HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-04-20 Regular MinutesMinutes of 4/20/98 Page 1 of 8
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Rants called the Regular Meeting to order and led the audience in the
Pledge of Allegiance
ROLL CALL: Joe Duffle, Joan Hernandez, Pam Linder, Council President; Steve Mullet, Pam Carter,
Jim Haggerton, Dave Fenton.
OFFICIALS: John McFarland, City Administrator; Bob Noe, City Attorney; Ross Earnst, Public
Works Director; Brian Shelton, City Engineer; Jack Pace, Senior Planner; Moira Bradshaw, Associate
Planner; Rebecca Fox, Associate Planner; Lauterbach, Council Analyst; Celia Square, Deputy City
Clerk.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION Canceled.
PROCLAMATION Mayor Rants read a proclamation proclaiming April 20, 1998 as Citizens' Patrol
Day in the City of Tukwila, and encouraged all residents to support the efforts of the dedicated members
of the Citizen's Patrol and to show appreciation for their commitment to this community.
CITIZEN'S COMMENTS None.
CONSENT AGENDA
TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL
April 20, 1998, 7:00 p.m.
Tukwila City Hall Council Chambers
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
a. Approval of Minutes of 4/6/98.
b,, Approval of Vouchers: Nos. 204518 through 204745 in the amount of $662,739.03.
c. Authorize Mayor to sign the purchase agreement with WSDOT to acquire that certain parcel of
land located between the Green River and the parcels commonly known as the Historic Residence
Parcel, the Nelsen Parcel and the Best Western Parcel; authorize the Mayor to sign the easement
agreement with the Nelsen Trust.
d. Authorize Mayor to sign the bicycle rental agreement with Wheels and Waves.
e. Accept as complete the 32nd Ave. S. Underground Power and Communications Conversion
Project with T.F. Sahli Construction Co. in the amount of $18,462; authorize release of retainage
(Project paid from CDBG funds.)
Moved by Duffie, seconded by Hernandez, to approved the consent agenda as submitted. Motion
carried (7 -0).
Councilmember Carter commented that she had not gotten a response to a question she asked last week
about the locations of other bicycle rentals in south King County. McFarland said Parks Recreation
Director Don Williams is in the process of compiling this data. Upon completion, he will provide the
information directly to Carter.
Minutes of 4/20/98
PUBLIC 'TEARING: Highway 99 Draft Revitalization Plan
Mayor Rants opened the public hearing at 7:20 p.m.
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DCD Associate Planner Moira Bradshaw explained the process that was followed during the
development and review stages of the Draft Comprehensive Plan. She said the strategies in the Comp
Plan that resulted in the Comp Plan amendments process moved forward because the Comp Plan can
only be amended once a year, in December, and rather than wait another year, staff thought it best to
submit the amendments ahead of time even though at this point they are just draft concepts. She said the
purpose of tonight's meeting is to have a dedicated opportunity to provide formal input on the Draft
Revitalizaton Plan. This hearing has been preceded by a number of meetings with community groups,
City advisory boards, and a public meeting at Foster High School. As this plan is a non-quasi-judicial
matter, there is unlimited opportunity to communicate with the City Council and /or the staff by
telephone, mail or e -mail about the proposed strategies. Bradshaw said staff will suggest at the close of
tonight's public hearing that the Council schedule a discussion at an upcoming Committee of The Whole
meeting in order to review what will be said tonight and what has been heard in the preceding months.
Bradshaw explained that the overall purpose of the plan is to fulfill the Comprehensive Plan Policy of
creating a strategic plan to facilitate private and public investment in the corridor. At the beginning of
this strategic revitalization effort, a set of goals specific to the plan (goals were displayed on the Council
Chambers monitors) were laid out as follows: Greater prosperity for the residence, businesses and land
owners in the area; a sense of community and partnership among and between businesses, residents and
the government; safe, attractive and comfortable areas to live and do business; a safe, multi -model
transportation system -an area where street design supports the customers, residents and the transit users
of the area -and, transportation facilities that improve mobility for pedestrians and goods to, from, within
and through the area.
Bradshaw reviewed all 19 strategies (reference: "Pacific Highway Draft Revitalization Plan Strategies
Discussion Table" included in tonight's packet), and said one of the strategies citizens have expressed
foremost interest in is the strategy that suggests commercial re- development in selected multi family and
the single family district. The strategy, as it exists in the draft plan, is a concept. Its purpose is to allow
and encourage total aggregation of separate parcels of land into a large commercial site that fronts on
Pacific Highway without changing the underlying uses of the parcel. She said staff do not believe that
commercial use of those small residential sites make sense. Staff would like to see large sites available
that front on Pacific Highway or South 144th Street, which is an arterial through the area. Bradshaw said
the City currently does not have a method for administering this concept. This is an idea that if
supported by the Council, in its adoption of a final revitalization plan, would then need to be developed
as to how best to make it work. Similar to other concepts within the draft plan, there will need to be a
Planning Commission hearing where the same notification procedures would be followed as used in the
Comp Plan amendments process. A recommendation would then be forwarded from the Planning
Commission to the Council for their deliberation before any final change takes place.
Ruth Cagle, 3421 South 144th Street, commented that she did not receive notification of this public
hearing and that she would like to more thoroughly understand exactly what is going to happen to the
four homes on 144th Street. She lives in one of those home. She also wanted to know what happened to
Minutes of 4/20/98 Page 3 of 8
the money the citizens were assessed 25 years ago for sidewalk improvements that have never been
realized.
Mayor Rants responded that the sidewalks will be re- constructed along Hwy 99 using City dollars, no
assessments will be posed on citizens. DCD Planning Manager Jack Pace will mail information to Ms.
Cagle regarding her 25 year old concern.
Vern Meryhew, 4431 South 148th, commented on behalf of the Hwy 99 Task Force. He said his group
has reviewed the strategies and made comments as noted on the "Pacific Highway Draft Revitalization
Plan Strategies Discussion Table" included in tonight's packet.
Per Council request, Meryhew named the members of the Hwy 99 Task Force as follows: Donald
Demulling, David Livermore, Dwight McLean, Vern Meryhew, Debbie O'Brien, Tim O'Brien, Arthur
Rosengren, Ellen Gengler, and Mike West.
John Welsh, 12421 Pacific Hwy South, complimented and thanked the Council and staff for their
consistent efforts in providing opportunities for all those concerned to review, discuss and /or offer input
in the Revitalization Plan process. Welsh says there was a time when it was "us them," however, this
project has been a collaborative effort. Welsh also commented on the street walls and how some of the
merchants find them to be uninviting.
Bill Arthur, 18000 Andover Park W., Ste 200, echoed Welsh's comments regarding staffs diligence
in soliciting such a broad range of participation from citizens and various groups. He said even the
presentation tonight was tailored to the audience.
Patty Striker, 14406 34th Avenue South, asked how will the plan impact homeowners who live in her
neighborhood. Mayor Rants informed her that this issue will be discussed under "Comprehensive Plan
amendments" which is the next item on the agenda.
Bart Johnson, 4245 South 148th Street, says there are too many pedestrians trying to cross the street
and running directly in front of vehicles. He says he would like to see more crosswalks for pedestrians,
and a signal light at 148th. He said he would also like to see more money spent on residential streets and
speed bumps placed in strategic areas to slow down speeding motorists.
Frank Charington, 3736 South 141st, requested his address be corrected Site #1 to read "3736" not
3726. He also complained about the noise coming from the "21" Club on Hwy 99. He complimented
staff on the fine job they are doing in getting the information out. Charington stated that he favors Site
#1 being changed from Medium Density Residential to Neighborhood Commercial Center.
Public hearing closed. Mayor Rants closed the public hearing at 8:10 p.m.
OLD BUSINESS
Comprehensive Plan amendments. Mayor Rants clarified that there will be other opportunities for
public input on the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendments. Rants stated that the Port of Seattle and
the Department of Community Development have each endorsed the amendments. Rants said that at the
Minutes of 4/20/98 Page 4 of 8
conclusion of tonight's discussion, the Council is entrusted with the duty and responsibility of deciding
whether to defer the discussion to a later date, accept or reject the amendments, or forward them to the
Planning Commission.
DCD Associate Planner Rebecca Fox stated three topics she would like to cover as follows: 1) Review
the process the Council will follow in considering the proposed Comp Plan; 2) Present the two
amendments to the Council; and, 3) Guidance from the Council on how they wish to proceed with
deliberations regarding the proposals. While referring to the monitor displaying the process, Fox
explained that the Council can reject the proposal if there is significant impact to the Comprehensive
Plan, or the Council can defer it for a three -year planning process. However, if the amendments have no
significant impact, the Council can either reject the proposal and defer the consideration for one or more
years or refer the proposed amendments to the Planning Commission. She said any proposed
amendment that goes to the Planning Commission will receive further analysis including environmental
review and a serious look at the impacts. The Planning Commission will then hold a hearing, make a
recommendation and then send it back to the Council. The Council will review, hold a hearing and then
reach a final decision.
Fox introduced the first amendment requested by the Port of Seattle as follows: Promote transportation
and land use strategies that are consistent with the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP goal of
meeting regional air transportation needs at Seattle Tacome International Airport, including the third
runway. She said the Port asserts that by adopting this amendment Tukwila would fulfill what the Port
believes is Tukwila's responsibility to make its Comprehensive Plan consistent with the Metropolitan
Transportation Plan (MTP), as amended August 1996.
Mayor Rants explained that the Port's request does not affect the City of Tukwila because the City's
Comp Plan addresses airport improvements and impacts as well as the process for siting essential public
facilities (EPFs).
Citizen response: Dwight McLean, 13015 38th Avenue South, commented that since the obvious
cannot be ignored and that there might be some possible advantages to all concerned, efforts should be
made to start working with the airport to curtail hostile relationships.
Councilmember Mullet commented that the Port's request is insignificant and should be rejected
because the City's Comp Plan has addressed the airport as it affects the City of Tukwila. He said there is
nothing in the Comp Plan that discourages any airport uses except parking lots. Fellow
Councilmembers concurred.
Moved by Mullet, seconded by Linder, that the request made by the Port of Seattle to promote
transportation and land use strategies that are consistent with the Metropolitan Transportation
Plan provisions for improvements to SeaTac International Airport has no significant imnact to the
City of Tukwila Comprehensive Plan. Motion carried (7 -0).
Move by Mullet, seconded by Hernandez, to reject the request made by the Port of Seattle because
the City of Tukwila Comprehensive Plan policies has already addressed key elements such as the
necessary siting, properly conditioned essential public facilities and appropriate improvements to
the airport. Motion carried (7 -0).
Minutes of 4/20/98 Page 5 of 8
Associate Planner Rebecca Fox updated the Council that re- invigorating the Pacific Highway corridor
was identified as the highest priority for City action during the Vision Tukwila process in 1993, and the
second highest priority objective in the entire Comprehensive Plan, as adopted in 1995. The amendment
being requested brings this priority closer to reality by implementing several of the key recommendations
of the Draft Pacific Highway Revitalization Plan (12/97). She said the Pacific Highway Revitalization
Plan was developed over several years with residential and business members of the community in
partnership with the City.
The second proposed amendment is being requested by The City of Tukwila as follows: Amend certain
Comprehensive Plan policies and land use designations to implement Pacific Highway Revitalization
Plan. The City's amendment application includes three requests: 1) Change selected residentially -zoned
areas to commercial use, depending on certain conditions being met; 2) Give the Board of Architectural
Review the authority to waive certain landscape and setback standards to encourage pedestrian and
vehicular movement between two adjoining properties; and, 3) Expand the number of housing units per
acre in the area by increasing the allowable density in the Neighborhood Commercial Center (NCC)
zone, and allow multi- family development in the Regional Commercial (RC) zone.
Citizens expressed concerns regarding property tax increases. Associate Planner Bradshaw explained
that there is no direct answer because the King County Assessor's office looks at comparable properties
for comparisons that may include but not limited to zoning, the neighborhood, and adjacent sale prices,
etc. She said what's being proposed is a distinct concept in that every property will be unique depending
upon the size of the site, and the topographic constraints.
Councilmember Mullet commented that he will not consider any rezoning unless he can see a draft plan
to do so. Bradshaw stated that the plan is not to rezone properties. The idea is to leave the underlying
zoning as is, but allow commercial use in addition to the underlying use if a particular site is aggregated
with the parcels surrounding it into one large site, which in turn must meet the conditions imposed by
Council.
Patty Striker, 14406 34th Avenue South, stated that she was concerned because the application states
that at some point current residents would need to relocate.
Mayor Rants and Councilmembers explained that relocation of residents would take place only after
the sale of their property.
Ruth Cagle, 3421 South 144th, complained that she and the residents near her did not receive proper
notification. She only learned of tonight's meeting by a passerby. She also complained about how she
was treated by the City's Code Enforcement Department when it was assumed she had not complied to a
request for the removal of debris from her property. She said she believes code enforcement could
possibly play a big role in forcing property owners to sell precipitately and forfeit getting the full value of
their land.
City Attorney Bob Noe clarified that the only way the City could mandate the sale of citizens' property
is if the City were going to use the property for a public purpose. This law is provided by state statute.
He said a private developer is not a public purpose.
Minutes of 4/20/98 Page 6 of 8
Dwight McLean, 13015 38th Avenue South, deviated from the subject matter a bit and commented that
he would like to propose that the City discontinue support of the third runway at SeaTac and use the tax
payers monies in other ways; especially, since the Council made a motion stating that that SeaTac
Airport third runway has no significant impact to the City's Comp Plan.
As the discussion proceeded, the Council attempted to piece together the varying interpretations and
applications inherent in the proposal. However, DCD Planning Manager Jack Pace stated that since the
Hwy 99 project and the Comp Plan amendments are so closely related, Council may want to defer
making a decision on the Comp Plan amendments until they have more time to think on how they want
to implement the Hwy 99 plan. After a decision has been made on the Hwy 99 plan, it would perhaps
make it easier to decide as to whether it is significant or non significant and /or what process the Council
wish to follow. He said the Council is not on a time clock -they can make a decision a month from now
or two months from now. The amendments being discussed all tie into the implementation of the Hwy
99 plan. Staff have presented the information now so as to allow Council maximum flexibility, yet be
responsive.
Moved by Carter, seconded by Duffle, to defer the discussion on the Comprehensive Plan
amendments and land use designations to allow staff time to present a clearer picture of how to
effectively merge the Comp Plan amendments with the implementation of the Pacific Highway
Revitalization Plan. Motion carried (7 -0).
(9:25 p.m.) Recess: Mayor Rants reconvened the meeting at 9:40 p.m.
Resolution #1398 A resolution renaming a nortion of the old alignment of Grady Way. Moved by
Duffie, seconded by Haggerton, that the proposed resolution be read by title only. Motion carried.
City Attorney Noe read a resolution of the City Council of the City of Tukwila, Washington, changing
the name of a portion of the former Grady Way Road to Fun Center Way.
Moved by Haggerton, seconded by Duffie, that Resolution #1398 be approved as read.* City
Administrator McFarland commented that Monster Road has never existed in the City of Tukwila. Prior
to the boundary line adjustment between the cities of Renton and Tukwila, the City of Renton vacated a
short portion of the road to the abutting property owner. It ran from the Union Pacific right -of -way to
where it connected to old Grady Way. Upon the boundary line adjustment which took effect on February
7, 1987, the City of Tukwila assumed jurisdiction of the area, however, the public thoroughfare, formally
known as Monster Road, had been vacated, and the railroad crossing what would have connected it to the
current terminus of Monster Road was closed. Monster Road is definitely in the jurisdictions of Renton
and King County. It begins at Martin Luther King Way, and threads its way along the east wall of
Duwamish Valley until it ends near Longacres Way (approximately 3 miles). *Motion carried (7 -0).
REPORTS
Mayor Rants reported on various correspondence he had received. One letter was from King County
Executive Ron Sims announcing several outreach forums being held in King County for the dual purpose
of gaining early public input regarding budget priorities and increasing community awareness of the
Minutes of 4/20/98 Page 7 of 8
County's budgeting process. For those interested in attending, they begin Tuesday, May 5. He asked
Councilmembers to see Council Analyst Lucy Lauterbach for further details.
Rants said he met with the SeaTac Airport Executive Director Gina Marie Lindsey last week and
discussed some of the major issues facing the Puget Sound area.
Councilmember Hernandez reported she attended the REACH Strategic Planning Committee meeting
on April 14th, held at the City of SeaTac. She also attended the Rainier Symphony at Foster High
School on April 19th.
Council President Linder reported she attended the Hwy 99 Action Committee meeting on April 14th
where she was informed that May 9th has been scheduled as the next highway cleanup day. They will
meet at the Derby Tavern at 9:00 a.m. Linder encouraged everyone to participate.
Linder announced that Lin Wen -Fan was the April recipient for the Highway 99 Action Committee
award. She said Tukwila's own Judge Lukevich attended this meeting. Linder said she attended the
Duwamish Improvement Club meeting on April 16th. Linder stated that she will not be able to attend
every Duwamish Club meeting in the future and asked other Councilmembers if they would be willing to
alternate their attendance on a monthly basis. Linder said she would notify Councilmembers individually
for their response.
Councilmember Carter provided an update on the April 14th Transportation Committee meeting. She
also stated she attended the planting at Tukwila Pond on April 18th.
Carter said she received a letter from Dwight Pelz stating that he is introducing a proposal that would
require a noise reduction plan for Boeing Field be cleared by the Council before they approve the long
range Master Plan for the airport. Carter said she would provide details to those interested.
Carter announced she will attend the Tukwila Community Cares Network on April 22nd, where the
project description for the Volunteer Coordinator will be included for discussions. She will attend the
SCATBD. meeting on April 21st. The agenda will focus on the Metro routing proposal presented at the
April 13th COW meeting. She asked Council to submit to her their comments for addressing at the
meeting. Carter announced that the Foster Community Club meeting will be held on April 22nd--an
RTA representative will be present.
Councilmember Haggerton reviewed agenda items discussed earlier this evening at the Finance and
Safety Committee meeting.
Councilmember Fenton reported he attended both the Hwy. 99 Action Committee meeting, and the
Transportation Committee meeting held on April 14th.
City Administrator McFarland informed the Council that he received a call from Tukwila School
District Superintendent Dr. Michael Silver recently, reminding him of the upcoming joint school board
and Council meeting. Silver proposed a date that will coincide with the Volunteer Appreciation event
scheduled for May 5th. The Council agreed on May 13th to hold the joint school board /Council
meeting.
Minutes of 4/20/98
McFarland said Public Works Director Ross Earnst, City Engineer Brian Shelton, Senior Engineer Ross
Heller and Alice Strand joined him earlier this afternoon in attending a meeting at the RTA Light Rail
Headquarters in downtown Seattle, regarding RTA issues. They discussed the need for Identification of
three alternatives to place before the board for consideration, i.e. Hwy 99, the Interurban alignment, and a
Martin Luther King Way alignment.
MISCELLANEOUS
Councilmember Hernandez announced she will be attending the National Association of Housing Re-
Development Officials Conference at the Double Tree Suites this week. She said Mayor Rants will be
giving the Welcome Address on April 22nd, 9:00 a.m.
Councilmember Mullet shared highlights of his recent trip to London, England.
(10:05 n.m..) ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Mullet, seconded by Duffie, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.
f.
W. Rants, Mayor
1
Square, Deputyyity Clerk
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