HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-02-05 Regular MinutesTukwila City Council
City Hall Council Chambers
MINUTES
Regular Meeting
February 5, 2018 — 7:00 P.M.
REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Ekberg called the Regular Meeting of the Tukwila City Council to order at 6:59 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 Verna Seal,
De'Sean Quinn, Kate Kruller, Thomas McLeod, Zak Idan.
MOVED BY SEAL, SECONDED BY KRULLER TO EXCUSE COUNCILMEMBERS HOUGARDY AND
ROBERTSON FROM THE MEETING. MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
CITY OFFICIALS
Allan Ekberg, Mayor; Rachel Bianchi, Acting City Administrator; Henry Hash, Public Works Director;
Bruce Linton, Police Chief; Jay Wittwer, Fire Chief; Rick Still, Parks and Recreation Director; Joseph
Todd, Technology and Innovation Services Director; Stacy Hansen, Human Services Program
Coordinator; Laurel Humphrey, Council Analyst; Christy O'Flaherty, Records Governance Manager/
City Clerk.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
a. New employee introductions.
Rachel Bianchi, Acting City Administrator, relayed that the introduction of the City's new employees is
done on a quarterly basis.
The following new employees were introduced to the Tukwila City Council.
Human Services:
Hodo Hussein, Human Services Specialist
Parks & Recreation Department:
Shannon Kaopua, Administrative Support Assistant
Technology & Innovation Services Department:
Joel Bush, Senior Technology Integration Manager and Marcus Chinn, Systems Administrator
Department of Community Development:
Jim Toole, Code Enforcement Officer
The Councilmembers welcomed the new City employees to Tukwila.
b. Recognize the promotion and swearing in of Commander Eric Lund (Badge #126). Bruce
Linton, Police Chief
Bruce Linton, Police Chief, introduced Commander Eric Lund to the City Council. Mr. Lund grew up in
Tukwila and graduated from Foster High School. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and
started his career in Tukwila as a patrol officer in 1996. During his career he was also a narcotics
detective, field training officer, and emergency vehicle operator course instructor. He was promoted in
2009 to the rank of Sergeant, and in July 2017, he was assigned to the position of Acting Commander in
the Professional Standards Unit. In November 2017, he was permanently assigned to the position of
Commander.
Mayor Ekberg administered the Oath of Office to Commander Eric Lund (Badge #126).
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February 5, 2018 Page 2 of 4
c. Recognize the promotion and swearing in of Sergeant Adam Balcom (Badge #183). Bruce
Linton, Police Chief.
Chief Linton introduced Adam Balcolm to the City Council. Mr. Balcom has a Bachelor's Degree in
psychology and criminology from Western Kentucky University, where he also played baseball. He was
hired in 2009 and worked as a patrol officer and a Community Policing Team Detective, with a focus on
mentoring students in the School District. He served as the School Resource Officer and instituted the
Bulldog Academy, which provides educational opportunities for students to learn about the functions of
law enforcement.
Mayor Ekberg administered the Oath of Office to Sergeant Adam Balcom (Badge #183).
The Councilmembers congratulated Commander Lund and Sergeant Balcom on their promotions.
Award Recognition
Verna Seal, Council President, recognized Laurel Humphrey, Council Analyst, for the Mayor's Office
Employee of the Year award and presented her with flowers and a card from the City Council in
appreciation for her service.
The Councilmembers expressed appreciation for Ms. Humphrey's professionalism, reliability, efficiency,
and inspiring attitude.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Pat Larson, 14244 55th Avenue South, referenced the Bellwether discussions from a prior Council
meeting relating to affordable housing, which left her hopeful, confused and concerned. She feels the
primary focus has been on economic development with lesser attention to the residents. She inquired
about how the departments in the City are held accountable for ongoing trends and patterns and ensuring
a thriving residential community. She asked if there is a process for tracking concerns, as she has
uncertainty about follow-through and follow-up. She would like to see affordable housing clearly defined
and an understanding of "who" it is affordable for. At Foster High School, 2 students have had to move in
their senior year because their families were priced out of housing in Tukwila due to rent increases. From
her standpoint, concessions are made on the commercial side to allow businesses to move forward.
However, residents are met with a wall of code requirements, with little support toward getting to a "yes."
Regarding the expansion of Foster High School, there are multiple issues, with one of the most notable
being a variance request to retain the existing reader board. Variances are granted to commercial
properties for signage. A gas station on Interurban made a request for a change, and it was done, yet the
variance for the reader board has been denied repeatedly due to it being in a residential zone. This
reader board was bought and paid for by the students at Foster High School after saving for 3 years and
serves as a communication vehicle for community members. She is requesting that the variance request
for the reader board be reviewed and that a member of the Council get back to her as, opposed to the
Building Department. She presented the Councilmembers with a book, "Holding the Earth Together.
Youth Voices Speak for Our World." She suggested the Council take the time to hear the voices of the
children.
Mayor Ekberg said he would follow up on the variance issue regarding the reader board.
Council consensus existed for the reader board issue to be discussed in the Community
Development and Neighborhoods Committee.
Dr. T. C. Wallace Jr., 1089 Lake Washington Blvd., Seattle, is an Executive Director at the Tukwila School
District. He is asking for continued support as it relates to the campaign to enroll students in the school
district next year. He provided literature regarding this issue and asked the Council to spread the word
about the wonderful things happening at the district. He extended an invitation to Mayor Ekberg to go
door to door with Superintendent Dr. Judith Berry to share information in the community.
Mayor Ekberg accepted the invitation to go door to door with Dr. Berry to share this information.
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February 5, 2018 Page 3 of 4
CONSENT AGENDA
a. Approval of Minutes: 1/16/18 (Regular); 1/22/18 (Special)
b. Approval of Vouchers #377054-377142; #171200, 180101-180104 in the amount of $1,209,401.64
c. Authorize the Mayor to accept a federal grant award for the Boeing Access Road (BAR) over Airport
Way Seismic Retrofit Project in the amount of $2,981,055.00.
[Reviewed and forwarded to Consent by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on 1/22/18.]
d. Authorize the Mayor to accept a grant from the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board
for the West Valley Highway (1-405 to Strander Boulevard) Project in the amount of $2,434,380.00.
[Reviewed and forwarded to Consent by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on 1/22/18.]
MOVED BY SEAL, SECONDED BY QUINN THAT THE CONSENT AGENDA BE APPROVED AS
SUBMITTED.*
Councilmember Kruller explained that the items above involve grant funding that will make a tremendous
difference in the City's infrastructure needs.
*MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
REPORTS
a. Mayor
Mayor Ekberg reported that the City employee awards ceremony this past week was a great event.
b. City Council
Councilmember Quinn reported that he will continue to call attention to some of the amazing things
residents are doing in the Tukwila community. A long-time citizen (Kenny), who has since passed way,
was the person in the neighborhood who would look out for his neighbors. He recounted a time when a
person was driving his own vehicle for his job and when the car broke down, Kenny came and fixed it at
no cost. Another resident (Arty) recognized that one of his neighbors with many children was struggling,
and he has been a resource for her and others in his area. While he has lived in Tukwila for 30+ years,
he has reached a point where he can no longer afford to live here. These are just some examples of the
compassion and dedication of Tukwila community members.
Councilmember Kruller participated, along with 2 other Councilmembers and the City Administrator, in the
recent Count Us In event for homelessness. Volunteers started at 2:00 a.m. in counting the homeless in
the County. Each volunteer was partnered with someone who had once been homeless, which provided
valuable context and perspective. One victory involved a person with mental challenges who had been
living under a bridge; that person is no longer living under that bridge and is now in a safe environment.
Ms. Kruller reported that she attended the City employee awards event that was held in Tukwila at ACME
Bowl. The videos shown at the event demonstrate Mayor Ekberg's wonderful sense of humor. It was a
great event, and it is important for City employees to be recognized for their good work.
Councilmember McLeod reported that the Public Safety Committee is working extensively on the projects
associated with the voter approved Public Safety Bond. At the Committee meeting this evening, the Fire
Department schematic design was presented, and it will move forward to the next Committee of the
Whole meeting on February 12, 2018.
c. Staff
Rachel Bianchi, Acting City Administrator, referenced the City Administrator (CA) Report and monthly
Public Safety Plan Report in the packet and offered to answer any questions.
Councilmember Kruller referenced page 30 of the CA report regarding citizen inquiries from the recent
Coffee Chat she had hosted. There had been multiple citizen questions, and Ms. Kruller is pleased that
there will be public meeting space in the Emergency Operations Center at the Justice Center for civic
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February 5, 2018 Page 4 of 4
events. She had also asked for an update to the Council on Code Enforcement, and the CA report notes
that discussions will occur in the CDN (Community Development and Neighborhoods) Committee through
the Work Plan. While she supports Code Enforcement items in the CDN Committee, it is important to
have an update to the full Council as soon as possible. She had also brought forward comments by
those at the Church by the Side of the Road, of which she is a member, regarding a request that they
eliminate an emergency exit that would create a safety risk for them due to an easement issue. The CA
report response reflects discussions with the Church by the Side of the Road and does not provide
context to understand the issue.
Ms. Bianchi relayed that she will provide an update to the full Council
Councilmember Quinn referenced the portion of the CA report regarding the Villages at South Station and
suggested there be a Councilmember, preferably from the Public Safety Committee, attending some of
the meetings. If information is discussed in the meetings that may result in items that come before the
Council for approval, it would be beneficial for greater context and understanding of the issues.
Ms. Bianchi responded in the affirmative and relayed that she would work with the Admin Team to ensure
the Council Analyst is aware of events that may come up, such that she can be the liaison between the
Council and Administration.
d. City Attorney
The City Attorney was not present.
e. Intergovernmental
There was no report.
MISCELLANEOUS
Councilmember Quinn said he received a request from a resident regarding the 42nd Avenue construction
project. While they are happy with the project and the City, there are times that the construction
configuration is such that Waste Management will not pick up the dumpster. They need assistance from
the City to resolve this issue.
ADJOURNMENT
8:03 p.m. MOVED BY SEAL, SECONDED BY MCLEOD THAT THE TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL
MEETING BE ADJOURNED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
Allan Ekberg, Mayor
Christy O'Flaher y, Records Governance P'-nager/City Clerk
APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: 2/20/18
AVAILABLE ON CITY WEBSITE: 2/22/18