HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-06-20 Special Minutes - City Council and School Board Joint Meeting
City of Tukwila
City Council
Joint School Board City Council Meeting
Minutes
June 20, 2013 6:00 p.m.; School District Administration Building Board Room
PRESENT
Council: Kathy Hougardy, Council President; Alan Ekberg, Joe Duffie, Kate Kruller, and
Dennis Robertson, Councilmembers
School Board: Mark Wahlstrom, President; Steve Mullet, Dave Larson, and Mary Fertakis, Directors
City Staff: Laurel Humphrey, Kimberly Matej, Joyce Trantina, Derek Speck
School Staff: Andrea Colson
Guests: Jim Haggerton, Mayor; Nancy Coogan, Incoming Superintendent; John Sheller, King County
Library System; Deborah Salas, Community Schools Collaboration
The joint Tukwila School Board and City Council meeting consisted of informal roundtable discussions on the
following items:
1. KCLS Foster Library Site
2. Advisory Board and Commission Student Positions
3. Opportunities for Future Joint Activities
4. National League of Cities November 2013 Conference Seattle
5. Family and Education Levy
6. Future Topics
KCLS Foster Library Site
When King County Library System relocates its Tukwila branch to the Tukwila Village development, the current
th
building at 4060 S. 144 Street will be vacated and prepared for disposition as a surplus property in accordance
with state law. John Sheller from KCLS indicated that a finance committee from the Library Board of Trustees
will be tasked with researching potential buyers and presenting recommendations to the full Board. The Library is
interested in hearing community preferences regarding the future use of the building.
Several potential uses for the building were discussed, including a teen center, early learning facility, or youth
technology center. Councilmembers and Board Directors agreed that the vision should be youth-oriented and that
the two bodies should come together to present one cohesive vision before any pursuit of the property takes place.
Members of the School Board will come to a meeting of the Community Affairs and Parks Committee at a future
date to continue this discussion, and the topic will also be an agenda item on the next joint Council/Boardmeeting
to be held in the fall of 2013.
Advisory Board and Commission Student Positions
Councilmembers and Board Directors discussed opportunities for more student involvement in City government.
Tukwila has a talented youth pool, and both students and the City can benefit from forming relationships. While
some boards and commissions already have youth positions, the City can explore even more avenues. The process
should be inclusive and students should be encouraged to volunteer based upon their interests. Deborah Salas will
work directly with the Board regarding student involvement in Community Schools Collaboration, and Joyce
Administration is willing to work with both the Council and the
Board to develop a model for future student engagement.
Opportunities for Future Joint Activities
Councilmembers and Board Directors agreed that the two bodies should continue to pursue opportunities to work
closely together and align goals whenever possible. Future activities mentioned include a joint legislative effort in
Joint City Council- School Board Meeting Minutes June 20, 2013 Page 2
Olympia and collaboration on an anti-truancy awareness campaign. Government Relations Manager
Kimberly Matej will follow up with Board Directors Larson and Fertakis for future legislative efforts.
National League of Cities November 2013 Conference Seattle
The National League of Cities is hosting its annual Congress of Cities and Exposition in Seattle November 13-16,
2013. Council President Hougardy indicated that City Council members will be in attendance, and would like to
partner with the School District on attendance opportunities for local students. The Board agreed that student
involvement would be valuable while
possible funding source, with Director Fertakis indicating a reporting requirement would be good to coincide with
scholarship funds. Kimberly Matej shared that Tukwila received the honor of hosting a mobile workshop
showcasing Community Schools Collaboration during this conference. Development of this workshop is currently
underway. The NLC conference will be a good opportunity to highlight collaboration between the City and the
School District.
Family and Education Levy
Board President Wahlstrom mentioned the 2011 Families and Education Levy that was successfully passed in
Seattle and introduced the idea of the Council and the Board working together on a similar levy in Tukwila.
Councilmembers and Board Directors discussed various pros and cons of such a levy, agreeing that this is a
complex subject that requires more research and detailed analysis.
Future Topics
The City Council and the School Board will come together for another joint meeting in August or September. That
meeting will serve as a more formal discussion of these roundtable topics.
III. MISCELLANEOUS
Meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m.
Minutes by LH; Reviewed by KAM; Approved by KH