HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg 2013-05-20 Item 6C - Report - City AdministratorCity of Tukwila
CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
The City of opportunity, the community of choice
TO: Mayor Haggerton
Councilmembers
FROM: David Cline, City Administrator
DATE: May 15, 2013
SUBJECT: Report for May 20, 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. Please let me know if you have
any questions or need additional information about any of the following items.
I. Intergovernmental
• Federal Delegation Washington, D.C.: Mayor Haggerton, Councilmembers
Robertson and Seal, and Kimberly Matej traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet
with members from the City's Federal delegation. Meetings included legislators,
staff and /or representatives from the following offices: Senator Murray, Senator
Cantwell, Congressman Smith, Department of Justice, and the Economic
Development Administration. More detailed information on meetings will be
forthcoming to Council.
• Highline Community College's Annual Networking Breakfast: Human
Services staff participated in Highline Community College's annual networking
breakfast. New connections were made with several college staff with
discussion including greater use of the college for sub - regional human service
gatherings.
• FEMA Region X and the Corps of Engineers: Public Works staff met with
representatives from FEMA Region X and the Corps of Engineers about future
certification of the Tukwila 205 Levee. Prior to FEMA reissuing flood maps, the
City needs to document that the Tukwila 205 Levee meets FEMA accreditation
standards. If undocumented, the area protected by the levee will be mapped as
if the levee did not exist. FEMA's remapping effort is currently on hold for a
policy decision from Congress concerning mapping non - certified levees and
approval of the necessary funds to complete the flood study & digital rate maps.
No timelines are known on either of these issues, but could take years.
• Southwest King County Economic Development Initiative (SKCEDI): Staff
attended a steering committee meeting working on a new name for the
organization.
• Southwest King County Chamber Monthly Meeting: City staff attended the
Chamber's monthly lunch meeting on 5/10. The topic was tourism in celebration of
national tourism week. Katherine Kertzman presented Seattle Southside's annual
tourism and economic impact report.
• Tukwila International Boulevard Action Committee: City staff attended the
TIBAC monthly meeting on 5/14. Representatives from the Genesis Project
presented about The Freedom Walk they are trying to put together for July 20th for
International Boulevard in Tukwila and neighboring cities. The Genesis Project is a
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non - profit dedicated to offer hope for a new life to young women and girls involved
in Domestic Minor Sex - Trafficking (DMST) in the South King County area. More info
at www.gpseattle.net/
II. Community Events
• International Potluck Events: Tukwila elementary schools are hosting several
international potluck evening events on 5/15 and 5/30 at Thorndyke and Cascade View
Elementary.
• 111 Annual Seattle Southside Tourism Networking Meeting: Seattle Southside held
the 11th Annual Seattle Southside Tourism Networking Meeting at the Museum of Flight
Space Gallery on May 1St. Over 225 people attended. Staff gathered more than $8,000
in partner sponsorships to help cover the direct expenses for this successful event.
Attendees heard from travel and tourism industry experts in space travel and
international, national, state and county tourism. Seattle Southside staff presented their
annual economic impact report. A copy of the Seattle Southside annual report will be
placed in the Councils' mailbox.
• Backyard Wildlife Festival: Weather was perfect for the annual Backyard Wildlife
Festival, a steady stream of people attended throughout the day. There were several
hands on activities for families and children. Speakers Cisco Morris and Marianne
Benetti presented excellent education seminars.
• Special Trail Opening: Parks and Recreation staff had planned to kick off National
Trails Day by hosting a re- opening celebration of the Green River Trail. Restoration
efforts will not be complete by June 1st therefore Parks and Recreation Staff along with
Public Works staff will celebrate the re- opening once restoration is complete.
111. Staff Updates
Public Safety
• Training for Hoteliers and Law Enforcement Regarding Best Practices for
Reporting and Combatting Sex Trafficking: The training for hoteliers and law
enforcement regarding best practices for reporting and combatting sex trafficking is
scheduled for May 15, 2013 in Seattle. The participants will also be trained on how to
navigate the "Safe Lodging North West" website. The site is a restricted reporting
website for reputable hoteliers and law enforcement to collaborate and share
information related to sex trafficking and other associated crimes which are occurring
in our hotels. Tukwila Police will administer the site. The website pilot began this
week with several Tukwila and Sea -Tac hotels participating in a test run.
• Fire Investigation Training: Three members of the Tukwila Fire Marshal's Office
attended fire investigation training at a conference in Leavenworth. Courses offered in
the conference allow our investigators to meet annual training requirements for the
purpose of maintaining their investigative certification.
• International Training Exercise in Thailand: Captain Mark Morales just returned
from Thailand where he assisted in the planning and coordination of an international
training exercise related to structural collapse. Captain Morales entered into this
assignment voluntarily and on his own time. The training program was sponsored by
the US Department of State and Washington National Guard and is part of efforts to
provide assistance to friendly foreign governments. Captain Morales was honored by a
visit and personal conversation with the Commander of the Thai Armed Forces.
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Project Updates
• Duwamish Gardens: WRIA 9 and City staff presented the project at the May 9 WRIA
9 Forum seeking approval for construction grant funding through the Salmon
Recovery Funding Board for $1,114,843, King County Flood District for $765,000, and
Puget Sound Acquisition & Restoration for $327,353.
• Staff provided a Surface Water Management Program booth at the Backyard Wildlife
Festival to meet the Public Education and Outreach element in the City's Phase 11
Municipal Stormwater Permit. The Program emphasized Stormwater quality, the Green
River and Puget Sound.
• Stormwater Presentation to Third Graders at Tukwila Elementary: As part of the
Public Education and Outreach element in the City's NPDES Phase 11 Municipal
Permit, staff provided a stormwater quality presentation to the third grade gifted child's
class at Tukwila Elementary.
• South 178th Realignment Update: Clearing activities have started in the future South
1 78th realignment vicinity under an existing approved clearing and grading permit.
The roadway realignment permit is several weeks away from approval. Negotiations
with PSE regarding gas line relocation are ongoing.
• Planning Commission: The Planning Commission began review of this year's
Comprehensive Plan Updates with a work session and a public hearing on the Utilities
and Capital Facilities Elements of the Plan. They added three utility policies, one about
giving priority to residential neighborhoods for utility extensions, one about protecting
trees during utility work and one about the benefit of trees in controlling surface water
runoff. The revised elements will be brought to the Council as a group this fall.
• Sounder Station Sign: The Board of Architectural Review approved a master sign
program for the Sounder Station which will allow them to have a grand monument sign
at the entrance to the site on Longacres Way.
• Presentation to Tukwila ESL Class: Officer Stetson gave a presentation to the
Tukwila English as a Second Language class at Riverton Park Methodist Church. The
class consists of about 10 students who had many questions regarding problems in
their rental units and how to resolve them. Officer Stetson provided them with
information explaining the landlord- tenant laws in Washington State and answered
specific questions.
• Kent Briscoe /Desimone Levee Repair: DCD and PW staff attended a meeting in Kent
on May 1 regarding Kent's preliminary planting plans for the four reaches of river on
which the levee repairs will be constructed. Staff from the Washington State
Department of Fish and Wildlife also attended and indicated that the Joint Aquatic
Resources Permit Application (JARPA) is incomplete and Kent needs to revise the
application to increase the density of the proposed plantings before the application can
move forward. King County is scheduled to approve the interlocal agreement with Kent
by June 2013. Kent will be submitting the draft interlocal agreement with Tukwila
subsequent to the King County approval. The Shoreline permit application will be
submitted by Kent to Tukwila in late summer 2013. Anticipated construction date for the
Tukwila segments are summer 2014.
• Public Outreach and Engagement Liaison Pilot Program: Advisory and
implementation teams are meeting on a regular basis to lay the groundwork for
recruitment /selection /training for 2 liaisons. These individuals will help the City reach
further into our community to improve communication, broaden understanding, share
information and solicit feedback on a wide range of issues.
• Strategic Plan Implementation: The first quarter progress report was shared with City
Council on May 6 and can be viewed on the City's website.
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• Parks Recreation and Open Space Plan (PROS): A Community Workshop is
scheduled for May 22nd from 6:00 — 8:00 p.m. at the Tukwila Community Center in the
Banquet Hall. The workshop is open to the public and will help set Tukwila's priorities
for Parks, Recreation facilities, Programs, and Open Space.
• Tukwila Metropolitan Park District: Roof Complete: Bates Roofing completed the
new roofing system, flashing and additional downspouts on time and on budget. The
building department's roof permit inspection and the manufacture's warrantee
inspection will be completed prior to the project closeout process being initiated.
• Tukwila Metropolitan Park District: Energy Efficiency Capital Project: Project
closeout was scheduled for May, however, supporting documents are not ready as
McKinstry is still gathering additional information. Closeout will most likely occur in
June.
Community Services
• Spray Park: The Waterspray Park at the Tukwila Community Center has been
re- stained. The park will be re- opening over Memorial Day Weekend.
IV. Responses to Council /Citizen Inquiries
• Chronic Nuisance Property: After careful review of history of police activity, the Police
Department has declared the Grande Terrace apartment complex in Tukwila to be a
Chronic Nuisance Property per Tukwila Municipal Code (TMC) 8.27. A violation notice
outlining measures to correct the issues mentioned in the notice has been served. The
owner and the manager of the apartments were provided an opportunity to meet to
discuss the actions they will be required to take as corrective action.
• Abatement Update
The City has completed abatement on one vacant structure and is actively continuing
the process for two other properties.
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