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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-08-09 Committee of the Whole MinutesAugust 9, 1993 7:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER 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. COUNCILMEMBERS STEVE LAWRENCE, Council President; JOE DUFFIE, JOAN PRESENT HERNANDEZ, DENNIS ROBERTSON, CHARLIE SIMPSON, ALLAN EKBERG, STEVE MULLET. OFFICIALS SPECIAL PRESENTATION RHONDA BERRY, Assistant to City Administrator; LINDA COHEN, City Attorney; LUCY LAUTERBACH, Council Analyst; ROSS EARNST, Public Works; RON WALDNER, Police; TOM KEEFE/MIKE ALDERSON, Fire; ALAN DOERSCHEL, Finance; DON WILLIAMS/LYNN DEVOIR, Parks. Shauna Mindt and Dave Costain of the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce reported that in addition to basic contract services, the Chamber has participated in planning for a Central Business District Park and Trail Project. They have also assisted with the development and coordination of a City -wide Economic Development Advisory Group and have served as a liaison between the City and the business community on various major issues affecting business. Mr. Costain stated that it has been a very outstanding first six months and that he looks forward to continuing the Chamber's work for the remainder of 1993. With regards to the "Welcome to Tukwila" brochure, Ms. Mindt stated that the final brochure is expected to be ready for distribution in early fall. CITIZEN'S COMMENTS Linda Rhone, 17075 53rd Avenue South (Ph: 431 0422), commented that recently Al Pieper, a Tukwila resident, discovered that his "911" service is connected through Seattle instead of Valley -Com. After some checking she found that she was in the same situation as Pieper. She stated from that point on she proceeded to correct the problem and found it to be quite time consuming, bewildering, and frustrating. As a Tukwila resident, she stated she is extremely easy on the City's resources, she rarely uses the City's services, but when she has a need of those services (that her taxes provide), she does not need a question of her citizenship hampering her ability to receive those services. She solicited the Council's help to be officially, and undeniably recognized as a Tukwila resident by all parties from telephone company to emergency services. Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes August 9, 1993 Page 2 Citizen's Comments (Con't). rti Mayor Rants responded that he will be the contact person on this issue. In the meantime, the Police Chief has taken on this task personally and is currently working with King County to aptly correct this problem. Al Pieper, 17083 53rd Avenue South, reiterated Linda Rhone's comments and added he has had similar problems. He stated he had tried to reach the Police and Fire Chiefs, the Mayor and City Manager regarding this problem but to no avail. He then called "911" and was informed that he was located in the City of SeaTac. This led him to believe that the Fire Chief never made arrangements to transfer his (Pieper) services to Valley Com. He stated that he pays taxes to the City but if an emergency arises, he's left without emergency services. He said the telephone company, Tukwila Police and Fire Departments, King County "911" and Valley Com all refuse to accept the fact that he lives in Tukwila. Pieper stated that he wants every person or department involved to be publicly chastised. He also wants a letter from every department apologizing and stating that they've made a mistake and that they now recognize that he is a Tukwila citizen. The Mayor responded that there has never been a time that Mr. Pieper left a message that he didn't return the call. Mr. Pieper agreed that he did not leave a message for the Mayor. Robertson suggested that a letter from the Mayor stating there was a mistake made and that the City apologizes should be sufficient. Mr. Pieper agreed that a follow -up letter from the Mayor would be sufficient. Celeste Tracy, 5326 South 139th, commented that she had signed up as an interested party in buying one of the surplus houses. However, when she reviewed the Bid Proposal document she found it quite frightening and that it completely discouraged her. She said the legal requirements are more than what would be normally required by other cities. Jackie Dempere, 4033 South 128th, commented that the City of Seattle's contract for surplus houses is only two and one -sixth pages, with a map. Their contract covers the same instructions as Tukwila's twenty -two page proposal. She said that evidently Tukwila doesn't really want to sell the surpluses houses. Dempere posed a question to the Council as to who had read the contract from beginning to end. Councilmember Mullet responded that he had read the entire document. Dempere stated that she is angry that the City made it so difficult to acquire the surplus houses and is now preparing to demolish them. Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes August 9, 1993 Page 3 Citizen's Comments (Con't). SPECIAL ISSUES Parks and Open Space Plan. Council President Lawrence requested Dempere leave a copy of Seattle's contract for review by the administration. Dempere responded that she had previously made this information available and Tukwila had never done anything with it. However, she did allow copies of Seattle's contract to be made. The Council continued discussion of the Six -Year Park and Open Space Plan. Tonight's discussion began with Chapter V Park and Facility Needs. The Council agreed to incorporate the Planning Commission's changes simultaneously with theirs. The Council discussed neighborhood park needs. During the discussion, Robertson informed the Council that both the Tukwila Soccer League and the Foster Little League Baseball felt there was a need for more fields. Mr. J.C. LaMaster, 13829 51st Avenue South, President, Youth Soccer League, Tukwila, distributed a letter thanking the City for past support; then informed the Council that the immediate need and future need is for full fields. He said as of 1992 the only safe, full field in Tukwila to play games on is the high school stadium. It was the consensus of the Council not to accept the Plan's recommendation that the City has adequate soccer fields. The Council agreed that there is a need for the City to develop three full -size fields; and, make one of them available almost if not year- round. Some of the other topics covered were the tennis courts; outdoor basketball courts and walking trails; a site for a boat launch, various sites for parks and a review of the facility plan maps. As the discussion concluded, Don Williams suggested that tonight's revisions be combined with previous changes then continue the discussion on September 16, 1993 It was the consensus of the Council to dedicate two hours at the August 16 Regular Meeting to continue discussion on the Parks and Open Space Plan. KOAR Agreement The Council briefly discussed that KOAR is Interurban Trail. expanding their Embassy Suites Hotel and have agreed to build a section Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes August 9, 1993 Page 4 KOAR Agreement of the City's Interurban Trail. The Letter of Interurban Trail Agreement establishes responsibilities for design, (Con't) construction, and location. Amend Agenda Duwamish /Green Trail Parking Agrmt. Facilities discussion (Waldner/Lawrence). It was the consensus of the Council to forward the Letter of Agreement regarding Embassy Suites Interurban Trail Easement and Construction Provisions to the next Regular Council Consent Agenda. Mayor Rants requested that Item "5c- -Union Pacific Railroad Agreement (Interurban Trail) -be removed for clarification of the legal language surrounding the City assuming liability for the potential negligence of the railroad. Robertson stated that it is customary, and rightly so, that the contractor assumes responsibility for their own negligent acts; especially, in a case where the City pays for the service. It was the consensus of the Council to amend the agenda as requested for discussion at a later date. Don Williams explained that the legal description contained in the document is limited only to the four parking stalls area and the path. Receipt of the legal description for the road entrance way is expected in his office some time this week. Pending the legal description, Williams requested the document be forwarded to the next Regular Council Consent Agenda. It was the consensus of the Council to forward the Duwamish /Green River Trail -E.B. Bradley Parking Agreement to the next Regular Council Consent Agenda providing the appropriate legal description is received. Ron Waldner presented information to the Council regarding studies and /or research in terms of facilities siting being done to reduce crime because of police presence. He stated he had made a fair amount of contacts but to no avail. Most of his contacts informed him that traditionally the siting issue had never been a motivating factor in planning for facilities. Waldner continued that most of his contacts made reference to store front operations of which his department and the Mayor's office have entertained that idea for the future. There may be some consideration given for specific areas where a business district might provide or will lease to the City office space that would allow for placing a person (for accessible hours) during the day based on needs of that community. Of course, this would be a very flexible, temporary Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes August 9, 1993 Page 5 Facilities discussion investment dependent upon the outcome in the area. (Waldner/Lawrence) Waldner stated that some of the experts say the (Con't). dynamics of long -term policing are so fluent based on the growth, private sector investment and socio- economic conditions of a community, that the primary facility really needs to be geared for a host of impacts. However, should a organization which to do spot -check assignments, the store -front approach is the way to go. REPORTS Council President Lawrence stated that he had done some checking on his own and the results of his probing was consistent with Waldners' that the store -front approach had enormous impacts. Lawrence said it's difficult, however, to find information on new police stations in high crime areas. Lawrence concluded that even though he came up empty handed after a very diligent pursuit, he still feels the issue should continue to be researched. Councilmember Robertson suggested that Waldner provide the Council (for review and reference) a list of issues, options and strategies for siting a station in high crime areas. Chief Waldner responded that he saw no problem with providing the data. ADJOURNMENT MOVED BY SIMPSON, SECONDED BY ROBERTSON, TO 10:50 P.M. ADJOURN THE MEETING. MOTION CARRIED. Stever Lawrence, ouncil President Celia Square, puty City Clerk Mayor Rants emphasized the importance of having Tukwila and other small cities represented on the Regional Transit Board (RTA) to which Suburban Cities recently appointed three members out of the five membership positions.