HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-01-11 Committee of the Whole MinutesCALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Council President Dave Fenton called the
Committee of the Whole meeting to order and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Council President Dave Fenton, Councilmembers Joe Duffle, Joan
Hernandez, Pamela Linder, Jim Haggerton, and Steve Mullet.
Excused Absence: Councilmember Pam Carter.
OFFICIALS: John Rants, Mayor; John McFarland, City Administrator; Ross Earnst, Public Works
Director; Steve Lancaster, Community Development Director; Don Williams, Parks and Recreation
Director; Ross Heller, Senior Engineer; and Lucy Lauterbach, Council Analyst.
CITIZEN COMMENT:
Bill Arthur. 18000 Andover Park W, Suite #200, thanked the Council for their cards and words of
encouragement during his recent illness.
SPECIAL ISSUES:
TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL
January 11, 1999 7:00 p.m.
Council Chambers City Hall
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES
a. Staff Briefing on Light Rail EIS Issues
Director Lancaster provided a general briefing on staff's preliminary findings of the Light Rail Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) prepared by Sound Transit. A public hearing is scheduled on the
DEIS by Sound Transit on Wednesday, January 13 at the Tukwila Community Center from 6:00 to 9:00
p.m. A memo from staff identifying issues prior to the public hearing was distributed to the Transit
Advisory Commission (TAC) and the Council, on Friday, January 8. The public review comment period
extends to February 5, 1999.
Director Lancaster said staff would require additional review of the DEIS to accurately ascertain all of the
issues before assisting Council in finalizing the City's response to the DEIS at the end of January. A joint
meeting is planned between the City Council and the Transit Advisory Commission (TAC) on
Wednesday, January 20 at 5:30 p.m. to review documents provided by staff, in memo form, to finalize
into several documents. One would be a policy oriented letter TAC and Council may want to transmit;
and the other would be a more technical document originating from staff to Sound Transit staff pertaining
to specific issues and information within the DEIS which needs more analysis or responds to analysis
errors.
Director Lancaster referred to one of the two memos and indicated staff' s response attempts to identify the
rationale Sound Transit staff used in its executive summary of the DEIS, which includes the preliminary
staff recommended locally preferred alternative. Sound Transit staff reviews each segment of the
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proposed system and provides the reasons they have recommended each preferred alternative. For the "E"
segment (Tukwila), City staff restated the rationale Sound Transit used to support the Pacific Highway
alternative. Staff responds to the rationale and raises questions which staff feels have not been adequately
addressed or considered. Essentially, much of the rationale used in the recommendation is being
questioned.
Equally important and missing are some very important elements not included in the factors Sound
Transit used to support their recommendations. These elements must be discussed and reviewed. Four
important considerations are missing. They include:
1. Consistency with Vision 2020 and Tukwila's Comprehensive Plan.
2. Although the DEIS contained limited analysis of impacts to businesses on Tukwila International
Boulevard, the Sound Transit staff recommendation does not take this issue into consideration.
3. Staff is concerned with some of the analysis and data used with respect to considering impacts to
minorities and low income populations.
4. Issues relating to the diversion of traffic from Pacific Highway to other streets and the impact on
school and truck transportation have not been fully studied.
Director Lancaster said the four points are important parts of the decision but have not been included in
Sound Transit recommendations.
One issue Sound Transit has focused on is the cost factor. Staff intends to examine the area more closely
in the next several weeks to ascertain a good estimate pertaining to the true differential between the costs
of the various alternatives. Staffs preliminary belief, based on others review of the costs, is they will not
be as high as portrayed in the DEIS.
The second memo is a work in progress of a preliminary issues list which staff feels is important to
address in the DEIS. Information is provided to give the Council and the TAC an idea on some of the
issues staff feels are important in terms of the specifics of the DEIS and some of the shortcomings which
should be considered.
Councilmember Mullet noted staff raises many valid issues. Another issue for consideration, he stated,
relates to Sound Transit not considering an area encompassing 20,000 employees Southcenter.
Councilmember Hernandez concurred and indicated she has attended numerous tourism meetings through
the Chamber of Commerce. Many of the area hotels echo the same concerns that commuter rail needs to
serve Southcenter. Lancaster said staff is working to determine how Sound Transit compiled its passenger
numbers.
Councilmember Haggerton indicated two areas he is most concerned with, travel time and ridership
numbers, are being addressed by staff. He stressed any new transportation system can run and maintain
schedules with high ridership; however, it's a matter of putting it in place on the right route and
maintaining a schedule.
Leonard McGhee, Sound Transit. Light Rail Denartment, clarified a number of Sound Transit
Boardmembers would attend the January 13 public hearing. Boardmembers will take testimony from the
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public during the meeting. A court reporter will also be attendance to record and transcribe all testimony
for Boardmembers not attending.
Allan Ekberg, 4920 S 161 asked about the process of the meeting and how long each attendee would be
allowed to speak; and, what defines a group.
Mr. McGhee said the speaking format for groups, agencies, and representatives of organizations would
include a maximum speaking time of five minutes. Individual speakers would be allowed three minutes
of testimony.
Mr. McGhee said a group is a recognized group or a formalized group recognized as such. The time
allowed for Mayor Rants and /or each Councilmember shall be :05 minutes each.
b. Resolution Setting Fee Policies for the Recreation Center Programs and Classes
Lucy Lauterbach, Council Analyst, stated this issue came before the Council last year from the
Community Affairs and Parks Committee due the old resolution concerning old recreation fees. The
Council suggested examining the schedule with respect to the new community center. City staff and
Community Affairs and Parks Committee members have reviewed the resolution on no less than three
occasions.
Ms. Lauterbach clarified the Mayor, not the Council, sets the fees. Rather, she stated, Council sets the
policies for same; and noted it is difficult to set fees for some community center events due to program
variations.
Councilmember Duffie said the Committee concurs with updating the fee schedule and recommends
Council concur by adopting the resolution setting fee policies for the recreation center programs and
classes.
Councilmembers concurred to move the resolution to the next regular Council meeting for adoption.
REPORTS:
a. City Council:
Councilmember Duffie said he was pleased to see citizens attending to learn more about light rail. He
reported Tukwila Elementary School had an assembly on the Martin Luther King Holiday observation and
thanked Councilmember Hernandez for her presentation on the Equity and Diversity Commission.
Councilmember Hernandez reported REACH met on January 6 wherein orientation took place for the new
Director, Terri Smith. Next, she reported attendance at the January 7 Equity and Diversity Commission
meeting. Approximately 12 people, including a new member, were in attendance. Focus groups as
recommended by Northwest Language Lab will be conducted at every meeting beginning in February.
The focus groups can accommodate up to 15 people and there are several openings. Also reviewed was
the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. The Commission agreed to visit schools during their assemblies to
observe the holiday.
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Ms. Hernandez reported Channel 9 presented information on several different workshops offered to the
community at no charge. One workshop is on media literacy and teaching kids to reduce TV viewing
time. Another is on the First Books Program for parents and teachers. This program provides books in
different languages for parents and teachers. Other workshops include a diversity workshop using
puppets, a Sesame Street parent program, and a science -based workshop.
The Commission completed its election of 1999 officers and Councilmember Hernandez was elected chair
for 1999.
Council President Fenton reported he and Mayor Rants attended the SeaTac City Council meeting on
January 5 and discussed issues relating to light rail, collaborating with SeaTac, and issues concerning both
jurisdictions.
Council President Fenton indicated the City of SeaTac expressed interest in holding a joint meeting
between each of the jurisdiction's Transportation Committees.
Administrator McFarland reported the City of SeaTac contacted Tukwila to set a date for the SeaTac and
Tukwila Transportation Committee.
On January 6, Council President Fenton attended the Foster High School Site Council meeting. He
announced the retirement of Principal Dr. Horst Momber. Next, he noted the Sound Transit Fare
Comment kit was distributed to each Councilmember's mailbox and suggested the topic be discussed
during the upcoming Council retreat. He asked Councilmembers to submit retreat agenda items to
Analyst Lauterbach soon to finalize the Council retreat agenda.
Councilmember Haggerton asked if SeaTac discussed their (Sound Transit) position on the terminal at
South 154 Mayor Rants stated it was decided both city's Transportation Committees would meet with a
few members from each of the city's TAC Committees and develop a list of mutual issues and
suggestions for going forward with a joint resolution.
Council Mullet attended the Utilities Committee meeting and reported on the Interlocal Agreement with
Cascade Water Alliance. The Interim Water Group has asked for an amendment for an extension until the
end of March. The Committee recommends Mayor Rants approve the extension due to the fact Cascade
Water Alliance will not be fully operational until the end of March. Additionally, if not enough members
are secured under the Alliance by the end of 1999, the original alliance would revert to its previous
process. Currently, the City is participating in an audit to determine the costs and operational aspects of
joining.
Councilmember Haggerton reported his attendance at the Utilities Committee meeting and is planning to
attend the Finance and Safety Committee meeting January 12. He commented on the successful January 6
meeting held by the Mayor and Mike Ragsdale with the Duwamish group and said some successful joint
agreements and philosophies were reached.
Councilmember Linder commented on her committee assignments. She has not served on the
Community Affairs and Parks Committee and is looking forwarded to attending. She also attended the
January 6 meeting and commented on the good job Mike Ragsdale did facilitating and properly refocusing
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the issue from the Council and administration to Sound Transit, who are make the decisions which impact
the City. The group reached consensus the Martin Luther King route was the least onerous of the three
routes. She also commended Director Earnst on his participation in the meeting.
b. Mayor:
Mayor Rants reported the official date of Director Earnst's retirement is March 31, 1999. The City has
been advertising for a Public Works Director and he has selected a new director. He said he would like
the Council's confirmation of the new director at the next regular Council meeting on January 19, and
would like a two -month hiring overlap so the new director can be properly briefed and trained before
Mr. Earnst's departure. Per Council approval, Mayor Rants recommended a February 1 hiring date.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Councilmember Duffie noted his invitation to the Duwamish Club meeting on
Thursday, January 14, 1999.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
(7:50 p.m.) Moved by Councilmember Duffie; seconded by Councilmember Haggerton, to extend
the meeting to include a five- minute break, followed by a :30 minute Executive Session on a land
use issue. The motion carried 6 -0.
ADJOURNMENT:
(8:25 p.m.) There being no further business, the meeting adjourned.
De Fenton, Council President
rl
Robert H. Baker, CMC, City Clerk
for Recording Secretary Valerie Gow
Date Minutes Approved: 2 /99
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January 11, 1999