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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-04-08 Committee of the Whole MinutesApril 8, 1996 7:00 p.m. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES Tukwila City Hall Council Chambers CALL TO ORDER Council President Pam Carter called the Committee of The Whole Meeting to order and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL OFFICIALS SPECIAL PRESENTATION Update on court activities JOE DUFFIE; JOAN HERNANDEZ; PAM CARTER, Council President; ALLAN EKBERG; STEVE MULLET; PAM LINDER; JIM HAGGERTON. JOHN MCFARLAND, City Administrator; LUCY LAUTERBACH, Council Analyst; ROSS EARNST, Public Works Director; RON CAMERON, City Engineer; DOUG MICHEAU, Public Works Coordinator; VIKI WITSCHGER, Admin. Svs. Director; ALAN DOERSCHEL, Finance Director; KATHY WESTERDAHL, Court Administrator; JERRY BELUR, Judge. Judge Belur briefed the Council on Tukwila Municipal Court's (TMC) activities. He explained that by law TMC can only hear misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors crimes. That means the TMC does not hear felony cases, which are those cases that are punishable by more than one year in jail. The maximum penalty that can be imposed on cases in TMC is up to $5,000 fine and up to one year in jail. A wide variety of Court proceedings are dealt with on a daily basis such as Criminal and Traffic Hearings, Motion Hearings, Status Hearings, Bench Trials, Jury Trials, client services, human services, financial and budget responsibilities, etc. Belur distributed handouts and explained that they were a synopsis of charges filed in the Court beginning with years 1991 1995; also among the handouts was a comparison of Tukwila Municipal Court with other municipal courts in the Tukwila vicinity, and a summary of the jail expenses the City has incurred between 1990 1995. He said the TMC is heavily weighted on the Criminal/Non- Traffic portions of the cases heard. Approximately 35% of the cases that are filed in the TMC are Criminal/Non- Traffic, i.e. theft, shoplifting, assault, prostitution, entertainer violations, trespassing, lewd conduct, resisting arrest and obstructing cases. This translates into numerous court hearings and since Tukwila has a high indigent court population; it is required, by law, that a public defender be afforded them. Belur applauded Kathy Westerdahl and the entire Court staff (under the direction of Viki Witschger, Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes April 8, 1996 Page 2 Update on Court Activities (Cont' d) CITIZEN'S COMMENTS SPECIAL ISSUES King County Parks Bond Issue/Proposed Pks Projects Public comments Administrative Services Director) for the commitment, dedication and tireless efforts they exemplify each day. Rita Casey, 3445 South 144th, commented that her life is controlled by the crime in this "tacky" Tukwila. She says she lives in the LaRochelle Apartments where crime is running rampant. She says in the three years she has lived there police officers have been called too many times to count. She says the City is losing good citizens because crimes continue to increase. The Resource Centers have not made a bit of difference in reducing Crimes. Casey says she is also concerned about how often she is visited by police officers, which they claim are mistakes. She requested a Councilmember meet with her to address these issues. Councilmember Hernandez explained that this issue had been before the Community Affairs and Parks Committee and they agreed that the Fostoria Creek Enhancement Project should be increased from $100,000 to $500,000. Don Williams, Parks and Recreation Director, stated that the proposed list of park projects was discussed at the March 25 Council meeting, and should be considered to be a part of the proposed King County Park Bond Issue. It is anticipated That Tukwila will receive an automatic share of about $1.2 million and it could increase up to $1.95 million depending upon the sharing formula used. The Council must decide on April 15 which projects will be submitted to King County by April 30. Art Burrington, 12244 45th Avenue South, commented on behalf of the Tukwila Youth Soccer Association. In explaining the involvement the Soccer Club has in the community, he stated that the Club is growing rapidly. In the Spring League alone there are thirty -three (33) teams. For six of those teams it is a requirement to have full -sized fields, but they don't at this time. They don't have the appropriate lighted fields; and because of the field size, they lost their elite soccer team last year. He said the Club sponsors and pays for the licensed referees and the volunteer coaches. Fund raisers are held to keep registration fees down to $35.00. He said $1300 dollars are spent annually on scholarships for those kids who cannot afford to pay their own fees. Burrington says he realizes the improbability of getting all of their needs met Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes April 8, 1996 Page 3 Public comments Cont'd all at one time; however, action on some of their needs should be considered as soon as possible. Staff Response 69 Pat Cagampang, 12038 42nd Avenue South, commented on behalf of Little League, Soccer, Young Adults and Seniors who play in this area. She said there is a great need for lighted field. If lights were placed on the fields, the use of the fields could doubled. She suggested that the City concentrate on getting a regulation sized soccer field so that Tukwila's teams can compete equitably with the surrounding communities. Cagampang encouraged the Council to consider these priorities as they decide how to utilize the funds. Iris Tocher, Tukwila Pond Park Committee, 6200 Southcenter Blvd., commented how grateful she was to see that Tukwila Pond Park was listed among the proposed projects. Dennis Robertson, 16038 48th Avenue South, commented that Gilliam Creek should be added to the project list because it is the largest available stream bed and it has a real significant, usable flat course to it along I -405. Secondly, much of the stream is already in public right -of -way, which vastly simplifies whatever course is taken. He said the Gilliam Creek project could almost become one of the advertising projects for the entire Bond Issue if properly presented. Williams responded that one of the wise use of the proposed funds would be to put lights on to the sand -based fields rather than the dirt field that have limited drainage. He said the old Tukwila Community Center, which is a 4.4 acre site, is a possibility for a 100 -yard, full -sized soccer field. Additionally, the Tukwila Elementary School could also provide a full -sized soccer field. He said the list included in the agenda packet was not the only list of Park and Recreation programs being considered. He said while this list is the list being looked at for the potential Parks Bond Issue projects, there's another whole list of projects to be addressed in the C.I.P. Williams agreed that Burrington's request is valid, the soccer program does have a problem in that the volunteer coaches and the older kids should be practicing during the 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. periods; however, they have no lighted fields. Williams continued that if the Bond Issue passes in September, it will take at least six Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes April 8, 1996 Page 4 Staff Response (Cont'd) Public Comments Council 1989 Parks Bond Issue 1995 interest earnings assigned to Interurban Trail Project r months to sell the Bonds, develop the Interlocal Agreements and get them reviewed and signed. Also, it will take months before the actual dollars are available. He said it will take approximately two years before any new facilities are constructed due to the extensive process involved. Mack McDonald, 4246 South 146th, commented, for informational purposes, that Steve Lawrence (former Councilmember); and Mike Fowler, Community Club Member, have expressed interested in developing Southgate Park. Councilmember Hernandez suggested that Gilliam Creek be added to the list for consideration as one of the proposed project. Councilmembers Duffie and Haggerton agreed. Councilmember Ekberg said he thinks a hold should be placed on Gilliam Creek since the Council has not had ample time to study this issue. It's a worthy cause and it's part of the long term desire for waterways; however, adequate documentation to support it is not available. Council President Carter and Councilmembers Ekberg and Linder agreed. Council President Carter summarized the list of projects as presented in the agenda packet with the exception of the following changes: under Critical Resources, increase Fostoria Creek Enhancement from $100,000 to $500,000. Under Partnering Project, increase Tukwila Pond Park from $250,000 to $350,000. It was the consensus of the Council to forward the King County Parks Bond Issue Proposed list of Tukwila park projects as amended to the next Regular Meeting. Councilmember Hernandez explained that King County has informed Tukwila that in 1995 our unspent parks bond monies earned $33,849.66 in interest. The Council, by formal motion, must identify which project the interest earnings will be assigned. The Interurban Trail construction project is the only project not yet completed that the funds can be assigned. Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes April 8, 1996 Page 5 1989 Parks Bond Issue 1995 interest earnings assigned to Interurban Trail (Cont' d) Recess 8:45 8:55 Increase in Mayor's salary REPORTS After a brief discussion, the Council agreed to forward the 1989 Parks Bond Issue -1995 interest earnings assigned to Interurban Trail Project to the next Regular Council Consent Agenda. Council President Carter called the meeting back to order at 8:55 p.m. Councilmember Haggergon commented that the Mayor's salary had been discussed at the Last Council Retreat, and though not everyone agreed, it was the consensus of the Council that the Mayor's salary should be raised gradually to $30,000 annually. It is currently $21,192. In checking past records, it appears that the only increase to the Mayor's salary was done by annual COLA's. A lengthy discussion ensued with Councilmembers raising many questions and suggesting changes to the draft resolution. The discussion concluded with the Council forwarding the issue back to the Finance and Safety Committee then on to the next Committee of The Whole meeting of April 22. The Mayor requested that Reports be omitted or be as concise as possible due to the scheduled Executive Session following this meeting. Councilmember Hernandez reported that the Community Affairs and Parks Committee agreed to forward the CDBG Pass Through Funds issue to the next Regular Council Consent Agenda; because basically all that is needed is for the Council to acknowledge their interest in receiving them. Councilmember Ekberg announced that he will be out of town all of next week. Councilmember Haggerton informed the Council that in order to be in compliance with the TMC (Tukwila Municipal Code 2.35.010), the Council must appoint two members from its membership to serve an annual term on the Economic Development Advisory Board. Haggerton and Hernandez volunteered to represent the Council. '7/ Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes April 8, 1996 Page 6 ADJOURNMENT 10:00 P.M. MOVED BY DUFFIE, SECONDED BY MULLET, TO ADJOURN TO THE SPECIAL MEETING. MOTION CARRIED. a.s•-) Pam Carter, Council President 'kJ Celia Square, Dep y City Clerk