HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-07-06 Regular MinutesMinutes of 7/06/98
TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL
July 6, 1998, 7:00 p.m.
Tukwila City Hall Council Chambers
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
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CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Rants called the Regular Meeting to order and led the audience in the Pledge of
Allegiance.
ROLL CALL: Joan Hernandez, Pam Linder, Council President; Pam Carter, Steve Mullet, Jim Haggerton,
and Dave Fenton.
Councilmember absent: Moved by Hernandez, seconded by Linder, that Councilmember Duffle be
excused. Motion carried (7 -0)
OFFICIALS: John Rants, Mayor; John McFarland, City Administrator; Bob Noe, City Attorney; Ross Earnst,
Public Works Director; Don Williams, Parks and Recreation Director; Steve Lancaster, Director of Community
Development, Don Williams, Parks and Recreation Director; Brian Shelton, City Engineer; Lucy Lauterbach,
Council Analyst; and Jane E. Cantu, City Clerk.
PROCLAMATIONS/APPOINTMENTS:
A proclamation designating the month of July 1998 as "Parks and Recreation Appreciation Month."
Mayor Rants read a Proclamation into the record recognizing July 1998 as "Parks and Recreation Appreciation
Month." The Proclamation urges all citizens to celebrate by participating in their choice of pleasurable
activities to find refreshment from their leisure.
Appointment: Economic Development Advisory Board:
Ann Klein, Position #3; expires 12/31/00
Mayor Rants presented the appointment action request for an appointment to the Economic Development
Advisory Board.
Moved by Carter, seconded by Haggerton, to appoint Ann Klein to Position #3 on the Economic
Development Advisory Board for a term expiring on 12/31/00. Motion carried (7 -0).
CITIZEN'S COMMENTS
No citizen comments.
CONSENT AGENDA
a. Approval of Minutes: 5/18/98; 6/1/98; 6/22/98 (Special Meeting)
b. Approval of Vouchers: Nos. 205879 through 206116 for $590,157.75.
Minutes of 7/06/98 Page 2 of 8
Moved by Hernandez, seconded by Haggerton to approve the Consent Agenda.*
Councilmember Carter requested the Minutes of June 1, 1998 be pulled for correction on page four.
The minutes should reflect the following correction to the paragraph beginning with "A Department Task
Force." The corrected should paragraph read, A Department Task Force has been established to brainstorm
ideas and handle departmental issues occurring within the multi family housing units in the City..."
*Motion carried as amended (7 -0).
BID AWARD
Award a contract to Jennings Eauinment. Inc.. in the amount of $25.966.94 (includes WSST) for the
purchase of a new Kubota tractor /mower: Councilmember Haggerton said the request was approved by the
Finance and Safety Committee and that the Kubota brand proved to be the most superior due to the automatic
transmission and the size. Of the three bids received, one was a "no bid" and the lowest bid was by Jennings
Equipment.
Moved by Haggerton, seconded by Fenton, to award a contract in the amount of $25,966.94 (which
includes Washington State sales tax) to Jennings Equipment, Inc. for purchase of one new Kubota L4200
tractor /mower. Motion carried (7 -0).
PUBLIC HEARING
A resolution approving the Proposed 1999 -2004 Six -Year Transportation Imnrovement Program (T.I.P.)1
Mayor Rants opened the public hearing at 7:05 p.m.
Director Earnst said the Six -Year Transportation Plan is adopted annually and has been reviewed and approved
by the Transportation Committee for a public hearing. Director Earnst noted that project number 34 was
combined with project number 14 S. 180 Street Railroad Crossing. The project listing should be corrected to
reflect 35 projects versus 36 projects as noted on the TIP.
Director Earnst said the 1999 2004 TIP is virtually the same as last year and updated to reflect the grants that
have been received. Director Earnst said the TIP is required annually by state law and is submitted to the State
Transportation Improvement Board, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and the Puget
Sound Regional Council ((PSRC), which uses the information when reviewing grant applications by the City.
Transportation projects are funded through the City's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and by transportation
grants.
Louise Strander, 15000 57 Ave South, Tukwila asked if a public hearing would be held on each of the
transportation projects listed on the TIP.
Mayor Rants said no public hearings are scheduled for any of the projects listed on the TIP, however, as
projects move forward pubic meetings would be held.
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Ms. Strander asked if the Planning Commission would review any of the projects. Mayor Rants said none of
the projects are scheduled for review by the Planning Commission.
There being no further public testimony, Mayor Rants closed the public hearing at 7:12 p.m.
Councilmember Carter reported as Chair of the Transportation Committee that the TIP has been reviewed and
the Committee has recommended the public hearing and approval of the TIP by City Council.
Councilmember Haggerton asked if it was normal practice to remove development driven projects that are not
grant candidates from the TIP. Director Earnst said at one time the list contained development driven projects.
However, unless some development occurred they were removed from the TIP, since it was unlikely they would
be funded.
Moved by Carter, seconded by Hernandez, that the proposed resolution be read by title only. Motion
carried (7 -0).
Attorney Noe read a resolution of the City Council of the City of Tukwila, Washington, adopting a six -year
Transportation Improvement Program, and directing the same to be filed with the State Secretary of
Transportation and the Transportation Improvement Board.
Moved by Carter, seconded by Haggerton, that Resolution No. 1401 be approved as read. Motion carried
(7 -0).
OLD BUSINESS
Motion to refer Comprehensive Plan Amendments to the Planning Commission for review: Moved by
Hernandez, seconded by Mullet to refer the requested Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code
amendments for the aggregation /redevelopment concept to the Planning Commission and to consider for
inclusion sites, 1, (with restrictions,) 4, and 5, and the conditions in the June 3 memo from Steve
Lancaster to the City Council as verbally amended at the June 8 meeting to emphasize landscaping
buffers between commercial and residential districts. Motion carried (7 -0).
Moved by Carter, seconded by Haggerton, to refer to the Planning Commission the requested
Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code amendments to remove the maximum residential densities in the
NCC zone and to allow multifamily under certain conditions in the RC zone. Motion carried (7 -0).
Moved by Carter, seconded by Mullet, to refer to the Planning Commission the Comprehensive Plan and
Zoning Code amendment to grant the Board of Architectural Review the authority and flexibility in
application of setback and landscape standards and establishing appropriate criteria and guidelines.
Motion carried (7 -0).
Councilmember Haggerton asked why a formal motion was required to refer the amendments to the Planning
Commission when the Council had previously agreed to forward them on. Director Lancaster said since action
leads to the Comprehensive Plan Amendments, staff felt that a more formal procedure was appropriate. The
Council also noted specific procedures outlined in the Comprehensive Plan for comp plan amendments that
need to be reviewed. Staff will be reviewing the process at the next Community Affairs and the Parks
Committee meeting to improve the process. Mayor Rants said he was also more comfortable with formalizing
this type of action.
Minutes of 7/06/98 Page 4 of 8
Ordinance granting vacation of a nortion of 55 Ave. S. from S. 139 Street to s. 140th Street: Moved by
Hernandez, seconded by Linder, that the proposed ordinance be read by title only. Motion carried (7 -0).
Attorney Noe read a ordinance of the City Council of the City of Tukwila, Washington, vacating 55 Avenue
South from S. 139 Street to S. 140 Street, located in the City of Tukwila, amending the official street map of
the City; providing for severability; and establishing an effective date.
Moved by Haggerton, seconded by Carter to adopt Ordinance 1843 as read.*
Council President Linder asked if the sixth property owner agreed to the vacation petition. Administrator
McFarland said all six property owners have agreed to purchase portions of the vacated street. They have all
been contacted in writing and all owners have responded back to the City.
Councilmember Mullet asked if any of the adjacent owners objected to the fencing requirement. Engineer
Shelton responded and said he was not able to contact all of the parties.
Councilmember Mullet said he was not as concerned that some of the parties are hesitating on the fencing
requirement than he is with the fact that City Council conducted a public hearing and an official decision was
made by the Council. He said staff should have brought the fencing issue back to the City Council for
reconsideration of the fencing requirement. Councilmembers Carter and Haggerton concurred and said there
was public testimony of property owners concerned that individuals would be cutting through their property.
Mayor Rants said at the time of the hearing the property owners apparently felt fencing was required. After
following up with them, the issue does not appear to be as important to them. As the right -of -way becomes
private property, it is the owner's responsibility to fence.
Council President Linder said only two people testified for the fencing requirement.
McFarland provided additional clarification regarding staff s recommendation on the fencing requirement. Staff
reviewed the area and considered what fencing would do to the north and south ends of the right -of -way.
Fencing would not prevent people from cutting through side yards, and up hills to other yards. To deny access
to what is now the 55 right -of -way, the entire perimeter of all of the lots would have to be fenced since many
people are walking through side yards and not the right -of -way. Since there was no clear and practicable way to
solve the problem, and since staff didn't believe they could require a property owner to fence their property due
to the vacation action, staff felt that it was the responsibility of the property owner to determine if fencing was
required.
Councilmember Hernandez said she does not mind removing the fencing requirement but is concerned that the
decision has been changed after a public hearing has been held which reviewed and required fencing. She asked
if anyone has notified Mr. Lessor of the change. Engineer Shelton said he tried contacting Mr. Lessor but was
unsuccessful. Mr. Lessor's property has a natural barrier that would be difficult to walk through (blackberry
bushes). Mayor Rants said he would send an explanatory letter to Mr. Lessor and to all of the other property
owners regarding the change in the fencing requirement.
Wayne Werle, 13921 56 Avenue S., Tukwila said he is one of the property owners and indicated it was his
understanding during discussions at the public hearing that if Mr. Lessor, himself, and other property owners
wanted to fence off the property and elected not to do so and people walked through the property, it would
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ultimately be the property owner's responsibility to do something about it (fencing). Once the right -of -way
becomes private property, it is not the City's responsibility to fence it. Motion carried (7 -0).
NEW BUJSINESS
Authorize Mayor to sign a contract for services with Crandall Arambula PC for $104. 146.00 for Phase I
Market Analysis and Station Area Planning for Light Rail. Mayor Rants said the full Council has reviewed
the request and it has also been reviewed at the committee level.
Moved by Hernandez moved, seconded by Carter, to authorize the Mayor to sign a contract for services
with Crandall Arambula PC in the amount of $104,146.00 for Phase I Market Analysis and Station Area
Planning for Light Rail.*
Mayor Rants noted that a correction to "Exhibit A" involving the acronym "FTA" would be spelled out before
repeating it within the document.
Councilmember Carter referred to Exhibit A (Scope of Work) and asked why under Task 1, the last word in the
second sentence was changed from "approved" to "identified." Director Lancaster said RTA staff requested the
change as they are required to operate under specific language perimeters.
Councilmember Carter said she is concerned that the light rail route will negatively affect affordable housing
and asked if the issue would be considered and evaluated during the process. Director Lancaster said under task
one of the Scope of Work for Light Rail Transit Planning, the market analysis would include all the data
required by Sound Transit for the EIS review. Components of the EIS will assess the impact on housing and
housing affordability.
Councilmember Carter said she had a concern that RTA is using 1990 census data and indicated that many
economic and demographic changes have occurred within the community since then. Director Lancaster said
staff is working to update the numbers and gave examples of some current data staff is using. For employment
data, staff has obtained current data from the Employment Security Department pertinent to specific
geographical areas within the community. The technique is also being used for housing and population data.
He cautioned that the process is an estimating technique and is not 100 percent accurate and reiterated that the
US Census is not 100 percent accurate either.
Ron Lamb, 4251 S. 139 Tukwila said in reviewing the agreement, it focuses on market attributes of the
various light rail options. He said he assumes that community sentiment and impacts on citizens will be taken
into consideration with other related processes but sees an advantage to including that information, at least in
terms of the impact on the market. There could also be some severe impacts during construction and after.
Although there are references to impacts to businesses and residents, the school district has expressed concerns
about transporting students to and from schools across the highway. This would be especially difficult during
construction and Mr. Lamb said it would be very important to consider that in the market analysis.
Mr. Lamb conveyed his concern about locating a light rail station at 144 (on Pacific Highway) due to the
proximity of the library, high school and middle school and the safety risks to students (crime related to light
rail stations) and asked if that information could also be examined and included in the study.
Minutes of 7/06/98 Page 6 of 8
Director Lancaster responded to Mr. Lamb's concerns and indicated this analysis is part one of a two -part
analysis that the City will undertake over the next 18 months. The first part is focused on market analysis and
market potentials. The second part will include a more traditional planning approach that will incorporate more
policy goals and desires of the community, which will include an extensive public process.
In terms of analysis impacts, that information will be studied more comprehensively during the EIS review.
*Motion carried (7 -0).
REPORTS
Mayor Rants distributed a number of letters from citizens complimenting the Police Department on their
efforts.
Rants has received notification from the Puget Sound Regional Council informing the City of its annual dues
renewal of $9,061. Rants recommended renewing the dues and said many members on the Council believe
RTA is not following Vision 2020 and are supportive of Tukwila's position.
Rants attended the last meeting of the Suburban Cities Steering Committee on July 6. Rants has been asked to
sit on the negotiating committee. He indicated he has forwarded the Regional Governance and Finance Plan
recommendation draft to Council Analyst Lauterbach for analysis and said Councilmembers will also be
receiving a copy for review.
Councilmember Hernandez attended the June 23 Annual Awards Luncheon for South King County Human
Services and distributed a copy of the agenda to Councilmembers. County Executive Ron Sims was the
luncheon speaker.
Hernandez attended the Historical Society meeting on June 24. The society will be selling the City's history
books during Tukwila Days.
Hernandez distributed copies of a brochure of activities the Equity and Diversity Commission is doing to
promote Tukwila Days. A free shuttle service will provide transportation from the elementary schools and
informational brochures in several languages have been distributed throughout the community. Dynamic
Languages provided translation services for the brochure. Office Depot donated the color printing and Karen
Shaw at the school district was instrumental in assisting with the development of the informational brochure.
She acknowledged Dr. Silver who assisted with arranging bus service. Richard Simpson and Hernandez have
been distributing the brochures to apartment complexes in Tukwila.
Council President Linder thanked Dave Fenton for the candy for the Council's booth at Tukwila Day.
Councilmember Mullet will attend the Utilities Committee meeting on July 7 and a Site Council meeting on
July 8. Mullet said Councilmember Fenton has been appointed as the Chair of the Site Council.
Councilmember Carter attended the Foster Community Club barbecue.
Carter mentioned the South County Journal magazine left the Museum of Flight off Tukwila's museum listing.
Minutes of 7/06/98 Page 7 of 8
Councilmember Haggerton attended the Finance and Safety Committee prior to the Council meeting and
reviewed the agenda items. The results of the vehicle towing request for bids were reviewed with Skyway
Towing as the low bid at $63.53. The tractor bid award was reviewed (subsequently approved by Council) and
the Committee also reviewed the Uniform Fire Code (review required every three years). The last update
occurred in 1994. Major changes include fire lane violations, letter sizes for above ground tank capacity and an
increase in permit fees (increased slightly to $75). The last review included an additional agenda item related to
July 4 fireworks within the community (Administrator McFarland later provided an update).
Haggerton attended an Economic Advisory Board meeting on Thursday, June 25, which was well attended.
Ann Klein was also in attendance. Director Lancaster provided an update on development activities occurring
within the City. Southcenter will relocate some of its retail business to make room for a chain restaurant called
the "Rain Forest Cafe." New development includes a new Harley Davidson retail division, LaQuinta Hotel,
Parkway Super Center (some occupancy is expected in August), the Glacier Business Park (warehouse /office
combination business park), Cascade Business Park (two warehouses at 70,000 square feet), and SRO is
considering converting a portion of their property to a park and fly parking lot.
Haggerton attended an ACC Executive Session meeting on June 29 and will attend another ACC meeting on
Tuesday, July 7.
STAFF
Administrator McFarland shared copies of a publication by the Arts Commission listing community events,
local art and Commission member information.
Homestays are needed for approximately eight Sister City delegates.
McFarland said two additional police officers were added to patrol on July 4 and all parks and schools were
posted with signs prohibiting fireworks. The police responded to twenty calls from citizens complaining of
fireworks violations. A large number of fireworks were confiscated and deposed of by the Police. The police
assessed the evening as being very quiet, although there were some isolated incidents. The ordinance was sent
to Valley Com regarding the prohibition of fireworks in Tukwila. From all reports, July 4 was one of the
quietest ones on record.
Councilmember Haggerton said he would be contacting and writing everyone at the state and federal level to
encourage banning for sale fireworks at Indian Reservations.
MISCELLANEOUS
Councilmember Mullet disagreed that July 4 was one of the quietest. He attended the Emerald Downs
fireworks display and said these types of events should be more publicized to encourage community attendance.
Mayor Rants reviewed the Sister City delegation itinerary and indicated they would leave Sea Tac Airport
customs at approximately 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 30. From there they will be transported to the
Community Center and assigned into their respective homestays. On Friday, they will meet at the Community
Center and the students will be bused to the Wild Waves Park. The adults will tour City Hall, City facilities, the
Museum of Flight, visit the Ballard Locks and have lunch and then come back to Tukwila to attend a tree
planting ceremony at Tukwila Park. On Saturday, a barbecue picnic at the Tukwila Park is planned beginning
Minutes of 7/06/98 Page 8 of 8
at 12:30 p.m. with entertainment, square dancing, steel drums, etc. Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2,
are free days for the delegates and host families. A banquet will be held Sunday evening, August 2, at the
Embassy Suites Hotel along with a pool party for the students. Monday morning, August 3, their return flight
leaves Sea Tac Airport at 8:30 a.m.
Rants reminded Council members that eight delegates need homestays and all homestay families will receive an
orientation. Councilmember Hernandez said she would consider hosting a student as a backup.
It was agreed to conduct a special City Council meeting to honor Ikawa officials and delegation at 7:00 p.m on
Friday, July 31, 1998.
(8:35 n.m.) ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Hernandez, seconded by Mullet, to adjourn the meeting to an Executive Session for a
personnel issue. Motion carried (7 -0).
(8:40 n.m.) RECONVENE
Mayor Rants reconvened the meeting.
(8:40 n.m.) ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Carter, seconded by Haggerton, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried (7 -0).
ohn W. Rants, Mayor t''—
Valerie Gow, Recording Secretary
AcIT
Date Minutes Approved: (2UaLLs7
V