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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-02-03 Finance and Safety MinutesCity of Tukwila Finance and Safety Committee FINANCE AND SAFETY COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes February 3, 2015 — 5:30 p.m.; Hazelnut Conference Room PRESENT Councilmembers: Kathy Hougardy, Chair; Joe Duffie, De'Sean Quinn Staff: Jack Pace, Peggy McCarthy, Jerry Hight, Derek Speck, Rachel Bianchi, Laurel Humphrey CALL TO ORDER: Committee Chair Hougardy called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. I. PRESENTATIONS No presentations. II. BUSINESS AGENDA A. Code Enforcement Staffing Staff is seeking Council approval to reallocate funds from the Department of Community Development's Professional Services budget to its Salaries and Benefits budget for the purpose of hiring one additional Code Enforcement Officer. During discussions regarding the 2015 -2016 Budget, the City Council expressed a desire for increased code enforcement in residential areas and along Tukwila International Boulevard. To that end the Council approved $87,000 under Professional Services in the adopted budget to serve as a placeholder while the division underwent a LEAN -based process review. That review is now complete and staff proposes that additional staffing is required to achieve the enhanced code enforcement goals previously discussed. Supporting this proposal, the addition of a temporary additional officer in 2014 resulted in a 42% increase in cases opened and a 64% increase in cases resolved. Staff also mentioned that a new educational flier is being developed and that successful community programs such as "Clean and Green Tukwila" will be continued this year. Committee members and staff discussed the proposal as well as other strategies to apply to an enhanced code enforcement program. Key items that emerged include: 1) need for enhanced communications to residents, including education about standards and follow -up regarding reported issues 2) full implementation of eTrakit program 3) Council review of property maintenance standards 4) exploration of incentives to encourage compliance. Staff agreed to follow up on these items via committees or other appropriate channels. Additionally, the City Administrator Report will continue to be used as a tool to communicate progress on cases. The Committee supported the request for a third Code Enforcement Officer. This can occur via a formal motion at a Regular meeting and followed up with a Budget amendment this summer. In the meantime, the hiring process can proceed if the full Council approves the motion. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO FEBRUARY 9, 2015 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. Finance & Safety Committee Minutes February 3, 2015 — Page 2 B. Ordinance: Sale of City Property Staff is seeking Council approval of an ordinance that would amend Tukwila Municipal Code Chapter 2.64 to modify the process for selling City property. The current Code requires that following a bid process, the City Council authorizes a sale and the Mayor processes the transaction. This assumes a simple sale in which the City has no other interest other than attaining the best price. However, circumstances such as the Tukwila Village and Urban Renewal projects are examples of times where the City may be better served by negotiating directly with a developer rather than engaging a competitive bidding process. The proposed ordinance would allow the Council to approve an alternative process under certain circumstances such as these. The proposal also establishes a new maximum value of $5,000 in the exceptions list, simplifies terminology regarding assessment of value, and replaces reference to a City Hall bulletin board with the City's online records center. Committee members discussed the proposal and supported it with the following changes: 1) Insert language regarding compliance with RCW and /or Attorney approval to further clarify conditions under which an alternative process can be designated by Council. 2) In section 4, change the maximum property value in the Call for Bids exception list to $10,000 UNANIMOUS APPROVAL AS AMENDED. FORWARD TO FEBRUARY 9, 2015 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. C. Contract: Federal Government Affairs Services The City has learned that its main government affairs consultants at Ball Janik, Hal Hiemstra and Michelle Giguere, have started their own company called Summit Strategies Government Affairs, LLC, effective February 1, 2015. Ball Janik will no longer be offering government affairs services and the City must decide if it would like to contract with Summit Strategies instead. No changes are expected other than contact email addresses. A draft contract has been prepared which mirrors the previous contract with Ball Janik minus the fee and expenses incurred in January. It provides for a 2015 -2016 flat monthly rate of $6,375 plus expenses not to exceed $3,240 annually. The total annual rate is not to exceed $73,365. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO FEBRUARY 9, 2015 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. III. MISCELLANEOUS Meeting adjourned at 6:24 p.m. Next meeting: Tuesday, March 3, 2015 — 5:30 p.m. — Hazelnut Conference Room Committee Chair Approval Minutes by LH