HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-06-01 Regular MinutesTukwila City Council Regular Meeting
City Hall Council Chambers June 1, 2015 — 7:00 P.M.
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE /ROLL CALL
Mayor Haggerton called the Regular Meeting of the Tukwila City Council to order at 7:02 p.m. and led the
audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Christy O'Flaherty, City Clerk, called the roll of the Council. Present were Councilmembers Joe Duffie,
Dennis Robertson, Kate Kruller, Allan Ekberg, Verna Seal, Kathy Hougardy, De'Sean Quinn.
CITY OFFICIALS
Jim Haggerton, Mayor; David Cline, City Administrator; Rachel Turpin, City Attorney; Mike Villa, Police
Chief; Jack Pace, Community Development Director; Nora Gierloff, Deputy Community Development
Director; Derek Speck, Economic Development Administrator; Rachel Bianchi, Government Relations and
Communications Manager; Laurel Humphrey, Council Analyst; Christy O'Flaherty, City Clerk.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Acknowledge the "Tukwila, City of Opportunity Scholarship" recipients: Ms. Nandina Cengic, Ms.
Ada Jannina Arquiza, Ms. Mamata Tamang.
David Cline, City Administrator, introduced the students who were awarded "Tukwila, City of Opportunity"
scholarships.
Nandina Cengic
Mr. Cline stated that Ms. Cengic has been awarded a scholarship in the amount of $4,000. She is a
senior at Foster High School and will be attending the University of Washington to pursue a double major
in math and political science. She has served 120 volunteer hours for the Honor Society, and is a student
representative for the Arts Committee, a math tutor, and a front desk volunteer at a health clinic. She
also produced a short documentary about violence against women and girls. Ms. Cengic is also a
recipient of the AWC (Association of Washington Cities) Scholarship in the amount of $1,250.
Ada Jannina Arquiza
Mr. Cline relayed that Ms. Arquiza has been awarded a scholarship in the amount of $3,000. She is a
senior at Foster High School and will be attending the University of Washington to pursue engineering or
business. She is a member of the Student Library Council, activities coordinator for Asian students, and
a member of the Acapella Club and National Honor Society. She has also completed CERT (Community
Emergency Response Team) Training.
Mamata Tamang
Mr. Cline explained that Ms. Tamang has been awarded a scholarship in the amount of $3,000. She is a
senior at Foster High School and plans to attend Western Washington University to pursue a career in the
computer field or education. She serves as an Ignite Mentor and is on the Tukwila Library Council and
other school clubs.
Each of the students expressed appreciation to the Mayor and Council for receipt of the scholarships.
The Mayor and Council congratulated each of the award recipients for their achievements and wished
them well in their future endeavors.
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June 1, 2015 Page 2 of 6
CITIZEN COMMENTS
There were no citizen comments
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a. Approval of Minutes: 5/18/15 (RegularMtg.)
b. Approval of Vouchers #369309- 369402; #150400, #150503- 150505 in the amount of $1,963,241.05
c. Authorize the Mayor to sign a lease with Mike West for the property located at 14862 Tukwila
International Boulevard for a Neighborhood Resource Center for the period of July 1, 2015 through June
30, 2016, in an amount not to exceed $21,000.00. (The lease may remain in effect on a month -to -month
basis after June 30, 2016.)
(Reviewed and forwarded to Consent by the Finance and Safety Committee on 5119115.)
d. Award a bid to Paul Brothers, Inc., for the construction of the Duwamish Hill Preserve Phase 2 Project
in the amount of $620,587.22, and authorize the Mayor to sign the contract.
(Reviewed and forwarded to Consent by the Community Affairs and Parks Committee on 5126115.)
e. Authorize the Mayor to sign a contract with 4LEAF, Inc., for inspection services in an amount not to
exceed $100,000.00.
(Reviewed and forwarded to Consent at the Committee of the Whole Meeting on 5126115.)
MOVED BY DUFFIE, SECONDED BY KRULLER THAT THE CONSENT AGENDA BE APPROVED AS
SUBMITTED. MOTION CARRIED 7 -0.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
City process update on the Northwest Arena.
Nora Gierloff, Deputy Community Development Director, utilized a Powerpoint presentation to provide an
update on the Environmental Review (EIS) component of the proposed Northwest Arena project. Ms.
Gierloff noted that the EIS scoping meeting for this project will be held tomorrow on June 2, 2015, where
public comments will be accepted. Key points of the presentation included:
Overview
• Southcenter Subarea Plan
• Project description
• Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process
• Post -EIS next steps
Southcenter Subarea Plan
• Designated urban center
• TOD (Transit Oriented Development District):
• Housing, employment, shopping, amenities, recreation and entertainment
• EIS conducted
Ms. Gierloff explained that last year, the City completed the Southcenter Subarea Plan based on policy
direction set in 1995 as part of Tukwila's original Comprehensive Plan. Tukwila asked to be designated
as a regional urban center and focus of greater development intensity. This means that it is slated — not
just by Tukwila, but by the entire region — as an area expected to take significant growth, both in terms of
housing and jobs. In fact, the plan contemplates 2,700 new residents by 2030 and more than 25,000 jobs
in the Southcenter area alone.
The proposed arena site is in the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) District of the Southcenter area,
which is slated to take all of the elements, including recreation and entertainment.
The Southcenter (SC) Plan was built on prior environmental review such as the EIS that analyzed the
urban center concept in 1995. It was updated last year to reflect current conditions and the specifics of
the plan. The Arena project EIS will also build on prior analysis such as the SC Plan EIS, Water and
Sewer Comprehensive Plans and recent traffic modeling.
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June 1, 2015 Page 3 of 6
As a part of the Subarea planning process, the City conducted a full -scale EIS, which provided a
comprehensive study of the impacts of significant growth in the area.
Project Description
• Events: 230 per year; attendance varies by event
• Footprint: 195,000 square feet
• Total square footage: 700,000 square feet
• Maximum height: 140 feet
• Parking: structured garage to the east
The attendance at each of these events would vary greatly. For instance, if Lady Gaga were doing a
concert at the venue, they would expect to sell out at 19,500 people. If a professional sports team were
to play in the facility, depending on the sport it could draw between 17,500 and 18,500 fans at capacity.
Many of the events would likely range from 10,000 to 15,000 visitors in total. The breakdown for the 230
events per year is not known at this time.
The building would include public- oriented spaces and plazas, concessions, exhibition spaces, meeting
rooms and administrative offices.
The maximum height of the building is 140 feet and, according to our Code, must obtain a minimum of a
Silver LEED Certification, which is a rating system for "green" buildings.
The applicant is proposing to build a structured parking garage to the east of the proposed arena site in
between the UP and BNSF railroad tracks.
EIS Process
■ SEPA application
• Scoping notice & public meeting
■ Review comments
• Analysis of impacts
■ Draft EIS
• 30 day comment period
■ Final EIS
Washington's State Environmental Policy Act, or SEPA, provides a framework to help decision - makers,
applicants and the public understand how a proposed development will affect the environment. The City
of Tukwila received the SEPA application from RLB Holdings Sports and Entertainment, LLC, on
May 1, 2015, and Jack Pace, the SEPA responsible official, determined that an Environmental Impact
Statement, or EIS, is required to address potential construction and use impacts.
Once that determination was made, the City formally kicked off the scoping process by issuing a letter
that outlined the proposed project, the EIS process and how the general public can weigh in on the
scoping of the EIS. This is an opportunity for the public to weigh in on what issues the City needs to
review as a part of the EIS. The City has identified: land use, height, bulk, scale and aesthetics, air
quality and transportation - related issues including parking and traffic, as elements for discussion in the
EIS.
The scoping letter went to all owners and tenants within 500 feet of the project, individuals who have
inquired about the project, various agencies including WSDOT, PSE, the City of Renton and more.
Additionally three notice boards were installed on the site facing the adjacent streets. The notice was
also posted to the City's website.
The public has until close of business on June 12, 2015 to provide comments regarding the scoping
effort. They can do this at the meeting the City is conducting tomorrow, June 2, 2015 between 4:30 and
6:30 at the Tukwila Community Center, via Tukwila's website, in- person at the City's permit desk, via
regular USPS mail or by emailing NWArenaReviewaTukwilaWA.gov.
Once the comments are received, they will be reviewed and a determination will be made regarding what
other areas should be included in the scope. At that point, staff will begin the analysis of the impacts,
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June 1, 2015 Page 4 of 6
which will culminate with the publication of a draft EIS later this year. Once the draft is released, the
public has 30 days to provide comment, which will be responded to in the final EIS. As has been noted
previously, it is anticipated that the EIS process will take between six to twelve months.
Next Steps Post EIS
• Parking determination
• Permit decisions
• Board of Architectural Review
• Development agreement
• Potential street vacation
• Other potential Council actions
While technically not a part of the environmental review process, there are additional steps that are
important to note. Because the City's zoning does not contemplate a development of this kind, the
applicant has applied for a parking determination by the Department of Community Development Director
regarding how many parking spots they need to have associated with the development. This is currently
under review and will be issued after the EIS is complete, as the analysis in that document will inform
what is needed for the parking determination.
As the project progresses, there will be a number of other steps, including permit decisions and approval
by the Board of Architectural Review for the final design. Council actions will include, but are not limited
to a development agreement between the City and applicant, potential street vacation, and other potential
actions that may be needed.
The Councilmembers asked clarifying questions regarding the presentation and thanked Ms. Gierloff for
the update.
REPORTS
a. Mayor
Mayor Haggerton attended the Cascade Water Alliance Board of Directors Meeting on May 27, 2015,
where the focus was on the state of Lake Tapps and the timeline on it being refilled. The lake needed to
be drained to make necessary modifications, and with this being one of the driest years, it has taken
longer to refill than originally anticipated. When the Army Corps of Engineers makes repairs to Mud
Mountain dam this summer, they will divert water to Lake Tapps to assist in getting it refilled as soon as
possible. Additionally, on May 27, the Mayor attended the SCORE Jail Board of Director's meeting. The
jail was built to hold a population of 820, and there are currently 710 misdemeanants in the facility. Once
the 18 new officers have completed their training, the final pod available in the jail will be opened to
accept additional inmates. On May 28, the Mayor attended the Green River / Duwamish Watershed
meeting at the Tukwila Community Center, where the focus was on mitigating contaminants in the river.
On May 29, the Mayor visited the Tukwila Municipal Court where students from the 2nd grade and the high
school were learning about court proceedings. That same day, he attended a special celebration at
Starfire Sports and met the General Manager of the Sounders and had an opportunity to visit with the
players.
b. City Council
Councilmember Duffie reported on the Transportation Committee meeting that was conducted prior to this
evening's Council meeting. He also requested that the Councilmembers make arrangements to have a
group picture taken, based on all members of the Council having completed Fire Ops 101 training.
Councilmember Robertson attended the Green / Duwamish River Watershed meeting on May 28, 2015,
and reported that this is an example of different levels of government throughout the region working
together toward the cleanup of this important waterway. While the cleanup will costs hundreds of millions
of dollars, efforts are underway to identify the source of the contaminants, with a goal of preventing
continued pollution.
Tukwila City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
June 1, 2015 Page 5 of 6
Council President Kruller attended the MPD meeting this past week where the focus was on evaluation of
the governance structure. She also attended the Regional Law, Safety and Justice meeting on
May 28, 2015, where the primary discussion topic was on disproportionality in schools and the justice
system. She also visited the Tukwila Municipal Court on May 29, 2015, when the youth from Tukwila
schools came to learn about the justice system. That same day she attended the Fort Dent Tenant
Appreciation lunch, and on May 30, 2015 she participated in the TIBAC (Tukwila International Boulevard
Action Committee) cleanup event. She offered a reminder about the Tukwila Town Hall Meeting to be
conducted on June 4, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. at the Church by the Side of the Road, where the featured
speaker will be the author of the book, "Tactical Urbanism."
Councilmember Ekberg attended the Sounders S2 game on May 27, 2015, and also visited the Tukwila
Municipal Court on May 29 when the youth were in the court. That same day he also attended the Fort
Dent Appreciation lunch and the Teens for Tukwila chat at the Foster High School Library. He reported
that due to a donation, the Centennial Committee for Foster High School will be able to have a stained
glass window installed for the class of 2015 as part of the Centennial 100 celebration.
Councilmember Seal reported that at the Community Affairs and Parks Committee last week, staff
provided an update on the Parks Watch Program, which aims to connect staff with park users in various
neighborhoods. Events are scheduled for July 8 at Foster Memorial Park, July 15 at Riverton Park, July
22 at Duwamish Park, July 29 at Tukwila Park and August 4 in conjunction with National Night Out at
Crestview Park. Ms. Seal attended the King County LEOFF1 Board meeting on May 27, 2015.
Additionally, she indicated she will be passing on information to the Human Services Division and the
School District regarding a new court decision relating to the President's Deferred Action Program
(DAPA) for individuals who have entered the US illegally. Those individuals had been given work
authorization, and the new decision will likely have ramifications for many people in our community.
Councilmember Hougardy attended the Highline Forum meeting on May 27, 2015, where the focus was
on the Seaport Alliance, which is the combining of efforts between the Port of Seattle and the Port of
Tacoma to be more competitive. Also discussed were the various divisions of the Port, to include
Maritime (cruising), Aviation, and Economic Development. On May 29 she attended the Teens for
Tukwila Chat at the Foster Library. It was an inspiring event where the teens shared that they would like
to come back and live in Tukwila after they complete their higher education.
Councilmember Quinn attended the School Bond Committee meeting on May 28, 2015 and it is coming
together very well. He also attended the Teens for Tukwila Chat at the Foster Library on May 29 and was
impressed that it is the teens who make all the decisions as it relates to "Teens for Tukwila" activities.
While Nate Robinson, Teen Program Specialist, does a great job, the teens take ownership regarding
their events. In this instance, they invited teens from other schools to participate. He also participated in
the TIBAC cleanup event on May 30, 2015. During that event, he noticed that early in the morning there
are many individuals entering the mini -marts to purchase high octane alcohol and show signs of
impairment. He said there is more to be done in that area to mitigate this kind of situation.
Council President Kruller said she was very inspired by the Teens for Tukwila stating their intent to come
back and live in Tukwila after completion of higher education.
c. Staff
David Cline, City Administrator, referenced the City Administrator (CA) Report and offered to answer any
questions. Additionally, he reported that as part of the ongoing focus on residential neighborhoods, staff
will begin canvassing the McMicken Heights neighborhood. All departments of the City have been given
the opportunity to participate.
Council President Kruller asked if the questions that will be asked of the residents could be emailed to the
Council, and Mr. Cline answered in the affirmative.
d. City Attorney
There was no report.
Tukwila City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
June 1, 2015
Page 6 of 6
e. Intergovernmental
There was no report.
ADJOURNMENT
8:05 p.m. MOVED BY DUFFIE, SECONDED BY SEAL THAT THE TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL
MEETING BE ADJOURNED. MOTION CARRIED 7 -0.
APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: 6/15/15
AVAILABLE ON CITY WEBSITE: 6/16/15