Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974-09-11 Special MinutesSeptember 11, 1974 TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL 7:30 P.M. SPECIAL MEETING CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL OF COUNCIL MEMBERS KEETING DISCUSSION ambling legislation Councilman Saul Councilwoman Davis 4r. Robert Crain Ors. Irene Robinson 4r. Robert Crain Mayor Pro -Tem Traynor 4r. Benny Woyvodich 4r. Ron Mettler M I N U T E S gbs Tukwila City Hall Council Chambers Mayor Pro -Tem Traynor called the Special Meeting of the Tukwila City Council to order at 7:40 P.M. STERLING, TRAYNOR, DAVIS, SAUL. Mayor Pro -Tem Traynor stated Councilwoman Harris had called to say she may not be present at this meeting. Mayor Pro -Tem Traynor appointed Councilwoman Davis as Clerk Pro -Tem for the meeting. He then announced the purpose of the Special Meeting is to consider legisla- tion for the City of Tukwila concerning gambling. Councilman Saul stated he has been opposed to open gambling in Tukwila all along. He presented an article from the September 11, 1974 issue of the Seattle Times entitled "County betting on vote results A copy of the article is on file in the City Clerk's office. He suggested that the issue of gambling be placed on the November general election ballot as an advisory ballot for the people to decide what they would want in the City. He suggested the form of the advisory ballot in sections covering each type of gambling in general and stated this is better than following the City of Renton and King County. Councilman Sterling and Councilman Traynor agreed to the proposal. Councilwoman Davis stated the main concern of the Com- mittee about the proposed ordinance submitted by the Mayor and the City Attorney is that it did not include a penalty clause, there was no means of enforcement. Mr. Crain stated he is generally opposed to gambling. The people who benefit from the business are few but there are millions of dollars involved in it. He stated he was in support of Councilman Saul's sugges- tion because it was a reasonable and fair way to decide. He stated he does not think gambling does any- thing to improve the quality of life. Tukwila is a place to live and raise families. Mrs. Robinson asked if raffles is included and is con- sidered gambling. Councilman Saul replied it would probably fall in with bingo and fishing contests, etc. Mr. Crain stated the people in the State were disap- pointed in not being able to have the contests in the newspapers and the Readers' Digest sweepstakes. Now it is allowed. Mayor Pro -Tem Traynor suggested bringing this to the Council on Monday and having the City Attorney approve a ballot form. Mr. Woyvodich stated the Council should decide to have it all or have nothing. If just bingo is allowed, it is unfair to us who use the gambling to make a living and pay our bills. Discussion followed on the status of bingo games in King County and how it is regulated by the Gambling Commission. Councilman Saul offered to check into whether or not raffles are allowed only as non profit. Mr. Mettler stated having four different issues on the same subject on this advisory ballot will be confusing. The City still has the right to ban and tax these things. He stated sometimes some of those who oppose this are uninformed and if you are agreeable to any type of gambling, you would have to vote "yes" in three or four places. The Council ought to be thinking TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING September 11, 1974 Page 2 MEETING DISCUSSION Cont. Mrs. Ella Woyvodich Mrs. Woyvodich asked if this would be decided by the majority. Mayor Pro -Tem Traynor replied yes. Mr. Robert Crain Councilman Sterling Councilwoman Davis Mr. Ron Mettler ADJOURNMENT 8:08 P.M. 846 about keeping it simple and about all the advertising that will have to go into this. Mr. Crain stated an advisory ballot is not binding on the Council but it will give them a good idea of what the majority of the people who vote feel. The Council could vote any way they want to see fit. Councilman Sterling stated that is so, but an advisory ballot is a good idea for a moral issue such as this. Legislation of these things is difficult. Councilwoman Davis stated she would check with the Election Department to see how much this would cost. Mr. Mettler stated a general election will give a better cross section of the consensus of the people. MOVED BY TRAYNOR, SECONDED BY DAVIS, THAT THE SPECIAL MEETING ADJOURN. CARRIED. Attest: 7 Dwayne Trayno r Mayor Pro -Tem fJ 7 Z Lam, l ii /ice Joanne Davis, Clerk Pro -Tem