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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-06-28 Committee of the Whole MinutesJune 28, 1993 7:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT ABSENT OFFICIALS SPECIAL ISSUES CITIZEN COMMENTS SPECIAL ISSUES TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL Committee of the Whole MINUTES Council President Lawrence called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. JOAN HERNANDEZ; DENNIS ROBERTSON; ALLAN EKBERG; CHARLIE SIMPSON; STEVE MULLET. JOE DUFFIE Tukwila City Hall Council Chambers JOHN RANTS, Mayor; LINDA COHEN, City Attorney; JOHN McFARLAND, City Administrator; RICK BEELER, Director, DCD; RON CAMERON, City Engineer; ROSS EARNST, Public Works Director; REBECCA FOX, Associate Planner; TED FREEMIRE, Public Works Superintendent; ROSS HELLER, Senior Engineer. Linnea Ferrel, representative of the Berger Partnership, presented an overview of the CBD Sidewalk Tree Plan for Council's consideration. The plan included costs to purchase /install and maintain trees specifically selected to suit formal and informal areas throughout the Tukwila central business district. Although not initially included in the CDB plan, Ferrel agreed that Tukwila's symbolic Hazelnut trees could possibly be used in a gateway area. Al P; eper, 17083 53rd Ave. So., recounted the problems he encountered when he recently called 911 to report a break in (non emergency) at his home. P j eper noted that there was a lot of confusion about whether his residence was in Tukwila's or King County's jurisdiction even though he adamantly advised officers that he was in Tukwila's jurisdiction. P ieper indicated he was most concerned that he was not able to talk with a police officer in a non emergency situation without going through 911. In response, City Administrator John McFarland commented that Mr. P Leper lives in an area with an unusual boundary configuration, thus the confusion regarding the issue of jurisdiction. He assured Mr. Peeper he would have the computer maps at Valley Com checked next week. McFarland noted the City is reviewing a new concept in policing, called community based policing, which allows residents to access officers more frequently. Rebecca Fox, Associate Planner, reviewed the main elements of the Business Recycling Program; 1) to provide technical assistance to businesses, 2) to provide outreach /promotion of waste reduction /recycling activities, and 3) to develop programs to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the waste reduction program. Ms. Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole June 28, 1993 Page 2 Snecial Issues (con'tl Recess Pacific Hwy. South ((g0 Fox noted that according to a King County report, most of the larger businesses in the City were already recycling, but small to mid -size firms should be targeted for assistance. Ms. Fox explained that a consulting firm, Resource Logic, has been selected to assist in the program. Resource Logic's contract is approximately $44,000 over 18 months. Seventy -five percent of the money comes from grants from the state and King County, and two- thirds of the funds are from a Coordinated Prevention Grant. The Resource Logic firm has worked with the cities of Bellevue, Redmond, Federal Way, and Renton. Fox requested Council approve the program and consultant contract. Councilmember Simpson stated that the Utilities Committee reviewed the program thoroughly at their last meeting. Council President Lawrence questioned the consultant's overhead costs and suggested that some of the materials that have been used in other cities could be modified to fit Tukwila's needs. MOVED BY SIMPSON, SECONDED BY ROBERTSON, TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE CONSENT AGENDA ON JULY 6TH. MOTION CARRIED. Council President Lawrence called a 5 minute recess at 8:15 p.m. DCD Director Rick Beeler explained the Tukwila Tomorrow Committee has broken the Comprehensive Plan into several subareas, one of which is Highway 99. In their Phase I report the committee preliminarily identified their image of the area as approximately 1 -3 stories of mixed uses occurring in that area, particularly in the node of 144th and Highway 99, along the lines of an "urban village The Committee wants to consider providing some incentives and flexible standards that will encourage future development to occur differently than it has to date, in particular a more pedestrian friendly environment. At the same time, the Committee is wanting to look at stricter design standards for the area. They want to avoid a moratorium on development in the area. They are not in favor of manufacturing uses or adult businesses there. The Committee favors the combination of neighborhood services and regional uses of some sort. Asked to define a special review district, Beeler explained that a special review district is one that has been carved aside to receive special considerations, i.e., the uses that go there, the zoning requirements that go there, setbacks, landscaping, parking, whatever is required. The Board of Architectural Review uses independent criteria in reviewing a special review district. According to Beeler, it would take at least two years to create a special review district for the Pacific Highway area. Mayor Rants explained he favored Council's recommendation to implement a Vision Tukwila process on Highway 99 as it would allow the folks up there to prioritize the things that they think are important; Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole June 28, 1993 Page 3 Special Issues (con't) it would identify a list of people who are interested in the project; and it would allow us to pull together a citizen's task force for the area. Following Council discussion, it was agreed that a public meeting or a series of public meetings like Vision Tukwila would be held in September after the Tukwila Tomorrow Committee has concluded their initial look at the Highway 99 corridor. A brainstorming session ensued and the following suggestions were made: *Consider using the Bellevue consultant who showed the slides of what Highway 99 used to look like in order to help people visualize how the area could be developed. This consultant would offer options, not make recommendations. *Invite a small business administration representative to one of the meetings to let them know of the City's commitment to the Highway 99 area. *Use an economic development consultant to offer ideas on what the City could do as incentives. *Contact the Economic Development Council (EDC) and the National League of Cities (NLC) to see what they have to offer in the way of assistance to cities going through this process. *Identify a particular staff member that owns the project from the start. *Consider developing and imposing interim development regulations. (This item to be further discussed at the July 12th Community Affairs and Parks Committee meeting.) REPORTS Mayor Rants reported he attended the AWC in Yakima last week. He Mayor urged Councilmembers to attend the conference at least every other year. At the Governor's lunch, Governor Lowry addressed budget issues and the pitfalls of Initiatives 601 and 602. Council Councilmember Hernandez reported she was interviewed by the TCI Cable Company, and later in the week she and Councilmember Mullet lunched with Congressman Mike Kreidler. Council President Lawrence reported he attended the school board meeting last week where they discussed the impacts of Initiative 602 on schools. Lawrence commented that it was hard for him to believe that this region is contemplating the largest public works project in the state's history at the same time that petitions are being distributed to roll back taxes. Lawrence told Council that he and Councilmember Duffie toured the Renton Community Center facility and learned what Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole rune 28, 1993 Page 4 Keports (con'tA Staff ADJOURNMENT 9:58 p.m. works and doesn't work for them, which programs make money, etc. Lawrence also reported that at the upcoming ACC meeting the discussion will center around a proposal to establish a technical quorum group headed by city managers and city administrators of the four cities involved. Lawrence explained the group would try to have a more equitable distribution of projects done in house as well as oversee the work of the Cutler Stanfield firm. Councilmember Robertson requested Council hold an executive session in two weeks to discuss this issue. Councilmember Robertson reported he attended the King County Transportation Caucus. He shared a flow chart which showed how ISTEA monies are distributed. Robertson also attended the Suburban Cities meeting at the Kingdome at which board members were chosen for 1994. Robertson referenced a letter to council from Tukwila firefighters which relates to minimum staffing levels on fire trucks. Mayor Rants stated he would have a report prepared for the Finance and Safety Committee. Robertson attended a police association meeting last week. Issues discussed were the facilities plan, binding arbitration, pre- existing medical conditions (interpretation of), and lighting in the upper parking lot. Councilmember Ekberg reported he met with Congressman Kreidler during Kreidler's presentation at the community center. Issues raised were regional transportation, personal health matters, and health and welfare issues. City Administrator John McFarland announced that host homes were still needed for the adult Sister Cities guests who will be arriving in late July. MOVED AND SECONDED THAT THE MEETING BE ADJOURNED AT 9:58 P.M. MOTION CARRIED. Steve Lawrence, Council President E G' E. Cantu, City Clerk