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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-11-22 Committee of the Whole MinutesTukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting Remote Meeting per Governor Proclamation 20-28 November 22, 2021 — 7:00 P.m. This meeting was conducted remotely, with the City Council, Mayor, and staff off-site and participating via uremote electronic system. All participants, including the Mayor, Councilmembers, City staff, and legal counsel were not at Tukwila City Hall and participated via aremote electronic system. The phone number for public participation that was provided via the agenda distribution process was: 1-253-292-9750, access code S7D077B47#aawell aaolink hojoin the Microsoft Teams COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TI 110 64#010 04:710 111:51 ON Council President Kruller called the remote Tukwila City Council meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and led the audience inthe Pledge ofAllegiance. OFFICIALS Present at the virtual meeting were Council President Kruller; Councilmembers Verna Seal, Kathy Hougerdy, De'Geen Quinn, Thomas McLeod, Cynthia []e|ostrinoaJohnoon. Counoi|mmmbmr|danwas not inattendance Allan Ekberg, Mayor; David Cline, City Administrator; Rachel Bianchi, Deputy City Administrator; Nora Gierloff, Community Development Director; Derek Speck, Economic Development Administrator; Brandon Miles, Business Relations Manager; Vicky Carlsen, Finance Director; Tony Cullerton, Deputy Finance Director; JeyV0tbmer. Fire Chief; Norm Go|den, Deputy Fire Chief; Juan PediUo, Human Resources Director; Tracy Gallaway, Pmrka& Recreation Director; ErioDnevar. Police Chief; Eric Lund, Deputy Police Chief; Hari Ponnehanti, Public Works Director; Griffin Lerner, Public Works Analyst; Joel Bumh, Chief Technology Officer; Laurel Humphrey, Legislative Analyst; Andy Youn, Deputy City Clerk. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Mayor Ekberg stated "The City ofTukwila ielocated onthe ancestral lands cfthe CooetGalish We acknowledge their continuing connections to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their elders papd, present and emerging." PUBLIC 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 atthe virtual meeting. 1. Matthew Bates expressed concern regarding the West Valley Highway-Longacres projectvvhiohadde another northbound general-purpose lane and increases West Valley Highway to seven lanes in the project area. He relayed this fails to address climate change by increasing traffic and creates a challenge for pedestrians that must cross over 70 feet of right-of-way. He would like to see cities make the built environment more environmentally sustainable. Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes November 22, 2021 PUBLIC HEARING Page 2 of 4 a. An Ordinance amending Ordinance Nos. 2462 and 2538, as codified at Tukwila Municipal Code Sections 3.90.050 and 3.90.060, to amend eligibility criteria and to allow new applications for Multi -Family Residential Property Tax Exemptions to be submitted. 7:05 p.m. Council President Kruller opened the public hearing and called for a staff report. Derek Speck, Economic Development Administrator, explained the proposed ordinance amends the City's current Multi -Family Tax Exemption (MFTE) Program for a portion of the Southcenter District to accept applications through 2022, retain current program boundaries and other criteria, and adds a criteria requiring that the housing utilizing the MFTE must be available to people of all ages. 7:12 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. 7:13 p.m. Council President Kruller closed the public hearing. SPECIAL ISSUES a. Weekly COVID-19 Report. David Cline, City Administrator, provided an update on the City's coronavirus response as follows: Information about Human Services funding has been broken down by its source; a COVID-19 vaccination pop-up clinic is available at the Sullivan Center at Tukwila Village on Saturdays through December 18, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. —1:00 p.m. Councilmember Hougardy reported she recently visited the Sullivan Center to receive her booster shot. Councilmember Quinn remarked on the importance of services such as Meals on Wheels for isolated seniors. Following a question from Council President Kruller, Tracy Gallaway, Parks and Recreation Director, relayed the Annual Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon will be taking place on November 23, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Reservations are no longer being accepted and approximately 140 seniors are expected to attend. b. Legislative Agenda: (1) A legislative update from David Foster, City Lobbyist (2) A resolution adopting a Legislative Agenda for use during the 2022 Washington State Legislative Session David Foster, City Lobbyist, gave an overview of the 2022 Legislative Session that will begin January 10, 2022 and end on March 10, 2022. Priorities for the City include COVID-1 9 response/recovery; Housing/Homelessness; Behavioral Health; Police Reform; and Transportation. Rachel Bianchi, Deputy City Administrator, gave an overview of the City's agenda for 2022 and relayed the proposed resolution and the 2022 Legislative Agenda were developed following feedback from the Finance and Governance Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Services Committee. The Councilmembers discussed the agenda and offered comments regarding behavioral health encounters and use of force in law enforcement, language access for non-English speakers and career pathways for multi-lingual students, and flexibility for local governments to continue holding virtual meetings. CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THE RESOLUTION TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING. Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes November 22, 2021 Page 3 of 4 c. An ordinance amending Ordinance Nos. 2462 and 2538, as codified at Tukwila Municipal Code Sections 3.90.050 and 3.90.060, to amend eligibility criteria and to allow new applications for Multi -Family Residential Property Tax Exemptions to be submitted. The Councilmembers commented on the importance of creating more housing options in the City. CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING. d. Legislation updating the City's Investment Policy. Vicky Carlsen, Finance Director, stated the City's Investment Policy is being updated in alignment with the current practice of streamlining and adopting financial policies via resolution. The proposed ordinance rescinds Tukwila Municipal Code Chapter 3.28, "Investing City Funds," and adopts an updated Investment Policy via resolution with minor housekeeping changes. CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING. REPORTS a. Mayor Mayor Ekberg reported Eric Drever, Police Chief, has been appointed to Governor Inslee's Office of Independent Investigations advisory board and will serve as co-chair. He reported the Tukwila Police Department has been officially accredited through the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs following a lengthy process including a review of administrative effectiveness, fair recruitment and employment practices, records management, and other law enforcement tasks. He thanked the Tukwila community for voting for the Public Safety Bond that resulted in the Tukwila Justice Center which allowed the agency to comply with key items needed for accreditation. b. City Council Councilmember Hougardy attended a virtual meeting of the Highline Forum where they received an update on WSDOT/SR-509, Sound Transit, and StART (SeaTac Airport Stakeholder Advisory Round Table). She reported she received her booster shot at the Sullivan Center's COVID-1 9 vaccination pop-up clinic. She attended a virtual meeting through the National League of Cities and heard presentations on increasing vaccination rates, leadership during crisis, creating cities of opportunity and making equity a priority. Councilmember Quinn relayed he recently toured The Confluence, a new affordable apartment complex on South 152nd Street through Bellwether Housing. Councilmember McLeod also toured The Confluence and shared they have already leased approximately 75% of their units. He acknowledged Councilmember Quinn's role in helping The Confluence become a reality in Tukwila. Councilmember Delostrinos Johnson participated in a Teens for Tukwila meeting where they held discussions on social media and youth engagement, and mental health. Council President Kruller attended the Teens for Tukwila meeting that was held in-person. She suggested following up with the Tukwila School District to work on youth mental health. She would also like to see if the Tukwila Municipal Court can reconnect with the Teens for Tukwila regarding youth court. Council President Kruller attended the tour of The Confluence, and shared Bellwether Housing is trying to hire unemployed residents of The Confluence. c. Staff There was no report. Tukwila City Council Committee ofthe Whole Minutes November 22, 2021 Page 4 of 4 MISCELLANEOUS Councilmember Quinn stated there were several residents on social media reporting their garbage was not picked up. The issue was raised stthe Transportation and|nfrnatruoture8en/ioemCornnnitteemeetng earlier tonight and Hari Ponnekanti, Public Works Director, indicated staff was in the process of following up with Waste Management. Councilmember Quinn expressed concern the Council had not received any information from the City or Waste Management regarding the response to the missed pick-ups. David Cline, City Administrator, indicated Public Works will be reaching out to Waste Management to ensure they provide services per their contract. In response to a question from Councilmember McLeod, Mr. Cline confirmed the City willwork on ensuring the community remains informed when issues arise. Councilmember Quinn reflected on the many conversations he had with former Mayor Haggerton over the years and shared he will be missed. Council President Kru|karindicated the Finance and Governance Committee held adiscussion earlier tonight onreturning toin-perso meetings and asked for the Council's input. Laurel Humphrey, Legislative Analyst, explained the Governor's Proclamation 20-28.15 is in effect until the termination of the public health emergency and requires all public meetings to be held remotely but there has been a recent provision allowing agencies to hold in-person public meetings under certain conditions. Following the Council's recent direction to utilize ARPA funding to modernize meeting room technology for the Council Chambers and Committee rooms, upgrades have been completed, allowing for hybrid meetings where Microsoft Teams will continue being utilized for greater flexibility. The Coumjhnenlbersdiscussed the logistics ofreturning boin-person/hybrid Council meetings and expressed a preference for testing anin-person/hybrid meeting prior to the first meeting of 2022 that will need to occur in-person for new Councilmembers to be sworn in. Consensus existed for an in-person/hybrid meeting to occur at the last Council meeting of 2021. ADJOURNMENT 8:32 p.m. COUNCIL PRESIDENT KRULLER DECLARED THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING ADJOURNED. Andy Youn, Deputy City Clerk APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT: 12/6/21