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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-14 Committee of the Whole MinutesTukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting Remote Meeting per Governor Proclamation 20-28 December 14, 2020 — 7:00 P.M. MINUTES This meeting was conducted remotely, with the City Council, Mayor, and staff off-site and participating via a remote electronic system. All participants, including the Mayor, Councilmembers, City staff, and legal counsel were not at Tukwila City Hall and participated via a remote electronic system. The phone number for public participation that was provided via the agenda distribution process was: 1-253-292-9750, access code 670077847# as well as a link to join the Microsoft Teams Meeting. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council President Quinn called the remote Tukwila City Council meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. OFFICIALS Present at the virtual meeting were Council President Quinn; Councilmembers Verna Seal, Kathy Hougardy, Kate Kruller, Thomas McLeod, Cynthia Delostrinos Johnson, Zak Idan. CITY OFFICIALS Allan Ekberg, Mayor; David Cline, City Administrator; Rachel Bianchi, Deputy City Administrator; Kari Sand, City Attorney; Vicky Carlsen, Finance Director; Juan Padilla, Human Resources Director; Rick Still, Parks & Recreation Director; Eric Dreyer, Interim Police Chief; Jay Wittwer, Fire Chief; Ben Hayman, Fire Marshal; Hari Ponnekanti, Interim Public Works Director; Derek Speck, Economic Development Administrator; Brandon Miles, Business Relations Manager; Gail Labanara, Public Works Analyst; Joel Bush, Senior Technology Integration Manager; Laurel Humphrey, Legislative Analyst; Andy Youn, Deputy City Clerk. SPECIAL PRESENTATION Recognize the promotion and swearing in of Fire Captain Joel Perry and Fire Captain James Booth. Mayor Ekberg administered the Oath of Office to Fire Captain Joel Perry and Fire Captain James Booth. PUBLIC COMMENTS Council President Quinn announced that those wishing to provide public comment had the opportunity to deliver public comments via email by 5:00 p.m. today. There were no public comments. SPECIAL ISSUES a. Weekly COVID-19 report. David Cline, City Administrator, provided an update on the City's coronavirus response and highlighted the following: New data on financial assistance has been included under Human Services following questions by Councilmembers at a recent budget workshop; the City continues to support business recovery efforts and community needs; included is an email containing financial and local resources that Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes December 14, 2020 Page 2 of 4 was sent to the business community; Kathy Browning will be taking over from Jeff Nichols as manager for the Church by the Side of the Road COVID-19 testing site. Councilmember Kruller asked what is being done to ensure cities receive federal COVID-19 relief funding. Mayor Ekberg relayed he has signed onto letters being sent through the United States Conference of Mayors and Sound Cities Association and would support another one in conjunction with the Council President to highlight the need. b. COVID-19 financial impact report. Vicky Carlsen, Finance Director, provided an update on budgetary impacts due to COVID-19 as follows: Projected ending fund balance exceeds the City's reserve policy requirement by $32,819. For the 2021- 2022 biennial budget, a conservative approach will be undertaken to maintain an unreserved balance account of 18%, that will reduce future contributions. To meet year-end projections $17.5 million more in revenue will need to come into the General Fund as well as $4.6 million in sales tax revenue. It is anticipated the City will expend $11 million more in expenditures by year-end. c. COVID-19—Amending and renewing emergency rules to allow tents in parking lots and temporary signage. Brandon Miles, Business Relations Manager, indicated the City's current emergency rules regarding temporary outdoor seating and easing the requirements regarding the display of temporary signage are set to expire on January 15, 2021. This item proposes an extension to June 30, 2021 and clarifies the tent and membrane structure policy. Councilmember Kruller asked if there are provisions to ensure adequate ventilation for outside tents. Mr. Miles relayed the requirement is enforced by the State. Councilmember Idan shared he was initially concerned about imposing a permit fee onto businesses that are already under financial hardship but is comfortable moving this item forward. CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE SPECIAL MEETING CONSENT AGENDA DIRECTLY FOLLOWING THIS MEETING. d. Contracts (2) for an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for the Finance Department and Human Resources Department. Vicky Carlsen, Finance Director, explained these contracts replace the City's current financial software system, Eden, which has been in place since 1997 and no longer meets the City's needs. After extensive review, the City has selected Finance Enterprise (owned by CentralSquare) to replace the financial modules of Eden and NeoGov to provide human resources functionality. In response to questions regarding integration with Lanteria, Juan Padilla, Human Resources Director, explained Lanteria is a "pay as you go" platform that is currently being used for performance management. It will eventually be replaced by NeoGov, which is a full-service platform. CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE SPECIAL MEETING CONSENT AGENDA DIRECTLY FOLLOWING THIS MEETING. e. A resolution to correct an error adopting a new Public Works Fee Schedule; and repealing Resolution No. 2011: Gail Labanara, Public Works Analyst, explained an error was found in the sewage treatment rates in Resolution No. 2011 that was passed at the December 7, 2020 Regular Meeting. The minimum charge of $47.37 per meter for multiple family and commercial/industrial accounts is correct in the resolution. However, the equation shown to arrive at this charge used the 2020 factor of Consumption (x 6.044) instead of the 2021 factor (x 6.316). This resolution repeals Resolution No. 2011 to adopt a corrected resolution and does not result in higher charges. Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes December 14, 2020 Page 3 of 4 CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE SPECIAL MEETING CONSENT AGENDA DIRECTLY FOLLOWING THIS MEETING. f. Discussion on Experience Tukwila performance measures. Brandon Miles, Business Relations Manager, provided an overview of draft performance measures and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the "Experience Tukwila" campaign that is intended to bring more people to Tukwila and help the City brand itself in the region through digital platforms, small events and festivals, and sponsorships. The Councilmembers asked clarifying questions and discussed the impact of public-private partnerships, strategies for benchmarking, and social media marketing. g. Discussion on land acknowledgement practice. Laurel Humphrey, Legislative Analyst, indicated the Finance Committee has been reviewing possibilities for implementing land acknowledgement practices to pay tribute to the indigenous inhabitants of the local land, the Duwamish. The Committee's recommendations for a land acknowledgement include dedication of City facilities; installation of the statement at new City facilities; adding language to the City website; suggesting a land acknowledgement at Planning Commission meetings; and reading the statement at certain Council meetings. The Councilmembers discussed various ways to honor and acknowledge the Duwamish Tribe and recognized further work would be needed to convey the intent of the Council beyond reciting land acknowledgements at Council meetings. There was general consensus to implement a land acknowledgement practice at every Council meeting for a year and revisit this item next year. CONSENSUS EXISTED TO DO A LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR A YEAR AND REVISIT IN THE FUTURE. h. Discussion on 2021 City Council meetings. Council President Quinn explained Councilmember Kruller is anticipated to be the Council President next year, and the intent is to have a preliminary discussion regarding the structure of Council and Committee meetings for 2021. Councilmember Kruller emphasized the importance of dismantling systemic racism in institutions; she would like to review how the Council operates and rather than look "outside of the box," she would like to get rid of the box. She will be working with Laurel Humphrey, Legislative Analyst, to research what is being done in other cities. The Councilmembers discussed the topic and exchanged ideas to include continuation of having "5th Mondays" off; eliminating Council Committees; changing the days of Council meetings; and a desire to retain Council Committees. REPORTS a. Mayor Mayor Ekberg stated it has been an honor working with the Council and Council President Quinn through the COVID-19 pandemic. He stated he is thankful for family which has been an anchor for him this past year. b. City Council Councilmember Seal reported the Finance Committee held its last meeting for the year earlier tonight and accomplished almost everything on its work plan for this year. She congratulated Council President Quinn Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes December 14, 2020 Page 4 of 4 for being recently elected to the Board of Directors at Sound Cities Association. She is thankful for the partnerships she had while working through the budget process. Councilmember Hougardy attended two Greater Seattle Partners (GSP) meetings and reported GSP has hired Community Attributes Inc. to review opportunities and issues around equity. Two issues were surfaced: first, a lack of quality jobs in the region and a lack of progress in closing the gap between high- income and low-income jobs; second, continuing systemic racism and sexism. Councilmember Hougardy also attended the fourth quarter Board of Directors meeting for Association of Washington Cities. She is thankful for the Council and their work together during a difficult year. Councilmember Kruller reported the Community Services and Safety Committee completed all but one item in their 2020 workplan. She is thankful for the dedication and quality work by Laurel Humphrey, Legislative Analyst. She relayed today was an emotional day for many: the Electoral College gathered today to cast their votes, including Washington state elector Jack Arends, who is terminally ill. Councilmember McLeod attended the Sound Cities Association Legislative Breakfast. He is thankful this is the last Council meeting for 2020 and for the Cabana Conversations series he held with Council President Quinn. Councilmember Idan thanked City staff for their continued diligence and work amid the pandemic and thanked the Council President for facilitating Council meetings in a way that was inclusive and helped diffuse tough conversations. Councilmember Delostrinos Johnson shared she is thankful for the Tukwila community that includes the Council, staff, residents, and businesses. Council President Quinn shared he co-authored an op-ed for "The Seattle Times" called "A blueprint for regional resiliency" that was recently published. He is proud to be affiliated with Tukwila which demonstrates community resiliency and togetherness despite differences of opinion. He is thankful for how 2020 showed who rises to the occasion when it matters the most. c. Staff David Cline, City Administrator, stated Tukwila prides itself on its core values of being caring, professional, responsive and those values are demonstrated by the Council and staff. d. Legislative Analyst Laurel Humphrey, Legislative Analyst, thanked the Council and staff for the work done this year. ADJOURNMENT 943 p.m. COUNCIL PRESIDENT QUINN DECLARED THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING ADJOURNED. De'Sean Q inn, Council President oSionoroti vim SamolwarOoc,com .••• • •• • .• .• • • • Andy Youn, Deputy City Clerk APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT: AVAILABLE ON THE CITY WEBSITE: 01/02/21 01/06/21