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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-09-22 Special MinutesSeptember 22, 1975 7 :00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL OF COUNCIL MEMBERS DISCUSSION Formulation of new Ad Hoc Committee for purpose of promoting the purchase of the Foster Golf Course by ballot vote at the November 4 General Election TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES GARDNER, STERLING, DAVIS, HARRIS, JOHANSON. t3 4 s Tukwila City Hall Council Chambers MOVED BY DAVIS, SECONDED BY JOHANSON, THAT COUNCILMAN STERLING ACT AS CHAIRMAN OF THE MEETING IN THE ABSENCE OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT TRAYNOR. CARRIED. Chairman Sterling called the meeting to order at 7 :20 P.M. and announced the purpose of the Special Meeting was to consider the formulation of a new Ad Hoc Committee for the purpose of promoting the purchase of the Foster Golf Course by ballot vote at the November 4 General Election. Councilwoman Davis remarked there is need to present the facts to the public as to the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing the Foster Golf Course prior to the November 4 Election when this issue will be voted on. Councilwoman Harris stated that Mr. McLaughlin of the firm of Foster and Marshall had indicated he had worked with the previous Committee and the City Council in getting the financial facts together and he had said he would work it out so the people would know about what the tax would be on their own property if the Foster Golf Course is purchased by the City. Councilman Johanson stated that he would like to investigate the possibilities for the various uses of the golf course, that he thought of it as a golf course, and by providing other types of recreation there he felt it would be improved and put to more use. Gary Van Dusen, audience, stated that he thought the previous Ad Hoc Committee had proposed an up -date in the appraisal of the Golf Course. Councilwoman Harris stated that the appraisal would have to be up -dated if federal funds are requested for the purchase. She added that Ballaine and Halliday had been authorized to up -date the appraisal at a cost of approximately $800. She stated that Mr. Stoknes had offered to draft the letter requesting this up -date and had submitted it to the Mayor. She said that about three weeks later she went back to Mr. Stoknes and asked if the letter had been signed by the Mayor. Mr. Stoknes said the Mayor had not signed the letter and he was not going to sign the letter authorizing Ballaine and Halliday to get started on that project per Council action. There was a dispute on how it would be paid for the Council had very clearly indicated that the $800 fee would be paid out of the Land`Acquisition Fund the night they had authorized action. She said she had not been in contact with Ballaine and Associates since then and that is the status of things at this time the City Council asked that this be done, the letter was drafted and the Administration has not followed. Gary Van Dusen, audience, asked if Administration was being blamed for this delay. Council- woman Harris stated that the City Council did request that this be done. Gary Van Dusen said he had read through the Minutes of that Meeting during the afternoon and he did not read that in the Minutes, that the subject had bounced back and forth between the Ad Hoc Committee and the City Council for about a month and then it was dropped. Councilwoman Harris said there had been specific recommend- ations at a City Council Meeting from her Committee and that was one of them. Councilman Sterling suggested that the Minutes of that City Council Meeting be read for a clarification of this matter. Ed Bauch, audience, said he hoped that we would not spend the next six weeks arguing about what was done or was not done in the past. He stated hat he hoped we would get a good chairman and a good committee together and go out and sell the bond issue to the public. He stated that he was in favor of buying the Golf Course and he had not run into any opposition in all of the people he had talked to throughout the City and he had been promoting the purchase. Phyllis Persicka stated that the only objection she had encountered was that you would never get the people to buy the golf course at that price. She added that a good selling point would be the fact that the area along the river is industrialized, except that one portion. Councilman Johanson stated that regarding the appraisal, he did not know that it was required or necessary to have that prior to the vote. Councilman Sterling said that if the lack of an appraisal would bera stumbling block to some, maybe it would be better to go TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING September 22, 1975 Page 2 DISCUSSION Contd. Formulation of new Ad Hoc Committee for purpose of promoting the purchase of the Foster Golf Course by ballot vote at the November 4 General Election Contd. ahead and pay for the appraisal. Anna Bernhard, audience, stated that everyone she has talked to wants to buy the golf course but not at the price that is asked, that it is zoned light industrial. Councilman Sterling stated that they could go ahead and get an appraisal and it will likely be more than the asking price of $2.35 million due to increase in land values and this will be a selling point at the time of the election. Al Pieper, audience, stated that he is in opposition to the purchase of the Foster Golf Course, that he dislikes burdening his children and grandchildren with a debt such as this would be. Councilman Sterling stated it will be on the ballot to be voted on in November. Councilwoman Davis left the meeting at 7:40 P.M. 1 34/6 Councilman Johanson stated he felt the purchase would be advantageous for the City and it would be good to have such a recreation area within the community. Ben Aliment, owner of Foster Golf Course, sta- ted that the 70 acres comprising the golf course at the price of $2.35 million is at the rate of 80 cents a square foot, whereas similar property is selling for $1.20 per square foot. He stated that he would hate to see it used for something less than a golf course. Mrs. Anna Bernhard, audience, stated that she understood the golf course pays tax as a golf course and not as light industrial and she wondered if the City buys the property whether they would pay as a golf course or as light industrial. Councilman Sterling stated that if the City buys the property it will come off the tax roll. Mrs. Bernhard asked if there would be a stipulation that the City would have to use the property as a golf course. Ben Aliment answered that if the City buys the property it is theirs and they can use it any way they want. Ed Bauch, audience, stated that until the revenue bonds are paid it will have to be maintained as a golf course. Councilwoman Harris stated that the contract says that as far, as recreation purposes are concerned the door is open for future use of the property, but if a grant is awarded to the City as a golf course then it will have to be kept as a golf course. Councilman Gardner stated that with inflation being what it is he felt the City is getting a good price for the property. Councilman Sterling stated that the city has two fire stations, a city hall site, etc. that is paid for and he would like to see the matter go to the vote of the people and see what they want. Phyllis Persicka, audience, stated that you cannot place a value on the property in dollars and cents, it is an investment for all future citizens. She added that it is unfortunate that it is zoned as it is and is going to cost so much. Mrs. Bernhard stated she had read where the City of Palo Alto, California had bought 30 acres of land so it could be left as a green belt. Councilwoman Harris stated that in buying the Foster Golf Course we are looking at 70 acres plus the river and it would take 125 acres to replace it and it is priced at approximately 80 cents a square foot for the dry land. She said that sales in this area have been over $1.00 a square foot for the dry land. She added that the Freeway Park in Seattle is approximately one acre and it is costing a very large sum of money, but it is a valuable thing and will be beautiful to look out of an office window and see this greenery. She said she thought the City needs this recreation area and green belt and it will be a great asset to the City. Ben Aliment stated that he would have no objections to the City getting another appraisal if they wish. Councilman Sterling stated he thought another appraisal will come in at a higher price, and the City can go on the old appraisal if they do not apply for a federal grant. Councilwoman Harris said she did not know what time schedule the firm of Ballaine and Halliday might have at this time nor how long it would take them to make the reappraisal as Mr. Halliday has retired and Mr. Ballaine would do the up- dating on it during the summer he had asked for 30 days. Councilman Johanson stated that he did not see that we had to get a reappraisal but it might be a good point as far as the ballot is concerned. He added that he thought the City Council should approach Administration and request that the firm of Ballaine and Halliday reappraise the property. Councilwoman TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING September 22, 1975 Page 3 DISCUSSION Contd. Formulation of new Ad Hoc Committee for purpose of promoting the purchase of the Foster Golf Course by ballot vote at the November 4 General Election Contd. RECESS 8:35 P.M. 8:50 P.M. Harris asked what an appraisal could accomplish at this time. If the City decides to go for a grant and keep it for a golf course the appraisal will be needed, if we want to use it for varied recreation we would not be eligible for the grant and would not need the appraisal. Councilman Sterling stated the only thing about the up-to -date appraisal would be that it would point out to the voters what a good buy it would be when they vote in November. He added that the revenue bonds will be paid back by earnings from the golf course, that Foster and Marshall have investigated and say that it will be able to pay for the revenue bonds. If the federal grant is accepted it can be used only as a golf course. Councilwoman Harris stated that it is likely that there are people in the audience who would like to be on the Ad Hoc Committee and the idea of this Special Meeting was to get an Ad Hoc Committee going again and get the facts out to the public. She added that she would like to suggest that we keep the membership on the Commit- tee open for the people who would want to work on it. Councilman Sterling stated that the City Council members are the representatives to the Committee and the members of the Committee are the people who want to work on the Committee. The Ad Hoc Committee would collect the facts and get them out to the people. Councilwoman Harris suggested that the City publish a fact sheet and lay it out on the counter at the City Hall so they would be available to anyone who wants to pick up a copy. Al Pieper said that he would like to see the fact sheet reflect the negative as well as the positive facts that way the people could reach a decision as to how they would vote. Councilman Sterling stated they would like to have a chairman and secretary for the Ad Hoc Committee, although there are few people in attendance at this Special Meeting. Councilwoman Harris stated that an announcement could be made in the newspaper that this information is available at the City Hall and it can be picked. up there. The Committee could also mail it out as it is being done for information. Bill Moore, audience, stated that he thought the City Council should not have to be in a position of having to sell the item but the fact sheet would make information available to the people that they may not be aware of. He added that the City is interested because we may be able to use it for something other than a golf course and can it be operated at a profit, and how will the City operate it will they lease it out or what? Councilman Sterling stated that our financial advisor can give the Ad Hoc Committee the information they desire and then the Ad Hoc Committee can come up with a recommendation as to how it will be done. Bill Moore, audience, asked how many years the Foster Golf Course operated at a loss? Ben Aliment stated a few years some of the expenses that they had the city will not have. Councilman Sterling said that Foster and Marshall and Ben Aliment's attorney could get together and compile the financial information. Ben Aliment stated that Foster and Marshall have all of his financial statements for the past three years. MOVED BY JOHANSON, SECONDED BY HARRIS, THAT THE MEETING RECESS. CARRIED. Chairman Sterling called the meeting back to order with Council Members present as previously listed, with the exception of Councilwoman Davis who had left the meeting. Councilman Sterling expressed regret that there were not more people in attendance so an Ad Hoc Committee could be set up at this time. Bill Moore, audience, stated that he would volunteer as Temporary Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee for the Foster Golf Course. Councilman Sterling stated that there would have to be another meeting and the Committee will have to be an advisory committee to the City Council. Bill Moore, audience, stated that the purpose of the Ad Hoc Committee is to collect the information and get it out to the voters. Councilman Sterling suggested that it be decided when there can be another meeting and have a list of the facts that TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING September 22, 1975 Page 4 DISCUSSION Contd. Formulation of new Ad Hoc Committee for purpose of promoting the purchase of the Foster Golf Course by ballot vote at the November 4 General Election Contd. ADJOURNMENT 9 :20 P.M. will be needed for that meeting. Councilwoman Harris asked if an official Ad Hoc Committee or a Citizen's Committee is wanted. If it is a Citizen's Committee they are not bound by the same rules. The citizens could meet at any time, in a home if they wished, and publicize the meeting. She added that she thought it should be a citizen's effort. Bill Moore, audience, suggested that a meeting be held on Thursday night, September 25, at 7:30 p.m. in the old Fire Station. Ben Aliment, owner of Foster Golf Course, said he could come to a meeting on September 25, but would be gone the following week. Bill Moore suggested that everyone contact all of their friends and try to get them interested in attending the meeting so there would be more input. MOVED BY JOHANSON, SECONDED BY HARRIS, THAT THE SPECIAL MEETING ADJOURN. CARRIED. No Booher, Counci`_b Secretary 13q8