HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-07-10 Committee of the Whole MinutesTukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
On-site and Virtual Meeting July 10, 2023 — 7:00 P.M.
MINUTES
This meeting was conducted both on-site at Tukwila City Hall and virtually via Microsoft Teams.
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 Delostrinos Johnson called the Tukwila City Council meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and
led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
OFFICIALS
Present at the meeting were Council President Delostrinos Johnson (on-site); Councilmembers Kathy
Hougardy (on-site), Kate Kruller (on-site), Thomas McLeod (on-site), Mohamed Abdi (on-site), Tosh
Sharp (on-site).
Councilmember Quinn was not in attendance.
CITY OFFICIALS
Allan Ekberg, Mayor; David Cline, City Administrator; Pete Mayer, Acting Deputy City Administrator/Parks
and Recreation Director; Kari Sand, City Attorney; Nora Gierloff, Community Development Director; Derek
Speck, Economic Development Administrator; Tony Cullerton, Deputy Finance Director; Eric Dreyer,
Police Chief; Eric Lund, Deputy Police Chief; Hari Ponnekanti, Public Works Director; Joel Bush, Acting
Administrative Services Director/Chief Technology Officer; Laurel Humphrey, Legislative Analyst; Andy
Youn, Deputy City Clerk.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Council President Delostrinos Johnson 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."
PUBLIC COMMENTS
1. Greg Sherlock referenced the noise complaints he has submitted regarding the Sabey Data Center
and provided a brief overview of previous related events to date.
2. Lee Casey shared his neighborhood is petitioning for South Pamela Drive to be renamed after long-
time resident Patricia Dyson and asked for information on how to proceed with his request.
3. Peggy McCarthy is a member of the Con Committee for Proposition No. 1 (Puget Sound Fire
Annexation Election) and invited the public to visit tukwilawatch.org. She outlined various reasons to
vote against annexing into Puget Sound Fire.
PRESENTATION
Get to Know Puget Sound Fire (PSF): Community Relations
Division Chief Pat Pawlak of Puget Sound Fire (PSF) provided an overview of PSF's Community
Relations Division, services, and upcoming community engagement events.
The Councilmembers provided comments and thanked Chief Pawlak for the overview.
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July 10, 2023 Page2of3
COMMUNITY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Councj|membarAbdi acknowledged resident Raquiib Hussen, whose timely actions notifying first
responders and nearby home occupants of a recent brush fire in the area prevented injuries and further
damage.
SPECIAL ISSUES
a. Fourth of July After Action Report.
Eric Dreyer, Police Chief, Norm GoNen, Division Fire Chief (PSF), and Pete Mayer, Acting Deputy City
Administrator/Parks and Recreation 0rector, provided an After -Action Report with information regarding
volume of calls for service and incidents in the community.
The Councilmembers asked clarifying questions.
8:03 p.m. Councilmember McLeod exited the Council Chambers,
8:06 p.m. Councilmember McLeod returned to the Council Chambers.
b. A contract for a Comprehensive Financial Sustainability Plan.
8:20 p.m. Councilmember Abdi exited the Council Chambers.
8:25 p.m, Councilmember Abdi returned to the Council Chambers,
Pete Mayer, Acting Deputy City Administrator/Parks and Recreation Director, explained the proposed
contract with Berk is for a comprehensive financial sustainability plan and utility rate study for the City,
that will review the City's operating and capital improvement program expenditures and provide short-
term and long-range plans. The plan is expected to provide a greater understanding of the City's current
financial position and be a valuable tool in drafting future budgets.
The Councilmembers asked clarifying questions.
CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING CONSENT
AGENDA.
REPORTS
a. Mayor
Mayor Ekberg reported a pasrecipient of the "Tukwila, City of Opportunity Scholarship" recently reached
out thanking the City for its support and sharing they have recently graduated from the University of
Washington with a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering.
b. City Council
Councilmember Hougardy attended a Soundside Alliance for Economic Development meeting, a Seattle
Southside Chamber of Commerce fundraising event for student scholarships, and the Concert in the Park
event at Riverton Park that featured the Stacy Jones Band,
Councilmember Kruller shared she has been appointed to the Sound Cities Association Nominating
Committee. She is on the Riverton Park Village Community Advisory Committee by Methodist Church and
shared there is a recent influx of residents in the tiny home village and there is a need for more blankets,
c|othing, and other items. She reported the National League of Cities upcoming Leadership Forum will be
in Tacoma and will feature various housing and transportation pjects in the area. She shared King
County Regional Approach to Gun Violence will be holding a free community gun lockbox giveaway on
July 21st from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Tukwila Community Center. She applauded Parks and Recreation for
Tukwila City Council Committee ofthe Whole Minutes
July 10, 2023 Page 3of3
Councilmember McLeod encouraged those interested in assisting unhoused individuals and tiny home
village residents to reach out to Paster Jan Bolerjack with the Riverton Park United Methodist Church,
Councilmember Abdi thanked Laurel Humphney, Legislative Analyst, Council President Delostrinos
Johnson, and Mayor Ekberg for honoring Mr. Hussein at tonight's meeting. He reported the Somali Health
Board will be hosting a Health Fair at the Sullivan Center on July 15, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m.
Council President Delostrinos Johnson shared she and Councilmember Quinn participated in a program
through the Urban League that connects mentors with students from Foster High School.
c. Staff
David Cline, City Administrator, encouraged the Council and community to attend the upcoming Parks
and Recreation events.
MISCELLANEOUS
Councilmember Kruller shared the City is accepting public comments on a proposal to provide an
honorary naming designation of Southcenter Parkway between Tukwila Parkway and Strander Boulevard
for former Mayor Jim Haggerton. Comments will be accepted through 5:00 p.m. on July 25, 2023.
In response to a question raised by Councilmember Abdi regarding a community requestfor guard rails
next to the Duwamish River in the Allentown neighborhood, consensus existed to forward this item to the
Transportation & Infrastructure Services Committee for further discussion.
In response to a question raised by Councilmember Sharp regarding a community request to dete
intersection avoidance, consensus existed to forward this item to the Community Services & Safety
Committee for further discussion
Council President Delostrinos Johnson shared she will not be in attendance the weeks of July 17th and
24th and Councilmember Abdi will be Acting Council President during her absence,
ADJOURNMENT
9:27 p.m. COUNCIL PRESIDENT DELOSTRINOS JOHNSON DECLARED THE COMMITTEE OF THE
WHOLE MEETING ADJOURNED.
Cynthia ‘Vostrinos Johnson, Council President
Andy Youn, Deputy City Clerk
APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT: 08/07/23