HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg 2014-12-01 Item 8C - Report - City Administrator1",„'"1.11r
City of Tukwila
CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
The city of opportunity, the community of choice
TO: Mayor Haggerton
Councilmembers
FROM: David Cline, City Administrator
DATE: November 23, 2014
SUBJECT: Report for December 1, 2014 Regular Council Meeting
Jim Haggerton, Mayor
The City Administrator Report is meant to provide the Council, staff and community an update
on the activities of the City and on issues that concern Tukwila. Please let me know if you have
any questions or need additional information about any of the following items.
Intergovernmental Update
• Meeting with Mayor Murray: Mayor Haggerton and Communications and Government
Relations Director Rachel Bianchi met with Seattle Mayor, Ed Murray to discuss issues
that involve both Tukwila and Seattle.
• National League of Cities Congress of Cities: Mayor Haggerton, Councilmembers
Duffie, Ekberg, Kruller, Quinn and Seal, Communications and Government Relations
Manager Rachel Bianchi, and Council Analyst Laurel Humphrey attended the National
League of Cities Congress of Cities in Austin, Texas. Mayor Haggerton was selected to
serve on the National League of Cities Information Technology and Communications
Steering Committee.
• School District Cultural Liaisons: Evie Boykan, Program Manager met with the School
District Cultural liaisons that help support Burmese, Nepali, East African and Latina
families. The liaisons received information about accessing City Human Services
including rental and utility assistance and minor home repair.
I. Community Events
• Comprehensive Plan Report Back Meetings: On November 19 staff participated in a
targeted Comprehensive Plan "Report Back" meeting at the Abu -Bakr Islamic Center
with members of the Somali community. The meeting observed appropriate cultural
practices, and was interpreted in Somali and English. Before the meeting, staff received
a tour of the mosque.
The meeting was led by Community Connectors from the Somali community and
participants discussed City roles and processes. They learned how the City is
responding to their concerns over safety and security and about effective communication
and engagement with City government. Participants signed up for further involvement,
including attending Council and commission meetings or talking with City departments.
A third and final Comprehensive Plan "Report Back" event was held Saturday,
November 22 at Showalter Middle School with Bhutanese, and Amharic interpreters.
The purpose of these discussions is to share how the feedback we heard in March
related to housing, community, and food access, has been incorporated into the
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Comprehensive Plan Update, and to give our Community Connectors opportunities to
assume a greater leadership /facilitation role.
II. Staff Updates
Public Safety
• Cascade and Showalter Care Niqht Events: Tukwila Police Department Community
Police Team Officers took part in Cascade Care Night at Cascade View Elementary
School on October 15 and Teen Care Night at Showalter Middle School on November 4.
The events served to distribute donated clothing to families in need as well as pass on
important safety information to the community. The officers' presence served to diffuse
any potential altercations and community members were able to safely and successfully
get much needed clothing.
Project Updates
• Boeinq Access Road Liqht Rail Station Meetinq: Mayor Haggerton and Dave Sabey
facilitated a meeting with key business representatives in North Tukwila to discuss the
need for Sound Transit to reinstate the originally planned Boeing Access Road Light Rail
Station. This station was approved by voters in the original Sound Move initiative in
1996 but was deferred in 2001. Together, Sabey and the City are creating a coalition of
business and other civic representatives to advocate that the Sound Transit Board
undefer this station and provide the necessary funding to build the station. Several City
staff, including City Administrator David Cline, Economic Development Manager Derek
Speck, Economic Liaison Brandon Miles and Communications and Government
Relations Manager Rachel Bianchi provided support and will help coordinate this effort.
• Urban Renewal: The City was able to relocate two beautiful Japanese Maple trees and
other ornamental bushes from the seized motel sites to City Hall and the Tukwila
Community Center so they can be enjoyed by visitors.
• Delta -White Center Masonic Hall 13034 41st Avenue South: The King County
Landmark Commission (acting as the Tukwila Landmark Commission) held a hearing on
the nomination of the historic Masonic Hall for landmark protection. This approval will
help it qualify for historic preservation grants to repair the brick siding that has fallen off
one side of the building.
• Museum of Fliqht — Covered Airpark, 9229 East Marqinal Way S: A pre - application
meeting was held this week to discuss the construction of a 137,000 square foot covered
airpark proposed between the Space Gallery and Aviation High School. The applicant
will be submitting for a SEPA Planned Action and the necessary permit applications.
The construction schedule will have utility work beginning in late February 2015, the
foundation and slab -on -grade work in the spring and fall of 2015, with the construction of
the main structure beginning in the fall of 2015 quarter and scheduled for completion in
May 2016.
• Safe Routes to School Projects: The Cascade View Project was substantially
completed on November 19 with the paving of the majority of the trail. The remaining
minor items of work should be completed by the end of the year. Thorndyke (S 150th)
has been delayed by wet /cold weather and work will resume early next year.
III. Responses to Council /Citizen Inquiries
• Rainbow Haven Park: During Citizen Comments at the November 10 Council meeting,
residents from Rainbow Haven Park registered complaints and requested assistance from
the City regarding cost of utilities, trespassers after dark, drainage problems, theft and other
concerns. Officer Stetson and DCD Director Jack Pace met with the residents afterwards
and all agreed that the residents would provide the City a complete list of their
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concerns. After researching and reviewing the list, all affected department representatives
will meet with them to discuss solutions and make recommendations.
• Vietnamese Martyr's Parish: In response to a letter sent to the City from the Vietnamese
Martyr's Parish, City staff met with the Pastor of the Parish to let him know that the System
Wide Improvement Framework (SWIF) Advisory Council recommended that the existing
riverbank and levee in the vicinity of the Parish remain in its current location. The alternative
to realign the riverbank behind the Parish building did not have majority support at the
Advisory Council. The next step is for the King County Flood Control District to consider and
select the preferred SWIF alternative.
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