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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-01-27 Committee of the Whole MinutesCALL TO ORDER /PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Calling the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. was Pam Carter, Council President, who also led the Pledge of Allegiance. COUNCIL ATTENDANCE: Present were Council President Pam Carter; and Councilmembers Joe Duffie, Joan Hernandez, Pam Carter, Jim Haggerton, Pamela Linder and David Fenton. Councilmember Richard Simpson was absent. OFFICIALS: SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS: TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL January 27, 2003 7:00 p.m. Tukwila City Hall Council Chambers COMMITTEE OF WHOLE MEETING MINUTES Steven M. Mullet, Mayor; John McFarland, City Administrator; Lucy Lauterbach, Legislative Analyst; and Bob Baker, Deputy City Clerk. Julia Patterson Metro King County Council State of the County Address Julia Patterson, Councilmember, Metro King County Council, 13 District, presented a State -of- the -County address after completing her first year on the Council. A primary focus for Ms. Patterson within that first year was to repair hurt or broken relationships between various cities and King County. The 13 District includes only very small portions of Tukwila and Burien, approximately 1/2 of Kent and Auburn, as well as the entire cities of SeaTac, Des Moines, and Normandy Park. In addition to the District being an extremely vital housing and business area for King County, it is also the fastest growing portion of King County. King County was faced with an unprecedented $52 million budget shortfall in 2003, out of a total general fund budget of $500 million. Ms. Patterson provided an overview of the various budgets utilized by King County to cover all expenditures. The causes of the budget shortfall are the same things causing the same shortfalls at the State level, namely a slowing economy. Additionally, there have been extraordinary increases to costs associated with providing health care to employees (16% in 2002) as well as mandated healthcare costs for jail inmates. Further, Ms. Patterson noted that over the years the annexations and incorporations of cities have resulted in the "cash cow" areas, such as the City of SeaTac, leaving many of those cash -poor areas for the County to serve. The only two taxes collected by King County are sales and property taxes. In 2002, the property taxes were "way down" due to a slumping economy. Initiatives passed recently, specifically that which caps the County's property tax collections to 1 will affect the County tremendously over the next 10 years. In addition to other services offered by King County, Ms. Patterson noted they provide 274,000 rides on the Metro bus system each year, maintain 200 miles of hiking and biking trails, treat 192 million gallons of waste water per year, process 168 men and women into its regional jails on a daily basis, maintain nearly 2,000 miles of roads and serve as the only local government to 352,000 citizens living in unincorporated King County. Due to the factors noted, King County was forced to take very innovative approaches to balance their most recent budget. A new criminal justice plan was put into place to save money; drug court was CITY OF TUKWILA PAGE 2 OF 5 CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF WHOLE MINUTES JANUARY 27, 2003 enhanced; the mental health court was expanded; parks and pools were transferred to local jurisdictions agreeing to such transfers, and the removal of all Arts programs from the general budget. Speaking on highlights from 2002, Ms. Patterson reported the County Council budget did allow for new items in the 13 District such as: a. A new, intra -city bus service that will transport commuters from Kent's Sound Transit station to all employers within the valley b. Highline College was awarded a Clean -Water grant for a Marine Science and Technology Center at Redondo Beach. c. Funding was secured for the development of a key section of the Green River Trail (Linking Kent and Auburn). d. A surplus van was awarded to the Highline YMCA. On this topic, Ms. Patterson invited Council to contact Dwight Pelz and herself to let them know of known needs. Two are awarded per Council District in 2003. e. New sidewalks have been installed in unincorporated areas. f. Four new bus shelter sites have been chosen throughout the valley. g. Street lighting will be increased in various unincorporated areas. The 2003 budget will experience another $24 million shortfall, and another $24 million in 2004. The Council has been "chipping away" at the budget and finding new ways to do business with the jail, pools, parks, and arts programs. Things will continually be pared down and, eventually, King County will be completely unable to fund Human Services. This means the Council must focus on trying to find long term solutions to the County's budget problems. Questions and answers were then exchanged between Tukwila's Councilmembers and Ms. Patterson. CITIZEN COMMENT /CORRESPONDENCE: None. SPECIAL ISSUES: a. An ordinance amending the TMC regarding Judicial Conduct AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 1324 PART 16, CODIFIED AS TUKWILA MUNICIPAL CODE 2.68.027, "REMOVAL OF JUDGE PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE Councilmember Duffie noted this item had been through the Finance and Safety Committee and was met with approval to forward the item to the Committee of Whole. John McFarland, City Administrator, spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance and noted that the timing is right as the City prepares to hire a new Municipal Court Judge. He reported the position may close by mid February and the new judge may begin their duties on the bench by mid- March, 2003. Tukwila Municipal Code Section 2.68.027 defines the circumstances under which a Tukwila Municipal Court Judge may be removed from the bench. Currently code provides for the removal of a judge upon conviction of misconduct or malfeasance in office, or because of physical or mental disability. Proposed language expands the conditions and includes, "...conviction of any criminal offense, a determination by the Washington State Judicial Conduct Commission that a code or standard of judicial conduct has been violated, or a finding by the City Council, after notice and a hearing and reasonable opportunity to be heard, that conduct has occurred, not limited to criminal convictions, which interferes with or prevents the judge from being able to adequately administer or handle the functions of the Court, or which indicates that the judge cannot act in a fair and /or impartial manner..." CITY OF TUKWILA PAGE 3 OF 5 CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF WHOLE MINUTES JANUARY 27, 2003 Council spoke in favor of the need for the proposed ordinance and made no suggested changes in its verbiage. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE FEBRUARY 3, 2003 REGULAR MEETING AGENDA. b. A consultant services agreement with M. J. Durkan, Jr. Councilmember Duffie noted this item had been through the Finance and Safety Committee and was met with approval to forward the item to the Committee of Whole. John McFarland provided background on the proposed agreement for consultant services. The City has a working relationship with Mr. Durkan and has been very pleased with his performance. This proposal would serve as the fourth amendment to the original lobbying services contract with Mr. Durkan, and extends the service period through December 31, 2003. Mr. McFarland reported Mr. Durkan's duties will include working with Tukwila officials, King County elected officials, State electeds and Sound Transit Board members in an effort to gain improvements to the Light Rail routing through the City of Tukwila in a manner most consistent with local, regional and state land use and transportation policies. And, he will work with local, regional and state officials on general matters of interest to the City of Tukwila. Council President Carter asked that the entire contract be included in the February 3, 2003 City Council agenda packet. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE FEBRUARY 3, 2003 REGULAR MEETING AGENDA. c. A consultant services agreement with Ball Janik, L.L.P. Again, Councilmember Duffie noted this item had been through the Finance and Safety Committee and was met with approval to forward the item to the Committee of Whole. John McFarland informed Council that three firms have been interviewed for federal lobbying services. The Mayor's Office is recommending the contract be awarded to the Ball -Janik firm. Again, the City has a working history with members of the firm and Ball -Janik is very much in favor of re- establishing and entering into another agreement with the City. This federal representation and lobbying services agreement will allow the City to have a "voice" on matters in Washington D.C. The compensation clause on this contract is $8,000.00 per month, plus monthly expenses, not to exceed $1,000.00 (taken from the Ending Fund Balance of 2003). Responding to an inquiry from Ms. Hernandez, Mr. McFarland noted City monies were not previously set aside for this contract. He asked Council to be mindful that if this is to be a long term relationship, the City must be willing to consider spending discretionary dollars from ending fund balances. Mayor Mullet stated the work of this firm, if successful, could equate to Federal funding for a garage in the Village site, BN work in Allentown or more. The City will relate a main focus for Ball Janik to securing federal authorization and appropriation for key projects identified. Key legislation to be acted on by Congress this session, including reauthorization of TEA -21, possible authorization of a separate rail funding program, and the FY'2004 appropriations bills, will be evaluated for opportunities to secure special congressional or federal agency support for Tukwila's goals and to secure additional federal funding for City priorities and projects. Additionally, the firm will provide guidance and assistance regarding funding and support for the TOD and regional center project; commuter rail and other station and related commercial and housing development work at South Center; other land acquisition, transportation enhancement, railroad crossing and community or commercial development related projects; Tukwila Village and Highway 99 redevelopment projects; resource related projects such as the Green Duwamish projects; homeland CITY OF TUKWILA PAGE 4 OF 5 CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF WHOLE MINUTES JANUARY 27, 2003 security funding and any stimulus package aimed at local governments, as well as other opportunities to assist the City as it relates to the impact of major federal legislation. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE FEBRUARY 3, 2003 REGULAR MEETING AGENDA. d. An addendum to the Renton Jail Contract Again, Councilmember Duffie noted this item had been through the Finance and Safety Committee and was met with approval to forward the item to the Committee of Whole. John McFarland reported the contract sets the rate for 2003 for the use of the Renton Jail as a holding facility for transport of prisoners to Yakima County. The cost impact of this contract unknown as there is no way to determine the number of defendants to be sent to Yakima. This is a budgeted item and establishes the service fees for 2003. All other portions of the original contract remain unchanged. The charges will be $25 for those "Identified Offenders" spending less than 24 hours and NOT detained overnight; or $58.50 for those detained less than 24 hours and staying overnight; and $58.50 per day when a person remains in the jail for more than 24 hours. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE FEBRUARY 3, 2003 REGULAR MEETING AGENDA. REPORTS: a. Mayor Mayor Mullet attended a January 26 meeting with Adam Smith and Ambassador Hardwick (and members) from the local Laotian American community; and a January 27 meeting with Gary Danklefson on the Anderson property (the trailer court). Next, the Mayor reported recent attendance to his first PSRC Executive Board meeting as an alternate. The Mayor announced the City of Tukwila Employees banquet is scheduled for Saturday, March 15, 2003, and a retirement dinner will be held for John McFarland on Friday, April 4, 2003. More details on each event will follow. Next, Mayor Mullet informed Council that the TIB Phase I project will begin on February 3, 2003. The Tukwila Village site will be utilized as a staging area for the project. Finally, the Mayor reported that Waldron and Company has been hired to conduct a search for the City's next City Administrator. b. City Council Councilmember Duffie stated his appreciation for the January 25 and 26 Council retreat. He also thanked Council President Carter for selecting him as Chair of the Finance and Safety Committee. Councilmember Hernandez reported on a very relaxing Council retreat which was very well organized. Additionally, she reported cancellation of the January 28 Community Affairs and Parks Committee meeting. Council President Carter noted three lists were created at the recent Council retreat; with one being for City Administration. It will be provided very shortly. Additionally, she reported a January 21 SCATBd meeting and sat in (for Richard Simpson) on tonight's Transportation Committee meeting. Councilmember Haggerton appreciated the "good agenda" for last weekend's Council retreat.