Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-06-23 Committee of the Whole MinutesJune 23, 1997 7:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL Councilmember absent OFFICIALS CITIZEN'S COMMENTS TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES Tukwila City Hall Council Chambers Council President Jim Haggerton called the Committee of The Whole Meeting to order and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. JOAN HERNANDEZ, JIM HAGGERTON, COUNCIL PRESIDENT; ALLAN EKBERG, STEVE MULLET, PAM CARTER, PAM LINDER. It was the consensus of the Council to excuse Councilmember Duffie. JOHN MCFARLAND, City Administrator; LUCY LAUTERBACH, Council Analyst; RON WALDNER, Police Chief; ALAN DOERSCHEL, Finance Director; VIKI WITSCHGER, Administrative Services Director; KATHY ROHLENA, Personnel Analyst; STEVE LANCASTER, DCD Director; ROSS EARNST, Public Works Director. Margaret Bratcher, 13003 56th Avenue South, was concerned about fire and insurance protection now that the standpipe on her property has been capped. City Administrator McFarland stated the standpipe had been capped because the water flow was not adequate enough to be used by the City's fire trucks. McFarland also added that the City is precluded from advising citizens of their homeowners insurance needs. He did, however, advised Ms. Bratcher to call her insurance agent who might be in a better position to inform her of homeowners insurance protection,' and how to proceed now that there's no longer a fire hydrant located directly on her property. Bratcher also wanted to know if there were plans to cleanup the debris left by the fire at the sawdust factory. McFarland responded that the property owner has already been notified that he must either reconstruct the property or demolish the structure. Dixie Archer, 13013 56th Avenue South, expressed a desire to have 56th Avenue closed for the safety of the neighborhood when the construction is completed 0111-5. Council President Haggerton responded that different alternatives regarding this issue are currently being discussed in the Transportation Committee. Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes June 23, 1997 Page 2 SPECIAL ISSUES Non represented salary study -Fox Lawson Council Consensus: Review of Financial Planning Model Viki Witschger, Administrative Services Director, updated the Council that a seven member committee, comprised of department representatives and Councilmember Pam Carter, met on June 9 and 12, 1997, to define and develop a draft focus framework for the non represented compensation study. Suzanne Elshult from Fox Lawson and Associate discussed the framework, which is based on a classification system. She said the classification system will normally consist of broad classes that reflect the essential duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents in each class. This approach will facilitate flexibility in the assignment of duties to individual employees within the job classification. The compensation system should reflect both internal equity and external parity within the various labor markets in which the City must compete. The system should also fairly compensate employees who perform at acceptable levels and rewards employees who perform above standard levels within their respective job class. Councilmembers asked questions such as how were comparable markets determined; where does the City recruit from; why is the hiring range from the range minimum; how is the initial placement in a new salary grade structure accomplished; the financial impact of the implemented study and why the Decision Band method as opposed to other methods equally applied. After a lengthy discussion and review of the Draft Focus Framework for the non represented employees salary study, it was the consensus of the Council to forward this issue back to the Finance and Safety Committee focusing on comparables, clarification on the decision band method (DBM) process, and some of the impacts that may occur if in fact this plan is implemented. Mayor Rants recounted that the first concentrated review of projected revenues and expenditures was presented in 1990. At that time Fund Planning Services prepared and presented a long term financial prospectus for the City. It was projected that over time, revenues would not keep pace with expenditures under our current budgeting policies. The Council and Mayor's office have worked to cut back discretionary spending to preserve a high level of service while at the same time avoiding the need for imposing additional revenue generators on the citizenry. Financial Director Doerschel distributed copies of the Six -Year Financial Planning Model projection for the years 1998 2003. Referring to Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes June 23, 1997 Page 3 Financial Ping Model (Cont'd) Attachment "A" of the Model, Doerschel explained that the plan is the basis for the proposed annual budget. As part of the annual budget review, long range financial plans and policies must be established in accordance with the City's ability to fund City services and capital requirements. The Council determined the need to reduce the O &M as well as the Capital Program as follows: Residential Streets Project: 40th -42nd Avenue So. South 150th Street (42nd 46th) Commercial Streets Project: Pacific Hwy (South 116th 152nd) Water /Sewer Project: Allentown Water /Sewer System Golf Project: Foster Golf Links Maintenance Building He said all other programs have no significant changes. The General Government revenues and expenditures are balanced each year. In some cases project funding was moved further out in order to balance each year. It is anticipated that the Capital Program will continue in a manner that meets the needs of the City. Referring to Attachment A -1 (General Revenues), Doerschel explained that the revised Sales Tax estimate for 1997 is $13,550,000 which is $450,000 less than the original estimate for 1997. The projections for 1998 -2003 have been reduced respectively, using a 5% growth rate on the revised 1997 estimate. Property tax collections for 1997 is projected to be less than budgeted. The estimates for 1998 -2003 have been reduced accordingly. Doerschel said Attachment "A" is a summary of the complete Planning Model -all the other attachments feed into Attachment "A." Mayor Rants stated that because of certain corporate decisions and legislative actions involving some of the City's major revenue producing entities, the revenue /expenditure will arrive sooner than anticipated. If the projections are accurate, the City will be faced with a need to make several significant decisions on service levels and capital programs beginning in 1998. City Administrator McFarland announced that the next budget presentation will be held the 5th Monday of this month. The time and whether to provide dinner will be decided later. Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes June 23, 1997 Page 4 Recess 9:00 9:12 p.m. Revisions to TMC 18.70, non conforming uses Council Consensus: Council President Haggerton called the meeting back to order at 9:12 p.m. DCD Director Steve Lancaster stated that the process to revise TMC 18.70 (non conforming uses) began in February, 1997 following a meeting with the Community Affairs and Parks Committee, where members requested that a comprehensive review of zoning code non conforming use regulations be conducted by the Planning Commission and staff. A draft ordinance resulted, designed to limit the ability of non conforming uses to expand, and to encourage maintenance and repair of existing non- conforming structures. In addition to editorial changes to improve the clarity and usefulness of the code, the following is the scope of the revisions approved by both the Planning Commission and the Community Affairs and Parks Committee: •Substantive revisions to language allowing pre- existing legal lots to record (TMC 18.70.030). •Reducing the amount of time that a non conforming use may be vacant from 24 months to 6 months or 365 days in three years, whichever occurs first (TMC 18.70.0403). •Allowing ordinary maintenance on non conforming structures, to include painting, roof repair, plumbing, wiring and weatherization (TMC 18.70.050(D). •Prohibiting expansion of a non conforming use into additional areas of a non conforming structure (TMC 18.70.050S). •Requiring non conforming landscaping to be brought into compliance with code requirements, where a change of a structure requires review by the Board of Architectural Review (TMC 18.70.090). Lancaster directed the Council's attention to page 31 of the document and explained what is considered to be a change in use is anything that would move out of one of the numbered classifications to another numbered classification, i.e. if a non conforming automobile sales lot wanted to change to a recreational vehicle sales lot, that would not be considered a change in use because it's still in the same numbered category as demonstrated on page 31, Item #10. After review and discussion, the Council agreed that a public hearing should be scheduled. They also requested that the draft for public review include clarification on reducing the amount of time that a non conforming use may be vacant from 24 months to 6 months or 365 days in three years, whichever occurs first; and Alternative Number 4: adopt the language Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes June 23, 1997 Page 5 Council Consensus: (Cont'd) Revisions to TMC 18.70 Subdivision Ordinance update Consensus: An ordinance adding new Drug Free Zones in the City approved by the Planning Commission, with clarification of what constitutes a "change of use." DCD Director Lancaster updated the Council that this draft of the subdivision ordinance is much clearer and more "user- friendly" than the current subdivision code. Many favorable comments have been received regarding this. Extra steps were taken to ensure the implementation of relevant requirements of the City's Comprehensive Plan and that it is consistent with state law. Lancaster said a public hearing has been tentatively scheduled for July 21. This would allow adequate time for notification to be sent to those impacted. Councilmember Carter suggested that the discussion focus on unanswered questions and /or any necessary clarifications; and schedule the main body of discussion and policy decisions to a future date since the schedule is so full tonight. Council President Haggerton inquired about CAS #97 -078 as to why the Council Sub Committees actions were not brought forward under the "Record of Council Action" section. Deputy Clerk Celia Square explained that the Council Agenda Synopsis (CAS) form was originally provided to chronicle the actions of the Regular and COW meetings only. Haggerton recommended that the sub committees actions be included also. Councilmembers agreed and proceeded with a brief discussion and review of the subdivision ordinance. It was the consensus of the Council to schedule the public hearing for July 21, 1997. Council Analyst Lucy Lauterbach explained that this ordinance will add new parks to the list of those areas where drug fines increase when drug paraphernalia or marijuana are found on persons. Ordinance 1621 was passed in 1992. Since then the pea patch site has changed, Tukwila Pond Park was bought, and a new community center and adjacent parks were built. Those are the areas being added to the ordinance increasing the fines for using or possessing drugs in public parks and schools. Council reviewed the ordinance and made minor changes. Council President Haggerton requested that libraries be added to the list as one of Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes June 23, 1997 Page 6 An Ord. adding new Drug Free Zones (Cont'd) Consensus: Discussion of 42nd Ave. S. Street Improvement Project Consensus: REPORTS Council the areas prohibiting drugs. Lauterbach said she will check on the legalities of adding public facilities. It was the consensus of the Council to forward the ordinance with amendments to the next Regular Council for further consideration. Public Works Director Ross Earnst explained that Phase II of the 42nd Avenue South Street Improvements Project will construct sidewalks, storm drainage, rebuild the roadway and underground the utilities between South 144th and South 139th. the project was advertised on May 19th. Four bids were received on June 3rd; and opened on June 4. Mid Mountain is the low bidder with a total bid of $1,166,084.68. Councilmember Carter stated that it is the Transportation Committee's recommendation that the bid be accepted but reduce the scope of work to stop at South 139th. Mayor Rants commented that in the interest of fiscal responsibility, he believes the bid on this project should be postponed at this time. More information is needed on how to resolve the City's current $7.4 million dollars shortfall. He said a bill of $430,000 has to be paid for undergrounding. There are a multitude of projects that need to be evaluated before taking on this bid. Councilmember Hernandez says she feels a bit more cautious after hearing of the City's financial status, but concurs with the Committee's recommendation. Council President Haggerton stated he doesn't feel a rebid would lower the dollars significantly. Therefore, he feels staff should proceed with reducing the scope as much as possible and go forth with the bid because this project is already in the budget. It was the consensus of the Council to accept the Transportation Committee's recommendation and forward the 42nd Avenue South Street Improvement Project to tonight's Special Meeting for bid award. Councilmember Hernandez reported she attended Skills Workshop of the Tukwila Cares Project held at the Community Center on June 21st. She also attended the Emerald City Dance Club presentation and contest on the evening of the same date at the same place. She participated in the Youth Hall of Fame Celebrity Miniature Golf and Bowling event on June 22nd. Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes June 23, 1997 Page 7 Reports (Cont'd) Council ADJOURN TO SPECIAL MEETING 10:40 P.M. Hernandez asked Councilmembers to reserve August 23rd as the date for the Cultural Diversity Retreat. Council President Haggerton reported he attended the Association of Washington (AWC) Conference in Spokane, Washington on June 17th. In addition to participating in various workshops, he also accepted an award on behalf of the City for honorable- mention in the classification 5,000 to 14,999 population category for Tukwila's Community Oriented Policing video on Highway 99. He shared the list of award winners in all the different categories with Councilmembers. Haggerton stated he will attend the school board meeting on June 24th; and the Airport Communities Coalition (ACC) meeting on June 25th. Councilmember Carter updated the Council on agenda items discussed at the June 23rd Transportation Committee meeting. She also distributed flyers explaining the South King County Area Transportation Board (SKCATBd). Mayor Mayor Rants informed the Council he will attend a press conference on June 24th in Auburn, WA. King County Council wants to announced that they have set aside $5 million dollars for three cross valley underpasses /overpasses for Kent, Auburn and Tukwila. MISCELLANEOUS Councilmember Hernandez said she received a response from SeaTac Airport regarding a noise complaint she submitted. The response included details of flight departure and arrival times and the name of airlines. They also enclosed a complaint summary report that showed in May 1997 there were 309 nighttime complaints as opposed to 94 in May of 1996. MOVED BY HAGGERTON, SECONDED BY CARTER, TO ADJOURN TO THE SPECIAL MEETING. MOTION CARRIED. ouncil President Celia Square, R -puty City Clerk