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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-09-13 Committee of the Whole MinutesSeptember 13, 1993 7:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT OFFICIALS SPECIAL PRESENTATION CITIZEN'S COMMENTS 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; JOE DUFFLE, JOAN HERNANDEZ, DENNIS ROBERTSON, STEVE MULLET. ALLAN EKBERG AND CHARLIE SIMPSON. JOHN MCFARLAND, City Administrator; RHONDA BERRY, Assistant to City Administrator; LINDA COHEN, City Attorney; LUCY LAUTERBACH, Council Analyst; DON WILLIAMS, Parks Recreation; ALAN DOERSCHEL, Finance; VIKI WITSCHGER, Administrative Services; EVELYN BOYKAN, Human Services; ROSS EARNST/RON CAMERON/DOUG MICHEAU, Public Works; RICK BEELER, DCD; ROSA KROWS, Police. Kelly Brackett, graduate of Arizona State University with a Master's Degree in Marketing, was introduced by Police Chief Ron Waldner. Kelly will be working in the Special Services Division in the Police Department. Wendy Morgan, 15144 65th Avenue South, #404, commented that the Historical Society, in conjunction with the City, entered the Tukwila History Book, "Community at the Crossroads" in a competition with the Washington Press Association this past year. The book won First Place in Non fiction books History. A Certificate was presented to John McFarland and Wendy Morgan for the 1992 Communicator Award. Morgan also encouraged the Council to consider placing the Community Center in the Allentown/Duwamish location. She said in doing so it would allow the area to retain its neighborhood flavor of single family affordable housing. Roger Baker, 11662 42nd Avenue South, paid compliments to the Council for all that they do. However, he did want to voice a complaint he had experienced today. He said he was not able to obtain a complete agenda packet from the City Clerk's office, only the face of the agenda was provided to him. He said additionally, he was informed via letter that future mailings would be discontinued Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes September 13, 1993 Page 2 Citizen's Comments ;Con't). PUBLIC HEARING Potential services/ projects funded by Community Devel. Block Grant Funds to be received in 1994. because it's too costly. Those interested in continuing to receive the full council agenda packets would be handled on a subscription basis only. Baker stated that a citizen should not have to pay for an agenda and urged the Council to waive any and all fees for acquiring council agendas. Lawrence responded that this action was done without the Council's knowledge. City Administrator McFarland explained that the cost of mailing the agendas is costing the City several thousand dollars per year. He said the City has now established an information line whereby citizens can call in and get information on what's on the agenda for Monday evenings. Should someone wishes to pick up an agenda from the Counter, they may do so free of charge. McFarland stated that the only reason a fee was ever tacked on was so that the City could recover some of the costs which is averaging approximately $2,332 annually. (This figure includes staff time, postage, and paper.) The Council agreed that the citizens should continue to pay for agenda subscriptions, however, pick -up from the City Clerk's counter will be free until further notice from the Council. The Council requested they be provided with a copy of the information that was sent out by administration to the citizens, and a cost breakdown of the agenda mailings. They will review this issue during their budget process. Councilmember Robertson suggested that (as a courtesy, in the future) the Administration review actions such as this with the Council prior to making a decision. Evelyn Boykan, Human Services Coordinator, explained that the proposed projects for Community Development Block Grant funds are somewhat restricted in the use of those funds. This is based on the percentages that the County establishes in terms of how many funds we use for public service, human service and how many funds are used for planning and administration. The total CDBG funds available for 1994 allocation is $122,853, to be used for Housing Rehab Program Delivery; Housing Rehab -Loan Funds; Tukwila Senior Nutrition; Utility Assistance Connections and Tukwila Housing Code Support Program. She said the purpose of the Housing Code Support is to promote minimum levels of safety of dwellings; another is to protect the tenants who fear that if Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes September 13, 1993 Page 3 Public Hearing they make a complaint to Code Enforcement that they ;Con't) will be evicted (even though legally that's not defensible); and lastly, look at developing a revolving fund for those property owners who have a difficult time making the necessary improvements to their properties. Public Hearing opened. Public Hearing closed. Councilmember Duffie inquired as to how many participants were in the housing program this year. Boykan responded that the program is not completed but there's probably eight (8) households. Through this program low interest or no interest loans are available for up to $13,500 per household. Boykan said she would provide Duffie with complete details on the repairs and costs at a later date. Council President Lawrence opened the public hearing at 7:24 p.m. There being no comments from the audience, the public hearing closed at 7:26 p.m. Councilmember Mullet requested clarification of the "2nd Quarter" section of the CDBG Proposal regarding staff time. Boykan explained as far as the costs for staff time, it would be built into the entire evaluation process for Council review. Councilmember Hernandez ask for clarification on the revolving assistance fund. Boykan/Beeler stated that we would ask that the repairs be made of either of the landlord or the property owner. A lien could be charge to the property so that when the property is sold the money could be regained. Boykan concluded that the dollars that are not used are turned back into the pot and reallocated to the Boykan responded that it hasn't been fully worked out to date and that she welcomes input. She stated with regards to matching funds, one of the possibilities that could be pursued is looking at the banks who need to be developing projects through the Community reinvestment acts. There is also another County program which is a rental rehab program where we might be able to leverage those dollars. Councilmember Robertson inquired if the landlord would be responsible for paying back the money for the repairs. Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes September 13, 1993 Page 4 Public Hearing (Con't) SPECIAL ISSUES Way Back Inn proposal. Decriminalization Ordinance. City. She said because the federal government has been looking so closely at how Block Grant dollars are used and wants to make sure that cities are not using them for pork barrel projects, they do want to see the dollars used up and not just continuously carried over. Rhonda Berry, Assist. to City Admin., introduced Larry Kennedy, President of the Way Back Inn Program. Berry stated that new information had recently been obtained on the Hosack/Macabee property. It appears we have an option to do a land swap with the County and perhaps look at trading some of the City's other open space land for use of the Hosack/Macabee property. This approach would eliminate dollars changing hands and paying the County back for the property once we subdivide the minimum lot size. Kennedy informed the Council that the WBI program began approximately two years ago. He stated that WBI is a non profit agency of volunteers who solicit houses to refurbish, then allows homeless families to live in them for three months. The WBI pays the utilities and manages the upkeep of the homes and /or apartments. The YWCA screens applicants with phone and in- person interviews. The Way Back Inn depends solely upon individual contributions of money, good used furniture and household items, and volunteer help for house maintenance. A commitment of 2 to 5 years is needed dependent upon the kind of renovation the house and /or property would need. Of the 20 family that have been moved into the Way Back Inn residence, 16 of them have successfully moved on to productive conditions within our society. All they needed was this chance to get back on their feet again. Kennedy stated there is one thing he hopes happens here in addition to acquiring houses and that is he hopes that an awareness comes out of this that will cause all of us to stop turning away from the pain of those who hurt and really do something about it. The Mayor suggested we proceed with preparing a lease for the Alde property while administratively we work the process with King County on either exchange of property which is in our best interest or the financial settlement. He also suggested donating $5,000 or more in grant monies to get them into the one house and possibly into two. It was the consensus of the council to donate $5,000 and forward this issue to the next Regular Council for approval. City Admin. McFarland explained that the draft decriminalization ordinance of various TMC violations had been completed by the City Attorney. Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes September 13, 1993 Page 5 Decriminalization Ordinance (Con't). Recess 9:45 9:55 A resolution establishing a comp. policy for City. Non represented Employees salary issue. The Council reviewed the draft ordinance and made changes appropriately. Council President Lawrence called the meeting back to order with those present as listed above. The ordinance has been reviewed by staff and has receive full concurrence by all departments. The Mayor has determined that the process for appeals defined in Section 8.102.060 "Appeal from Notice and Order" is the most feasible of all options presented for his review. This will allow for the establishment of a Hearing Officer with appeal to the Board of Adjustment and subsequent appeal to Superior Court. The Mayor stated that he would see to it that all amendments were made and additional information requested by the Council would be presented so that the draft ordinance could be approved at the next Regular Council meeting. It was the consensus of the Council to forward the draft decriminalization ordinance with amendments to the next Regular Council for approval. The Council was provided a copy of Resolution 999, replacing "Ordinance 999" which was erroneously place in the agenda packet. A discussion followed and minor changes were made. The Council agreed that Resolution #1217 addressed the "every three years" study of non represented employees salaries, and that it was not necessary to include that clause in Resolution #999. It was the consensus of the Council to forward the resolution establishing a compensation policy for the City and repealing Resolution 999 with amendments to the next Regular Council for approval. Councilmember Mullet commented that after a careful review of the salary schedule, his only recommendation was to remove the Info System Coordinator position from the schedule. Since this is a new position, the Council felt it necessary to examine it a bit further. The previous schedule will be implemented. After a brief discussion the Council agreed that the non represented employees salary schedule be accepted as presented excluding the Info Systems Coordinator position (this position will follow the previous schedule), and forward to the next Regular Council for approval. The schedule will be effective October 1, 1993, which may include differential pay; a 5% step increase on anniversary date; and the annual COLA increase; regardless if those increases all fall Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes 9/13/93 Page 6 Non represented salary issue (Con't). 1994 -1999 Proposed Planning Model and C.I.P. REPORTS ADJOURNMENT 10:06 P.M. within a one year period. Those employees who are redlined would be held at the same level until the schedule catches up with their position. No employees' salary will be reduced, however. MOVED BY DUFFIE, SECONDED BY ROBERTSON, TO ADJQ 1R O TAE MEETING. MOTION CARRIED. Steve Lawr ce, Council President Celia Square, Deputy City Clerk The Mayor commented that the proposed 1994 -1999 Financial Plan and Capital Improvement Program (C.I.P.) reflects the hard work and the decision making process this year for our facilities needs. This plan builds a Community Center, Fire Station, maintains available funds for potential City Hall expansion, leaves the Arterial Street program intact, continues funding for Residential Streets as well as providing funding for additional parks and trails acquisitions and improvements over a ten year period. The plan allows all of this with existing funding sources. Alan Doerschel, Finance Director, reviewed the proposed planning model, stating that all departments are expected to increase by 5.5% per year during the next six years. Most of the increases will be related to salaries and benefits. Moderate COLAs are projected along with the normal annual step increases. No significant change in personnel or service level is reflected. Assuming a relatively stable economy and no demands to increase service levels, the City can reasonably expect to maintain the 63% 37% General fund- Capital funds sales tax split over the next six years. A lengthy discussion followed. As the discussion concluded, the Council agreed to continue C.I.P discussion at a scheduled Committee of The Whole meeting on September 20, 6:00 p.m., just prior to the Regular Meeting, and if necessary, finalize the discussion during the Regular Meeting of the same night. The Mayor reported that Suburban Cities Association has begun deliberating on the new, three committees and appointments to the same that will serve as the new King County Government: Regional Water Quality, Regional Transit, and the Regional Issues Committees. The three committees are comprised of Suburban Cities, King County Council and Seattle City Council. The Mayor asked the Council to give this matter deep consideration as to who will serve from Tukwila Council. Nominations should be received no later than October 30, 1993. Suburban Cities' Board will make the selections as soon as possible after that date.