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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-05-29 Committee of the Whole MinutesTUKWILA CITY COUNCIL 05 30 MAY 29, 1990 Tukwila City Hall 7:00 P.M. Council Chambers COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE M I N U T E S CALL TO ORDER Council President Hernandez called the Committee of the Whole Meeting of the Tukwila City Council to order. COUNCILMEMBERS JOE DUFFIE, JOAN HERNANDEZ (Council President); DENNIS PRESENT ROBERTSON, CLARENCE B. MORIWAKI, ALLAN E. EKBERG, STEVE LAWRENCE, JOHN RANTS. OFFICIALS Viki Witschger, Personnel Officer; Ross Earnst, Public Works Director; Ron Cameron, City Engineer; Rebecca Fox, Department of Community Development; Rick Beeler, Department of Community Development Director. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS Dan Graves, Chief of Animal Control and Jim Buck, Director of General Services of King County Animal Control, were present to discuss Animal Control Services. Slides were shown to enhance the services King County has to offer. A question and answer period followed the slide presentation. CITIZENS COMMENTS Jim Buck stated Tukwila is first on the list of many cities that will be visited by King County staff in an effort to increase lines of communications and a routine dialogue so that, hopefully, improvements can be made in the services presently being provided; and to also welcome creative ideas from all citizens in the County. Council President Hernandez stated her concerns were trying to get help on evenings and weekends. When the "296- PETS" number is called a recorded message answers. Mr. Buck informed the Council that messages may be left on the answering machine because the King County officers check the machines on a regular basis and investigate the caller's complaint. Mr. Buck said the County will also provide more educational literature, possibly a flyer to insert in our Hazelnut; concentrate on patrolling at varying hours. There were complaints regarding the numbers of pets allowed at a single residence. Mr. Buck stated the total number of pets permitted shall not exceed four (4) without a hobby kennel license. To do so would constitute a violation of the County Ordinance and a penalty may be invoked. Concerns were expressed in other areas such as who will be responsible for setting and monitoring traps and that the public should be notified as to where the traps will be located in the City. Instead of targeting owners pets more attention should be paid to strays. Some citizens want to see the traps discontinued for fear the animal may pay the ultimate price. Councilmember Hernandez referred this item back to the Finance and Safety Committee for further review. Colleen Anderson, 12630 34th Avenue South, commented she would like to see the Council minutes transcribed in a timely manner because she is not always able to attend the Council meetings. She uses the minutes to determine the actions that the Council has taken on agenda items. Council President Hernandez stated that a higher priority will be placed on getting the minutes transcribed on time. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING May 29, 1990 Page 2 REPORTS PUBLIC HEARINGS Mayor Van Dusen announced that Ralph Trapanier is retiring after twenty years of service to the City. The Mayor also recommended to the Council that the Cascade View annexation be accepted some time in September and that special attention should be paid to the overall staffing of the City due to the increase in population this annexation will bring. Councilmember Duffie reported that work had begun on Gilliam Creek, those interested are welcome to visit the area. Councilmember Robertson reported that the Transportation Committee will be meeting on June 4 at 5:30 p.m. and again on June 19th at 6:30 p.m. Councilmember Rants reported that the King Sub Regional meeting has been moved to June 7 due to the Association of Washington Cities Conference; however, Rants has been called to serve on Jury Duty during this time and asked Hernandez to attend since she is listed as alternate. But Hernandez has several other commitments; therefore Moriwaki volunteered to attend in Hernandez place. Council President Hernandez reported that she had attended the Business Recycling Meeting and later on the same day she attended the Residential Recycling Program meeting. Hernandez continued as she informed the Council of her atten- dance at the EDC Program on "Youth Involvement In The Com- munity, A Partnership With Business and The Schools." This is a program targeted at AT -RISK YOUTHS and was sponsored by CH2M Hill, a company the City does business with quite fre- quently. Hernandez was impressed with the program and will try to learn more about it and how to involve the City. Councilmember Moriwaki reported that Dick Fain, Principal, Tukwila Elementary School, was present at the Community Affairs and Parks Committee meeting (5/29/90). Mr. Fain made a presentation on building a jogging trail around the peri- meter of the school. Due to the need for more building space and having to bring in portables, the students are losing their play area rather dramatically. The Committee will review the cost with Don Williams, Parks Director, when he submits an estimate in approximately two weeks. The Committee also discussed the potential of purchasing Open Space. Councilmember Ekberg reported that the Finance and Safety Committee of 5/29/90 discussed proposed new planning fees and the rate structure that could be imposed based on direct costs of different service fees that the City provides to the applicants for anything dealing with community development, planning, zoning, etc. A more formal presentation is forth- coming; however, to date the City receives less than 20% of the cost of services. The Finance Safety Committee propo- ses to bring these costs into alignment with the services. RECESS 8 45 p.m. 9;00 p.m. Councilmember Duffie was excused from the Committee of the Whole meeting to attend his Army Reserve meeting. Council President Hernandez called the meeting back to order with all Councilmembers in attendance except Joe Duffie. Council President Hernandez opened the public hearing of a petition for vacation of certain public right -of -way within the City generally described as a portion of 37th Avenue South, north of South 126th Street, requested by Sabey Corp. and Security Pacific Bank. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING May 29, 1990 Page 3 PUBLIC HEARINGS (Con't) OTHERS Discussion and consideration of a resolution adopting the local hazardous waste management plan for Seattle -King County. Discussion of classification and salary recommendation for Environmentalist position. 053a- Ross Earnst, Public Works Director, stated that there is water and sewer in the cul -de -sac and there is also a catch basin which indicates there is a problem with the storm drain. Earnst said that Sabey will build a driveway into the Security Pacific property as part of the vacation of this street. There are power and telephone accessibility in the area which may or may not remain. There's access on three and one -half sides by vehicle. Councilmember Ekberg asked will the area be accessible off 126th Avenue. Earnst said 125th is not open and he suspects it has been vacated by King County prior to the Annexation; however, 126th is opened. The Public Hearing was closed at 9:15 p.m. Rebecca Fox, Department of Community Development, introduced Dave Galvin, METRO, Office of Water Quality. Mr. Galvin stated that he has been involved in the development of this regional plan with Suburban Cities representatives, King County, City of Seattle and the Seattle /King County Health Department. Mr. Galvin presented the Council with a brief handout that describes what the plan is all about; and why its being supported as a regional effort. The handout covered the issue as being: household hazardous waste, and small quantity generator (business) hazardous waste. Regional benefits include, but not limited to: control of unregulated hazardou.. .pastes (currently estimated at 19,000 tons per year); worker safety; preventing problems before they occur; protecting waste management systems and environ- ment. Mr. Galvin continued that this Hazardous Waste Plan is being addressed regionally rather than have thirty -one individual cities all doing their own thing. He added that the state law requires that every local government adopt a plan dealing with household and small business hazardous waste; therefore, officially, the City of Tukwila (and all the other incor- porated cities) are required, by the state, to have an adopted plan for managing hazardous waste by the end of June 1990. MOVED BY ROBERTSON, SECONDED BY RANTS, THAT THE RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, ADOPTING THE LOCAL HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR SEATTLE -KING COUNTY, BE MOVED TO THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING (JUNE 4th) FOR ADOPTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED. Viki Witschger, Personnel Officer, presented a draft classi- fication description for the position of Urban Environmentalist for the City of Tukwila. Ms. Witschger explained to the Council that the emphasis on the classifica- tion is in the environmental aspects, but there is flexibi- lity in allowing for general long -range and current planning. She suggested the position be established in the Department of Community Development, and work in concert with Parks and Public Works in coordinating the planning process for environmental matters. Ms. Witschger added that due to the uniqueness of this position (background in landscape archi- tecture, forestry, streams, wetlands, etc.), the City may have to settle for someone who will have emphasis in one spe- cialty and will have to be made conversant in the others. For the same reason, it may be difficult to determine wages for this position. The City may want to consider assigning a wage at the Assistant Planner level for evaluation, needs and expectations. This would allow for future growth to the level of Associate Planner. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING May 29, 1990 Page 4 Discussion of classification and salary recommendation for Environmentalist position. (Con't) SPECIAL ISSUES Discussion on Growth Management (House Bill #2929) 533 Councilmember Robertson commented that he would rather see the position qualifications leaning more toward a thorough knowledge in trees, and plant materials used in the Northwest lands. The City does not want to end up with just another planning position. Councilmember Rants stated that Ms. Witschger was only pre- senting the Council with a working draft copy of the position so that the Council can revise to meet the City's needs. It is impossible for the personnel director to know exactly what is in each councilmember's mind. Mayor Van Dusen suggested the Council present an Issues and Options paper to Ms. Witschger, this would allow the Council to be more specific in the qualifications they are looking for in this particular position. However, the Mayor made it clear that although some very good points had been discussed, he doesn't believe that he can completely justify a full -time position dedicated solely to this function. Council President Hernandez stated that she is a little reluctant at making a decision on a new position of this magnitude in the middle of the year. She would prefer that staff made their requests known at budget time. This would allow for proper planning. Councilmember Lawrence said the job will have to be done. The question is who are we willing to pay a consultant or an employee. His guess is if the work is contracted out, the cost for a consultant will be much higher than paying a salaried staff person. Lawrence stated, furthermore, he sees this position as being a watchdog for the City, more of a resource person, who would handle specific projects on environmental issues unless they're too complex. If this is the case, this person should be able to steer the City in the right direction. This would eliminate having to call in a consultant each time a particular study is needed. Councilmember Moriwaki stated that this job position is cru- cial to the effectiveness of the Sensitive Area Ordinance. Moriwaki also added why have this wonderful ordinance to pro- tect our sensitive areas and not hire our own staff to ensure the overall success of it. He agrees the position may need fine tuning, but there is definitely a valid need for it. Ms. Witschger suggested that each Councilmember draft their job classification comments and /or suggestions, then get together with Lucy Lauterbach, Council Analyst, compile them and send them to her. She wants to make sure everyone is heading in the same direction on the description. After the job description has been fine tuned, it will come before the Council as final draft. Upon the Mayor's approval, Ms. Witschger will proceed with the salary review. When salary review is completed and if Mayor and Council decide to go with the position classification, it will take up to six (6) weeks from the day of advertising. Rick Beeler, Department of Community Development, said House Bill #2929 was an 86 -page bill passed by the legislature this past session. Although all its effects have not yet been decided, it is clear that the implications for Tukwila's planning, land use and transportation are great. A summary of the bill and its effect on Tukwila was given to the Councilmembers. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING May 29, 1990 Page 5 SPECIAL ISSUES (Con't) Discussion on the Vision 2020 Plan. Human Services Roundtable Legislative Agenda. ADJOURNMENT 11:00 p.m. o53q Rick Beeler also urged the Council to discuss the Vision 2020 plan, how Tukwila views its role in the plan, the options offered, and decide where Tukwila's vision lies and which vision the City should strive for. Council President Hernandez referred the discussion of the Vision 2020 Plan to a future Committee of The Whole meeting. Councilmember Moriwaki reviewed the Legislative Agenda with the Council, suggesting the Council should discuss the appropriate issues such as Child Care, Family Independence Program, Family Violence Programs, etc. and whether the priorities assigned to each issue are reasonable. Council President Hernandez called attention to the Clearing /Filling /Grading Ordinance. Reflecting the consensus of the whole Council, Councilmember Robertson stated a working draft of the ordinance would be sent to the Planning Commission for review purposes, only. Councilmember Rants announced a public meeting will be held tomorrow night (May 30, 1990) between the Planning Commission and the Tukwila City Council. MOVED BY MORIWAKI, SECONDED BY ROBERTSON, THAT THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING ADJOURN. MOTION CARRIED. J'o'an Hernandez, Council President Celia Square, Recording Secretary