HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg 2013-01-07 Item 7 - Report - City AdministratorTO:
City of Tukwila
CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Mayor Haggerton
Councilmembers
FROM: David Cline, City Administrator
DATE: January 2, 2013
SUBJECT: Report for January 7, 2013 Regular Council Meeting
Jim Haggerton, Mayor
The City Administrator Report is meant to provide the Council, staff and community an update
on the activities of the City and on issues that concern Tukwila. The report consists of
information provided by the Executive Team, with editing and input by the City Administrator.
Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional information about any of the
following items, and please feel free to contact any of the department heads for additional
information.
I. Intergovernmental and Local Issues Update
MEETINGS
• King County City Administrators /Managers Monthly Meeting: The City Administrator
and Government Relations Manager attended the January 2 meeting where the following
items were discussed: (1) An amended Solid Waste Interlocal Agreement (ILA) between
King County and cities which will extend an additional 12.5 years through 2040. City action
on the ILA is anticipated during the 1st Quarter of 2013; (2) A review of funding options that
may be presented for consideration at the State Legislature this session including a
transportation funding package (including local funding options) and some human service
funding changes; (3) Updates from both the SCORE facility and Sound Cities Association
(SCA), formerly known as the Suburban Cities Association; and (4) Brief overview of the
services provided by the King County Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution.
II. Department Updates
MAYORS OFFICE
• Southcenter Parkway Extension Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: On December 14, the City
formally opened the Southcenter Parkway Extension. The Mayor thanked all of the
participants, including Councilmembers, City, State and Federal elected representatives,
funding organizations, City staff and contractors who contributed to this complex project.
• Strategic Plan: On December 10, the Council adopted the City's first Strategic Plan. As a
result of all the data collection, community input and a tremendous amount of work by many
groups and individuals, the following vision statement was created, which embodies what
the City aspires to be: Tukwila, the city of opportunity, the community of choice.
The Council, Administration, Department Directors and staff are firmly committed to keeping
our goals and objectives front and center. Development of an implementation plan focusing
on key areas identified in the plan is underway: The need to improve safety along Tukwila
International Boulevard; better communication — both internally and with all of our
stakeholders; and organizational development that takes advantage of the highly skilled
workforce throughout the City.
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HUMAN SERVICES
• Minor Home Repair Program: Tukwila served 14 unduplicated households with 33 minor
home repair jobs during 2012. Over $16,000 dollars was spent to preserve Tukwila
housing.
• Information and Assistance: Human services staff answered 2,254 requests for
information and assistance in 2012. This represents a 3% increase over 2011. There were
1,353 calls for housing or utility assistance, and 122 households were provided financial
assistance.
• Hyde Shuttle: The Hyde Shuttle served 75 unduplicated riders with 1,307 one -way trips for
a total of 11,745 miles.
PUBLIC WORKS
• Comprehensive Garbage, Recyclables & Compostables Contract Amendment 1: The
new Garbage and Recycling Contract with Waste Management was amended to incorporate
customer feedback obtained during the early plan implementation phase. Amendment 1
memorializes the changes made to the new contract and provides greater clarity,
consistency and transparency to residential, multi - family and commercial customers. The
negotiated rates approved by the City Council will not increase as a result of this
amendment, which will be made available to the public via the City Website.
• Gypsy Moth Detection: The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA)
informed the City in late December 2012 that a non - native invasive population of European
Gypsy Moth near the intersection of South 149th Street and Interurban Avenue South had
been detected. WSDA is requesting approval from the federal government to begin a local
spraying program. They intend to use products registered with the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, and WSDA plans to start a public outreach process soon to inform our
citizens of the eradication proposal. WSDA will provide copies of their environmental permit
applications to the Tukwila branch of the King County Library system. More information will
be available on the schedule this Spring.
TUKWILA POOL — METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT (MPD)
• Construction Progress: Floors have been prepped for the new flooring product; lighting
continues to be replaced; plumbing and mechanical work are continuing; and the locker
room walls have been completed. Tile work is occurring this week in the pool, and the
locker room floors are scheduled for installation. Staff has finished both the bulkhead and
filter tank renovation projects in house. City staff have also been painting the lobby, and
other front areas of the facility and will continue throughout the next couple of weeks as
time, scheduling, and project coordination allows. Additionally, concrete was poured for the
ADA Parking Lot Access Improvement Project on January 2.
FINANCE
• Bond Sale: The bond sale scheduled for December 20 to fund the Metropolitan Park
District capital project was postponed due to a volatile and unfavorable bond market. The
sale has been tentatively rescheduled for January 10.
FIRE
• Incident Responses on the River: During the month of December the department
responded to 2 river rescue incidents. The first involved a person jumping from the South
180th Street Bridge that did not result in a recovery. The second involved a submerged,
occupied vehicle in the same area. Our personnel, with the assistance of Zone 3 Divers,
recovered two bodies at that incident. Both of the joint Police /Fire rescue boats were
utilized in these incidents. Efforts between police and fire were well coordinated, and our
joint training and cooperation contributed to the safety and efficiency of these operations.
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• Fire Investigations: The commercial fire investigated on December 21 in the 13500 block
of Tukwila International Boulevard was most likely a heating fire for two homeless individuals
who had sought shelter in an old travel trailer parked behind the building. Evidence of
containers commonly used in heating fires was found in the area of origin. A witness came
forward with information on two homeless people leaving shortly before the fire was
reported. The travel trailer was a total loss, and the building suffered an estimated $5,000 in
damage to the siding.
POLICE
• Shop- with -a -Cop Event: On Saturday, December 22, the Tukwila Police Department held
this event, where Police officers, staff and the Tukwila Explorers joined forces to help make
Christmas a happy holiday for six children and their families selected by and from the
Tukwila School District. Police officers picked up children from their homes and headed to
the Target Store in Tukwila. Each child was given a gift card donated by Target. Officers
paired up with each child and helped them shop for gifts for themselves and their family.
After shopping at Target, the fun continued at the Tukwila Toys R Us store, with more gift
cards for purchases. Both Target and Toys R Us supplied wrapping paper and a location to
wrap the new gifts. After shopping, officers took the children to the Tukwila Applebee's for
lunch, which was donated by Applebee's. At the end of the day, the children were driven
back to their homes throughout the City. The Tukwila Police Department would like to thank
Target, Toys R Us and Applebee's Restaurant for the generous donations that made an
incredible difference in the lives of these children and their families.
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