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Home My WebLink About2011-12-12 Committee of the Whole MinutesTukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting City Hall Council Chambers December 12, 2011 7:00 P.M. MINUTES COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING CALL TO ORDER /PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council President Ekberg called the Tukwila City Council meeting to order at 7:19 p.m. and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. OFFICIALS Present were Allan Ekberg, Council President, Councilmembers Joe Duffie, Joan Hernandez, Dennis Robertson, Verna Seal, Kathy Hougardy, De'Sean Quinn. CITY OFFICIALS Jim Haggerton, Mayor; David Cline, City Administrator; Mike Villa, Police Chief; Peggy McCarthy, Interim Finance Director; Kimberly Matej, Council Analyst; Melissa Hart, Deputy City Clerk. CITIZEN COMMENTS There were no citizen comments. SPECIAL ISSUES a. A resolution adopting the amended Deferred Compensation Plan. Councilmember Hougardy indicated this item was discussed at the Finance and Safety Committee meeting on December 6, 2011. The committee members were unanimous in recommending approval. Peggy McCarthy, Interim Finance Director, explained pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code section 457(b), and applicable regulations, a governmental 457(b) plan must adopt a Pension Protection Act (PPA) compliant Deferred Compensation Plan no later than December 31, 2011. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE SPECIAL MEETING THIS EVENING. b. A resolution supporting the Tukwila School District levy. Title: Proposition 1 Replacement of Expiring School Programs and Operations Levy. Councilmember Seal indicated this item was discussed at the Community Affairs and Parks Committee meeting earlier this evening, December 12, 2011. The committee members were unanimous in recommending approval. Ms. Seal explained the proposed Maintenance and Operations Levy is not a new or additional tax. The Tukwila School District Board of Directors is asking approval for the continuation of the General Fund Maintenance and Operations Levy passed by voters in 2008. The current levy expires in 2012. Council is being asked to pass a resolution in support of the levy's approval. Council President Ekberg called for public comments. Pam Carter, 4115 South 139 Street, thanked the Council for including this item on the agenda. She explained the State is required to provide basic education, leaving a deficit for the remaining funding that is necessary for operations. Ms. Carter asked the Council to make a slight amendment to the wording on the resolution to read as follows: "The Tukwila City Council, by majority vote, hereby expresses support of the renewal of the Tukwila School District School Programs and Operations Levy set for the February 14, Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes December 12, 2011 Page 2 of 3 2012 Special Election, and urges all eligible Tukwila voters to support the school levv." Additionally, she explained this is a citizen campaign and any type of donation or volunteer time would be greatly appreciated. Ron Lamb, 4251 South 139 Street, explained the proposed levy is a replacement levy that funds vital programs that are not currently funded by the State. Some of the programs funded through the tax levy allow teachers to maintain a lower class size; provide bus transportation, school extra curricular activities, and middle and high school security, arts, music, and foreign language; and provide elementary physical education and classroom instructional assistance. Mr. Lamb thanked the Council for their support of the school district levies in the past and asked for support of the new levy. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM, WITH THE PROPOSED WORDING CHANGE, TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING. REPORTS a. Mayor Mayor Haggerton attended the December 7, 2011 Mayor's Exchange in Olympia, and on December 8, 2011, he attended the retirement event for Councilmember Hernandez. On December 9, 2011 he gave the Commencement Address at the ITT Technical Institute graduation ceremony. Mayor Haggerton reported the City saved approximately 7.76% or $357,000 with the recent 2003 bond refunding. b. City Council Councilmember Duffie attended the December 8, 2011 Space Gallery dedication and luncheon at the Museum of Flight and, later that evening, the retirement celebration for Councilmember Hernandez. Councilmember Hernandez attended the December 6, 2011 Tukwila Government Affairs meeting, and the December 8, 2011 Pacific Court Apartment Open House event. She announced that in 2012 she will be working on a project with the Historical Society that will focus on Military Road and its history. Council President Ekberg attended the December 8, 2011 retirement event for Councilmember Hernandez and the December 10, 2011 Council Coffee Chat. Councilmember Robertson attended the December 8, 2011 Space Gallery dedication and luncheon at the Museum of Flight. On December 10, 2012 he hosted the Council Coffee Chat. Councilmember Hougardy attended the December 6, 2011 Tukwila Government Affairs meeting. On December 8, 2011 she attended the retirement event for Councilmember Hernandez. MISCELLANEOUS Councilmember Hernandez stated an item relating to the 2012 non represented employees' wage and benefits package was discussed at the December 6, 2011 Finance and Safety Committee meeting. There was a staff and Committee recommendation the item would move forward to the December 12, 2011 Committee of the Whole meeting for discussion. This item was removed from the agenda, and she inquired as to the basis for the removal. Council President Ekberg explained that he removed this item from the agenda. He had not seen the minutes from the Committee meeting, and felt there was no urgency to move this item forward at this time. After a discussion with the Finance and Safety Committee Chair, it was his understanding the item was forwarded with no recommendation and for discussion only. He relayed that the Council will be discussing a policy decision relating to a comprehensive plan associated with salaries and benefits city- wide. Councilmember Hernandez referenced the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) salary survey that identifies the City's current salary structure as 1.72% to 7.88% below comparable salaries for the non- Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes December 12, 2011 Page 3 of 3 represented groups. The staff recommendation was to forward the draft resolution to a Committee of the Whole and Regular Meeting for possible adoption with a January 1, 2012 effective date. She inquired if it was the intent of the Council to not provide salary increases to the non represented staff whose wages have been frozen for the last 2 years. Council President Ekberg relayed that the Council does consider staff recommendations. Councilmember Hernandez commented that this item has been on the agenda of 3 Finance and Safety Committee meetings without a reference to an overall review of city -wide salaries and wages. She expressed concern at the delay and the impacts to affected staff. The Councilmembers exchanged comments on this issue. Mayor Haggerton explained it has been several years since the City hired a consultant to conduct a salary and benefit study for the non represented employees. He stated if 4 Councilmembers agree to move forward with a consultant study, he would initiate the process to have a comprehensive study conducted on the City's salary and benefits schedule. The consultant could investigate the salary structure and benefits and address issues relating to comparable cities. Staff will ask that the study be finished within 90 days or by March 31, 2012 and a report be provided to the City upon completion. Additionally, if wage increases were approved by the Council as a result of the study, he requested they be retroactive to January 1, 2012. After Council discussion, consensus existed for City Administration to hire an outside consultant to conduct a salary study and provide the results to the Council. Councilmember Seal feels there are serious traffic issues on South 144 Street in front of Showalter Middle School and with overflow parking for the Tukwila Link Light Rail station on Tukwila International Boulevard. She asked that City Administration and Police staff look into this matter. Mayor Haggerton expressed support for the Transportation Committee to review the 2 items. He asked that the parking issue for the Light Rail Station follow the standard process with the creation of a formal document specifically relating to parking at the Link Light Rail Station. He explained the City has an agreement with Sound Transit specifying they will monitor and control the parking at the Light Rail Station. Once the concerns are formalized, he can draft a letter to the Sound Transit Board requesting the Council's issues be addressed. ADJOURNMENT 8:02 p.m. COUNCIL PRESIDENT EKBERG DECLARED THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING ADJOURNED TO CONVENE A SPECIAL MEETING. Allan Ekberg, Council Preside Melissa Hart, Deputy City Clerk APPROVED AND SIGNED BY THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT ON 12/19/2011 AVAILABLE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE 12/20/2011