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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-05-22 Committee of the Whole MinutesMay 22, 1989 7:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT CITIZEN'S COMMENTS Minutes of Council Meetings Recycling OTHERS Special Public Meeting Siting of Fire Stations. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING M I N U T E S 13 City Hall Council Chambers Council President Stoknes called the Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole meeting to order. MOVED BY HARRIS, SECONDED BY DUFFIE, THAT COUNCIL AMEND THE AGENDA OF TONIGHT'S MEETING AND HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT THE END OF THE MEETING. MOTION CARRIED. MABEL J. HARRIS, JOE H. DUFFIE, EDGAR D. BAUCH, MARILYN G. STOKNES (COUNCIL PRESIDENT), JOAN HERNANDEZ, DENNIS L. ROBERTSON, CLARENCE B. MORIWAKI. Mayor Gary L. Van Dusen, John Colgrove (City Attorney), Alan Doerschel (Finance Director), Ross Earnst (Public Works Director), Tom Keefe (Fire Chief), John McFarland (City Administrator), Nick Olivas (Assistant Fire Chief). A gentleman in the audience stated he would like copies of the Meeting Minutes of the City Council. Mayor Van Dusen advised him that the Meeting Minutes are available on the counter in the Office of the City Clerk. A gentleman in the audience asked about a recycling program for the City. John McFarland, City Administrator, advised that a recycling demonstration is going on at the present time within the City Hall. Phase II of recycling will be with the community and will start in the summer. Information letters will be sent to the citizens of the City. Mayor Van Dusen stated the citizen's ad hoc committee formed to review fire protection requirements recommended as follows: It was evident with the annexation of neighborhoods to the west, relocation of station #52 or addition of station #18 was necessary to ensure adequate fire protection to the entire community. Failure to staff station #18 would result in unacceptable response times to an area with significant population density. The staffing of station #18 would allow for a balanced response for fire protection and emergency medical service to the entire community. Operation of both station #52 and #18 would create unnecessary overlap of coverage in a portion of the residential area. Station #18 should be manned effective June 1 by station #52 personnel. The existing station #52 would become a reserve station until such time as a long range plan for the facility could be developed. Possible uses include the expansion of the library. Notify citizens of the plan and allow for a public meeting to discuss the issue and answer questions and concerns. Tom Keefe, Fire Chief, used charts and diagrams to show the overlap of services if both station #52 and #18 remain in operation. The cost if both stations remain open will be $425,000 per year in 1989 dollars. The total amount will represent $365,000 in wages and benefits, $35,000 for equipment, and $25,000 for insurance, etc. There would be very little difference in response time to "old Tukwila" from station #18. All firefighters are certified EMTs. A member of the audience remarked that you cannot get through Southcenter traffic at peak traffic times. A member of the audience stated there is a need to keep both #52 and #18 open regardless of the cost. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING May 22, 1989 Page 2 OTHERS Contd. Special Public Meeting Siting of Fire Stations -cont. Fire Chief Keefe stated the response time to a call would be 3 4 minutes. In most cities the response time is 6 minutes. A member of the audience stated with the annexation the City should be able to pay the additional cost. Fire Chief Keefe replied that residential areas do not bring in revenue. Mayor Van Dusen stated the City has to balance the services. The annexation has had an impact on the City. If the citizens feel there should be a station #52 on the "hill" then it will be put into the budget. Fire Chief Keefe stated the fire department has sirens and they have never had any difficulty getting up 65th; Southcenter traffic has never stopped the fire or aid cars. Ms. Bartlin, audience, stated she lived at Canyon Estates and there was a bad fire last year. If the fire departmet had been later getting there there would have been the loss of more than one unit. Chief Keefe stated Engine #52got to Canyon Estates first with Engine #53 arriving in less than one minute. Dee Westergaard, audience, asked how much area was taken in with the annexations? Was there enough area taken in to justify taking care of all of the annexed area and the hill? Isn't there justification for four stations? Fire Chief Keefe stated 12 paid firefighters came in with the annexation. Craig Wilson, Riverton, stated the area had two choices: to have volunteers or to consolidate. All of the new Tukwila need a chance to get used to each other. Jim Angle, audience, stated he was a volunteer fire fighters and they had no way to get 144th sanded during snow and icy weather. Fire Chief Keefe stated station #18 was a volunteer station. The plans include enlarging it so it will accommodate 7 people. The garage will not be touched. Station #52 has been slated for a library or for parks and recreation. Mayor Van Dusen stated the use of station #52 has not been decided. The library would like to have it. Ken Eldridge, audience, asked the cost of remodeling station #18 at Foster? Chief Keefe stated the cost will be $280,000. Pat Swanson, audience, stated she has been a resident of Tukwila for 28 years. She did not think there was a chance of getting from Foster to the location of present station #52 in 4 minutes as has been suggested. People's property values will go down and insurance will go up. She stated she would like to see station #52 remain open. Steve Lawrence, audience, stated it is too early to make this decision. If station #52 is closed it will create a rift. The cost of $425,000 is a small price to pay. Clay Wayne, audience, it was not right to take station #52 away from the people on the Tukwila hill. None of the stations should be closed Dave Keisler, audience, stated he lives across the street from station #52. He would like to see a year go by before the decision is made to close station #52. It would be interesting to see the actual costs of carefully kept records. One has to look at the entire cost. It may cost more to keep the roads open for one station to serve the entire area than it would be to operate two stations. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES May 22, 1989 Page 3 OTHERS CONTD. 0.2P-5 Special Public Dwayne Traynor, 14910 58th South, stated that all seven of the Meeting Siting of Council members told him that all of the areas being annexed would Fire Stations -cont. be self sufficient. Now the citizens on the hill are having to give up some of their services to take care of the annexed areas. Police protection was reduced starting in July. It was reduced because they were putting them in the annexed area to impress them. We were told our services would not be reduced. He stated he does not support closing Station #52 now, later or ever. Gene Elfstrom, audience, stated he has been a volunteer fireman at Station #52 for thirty years. When Enginer #52 is at Station #53 there is a loss of response time. He stated he was in favor of keeping Station #52 open with the engine there. Fire Chief Keefe stated when the plans are made there will be no ends of town left unprotected. Gene Montgomery, audience, asked the cost of remodeling the Foster station. Fire Chief Keefe stated it would be $280,000. Peggy Ryan, audience, stated everyone in the room feels the City Council promised no reduction of services and now the fire station is going to be taken from the hill. We were told the annexed areas were self supporting. Everyone speaking here tonight wants Station #52 left where it is. A lady in the audience said in looking at the coverage proposed by the fire department and the cost of $425,000 a year to keep both stations open it appears if the stations are combined that money could be used for parks and recreation or something else. Mayor Van Dusen stated the committee suggested this change not be made for two years. Services to Foster will be assumed on June 1. If we go to two stations we will have to go to some overtime. City Administrator John McFarland stated the City has had to hire trained fire fighters as there has not been time to train others. Councilmember Duffie stated the Council is interested in what the citizens have to say and that is why this meeting has been held for public input. We have heard the citizens say they want four fire stations. Councilmember Clarence Moriwaki stated all of the Councilmembers agree with what Councilmember Duffie has said. They did not make a decision or recommndation prior to this meeting. The Council wanted to hear from the citizens. Jan Michaelson, audience, stated she has not been shown how she is going to be protected. Mayor Van Dusen replied the City will be providing services for everyone on June 1 which may involve going into overtime, but the services will be provided. Councilmember Hernandez stated she lives close to Station #52 and it is an emotional decision. The Council wanted to hear from the citizens. Mayor Van Dusen stated he would meet with his staff and go over what has been said. There would be one more meeting with the ad hoc committee. A letter will be sent with the recommendation. Councilmember Harris stated the Council wanted to hear from the citizens and how they felt about the two stations. You were told you would not be deprived of any services. We listen to you. Alan Doerschel, Finance Director, gave a brief financial report on the revenues and taxes expected from the annexed areas. There is building going on; there will not be a great revenue shortfall. After a year has gone by it will be easier to answer all of the questions. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING May 22, 1989 Page 4 RECESS 8:50 9:13 P.M. SPECIAL ISSUES Discussion on funding for Foster School Auditorium. Council President Stoknes announced a recess for approximately ten minutes. The Committee of the Whole Meeting was called back to order by Council President Stoknes with Council members presented as previously listed. Council President Stoknes stated at the joint meeting the Council had with the South Central School Board the question was raised about the City supporting a larger auditorium at the new high school. The auditorium is currently planned to have a 500 -seat capacity. If the City support building another 200 -300 seats it would cost the City somewhere between $220,000 $320,000. Dr. Silver, Superintendent of the South Central School District, stated the 500 -seat auditorium would be adequate for the school. The additional 250 seating for the City would enhance the City and provide for community entertainment and meetings. Jan Michaelson, audience, stated the Park Commission recommended the larger auditorium before the cost was known. Dr. Silver stated an estimated cost is $400,000 for 250 seats. Council President Stoknes stated there would be the cost of hiring an auditorium manager, enlarge offices and lobby, there would also be the need of additional parking. Dr. Silver said by hiring a professional auditorium manager there would be professional maintenance of the auditorium. Bill Riggs, Planning Coordinator for the School Board, stated plans are being made for 400 off street parking places. Hubert Crawley, audience, stated in Auburn they had to 4 -lane the streets in the area of their auditorium. Mayor Van Dusen stated there should be 1 parking place for every four seats according to the zoning code. Anna Bernhard, audience, asked if it is costing $16 million for the school and then if the auditorium is enlarged what will it do to the taxes? Alan Doerschel, Finance Director, answered one option would be to have it come out of capital. Councilmember Duffie stated it is good to see the schools and the City working together. In the near future the City will have to invest in a community center. He would like to see a new community center with an auditorium in it and also a library and day care center. He wondered if the City needs all of the additional seating and whether or not they could make use of it. Dr. Silver said the design would have a balcony that could provide 250 seats. This calls for a design change and the requirement would have to be known before the plans are drafted. Adding the balcony later would not be good and would be too expensive. Councilmember Bauch said during the past one and one -half years while the annexation hearings have been held the citizens have been concerned about multi- family housing. There is a desire to have the schools in the neighborhoods; putting in the extra 250 seats would be for commercial purposes. It would be going into a neighborhood where the traffic is already heavy. This would not be keeping faith with the people. Councilmember Hernandez said she had been under the impression that the seating would not be enough for just the school. The cost is doubled over what was originally considered and the parking is yet to be considered. It seems the City should be able to use the school auditorium for public events. This is a bad time for the City to commit when we do not know the uses it would serve. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING May 22, 1989 Page 5 SPECIAL ISSUES CONTD. Disc. on funding for Councilmember Moriwaki asked for the enrollment in the high Foster School Auditor- school. Dr. Silver answered there are 400 students in the ium contd. elementary school and 1,000 students projected for the high school which is expected to grow 50% in the next few years. If the City cleans up the strip and younger families are attracted to Tukwila there will be more growth. Disc. on Nelson/ Longacres Drainage Basin System. Jan Michaelson, audience, asked why the School District has not designed the school for this projected growth? Dr. Silver answered it is determined that one seat is not needed for each student due to fact they are seldom in the auditorium at one time. Bill Riggs, Planning Coordinator, stated the auditorium at Bremerton has 1200 seats. It is a community auditorium. It is too large. It would be better at 500 seats with balcony for 250. Councilmember Harris stated from experience it is much better to have a small place filled for an event and have it more than one night if necessary. Buildings last only so long we should let the school build what they are going to need. Councilmember Robertson said there is going to be residential growth in the area. An auditorium is different than a gym. If the school would be better off with the larger auditorium then the voters should determine that. He was not sure the City should spend the money. Mayor Van Dusen said he has apprehension about sponsoring addi- tional seating. The City has sponsored artists here in the Council Chambers. We seem to have a City that does not support the arts. Dr. Silver said the school is being built for 700 students. They feel comfortable and prepared for the growth that is anticipated. There will be 400 off street parking spaces. Councilmember Robertson said it seems there is consensus of the Council the additional seating in the auditorium should not be sponsored by the City. Kathy Stetson, audience, stated this is bad timing to have the subject come up. The City has just had four annexations and the school is under a time crunch to get started on the building. Authorize Mayor to Councilmember Moriwaki stated the BAR reduced the amount of enter into Dev. Agree- parking required. After one year it will be studied to determine ment w /Embassy Suites. if the parking is adequate. If it is not adequate more parking will be required. He stated he was concerned about the parking if the motel and restaurant are full. City Attorney Colgrove stated the latest draft of the Developer's Agreement has eliminated Section 4. The Planning Commission has fixed the parking. MOVED BY ROBERTSON, SECONDED BY DUFFIE, THAT THE PROPOSED DEVELOPER'S AGREEMENT BE ON THE AGENDA OF THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. MOTION CARRIED. Councilmember Moriwaki said the word "may" in the second line of page 11 should be changed to "shall." The Council agreed to this change. Linda Young, Embassy Suites, stated they have to use Puget Power for parking. They will have to go back for a BAR amendment. Ross Earnst, Public Works Director, stated there will be a few more word changes in the document. The Council will see the actual document when it is considered. Ross Earnst, Public Works Director, stated it is recommended to purchase the northern Nelson parcel that is between the Union Pacific and the Burlington Northern Railroads. It would be used TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES May 22, 1989 Page 6 SPECIAL ISSUES CONTD. Disc. on Nelson/ Longacres Drainage Basin Sys. contd. REPORTS Mayor EXECUTIVE SESSION 10:45 P.M. ADJOURNMENT 11:00 P.M. for the Nelsen /Longacres drainage. The purchase of the property will be discussed in Executive Session. Mayor Van Dusen distributed the DCD Workplan Status Report providing update of the report. MOVED BY HARRIS, SECONDED BY DUFFIE, THAT COUNCIL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR TEN MINUTES. MOTION CARRIED. MOVED BY DUFFIE, SECONDED BY ROBERTSON, THAT COUNCIL ADJOURN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. MOTION (TARRIED. Council President Stoknes adjourned the Tuwila City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting. Mari yn G. S'. nes, Council President r Norma Booher, Recording Secretary O d d