CITY OF SHORELINE
SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL
SUMMARY MINUTES OF DINNER MEETING
Monday, December 13, 1999
6:00 p.m.
Shoreline Conference Center
Highlander Room
PRESENT: Mayor Jepsen, Deputy Mayor Montgomery, Councilmembers Gustafson, Hansen, King and Ransom
ABSENT: None
STAFF: Robert Deis, City Manager; Larry Bauman, Assistant City Manager; Joyce Nichols, Community and Government Relations Manager
GUESTS: State Senator Darlene Fairley and State Representatives Carolyn Edmonds and Ruth Kagi
The meeting convened at 6:05 p.m. All Councilmembers were present with the exception of Councilmember Lee, who arrived later in the meeting.
City Council and State legislators discussed Initiative 695, public reactions and possible actions during the upcoming legislative session. State Senator Darlene Fairley described testimony that city representatives recently provided to a Senate committee.
Mayor Jepsen explained how the City has responded to I-695—after reviewing impacts to City services, Council adopted utility taxes and passed new franchise agreements for Seattle Public Utilities operating in Shoreline to replace lost operating revenues. He noted that this use of utility taxes preempts the City’s preferred use of this funding source for capital project needs.
City Manager Robert Deis pointed out that the lack of funds for capital projects will become even more problematic in three years, at which time the City will have depleted the funds for capital projects that it saved from 1995 through 1999.
Senator Fairley mentioned some of the questions she has heard regarding the impacts of I-695 on cities.
Community and Government Relations Manager Joyce Nichols said the State legislature enacted sales tax equalization in reaction to cities that were annexing shopping centers to gain sales tax revenues.
Councilmember Lee arrived at 6:50 p.m.
Mayor Jepsen explained the relationship of sales tax equalization and the proposals for buildable lands and affordable housing. He said cities have fewer ways to support new housing as revenues to improve infrastructure decrease.
Representative Ruth Kagi asserted her perception that attitudes in Olympia toward cities seem to be improving.
Councilmember Lee asked how suburban cities can explain the problems of sales tax equalization to larger, wealthier cities, such as Seattle.
Mr. Deis reiterated the dilemma of not having sufficient funds to support the infrastructure that will permit greater housing density.
Senator Fairley asked if King County has been more cooperative regarding the buildable lands legislation. Ms. Nichols said the current buildable lands bill appears unnecessary, and it does not appear to address the real problems of how to increase density appropriately.
Mayor Jepsen asked about possible legislative action to limit local gambling tax rates. Representative Kagi said the need now is to increase the authority of cities to tax locally.
Mayor Jepsen thanked Representatives Edmonds and Kagi for bringing State Representative Ruth Fisher, Co-Chair of the House Transportation Committee, to Shoreline to view Aurora Avenue and the City’s plans to redesign the street.
Representative Carolyn Edmonds asserted her opinion that little will happen regarding transportation funding during the upcoming legislative session. Representative Kagi noted that polling by the Governor’s office immediately after passage of I-695 did not identify transportation as the highest priority.
Mayor Jepsen said the legislature can help to provide cities with the tools they need to make decisions to support local needs.
Representative Kagi commented that local agencies need to consolidate to ensure the efficiency of their services.
The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
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Larry Bauman, Assistant City Manager