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Home My WebLink About2021-09-13 Committee of the Whole MinutesTukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting Remote Meeting per Governor Proclamation 20-28 September 13, 2021 - 7:00 PM 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 forpublic 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 Meefing. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council President Kruller 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 Kruller; Councilmembers Verna Seal, Kathy Hougardy, De'Sean Quinn, Thomas McLeod, Zak Idan, Cynthia Delostrinos Johnson. CITY OFFICIALS Allan Ekberg, Mayor; David Cline, City Administrator; Rachel Bianchi, Deputy City Administrator; Nora Gierloff, Community Development Director; Max Baker, Development Supervisor; Meredith Sampson, Associate Planner; Kimberly Walden, Municipal Court Judge; Trish Kinlow, Court Administrator; Vicky Carlsen, Finance Director; Tony Cullerton, Deputy Finance Director; Jay Wittwer, Fire Chief; Norm Golden, Deputy Fire Chief; Juan Padilla, Human Resources Director; Tracy Gallaway, Acting Parks & Recreation Director; Eric Drever, Police Chief; Eric Lund, Deputy Police Chief; Had Ponnekanti, Public Works Director; Joel Bush, Chief Technology Officer; Brandon Miles, Business Relations Manager; Andy Youn, Deputy City Clerk. ND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Councilmember Idan stated "The City of Tukwila is located on the ancestral lands of the Coast Salish people. We acknowledge their continuing connections to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging." UBLIC COMMENTS Those wishing to provide public comment had the opportunity to sign up via email by 5:00 p.m. today to read comments verbally at the virtual meeting. Council President Kruller stated due to the high quantity of agenda business tonight, public comments will be limited to 20 minutes per topic. 1. Biniam Berhe is an employee at Cascade Behavioral Health Hospital. He is here tonight to speak on the issue of workplace safety following recent incidents at the Hospital and urged the Council to look into this matter. 2. Meskerem has been an employee at Cascade Behavioral Health Hospital for over 7 years. She expressed the hospital's management has not provided a safe working environment for staff, community members and patients. She has witnessed incidents that place staff members and the community in danger. She called for the Council to act on this issue. Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes September 13, 2021 Page 2 of 5 3. Sara Moallin has worked 11 years at Cascade Behavioral Health Hospital. She indicated that as a behavioral health facility, there are a high number of violent incidents that may be more easily de- escalated with the help of increased staffing and the hiring of security. She is here tonight to ask that the Council stand in support of employee safety and help find a solution to this issue. 4. Mesreat Amare is an employee at Cascade Behavioral Health Hospital and relayed employees do not have adequate resources that allow them to focus on patient care without fear. Short staffing and lack of security contribute to an unsafe work environment. Kari Sand, City Attorney, indicated Tukwila Police have responded to several recent patient -on -patient incidents that have also involved staff at Cascade Behavioral Health Hospital. She relayed that as an Optional Code City, Tukwila has broad police powers. She advised that the City not insert itself into the ongoing issue between the hospital's management and labor union regarding workplace safety, and indicated there may be other avenues to address the concerns raised tonight. Councilmember Delostrinos Johnson offered to look further into this issue through the Community Services and Safety Committee. Consensus existed to forward this issue to the Community Services and Safety Committee. 5. Kathleen Gantz lives across Foster Memorial Park and is a member of the Park Commission. She relayed she has experienced issues with park users not adhering to park rules regarding amplified music, parking, garbage and littering, and open flame. While she knows it can be challenging to enforce park rules, it is important to do so to maintain quality of life for residents in the neighborhood. Consensus existed to forward this issue to the Community Services and Safety Committee. Councilmember McLeod asked for information on why enforcement is not occurring. 6. Constance Mullans thanked Tukwila Police for their recent assistance and reported while there are still some building issues, security at the SHAG apartments has increased. 7. Lisa Krober is a resident from the Allentown neighborhood and relayed her street did not receive notices regarding an upcoming community meeting for the 42 nd Avenue S Bridge design. She expressed concern that the City is already seeking design input as she believed potential reroutes were still being considered to mitigate traffic impacts to the neighborhood. 8. Greg Sherlock relayed he still has not heard back from City staff regarding a noise complaint to Code Enforcement made on August 12, 2021 due to a leaf blower and vacuum truck being operated at the Sabey Data Center on August 11,2021 from 10 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. David Cline, City Administrator, confirmed he will follow up with Ms. Krober and Mr. Sherlock. „PUBLIC HEARING a. An ordinance amending Tukwila Municipal Code (TMC) Title 18 to comply with Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1220; adding definitions, allowed locations, and criteria for various type of emergency, supportive and transitional housing; amending Ordinance No. 1976, as codified at TMC Chapter 18.06; amending Table 18-6, "Land Uses Allowed by District." 8:07 p.m. Council President Kruller opened the public hearing and called for a staff report. Nora Gierloff, Community Development Director, explained Substitute House Bill (SHB) 1220 requires cities to permit indoor emergency shelters and indoor emergency housing in any zones where hotels are allowed and requires permanent supportive housing and transitional housing to be permitted in all zones that allow residences or hotels, which encompasses nearly every zone in Tukwila. The proposed ordinance updates the Zoning Code to adopt the new regulatory requirements by the State and adopts Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes September 13, 2021 Page 3 of5 local regulations controlling occupancy, spacing, and intensity of use to proactively address potential concerns and conflicts. 8:16 p.m. Council President Kruller called for public comments. There were no public comments. Council President Kruller asked if there was anyone else who wished to make a public comment on this topic and to press '6 on the phone to unmute. There were no additional public comments. 8:16 p.m. Council President Kruller closed the public hearing. b. An ordinance amending Chapter 18.41, "Tukwila South Overlay District Development Standards," as codified in Title 18, "Zoning," of the Tukwila Municipal Code, to set development standards and design guidelines for residential developments in the Tukwila South Overlay District (TSO). Council President Kruller stated that discussion on this item will occur at the September 27, 2021 Committee of the Whole rather than being discussed under special issues tonight to facilitate balancing of heavy agendas. 8:17 p.m. Council President Kruller opened the public hearing and called for a staff report. Max Baker, Development Supervisor, indicated the proposed ordinance adopts new multifamily design guidelines and amends existing standards to allow residential development cn certain lands covered by the Tukwila South Overlay (TSO) district. The development standards for the TSO district include heights, vehicle parking, setbacks, landscaping, recreation space, and private road design standards and spacing. Two outstanding issues remain to be resolved: The applicant, Segale Properties, has requested an offsite recreation area of 2.0 acres rather than 2.5 acres and a maximum block perimeter of 2,000 feet instead of 1,800 feet. The Planning and Community Development Committee agreed with the Planning Commission's recommendation to adopt offsite recreation at 2.0 acres and did not have a recommendation on maximum block perimeters. 8:31 p.m. Council President Kruller called for public comments. 1. Mike Pruett, representing Segale Properties, explained limiting the block perimeter to 1,800 feet reduces site planning flexibility and can create conflicts on portions of Tukwila South with residential building standards that allow for up to 200 -foot -long buildings. Increasing the block perimeter will mean less expense per unit for the development, potentially making units more affordable. Additionally, the applicant is requesting 2.0 acres as the minimum park acreage to correlate with a future park project that will serve as off-site recreation area for residential development within Tukwila South. Council President Kruller asked if there was anyone else who wished to make a public comment on this topic and to press '6 on the phone to unmute. There were no additional public comments. The Councilmembers asked clarifying questions regarding the maximum building length, curb cuts and minimum on-site and off-site recreation areas. 8:52 p.m. Council President Kruller closed the public hearing. SPECIAL ISSUES a. An ordinance amending Tukwila Municipal Code (TMC) Title 18 to comply with Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1220; adding definitions, allowed locations, and criteria for various type of emergency, supportive and transitional housing; amending Ordinance No. 1976, as codified at TMC Chapter 18.06; amending Table 18-6, "Land Uses Allowed by District." Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes September 13, 2021 Page 4 of 5 Councilmember Hougardy indicated this item is time sensitive as local regulations must be adopted by September 30, 2021. In response to a question from Councilmember Idan, Ms. Gierloff explained operators of shelters and supportive or transitional housing will work with the City to develop a parking plan showing the facility has adequate parking to meet expected demand. In response to a question from Councilmember Delostrinos Johnson, Ms. Gierloff indicated the draft ordinance was sent to the Department of Commerce for review and information is regularly distributed and shared amongst regional agencies. CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING. b. Weekly COVID-19 Report. David Cline, City Administrator, provided an update on the City's coronavirus response as follows: the City remains open for in-person services in addition to all services that remain available remotely; the Church by the Side of the Road has seen an increase in the number of people requesting tests. c. A resolution adopting the Transit -Oriented Development Housing Strategies Plan. Meredith Sampson, Associate Planner, explained following the Council discussion from the August 23, 2021 Committee of the Whole, staff are returning with additional information and/or amended language for the following recommended actions: A2 (reducing parking ratios); AS (reducing step back requirements); 82 (opportunities to increase home ownership); 84 (expand tenant supports); and 87 (tools and strategies for housing preservation). The Councilmembers agreed on staffs updated proposed language for AS, 82, 84 and 87 and provided majority consensus on A2, to retain staffs recommendation to reduce parking ratios to 1.0 stall per unit. CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING. d. School speed zone cameras: (1) A resolution relating to revenues generated from the use of automated traffic safety cameras in school zones. (2) Police Department and Court staffing request. Laurel Humphrey, Legislative Analyst, indicated the proposed resolution directs revenues generated by automated traffic safety cameras in school zones towards the costs of administering the program and directs excess revenues towards school traffic and pedestrian safety initiatives. Staff is also seeking Council approval of 1.2S FTE for Municipal Court and 1.0 FTE for Police staffing relating to this program that will be incorporated into the mid -biennium budget amendment. Councilmember Idan asked for additional information regarding the cost of staffing needed for this program. David Cline, City Administrator, clarified program revenue was always expected to pay the costs of staffing, vendor, and equipment as stated in the resolution, with excess revenues going towards traffic safety. Eric Drever, Police Chief, shared the program began recently with the start of the new school year and the Police Department has since learned of the actual staffing needed to process the tickets. Citations are not yet being issued. Consensus existed to add the phrase "up to" for each departmental staffing request. CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING. Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes September 13, 2021 REPORTS a. Mayor There was no report. b. City Council There was no report. c. Staff Page 5of5 There was no report. MISCELLANEOUS Following an inquiry from Councilmember McLeod regarding his request to add a discussion on homelessness to a future Council agenda, Mr. Cline confirmed the discussion was pushed to the September 20, 2021 Regular Meeting due to the quantity of business items on tonight's agenda. ADJOURNMENT 10:04 p.m. COUNCIL PRESIDENT KRULLER DECLARED THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING ADJOURNED. , J2�5uncil President Andy Youn, Deputy City Clerk APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT: 9/26/21 AVAILABLE ON THE CITY WEBSITE: 9/27/21