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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-07-13 Committee of the Whole MinutesMinutes of July 13, 1998 Page 1 of 6 CALL TO ORDER: Council President Linder called the Committee of the Whole Meeting to order and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Council President Pamela Linder, Councilmembers Joe Duffie, Joan Hernandez, Dave Fenton, Pam Carter, and Steve Mullet. Absent: Jim Haggerton. OFFICIALS: John Rants, Mayor; John McFarland, City Administrator; Steve Lancaster, Director Community Development; Ross Earnst, Public Works Director; Phil Fraser, Senior Engineer; and Lucy Lauterbach, Council Analyst. CITIZEN'S COMMENTS TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL July 13, 1998, 7:00 p.m. Tukwila City Hall Council Chambers COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES Dixie Archer, 13013 56 Ave. S., Tukwila, said she is back before the City Council to report on the continuing issue of crime and traffic within the Foster Point neighborhood. She referred to her previous comments before the Council and said a bus has been moved into the neighborhood that has been jacked up and placed on pallets. Additionally, another car is located in the same vicinity that is being dismantled. She said it appears these two vehicles are involved in drug related activities and indicates that when complaints are called in, the individuals move the cars prior to the police arriving, which means a police scanner is being used to alert these individuals about police activities. There are three houses that are contributing to the problems within the neighborhood and the individuals associated with these houses have been casing the neighborhood. Ms. Archer asked the Council for help to solve these continuing problems. She said she is working on scheduling a neighborhood meeting on Thursday night, July 16. She believes barricading 56 is one major action that can alleviate some of the problems. Councilmember Carter said the issue has been discussed at a Transportation Committee meeting and staff is working on the issues and will report back to the committee on some possible solutions. Ms. Archer said the neighborhood meeting would be held at 7:00 p.m. at her home. A crime prevention officer has also met with the neighborhood. Councilmember Carter said she spoke with Police Chief Haines and that the police are considering implementing the SARA program to deal with the issues. Councilmember Duffie said Fife recently employed a speed check sign with an officer who issued tickets for speeding. Minutes of July 13, 1998 Page 2 of 6 Ms. Archer said the bus is located in the vicinity underneath the 129 bridge. She said they are tearing up cars and said the area acts as a magnet to undesirables looking for trouble. Councilmember Hernandez suggested including the item for review at the Safety and Finance Committee meeting. Joan McManus, 5610 S 133 Tukwila explained a little about the bus and said when the bus was brought in it was not operational and was towed into the neighborhood. The individual asked her husband if the bus could be parked next to her house. Ms. McManus informed the individual that the bus could not be parked near their house. They ultimately towed it and parked it underneath the bridge. Although the individual says he has a part-time job, Ms. McManus said he is not working. She recounted some incidents where the individual appeared to be on drugs and said she has known him since he was a child (related through marriage) and aware that he has a drug problem and is involved in criminal activities. She said she is concerned with people parking their cars anywhere within the neighborhood and asked Councilmembers if the City condones these actions. She said she wants the City to act to have the broken down vehicles removed. She indicated she has reported the vehicles to the police. Administrator McFarland said if vehicles are parked on private property it becomes a code enforcement issue and notification to the owner is required. Administrator McFarland stated property owners will need to be identified so that action can be enforced. He said if the City is aware of the bus, then action is pending to resolve the issue. SPECIAL ISSUES Riverton Stormwater Quality Management Plan: 1. A Resolution establishing the utilities Committee, and other members as appointed, as a "Citizens Stormwater Quality Advisory Committee" for implementation of Stormwater Quality Management Plans throughout the City: 2. An ordinance adopting the Riverton Stormwater Quality Management Plan, and incorporating the plan into its administration under the City's Surface Water Management Ordinance (No. 1755) Engineer Fraser provided a staff report on the agenda item and indicated that the plan was initiated through a Centennial Clean Water grant from the Department of Ecology. The review will include a presentation by Dale Anderson of Entranco. The plan is accompanied by an adopting ordinance for the Riverton Stormwater Quality Management Plan along with a resolution to establish an advisory committee to oversee the implementation of all stormwater quality plans throughout the City. Engineer Fraser introduced Dale Anderson as the project manager for the plan who has provided the consultant support in developing the plan over the last several years. Mr. Anderson said the firm he represents specializes in stormwater management planning. He reviewed the process undertaken to develop the plan that included citizen participation. Several meetings were held with citizens beginning in December of 1995 to brainstorm ideas and obtain information from citizens on developing a problem statement for the project which included the degradation of the streams, habitat, water quality concerns, and flooding issues. In February of 1997, the consultant team suggested some draft goals and in July 1997, a briefing was held on the draft plan. Minutes of July 13, 1998 Page 3 of 6 Mr. Anderson provided a review of the goals and identified how each goal was assessed in terms of what obstacles were blocking the successful completion of the goal. The review included the following: Goal: Improve the stream habitat and water quality. Action: Evaluate from a scientific and engineering standpoint the current condition of the stream by monitoring water quantity and quality and the physical characteristics of the stream to include reviewing how development encroaches its floodplain. Water pollutants were also evaluated along with walkalongs to examine habitat conditions for fish. The solution phase was also examined to determine what management options would help water quality and help restore the habitat for the fish and how to manage the quantity of water which can destroy fish habitat. A computer model was used to analyze the data and provide data to assist in determining what actions are required to improve the water quality of the creek. Goal: Minimize the flooding in Riverton Creek. Action: There are several areas where the creek bank has flooded due to heavy rainfall. Citizens and staff assisted in identifying the problem areas and the information was fed into a computer model for analysis. Several solution options have been identified to control the problem. Goal: The plan would be practicable, understandable and easy to implement. Action: Review and approval by City Council and citizens. Another objective identified was for any projects that are proposed, public access such as trails and recreation amenities related to the project should be considered and included. Mr. Anderson provided an overview of the plan and reviewed the executive summary. The executive summary outlined the basic plan recommendations that include: The Citizen Advisory Committee recommends more investigation of the upper watershed to determine sources of sediment. Initiate a restoration project Promote public education and involvement by educating citizens on how to keep the creek cleaner with household waste management practices. Develop City policies for protection of streams Cooperation between agencies Capital recommendations include: Removing the tie gates Removing sediment Restoring the lower creek To control stormwater flooding the recommendations include: (1) build a stormwater bypass or (2) construct larger retention ponds to contain stormwater runoff and implement timed release of water into the creek The plan also includes recommendations for maintenance along with follow -up recommendations of monitoring the stream to see if solutions implemented are successful. Councilmember Duffie mentioned recent publicity concerning the increase in deformed and dying frogs and asked if the plan had addressed this issue. Mr. Anderson responded and said frogs were not specifically targeted Minutes of July 13, 1998 Page 4 of 6 in the plan but indicated that whatever is improved for fish would automatically apply to frogs since they share the same habitat. Councilmember Mullet, speaking as a member of the Utilities Committee, said the committee has reviewed the plan several times and indicated grants applications would be submitted to cover some of the funding and that some action items have already been initiated or are in process to start. He said many citizen groups are ready to participate and support the plan. The Utilities Committee would comprise the core group of the Stormwater Quality Citizens Advisory Committee with 12 additional citizen members from Tukwila. Councilmember Hernandez suggesting including tabs in the plan for easier reading and recommended a correction in Chapter 3 (page 45) to the second to the last paragraph to reflect "City Councilmembers" versus "City Councilmen." Councilmember Fenton commented on recent corporate participation in assisting with solutions with the creek's water quality and other problems affecting the creek. Councilmember Hernandez recommended some text changes to identify the fact that the Utilities Committee is in fact a committee of the City Council. Councilmembers discussed the committee citizen recruitment and citizen makeup that can be comprised of Tukwila citizens and Tukwila business members who are interested in the health and maintenance of Tukwila's creeks and streams. Councilmembers concurred to forward the resolution to the next regular City Council meeting for adoption. Councilmember Carter recommended the following change to the draft ordinance: The last "WHEREAS" should be corrected to read: "...of the Riverton Stormwater Quality Management Plan by the City Council, and also the incorporation of the Plan..." Councilmembers concurred to forward the ordinance to the next regular City Council meeting for adoption. S.104 St. Riverbank SloughoutfDrainage Project: Director Earnst said bids for the project was opened on May 5. Bids received were higher than the authorized funding from FEMA. FEMA has recently authorized the bid for $89,671.02. The state will fund 12.5 percent and Tukwila will fund 12.5 percent of the total project. Director Earnst said he believes the project would be completed under budget. Councilmembers concurred to forward the item to the regular Council Meeting for approval. REPORTS Mayor Rants referred to Tukwila Days and said it was a very successful event and that many new people attended the event. He complimented staff on a job well done in organizing the event. Rants gave a brief update on the Endangered Species Act. Councilmember Duffie thanked the Mayor and staff for an outstanding Tukwila Days event and said he was impressed with the number of citizens attending the event. Minutes of July 13, 1998 Page 5 of 6 Duffie attended the Community Affairs and Parks Committee and said the committee reviewed two agenda items. He deferred to Director Lancaster to provide an update on the agenda items. Director Lancaster said the committee reviewed two agenda items, which included the question, of whether the Council was satisfied with the process currently employed to amend the Comprehensive Plan. Director Lancaster said he has received citizen input concerning the process, which indicates there is some confusion and concerns regarding the process. The committee reviewed ways of simplifying the process and staff will be presenting some suggestions (in ordinance form) to simplify the process. Item number two pertained to a briefing on what the Planning Commission is doing about nonconforming signs and a phased amortization program they are working on. The proposal is nearly complete and the Commission will be conducting several public open houses along with a public hearing. Councilmember Hernandez said she also received positive comments on Tukwila Days. The Tukwila Business and Professional Women Association was able to secure a booth and mentioned they were pleased with participating and were able to make several networking contacts. Hernandez said she was pleased with the arrangements for the shuttle bus and recommended that next year, the shuttle bus information be distributed to everyone, including the community center so they provide accurate information to people. Hernandez will attend a REACH meeting on Monday, July 20. Councilmember Mullet said the Transportation Committee did discuss the Foster Point neighborhood traffic and crime problem and that the issues are being addressed. Mullet said he enjoyed Tukwila Days and said the turnout was great. Councilmember Carter said a friend was amazed at the diversity of attendees at Tukwila Days and indicated she also noticed an increase in attendance diversity. Carter said she was impressed with the entertainment. Carter suggested posting signs for the shuttle bus next year. She suggested installing a sign/banner over the Council's table so people could see the location better. She suggested working on a display for the table and recommended someone who may be able to help with developing a display and signage. Councilmember Fenton thanked Mayor Rants and City staff for the fine job with Tukwila Days and commented on how entertaining the drummers were. Councilmember Hernandez said several vendors indicated their business improved this year versus last year. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Duffie moved, seconded by Councilmember Mullet, to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 p.m. Motion carried. RECONVENE Mayor Rants reconvened the meeting at 8:20 for an Executive Session on a personnel issue and land use issue. Minutes of July 13, 1998 Page 6 of 6 ADJOURNMENT Council President Linder moved, seconded by Councilmember Duffle to adjourn the meeting at 9:31 p.m. Motion carried. Pamela Linder, Council President NiLd J&Lk,I eSlak L Valerie Gow, Recording Se &retary