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Home My WebLink About1996-04-22 Committee of the Whole MinutesApril 22, 1996 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL OFFICIALS SPECIAL PRESENTATION Update on Code Enforcement CITIZEN'S COMMENTS 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. JOE DUFFIE; JOAN HERNANDEZ; PAM CARTER, Council President; ALLAN EKBERG; STEVE MULLET; PAM LINDER; JIM HAGGERTON. JOHN MCFARLAND, City Administrator; RHONDA BERRY, Assistant City Administrator; KEITH HALL, Code Enforcement Officer; LUCY LAUTERBACH, Council Analyst; ROSS EARNST, Public Works Director; RON CAMERON, City Engineer; DOUG MICHEAU, Public Works Coordinator. Keith Hall, Code Enforcement Officer, updated the Council on the Code Enforcement process. He reviewed the Mission Statement of Code Enforcement, which is "To gain compliance with the Tukwila Municipal Code through public awareness, communication, cooperation, and to enforce those codes with the highest personal and professional integrity." He continued by explaining the types of violations and the process by which those violations are handled. Hall stated that all complaints are investigated and given the same credence. The case -load of complaints has increased from 61 cases in 1993 to 108 cases in 1996 (comparisons were calculated within the same time frame). Handouts were distributed to the Council and those present depicting the commonly received complaints and the lead agencies responsible for specific areas. The Council and citizens present expressed their appreciation for the exemplary job the Code Enforcement Officer is doing. Ms. Cote- Laciste, 15144 65th Avenue South, commented that she volunteers three days a week at Tukwila Elementary School. She walks to the school from the Canyon Estates Condominiums and has noticed there's a terrible problem with dog waste in the middle of the sidewalks. She has seen no less than two piles and up to Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes April 22, 1996 Page 2 Citizen's Comments seven piles in any given week. She pleaded with the Council to (Cont'd) please handled this situation. It's totally disgusting, she said. SPECIAL ISSUES Fostoria Stormwater Quality Mgmt Plan A resolution establishing a process for increasing the Mayor's salary The Council asked City Administrator McFarland to address this issue with appropriate staff. Ron Cameron, City Engineer, Public Works Department, commented that the Fostoria Stormwater Quality Management Plan has been completed by the City's Consultant Firm of Herrera Environmental Consultants. The Plan was developed as an important first step in the City's efforts to improve water quality in Southgate Creek and its associated drainage area. The 560 -acres Southgate Creek drainage basin is a sub watershed within the 1,600 acre Fostoria basin, located on the east side of the Duwamish River in Tukwila. The Study focuses on water quality issues including flow concerns where they affect water quality. The report identifies specific water quality problems in the basin, and recommends controls and projects to solve these problems. The recommendations section identifies a prioritized list of capital improvement projects that can be implemented by the City to improve stormwater quality within the basin. Cameron said a condition of this grant is for the Council to adopt the Plan. After a brief discussion, the Council agreed to forward the Fostoria Stormwater Quality Management Plan to the next Regular Council for adoption. Councilmember Haggerton clarified that the decision to increase this position had no outside influence. The Mayor's salary was an item discussed at the February Council Retreat and forwarded to the Finance and Safety Committee for further consideration. Haggerton recommended that the Council close the chapter on this issue by reaching a decision tonight then forward to a Regular Council meeting for adoption even though the increase will not be effective until January 1997. A lengthy discussion ensued, which included the Council reviewing a table showing different ways to gradually increase the annual salary to the $30,000 level. The Council also considered Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes April 22, 1996 Page 3 A resolution estab. a process two draft resolutions: one addressed the Mayor's salary being for increasing Mayor's salary increased by 7% per year plus the cost of living increases for four (Cont'd) successive years; the other addressed the Mayor's current salary being increased by $2,205 per year for four successive years beginning January 1997. Citizen Council Citizens response Art Berrington, 12244 45th Avenue South, commented that the Mayor knew what the job paid when he ran for it. Therefore, the Council should concentrate on increasing the Mayor's salary for the next term, not this current term. Councilmember Haggerton responded that the proposed increase is being considered for the "position" of mayor, not the current Mayor or term of office; and since the position has not had a general adjustment since the 1970s, this Council, in particular, felt that the responsibilities of this part-time job, as it exists today, is more deserving than what is currently on the books. Lanny Vickers, 12227 45th Avenue South, commented that he thinks the Council is making a grave error to the constituents in giving the Mayor a raise. He said ever since the Mayor has been in office he has asked for a pay raise. Giving a little more instead of always wanting from the tax payers would be more appropriate. Shirley Robinson, 13422 40th Avenue South, commented that the only job she knows that is comparable to the Mayor's is South Central School District's Superintendent, and since she is a Board Member, she knows his salary. His base salary is $83,000 annually, it increases yearly, he also has a car furnished by the District and he has a number of other things including full medical benefits, annuities, etc. He doesn't have as many people to deal with, he doesn't have quite the pressure in citizens safety nor the concerns of businesses' interests. She just wanted to make it known that there's a comparable position out there with a salary that doesn't seem to be so comparable. Roger Baker, 11662 42nd Avenue South, commented that though the Mayor's position is part -time; we all expect him to work full time. He said the Mayor should be paid commensurate with the job that he does. The raises being proposed is not out of the ordinary. Baker says he believes the Mayor earns every penny he is paid and he's entitle to it. Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes April 22, 1996 Page 4 Council REPORTS ADJOURNMENT 9;45 P.M. It was the consensus of the Council to forward Draft Resolution #2, increasing the Mayor's salary by $2,205 per year for four successive years, to the next Regular Council for approval. Mayor Rants reported on the Vision Tukwila meeting held April 17. He said the major concerns expressed by citizens were also the number one priority of the City and has been for a number of years and that is the criminal activity that is prevalent on Hwy 99. Rants proposed two areas of concern to the Council: 1) The police store- front need to be kept opened 24 -hours per day; and 2) Police staffing of four new police officers. He said this Saturday's Retreat will focus on the long term vision for policing and crime prevention in Tukwila. The Council agreed to forward the Mayor's concerns to the Finance Safety Committee. MOVED BY DUFFIE, SECONDED BY MULLET, TO ADJOURN TO THE SPECIAL MEETING. MOTION CARRIED. Pam Carter, Council President Celia Square, I 4uty City Clerk