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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-06-23 Committee of the Whole MinutesJune 23, 1981 7:00 P.M. FLAG SALUTE AND CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL OF COUNCIL MEMBERS REPORTS Mr. Ron Dunlap, King County Executive. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL City Hall COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING Council Chambers M I N U T E S ica 7/ Council President Van Dusen led the Council and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and called the Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. MABEL J. HARRIS, GEORGE D. HILL, DORIS E. PHELPS, DANIEL J. SAUL, Council President GARY L. VAN DUSEN. Mayor Todd introduced Mr. Ron Dunlap, King County Executive. Mr. Dunlap said he was going out to the 28 municipalities in King County to find the desires of the people. He said it would be an informal discussion and then a question and answer period. He said at the present time his office is concerned with the preparation of the 1982 budget. There are some financial problems. These problems are being addressed by effecting necessary cut backs in services so a balanced budget may be presented that will not result in a tax increase. This will necessitate reducing spending by 10 million dollars. Mr. Dunlap said they hope to have on the ballot a County -wide 911 dialling system. It is called enhanced 911. It will give King County the very finest emergency system available in this country. Indications are that 50 cents per month will provide this system. To have fire, police, or medical system it is necessary to dial only 911 and state whether the problem is for "fire, police, or medical" and the call will be relayed to the nearest station. The number and location of the call will be flashed and it is the latest in equipment. The hardware is available and the County is in the process of putting it together. A long range program that the County has been exploring is that of converting waste to energy. The plan is to take the 2,000 or 3,000 tons of waste a day and sort it, shred it, and burn it to create steam and generate electricity. The electricity would be sold to Bonneville Power. It would produce more energy for the area. The additional benefit will be the decided environmental good to the program. It will improve the environment, be economical, and provide energy. Mr. Dunlap said another thing that has come to his mind is the amount of time that it takes to process paper work through the government. When someone decides to build a home it takes some time for all of the paper work to go through. He said he would like to make government a servant of the people rather than an obstacle. A task force has been created; they have reported a list of recommendations that can be done to reduce the time flow. A number of changes will be incorporated that will reduce the amount of time it takes County government to serve the people. These are some of the things that are being looked at. There are a number of other things being considered. The improvement of the jail is another thing that is underway. They are thinking in terms of making the King County jail a better place. Less than $5,000 has been spent in paint, wax, etc. Ten years of wax has been stripped off, windows have been washed and walls painted. The labor has been done by inmates of the jail. He said he would like the County to get to the point where others will look at the jail as a well -run and clean facility. The King County jail is 25% larger than the next largest penal institution in the State. Art in the amount of $600,000 will not be put into the King County jail! Each cell has a window that is a requirement, color TV does abound, but not in each cell. Mr. Dunlap said he would like to open the meeting for discussion. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING June 23, 1981 Page 2 REPORTS Contd. Mr. Ron Dunlap, King County Executive contd. Council President Van Dusen said he had a question from the audience that has to do with the 56th Avenue bridge. Mr. Dunlap said they have block grant funds appropriated and ready to go into the design and construction of the bridge. The County contends that because the boundary line goes through the middle of the bridge some of the cost should be borne by the City of Tukwila. He said they would like to move ahead on the construction. Council President Van Dusen asked if there is a chance for matching funds? Mr. Dunlap said he would be surprised if the Federal would join in on the cost. The bridge is not on a State highway so it is doubtful that the State would join in. Mr. Dunlap said the design will cost about $137,000 and the total cost will be 1.49 million dollars. Mayor Todd said the block grant funds have been set aside for the County. Why cannot these funds be used for the City part? Mr. Dunlap said the Prosecuting Attorney is clear in his convic- tion that this needs to be a shared project. Mayor Todd said the County took advantage of block grant funds. If the City assumed the liability couldn't the County fund the City share? If block grant funds are available to the County could not the City be eligibile for block grant funds also? This would get the preliminary engineering underway. Mr. Dunlap said he would take the question back to the prosecuting attorney and see what his answer may be. Mayor Todd said it is easy for the County to get the block grant funds. Why cannot they approve the City for that? Mr. Dunlap said he would discuss this matter with the attorney. Mayor Todd said the bridge serves 17 families who live in the City and 50 families who live in the County. Councilman Saul said if the City has to participate in a one and one -half million dollar project he did not know how they could do it. There is no need to spend the money for the design because the City cannot do it, and then participate in a one and one -half million dollar project because we do not have the money. Mr. Dunlap said the total cost of the bridge would be 1.495 million dollars. The local share would be 30% of that, or about $225,000. The design cost is on top of that. Mrs. William Baker, 13059 56th South, said she was told by Mr. Grieve that Tukwila would get Federal matching funds and State help in building the bridge. Police Chief Lowery said he would like to address one question about the County jail. The County and City are looking at who is going to pay what. The cost has gone up to $50.00. He said they are looking for a regular jail. There is space available here. There would be many good points to it. It will necessitate pulling out of the 10 -year contract. Mr. Dunlap said Chief Lowery is one of the few who have said they would like to have a jail. On the issue of cost, it needs to be restated. He said they have no ambition of making money on the County jail. All they have argued is that those who use the jail pay their fair share. It costs 2.2 million dollars per year to support the jail. The County and City split the cost. Fifty percent of the bookings come from Seattle. He said they wanted equity on the issue of jail costs. There is cost associated with booking a person and a daily charge. The costs TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING June 23, 1981 Page 3 REPORTS Contd. Mr. Ron Dunlap, King County Executive contd. 3.2 73 have been analyzed and we believe it is fair and equitable. The same charges borne by Tukwila will be borne by Bellevue and Seattle. Chief Lowery said our people are paying a general tax and then we get a bill. Does the sheriff get the same bill? Mr. Dunlap said a consultant was hired to do a cost analysis. It is on the basis of that information that we are asking for the fair share. It was a matter of disagreement with the City of Seattle. Council President Van Dusen said the Recreation Department has a lease with the local school district building and we have allowed County citizens to participate in the program. We have 60 County citizens and only 20 Tukwila citizens. They use the facilities and all of the amenities and the City vans for trips. We are going to have to ask the County to help on these expenses. Mr. Dunlap said he understood the Director of Parks has been contacted and it is intended to put this matter into the budget request for 1982. Councilman Hill said he keeps worrying about the problems here. He asked if any thought has been given to making a County -wide traffic study? Most of the problems are coming from I -405 and Longacres. If we put in a 4 -lane street to our City limits and it is 2 miles of County road until a person gets to Kent or Renton City limits. This is not going to help. Can't everyone get together on something like this. Mr. Dunlap said it is a great idea and one they are working toward. He said he looks at the roads throughout King County and sees the need to do something about them. The idea of the County -wide bond issue is being explored that would take care of the transportation problems. It will not be on the ballot this November, but it is being discussed. He said he thought the bond would be received by the people. Mrs. Baker, audience, asked if this would include the bridge repair? She said if they become isolated, there is no way a fire truck can get into their area. A bridge is needed. It is a County road. Will this be included on the bond issue? Mr. Dunlap said he can only say that the County is prepared with the money to go ahead with the design and construction. Mrs. Baker said a consultant was called in for the jail. Could one be called in for the bridge? Mr. Dunlap said the County has the attorney's opinion. There are other legal opinions that say it is County responsibility. The decision on this may ultimately come only through court action. Chris Crumbaugh, audience, said the County developed a proposed general development guide and in it Tukwila is ignored. Industrial zones are shown as open space. He said he would ask that Tukwila not be ignored. Mr. Dunlap said the general development guide is significant, but is only a draft at this point. A lot of work has gone into it. One of the most important issues is land use development. There is a need to listen to local communities. That is where decisions about land use are best made. He said there is a new director of planning who will be taking office about July 15. One of his aims will be to listen to the communities. Councilman Harris asked that Tukwila appear on the maps. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING June 23, 1981 Page 4 REPORTS Contd. Mr. Ron Dunlap, King County Executive contd. RECESS 8:00 8:15 P.M. CITIZEN COMMENTS Name Change Pacific National Bank to 1st Interstate Bank. NEW BUSINESS Budget Transfer Motion, provide funds for Technical Advisor position in the Police Dept. OLD BUSINESS Approval of Minutes: Zoning Ord. 6 -1 -81 Zoning Ord. 6 -8 -81 Comm. of Whole 6 -9 -81. Approval of 1981 Tow Truck Rates. 3 .2 79 Mr. Dunlap said as soon as the old map supply has been depleted and there is a reprint Tukwila will be on the new maps. Councilman Hill said on the watershed program, it has been determined how they are going to get the water out of Auburn, Kent, and Renton, but no one has planned how they are going to get it out of Tukwila's back door. We have to get it from here to Elliott Bay. It is the same thing with transportation. If the entire problem is not solved, Tukwila cannot solve our problem. Councilman Phelps said we should work in the spirit of cooperation. At the recent AWC convention she heard Vancouver tell how they developed a plan to support legislation they wanted and defeated what they did not want. Mr. Dunlap said the County would be pleased to entertain such an idea. There are many problems of the City and County that overlap and are the same. He said he would be interested to work with citizens on such issues of mutual concern. The Governor came from King County and he is familiar with the problems. He said that Bob Hodges should be contacted by the City. He is in charge of inter governmental relations. Council President Van Dusen called a recess for ten minutes. The Committee of the Whole Meeting was called back to order by Council President Van Dusen, with Council Members present as previously listed. Jan Wiesner, Tukwila Chamber of Commerce, said on Wednesday afternoon all City officials were invited to attend an afternoon social between 4 and 7 p.m. at 343 Andover Park East to celebrate the name change of the bank. MOVED BY SAUL, SECONDED BY HARRIS, THAT THE AGENDA BE CHANGED AND NEW BUSINESS BE DISCUSSED PRIOR TO OLD BUSINESS. MOTION CARRIED. Alan Doerschel, Director of Finance, said the purpose of the budget transfer is to fund the Technical Advisor (Police Department) position through December 1981 per the signed agreement. MOVED BY HARRIS, SECONDED BY PHELPS, THAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET TRANSFER BE ON THE AGENDA OF THE JULY 7, 1981 MEETING. MOTION CARRIED. MOVED BY HILL, SECONDED BY SAUL, THAT THE MINUTES OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE REVIEW HELD JUNE 1, 1981 AND JUNE 8, 1981 AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING HELD JUNE 9, 1981 BE APPROVED AS PUBLISHED. MOTION CARRIED. Councilman Hill said the matter of tow truck rates had been discussed in committee. The Police Chief checked tow rates in the surrounding area and we are a little lower than most of them. Police Chief Lowery said the TMC says the Council must review the rates every year. They are buying a license for each tow truck and they are inspected by the Police Department. He said the present practice is fair. Councilman Hill said there is some policing and it is good to keep them licensed by the City. MOVED BY HILL, SECONDED BY HARRIS, THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVE THE TOW TRUCK RATES BEING CHARGED BY THE OPERATORS IN THE CITY. MOTION CARRIED. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING June 23, 1981 Page 5 OLD BUSINESS Contd. Council Manager, Mayor Council forms of government for City. J.? 7S Council President Van Dusen said Dennis Hidell, former Council Analyst, and Teresa Julnes, Council Analyst, would present information that has been researched. Dennis Hidell said if this resolution passes it is necessary for the Council to present it to the voters. The issue is the abandonment of the Mayor Council type of government in the City. The whole face of City government in Tukwila would be changed. It is fair for this resolution to be proposed by the Council. The alternative would be a petition by the voters for the change. The voters should have the arguments from both sides of the question. A lot of information has been accumulated for the Council from nationwide as well as local sources. Mr. Hidell said in the paper he wrote for the Council he had said there were people who would be glad to come and speak to the Council and audience and tell their views on the subject. Council President Van Dusen said if the issue passed on the November election then there would still have to be another election in February. Teresa Julnes, Council Analyst, said through the RCW there is a reorganization of the Council that must take place if the City government is changed. Following the election that accepts the change in type of City government there must be a primary election held for Council Members and then the Mayor is selected. Councilman Harris said at the AWC convention she had asked what the City could use to give the people of Tukwila an unbiased discussion on the subject. It was suggested that information from both sides be presented to the voters in a public hearing. She was told the AWC could be a moderator and get a Mayor and Manager to speak and the audience could ask questions. There could be a second meeting and even a third, if necessary. Teresa Julnes, Council Analyst, said there has not been an outcry from the public for this change. This is where it should come from when the change is being considered. If the change is made, the City will not be electing a Mayor, the Council will be electing the Mayor. Dennis Hidell said it is only right that the people initiate this objective. The RCW allows the Council to pass the resolution and makes provision for it. Council President Van Dusen said it would be good to have a public meeting. We have about 12 to 1400 voters and about 800 of them actually vote. The people do not seem to come out for public meetings. Councilman Hill said without the issue originating with the people the Council should not consider it. Mayor Todd said he proposed the resolution because the need for a fulltime Mayor has been felt for a long time. Mayor Baker thought it was necessary to have a fulltime Mayor more than 18 years ago. He said he introduced the resolution to give the people that option. Councilman Hill said the Chamber of Commerce expressed the thought that the town needed a fulltime Mayor some time ago. They did not specify it should be a City Manager, but it should be a fulltime person in charge of the City. The Mayor feels we should have a fulltime person running the City. That is why this issue has been introduced. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING June 23, 1981 Page 6 OLD BUSINESS Contd. Council Manager, Mayor Council forms of government for City contd. MISCELLANEOUS Reno Nights. 3 76 Chris Crumbaugh, audience, said the Segale Company felt their views should be expressed. He said they agreed that the City staff needs full time direction. The staff tries hard, but they cannot accomplish without direction. He said it is their thought that the City try the fulltime Mayor before they go to the Council Manager type of government. He said they would like to be able to come up to City Hall and express views to elected personnel. He said there are qualified people in the position. He said the hiring of a City Manager could create financial problems for the City. Councilman Harris said the seven City Council members would be elected by the people. If the Council then appointed the Mayor, he would actually be elected by the people. Mayor Todd asked what the powers of the City Council appointed Mayor would be? He would have no authority. The Council is prohibited from interferring with Administration. Teresa Julnes said cities are experiencing two or three City Managers in five years. They are not staying for any length of time in a City. Council President Van Dusen said if this matter gets to the public vote he thought it would be turned down. MOVED BY SAUL, SECONDED BY HARRIS, THAT THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION BE ON THE AGENDA OF THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT. John Barnes, audience, said he agreed that the City should try the form of government presently in use with a fulltime Mayor and then if it does not work out the City could look to changing the type of government. He said when he has a complaint he likes to be able to take it to an elected official and not to a City Manager who would hide behind the Council. *MOTION CARRIED, WITH VAN DUSEN VOTING NO. Council President Van Dusen said a number of nonprofit organiza- tions have called him about the recent ordinance eliminating Reno nights. They have been scheduled to have Reno nights and have booked until about the end of November with one being scheduled for February 1982. These organizations would like the Council to allow them the events that have been scheduled. Councilman Saul said he was not in favor of continuing Reno nights. There is no way to monitor the money. It is wide open with no controls and no surveillance. If they want to run them they can go to one of the surrounding cities. Councilman Hill asked if the nonprofit organizations were from the City? Maxine Anderson, City Clerk, said they were not. Council President Van Dusen said if Council is in favor of letting them keep their scheduled events then the ordinance should be delayed or permission granted to go ahead with the event. Councilman Saul said he would like to hear what the Police Chief has to say about this matter. Police Chief Lowery said his feeling is that if exceptions are granted the ordinance might as well be thrown out. The hearings were started in February. It would be interesting to know how many of these events were scheduled after that time. Reno nights were declared to be illegal right from the beginning. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING June 23, 1981 Page 7 MISCELLANEOUS Contd. Reno nights contd. ADJOURNMENT 9:00 P.M. 3. City Attorney Hard said the City has a gambling ordinance that is working well. If there is a tolerance policy it is more trouble than it is worth. If there are any changes made, the Council will have to amend the ordinance. Councilman Phelps said she was not in favor of allowing the scheduled events to take place. The other Council members agreed with that decision. MOVED BY SAUL, SECONDED BY HILL, THAT THE TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING ADJOURN. MOTION CARRIED. L'-Van Busen, Council President te ak_ Noma Booher, Recording Secretary