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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-01-11 Committee of the Whole MinutesJanuary 11, 1975 TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL 10 :00 A.M. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOT,F MEETING CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL OF COUNCIL MEMBERS DISCUSSION Agenda meeting Efficiency in presenting agenda items at City Council meeting Expiration Dates of contracts Ed Bauch Employees hired with federal funds MINUTES Gardner, Traynor, Harris, Davis, Sterling /036 Tukwila Fire Station Training Room Council President Traynor called the Committee of the Whole Meeting to order at 10 :10 A.M. Council President Traynor stated that the Council Procedures providing for an Agenda meeting on the second and fourth Thurs- day of each month is confusing as on certain months this day is not just prior to the next City Council meeting. He suggested that perhaps this provision should go back into the committee so it would make provision for the Agenda meeting to be held on the Thursday after the Committee of the Whole Meeting which is held the second and fourth Mondays of the month and so it would immediately precede the City Council meetings that are held on the first and third Mondays of the month. Councilwoman Harris agreed and there are several other items that could be added, such as the Council should make it a practice to review the Council Procedures each year. Councilman Saul stated that it should go back into a committee and they should take a look at it and propose the necessary changes. Councilman Sterling stated he knew that the way the Council Procedures read now it causes trouble when there is an extra (fifth) Monday in the month. Councilwoman Davis stated that if any members of the Council have any items or changes they would like to have made that they give these suggestions to the committee so they can study them. Council President Traynor stated he would like to be able to get through the things that are insignificant such as the first readings and then put them in committee or pass them. Council- woman Harris stated that when an ordinance is introduced she puts it in her notes, noting the date and notation "read in full" or "read by title only" and then she puts it in her file at home so when it comes up again she can pull the file and refer to it and how it was read. She further stated that perhaps the Council could look into the Seattle policy they have recently passed. They have ordinances read the first time and if there is no objec- tion from any council member then they may take final action on it. She further stated that during a regular City Council meet- ing it is possible to make a motion to go into a Committee of the Whole meeting for the purpose of general discussion in an informal manner, and this discussion would not be included in the minutes. Councilman Traynor stated that the list of contract expiration dates that he had asked for to be used at this meeting were not available at this time. He said it was gtaite lengthy and since it is the first of the year the administrative office has been very busy and they have not been able to completely prepare the list. Ed Bauch, citizen, stated that he had prepared a list of his ideas for an agenda for long and short range goals for the Council to consider. He handed each member of the Council a copy he had prepared. Councilman Saul stated he thought the City should hire certain people under federal programs such as CETA for a six month period of time. Councilwoman Harris stated that there are concerns that CETA might require the city to retain the employee on a permanent basis. Ed Bauch, audience, stated that the City of Seattle has planners assigned to the Council who present plans to the Council as to their needs. This information then goes to the City Council for their approval. Councilwoman Davis stated that the Council should plan on the budget and have something to the departments regarding policy before they make up their budget. Council President Traynor stated that by July the Treasurer should be able to give the Council an idea of what the increase of city revenue will be. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOTF, MEETING January 11, 1975 Page 2 DISCUSSION Contd. Cleaning debris from streets Change in meeting time of Finance Committee Budget Proposed City Hall /037 Councilman Saul remarked that the snow ruined a lot of trees in the park and the city had to hire a professional to help re- move them. He wondered if the money would come out of equipment rental because there is nothing allocated for such an emergency. Councilwoman Harris stated that this could be taken out of operating expense. She stated the Council should have a quart- erly review of the budget. She suggested it be done at a Committee of the Whole Meeting. She stated also that the Finance Committee should be given a monthly statement and a quarterly statement of the budget. Councilman Saul stated that the meeting of the Finance Committee will have to be changed as it is now meeting before the figures are available for them to use in the committee meeting. Councilwoman Davis asked how long before June the Council should start working on the budget for the next year. Councilman Gardner stated that a Suburban Council Association is going to be formed and the Council will be able to get ideas from that. Councilman Saul stated that he is a member of the Consumers Advisory Council. Councilman Saul stated that he thinks it is most important right now for the City Council to go ahead and design something on the present property and it would get all of the people together in one place. He stated the city already has the land. He further added that he knew a couple of architects who would give their plans or designs for about $150. Councilwoman Harris asked about the present contract with McAdoo as the architect. She wondered if the city was bound by contract to use him. Council- man Saul said he was sure that all the city need do is notify him that they are terminating his services. He stated the Council could rescind the resolution. Councilwoman Harris thought the Council should settle on a site. Councilman Saul stated he thought they should settle on the property that the city now has, that it is bought and paid for. Councilman Gardner stated that it is possible the city would have to buy more property for a community center and it would be nice to have it all together. Council President Traynor said he had talked to McAdoo and he had stated he would like to come to a City Council committee meeting and explain his plan to the committee. He stated he would rather talk to a smaller group. Council President Traynor stated that he himself had not cared for McAdoo's space study that he had made. Councilwoman Harris stated that previously everyone had been approached on what they wanted except the City Council. She stated McAdoo did not ask them what they wanted. She added that the buildings were cement and hard looking in her opinion. Councilman Saul stated that the city gave McAdoo $14,000 and he did not want to hear any more from him. Ed Bauch, audience, stated that a design for the building cannot be formulated until the site is fixed. Council- man Saul stated that he would like to see all of the people of the city in one building. Councilwoman Harris said they should just say "This is the site.," as the City Council has the authority to do that. Ed Bauch, audience, added that if a site is decided on the design can then be planned and by that time there will likely be enough city money to pay for it. Council President Traynor said he would like to know if the City Hall can be fuilt on the site that was purchased. He added that he thought they should get several architects to look it over and see if it can be done on the site. Councilwoman Harris stated she agreed and she thought the proposed City Hall can be built on the site that the city bought. Councilman Saul stated he knew two or three architects who would look over the site and give their advice fee and tell the Council whether or not it could be built on the site. He felt that for about $150 they would draw up designs andthe Council could take their choice of the design that fits the purposes of the city. Councilwoman Harris suggested that the Council send out several letters asking certain architects to come out and see the site and then the Council could tell them what is wanted. Councilman Saul stated that first the Council has to agree on the site. He added that personally he would like TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOTg MEETING January 11, 1975 Page 3 DISCUSSION Contd. Proposed City Hall Contd. Budget Job descriptions /03Y it down on the river but he knew the city cannot get property down there so he would like the site that has been bought, and they should do something about it. Council President Traynor agreed that if the building will fit on that site he would like to see.,it used for that purpose. Councilwoman Davis said she thought this item should be first on the Council's priorities. Council President Traynor asked that the matter be put into the Public Works Committee and see what can be done about it as soon as possible. Ed Bauch, audience, stated that just the publica- tion in the news media will bring two or three architec -,s who would be glad to offer suggestions or maybe even designs with the idea that they may be chosen as the architect. Councilwoman Harris stated it could be put on the agenda for the next Council meeting and then it could be referred to Committee, the architects could be contacted and the Council would then be able to see if the building could be put on the property that is owned. Council President Traynor stated that this way there will not be any money spent until the Council sees if the building can be built on this property. Councilman Saul agreed that they would just be asking for advice. The architects can look at the property and see what can be done. Councilman Saul suggested that the Council set up a Saturday meeting of the committee to meet with the architect and then put it on the February 3 City Council meeting under the heading of "Old Business." Councilwoman Harris stated that they should take care of McAdoo before they invite other architects in. She added that the Council will need a resolution to rescind the resolution appointing McAdoo as architect. Council President Traynor stated he would like to get an estimated revenue state- ment as soon as possible. Councilwoman Davis stated that the Council should have a policy statement at the end of June. Councilwoman Harris stated that an estimated revenue statement should be available in June and the Council should start perhaps in March or in May they could put it into committee and have it ready by July. She further suggested that perhaps all of the data should go to the City Treasurer rather than the City Clerk, then she compiles the bud- get to see if it is balanced. Councilman Sterling stated that maybe both the City Clerk and City Treasurer should get a copy of it. Council President Traynor stated that when they know what the increased revenue will be they will be able to let each department know what they are going to get in funds and then let them use it as they see they need it. He stated he thought they should know how much money they are going to get so they can allocate it according to priorities and decide whether they prefer to have equipment or personnel. Council- woman Harris stated that if the Council feels there should be any more employees and capital equipment be restricted to replace- ments. Councilman Sterling stated he thought July 7 was a good date. It would give the departments some time to know what they have to work with and plan accordingly. Councilwoman Harris asked if May was early enough to put it in committee so it will be ready by July. Council President Traynor asked that it be put on the agenda for the first Council meeting in May (May 5) and start from there with it. Councilwoman Davis stated that the matter of job descriptions is important. Councilman Sterling stated that if they have an outsider do it they have a tendency to glorify each position. Councilwoman Harris suggested each person write down what he or she is doing in his job and turn it in to the department head to evaluate then forward it to the City Council. She added that this way it would be an inside job and there would be no cost involved in having someone outside do the job. She added that the Council could work closely with the department heads on this. She said that maybe they would want to ask an outlier to advise if the matter had been taken care of correctly and all points included but he would not be asked to change the details of the duties or maybe they would not even have to have anyone from out- side look at them. Council President Traynor suggested that the matter be turned over to the committee so it will be ready when the, Council goes through the budget. Councilwoman Harris asked that it be put on the agenda for next Monday night under the heading of New Business. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOTF MEETING January 11, 1975 Page 4 DISCUSSION Contd. Comprehensive plan for sidewalks Federal grants Underground wiring City clean -up RECESS 12:45 P.M. 2 :00 P.M. /039 Councilwoman Davis stated she thought the city needs a compre- hensive plan for sidewalks. She suggested that the City Council needs to tell the Planning Commission that the plan is needed now. She said they did not seem to be working on it for a year. Councilwoman Harris stated that if the Council directs the Planning Commission they will go to the staff. Councilwoman Harris said that the matter of "how is it going to be paid for" will come up and for this reason she had asked Mae Harris, City Treasurer, to be present at the meeting. She then asked Mae Harris if the sidewalks would have to be done by L.I.D. Mae Harris replied that the original sidewalks were put in by LID #1. Councilwoman Davis stated that this matter might go into the Financial Committee for study. Councilman Sterling stated that the Street Committee could do it. Councilman Saul stated that with the new federal financing the city might have the money and the people to do the job. Mae Harris agreed that it is likely there are a number of new programs available and she could foresee that there will be lots of feasible plans. Councilwoman Davis stated she would like to see a letter go to the Planning Commission asking for a date that this work can be completed. Council President Traynor stated that he would like to put it out on a Council meeting and ask them to give the Council a date and then it will be in the minutes of the meeting. He suggested that it be made in the form of a motion. Council- woman Harris asked that this matter be on the agenda for the City Council meeting on January 20 and ask that Council be given a first draft on April 7, 1975. Councilman Saul asked how the federal grants are obtained. Mae Harris replied that there are definite grants and it is up to the city to find out what they are and apply for them. She stated that the department heads go to seminars and sometimes learn about them from that source. She added that it is up to the staff to keep up with the grants and the amount of funds that might be available and then they must make application for them. She said then it is a matter of waiting to see if the funds are granted. Councilman Sterling stated that the money was allocated in the underground ordinance and nothing has been done. He stated that Puget Power is supposed to submit the plans to the city. Council President Traynor stated that at the next Council meeting they should make a motion to have a status report on the underground ing. He said the money has been appropriated and now the Council would like to know the results. Mae Harris stated that as each street goes in it should be undergrounded. She said that Interurban Avenue was put in with the poles which have been re- placed from time to time. Councilwoman Davis asked if the city has an ordinance regarding clearing snow, ice, and debris. Councilman Sterling said there is,az ordinance but it is not rigidly enforced. He added that maybe they should have the newspaper run articles on beautifying the city by removing unsightly piles of junk, clearing sidewalks, and driveways and generally cleaning up yards. Cleanor McLester, audience, stated that her street is going to be torn up this year for sewers and again next year for undergrounding and she said it seemed that both of these projects could be done at one time so the street would have to be torn up only once. Mae Harris, Treasurer, said it seemed like a waste of time and money to do the job one summer and then turn around and tear up the street again the next summer. Council President Traynor said he thought the Council should get a written report from Bell Telephone, Puget Power, and Cable TV as to why they cannot meet their schedules. MOVED BY HARRIS, SECONDED BY STERLING, THAT THE MEETING RECESS FOR LUNCH. CARRIED. Meeting was called to order by Council- woman Harris with all Council Members present as listed, except Council President Traynor who asked to be excused at 12:45 P.M. MOVED BY STERLING, SECONDED BY DAVIS, THAT COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS BE CHAIRMAN OF MEETING. CARRIED. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOT,F MEETING January 11, 1975 Page 5 DISCUSSION Contd. Application for federal grants Comprehensive land use plan Research intern to study code Councilman Johanson arrived at the meeting at 2 :20 P.M. /oszo Councilwoman Harris stated that on the subject of federal grants she did not know when these grants are applied for. She stated she would like to adopt an ordinance to get federal grant pro- cedures reviewed and approved by the Council before they are submitted. Eleanor McLester, audience, stated that the Council does not know what is available and what is applied for and in a short time if the grant is approved the city has to hire an indi- vidual and there is not time to think about it. Councilman Sterling stated that a lot of grants are made that the Council does not know anything about until they have to act on it. Councilman Saul stated he would also like to know about them in advance. Councilwowman Harris stated that the council is the last to know about these grants. Ed Bauch, audience, stated that when a grant leaves the city it should have a notation on it that it has been approved by the Council and it should be in the minutes of the Council meeting when it is approved. Council- woman Harris said she thought that the City Administration should be authorized by the Council before grants are applied for. Mae Harris, Treasurer, stated that it might bog the Council down to have to go into all of the details of a grant application because sometimes the grants are not awarded. Councilman Sterl- ing stated that as long as there is time it would be nice to have the Council approve before the grant application is made. Councilwoman Harris said that in most cases there is considerable notice prior to application. Councilman Sterling stated he did not think it would impose a hardship on Administration if the Council asked to have these grants brought before the Council. Councilwoman Davis stated that the Council could even have a special meeting if necessary. Eleanor McLester, audience, stated that the grants could be presented when the department heads meet with the Council. Councilwoman Harris stated that shewould like to develop a procedures policy regarding grant applications. Councilman Saul stated that grants usually come through the departments rather than through the Mayor, although he likely has to sign the requests for grants. Councilman Saul stated this was a good time to establish a policy as it is likely there will be a lot of money available in grants during the next two or three months. Councilwoman Harris stated that she would develop something and submit it to the Finance Committee. Councilman Saul stated he would like to work on the committee as he concurred with the idea and the committee could then give their approval to the application for grants. Councilwoman Harris used the blackboard showing that sidewalks, water, sewer, park plan, street plan, municipal building plan, transportation plan, underground plans were all optional elements to the comprehensive land use plan. She stated that if the Council give5 the Planning Department the project they will do the work for the Council. She stated it would be helpful to be able toile them all in together. Councilwoman Harris continued stat- ing that she had talked to Mr. Stoknes about this plan and he understood what the council wants. Mae Harris, Treasurer, stated that the money has been budgeted for these over a three year period. Councilman Saul stated that he thought it should be brought before the council table so the council can direct them to do this work and direct Planning Staff to formulate ordinances to accomplish this. Councilwoman Harris stated that the Council needs legal opinion to review the code book and see what can be done. She stated that it should be put in the committee for work on it. Council- man Saul stated that he favored spending the $900 so the Council': attention can be called to that which might need to be changed. Councilwoman Davis asked about the possibility of using a University of Washington research intern (senior law student or upper graduate type level law student). Councilwoman Harris stated that this would be a good idea, that the Council could ask the law student to work on specific tasks assigned by the Council. She added that a year ago the Council could have got one for nothing or almost nothing. She stated it is her under- TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING January 11, 1975 Page 6 DISCUSSION Contd. Research intern to study code Contd. Methods of appointments to Boards and Commissions Foster Golf Course Insurance advisory board Study of bus transportation 10 V/ standing that the student will earn credits and will be paid certain stipend on a work study program. When he is through with the project the Council would not have to keep him on. Councilwoman Harris asked that this matter be put on the agenda for the Council meeting on January 20 under the heading of New Budiness and refer to it on the agenda as a research intern to study code. Councilman Johanson stated that the legal re- search intern will likely work on a section by section basis. Councilwoman Harris stated that the Council does not have a method of procedure to follow regarding the methods of appoint- ments to boards and commissions. She suggested that appointees names be submitted to Council with a sheet of paper on each name giving their qualifications for the appointment. Council- man Johanson said he would hate to lose the fact that it is the general population of the city that makes up the Boards and Commissions. He further stated that he would hate to preclude anyone because of an education factor, but he felt it should be a resident of the city. Councilwoman Harris stated she thought the information sheet on the individual should include his community involvement, his church affiliation, civic clubs he is affiliated with, etc. She added with this information it will be possible to see how interested the individual is in the city. This information would just give a personality survey. Councilman Sterling stated that all of the Council would have questions they would want to ask a prospective appointee. Councilman Saul stated that in the past they had always had people on the Commissions that the Council personally knows but now that the city is larger this may not be so. Eleanor McLester, audience, stated that she thought the commissions and boards should be comprised of people who will show up at the meetings and participate. Councilwoman Davis stated that she thought the application sheet should show occupation and spouse's occupation, what land they own, where they work, so the Council will know if there will be a conflict of interest. Mae Harris, Treasurer, stated that she thought that the city gets people on the Commissions because of their interest in attending Council meetings and voicing their opinions. They get before they are appointed. Councilman Sterling stated that on the Board of Appeals not a member is a resident of the city they have not been approved by the Council. Councilwoman Harris requested that the City Council agenda for January 20 have under New Business the item "Develop policy pro- cedures for appointments to City Boards and Commissions." Councilman Johanson stated that he had heard that the owners of the Foster Golf Course are going to accept the city's proposal to buy their property. Councilman Johanson stated that he thought there should be an advisory board created that would survey the city's insurance needs so they can bid on insurance in order to get the best possible package on insurance. They would have to have a compre- hensive study of the city's needs. He stated that he felt sure they could find enough people in Tukwila to set up this board, that they would probably have to be in the insurance field. Councilwoman Harris asked that this matter be put on the Council agenda for January 20 under New Business to establish an Insur- ance Advisory Board and refer it to committee. Councilwoman Harris continued that the city needs to know if they are getting the best coverage that is obtainable for the money. Councilwoman Davis stated that the Council needs an evaluation of the different ways they can approach the bus situation. She stated that she thought an unscheduled survey should be made to see how the buses are being used. Councilwoman Harris stated that the matter could be assigned to the Public Works and Trans- portation Committee. She added that they could assign to that committee the merits of the bus and then the committee can solicit the aid of citizens to assist them. She stated they could establish an ad hoc committee. Councilwoman Harris asked that this matter be put on the Council agenda for January 20 under Discussion to study bus transportation (Ad Hoc Citizens Advisory Committee). TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOTE MEETING January 11, 1975 Page 7 DISCUSSION Contd. Specifications for news publication Services of a financial analyst to study labor contracts Provision for the removal of department heads Appointment of legal consultant to Tukwila City Council Contract Expiration dates Increase in pay for City Council members /0 Councilwoman Davis suggested that there be a committee to study specifications for the news publications for bids, etc. Council— woman Harris asked that this matter be on the agenda for the Council meeting on January 20 under Discussion and the Council assign to Finance and Personnel Committee to formulate bid specifications for legal notices for the city. Councilwoman Davis stated that the committee needs legal aid. As a Council, there is a need of outside legal aid. Councilman Saul asked that the matter of engaging the services of a financial analyst to study labor contracts be put on the Council agenda for January 20 under the heading of Discussion. He suggested that the project be assigned to Finance and Personnel Committee. Ed Bauch, audience, stated that the city has all kinds of ways to engage department heads, but no way to dispose of them if they do not work out. Councilman Johanson asked if an individual, can be removed after confirmation of his hiring has been given if you can show you are not satisfied with the individual. He stated that the entire Council has shown their lack of confidence in the City Attorney. Councilwoman Davis stated that this is another reason for the Council to have outside legal aid for the use of the Council. Councilwoman Harris stated that the Council does not have the right to fire anyone according to the previous study that has been made. She stated that if the Council passed an ordinance stating that the Mayor be required to replace a department head upon seven votes of the City Council that would be placing the dismissal upon the Mayor where the authority lies. She asked that this matter be on the agenda for the Council meeting on January 20 under the heading of Discussion and assign the matter of providing for the removal of department heads to the Finance Committee. Councilwoman Davis stated that she thought there should be the appointment of outside legal aid to help the City Council. Shestated she would like to have someone designated as legal consultant to the City Council. Councilman Johanson stated he would like to see it established with a yearly retainer fee. He stated that A.W.C. is good when asked for advice, but there are some areas that they cannot be involved with. Councilwoman Harris asked that this matter be on the agenda for the Council meeting on January 20 under Discussion and provide for the appointment of legal consultant to Tukwila City Council. Councilwoman Davis stated that through lack of time the Council was not supplied with expiration dates of certain contracts so the Council should meet again to finish this item. She added that the Council should have a calendar marked so the Council can tell ahead of time when it is necessary to consider the renewal of contracts. Councilwoman Harris stated that the matter can be discussed at the Committee of the Whole meeting when the information is available. Ed Bauch, audience, stated that he proposed an increase in the salary of City Council members of $300 per month. Councilman Saul stated it would be nice to have a raise and he was thinking in terms of $100 per month, that is a more realistic raise. Councilman Johanson stated that the position takes a lot of time and involves quite a bit of expense. Councilwoman Harris stated that according to the law the Council members presently in office cannot recieve a raise, but the law needs to be changed so it will provide for new members who are elected to TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING January 11, 1975 Page 8 Increase in pay for City Council members Contd. ADJOURNMENT: 4 :10 P.M. o 4/3 the Council and make it consistent with State law. Councilman Harris requested that this item be put on the agenda for the Council meeting on January 20 under Discussion: a raise for City Council members amending Ord. #492, Sec. 1, 1967, TMC 2.04.210. MOVED BY DAVIS, SECONDED BY STERLING, THAT THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOTF, MEETING ADJOURN. CARRIED. /e Noma Booher, Recording Secretary