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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-11-10 Committee of the Whole MinutesNovember 10, 1981 7:00 P.M. FLAG SALUTE AND CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL OF COUNCIL MEMBERS REPORTS Draft #5 of the Zoning Ordinance TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING M I N U T E S City Hall Council President Van Dusen led the Council and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and called the Committee of the Whole Meeting to order. MABEL J. HARRIS, GEORGE D. HILL, J. REID JOHANSON, DORIS E. PHELPS, DANIEL J. SAUL, Council President GARY L. VAN DUSEN. COUNCILMAN BOHRER ENTERED THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 7:08 P.M. Brad Collins, Planning Director, said Draft No. 5 of the zoning ordinance was ready to go to print. There will be an overrun of the budget. Mr. Collins discussed dates for the Planning Commission and City Council public hearings. All of the people on the mailing list will be notified. Mr. Collins said it is the desire of the staff to complete this by the end of the year. He suggested that the public hearing of the proposed zoning ordinance scheduled for 30 November be rescheduled for 7 or 14 of December. The Council members favored holding the Public Hearing of the proposed zoning ordinance on 30 November as scheduled. MOVED BY SAUL, SECONDED BY BOHRER, THAT THE ZONING PUBLIC HEARING BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 30, 1981 AT 7:00 P.M. MOTION CARRIED. Fall Clean -Up Dwayne Traynor, audience, asked about the fall cleanup. Councilman Saul said the cleanup had been cancelled due to cost. Ted Freemire, City Shops Superintendent, said it had been his suggestion to discontinue the cleanup. During the spring cleanup trash and garbage were thrown all around the dumpters and City personnel had to go out and spray and clean it up. Shop time was between $1,000 and $2,500. People outside of Tukwila were coming here to dump their trash and not putting it in the containers. They just threw their trash on the ground. He said he took many pictures and they make the City look unsightly. If it is continued he suggested there be just two locations rather than the five locations they have previously had. Ed Bauch, audience, said when this cleanup program was started in 1976 the City had volunteers out helping pick up The trash gets on the ground because the containers are not emptied and they get full. The disposal companies came and picked them up on Sunday. Ted Freemire, Superintendent, said people make no effort to put the trash in containers, whether they were full or empty. Councilman Saul suggested there be just two locations and someone be there to monitor them and see that people do put their trash in the containers. Ted Freemire, Superintendent, said the $1,000 to $2,500 was spent for time, equipment and material in the maintenance department. He said the cost of the cleanup was reflected in a report that was made in April 1981 right after the spring cleanup. MOVED BY BOHRER, SECONDED BY SAUL, THAT THE CITY CONDUCT A FALL CLEANUP. Councilman Harris said everything that is done for the citizens is done as a service. It seems this is a small amount to be paid out of the budget. It seems something that the people want. MOVED BY HILL, SECONDED BY PHELPS, TO AMEND THE MOTION AND DIRECT STAFF TO LOOK INTO THE FEASIBILITY OF HAVING THE CLEANUP INCLUDING THE CITY EXPENDING MORE CLEANUP EFFORT. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING November 10, 1981 Page 2 REPORTS Contd. Fall Cleanup contd. BID AWARD Purchase of 2 -Ton Truck OLD BUSINESS Approval of Minutes of 10 -19 -81 Zoning Mtg. City Council Brochure NEW BUSINESS Budget Transfer Motion $2,000 for Art. Mr. Traynor, audience, said a report can be blown out of shape. The only thing required is the rental of the equipment. *MOTION FAILED WITH HILL, VAN DUSEN, AND PHELPS VOTING YES; BOHRER, JOHANSON, HARRIS, AND SAUL VOTING NO. *MOTION CARRIED, WITH HILL VOTING NO. Ted Umoto, Director of Public Works, said the City received four bids. The low bid was submitted by Bowen Scarff Ford at a cost of $13,449.04. Councilman Saul said this item was budgeted for 1981. 3505 MOVED BY HILL, SECONDED BY JOHANSON, THAT THE CITY ACCEPT THE BOWEN SCARFF BID IN THE AMOUNT OF $13,449.04 AND IT BE ON THE AGENDA OF THE NOVEMBER 17, 1981 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. MOTION CARRIED. MOVED BY BOHRER, SECONDED BY SAUL, THAT THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 19, 1981 ZONING MEETING BE APPROVED AS PUBLISHED. MOTION CARRIED. MOVED BY PHELPS, SECONDED BY SAUL, THAT THE AGENDA BE AMENDED AND THE COUNCIL CONSIDER THE CITY COUNCIL BROCHURE AT THIS TIME. MOTION CARRIED. Council President Van Dusen said Printing Control will print 1,000 copies of the City Council Brochure for $110. It can be put in the back of the City Council Chambers for the public information. MOVED BY HILL, SECONDED BY SAUL, THAT COUNCIL ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT VAN DUSEN TO HAVE THE CITY COUNCIL BROCHURE DUPLICATED. Councilman Bohrer suggested there be a discussion in the brochure about the duties of the City Council. The City Council is the legislative law making body of the City but they do not enforce the law. The administrative body of the City enforces the law. He said he thought this should be clarified. Council President Van Dusen said he would have that done and bring it back for Council approval. *MOTION FAILED, WITH HILL AND SAUL VOTING YES. Councilman Phelps asked if the price from the printers will remain the same if the printing is not done immediately. Wendy Morgan, audience, said she had two suggestions: (1) It should be acknowledged that the Council had provided the brochure; (2) It might be explained how a bill becomes a law. Ed Bauch, audience, suggested it be considered as an insert in the next issue of the Hazelnut. Wendy Morgan, audience, said an explanation of the functions of the committees would be useful. Councilman Phelps said the Finance and Personnel Commission would like to provide $2,000 to the Arts Commission with which to purchase works for the City. The money will be transferred from Salaries Fund not used in 1981 to the Municipal Arts Fund. MOVED BY HARRIS, SECONDED BY PHELPS, THAT COUNCIL CHANGE FUNDS FROM SALARIES TO COUNCIL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. MOTION CARRIED, WITH BOHRER, JOHANSON, AND VAN DUSEN VOTING NO. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING November 10, 1981 Page 3 NEW BUSINESS Contd. Budget Transfer Motion $2,000 for Art. contd. Offer from Puget Western for surplus property. Prop. water rate increase. MOVED BY HARRIS, SECONDED BY PHELPS, THAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET TRANSFER BE ON THE AGENDA OF THE NOVEMBER 16, 1981 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. MOTION CARRIED, WITH JOHANSON VOTING NO. Councilman Saul said the matter of the offer of nine parcels from Puget Western has been discussed in a previous meeting. It has been in the Public Works Committee. Don Williams, Parks and Recreation Director, said he and Wes Jorgensen did a site inspection on Parcels 1 and 2. None of the park area and none of Christensen Trail fall within Parcel No. 1. Parcel No. 2 does have part of Christensen Trail crossing part of it. He suggested Parcel No. 1 not be included in the offer by the City. Puget Western may say it is "all or nothing." Adminis- tration needs direction regarding the offer they should make. It is possible they will be able to get donations. Councilman Bohrer said the City should offer for Parcels Nos. 2 through 9 and not ask for No. 1. Councilman Harris said it seems Parcel No. 1 would be more useful to Don Koll than to the City of Tukwila. 3504, MOVED BY HARRIS, SECONDED BY BOHRER, THAT THE CITY APPROACH PUGET WESTERN FOR PARCELS NOS. 2 THROUGH 9 AND SUGGEST THAT PARCEL No. 1 BE OFFERED TO DON KOLL. Councilman Hill said about 10 years ago when Mr. Minkler was Mayor it seemed that Puget Western offered the City Parcels Nos. 3, 4, and 5 and gave them to the City. He recalled an ordinance was passed accepting them. Whether or not the ordinance was adoptec is not known. It was offered to the City by Mr. Wing. Don Williams said he checked with the Assessor's office and they are owned by Puget Western. This matter will be investigated further before action is taken. *MOTION WITHDRAWN, WITH APPROVAL OF SECOND. MOVED BY PHELPS, SECONDED BY SAUL, THAT THE OFFER FROM PUGET WESTERN FOR SURPLUS PROPERTY BE ON THE AGENDA OF THE NOVEMBER 17, 1981 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. MOTION CARRIED. Alan Doerschel, Finance Director, said the City has a problem regarding water rates. He handed out minutes of the meetings that took place last year during discussion of the proposed water rate increase. He said he had discussed the matter with Ted Uomoto, Director of Public Works, and Ted Freemire, Superintendent, and together they reviewed all of the reports and general comments. The fact exists that there is a shortfall of $116,000 in 1981 from the estimated fund balance in the water department. The estimatedbeginning fund balance of $125,000 was much lower than that. The water useage was down and useage by customers was down. Companies are cutting back on useage. This was $40,000 in revenue shortfall. In 1982 if we assume we are going to have the same revenue as 1981, our shortfall will increase by another $116,000. In some situations we are selling water to some people for less thar we are paying for it. Ted Uomoto, Director of Public Works, said last year's rate increasE was not sufficient to take care of the City's needs. We have a problem and need to generate some revenue. He said he saw no way expenditures could be reduced. Councilman Harris said before we go into rate increases, we should scrutinize expenditures. The sewer fund is rich; maybe water rates could go up and sewer rates go down. Mr. Doerschel said the water study is almost complete. We are hopeful the sewer fund will help. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING November 10, 1981 Page 4 NEW BUSINESS Contd. Prop. water rate increase contd. Corrected 11- 24 -81. Mr. Uomoto said the average loss for several cities he is aware of is 35 Councilman Bohrer said from his understanding the loss from another ADJOURNMENT 9:45 P.M. 350] Councilman Hill said there may be trouble in using the sewer fund. We had one system that was quite new and it started to sink and it cost the City $400,000 to repair. If this should happen to the two that are overloaded, it could be quite costly. Mr. Doerschel said the next major step is to make a complete breakdown of the revenue. Bonds might be appropriated. The amount of capital improvements could be 2 or 3 mills on a dollar. We could make an adjustment in the sewer. Councilman Bohrer said he would like to have the information given to the Council for their study. When this matter was discussed about one year ago and Council changed the rates in an ordinance, they added the rate increase that was being charged by the City of Seattle, He could not understand why there was a problem ten months later. An ordinance was passed raising the water rates. Mr. Doerschel said some of the assumptions and numbers that were used in making the decisions were calculated numbers. The rate increase was imposed in January and they started the previous November. The City did not generate the amount of revenue that was anticipated due to low water useage. Councilman Harris said the shortfall was faulty calculation. The water and sewer departments should support themselves. Council President Van Dusen said a written report from staff would be needed. Councilman Harris said we would not need so many people in the Department since we are not making any capital improvements. Mr. Doerschel said the budget for the Public Works Department would be considered on November 23, 1981. Councilman Phelps asked what kind of a rate increase was being proposed. Mr. Doerschel said 35% increase. Councilman Bohrer asked how much water the City buys from Seattle and how much is sold to customers? Ted Uomoto, Director of Public Works, said the City buys 55 million cubic feet of water. There is a reduction of 35% by the time it is sold. There is a loss in the water lines and in hydrants and evaporation. That is the usual rate of loss. Councilman Bohrer said he had checked and understood it was a loss of 10 to 15 This matter needs to be reviewed. City, from their exper- Council President Van Dusen said this matter would be discussed ience, was that when a later with the report. water system is in good shape the loss could be reduced in the order of 15 -20 Setting Budget Review Council President Van Dusen said the budget review by the Council dates. would take place as outlined. MOVED BY HILL, SECONDED BY HARRIS, THAT THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING ADJOURN. i .ARRIED. C6unCi -Y Presi dent Gary Dusen Norma Booher, Recording Secretary