Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-10-08 Committee of the Whole MinutesTukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting City Hall Council Chambers October 8, 2018 — 7:00 P.M. MINUTES COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council President Seal called the Tukwila City Council meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. OFFICIALS Present were Council President Seal; Councilmembers Dennis Robertson, Kathy Hougardy, De'Sean Quinn, Kate Kruller, Thomas McLeod, Zak ldan. CITY OFFICIALS Allan Ekberg, Mayor; Rachel Bianchi, Deputy City Administrator; Peggy McCarthy, Finance Director; Vicky Carlsen, Deputy Finance Director; Jeff Friend, Fiscal Manager; Henry Hash, Public Works Director; Hari Ponnekanti, Public Works Deputy Director/City Engineer; Cyndy Knighton, Senior Program Manager; Gail Labanara, Public Works Analyst; Jack Pace, Community Development Director; Lynn Miranda, Senior Planner; Jay Wittwer, Fire Chief; Bruce Linton, Police Chief; Laurel Humphrey, Council Analyst; Andy Youn, Deputy City Clerk. PUBLIC COMMENTS Dennis Martinez, 4660 South 160th Street, spoke in favor of demolishing the building on the Fire Station 54 site. He explained that abandoned buildings cause issues such as rodent infestations, which are a public health concern. He suggested having the Fire Department demolish the building as part of their training. Mr. Martinez recalled that demolishing two hotels on Tukwila International Boulevard cost approximately $130,000. This is a small structure and will cost less to demolish. The City can also be liable should someone go into the building and get hurt. SPECIAL ISSUES a. A Public Works fee resolution updating water, sewer, and surface water rates. Councilmember McLeod indicated this item was discussed at the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee meeting on September 24, 2018. The committee members were unanimous in recommending approval. Gail Labanara, Public Works Analyst, explained this item will update the City's water, sewer, and surface water rates to meet operational and capital expenditures as follows: Water Cascade Water Alliance's (CWA) wholesale water rates are proposed to increase 3.01% in 2019 and 1.71% in 2020. A rate increase is being proposed for the base rates on residential customers, multi -family and commercial/industrial rates. CATEGORY Current 2018 Charges Proposed 2019 Charges Proposed 2020 Charges Single Family $18.00 $19.00 No change Multi -Family (each condo, apt, or dwelling unit) $18.00 $19.00 No change Commercial/Industrial Base Charges $45.00 to $600.00 $47.00 to $630.00 _ $49.00 to $661.00 Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes October 8, 2018 Page 2 of 11 Ms. Labanara explained that the above charges are comprised of the base rate and consumption charges. When consumption is factored back in, the rate increase is approximately 2%. She referenced the rate comparison chart of other jurisdictions (page 17 of the agenda packet) and highlighted that Tukwila is in the middle. 7:08 p.m. Councilmember Kruller entered the Council Chambers. Sewer King County sewage disposal fees are increasing by 2.51% in 2019 and 0.01 % in 2020. Tukwila's sewer base rate will not have an increase in 2019 or 2020. The residential sewer rate for Tukwila is currently $74.22. With the increase in King County sewage disposal fees, the total rate will increase to $75.33. Ms. Labanara explained every jurisdiction with the King County sewage disposal fee will have the same increase. Surface Water Tukwila's surface water rate will increase from $176.00 to $185.00 in 2019 and to $190.00 in 2020 per residential parcel, per year. Ms. Labanara explained residential and commercial properties will see a 5% increase in rates for 2019 and a 3% increase for 2020. She referenced the rate matrix (page 5 of the agenda packet) and explained the rates are listed as monthly fees for residential customers. The total monthly increase for water, sewer, and surface water is $2.86. Mikkell Roeland, 13354 56th Avenue South, relayed she is on the Equity and Social Justice Commission. She introduced Dr. Bridgette Agpoa-Ryder, who is also part of the Commission. The Commission discussed the rate increases at its last meeting. Ms. Roeland shared that 23% of the population in Tukwila lives below the poverty line. These rate increases may be substantially impactful. She suggested the Council view this issue through an equity lens and consider how to reduce the impact on the community. For example, Puget Sound Energy and other utility companies have donation programs to help offset costs for neighbors. Based on questions from the Council, clarification was provided as follows: • Utility relief is available. Seniors and disabled residents can get a 50% discount on their water, sewer and surface water bills. The City spends approximately $65,000 on utility relief. Additionally, payment plans are available. • Human Services can reach out for those who need additional assistance with their utilities. Councilmember Quinn suggested having the Equity and Social Justice Commission review ways to mitigate policy impacts on low-income residents and forward their recommendations to the Council. He also commented that these investments are necessary to maintain an aging infrastructure. The Council thanked the Equity and Social Justice Commission for their proactive work. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AT THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING. b. Purchase of police vehicles from 2018 budget savings. Councilmember Hougardy indicated this item was discussed at the Public Safety Committee meeting on October 1, 2018. The committee members forwarded this item for discussion. Police Chief Bruce Linton summarized that Tukwila Valley SWAT (VSWAT) team members do not have vehicles assigned to them to assist with their function of being on -call for VSWAT responses. Assigned vehicles for VSWAT is standard practice among the six participating agencies. Chief Linton noted there are six Tukwila officers assigned to VSWAT and only two officers already have vehicles assigned through their current Police positions. As a result, Tukwila VSWAT members are delayed in their responses to critical incidents. Without an assigned vehicle, they do not have their equipment with them during off -duty hours and must respond to the station first or wait to have their equipment brought to them at the scene. Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes October 8, 2018 Page 3 of 11 To assist the Tukwila VSWAT team members with providing more efficient responses to critical incidents, the Police Department proposes to use current 2018 budget savings to purchase four vehicles for a total cost of $268,000. Chief Linton explained the Police Department will still be able to return 3% of the budget at the end of the year. Additionally, as Ford is retooling and concluding certain vehicle production, there are only 4 vehicles available for 2018. The next opportunity to purchase these vehicles will be late next year. The Councilmembers asked the following clarifying questions: • Can this purchase be justified as the best use? Chief Linton explained this is a one-time opportunity and is a viable spend for the current 2018 budget savings. It is important that officers respond to critical incidents in a timely manner. Mayor Ekberg replied the City supports the Police and Fire Departments and purchasing these vehicles will allow officers to respond quickly to regional incidents. • Can these vehicles be used for other purposes as well? Chief Linton replied the intent is to have full patrol vehicles that will be used at work. These vehicles will be added to the Tukwila Police Department's fleet and may relieve some of the pressure on vehicle shortages. • How often is VSWAT called? Chief Linton shared there are 6 to 8 calls a month. So far this year, Tukwila VSWAT team members have responded to 62 calls. • Do these vehicles have equipment in them? Chief Linton responded in the affirmative and explained the vehicles would be equipped with the necessary vaults, as policy does not allow officers to leave equipment in their personal vehicles. • Are there different costs to maintain these vehicles? Chief Linton confirmed there are no additional costs. Councilmember Kruller commented on financing issues relating to the Public Safety Plan and asked if it is possible to put General Fund money into the Public Safety Plan funds. Mayor Ekberg replied that is a policy decision of the Council. Councilmember Hougardy noted this item aligns with the City's Strategic Plan. She relayed she is disinclined to take every available funding opportunity and apply it to the Public Safety Plan. Ms. Kruller asked why there is a sizeable budget savings this year. Chief Linton shared that the savings are due to staffing issues. The Tukwila Police Department is having trouble recruiting new officers. Additionally, they have seen a significant number of retirements. Currently, Chief Linton is only able to deploy approximately 60 officers, which is lower than average. He offered that his intent is to return to full staffing levels, which is likelier to occur next year. In the meantime, the Police Department is managing by using overtime. He is committed to returning 3% of the budget at the end of the year. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AT THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING. c. A contract for Public Works architect and engineering services for the Public Safety Plan. Councilmember Hougardy indicated this item was discussed at the Public Safety Committee meeting on October 1, 2018. The committee members forwarded this item for Council discussion. Rachel Bianchi, Deputy City Administrator, explained this item is a contract with SHKS Architects for a not to exceed amount of $365,000. Programming and master planning are needed to identify current and future space needs for the Public Works facilities, and match functionality to existing spaces. Justine Kim, Program Manager with Shiels Obletz Johnsen (SOJ), and Steve Goldblatt, the Council's Program Management Quality Assurance (PMQA) Consultant, introduced themselves. Ms. Kim relayed that with assistance from SOJ, the City issued a Request for Qualifications for architect and engineering services for the design and programming of the Public Works facilities. She explained that programming and master planning will function as the strategic plan for the Public Works facilities and consider how to integrate program elements such as current use, growth and adjustments. The effort will also contemplate various layouts that place the Public Works facilities on the same campus. Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes October 8, 2018 Page 4 of 11 Three firms were interviewed by the panel. SHKS Architects was chosen for several reasons, including: • Strength of design and master planning of previous similar facilities in the greater Seattle area. • Commitment to engaging Public Works staff and user groups in the design process to meet the specific and unique needs of the City of Tukwila. Ms. Kim noted this contract will only cover the master planning and programming phase. The scope, budget and schedule of this phase will be unknown until site acquisition and the master planning and programming phase are complete. Mr. Goldblatt said this is an important first step for the Public Works facilities. Professional assistance will guide Public Works staff in envisioning what could be and considering efficiencies, adjacencies and functional uses. SHKS Architects will help consider all the possibilities. Councilmember Hougardy asked if the Council can pause or delay this project. Mr. Goldblatt replied it is a matter of cost. Costs will be higher in the future. He noted this is a relatively small expense for a great return on investment. The Council will have an opportunity to slow spending during the actual construction budget for any projects that follow, such as rehabilitating the Heiser building. Ms. Hougardy added that the Committee also discussed the use of the existing facilities and the consolidation of facilities onto one campus. Additionally, the City currently has a 5-year lease with UPS that will be ending soon. She emphasized the importance of having a master plan in place. Ms. Kim noted that if the property acquisition proceeds on schedule, the Heiser building may potentially become available in Summer of 2019. Having the master plan will help ensure the project team is timely in moving forward with tenant improvements of that building so it is not vacant for a long period of time. Councilmember Quinn is not in favor of this expenditure. He relayed he is having difficulty finding the nexus between this master plan and the realities of what the City can fund. He is mindful that decisions this Council make will impact future Councils. Mr. Quinn acknowledged this is a good step in regular times. He is concerned that it will be several years before the City makes a real investment in this area. He also asked when the City should use institutional knowledge rather than consultant knowledge. He would be amenable to hearing from staff regarding the necessary functions for the Public Safety Plan facilities. Councilmember Kruller stated some of the buildings on the Public Works sites have been updated already and may have existing functions that can be utilized, such as equipment bays, storage and office space. She referenced the Tukwila Pool Metropolitan Park District, which chose to reexamine a project when construction costs escalated beyond control. By choosing a different contractor, they were able to manage costs more effectively. While this may not apply to every situation, Ms. Kruller emphasized she would like to concentrate on the Justice Center and Fire Stations. She is supportive of the project, but the timing and funding are questionable. Councilmember Idan feels this is the right investment. In his experience, this is what a normal project and approach should be. However, he is concerned about the global and actual numbers for this project. Councilmember Robertson shared he spoke to the previous Public Works Director last year to learn more about the requirements for the Public Works facilities and was not able to ascertain any firm requirements. He explained the City currently has three facilities, with two additional sites becoming available within the next few years. Having a master plan will help determine how to best use these buildings. He echoes the Council's concern about funding but stated the project team is trying to control costs. Councilmember Hougardy asked if this amount is within the Public Safety Plan budget. Ms. Kim responded in the affirmative and explained the $365,000 is already listed within the Public Works facilities budget. Ms. Hougardy relayed she would prefer to pause after a master plan is complete, as a roadmap will help inform some decisions in other areas. Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes October 8, 2018 Page 5 of 11 Councilmember Kruller referenced the duration of agreement (time for performance) as listed on page 39 of the agenda packet and asked why the work to be performed is no later than December 31, 2021. Ms. Kim said contract agreements build in extra time in case there is a delay in the project so that the sunset date does not need to be amended. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING. d. A contract for hazardous material abatement for the Public Safety Plan. Councilmember Quinn indicated this item was discussed at the Finance Committee meeting on October 2, 2018. The committee members forwarded this item with majority approval, with Councilmember Kruller opposed. Ms. Bianchi provided an overview of this item and said the City has identified a need for Regulated Building Materials consulting services for the Public Safety Plan, specifically the Justice Center and a review of the existing Fire Station 54. These services allow the project to identify and safely dispose of potentially hazardous materials in the existing buildings on the project site. Ms. Bianchi relayed many of the buildings associated with the Justice Center are scheduled to stay occupied through March 2019, however, the Travel Lodge has chosen to cease operations earlier. These services are needed before demolishing these buildings and to better understand the realities of a potential remodel of Fire Station 54. Staff is requesting authority for a 10% contingency which has been added to a not to exceed amount of $58,855. Ms. Bianchi clarified the scope of work for this contract would not include abatement and would focus on assessing hazardous materials in the building. Ms. Kim explained the City issued and advertised a Request for Proposals and selected NOVO Laboratory & Consulting Services, Inc., based on their qualifications. Ms. Kim shared SOJ has worked with this contractor before on several other projects and found them to be a reliable firm. The contractor will inspect and prepare a report of their findings for use in bid documents to obtain a quote for hazardous materials removal firms. Mr. Goldblatt added that this is a normal expense and is a necessary service for the Justice Center. He indicated it would be a good use of funds to review Fire Station 54 for hazardous materials. Support existed to have Regulated Building Materials consulting services for the Justice Center. There was discussion among the Council regarding the need to assess Fire Station 54 when there is a lack of clarity regarding whether the D-20 financing model for the amended Public Safety Plan budget approved costs for retrofitting Fire Station 54. Council support existed to have further discussion regarding Fire Station 54 at a later date. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING. AGENDA AMENDMENT Councilmember Idan asked if there was Council support to amend the agenda to move Item 3.h., "Discussion on pedestrian safety improvements at the S. 140th Street/Tukwila International Boulevard intersection," to the next item following item 3.e. "Consensus on Justice Center Design Development." COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO AMEND THE AGENDA AS REQUESTED ABOVE. e. Consensus on Justice Center Design Development. 8:30 p.m. Councilmembers Robertson and Quinn left the Council Chambers. Councilmember Hougardy indicated this item was discussed at the Public Safety Committee meeting on October 1, 2018. The committee members were unanimous in recommending approval. Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes October 8, 2018 Page 6 of 11 Ms. Bianchi introduced Erica Loynd, Public Safety Plan Architect with DLR Group. Ms. Bianchi relayed the City has completed Design Development of the Justice Center. Ms. Loynd utilized a PowerPoint presentation to provide an overview of the Justice Center project with the following key points: • The main scope of Design Development involved defining the building systems and building envelope, as well as start the initial permitting steps. • The project team coordinated closely with stakeholders such as the Police Department, Court and Emergency Operations Center to discuss how to activate and utilize spaces most effectively. • The current floor plan is consistent with previous designs. 8:32 p.m. Councilmembers Robertson and Quinn returned to the Council Chambers. Ms. Kim added the overall cost estimates and budget have remained on target with minimal adjustments. Construction costs decreased slightly, from $38,738,678 to $38,727,363. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO MOVE FORWARD TO THE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS PHASE OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN FOR THE JUSTICE CENTER. h. Discussion on pedestrian safety improvements at the S. 140th Street/Tukwila International Boulevard intersection (near the Abu Bakr Islamic Center) (per agenda amendment on page 5). Councilmember McLeod indicated this item was last discussed at the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee meeting on September 24, 2018, as well as in other Committee meetings. Recognizing the need for pedestrian safety improvements near the Abu Bakr Islamic Center, the City has applied for grant funding for design and construction of a new Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) on Tukwila International Boulevard (TIB). Mr. McLeod said this project would cost approximately $190,000. Grant applications are currently under review and awards will be decided in November 2018. In the meantime, the Committee recommends proceeding with interim measures in conjunction with design of the RRFB. Councilmember Quinn clarified that the Committee's recommendation for interim measures such as striping would fall under the Mayor's spending authority of up to $40,000 but this item was forwarded to the Council to highlight community input and the partnership between the Abu Bakr Islamic Center and Police Commander Kraig Boyd. Had Ponnekanti, Public Works Deputy Director/City Engineer, noted this issue has resurfaced consistently during Committee meetings. In 2016, the City applied for a grant to install a signal in the area but was unsuccessful. As indicated earlier, the City has applied for a new grant to design and construct an RRFB. Staff have visited the site several times and have spoken with representatives from the Abu Bakr Islamic Center. Mr. Ponnekanti emphasized that pedestrian safety is of the utmost importance to the City. Staff intend to proceed with potential interim measures to include striping, installing runners and signs and refuge islands. Cyndy Knighton, Senior Program Manager, relayed that an updated Informational Memorandum has been distributed to the Council. Staff met with Jan Ciganic of KPG to discuss potential options that could be implemented as an interim step if funding for the RRFB is not secured. In addition to the measures listed by Mr. Ponnekanti, staff are also proposing to narrow existing lanes to slow traffic. Staff estimate the cost of the RRFB design will be $20,000 to $40,000. Hamdi Abdulle is the Director of African Community Housing and Development. She is concerned about the delay the community has experienced in regard to the crosswalk on South 141st Street. The safety of the community is a high priority, and they have waited a long time for this to become a reality. She would like to see this project be completed by the end of 2019 at the latest. She would like preventive measures to be taken before a serious incident occurs. Mohammed Jama, 35915 301h Avenue South, is the Secretary of the Abu Bakr Islamic Center and sits on their Board. He relayed he stood before the Council on this issue approximately 4 years ago and there has been no progress since then. He emphasized this is a public safety issue as many people cross Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes October 8, 2018 Page 7 of 11 South 141st Street every day. Mr. Jama stated the community would like a tangible result. They feel like second-class citizens. He shared that since the Abu Bakr Islamic Center was established, the mosque community has contributed to the TIB area by cleaning the streets and working with neighbors. He asks that the City return these efforts by providing the Islamic Center with something that will save lives. Pam Carter, 4115 South 139th Street, said this is another example of a high -priority issue along TIB that has been pushed back. She supports the proposal by staff and stated that even if staff do not receive the grant from the Transportation Improvement Board, pedestrian safety improvements need to occur. She also referenced item 3.a, "A Public Works fee resolution updating water, sewer, and surface water rates," and expressed her appreciation for the Council's concern for low-income and senior residents. She shared that the Valley View Sewer District had an experience in which they did not make provisions for low-income residents and thereby negatively impacted customers. She supports having the Equity and Social Justice Commission review ways to mitigate policy impacts. Ms. Carter relayed utility funds are enterprise funds and are not supported by taxes. Abdirahman Kariye shared he is reinforcing what others have stated tonight. There are many people who are concerned about pedestrian safety by the Abu Bakr Islamic Center. Having a full crosswalk similar to the one by the Tukwila Library would be ideal. Mr. Kariye expressed it would be very upsetting to lose someone because there was not enough due diligence. He appealed to the Council on behalf of the Abu Bakr Islamic Center. The Center has tried everything in their capacity to get this done. Abdirahman OJ, 3724 South 141st Street, is a Tukwila resident and lives next to the Abu Bakr Islamic Center. His children attend Foster High School and cross TIB each morning. Mr. OJ shared that he and his wife worry their children will be hit by a vehicle. The speed limit is 35 miles per hour (MPH), but he regularly sees cars going over 55 MPH. He was on the Board of the Abu Bakr Islamic Center several years ago and started discussion with the City in 2009 regarding a crosswalk. He appreciates Councilmember Idan's advocacy for the Islamic community. Mr. OJ expressed that it is the job of the Council to consider the safety of the City's residents. He referenced that the Center asked for this crosswalk before the one at the Tukwila Library was installed. He urged the Council to prioritize this issue. Ahmad Hussein, 3100 South 209th Street, SeaTac, volunteers at the Abu Bakr Islamic Center and works with the Tukwila Police Department to control traffic. Mr. Hussein explained that during Ramadan, they use flashlights to help pedestrians cross the street due to extreme speeding. He emphasized that it is a miracle that nobody has been injured. The Abu Bakr Islamic Center holds 5 daily service prayers and also offers many other services such as counseling and youth programs. It is visited by many people. He urged the Council to give this issue the importance it deserves. Abdirisak Ahmed, 14101 Tukwila International Boulevard, said he has attended the Committee meetings several times. The Abu Bakr Islamic Center has been waiting for this project to be implemented since 2009. He said many Councilmembers promised this project would be completed after the 42nd Avenue South project. He referenced pages 167 and 168 of the agenda packet and highlighted that many of the pedestrian crossings are by the Islamic Center. They are waiting for a fatality to happen. He emphasized that the Center provides many services and is a priority for the community. Mr. Ahmed noted South 144th Street already has two pedestrian safety improvements. He feels $180,000 is not a large amount to expend towards public safety. Noor Gaas, 12252 46'h Avenue South, crosses TIB two to three times a day. He is unsure why there has been such a delay on this issue. He does not want the loss of a life to be the catalyst for moving forward with pedestrian safety measures. He reminded the Council that the people of the community voted for them and asked that the Islamic Center not be treated as second-class citizens. He expressed that he hopes he will not need to return to speak before the Council regarding this topic. Edward Davis, 4220 South 164th Street, thanked the Council and appreciates the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's efforts on this item. He is a teacher at the Abu Bakr Education Academy. He asked what the value of the human life is. Yesterday, he saw a pedestrian almost get hit by a vehicle. This is already causing harm in the community due to the anxiety caused by fear of getting hit by a vehicle. He shared that the Islamic Center ensures they are good members of the community and Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes October 8, 2018 Page 8 of 11 contributes financially and economically to the City. He relayed they are asking for reciprocity. The Islamic Center has recently acquired property across the street. This problem will only continue to grow worse. Council President Seal thanked the members of the audience for attending tonight's meeting. Councilmember Robertson shared that Councilmember Idan had suggested moving forward with the RRFB project as proposed and using funds from the Residential Street Program that is in the budget for $400,000 regardless of whether the City receives grant funding. He asked if moving forward with design and construction interferes with the City's ability to receive the grant. Ms. Knighton replied any expenses incurred prior to an award would not apply towards the City's match nor be reimbursable. She shared that staff anticipate the design will take approximately 3 to 5 months to finalize and the design process will cost approximately $20,000 to $40,000. Councilmember Hougardy commented that this crosswalk is not only a benefit to the Islamic Center, but also to the entire community as it contributes to the safety of that intersection. She referenced the September 24, 2018 Committee minutes that state the area may have the busiest pedestrian crossing in the City. The minutes also reflect that a study will need to be conducted to determine the best location for a pedestrian crossing. She suggested having staff identify alternative funding sources, in case the Residential Street Program funds have already been committed. Councilmember Kruller expressed her support of this item and asked if the interim pedestrian safety options are being designed such that they do not need to be redesigned if RRFB grant funding is not secured. Ms. Knighton responded that staff's intent is to develop and construct interim measures with allowances for future installation of the RRFB at the same location, if funding becomes available. Ms. Kruller highlighted the aerial diagrams (pages 165 and 166 of the agenda packet) and noted a direct route to the Abu Bakr Islamic Center does not seem to be available. Ms. Knighton relayed staff are aware there are potential changes across the street that will increase the need for safe pedestrian crossing. Further engineering review will need to occur. The current proposal is an initial assessment by staff and KPG of potential interim measures. Councilmember Idan shared that the Executive Director of the Abu Bakr Islamic Center has presented on this item to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Mr. 'clan thanked the Tukwila Police Department and Police Commander Boyd for their partnership with the Islamic Center. Strategic Plan Goal Two states "a solid foundation for all Tukwila residents." It has taken several years for the community to see progress on this project. Mr. 'clan emphasized the need for this project. He asked if the Residential Street Program has already been allocated to other projects. Mr. Ponnekanti explained the intent of the Residential Street Program is to complete several small traffic calming projects. A project of this magnitude will take a third or a half of the fund. He noted there is currently no specific allocation and staff are ready for Council direction. Councilmember Quinn stated this is a public safety issue and the budget should reflect the community's values. He emphasized that rather than a traffic calming project, this is a capital investment in the community. It is the Council's role to consider what tradeoffs they are prepared to make. A commitment of funds should have taken place a long time ago. Council President Seal said this is a policy decision. She relayed the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has been working on a traffic calming policy that considers placement of crosswalks, signs, and lights. She asked for clarification regarding the cost and implementation of the RRFB by Showalter Middle School on South 144th Street. Mayor Ekberg replied traffic calming has been a significant issue since 2015. He relayed that data and accident statistics at the time indicated South 160th Street was a traffic hazard, so a pilot project was initiated in 2016 and was successful. As a result of that pilot project, in 2017 the Council began working on a process and policy on traffic calming. Mayor Ekberg learned about solar flashing traffic devices that cost less than $17,000 to install during a recent National League of Cities conference workshop. Following a conversation with a Tukwila School District nurse concerning the need for pedestrian safety, Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes October 8, 2018 Page 9 of 11 he directed staff to install a solar flashing traffic device as it is within his spending authority. This can also be installed by the Abu Bakr Islamic Center as one of the interim measures. Councilmember Quinn expressed that conversations do not happen in a vacuum and the crosswalk by Showalter Middle School and the Abu Bakr Islamic Center happened concurrently. He noted the interim solution of installing solar flashing traffic devices could have surfaced earlier. He asked how the Council and Administration can collaborate to be responsive to the needs of the community. The Councilmembers asked additional clarifying questions, and comments were exchanged as follows: • The proposed interim measures are temporary but can be built upon should funding be secured. • The location of the RRFB is not yet final but will be in the vicinity of South 141st Street. • At a minimum, the Committee recommends traffic calming devices such as the one on South 144th Street. • Staff noted the design process will take approximately 2 weeks. Interim measures can be implemented once the design is complete. The full design and construction could take approximately 3 to 5 months to complete, weather dependent. By that time, the City will know what kind of funding is available. Winter can be challenging and can affect the timeline as it is difficult to find the appropriate windows to put paint down due to temperature and wetness. • It is important to continue outreach and community engagement during this process and keep stakeholders informed with timely updates. • Additional measures the City can take include utilizing unused mobile radar speed signs and placing unused police vehicles nearby to modify driver behavior and reduce speeding. Council President Seal stated staff has direction from the Council to proceed per the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's recommendation. She asked staff to ensure the community is kept informed on this item. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO RETURN THIS ITEM TO THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE. f. An ordinance amending business license regulations in Tukwila Municipal Code Title 5. Councilmember Quinn indicated this item was discussed at the Finance Committee meeting on October 2, 2018. The committee members were unanimous in recommending approval. 9:58 p.m. Councilmember Hougardy left the Council Chambers. Vicky Carlsen, Deputy Finance Director, relayed that in 2017, the Washington State Legislature adopted Engrossed House Bill 2005 that required cities with a general business license to partner a combined licensing service. The legislation required that cities develop and implement a model licensing ordinance that includes a minimum income threshold to require a business be licensed. The proposed ordinance includes the following key changes: • Added required language from the model ordinance defining "engaging in business". • Added required language regarding a $2,000 per year threshold for businesses that do not have a location in the City. 9:59 p.m. Councilmember Hougardy returned to the Council Chambers. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AT THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING. 10:00 p.m. 10:05 p.m. Council President Seal called for a 5-minute recess. Council President Seal reconvened the meeting. Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes October 8, 2018 Page 10 of 11 g. Discussion on Tukwila International Boulevard rechannelization project. Councilmember Kruller indicated this item was discussed at the Community Development and Neighborhoods Committee meeting on September 24, 2018. Staff have proposed three options as follow- up to the Congress for New Urbanism (CNU) recommendations: Option A allows for updating the zoning code and assumes no change to the Tukwila International Boulevard (TIB) roadway. Options B and C plan for further study on traffic and mitigation. The committee members had no recommendation and requested this item be brought forward for Council discussion. Councilmember McLeod indicated this item was also discussed at the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee meeting on September 25, 2018. He indicated the Committee is interested in moving forward with some of the CNU recommendations such as the road diet on TIB. He relayed further discussion is needed. Jack Pace, Community Development Director, explained that the CNU report contained recommendations for implementing the City's adopted goals and policies for the TIB neighborhood, based upon the Comprehensive Plan's direction and community workshops held over three days in February 2017. The recommended alternative for achieving the change was to reduce the number of through lanes on TIB and add on -street parking and bicycle lanes. Fehr & Peers studied the impact of the proposed road diet, or rechannelization, on TIB and found that traffic impacts to TIB and the nearby residential streets will likely be significant. These impacts include increased congestion and travel time on TIB, significant volume increases on parallel residential streets, and impacts to emergency vehicle response routes and response times. Further changes to adjacent roads, such as Military Road in SeaTac may further impact TIB. Mr. Pace indicated staff are seeking Council direction based on the following options: • Option A: Current Design and Updated Zoning Code (Administration Recommendation). This option assumes no changes to the configuration of TIB and moves forward with the recommendations for development regulations for the TIB area. • Option B: Further Traffic and Mitigation Study: This option allocates time and resources to fully study the traffic impacts and would take approximately 6 months to complete. • Option C: Further Traffic, Mitigation, and Economic Benefit Study: In addition to Option B, this would include a cost -benefit analysis of the various roadway options and benefit to the community. Sharon Mann, 4452 South 160th Street, stressed that the economic forecast estimates a change in the economy by 2020. Zoning changes per the Comprehensive Plan have not been implemented in the TIB area. Momentum has already been lost and conducting studies will take additional time and financing. She asked if zoning changes can occur to stimulate economic development on TIB. Developers are looking at TIB but not committing due to the ambiguous zoning. The Councilmembers asked additional clarifying questions, and comments were exchanged as follows: • Rechannelization of TIB may impact through traffic on arterial streets. Further information needs to be surfaced regarding community impacts. • Page 155 of the agenda packet shows a takeover agreement with Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for TIB (State Route 99) that sought the City's assurance that TIB would continue to function as a through, regional arterial and emergency detour if there is a problem on 1-5. It is important to involve WSDOT in future discussions. • The issues of zoning and rechannelization need to be separated for efficiency. • Support existed to have further traffic and mitigation studies completed so a comprehensive discussion can be held once additional information is available. Mr. Pace clarified that staff are working with Rune Harkestad, property owner of Bartell Drugs, to move forward with a development agreement that will be independent of the zoning updates for the TIB area. Mr. Pace explained parking and street design needs further evaluation due to the issue of where to place entrances to businesses, which is closely tied to the location of customer parking. Mr. Pace relayed staff have also hired a consultant to review amendments to the zoning standards for the TIB area. Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes October 8, 2018 Page 11 of 11 COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO RETURN THIS ITEM TO THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE AND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. Council President Seal asked whether there was consensus to extend this Committee of the Whole meeting past 11:00 p.m. and to discuss the 2019-2020 Biennial Budget Public Safety Plan and City Facilities Funds at a future meeting. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO EXTEND THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING PAST 11:00 P.M. AND RESCHEDULE THE 2019-2020 BIENNIAL BUDGET PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN AND CITY FACILITIES FUNDS TO A FUTURE MEETING. i. 2019-2020 Biennial Budget: • Drug Seizure Fund Ms. Carlsen explained this fund is not part of the General Fund. Drug Seizure funds come in from the proceeds of property that is seized during drug related criminal activity. Expenditures in this fund must be related to drug seizure activities or equipment. • Fire Department Ms. Carlsen stated the Fire Department participated in the ongoing budget reductions and reduced expenditures by 1.5%. She highlighted that the Fire Department is anticipating a decline in Salaries and Benefits expenses in 2019 resulting from less overtime. 2020 should see an increase in Salaries and Benefits due to increased COLAs and changes in health care and retirement costs. Increases include radio replacement costs reentering the budget after being funded by a one-time grant. The list of programs can be found on page 186 of the agenda packet. Based on clarifying questions from the Council, Chief Wittwer noted that all positions are funded per the proposed budget. The organization chart (page 181 of the agenda packet) lists pipeline positions to help the department balance overtime expenditures. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THE PROPOSED BUDGETS TO THE FINAL BUDGET PACKAGE FOR APPROVAL IN NOVEMBER. REPORTS COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO DISPENSE WITH REPORTS DUE TO THE LATENESS OF THE HOUR. ADJOURNMENT 11:02 p.m. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SEAL DECLARED THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING ADJOURNED. Verna Sea , ouncil President Andy Youn, Deputy City Clerk APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT: AVAILABLE ON THE CITY WEBSITE: 10/24/18 10/25/18