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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-10-25 Committee of the Whole MinutesTUKWILA CITY COUNCIL October 25, 1999 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers City Hall CITY COUNCIL OF WHOLE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES CALL TO ORDER: Council President Dave Fenton called the meeting to order and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Council President Dave Fenton, Councilmembers Joe Duffle, Joan Hernandez, Pam Carter, Steve Mullet, Jim Haggerton, and Pamela Linder. OFFICIALS: John Rants, Mayor; John McFarland, City Administrator; Steve Lancaster, Director of Community Development; Jim Morrow, Public Works Director; Alan Doerschel, Finance Director; Bruce Fletcher, Assistant Parks Recreation Director; and Lucy Lauterbach, Council Analyst. CITIZENS' COMMENTS /CORRESPONDENCE: Jesse Woods. 3924 S. 117 Tukwila. complained about the noise from the firing range. He quoted several passages from the City of Seattle's noise ordinance outlining different types of noise infractions. He referred to protected "grandfathered" organizations and reiterated dogs, car stereos, and motorcycle have made noises in the past and will continue to do so in the future. Mr. Woods requested the City solve the noise issue with the firing range and with Burlington Northern's forklifts. Mayor Rants referred to the City's present noise ordinance and indicated the City cannot, at this time, cite the firing range, as the current noise level is not unlawful. The City's noise ordinance could be strengthened. However, a maximum decibel level would need to be established. Councilmembers discussed the issue and offered several suggestions such as revisiting the noise ordinance at the Committee level, sending a letter to the firing range indicating the City is continuing to receive complaints about noise, and establishing a hot line for citizens to call when noise levels from the firing range begin to escalate. Council President Fenton reported the Finance and Safety Committee would revisit the issue within the next several months. Dixie Archer. 13013 56 Ave. South. Tukwila. informed Council Joanne McManus recently suffered a heart attack. Ms. Archer said she recently attended a Duwamish community meeting and many of the concerns related to the continuance of truck traffic on S. 124"'. She inquired on the status of the City's work to relieve truck traffic on S. 124t Mayor Rants informed her he is near completion with organizing a committee to address truck traffic and an alternate access to the Burlington Northern yard. The committee is comprised of four Tukwila residents, a representative from the trucking industry, the Port of Seattle, Burlington Northern, King County, and the City. He is City of Tukwila Page 2 of 6 City Council of Whole Meeting Minutes October 25, 1999 planning to convene the committee in December and cautioned the remedy will most likely be a two to three year process with funding being the major challenge. Councilmember Carter requested the Transportation Committee be provided with a copy of the committee's members and the task's the committee will be working on. SPECIAL ISSUES: Review of proposed 2000 budget Director Doerschel reported 1998 and 1999 were two of the best revenue years for the City. In the past, the City has experienced four years of deficit revenues, which degraded the C.I.P. to keep the budget in balance. For 1999, in most cases, actual revenues are greater than the budgeted amounts. Increased sales tax revenue, gambling taxes, and new development activity has contributed to increased revenues. Director Doerschel indicated the City experienced only a one percent increase in property tax during a four -year period. Currently, the City is growing at approximately five percent (during the last three years). Given the economic climate of the City, property tax has not increased substantially as with other revenue sources. He indicated Director Lancaster is forecasting another 12 months of strong development activity. The planning model for the budget is conservative with assumptions factored for possible decreases in sales tax and property tax. He noted the City did not receive an AA bond rating because the City relies too heavily on sales tax. Most notably, if the economy experiences a 10 -15% decrease, sales tax revenue will be affected dramatically. Tukwila's revenue is built heavily around taxes gambling, property, and sales tax revenue. Sales tax revenue for 1999 was budgeted at $14 million with 70% of the revenue allocated to the General Fund. For 2000, sales tax is budgeted for $10.5 million. He noted when sales tax revenue decrease more sales tax is allocated to the General Fund. During high sales tax revenue years, more of the revenue is allocated to the C.I.P. Councilmember Mullet emphasized how important it is for the City to protect sales tax revenue; otherwise, police and fire services could suffer along with other important City services. Councilmember Duffle complimented the Parks and Recreation staff for their assistance and follow through during a recent incident. Councilmembers reviewed the Recreation budget. Councilmember Mullet indicated the Community Affairs and Parks Committee has no particular issues with the proposed recreation budget. Councilmember Linder questioned funding for a new floor for the gym. Assistant Director Fletcher explained one of the program goals is to solicit trade shows at the community center. He explained how a new floor could improve the facility and attract more trade show and events. Director Doerschel explained a new floor for the gym is on a list of items may not be budgeted if I -695 passes. City of Tukwila Page 3 of 6 City Council of Whole Meeting Minutes October 25, 1999 Councilmember Haggerton questioned the low budget amounts for employee benefits. Director Doerschel explained several factors contributed to the lower amount. One, relates to the reduction in the PERS contribution. However, there may be a possible error in the medical benefit forecast, which may be too low. He indicated he would recheck the figures. Director Doerschel reported a budget amendment for recreation and municipal court would be presented to the Council in November for activities approved earlier in the year. Councilmember Carter noted several corrections to the 2000 goals for the recreation budget. She suggested rephrasing the Showalter after school activity goal to reflect improvements or expansions to the existing program rather than developing a new program. Councilmember Hernandez requested a correction on page 62 to reflect the actual number of classes conducted is an increase (625) instead of a decrease (525). Councilmembers concurred with the proposed Recreation budget with suggested changes. Councilmembers reviewed the DCD Administration and Planning budget. Director Lancaster clarified several personnel positions within the department. Director Doerschel provided clarification on how CTR program funds are allocated within the budget. Director Lancaster indicated professional services under permit coordination (page 72) are higher due to implementation of a CR Plus upgrade along with additional services from the vendor would be provided above the basic cost of the software. The scheduled implementation date is July 2000. Director Lancaster said most of mechanical and other permits are accepted and routed through the normal planning process within the department. With the additional building inspector position, technical expertise would be increased at the front counter to clarify technical issues relating to permits which will improve customer services and save the department time. Additionally, current staffing within the department prohibits additional workload related to inspection and plan checks. Councilmembers approved the DCD Administration and Planning /DCD Permits Buildings budget for 2000. Director Doerschel reviewed the budget timeline and indicated a public hearing on the proposed 2000 Budget is scheduled for November 22, 1999. Final Council review of the budget is scheduled for December 6 followed by the adoption of the budget on December 13, 1999. REPORTS: a. Council Councilmember Hernandez distributed copies of minutes for the September 21 REACH meeting and the meeting agenda for the November 19 meeting. City of Tukwila Page 4 of 6 City Council of Whole Meeting Minutes October 25, 1999 She reported attendance at the reception at the Embassy Suites on October 20 sponsored by the Chamber and a Sound Transit public meeting on October 21. She announced November 15 -19, 1999 is affordable housing week. She reported on several meetings will occur around the area concerning affordable housing. Council President Fenton reported he attended many of same meetings. He thanked the Public Works Director for sending out a flyer and developing workshops on surface water. Councilmember Carter attended an October 19 SCATBd meeting and distributed copies of a six year transit report. She also attended the Utilities Committee meeting earlier in the day. Councilmember Carter reminded the Council of the Friends and Family event at the high school on Wednesday, October 27. Councilmember Haggerton has been reappointed to the Association of Washington National League of Cities Policy Committee for information technology and communication through 2000. He distributed a copy of a letter to the Department of Ecology and the U.S. Corps of Engineers concerning a public hearing on the third runway and asked Councilmembers to review the letter before mailing. Councilmember Linder also attended many of the same meetings as her colleagues. b. Staff Administrator McFarland reported staff is working on a meeting location and date for a follow up to discussions on details associated with other Sound Transit alignments and what the City can do regarding the preferred alignment. He reported on Sound Transit public meetings and indicated the City was not invited to co- sponsor the Sound Transit meeting in Tukwila. Administrator McFarland will be attending a two -day facilitation workshop sponsored by the Washington State University extension. SPECIAL PRESENTATION: Director Doerschel reported Tukwila initiated its tourism and marketing program in 1998. In 1999, a marketing /tourism director was hired by the Chamber to promote marketing and tourism efforts within the community. He introduced Katherine Kertzman, Tukwila's Tourism and Marketing Director and Jim Hebert of Hebert Research. Ms. Kertzman provided an update on progress to date on Tukwila's Tourism and Marketing efforts, plans for remainder of 1999 and 2000, and vision for the future. Mr. Hebert reviewed results of a focus group and Sea -Tac intercepted passenger surveys conducted relating to Tukwila's tourism and marketing profile. City of Tukwila Page 5 of 6 City Council of Whole Meeting Minutes October 25, 1999 Ms. Kertzman distributed copies of her presentation and reviewed the status of several projects involving public relations and marketing research, a summary of collateral projects underway, a budget, and what tools and methodology are available for evaluation. Ms. Kertzman reported she began her position with a week of orientation with Director Doerschel. She followed with interviews of all Board members and the Marketing Committee of the Chamber. From those meetings, it was determined market research was necessary to provide the necessary information for making marketing decisions and how to position the City. Data from other marketing research provided by different businesses and organizations was reviewed and incorporated into the overall marketing research package. She reported within the last five months, 12 articles have been published in area newspapers on Tukwila. She reviewed the components of the marketing plan and indicated the plan includes program goals, mission statement, summary of research findings, and project descriptions of each project to include who is the targeted audience, purpose of project, distribution methods, budget, and funding partnerships for each project. Ms. Kertzman reviewed current projects. The first, a trade show exhibit, is in cooperation with the City of Sea -Tac and is scheduled for completion on November 1, 1999. She shared photographs of the exhibit and indicated the exhibit has interchangeable panels can be used to convey various messages and information. The exhibit is scheduled for participation in four trade shows on November 1, 2, 3, and 4 in Spokane, Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, B.C. The second project, again, in cooperation with the City of Sea -Tac is a tourism map of the area. The map is scheduled for completion on November 15. The colored map highlights the local area and attractions. Almost 200 tourism venues are featured in the map. A media campaign comprises the third project. She reviewed a schedule of publications for placement of ads and shared the marketing theme incorporated into the ads. During the marketing research, it was discovered marketing information most often desired by tourists include a map outlining how to get around and highlighting points of interest, a brochure of attractions, and a dining guides. Discount coupons will be provided in the attraction and the dining guide. City of Tukwila Page 6 of 6 City Council of Whole Meeting Minutes October 25, 1999 Ms. Kertzman said the targeted audience is the directory of meeting planners. 9:05 p.m. Councilmember Duffle moved; the meeting. The motion carried 7 -0. David Fenton, Council President Robert H. Baker, CMC, Deputy City Clerk for Valerie Gow, Recording Secretary Date Minutes Signed: /2 2 /99 meeting planners. A full -page seconded by Councilmember ad will be placed in Carter; to adjourn