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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-03-26 Special MinutesMarch 26, 199J TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL 7:00 P.M. CALL 10 ORDER ROLL CALL OFFICIALS NEW BUSINESS Approval to proceed with Gilliam Creek Restoration between 42nd Ave. So. and So. 154th Street. SPECIAL MEETING 0 7/ Tukwila City Hall Council Chambers (Revised Pane Special Mtg. 4/6/90) Mayor VanDusen called the Special Meeting of the Tukwila City Council to order and lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. MINUTES JOE H. DUFFIE, DENNIS ROBERTSON, JOAN HERNANDEZ, Council President; CLARENCE MORIWAKI, ALLAN EKBERG, STEVE RANTS. MOVED BY DUFFIE, SECONDED BY EKBERG THAT JOHN RANTS BE EXCUSED FROM THE MEETING WHILE VACATIONING IN HAWAII. MOTION CARRIED. JOHN COLGROVE, City Attorney; JOHN MCFARLAND, City Administrator; RICK BEELER, Director, Department of Community Development; REBECCA FOX, Associate Planner; ROSS EARNST, Public Works Director. Mayor VanDusen requested CITIZEN'S COMMENTS be moved from Special Meeting Agenda and placed on the Committee of the Whole Agenda. All Councilmembers concurred. Conucilmember Robertson stated there was a citizen who wished to speak but was unable to stay through the entire meeting. Mayor VanDusen acknowledged the citizen's request and per- mission was granted to Mrs. Darlene West, 5212 South 164th to voice her support in favor of the Planning Commission's par- ticipants being limited to residents only. She prefers a three year term as opposed to six, and stated that two terms served consecutively may be more appropriate. Council President Hernandez explained that Item (5a) was put on the Special Agenda because a decision to appropriate funds can only be made at a Regular or Special Meeting. If the Council does not plan to appropriate funds at this time, this item can be moved to the Committee of The Whole agenda. Councilmember Lawrence stated it was his understanding that the council would be making that decision today. Councilmember Moriwaki felt that the SAO Item (5a) should not have been forwarded to the Special Meeting. The minutes of March 19, 1990 reflected that Sensitive Areas Ordinance be forwarded to the March 26, 1990 Committee of The Whole meeting, and requested that it be scheduled to allow his par- ticipation in the discussion. He would need about an hour of leave from the meeting to attend his son's Special Reception. MOVED BY ROBERTSON, SECONDED BY DUFFIE, THAT THE SAO ITEM MOVE TO ITEM 2g ON THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE AGENDA, AND THAT COUNCILMEMBER MORIWAKI BE EXCUSED FROM THE MEETING FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR. MOTION CARRIED. Councilmember Duffie informed the audience that this matter had been discussed, and studied carefully and that Ross Earnst would update the Council on the present status. Ross Earnst, Public Works Director, informed the Council that the Utility Committee recommended a resolution be passed authorizing emergency repairs of Gilliam Creek. Councilmember Lawrence stated that his concern was whether there was justification to warrant this z :n emergency since there has been no particular hazard tc life o;; property. Mr f am t responded thct i. oth rec,1 rai„ and /or a consAeris.ble amci.:lit of waterfll couli c&u:o some pro,cf=rty dUnif.jc. Of course, tlri� ;u �t:�r:.,..;G;ct,�•.Lle. Counc t lmember :'.obertscn a:d ed that he .:r: w& ked the area recentl,I sGw trcEs l a.rr H rdu rocks ire the creek thai: appzrently WE.:; (au a d R c';. <f one time, and one of tic: Ligge is trees m •..y But he could not categorize what aay Focus should be placed on controlIi thc: stcc< wL er :hat flows into the creek. Be creative "i r c:i: i i{tj c tre; l along the cr•ccr:. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MARCH 26, 1990 Page 2 NEW BUSINESS (Con't) Approval to proceed with Gilliam Creek 0g7z Councilmember Lawrence asked does the City have an obligation to provide the maintenance for these creeks or the private property that abuts them. Mr. Earnst stated that some of the water is a run -off from the streets and other areas that the county issues permits for slashing the water and putting it into the streams. This is why the City has some liability for water damages. Councilmember Lawrence asked is there any way the City may obtain an easement. If the City is going to be held respon- sible for the maintenance of these ravines we should have more control, it would be to our best interest. Lawrence also stated that the report was inaccurate and not prepared well enough for the Council to declare it an emergency. The dollar amount is considerably high. He had a preconceived image of what he was to look for and it was nothing like the report has stated. He was quite disturbed. The report sta- tes that "the banks are sliding, trees at an angle, the So. 150th pipe outfall drops about ten feet to a pool and is too far down the steep banks for our crews to reach with any equipment." It's five feet on solid rock, and there is no pool. The report states that "It appears that the creek bed is about 4 8 feet lower that they used to be." The creek bed had not dropped 4 8 feet, maybe it dropped two feet. There is no slide activity to speak of. Why declared an emergency on 300 feet of creek fill with rock for this alleged high water volume erosion. Mr. Earnst stated that this was presented to the Council as a result of a number of complaints received about the creeks from residents. The report was drafted after the creek was examined and he feels that this is a reasonable recommen- dation to bring before the Council. Mayor VanDusen posed the question "Ross, we have a statutory responsibility here, do you have an emergency or not Mr. Earnst responded that the weather is too unpredictable to answer conclusively. Councilmember Ekberg requested this item be moved to the Committee of The Whole for further discussion. Also, he agrees that Gilliam Creek needs to be restored, but that he has a problem believing it qualifies as an emergency and that an emergency ordinance to provide a sole contractor to per- form the work is perhaps inappropriate at this time. Councilmember Duffie stated that the creeks are eroding the banks and ravines and that a protective erosion plan should be established, but he's not sure the conditions warrant the classification of emergency. Mayor VanDusen commented that the City may have to pay more if the work is delayed on this project. Another flood would be devastating and it would be his responsibility to spend whatever monies necessary to handle the resulting problems. The last flood cost the city close to $100,000. The costs could go much higher if we procrastinate. Mayor VanDusen stressed the point that the Council was playing with disaster. This matter should be handled now, not later. Councilmember Robertson reiterated that the erosion did not appear to be significant at this time. MOVED BY ROBERTSON, SECONDED BY LAWRENCE, THAT APPROVAL TO PROCEED WITH GILLIAM CREEK RESTORATION BETWEEN 42nd AVENUE AND SOUTH 154th STREET BE FORWARDED TO THE UTILITY COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MARCH 26, 1990 Page 3 NEW BUSINESS (Con't) Approval to proceed with Gilliam Creek ADJOURNMENT 7:50 p.m. Councilmember Ekberg shared Councilmember Rants' thoughts on this subject by proxy. Councilmember Robertson informed Mr. Ekberg he may share Rants' thoughts with the Council, but voting by proxy was not permitted. Mr. Ekberg informed the Council and those pre- sent that Rants feels the Gilliam Creek area is a hazard and should be modified by placing rocks in the creek beds to pre- vent further erosion, and if Rants were to vote he would vote in favor of this proposal. *MOTION CARRIED WITH DUFFIE VOTING NO. Gary L. Van Dusen, Mayor Celia Square, Recording Secretary MOVED BY DUFFIE, SECONDED BY LAWRENCE THAT THE MEETING BE ADJOURNED TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. MOTION CARRIED.