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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-06-05 Finance and Safety MinutesCity of Tukwila Finance and Safety Committee FINANCE AND SAFETY COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes June 5, 2012 S:I51z.ni.; C'onfer-enee Room *3 PRESENT Councilmembers: De' Sean Quinn, Chair; Dennis Robertson and Kate Kruller Staff: Nick Olivas, Chris Flores, Ben Havmen, Jeff Johnson, Tracy Gallawav, Katherine Kertzman, Peggy McCarthy, Derek Speck, David Cline, Mike Villa, Kristina Thorne, Ashley Comar, Meilee Anderson, and Kimberly Matzj Guests: Deanna Gregor-, Pacifica Lavv Group; Lynn Wallace, SWKCC; Jeff Robinson, City of SeaTac; Mike Schabbing, Courtyard Seattle Southcenter; Hyon Sale Lee, Comfort Suites; Allison Jeong, Comfort Suites; Maureen Huffinan, Embassy Suites; and Charles Lee, Comfort Suites CALL TO ORDER: Chair Quinn called the meeting to order at 5:17 p.m. a I. PRESENTATIONS No presentations. II. BUSINESS AGENDA A. Event Uadate: Fancily 4"' at the Fort Per the request of the Committee, staff prepared an informational memo, included in the agenda packet, which provided additional details about the Family_ 4 at the Fort event as a result of the Fireworks Permit Application which recently came to Committee. The memo covered specifics which include: new pyrotechnic vendor, signage and public information regarding event changes, financial impacts, parking and restroom concerns. The information memo covered the majority of questions and therefore discussion was minimal. Committee Members thanked staff for the follow -up. INFORMATION ONLY. B. hiterlocal Agreement: Fire Training Consortium Staff is seeking Council approval to enter into an interlocal agreement with the Kent Regional Fire Authority (RFA) to participate in a fire training consortium. Staff provided a brief history of formation of the fire training consortium and shared Tukwila's experience with joint training opportunities as well as the benefits of such a consortium. Those benefits include but are not limited to: pooling of resources, documentation of training, availability of training, degree of specialties, and teaching of service delivei in a consistent and predictable manner. This interlocal agreement will allow Fire Department Training Division personnel to work directly with the training consortium which is comprised of the following entities: Kent Regional Fire Authority, Maple Valley, SeaTac and Tukwila. The effective date on the agreement will be changed to reflect an appropriate date that reflects Council approval. Currently, the draft agreement states that it will take effect on May 1, 2(_)12; this was due to staff anticipating this item coming forward through Committee sooner. After discussion, Committee Members expressed an interest in making this agreement valid for more than 6 months in order to increase efficiency and reduce the number of times this item needs to be reviewed for renewal. Staff does not foresee an issue with such an extension and will discuss this with representatives from the Kent RFA. Additionally, Committee Chair Quinn requested the Fire Department report back to the Committee on the benefits and /or concerns as well as prograin outcomes that have resulted from the training consortium. There is no financial impact of this interlocal agreement to the City_ UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO JUNE 11 COW FOR DISCUSSION. Finance Safety Committee Minutes June 5, 2012 Paae 2 C. Tourism Promotion Area As information only, staff provided the Committee information regarding state lave, which allows the formation of a tourism promotion area (TPA) that permits hoteliers, with 40 or more lodging units, the ability to charge up to $2 per hotel room per night specifically for tourism promotion. This nevv source of revenue would be used in conjunction with current lodging tax funding for tourism promotion seiirices. Committee Members were complimentai of the information memo provided, stated that it provided a good introduction, and are generally supportive of the TPA idea. However, they stated there are many questions that need to be answered and feel that additional, specific information needs to be provided prior to sending this to full Council for discussion. Committee Chair Quinn reminded the group that it is the Committee's responsibility to ensure due diligence has been conducted, and whenever possible, move items foiNvard Avith a recommendation. The Committee Nvould like staff to return to Committee with additional information including: What does the City of Tukwila Administration recommend and vvhy? Who should belong to this organization, and who rums it`. How does the organization work`? What legislative authority invoked`? What will be required from the City in order to administrate it`? What is the timeline for implementation`? What are the staffing requirements`? Provide specific examples from other jurisdictions and identify jurisdictions that would participate in this TPA. Many guests were in attendance at the meeting, so rather than delay additional discussion, Committee Chair Quinn asked those in attendance if there was any information they would like to share. Continents are summarized below. Charles Lee with Comfort Suites stated that he -,vas not in favor of the TPA, and that, as a hotelier with over 60 rooms, he is concerned about the impact. Mike Schabbing with the Courtyard and as a member of the Tukwila Lodging Tax Advisoi Board commented that outreach has been made with hotels since October, and about 75% of hotels would like to pursue this finther. These hotels understand the importance and value in the charge. He also stated that this is a common practice throughout the area, including Pierce County, Spokane, and Seattle. Lynn Wallace with the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce stated that the Chamber is in support of the TPA, noting that it will help southwest Bing Count- to be a player in the region. Ms. Wallace was working for the Best Western in Puyallup when Pierce County formed a TPA. She commented that once the fee vvas explained to patrons, no one objected to incurring the charge. Jeff Robinson, City of SeaTac Economic Development Manager, stated that the State of Washington is basically out of the tourism business; therefore, vve have lost that ability to get the State to market on the hoteliers' behalf. Katherine Kertzman commented that this would be the first TPA in King County. RETURN TO FUTURE FINANCE SAFETY COMMITTEE WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. D. hiterlocal Agreement: Animal Control Seiirices Staff is seeking Council approval to enter into an interlocal agreement with Regional Animal Seiirices of King Count- (RASKC) effective 2013- 2015. The current agreement will expire on December 31, 2012, and due to notification from the Citv of Auburn that they will not be renewing, a nekv contract has been developed. Finance Safety Committee Minutes June 5, 2012 Paae 3 The new agreement at minimum, will maintain, but more than likely, increase the current level of seilrice provided by Bing County. The cost of this three rear agreement is estimated not to exceed $225,000. The estimated annual cost for 2(_)13 is less than actual costs for 2011. Annual increases Nvill be limited to the rate of inflation plus the rate of population growth for the preceding year for the County_ Highlights and seii ices of the nekv contract include: Call center and animal control officers Sheltering provided 7 days per Nveek, 365 days per year, open to public Operation and maintenance of unified licensing Consistencv is seiirice due to regional system and economy of scale Jurisdictional cost stability New revenues and revenue focus Staff reported that there are two optional additions to the interlocal agreement: an Enhanced Control Seiirices Contract and a Licensing Support Contract; however, there is not a recommendation to pursue either of these options at this time. The options can be selected on a periodic basis at a later time if the Citv identifies a need for such. According to feedback received from the Police Department and the Citv Clerk's Office, the City has not recently received complaints regarding Bing County animal control seilrices and /or responses. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO JUNE 11 COW FOR DISCUSSION. E. Ouarterly Update: Police Department As information only and per Committee request, staff gave a PoiverPoint presentation on public safety activities and policing issues during the I" quarter of 2012. The presentation included information on: crime statistics, strategic approaches for solving and mitigating problems, the police department vision, I" quarter goals and objectives and achieving such, staffing, equipment, budget, training, and the tivav ahead'. See agenda packet for detailed PoiverPoint slides. INFORMATION ONLY. F. Update: Financial Planninu Model and Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Due to time, the Committee ivas unable to discuss this item, and requested it be moved to the next regularly scheduled Finance Safety Committee. In the meantime, Committee Member Robertson suggested Committee Members review the information provided in the agenda packet and contact Peggy McCarthy_ with anv comments /suggestions. RETURN TO COMMITTEE. III. MISCELLANEOUS Meeting adjoumed at 8:23 p.m. Next 172eeting: Tuesday_ June 19, 2012 5:15 p.m. Conference Room 4' Committee Chair Approval Minutes by KAM. Reviewed by DS.