Works Director, explained that ratifying the WRIA-8 plan means the City will be able to determine its future in how it implements salmon recovery and habitat restoration efforts.  He said the plan is a science-based effort containing recommendations for prioritized actions to restore and protect the salmon habitat over the next 10 years.  The plan gives the City flexibility in how it responds to Endangered Species Act (ESA) issues, and it limits the City’s exposure to ESA legal challenges.    Mr. Haines noted that 23 jurisdictions out of 29 have already acted on the Resolution.  He concluded that the City would be required to develop its own conservation plan at a cost of approximately $200,000 if it does not ratify the WRIA-8 plan. 

 

Councilmember Gustafson moved to adopt Resolution No. 232, ratifying the Water Resource Inventory Area – 8 Salmon Conservation Plan.  Councilmember Grace seconded the motion.

 

Councilmember Ransom noted that the scientific data upon which the salmon recovery plan is based will not be finalized until October.  He felt it might be prudent to review this issue after the data is further refined.  He pointed out that the estimated costs for salmon recovery have escalated to nearly $170 million over the next 10 years. 

 

Councilmember Gustafson spoke in favor of the plan, characterizing it as “one of the real positive examples of regional cooperation at its finest.”  He described the broad support for the plan and pointed out that 93% of the consortium of cities has already ratified it.   He said the plan includes the best scientific knowledge regarding salmon recovery from local, state, and federal sources, and it identifies 170 top priorities among 1,200 action items.  He said the plan is so detailed that he would like the executive director to give a presentation to the Council at an upcoming workshop meeting.  He said Thornton Creek is a fairly well-documented “third tier episodic stream,” but it is not one of the 1,200 items identified for action.  He said he would verify whether Thornton Creek is identified in the overall plan. 

 

Mayor Hansen pointed out that the plan has already passed 70% approval, so the plan will be submitted to the federal government regardless of whether Shoreline participates. 

He expressed support for the resolution, noting that not ratifying it would present the City with higher liability.  

 

Councilmember Ransom said he pulled this item from the consent calendar because he felt a public discussion was needed since this plan has been in development for over four years.  He said he would vote for the motion.  

 

A vote was taken on the motion, which carried 6-0, and Resolution No. 232 was adopted.

 

            (b)        Adoption of the 2005-2006 Council Work Plan

 

Mr. Olander outlined the proposed 2005-2006 Council Goals:

 

1.         Work toward completing the Aurora Corridor project

2.         Complete the Interurban Trail project

3.         Enhance our program for Safe and friendly Streets

4.         Implement an Active Economic Development Plan

5.         Implement the City Hall project

6.         Review and consider improvements in Code Enforcement Standards

7.         Develop a plan for acquiring priority park, open space, critical area and surface water property

 

He explained that staff develops more detailed work plans and milestones to implement each of these major goals over next two years.  He said the milestones may shift from time to time depending on schedule changes and accomplishments.  He recommended that Council adopt the goals with the following changes:

 

Goal #7, new bullet:  “Consider recommendations of the Bond Advisory Committee, October 2005” 

 

Goal #4, fourth bullet:  “Implement a business registration license program.”

 

Deputy Mayor Jepsen move to adopt the City Council Work Plan milestones as shown on pages 34 and 35 of the Council packet with the changes suggested by the Deputy City Manager.  Councilmember Gustafson seconded the motion.

 

Councilmember Ransom noted the 15-month lag time between the time code enforcement amendments are adopted in 2005 and the start of the educational outreach program in 2006.  He wondered if the educational outreach could start sooner. 

 

Mr. Olander described the need for time to take intermediate steps before the actual enforcement measures are implemented.  He said this is a three-part process involving public education, voluntary compliance, and then the regulatory aspect. 

 

Councilmember Grace pointed out that the Council has accomplished other Council goals that are no longer on the list, such as “Enhancing Public Participation.”  He said it is exciting to include the verb “complete” in the goal descriptions and said he looks forward to focusing on new goals next year.

 

Councilmember Chang agreed with the goals and said he too is looking forward to completing such as City Hall.

 

Councilmember Gustafson concurred with the proposed goals, noting he looks forward to completion of the North City project, Aurora Corridor, and Interurban Trail. 

 

Councilmember Ransom said while he supports the proposed goals, there are still some issues that need resolution.  These include the water utility for the west side of Shoreline, and wastewater utility issues.  He felt these should be discussed at a future workshop meeting. 

 

A vote was taken on the motion, which carried 6-0, and the 2005-2006 Council Work Plan was adopted.

 

 

9.         ADJOURNMENT

 

At 8:41 p.m., Mayor Hansen declared the meeting adjourned.

 

 

 

_________________________

Scott Passey, City Clerk