HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg 2014-03-17 Item 6C - Report - City Administratormon
City of Tukwila
CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
The City of opportunity, the community of choice
TO: Mayor Haggerton
Councilmembers
FROM: David Cline, City Administrator
DATE: March 12, 2014
SUBJECT: Report for March 17, 2014 Regular Council Meeting
Jim Haggerton, Mayor
The City Administrator Report is meant to provide the Council, staff and community an update
on the activities of the City and on issues that concern Tukwila. Please let me know if you have
any questions or need additional information about any of the following items.
I. Intergovernmental Update
• Valley Cities Meeting: City Administrator David Cline and Public Works Director Bob
Giberson attended the monthly Valley Cities meeting where the group discussed
Corridor Transportation Projects; Update on TIGER Grants and the PSRC Federal Grant
Process. At this time, Tukwila is one of the few cities putting in an application for a
TIGER grant to complete the Strander extension and this was well supported by our
neighbors including Renton and Auburn.
• Kinq County City Administrators /Managers Monthly Meetinq: City Administrator
David Cline attended the King County City Administrators /Managers Monthly meeting
where the group discussed the State Legislative Update, presentations from the WSU
Extension and on the McCleary Decision, and an update from SCA.
• Meetinq with School Board and Kinq County Housing Authority: Human Services
Manager Evie Boykan met with Mary Fertakis, and Linda Weedman, Resident Services
Manager to talk about housing policies as it relates to homelessness. Mary also sits on
the Tukwila Children's Foundation where the issue of homelessness was last brought
up.
• Kinq County Aerospace Alliance: Mayor Haggerton attended the King County
Aerospace Alliance meeting on March 6.
• Joint South County Planners And Human Services Meeting: The Director of DCD
and the Human Services Program Manager jointly facilitated a meeting of South County
cities to address Housing and Human Services needs as they relate to the 2015
Comprehensive Plan update. Other cities and at least three outside agencies with
knowledge and resources to help inform our comprehensive plan update were in
attendance. This meeting was the second in an ongoing series of meetings of South
County cities to share knowledge, resources and collaboration towards a coalition that
can serve the shared needs of our communities. Kudos were given to Tukwila for their
efforts and results in keeping the momentum behind this issue and keeping the group
moving forward.
• Motel Owner Sentenced: On Tuesday, March 11 the owner of the Great Bear Motel
was sentenced to one year in prison and three years of supervised release for
conspiracy to maintain drug involved premises. Following the sentencing hearing City
Administrator David Cline, Chief Mike Villa, Kimberly Matej, Communications and
Government Relations Manager, and several members of the Police Department
participated in a press conference hosted by US Attorney Jenny Durkan.
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City Administrator Report
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II. Community Events
• Community Conversation: Community meetings were held on March 6 and March 8
organized by staff from DCD, Joyce Trantina, Forterra and Global to Local. Between the
two events approximately 160 members of the community attended including all City
Councilmembers and Mayor Haggerton. Interpretation was provided to groups speaking
Spanish, Somali, Burmese, Arabic, Tingrya, Amharic, and Dzongkha (Bhutan). The
goals were to gather input on TIB, Residential Neighborhoods, and Housing and
Community Image elements of the Comprehensive Plan as well as to build community
and asses the process of utilizing Community Connectors in the City's outreach efforts.
III. Staff Updates
Public Safety
• Homicide Investiqation: On March 7, the Tukwila Police responded to a call reporting a
fight between a male and female on the side of the road in the 5400 block of
Southcenter Blvd. Upon arrival, officers found a 26 year -old female laying on the ground
suffering from the stab wounds. The victim later died. The male suspect was seen
running away from the scene. Our detectives are investigating.
• Urban Renewal /Motel Purchases: The U.S. Attorney's office is negotiating settlement
agreements with the lien holders on the Great Bear, Boulevard, and Traveler's Choice
motels. The City continues to work with the US Attorney's Office on purchasing the
seized hotels on Tukwila International Boulevard.
• False Alarm Fees: The new false alarm fees will be effective as of April 1. The City is
publicizing the new fees in the Tukwila Reporter and Hazelnut, on the City's website and
both Fire and Police will leave information about the fee increase as they respond to
alarm calls. Notification is also being sent to those that have already had at least 1 false
alarm in 2014. The Tukwila School District was notified about the new false alarm fee
structure on March 5, 2014.
Project Updates
• BNSF /Allentown: Staff recently met with BNSF to review how best to proceed on
reviewing alternative access points as per the adopted CIP. The parties concurred that
the City should take the lead on this project and that an interlocal agreement with BNSF
should be put in place identifying roles and responsibilities. The agreement will be
brought back to Transportation committee and Council for approval this Spring.
• Tukwila Case Study: City Administrator David Cline met with students from the Evans
School of Public Affairs who are doing a case study focusing on Tukwila's experience
with blight and nuisance removal on Tukwila International Boulevard for their Municipal
Management Class.
• Tourism Promotion Area: On March 11, Economic Development staff attended the
SeaTac City Council study session to listen as the Council discussed forming a Tourism
Promotion Area. This item is scheduled for Tukwila's Finance and Safety Committee on
March 18.
• Restore the Duwamish Shoreline Challenqe: Economic Development staff met with
representatives from Forterra, BECU, and the Southwest King County Chamber to
restart outreach work to engage more businesses in the shoreline restoration project.
The Chamber of Commerce has offered to help engage businesses and become a
partner in the project. The business outreach will ramp up over the summer.
• Residential Rental Licensinq and Inspection Proqram: Staff met with representatives
from Puget Sound Energy (PSE) to talk about energy upgrades that would be useful for
owners and tenants within the City. PSE said they would review and consider potential
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program and partnership opportunities with the City on energy efficient improvements in
the City's rental housing stock.
IV. Responses to Council /Citizen Inquiries
• Update about Plaques for Monuments: The City will soon be installing four
plaques on monument. The Arts Commission in collaboration with the Tukwila
Historical Society has purchased four bronze plaques to be placed on the
monuments located at Foster Lower Park; Foster Upper Park; Lower Brummer's Hill
and Tukwila Pond Park. Installation is anticipated within the next two weeks.
• Ann Barstow and Michael Moore: In response to questions raised by Ms. Barstow
and Mr. Moore at a recent Council meeting, City staff members have been in contact
with these residents and have researched the background on this issue. Due to
history of this issue and the Council's direction to look at current City policies, this
issue has been referred to the March 25 Community Affairs and Parks Committee.
At this committee meeting, City staff will provide a more in -depth review of the issue
and current city policies. Ms. Barstow and Mr. Moore will be contacted and invited to
attend this Committee meeting to share their input and to hear the discussion.
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