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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-04-09 Committee of the Whole Minutes09/7 TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL April 9, 1990 Tukwila City Hall 7:00 P.M. Council Chambers COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Council President Hernandez called the Committee of The Whole Meeting of the Tukwila City Council to order. COUNCILMEMBERS JOE H. DUFFIE. DENNIS ROBERTSON. JOAN HERNANDEZ. Council PRESENT President; CLARENCE MORIWAKI. ALLAN EKBERG. STEVE LAWRENCE. JOHN RANTS, OFFICIALS JOHN COLGROVE. City Attorney JOHN MCFARLAND. City Administrator; ROSS EARNST, Pubic Works Director: RON CAMERON. City Engineer; DOUG MICHEAU. Public Works Coordinator. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS Report on the 2020 Plan. CITIZEN S COMMENTS PUBLIC HEARINGS Water rate increase. Ron Cameron stated that this item was originally scheduled to be discussed in the Transportation Committee but was moved forward to the Committee of The Whole so that all coun- cilmembers may have the opportunity to participate in the discussion. Mike Smith from the Puget Sound Council of Governments used slides as he explained that the Vision 2020 Plan is an update of the Regional Transportation Plan but is being done a bit differently than previously presented. He stated the the Transportation Plan is mandated by the Federal Government; and in order to receive federal funding, agency projects must be found to be consistent with the regional plan. In 1989, this process resulted in the distribution of more than $600 million in federal transportation funds to the four county region. Vision 2020. when adopted, will become the new basis for receipt of federal funds. Mr. Smith continued. stating that the Plan will describe a desired growth and mobility future for the region, At a minimum, the Plan will contain goals and objectives of region wide significance. The planning process includes broad public participation in the development of the plan. Phil Hemmingway. 4036 South 128th Street. expressed his con- cerns regarding the Ordinance recreating the Planning Commission tonight because the March 26. 1990 Council Meeting (where this was an agenda item) extended far beyond the hours that he could stay. He commended the two (2) councilmembers who voted against amending the ordinance. Now we have a smaller pool of talent from which to draw. We may not get the same objective view that outsiders bring. Mr. Hemmingway feels that the non residents Planning Commission membership issue came about as a result of a favorable decision for the Becker Trucking. He thinks its a retaliatory measure against Becker Trucking by a group of, perhaps. 20 people who are lobbying for trying to keep Riverton single- family resi- dential without much regards to the financial damage against some of the owners in this area. Ross Earnst, Public Works Director, stated the City is pro- posing a water rate increase to finance the operation and maintenance of the water utility. and to help in the imple- mentation of the Water Reservoir Project. estimated at approximately one million dollars ($1.000,000). The water rate increase would include increasing the cost of the water and not an increase in the surface charge for the meter. Also. we have not proposed an increase for standby charges Tor meters or for fire sprinkler systems. etc. The increase proposed this year is specifically on the usage of mater. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING April 9, 1990 Page 2 Public Hearing Water rate increase (Con t). SPECIAL ISSUES Review scope of work tor a consultant supported study of the City s long range tacilities needs. Councilmember Joe Duffie asked Mr. Earnst to explain why Seattle water is cheaper than most other cities in the surrounding areas. 0& Mr. Earnst rep'ied Seattle is the Major supplier of water and has had a system longer than anyone e'se7 however. Seattle is not totally cheaper in all categories than the City of Tukwila. Seattle has a higher charge for fire service standby than does Tukwila. But in general. Seattle has kept their residential rates low. but they do have a very large residential base. Council President Hernandez asked Mr. Earnst to explain the reasoning behind adopting a summer rate schedule higher than the winter rate schedule when Kent and Renton evidently keep the same rate all year- round. Mr. Earnst stated that those cities have not past a higher summer rate. A higher summer rate is a conservation measure because most consumption occurs in the summer (a three -month period) where we sell in the neighborhood of 60% of our water. Councilmember Ekberg inquired about the average volume of water per household in the City of Tukwila. Mr. Earnst informed him that it s around 1000 cubic feet per month. Councilmember Duffie pointed out that this item had been brought before the Utility Committee and the Committee is recommending that this proposal be accepted. MOVED BY DUFFIE. SECONDED BY LAWRENCE THAT THE TUKWILA WATER RATE STUDY BE MOVED TO A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. MOTION CARRIED. City Administrator John McFarland reported that one of the objectives this year trom the administration was to engage in a comprehensive, City -wide facilities study. A scoping com- mittee that includes the Public Works Director. Fire Police Chiefs, Parks Director. Finance Director and McFarland has been put together to oversee a consultant supported study to look at Tukwila's facilities needs for next five (5) years and perhaps the next 15 to 20 years. This committee came up with a draft scope of work which proposes an inventory of all City -owned structures, property etc., an analysis of space needs. The study shall include all departments and services activities. It is estimated that a comprehensive study could cost in the range of $20,000 $30,000. Mr. McFarland empha- sized that this scope of work is being presented as a draft document in the spirit of generating thoughts and ideas. Suggested modifications to the scope of work are welcomed. Councilmember Robertson suggested he would like to see two phases in the study (1) The inventory come up with a draft analysis of the space needs; (2) Review with the Council prior to going ahead with the scenarios. This would allow for a consensus of both the Council and Administration as to what the future is going to hold as far as growth is concerned. Council President Hernandez stated her concern was with Item #i Privately -owned property of suitable size, that may be acquired by the City. Would major property owners be con- tacted or -would evaluation be based on the availability of vacant land? A few years ago (when a site inventory was done tor a community center) there were actually some pieces of property placed on a potential site list without prior con- sent being obtained from the owner of the property. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING April 9, 1990 Page 3 SPECIAL ISSUES (Con t) Review Scope of Work for a consultant supported study ot the City s long ran e taciiities needs. Discussion on the ground cover preservation and c':earing /tilling grading. 04 Hernandez is hoping that a bit more sinsitivity be shown when the inventory is done. City Administrator McFarland responded that lessons were learned from that last effort and he doesn t foresee a repeat of the same. McFarland added that the overall study would take from approximately 90 to 120 days, and suggested the Council move quickly to allow tor the 1990 budget planning. He also suggested this item be moved to one of the Council sub- committees so that a better perspective of the proposal may be gained. MOVED BY DUFFIE, SECONDED BY ROBERTSON THAT THE DRAFT SCOPE OF WORK FOR FACILITIES STUDY BE MOVED TO THE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND PARKS COMMITTEE.* Councilmember Lawrence inquired of McFarland's short -range needs. McFarland responded he would like to get the go -ahead to put together a "request for proposal" that he can review with the Mayor and when the Mayor is satisfied, review with a subcommittee; then, hopefully, the subcommittee would direct the scoping committee to go forward. MOVED BY ROBERTSON. SECONDED BY DUFFIE THAT THE MOTION BE AMENDED TO GIVE AUTHORITY TO THE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND PARKS COMMITTEE TO APPROVE THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. City Administrator McFarland asserted if the Council is com- Tortable with the Scope of Work with modifications, he would Ike to investigate the possibilities of who s available, and get some ideas of the credentials of the consultant groups that might be doing the study. Then he could come back to the Council with some ideas of what s out there and what a good tigure might be tor a study ot this nature in terms of budgetary impact. Then in about two weeks, it approved, we would move into the proposal evaluation phase, then the award, and finally the study. Councilmember Ekberg inquired how would this project be funded. McFarland suggested the contingency fund (undefined needs) support this study. Other alternatives may be looked at also. Council President Hernandez commented that final funding approval would come back to the full Council. McFarland replied, absolutely. *MOTION CARRIED. *MOTION CARRIED. ORIGINAL MOTION IS APPROVED AS AMENDED. Ross Earnst. Public Works Director. informed the Council this item had been reviewed by the Department of Community Development and the Council Utility Committee. Earnst also explained that this ordinance was drafted to regulate land altering activity. to prevent the sediment or sediment related pollution, to minimize maintenance costs ot existing and tuture infrastructure as a result of grade and fill acti- vities, establish the procedures through which these purposes can be iultilled. implement goals and policies of the City s Comprehensive Land Use Policy Plan tor the natural environ- ment, open space and surface drainage, etc. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING April 9, 1990 Page 4 SPECIAL ISSUES (Con t) Discussion on the ground cover preservation and clearing /filling grading. REPORTS D� Mr. Earnst briefly explained a few questions asked of him by the Utility Committee The City does not preservation and have a tree specialist; tree specialists hired by the develo- per s representative or the property owner s representative will designate damaged trees. A proposed schedule provided by the developer s specialist would be viewed by the staff. both Public Works and the Planning Departments, to determine the new tree planting schedules. The Butter Zone, Fill Material, Impervious Surface, Public Tree, Wetland, Ground Cover, Permit Control Objectives, Application tor Permit, and Exemptions were among the sec- tions of the draft ordinance discussed by the Council. Councilmember Robertson suggested the discussion be continued to the April 23, 1990 Committee of The Whole Meeting; and that the discussion start with section 2.7, Exemptions. City Administrator McFarland reported on the "Neighborhood Strategies Project," stating that the name had been changed to COMMUNITY EHNANCEMENT PROJECT. adding that Community Enhancement dispenses a more appealing tone. McFarland continued giving background information on the pro- ject pointing out that the recent growth experienced within the City of Tukwila. both through continued development and annexations, has made it clear that a mechanism is needed to comprehensively assess the long range needs of the community. The intent of the Neighborhood Strategies Project is to create a forum for the systematic analysis of natural neighborhoods within the City. McFarland suggested a functional task force consisting of representatives from the Police, Fire. Public Works, Parks Recreation, Department of Community Development Departments and the Mayor s office be established to assess each area beginning with Pacific Hwy. South and the Interurban corri- dors. Consideration in assessing each area would include integration of existing City -wide comprehensive plans, stu- dies, and other related documents. Councilmember Robertson signified that the Council's agenda is currently pressed with pending issues. While he agrees that this project is a great idea, he'd rather wait until some of the present issues are resolved. Councilmember Lawrence agreed with proceeding in this area to allow for budget forecasting in this year's budget. Council President Hernandez inquired if this project could be funded through Block Grant funding. McFarland answered that Grant possibilities and internships were being looked at. It was the consensus of the Council that the Community Enhancement Project be moved to the Community Affairs and Parks Committee tor further discussion. Councilmember Robertson reported on the SAO Ad Hoc Committee stating that he would rather not build an aesthetic ordi- nance, but take the concepts and ideas and use where appropriate to modify the existing codes and /or ordinances within the City. When an agreed upon document is completed, he suggested authority be given to the Ad Hoc Committee to review. It a consensus is met by the Ad Hoc Committee, the document will then go to the Planning Commission. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING April 9, 1990 Page 5 REPORTS (Con t ADJOURNMENT 11 3U p.m. After the Planning Commission and any other interested party have reviewed the document, it will then come back before the Council. That would be the quickest way with the least amount of rework for staff and others involved. Councilmember Rants stated that he would be uncomfortable with a document going to the Planning Commission betore the entire Council had a chance to review it. Council President Hernandez expressed she was also uncomfor- table with the idea of the Planning Commission reviewing and holding a public hearing on something that the whole Council had not viewed. She added the C.O.W's are held for that very purpose -as a working session, to review, discuss and make recommendations. Councilmember Rants stated that his understanding was that after a consensus was met by the Ad Hoc Committee, it would then go before the whole Council, not to the Planning Commission. Councilmember Robertson agreed and stated he has no problem with the procedure and pointed out that he would endorse the method of whole Council participation in matters such as these. Councilmember Moriwaki asserted nothing was being passed. the document would be sent to the Planning Commission for recommendations only. Councilmember Ekberg commented he had no problem with the matter going before the Planning Commission as long as he had a copy of the packet being presented. Council President Hernandez suggested the discussion be con- tinued to the April 23rd Committee of The Whole Meeting. MOVED BY ROBERTSON, SECONDED BY RANTS THAT TONIGHT'S COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING BE EXTENDED UNTIL 11 p.m. MOTION CARRIED. Council President Hernandez reported she was going to attend a meeting of the SeaTac Community Task Force (April 10) where Senator Slade Gordon was going to be the guest speaker; and on Wednesday she would attend a Suburban Cities Association meeting in Mercer Island. Councilmember Moriwaki reported that the Community Affairs Parks Committee met tonight and an agenda item of biggest interested was that M.A. Segale is considering annexing into our community. Councilmember Rants reported he had recently attended a leadership conference called the New Pacific Fiscal. Cultural Dream of The United Northwest, from Portland to Vancouver, sponsored by the Seattle Chamber of Commerce. The main focus of the agenda was the private and public sectors working together to promote strong ties between the two countries. The new U.S. /Canada Free Trade Agreement will help promote this concept. The general outlook is for a metropolitan, commercial area to extend from Portland to Vancouver, possibly connected by high -speed rail. MOVED BY ROBERTSON, SECONDED BY HERNANDEZ THAT THE MEETING BE ADJOURNED. MOTION CARRIED. Goan Hernandez, Council President? Celia Squarg, Recording Secretary