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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-03-27 Committee of the Whole MinutesCALL TO ORDER /PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OFFICIALS ATTENDANCE SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS a. Way Back Inn TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL March 27, 2006 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers City Hall COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Council President, Dennis Robertson, called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Present were Dennis Robertson, Council President; Councilmembers Joe Duffie, Joan Hernandez, Pam Carter, Jim Haggerton, Pam Linder, and Verna Griffin. Steven M. Mullet, Mayor; Rhonda Berry, City Administrator; Jim Morrow, Public Works Director; Frank Iriarte, Public Works Deputy Director; Bruce Fletcher, Parks Recreation Director; Rick Still, Parks Recreation Deputy Director, Evelyn Boykan, Human Services Manager; Derek Speck, Economic Development Administrator; Don Lincoln, Temporary Assistant Chief of Police; Christy O'Flaherty, Deputy City Clerk. Evelyn Boykan, Human Services Manager, stated the City has funded the Way Back Inn program since 1992. This program provides services to homeless families with young children. There are three properties in Tukwila managed by the Way Back Inn. This program assists families in gaining time to be able to relocate into more permanent housing. She introduced Vern Francis and Tanya Ward from the Way Back Inn. Mr. Francis reported the Way Back Inn served 35 to 40 families last year. Support is provided by several organizations and community groups toward cleaning the homes, making them live -able, and providing furnishings. Volunteers from the Tukwila Children's Foundation, Kennedy High School, and the ABODA Company have been very instrumental in the success of the program. Mr. Francis indicated the criteria for accepting a family for the program is that they be looking for employment and have children under the age of 14 years. There is a $300 deposit required that will be returned to the family if the home has been left in good condition. There are no other charges, and the utilities are paid. A family may stay in the home for three months, and a caseworker is assigned to assist them with moving through the process of securing employment and more permanent housing. The Councilmembers expressed gratitude to the members of the Way Back Inn for providing such a valuable service to the community. b. Tukwila Community Schools Collaboration Deborah Salas, Tukwila Community Schools Collaboration, Executive Director distributed a newsletter and brochure to the City Council and Mayor. Ms. Salas provided an overview of the services provided by TCSC to the five schools in Tukwila. The expanded offerings they have focused on include college readiness programs, after school study sessions, mentoring programs, and peer mediation. They have also worked with Tukwila Parks and Recreation staff to provide additional recreational services to students. A partnership with Key Bank has provided students with an awareness of financial matters, money management, and savings plans. City of Tukwila Citv Council Committee of the Whole Minutes Page 2 of 6 March 27. 2006 Ms. Salas pointed out that while TCSC is very dependent on grants, they are diversifying their financial strategy to include sponsorships. Members of TCSC will be communicating with local organizations such as the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, and area businesses. They hope to encourage collaborative efforts and partnerships that will further their mission. The Councilmembers offered thanks and appreciation to Ms. Salas for the efforts and successes of the Tukwila Community Schools Collaboration toward assisting children in the district. c. Tukwila Library Advisory Board Annual Report Rick Still, Parks Recreation Deputy Director, introduced Steve Miller of the Tukwila Library Advisory Board. Mr. Still distributed copies of the 2005 advisory board year -end annual report. Mr. Miller provided a summary of the activities of the board for the past year. He referenced the addition of Tukwila Library signage that has increased visibility of the facility from the street. Mr. Miller stated that participation at Tukwila Library programs and events has shown a notable increase. Additional advertisements in the Recreation Brochure, Hazelnut Newsletter, and King County Library System literature are credited for the increase. Mr. Miller indicated the 2 -year agreement with the King County Library System for operation of the Tukwila Library will expire on November 1, 2006. The Councilmembers thanked Mr. Miller for the successful collaborative efforts of the Library Advisory Board. Rick Still provided further information regarding the amount of citizen use at the Tukwila Library. The numbers indicate it is one of the lowest used libraries in the King County Library system. Steve Schneider, Tukwila Library Advisory Board member, stated the board would work toward conveying to King County that money is not the only factor to consider in retaining the library. Local availability of books and access to knowledge are important considerations. Councilmember Carter suggested attaining accurate figures on the costs involved in operating the Tukwila and Foster libraries and the library taxes collected in Tukwila. Anna Bernhard, 14241 59 Avenue South, stated that while she has been a supporter of retaining the Tukwila Library, there is not an assortment of good reading materials for adults, and it is very disappointing. CITIZEN COMMENTS Kathleen Crabtree, 115 Wells Avenue North, Renton, spoke regarding her attendance at the King County International Airport Roundtable. There will be an in depth report on the runway rehabilitation project in May. The airport administration conveyed to the FAA that the runway must be repaired this year. Ms. Crabtree also gave an overview of the airport's home noise insulation program. SPECIAL ISSUES a. Discussion of alternatives for managing coyote problems Council President Robertson indicated this item was placed directly on the Committee of the Whole agenda as it has been discussed in Council Committees and at City Council meetings in the past. There have been recent citizen concerns regarding coyotes, and it is appropriate for the issue to be discussed at this time. Louise Strander, 15000 57 Avenue South, inquired as to who holds the legal responsibility for dealing with coyotes. Rhonda Berry, City Administrator, stated it is the responsibility of people to learn how to co- exist with coyotes. That is the official policy of the State of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The city has no official legal responsibility to eradicate the coyote population. City of Tukwila Page 3 of 6 City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes March 27, 2006 Council President Robertson explained that information from the City Attorney, based on state law, indicates the city has no legal responsibility to control any kind of wildlife within the city boundaries. The State of Washington does not bear any responsibility for this issue as well. Ms. Strander said her property is affected by coyotes, and she is very near Tukwila Elementary School. The safety of small children is at risk, and this should be of concern to the state and the city. Pets and older animals are also at risk. Coyotes do not belong in residential neighborhoods. Dennis Sivak, 4218 South 150 Street, spoke in favor of the coyotes. Coyotes are very effective at rodent control, and they tend to stay away from people. If the city intends to trap coyotes, he would expect the same efforts be put forth toward rat control. Catherine Harris, 5610 South 141 Street, is appalled that the State of Washington holds no responsibility toward problems with coyotes. She would like to see cooperation from the wildlife agencies by way of relocating the animals. When coyotes become hungry, they will prey on vulnerable animals and may harm pets. Gerry Knudsen, 14925 58 Avenue South, indicates he lives in the heart of the coyote problem. He has chickens and goats, and coyotes have killed at least 15 chickens. They are prone to attacking smaller animals, such as cats and dogs. He is concerned that someone may take matters into their own hands and try to shoot at the coyotes. With small children in the area, that could present a serious danger. He would like to see relocation of the animals. Several of the Councilmembers had researched issues regarding coyote problems and shared their findings. Some of the research favored increased public education and awareness of how to best co- exist with coyotes and found relocation of the animals to be unsuccessful. Councilmember Haggerton spoke regarding a past incident wherein a former employee who was also a resident of Tukwila had a coyote problem. He inquired as to whether the city hired a trapper in that instance. Rhonda Berry, City Administrator, stated that other citizens had complained regarding that coyote problem, and a trapper had been hired on this occasion. The decision was made administratively and did not come before the full Council for approval. Ms. Berry indicated advice from the City Attorney specifies the city has no legal requirement to eradicate wild animals, and a liability for the city could exist in doing so. Mayor Mullet pointed out that when animals are trapped, they are euthanized and not relocated as that has been found to be unsuccessful. Council President Robertson indicated the state would allow eradication of an animal that is considered bold or brazen. A permit would be required to trap the animal, and it would be euthanized. The Councilmembers expressed concerns about being responsive to the citizens as well as the responsibility to protect the city against any possible legal liabilities. It was determined that additional information is needed on this issue with regard to public awareness topics, educational opportunities for citizens, neighborhood meetings, and the possibility of the city providing names of trappers for use by citizens. The Council would like input from the City Attorney regarding potential legal implications of offering names of trappers to citizens. Any educational information on this subject could be disseminated through the Hazelnut, city website, and at events such as the Backyard Wildlife Fair. It was suggested the State of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife provide information to the city on the coyote problem. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO DIRECT STAFF TO PURSUE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AND THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR FURTHER REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION. b. Unsolicited solid waste contract proposal Councilmember Haggerton indicated this item discussed was in the Utilities Committee meeting on March 21, 2006. The city's solid waste collection and recycling contract with Sea -Tac Disposal /Allied Waste City of Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes Page 4 of 6 March 27, 2006 Services is scheduled to expire on April 1, 2007. On February 10, 2006, Sea -Tac Disposal submitted an unsolicited proposal to continue providing service to the city beyond April 1, 2007. The proposal contains several key elements that will improve residential, multi family, and commercial recycling along with customer service with maintaining low rates. Frank Iriarte, Public Works Deputy Director, outlined the five major elements of the proposal: 1. Rates: Residential and commercial solid waste and recycling rates will not change except for the normal annual Consumer Price Index (CIP) rate adjustments. 2. Residential Recycling: At no cost to residential customers, Sea -Tac Disposal will convert to a fully commingled, single stream system utilizing new 96- gallon wheeled carts with lids. In addition to new containers, the current list of acceptable recyclable materials will be expanded. 3. Commercial Recycling: Develop, design, and promote an outreach program to increase business recycling. 4. City /Code Enforcement Clean -ups: Support semi annual city clean -up events by strategically positioning large drop containers for scrap metal and selected bulky items. To assist code enforcement personnel in their residential clean -up efforts, Sea -Tac Disposal will offer reduced rates for cleaning up wastes and litter. 5. Customer Service: Provide a more robust and responsive customer service operation that will reduce the amount of time it takes to answer customer telephone calls and ensure accurate dissemination of information. Mr. Iriarte indicated that Sea -Tac Disposal has reorganized their operations and now have a new district manager, general manager, and customer service manager. They are committed to improving the level of customer service and support. Mr. Iriarte stated that if the Council chooses to accept or modify the proposal, a contract can be developed and approved. Bidding is not required. If the Council chooses to reject the proposal, there are two options offered for consideration: 1. Establish a municipal (in- house) solid waste collection and recycling services utility. This would afford the city a great deal of flexibility in providing a wide range of services to the community. This option is labor intensive and requires significant capital investment and manpower. 2. Solicit bids /requests for proposals (RFP) from solid waste collection companies. This would provide a competitive process where lower costs are often achieved by competing services and other requirements. The disadvantage to using the bid /RFP process is that there is no guarantee that rates will be reduced. There is some risk that rates on some services may increase. The city currently has some of the lowest rates in South King County. Councilmember Hernandez referenced the Residential Recycling section of the proposal and asked if that applies to multi family residences. Mr. Iriarte stated that multi family and commercial facilities fall into a different category. A complex with more than four units is considered multi family. Councilmember Carter asked if the city could talk to providers of solid waste services without going through an RFP process. Jim Morrow, Public Works Director, explained that if the city picks and chooses providers without going through a standardized process, we could end up in a liability position. He suggested that if the Council desires to go that route, an RFP process should be utilized. He indicated that Tukwila has a low rate structure, and that use of an RFP process is not a guarantee of improved rates. Councilmember Haggerton referenced past comments in a Utilities Committee meeting by employees from Sea -Tac Disposal regarding shortcomings in customer service. He asked if diligent efforts will be made to assure improvements in this area. Chris Guimond, General Manager, Sea -Tac Disposal, stated a new program is in place to guarantee a higher degree of customer service. City of Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes Page 5 of 6 March 27. 2006 Council President Robertson referenced the Residential Recycling section of the proposal regarding commingled materials. He indicated he has observed the recycled materials are already being commingled in the trucks upon pickup. Mr. Robertson also asked how much money is being saved with regard to the city and code enforcement clean -up efforts. Mr. lriarte said this aspect of the contract will be negotiated. Rhonda Berry, City Administrator, clarified that the city clean -up or Spring Clean -up differs from code enforcement clean -up efforts. In many instances, the code enforcement officers observe particularly egregious garbage related issues. It is extremely efficient, time saving, and cost effective to have bins available (referenced in this proposal) for citizen use in disposing of items. While this is a difficult item to quantify in terms of dollars, it does represent a benefit to the city. Councilmember Linder expressed interest in having an apartment outreach program for recycling. She is concerned that 70% of the residents do not have a recycling method available to them. Councilmember Robertson distributed a flyer from another municipality outlining a Spring Clean -up effort that differs from Tukwila's event. It would involve allowing additional bags /cans of garbage, yard waste, and appliances to be picked up by the solid waste carrier on a regularly scheduled garbage day. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO DIRECT STAFF TO PROCEED TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT WITH SEA -TAC DISPOSAUALLIED WASTE SERVICES FOR FURTHER REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION BY THE COUNCIL. Council President Robertson asked the Councilmembers if they are in favor of directing the staff to research and provide information regarding mandatory garbage collection in the city. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO DIRECT STAFF TO RESEARCH AND PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING MANDATORY GARBAGE COLLECTION IN THE CITY FOR FURTHER REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION BY THE COUNCIL. c. 2006 -2007 construction management services Councilmember Haggerton indicated this item was discussed in the Utilities Committee meeting on March 7, 2006. New federal regulations require all consulting firms to be selected after advertising and interviews. On February 1 and 8, 2006, a Request for Qualifications was advertised for construction management. The top five firms are KBA, Anchor Environmental, Jacobs, DMJM Harris, and CH2M Hill. All five firms will sign agreements for federally funded projects and city funded projects. When a project is starting and a specified firm has been chosen, a supplement with costs will be brought back to Council for approval. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING. REPORTS a. Mayor Mayor Mullet reported a meeting date will be scheduled in the near future regarding Tukwila South. He also stated the Tukwila Pantry bowl -a -thon fundraiser brought in $8,000. Parking problems at the Tukwila Village site are being resolved. There are some issues regarding use of an alley in the Cascade View area that require involvement of city staff. He also reported the motel bandit has been caught thanks to a tip by an alert citizen. b. City Council Councilmember Hernandez reported that she attended the Affordable Housing Advisory Board meeting on March 22, 2006. City of Tukwila Page 6 of 6 City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes March 27. 2006 Councilmember Carter provided a written report on the SCATBd meeting she had attended. She will be meeting with the Governor regarding a bill on city annexations. She reported that Tukwila has won another Wellness Award. Councilmember Haggerton attended the Cascade Water Alliance Board Meeting on March 22, 2006. Multiple resolutions were considered at this meeting that require finalization prior to the upcoming bond sale. The amount of the bond sale is approximately $56 million. Councilmember Linder reported on a meeting with members of the King County International Airport Roundtable. They would like to give a presentation to the Council to provide updated information on current activities at the airport. Councilmember Griffin attended the Tukwila Pantry bowl -a -thon. She will be attending an upcoming AWC economic development workshop. Council President Robertson reported there is a meeting with the School Board on April 20. The staff provided input on items for discussion to include: emergency management coordination, TCSC update, swimming pool, school district and city partnerships, community volunteer opportunities, community and schools, and sharing the cost of a fire prevention educator between the school district and the city. The subject of a fire prevention educator was discussed. Rhonda Berry stated that currently multiple firefighters share the responsibility for educating youth on fire prevention matters on an as needed basis. The fire department would like to see fire safety education incorporated into school curriculum. c. Staff Rhonda Berry indicated she will be out of town until April 5, 2006, and Steve Lancaster will be the Acting City Administrator. d. City Attorney The City Attorney was not present. ADJOURNMENT 10:58 p.m. COUNCIL PRESIDENT ROBERTSON DECLARED THE MEETING ADJOURNED (J it, Der%nis Ro ertson, 'toUncil President Christy O'Flah Deputy City Clerk