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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-10-12 Committee of the Whole MinutesOctober 12, 1992 7:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER COUNCILMEMBERS Councilmember excused. OFFICIALS SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS Intro. of King County new head librarian. Regional Trans. Program. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES Tukwila City Hall Council Chambers Councilmember Dennis Robertson called the Committee of The Whole Meeting of the Tukwila City Council to order and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. DENNIS ROBERTSON, Acting Council President; JOE DUFFIE, JOAN HERNANDEZ, DENNIS ROBERTSON, CHARLIE SIMPSON, STEVE LAWRENCE, STEVE MULLET. The Council agreed to excuse Council President Allan Ekberg due to the birth of his new son. JOHN MCFARLAND, City Administrator; MIKE KENYON, City Attorney; D.J. BASKIN, Police; LUCY LAUTERBACH, Council Analyst; LORA FOWLER, Special Projects. Bill Ptacek, Director, King County Library System, introduced Linda Reed as the County's new head librarian. Reed is taking over for Jeanine Rachon who retired last year. Reed comes to us from the Kent. She served as children's librarian there. She has also worked at Maple Valley, Mercer Island and Seattle Public Libraries. Ptacek stated we are all very fortunate to have a professional librarian of her experience, character and quality to be at the Tukwila Library. He says this demonstrates the continued commitment to good library service here in the City of Tukwila. Ptacek requested the City post directional signs leading to the Tukwila library. There's a universal library sign that can be had. He would like to talk to the City staff in this regard. Ptacek informed the Council the papers have been signed for the new library property near Foster High School. The next step is to develop a team to select the architect and speak to the Library Board regarding who will represent the Community. The design aspects of the building may begin as early as next year. Chris Deffebach and Julie Rockwell of Metro's Regional Transit Project office gave presentation on the Regional Transit System Draft Plan. A summary of the plan recommendations and a summary from the Environmental Impact Statement that came out with the plan were distributed. Deffebach stated public officials, citizens and planners in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties are working to create a new regional transit system. This system will make it easier to travel throughout the region as it continues to grow and prosper. She encouraged the Council and staff to attend one or more of the 13 public meetings to be held throughout King County during the month of November. The City Clerk's office has a list noting the dates and times of those meetings. However, one meeting nearest Tukwila will be held at Tyee High School Cafeteria, 6 -8:00 p.m., November 10. Councilmember Hernandez asked what factors determine whether the proposed rail line is built underground or elevated above ground. Deffebach responded they will try to avoid underground sections as much as possible because of the costs. Locations where the right of way simply wasn't available, they've assumed some underground portions. She said it was about 10 or 15 percent of the 164 miles that would have to be underground. Councilmember Duffie asked will the rail would run beside or down the middle of the freeway. Deffebach responded they did consider using I -5 but the right of way within I -5 is used for freeway lanes and for HOV lanes. Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes October 12, 1992 Page 2 Regional Transportation Program Presentation (Con't). CITIZEN'S COMMENTS SPECIAL ISSUES An ordinance amending TMC 2.04.230 and fixing compensation for City council members. Discussion /City Empl. Superior Achievement Award Program. None. Hernandez asked what mode of transportation was proposed to move people from SeaTac Airport to Tukwila. Deffebach responded buses will run every 15 to 60 minutes throughout the day (depending on the area served) and more frequently during peak -use periods. Councilmember Lawrence inquired as to the noise factor the transit system will bring. Deffebach said the noise will measure approximately 70 decimals. Mayor Rants said he realizes the grade level construction is the cheapest, most economical construction available. It's more economical than tunneling and elevated systems. Is the cost of elevated, i.e. Hwy 99 mitigated by having a dedicated right of way? Deffebach replied cities have shown that it is because of the difference in speed. At grade you're running with traffic averaging between 13 and 18 miles per hour. That isn't fast enough to generate a significant number of new riders. Whereas, if twice as much money is spent to be elevated, many more new riders are attracted because the average speed of the elevated system is approximately 30 to 35 miles per hour. That includes stopping nearly every mile. Ms. Deffebach said she will provide as many copies of the draft plan to the City as necessary for review and /or comments. Public input must be submitted no later than November 30. Councilmember Lawrence stated this issue had been discussed in Finance and Safety Committee. They agreed Council salaries should be raised from $400 to $500 per month effective January 1994 with annual increases equal to non represented COLA increases. Lawrence said he proposed $500 because even though it is less than what many other the cities pay their city council, he doesn't want Tukwila's rates so high that councilmembers occupy the seat just for the pay. Councilmember Simpson disagreed that the annual increase should be made an automatic part of the CPI which is 90 MOVED BY DUFFIE, SECONDED BY LAWRENCE, THAT THE ORDINANCE FIXING THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS BE FORWARD TO THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL. MOTION CARRIED WITH SIMPSON VOTING NO. Councilmember Duffle explained that the Finance and Safety Committee recommends promoting the Superior Achievement Award Program for City employees. Duffie said the program could be available to all employees, though it would need to be agreed by the bargaining units before it could be implemented there. The purpose of the program is to encourage employees who exemplify Excellence in Action. Awards would be given by a committee of three (3). The program is not a substitute for the previous merit award bonus system. Awards would be given in increments of $100, and would range from $200 -$500. Nominations for an award could come from anyone: an employee, ones self, a manager, a peer, etc. Councilmember Robertson commented he had recently talked to three employees and concluded that the Awards Committee should consist of five members of a full time status instead of three: Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes October 12, 1992 Page 3 Employee Superior Achievement Award Program (Con't) Citizen comment Discussion of Hearing Examiner system. bc one department head, one professional person (accountant, engineer, planner, etc.), one administrator /manager, one secretary, and one clerical person. This group would more accurately reflect the City's work force; the committee would be self nominating; and the Council and Mayor jointly select the first membership. He suggested this method be used, on a trial basis, for one year. Robertson stressed this is a Superior Achievement Award Program, not a merit program in any sense of the word. Councilmember Duffie disagreed with Robertson that the members representing the committee should be full time employees. He said participation should come from all employees be they full time or part time. The Council, including Robertson, agreed with Duffie. City Administrator McFarland complimented the Council on the SAAP being a step in the right direction. McFarland stated he would like more time to work with the Human Resources Department and with the employees on how to develop a valuation criteria, i.e. what standards will be used to determine the value of an award and what eligibility guidelines will be followed. He said he likes the idea of the program being peer driven. He would, however, like to look at what other cities have done and what kinds of experiences they've encountered. McFarland requested the Council allow time for his office to survey the employees to get their input. Robertson disagreed and suggested that before that's done a more detailed draft of the Council's intention should be in place. Councilmember Hernandez suggested the composition of the five member committee include a representative from the Police and Fire Departments. Lawrence suggested one person from each of the following departments: Police, Fire, Management, Clerical and Maintenance. Robertson suggested Lauterbach and McFarland draft a proposal for discussion at the next Committee of The Whole meeting. Robertson summarized the discussion as follows: the program will be called a Superior Achievement Award Program with a membership of five persons; it will be peer driven; operate with as few rules as possible; a budget will be in place at the beginning of the year; the award will range from $200 to $500 dollars. Jackie Dempere, 4033 South 128th, commented she applauded the Council's decision to grant City employees the opportunity to administer the program. She said employees are capable and fair Leave it out of management's hands. The Council agreed that Lauterbach and McFarland would draft a proposal based on tonight's discussion of the City employee Superior Achievement Award Program and be ready for discussion at the next Committee of The Whole meeting. Councilmember Robertson explained the Community Affairs and Parks Committee had discussed and agreed with the proposal of the City's need for a hearing examiner. Councilmember Duffie stated he's not in favor of the City adding a hearing examiner position at this time. Mayor Rants stated he opposes adding the position because the cost will be around $25,000 annually due to the support activity it will incur such as clerical, a typist and other support a position such as this will require. It will not save time in the decision making process because an examiner makes no decision at a hearing. It will not save the Planning Commission time because most of the issues the Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes October 12, 1992 Page 4 Discussion of Hearing Examiner position (Con't) REPORTS Citizen comment. Planning Commission work on are BAR decisions. It will also impact staff time. Furthermore, the current system is working adequately. A discussion followed about the workload of the Planning Commission; about some of the issues the examiner would hear such as short plats, rezones, SAO appeals, code enforcement and the PRD processes. The need for special guidance to work through future GMA issues was also discussed. Councilmember Hernandez commented she's not convinced of the need for a hearing examiner. She needs to know that the benefits out weigh the costs. She's also concerned about losing community sentiment with a hearing examiner who may not share in those same values. Councilmember Duffie suggested a joint meeting with the Planning Commission to get input on how they would feel about losing certain elements of their tasks. Lawrence agreed. Councilmember Robertson suggested since the Council instituted the initiative, they should outline examples of recommended interests and return in two weeks to the next COW for discussion. At that time a date for a future joint meeting with the Planning Commission can be decided. Councilmember Lawrence suggested the Council President and the Chairperson of the Planning Commission meet first to review the proposal for a hearing examiner. The Council agreed to forward this issue to the next Committee of the Whole meeting. Lora Fowler reported the open space houses went to bid on Friday, September 25. One bid was received for one of the houses (the Alde house) in the amount of $2,500 located on 42nd. She said she will talk to the bidder this week informing her of general procedures. Fowler requested she return to next Monday night's Regular Council with more information on the bidder and to discuss demolition of the other houses. Fowler also reported on the Vision Tukwila neighborhood projects. She said the project is working to involve the community. They are working with Church groups, the City's Police Department, banks, neighborhoods, businesses and schools. The results are very positive. Jackie Dempere commented she had received a letter from Lora Fowler dated September 28 informing her of the three houses that were up for bid. She said she was very unhappy that she nor non- profit agencies received notification in time to participate in the bidding process. She stated this would have been an opportunity to consider housing for low income families. Dempere said it appears the City made it purposely difficult so as not to attract buyers; thus, giving the City license to demolish the houses. She said the City appears as though they don't care nor are they doing enough for low income families The Mayor stated the houses must be moved before they are vandalized, someone gets hurt or before someone sets them afire. City Administrator McFarland stated he would like to see the houses moved and preserved, but if nobody wants them then the City has to get rid of them. Councilmember Hernandez commented that restoration of the site was not to be made a requirement of the bid for removal of the Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes October 12, 1992 Page 5 R (Con't) ADJOURNMENT 9:50 p.m. house from the property. (It was agreed that this would not be a requirement for non profit agencies.) The Council agreed to forward the City's Open Space Houses Project to the next COW for further discussion as to what actions to take. MOVED BY DUFFIE, SECONDED BY LAWRENCE, THAT THE OMMITTEE OF ThE WHOLE MEETING BE ADJOURNED. TION C Deiij is Robert yon, Acting President Celia Square, D duty City Clerk