Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-08-04 Committee of the Whole MinutesAugust 4, 1993 5:30 p.m. CALL TO ORDER COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT OFFICIALS SPECIAL ISSUES Introduction of proposed 1994 -1999 Financial Planning. Discussion of Facilities Plan. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES Tukwila City Hall Council Chambers Council President Lawrence called the Committee of The Whole Meeting of the Tukwila City Council to order and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. STEVE LAWRENCE, Council President; JOAN HERNANDEZ, DENNIS ROBERTSON, CHARLIE SIMPSON, ALLAN EKBERG, STEVE MULLET. JOHN MCFARLAND, City Administrator; LUCY LAUTERBACH, Council Analyst; ROSS EARNST, Public Works; RON WALDNER, Police; TOM KEEFE/MIKE ALDERSON, Fire; ALAN DOERSCHEL, Finance. Alan Doerschel, Finance Director, introduced the proposed 1994 -1999 Financial Planning Model /C.I.P. Summary. He explained that the six -year financial planning period is the decision making process for our Maintenance and Operations (basic services) and Capital Improvement Program (CIP). He said that the needs of the City and our ability to fund them cannot be isolated. He stated that the current economic slowdown, both locally and nationally, coupled with the rising cost of providing services, will certainly affect our ability to aggressively fund all of the large projects we have identified. The good news is that we continue to enjoy a relatively sound financial base. We have the opportunity to meet most of our vision for Tukwila without causing future Councils /citizens to bear an unfair burden. By establishing a total financial strategy prior to committing to any single major effort, we can meet most of our goals without raising taxes and maintain ample flexibility for the future. Council President Lawrence commented that previous Council positions of the City's facilities plan were: agreement on the inadequacy of the current community center; agreement on the need for a new fire station; agreement to consider proposals to end a lease dependency for administrative space at the 6300 building (next to City Hall); and, agreements that the need for enhancement of a public works facility is a low priority. Agreement that the present community center site is preferable to any other city -owned site was a 5 -2 majority concensus. Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes August 4, 1993 Page 2 Discussion of Tom Beckwith, Beckwith Consultant Engineers Group, Facilities Plan Post Office Box 162, Medina, WA 98039, summarized (Con't). the calculations for various building options currently under consideration as part of the facilities planning. He said it was not his intention to infer that any one particular property be considered. Any references should be considered examples only, and are offered merely for comparative purposes. A lengthy discussion followed with councilmembers addressing the various options and costs of rebuilding, remodeling, relocating and the criterion for Fire Station #53, Community Center, City Hall/Police and Public Works. The Council agreed that Fire Station #53 needs a different, larger, and better site at a cost of about $1 1 million dollars not giving any value to the property at that location. In discussing the Community Center facility, Lawrence reviewed a copy of a memo from the Mayor, dated 7/30/93 which conceptualized the Center's site, needs, and costs. Lawrence inquired if the City owned the community center structure. Doerschel said he will check with the City Clerk's office records as to the status of the building. Some councilmember suggested that we invest in Hwy 99 by locating the Police station there. Robertson commented that there is a need to do something to change the environment in Hwy 99 area. He suggested that models of other cities with similar problem areas such as Hwy 99 be presented to the Council for review. The Mayor commented that the Council has the tools to make Hwy 99 into what they wish through mitigation and through expedition of permits. The commitment in the Administration is to provide the support. In calculating the options for the total package (to include Fire Station #53, Community Center, City Hall/Police and Public Works) it would cost approximately 12 million dollars. In summary, the Mayor commented that as we continue to strive for City identity, it is important to consider not further separating city government facilities. It is important to make a statement on Hwy 99; however, he does not believe that the Police Station /Court Systems is the right tool to do that. It is far more important that we involve the community and business people on 99 in the redevelopment of 99 and allow private enterprise to make some of those statements. Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes August 4, 1993 Page 3 Discussion of Facilities Plan (Con't). Suburban city RTA appointments REPORTS The Council agreed to discuss possible facility sites in an Executive Session to be scheduled at a later date. Councilmember Robertson distributed a letter for Council consideration to be sent to The Honorable Tim Hill, King County Executive, expressing the Council's appreciation for his decision to give suburban cities three of the five membership positions shared with Seattle to serve on the Regional Transit Board (RTA). These positions were not on the list that was originally provided them. Robertson said the letter will serve to affirm the City of Tukwila's agreement with his appointments; and, also it gives notice to Suburban Cities that it's time for a change. They have grown to be a very vibrant organization, he said; its behavior should follow suit. Robertson suggested the letter be sent to each King County Councilmember, Suburban Cities, and to the administrative staff /officers of all cities It was the consensus of the Council to send the letter as requested. Council President Lawrence summarized the facilities discussion by stating that at the next meeting the Council should address budgetary measures for facilities and finalize priorities. He said more information in needed regarding sites on fire station #53 and on the impact of new police stations in high crime areas. Public Works calculations seems to be apropos. An Executive Session should be scheduled to discuss information surrounding the Community Center. The Mayor reported and the City Administrator concurred that the Sister City's visit of forty -seven (47) youngsters and 10 adults was a huge success. They thanked the Council, staff and Sister City's Committee for their wholehearted endorsement of this effort. All councilmembers commented on the success of the Sister City's visit and offered thanks to all who helped in making it a great success. Council President Lawrence reported he had attended the ACC meeting on airport issues and that he will provide a an update to the Council within the next week. Lawrence said that he had also given a presentation to SeaTac Council on noise mitigation in which SeaTac/Tukwila can jointly work on. He said he would like to give the same twenty minutes (20) presentation to Tukwila Council at a future date. Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes August 4, 1993 Page 4 Reports (Con't). CITIZEN'S COMMENTS ADJOURN TO SPECIAL MEETING- -9:16 P.M. Councilmember Robertson reported he had recently attended a SKCATBd meeting with Ross Earnst. One of the main issues discussed was project funding -why certain cities were funded and others weren't. Councilmember Ekberg reported he had attended the Tukwila City Government meeting at the Chamber of Commerce. The discussion centered around potential interviewing of the candidates for election. Pam Carter, 4115 South 139th, commented that she would like to see a police station on Hwy 99. She says it won't solve all the problems but having City presence in the area may deter potential problems, especially since Foster High School and the library are becoming a civic core. Nancy Lamb, 4251 South 139th, stated that public safety was a very high priority that came out of the Vision Tukwila meetings. The people who attended those meetings need to feel confident that their neighborhoods are being taken care of and that they are important to City government. A good, strong City presence on Hwy 99 would send a message that their neighborhood will continue to be stable. Mary Fertakis, 11822 42nd Avenue South, thanked the Mayor and Council for all the Park improvements they've done at the Duwamish Park. She was also in support of a police station being constructed on Hwy 99. She also stated that a survey had not been done of the people who use the Community Center regularly. She said that's an important element to consider as the discussions continue. When Robertson asked those citizens who made comments, "Which facility was priority to them," Ms. Fertakis responded that public safety is the main issue. If people don't feel safe, what's the point of having a community center. Therefore, she said if she had to choose it would be a public safety issue, specifically -a police station on Hwy 99. MOVED BY ROBERTSON, SECONDED BY SIMPSON, TO ADJOURN TO SPECIAL MEETING. MOTION CARRIED. Steve Lawrence, Council President Celia Square; DDputy City Clerk