Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-01-09 Committee of the Whole MinutesJanuary 9, 1995 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL CITIZEN'S COMMENTS None. SPECIAL ISSUES Ordinance renewing interim tree regulations TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES Tukwila City Hall Council Chambers CALL TO ORDER Council President Joyce Craft called the Committee of The Whole meeting to order and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. JOE DUFFIE; JOAN HERNANDEZ; JOYCE CRAFT, Council President; DENNIS ROBERTSON; ALLAN EKBERG; STEVE MULLET; DOROTHY De RODAS. OFFICIALS JOHN MCFARLAND, City Administrator; LINDA COHEN, City Attorney; LUCY LAUTERBACH, Council Analyst; ROSS EARNST, Public Works Director; RON CAMERON, City Engineer; ALAN DOERSCHEL, Finance Director; DON WILLIAMS, Parks Recreation Director; RICK BEELER, DCD Director. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS Ron Waldner, Police Chief, introduced Craig Gardner as the new Transport Services Officer for the Police Department; Ross Earnst, Public Works Director, introduced Leslie Tauzer and Ed Rudloff (Rudloff was unable to attend tonight's meeting) as new contract engineers for the Public Works Department. The Council gave them all a very warm welcome. Rick Beeler, DCD, explained that on August 22, 1994, the City Council adopted the Interim Tree Ordinance. The Ordinance will expire on February 22, 1995. Included in the Ordinance was a directive to DCD to "prepare and present a codified tree ordinance to the Council by January 1995. He said because the development regulations pursuant to the Growth Management Act are being developed at this time, it makes sense to incorporate the permanent ordinance into the new development regulations and tie them in with the Sensitive Areas Ordinance and the Zoning Code. Given the status of the Comprehensive Plan and development code reviews, staff recommends that the preparation of a permanent tree ordinance be incorporated into DCD's work on the new development regulations. To achieve this, staff recommends that: 1) Council's review of any new tree regulations should be deferred Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes January 9, 1995 Page 2 Tree Ordinance (Copt' d) Review of Comprehensive Plan process and timing Citizen Comment until its review of the draft development code as a whole; and, 2) The Interim Tree Ordinance should be extended for six (6) months (through August 22, 1995), while a permanent ordinance is incorporated into new development regulations. The Council requested that a copy of the existing Interim Tree Ordinance be provided them as soon as possible for review. After a brief discussion, it was the consensus of the Council to schedule a public hearing on the extension of the Interim Tree Ordinance for January 17, 1995. Rick Beeler, DCD, informed the Council that the Planning Commission will provide the Comp Plan packet to the Council by the end of March, and the Developmental Regulations by June 1995. The Council suggested this schedule be followed with no variations, otherwise the process will take forever to complete. The Council expressed that they would like to have any compiled data in their hands as soon as possible, especially the zoning map, for review so they don't feel rushed in the process. The Council also requested that all of their meetings be staffed with at least one Planner (preferably the same Planner who will be working with the Planning Commission) when the process begin. This would allow for continuity. Beeler said a detailed schedule for the process (including options for reviewing all the parts of the Comp Plan along with general time frames and implications for workload) will follow in two weeks. Robertson suggested that after Council has received a copy of the schedule, that the status of the schedule be reviewed at every C.O.W. meeting through June. Council President Craft suggested the schedule be published in an April Hazelnut. The Mayor responded affirmatively. Jackie Dempere, 4033 South 128th, commented that she has property that will be impacted by the Comp Plan. She wants to make modifications to her property; however, she is unable to do Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes January 9, 1995 Page 3 Comprehensive Plan process (Cont'd) Review of the C.I.P. so because the appropriate zoning has not yet been established. She says she is very discouraged by the lengthy Comp Plan process. After much discussion, it was the consensus of the Council to make the Residential Revitalization Project a topic for discussion at the upcoming Council Retreat; and assign the task of drafting a plan to Lucy Lauterbach. A draft of the plan should be completed by the time the Comp Plan is brought before the Council (around the first of April 1995). Council President Craft updated the Council that at the close of 1994, it was general consensus on what projects would be accepted for 1995; and, the potential changes for the years 1996 2000. Before the Six Year Plan is formally adopted, the potential changes in conjunction with all proposed projects need to be discussed. Councilmember Robertson addressed the issue of residential revitalization. He said we really need to define what is meant by revitalization; identify what the problems are; discuss funding source; and methods of achieving long term goals of revitalization. He said once this phase is in place, the CIP could be revisited. Councilmember Duffie commented that tonight was not the time to enter a extensive discussion on developmental revitalization. He suggested the issue be discussed at the upcoming Council Retreat. Robertson recommended that Council Analyst Lucy Lauterbach be assigned the task of establishing an Action Plan for the Residential Revitalization Project. City Administrator McFarland commented that this issue was recently discussed in the Mayor office about what really constitutes neighborhood revitalization- -how that it translates to more than just "pipe in the ground," but the importance of the human element and the involvement of the community. He said communities are not built by waterlines, sewerlines, streets or sidewalks; communities are built by the energies and visions of people. Therefore, the approach should take into account all the elements we have to accomplish this vision starting first by defining the vision. He said there is a Focus Group in place currently to do this. Those who will be providing a good deal of the research and Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes January 9, 1995 Page 4 Review of C.I.P. (Cont'd) analysis are on staff. We are also in the process of publishing the 1995 Budget which includes the goals. Each department has as its first goal participation in this neighborhood revitalization strategy. We don't want to move so quickly that we overlook anything; yet, we don't want to waste any time because we have some momentum right now both with the Council and understanding with the Administration. The time is right with the community because they feel that Tukwila is fast approaching a crossroad in terms of what it is going to be as a community and how others view it; and, we want to seize the moment. McFarland said he therefore suggests that perhaps he and Lucy can pull together a comprehensive strategy for Mayor /Council review before the Council Retreat. During the Retreat, a thorough critique and prioritization can take place to provide greater definition as to what is requested of the Administration. After the Retreat, the plan could be taken back to the Focus Group for further research and development. This could be a standing committee issue before every Committee of The Whole so as to keep the process moving and energized to make sure it is consistent with the policy- makers' vision; and to also exchange ideas and thoughts to allow for maximum potential in involving the community. Councilmember Mullet commented that since there is a timeline to consider, it might be better if the Focus Group could focus on providing the information that is needed rather than trying to solve the problem. McFarland said the Mayor has made the Revitalization Program a top priority and staff is ready to go with it. Councilmember Hernandez requested that as part of the revitalization study, it would be helpful to have the administration /staff educate the Council on code enforcement issues. She said there is a great deal of frustration about the fact that there are codes on the books that some feel are not being enforced, and which they feel could improve the residential areas if they were enforced. She suggested the Council should also be informed about some of the difficulties being experienced in enforcing the codes. Mayor Rants commented that the Council should decide how they want to enforce the code. Do they want to stick to the "letter Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes January 9, 1995 Page 5 C.I.P. (Cont'd) of the law," requiring compliance to any and every violation and issuing citations on the same. Or, do they want to treat this issue with compassion, considering we are dealing with our citizens who have varying, and sometimes unusual situations. Duffle said let's enforce the code. They are on the books; let's enforce them. He's tired of seeing junk cars on the street and in yards. He said apartment dwellers don't even use the dumpsters anymore, they just throw the trash on the ground or anywhere. Robertson stated it's a common feeling among the citizenry that the neighborhoods are going to hell. The residential areas have a very large problem and we have people moving out of the City because of it. This is a very serious issue, he said, and it should be a number one priority. He said the City is experiencing a budget shortfall; however, when money is scarce, you spend it on the highest priority. Councilmembers Ekberg Robertson agreed that the only part that the Administration should play in the Revitalization Program is to provide the information to the Council Analyst, Lucy Lauterbach, she in turn will work with the Council to come up with a definition of the overall program and then begin focusing on how to accomplish the goals. Robertson said this is a Council project and it should be run by the Council. Dorothy De Rodas commented that revitalization means to brings new life. How can we bring new life when we're cluttered with abandoned cars, and junk. You have to clean up as well as revitalize. It was the consensus of the Council to address the issues of residential revitalization at the upcoming Council Retreat, accept as much information as the Administration can provide, then establish policy and the direction the Council wishes to proceed. Mayor Rants recommended that grant application requests be brought forward to the Council to be reviewed individually, aside from the CIP, because in the past we've obtained large sums of TIB and UAB funding for some of the City's projects. We could be impacted greatly in 1996 and 1997. Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes January 9, 1995 Page 6 C.I.P. (Cont'd) Robertson circulated a copy of Renton's TIP and suggested that the format be reviewed at the next Committee of The Whole meeting. REPORTS Duffie reported that approximately 25 young people had been arrested as a result of a disturbance at the Southcenter Mall. ADJOURNMENT 9:00 p.m. Mullet reported that one of Tukwila's upright citizens was harassed recently in the early morning hours by an intruder. The police acted promptly. He urged the Council that something has to be done to protect our citizens and to put a stop to violence and crimes in our City. Hernandez reported she had attended the Planning Commission meeting on Saturday. While sitting in the audience, she was able to observe how poorly our microphones work. McFarland responded that an upgrade on the system is in the works. Ekberg reported on an incident of a perpetrator being in the neighborhood stalking a citizen. On another occasion a citizen informed him that he only feels safe while walking now because he carries a weapon. These are the types of comments he's begun to hear repeatedly, and he's becoming quite concerned. Mullet reported he will be attending an airport meeting tomorrow night. Mayor Rants reported that the Metropolitan King County Council adopted an Ordinance, which includes a tax levy of $7 million eight hundred thousand dollars to support our jurisdiction for all purposes in 1995. However, the City won't get a dime of the money. Tukwila's actual would be around $7 or 8 thousand dollars. The money will be use to support the services in unincorporated King County areas. MOVED BY ROBERTSON, SECONDED BY DUFFIE, TO ADJOURN TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING. MOTION CARRIED. Joyce o raft Council P ident Celia Square, Deputy City Clerk