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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-09-22 Committee of the Whole Minutes Tukwila City Council Committee the Whole Meeting City Hall Council Chambers September 22,2014 - 7:00 MINUTES COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council President Quinn called the Tukwila City Council meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. OFFICIALS Present were De'Sean Quinn, Council President, Councilmembers Joe Duffie, Dennis Robertson, Allan Ekberg, Verna Seal, Kathy Hougardy, Kate Kruller. CITY OFFICIALS Jim Haggerton, Mayor; David Cline, City Administrator; Bruce Linton, Assistant Police Chief; Rick Still, Parks and Recreation Director; Kirstin May, Recreation Coordinator; Brandon Miles, Economic Development Planner; Katherine Kertzman, Tourism Manager; Gail Labanara, Public Works Analyst; Peggy McCarthy, Finance Director; Vicky Carlsen, Finance Deputy Director; Mary Miotke, Information Technology Director; Laurel Humphrey, Council Analyst; Melissa Hart, Deputy City Clerk. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS a. Introduction of preschool teacher Nichole Flores. Kirstin May, Recreation Coordinator, briefed the Council on the history of the City's preschool program. In January 2014 staff began the search for a new preschool teacher, and Nichole Flores was selected to fill the position. She began employment with the City in July, and during the summer there were three advance preschool classes. Each of the three classes was at the student maximum, and all the current preschool classes are full. She introduced Ms. Flores to the Council. Ms. Flores thanked the Council and the City for the opportunity to serve the children and community. She has 13 years experience, which includes 7 years teaching special education. Ms. Flores introduced her family in the audience, and she reviewed her goals for the preschool program and distributed a copy of her monthly newsletter to the Council. The Councilmember~ exchanged comments and welcomed Ms. Flores to the City. CITIZEN COMMENTS There were no citizen comments. SPECIAL ISSUES a. A lease agreement with Westfield Southcenter for the Visitor Information Center. Councilmember Seal indicated this item was discussed at the Finance and Safety Committee meeting on September 16,2014. The committee members forwarded this item to the Committee of the Whole and Special Meeting Consent agenda. Katherine Kertzman, Tourism Manager, explained the City Council authorized Seattle Southside Visitor Services to begin operating a Visitor Center kiosk at Westfield Southcenter Mall in October 2013, and the current lease will expire at the end of September 2014. Staff is requesting the Council approve the new short-term lease that will expire June 30, 2015. It is anticipated that on July 1, 2015, the new Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority will assume operation of the Visitor Center. Page of 5 COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE SPECIAL MEETING CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. • • • • • • • • • • • Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes Page September 22, 2014 "Attachment A" at the first Committee of the Whole meeting and then return to the proposed review schedule. Council President Quinn voiced his support for having "Attachment A" available for Council discussion at two meetings. The review will give the Council ample opportunity to grasp the big picture of the budget details and policies. He commented that the Council will need to ensure there is adequate time to review all documents for each meeting. rd Councilmember Ekberg commented that staff is submitting the 53 Street Improvement Project (again) for a grant to fund design of the project. If the grant is not awarded, the concern in the Transportation Committee is that the project will be shelved for another year. He stated the City would need approximately $250,000 to design the project so that it is "shovel ready" in order to be considered for future grant opportunities. He asked that the Council keep this project in mind when thinking about the upcoming budget discussion. REPORTS a. Mayor Mayor Haggerton announced that September is a 5 Monday month, and the next City Council meeting will be October 6,2014. On September 16,2014 he attended the retirement event for Dave Larson, who worked for the City for 25 years. On September 17, 2014 he attended the Sound Cities Board of Directors Meeting, and he reviewed a few of the agenda topics from that meeting. He announced that according to King County Executive Dow Constantine, King County will cap the number of inmates that will be housed in King County Jail facilities. On September 18, 2014 he attended the City Well ness Committee's employee well ness event at the Tukwila Community Center and commented on the event activities. b. City Councilmember Duffie attended the employee wellness event on September 18, 2014 at the Tukwila Community Center. He said the Council took action at the September 15,2014 Regular Meeting relating to a Fire Authority that has some residents concerned, as they feel the City has now joined the Kent Fire Authority. He asked that clarification be provided regarding the action that was taken by the Council on this issue. Council member Seal stated the Council voted to take the exploration of a Fire Authority one step further. The Fire Exploratory Committee found there was enough evidence to move to the next step. A new Committee will be comprised of Councilmembers, City staff, Tukwila Fire staff and union members, community members and stakeholders. This new committee will drill down the information to answer the following question: "Would joining the Kent Regional Fire Authority make sense for the City of Tukwila?" th The decision made on September 15 was to take the next step, look at the numbers and determine if the City should maintain the status quo and continue to operate the City's Fire Department or move forward with a Fire Authority. Separately, the Council decided to explore contracting with Chief Jim Schneider, Fire Chief of the Kent Regional Fire Authority, to fill the Fire Chief position in the Tukwila Fire Department. Councilmember Kruller commented that the first Committee did the feasibility study on a Fire Authority. There are no commitments to be part of a Fire Authority at this time. The next committee may find that this idea is not good for the City and it ends there. Council President Quinn stated there are quite a few more steps that need to be taken in the process before the City moves to a Regional Fire Authority, including a vote of the people. A majority of the Council has served on various Fire Authority Committees, and the information presented at the last meeting indicated financial changes show this might now be an opportunity for the City. There are several decisions that still need to be made; the decision was to move forward with the committee process. Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes 4 5 Page September 22,2014 Councilmember Duffie thanked the Council for the explanation. He said the citizens watching the Council meeting will now have a better understanding of this issue. Councilmember Hougardy asked for clarification on the intent of the motion relating to exploring Fire Chief services with Chief Schneider. Councilmember Robertson commented that the intent of the second motion was to explore and prepare an ILA (Interlocal Agreement) for Fire Chief services. He explained the ILA would follow the City's normal process, and the Committee and Council could choose not to move the ILA forward, based on the terms of the agreement. If the City chooses to move forward with a Fire Authority, it was thought it would be best to contract for Fire Chief services rather than hire for the position. Councilmember Robertson commented that during a recent trip to Seattle via Airport Way he noticed a great number of rail cars along the tracks near Boeing Field (the King County Regional Airport). Council President Quinn attended the Taste of Tukwila, A Heritage and Culture Celebration, on September 19, 2014. He thanked Laurel Humphrey, Council Analyst, for her organization of the Council's booth at the event. Councilmember Ekberg attended the Taste of Tukwila, A Heritage and Culture Celebration, on September 19, 2014. He also attended the recent Puget Sound Regional Council Transit Oriented Development Meeting. Council member Seal attended the King County Newborn Safety Task Force meeting on September 18, 2014, and she updated the Council on topics discussed at that meeting. She referenced a recent Tukwila School District e-newsletter that provided information about free immunizations for Tukwila students at the Tukwila HealthPoint (Military Road) on various dates. (Please visit www.tukwila.wednet.edu for more information or call 206 901-8000). Councilmember Hougardy attended the special meeting of the King County Regional Transit Committee on September 17, 2014. On September 19,2014, she attended Taste of Tukwila, A Heritage and Culture Celebration. Councilmember Kruller updated the Council on her recent participation at various media seminars. On September 19, 2014 she attended the Taste of Tukwila, A Heritage and Culture Celebration, and she commended the individuals responsible for organization of the event. She stated that later that evening, Odin Brewery had a soft opening event. On September 20,2014, she attended the "Sustain Tukwila Pool" meeting. She thanked Marty Grisham, Emergency Manager, for his assistance with CodeRed registration. She said there has been recent discussion surrounding oil tanker rail transportation, and she reviewed recent research she found on this topic. Staff David Cline, City Administrator, stated he gave a presentation at the recent City Managers Conference on the City's efforts relating to Tukwila Village. He commended staff on the success of the Taste of Tukwila, A Heritage and Culture Celebration (September 19, 2014) and expressed appreciation for the Well ness Committee and the recent employee wellness event (September 18,2014). City Attorney The City Attorney's presence is not required at Committee of the Whole meetings. Intergovernmental There was no report. Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes Page September 22, 2014 ADJOURNMENT 8:30 p.m. COUNCIL PRESIDENT QUINN DECLARED THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING tD.e'SeatfQtllM, Council President Melissa Hart, Deputy City Clerk APPROVED AND SIGNED BY THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT ON 10/06/2014 AVAILABLE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE 10/07/2014