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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-08-27 Committee of the Whole MinutesSPECIAL PRESENTATIONS TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL August 27, 2007 7:00 pm Council Chambers City Hall COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council President Verna Griffin called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. OFFICIALS Present were Verna Griffin, Council President; Councilmembers Joe Duffie, Joan Hernandez, Pam Carter, Jim Haggerton and Dennis Robertson. Councilmember Linder was not present. ATTENDANCE Steve Mullet, Mayor; Rhonda Berry, City Administrator; Bruce Fletcher, Parks Recreation Director; Jack Pace, Acting Community Development Director; Jim Morrow, Public Works Director; Lori Sutter, Assistant Police Chief; Moira Bradshaw, Senior Planner; Jaimie Reavis, Assistant Planner; Derek Speck, Economic Development Administrator; Mary Miotke, IT Manager; Mike Marcum, Senior IT Specialist; Kimberly Matej, Council Analyst; Barbara Saxton, Administrative Support Coordinator Introduction of Phi Huynh, Administrative Secretary, Police Department Assistant Chief Lori Sutter introduced Phi Huynh, new Administrative Secretary in the Police Administration office. Prior to joining the City, Phi worked for the Department of Social Health Services as a Financial Service Specialist, helping needy families in Renton and Tukwila to receive financial, medical, food, and childcare assistance based on their financial circumstances. She also worked as a Fair Hearing Coordinator, representing DSHS in hearings involving cases that otherwise could not reach resolution and advocating on cases with errors caused by the department. The Councilmembers welcomed Ms. Huynh to the City. All Nations Cup update: Jessica Breznau Jessica Breznau, Co- Director, explained the All Nations Cup is a soccer tournament and festival similar to the World Cup —and is run by the non profit organization Sister Communities. The event was held over 3 weekends in July at Ft. Dent Park in conjunction with the City of Tukwila and other sponsors. Local teams are represented at the tournament by their local communities; this year 43 countries were represented. Ms. Breznau presented a video presentation of this year's tournament and festival, which was the fifth anniversary of the All Nations Cup. Ms. Breznau introduced her Co- Director, Sam Hassan, to speak on the art and cultural aspects of the All Nations Cup. Mr. Hassan explained that although the event was billed as a soccer tournament, it is also a reason to bring the various communities in the area together. Soccer is their common language. This year's festival included a mini film festival, a play specially written for All Nations Cup, and an art gallery, with 16 countries and 26 artists represented. They also had an international food tent this year instead of individual food vendors, and commissioned a percussion piece that 20 musicians played at the opening and closing ceremonies. City of Tukwila Page 2 of 6 City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes Auaust 27. 2007 Councilmembers expressed their appreciation to Ms. Breznau and Mr. Hassan for hosting this outstanding event in Tukwila, and also extended thanks to the staff at Starfire Sports. They noted how inspiring it is to see how successful the tournament and festival have become, having started as an idea presented to the Equity Diversity Commission at a meeting several years ago. Duwamish Riverbend Hill Master Plan: Nate Cormier, Landscape Architect, Jones and Jones Architects Bruce Fletcher, Parks Recreation Director, expressed appreciation for the chance to work on this great project over the last 6 -1/2 years. He introduced members of the project's steering committee who were in the audience, as well as Georgina Kerr and other members of the Friends of the Hill group, members of the Parks Commission and Arts Commission, and representatives of the Cascade Land Conservancy. Mr. Fletcher noted this project started as a dream, then became a vision and is now a reality. Over $1.4 million has been raised for this project. Mr. Fletcher explained Jones and Jones Architects were brought on to do a master plan for this project, funded by a grant for $35,000. He then introduced Brooke Alford, Parks Commissioner, who has been the lead volunteer coordinator for this project. She introduced a core group of volunteers who have had monthly work parties on the hill and made this a strong community project. Ms. Alford then introduced Nate Cormier of SVR Design Company, who worked with Jones and Jones Architects on the project. Mr. Cormier stated that in addition to being a great new park area, this area is also an important landform to the native people of the region. The site was known as Beaver Lodge, which is one of four landforms that made up the "Epic of the Winds," an important oral tradition of the area. During a study of cultural landscapes done in conjunction with construction in the Sound Transit corridor, this group of four landforms (North Wind Weir, Grandmothers Hill, Beaver Lodge, and Mountain Beaver) was identified as the most important cultural landscape across the area. This area is a regional attraction, both for the view it offers and as a place people can go and learn from it. This will be a showcase of low impact development, tied to the water quality of the Duwamish River, and as a wonderful piece of open space for the people of Tukwila. Mr. Cormier also explained this will not be an easy site to work on, as the topography consists of a big hard rock with limited access. Their goal is to provide the greatest access possible for citizens, while being sensitive to the ecological and cultural resources inherent in a site like this. This steep, jutting out rock located down in the flood plain is a rare landform in this landscape along the river and 1 -5 corridor, and as such has created a very unique habitat that is extremely rare in our region, which they are hoping to restore. One of the stated visions for the project was for a connection to the river. The master plan includes a proposal to create a beach and habitat area that pushes South 115th Street back into the flatland next to the hill. This would allow access for kayaks and canoes, plus a salmon habitat. The main access would be off South 115th Street with space for school buses, restrooms, wetlands and interpretives. The path would wind around the side of the hill, ending in an informal amphitheater area and place for ceremonies. Trails would continue on up to the highest viewpoint, where there would be more interpretives and numerous habitat types. A small, secondary access from the neighborhoods is also proposed. A project of this scope would need to be handled in manageable phases, which have been identified as follows: Phase 1: The central hill Phase 2: Restored wetland, trails, and buffer Phase 3: Realigned road (115th) and restored shoreline Councilmembers asked questions of Mr. Cormier, and expressed appreciation for the tenaciousness and determination of a small group of citizens who pushed to find partners to help make this project a reality. It is also hoped that the visibility this location will have (i.e. from the river and from people riding light rail) will attract the attention of the media to cover this positive story. City of Tukwila Page 3 of 6 City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes Auaust 27, 2007 CITIZEN COMMENT Mark Segale, 5811 Segale Park Dr. C; Tukwila, reminded Council of his comments two weeks ago regarding the Tukwila South project, and asked that action be taken to approve the development agreement. He was disappointed the issue, including the staff report relating to the agreement, was not on this evening's meeting agenda. Without the development agreement, no part of the Tukwila South project can go forward. There are two years of site development work that needs to be started, including wetland construction, site grading, storm water detention facilities, and infrastructure. They need confirmation the project —not construction on Southcenter Parkway —can be under construction by spring 2008 or it will be terminated. Mr. Segale reiterated there is $18 million in grants available for work in conjunction with the project. As summarized in his letter of August 16, they believe the two remaining issues are (1) whether the City will honor Ordinance 2111, vesting the Tukwila South project to the prior traffic concurrency; and (2) when the project becomes annexed to the City, would the City extend the same shoreline regulations that are applicable to all other landowners in the City. He requested that a staff report be provided five days in advance of the date this issue is next scheduled for a Council meeting agenda. PUBLIC HEARING Westfield Southcenter Mall development agreement proposed minor amendment related to Sign Code. Moira Bradshaw, Senior Planner, Department of Community Development, stated this issue was discussed at a Community Affairs Parks Committee meeting, with recommendation to approve. The original development agreement (approved in 2005) went through a public hearing process, so the amendment also requires a public hearing. Language in the original development agreement vested the Southcenter Mall's expansion project to codes in existence at the time the EIS done for the project was adopted (October 2004). Since that vesting in October 2004, the City has made a change to its Sign Code, allowing signage that is not visible from the public right -of -way or other businesses to be exempt from permitting requirements. Westfield has since developed a comprehensive exterior re- signage plan for the project, and has requested the development agreement be amended to allow Westfield to vest this project with the City's January 2007 Sign Code. Ms. Bradshaw stated the Board of Architectural Review has looked at the proposed sign package and finds it meets the criteria and overall direction of the Mall expansion. 7:53:02 Council President Griffin opened the Public Hearing and called for citizen comments. Brent Carson, law firm of Gordon Derr (representing Westfield), 2025 1st Ave., Seattle, stated they support the staff recommendation. Westfield would like to take advantage of the change in the Sign Code, which exempts signs that are not visible from the streets. 7:57:36 Council President Griffin closed the Public Hearing. SPECIAL ISSUES a. Westfield Southcenter Mall development agreement proposed minor amendment related to Sign Code Councilmember Carter (reporting for Councilmember Linder) stated this item received unanimous approval from the Community Affairs Parks Committee on August 14, 2007. In response to a question from Council, Ms. Bradshaw provided clarification on paragraph 9.2 (b) of the original agreement regarding modification or termination of the agreement. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING. City of Tukwila Page 4 of 6 City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes Auaust 27. 2007 b. Geotechnical consultant services agreement for gravity sewer line under 1-405 Councilmember Hernandez stated this item received unanimous approval from the Utilities Committee on August 21, 2007. The work is required to relocate an existing gravity sanitary sewer due to the 1 -405 widening project. Jim Morrow, Public Works Director, explained this project is at our expense, as the City has an easement for that line to go across Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) property. The easement says that when WSDOT widens 1 -405, the City is required to move our utility, similar to the requirement the City would have for utilities located in our right -of -way. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING. c. Green River Pedestrian Utility Bridge re -bid Councilmember Carter stated this item received unanimous approval from the Transportation Committee earlier this evening. She reminded Council that a resolution was passed a few weeks ago rejecting all bids for the repair and painting of this bridge. It was staffs opinion at that time that firms specialized in either painting or repair work and did not want to do both and, therefore, staff recommended the work be separated into two packages. This first package is for the repair work only, including replacing the wooden deck and deteriorating sections of the bridge truss. In response to a question from Council, Jim Morrow, Public Works Director, clarified that the $125,000 budgeted is just for the repair work portion of the project. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING. d. A resolution supporting proposed constitutional amendment EHJR 4204 allowing local school levies to be approved by a simple majority of voters Councilmember Haggerton stated this item received unanimous approval from the Finance Safety Committee on August 20, 2007. He invited Council President Griffin to speak, as she originally had this item brought to the committee. Council President Griffin explained that it currently takes a supermajority (60 to pass a school levy. This change is not a tax increase, but a constitutional amendment that will allow school districts to pass their levies with a simple majority (50% 1). Councilmembers expressed support for the resolution and hope that approval can be carried through to the legislature. The legislature cannot amend the constitution, so any change must be ratified by voters. It was noted that under the current supermajority requirement, "voters" can defeat a ballot measure by simply not going to the polls. Anna Bernhard, 14241 59th Avenue South, Tukwila, commented that although she does not currently have school -age children, she remembers occasions when the levy did not pass due to this rule. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING. e. An ordinance amending the terms of office of the Equity Diversity Commission Councilmember Robertson (reporting for Councilmember Linder) stated this item received unanimous approval from the Community Affairs Parks Committee on August 14, 2007. Seven positions on the Equity Diversity Commission expire on 7/31/07, and the remaining two positions will expire 7/31/08. The Commission has proposed a change to the terms of appointment to provide for a smooth transition. Council President Griffin and Councilmember Hernandez, both members of the Equity Diversity Commission, expressed appreciation to Shelley O'Keefe in the Mayor's Office for her efforts preparing the ordinance amendment. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING. City of Tukwila Page 5 of 6 City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes Auaust 27. 2007 REPORTS a. Mayor Mayor Mullet reported he has participated in meetings regarding the county -wide flood control program, which will supersede the Green River Flood Control Plan. Agreement was reached on a tentative list of projects and property tax assessment amount, which the King County Council must now approve. There was dissension from 4 or 5 cities that feel they should not pay the same amounts since their cities do not have flooding problems. Other cities that do not have flooding problems did recognize the regional character of floods, including the fact that all of their supplies are stored in areas vulnerable to flooding. Mayor Mullet advised that Seattle City Light has agreed to pay the cost of undergrounding utilities on Tukwila International Boulevard, which will allow that project to move forward. He also advised that the discussion on the Tukwila South development agreement is scheduled to be on next week's agenda, so the City Attorney may be present. b. City Council Councilmember Duffie thanked the Mayor and Bev Willison for their efforts in coordinating the barbecue welcome for our Sister City delegation on August 23, 2007. He also commented that he recently visited the site near Key Bank (bordering Tukwila) that he has heard complaints about from citizens (as discussed at the August 20, 2007 meeting). The Mayor clarified the specific location of the problem, which is in the City of SeaTac's city limits (across the street from Tukwila's city limits). Councilmember Duffie also commented on the nice job being done on construction at the Winter Garden site at Macadam and 144th Avenue South, and reminded drivers to watch for children once school reopens next week. Councilmember Hernandez noted that Pat Brodin showed a PowerPoint presentation regarding water conservation planning requirements and goals at the Utilities Committee meeting on August 21, 2007, which will be forwarded to a future Council meeting. She also attended the Sister City barbecue on August 23, 2007, at which she accepted a gift from the Miyoshi delegation on behalf of the Council. Councilmember Hernandez reminded everyone of the Centennial Community Meeting scheduled for September 5, 2007 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Tukwila Community Center. Councilmember Carter attended the Transportation Committee meeting this evening. Staff has recommended that the City not submit any new requests for grants to the State Transportation Improvement Board as there are still City projects for which previous grant money has not yet been obligated. If the City were to submit an application, Interurban Avenue from South 143rd down to Fort Dent Way would be one of the projects, as it scored very high on previous grant reviews. The committee agreed with staffs recommendation to postpone any grant applications until next year. Councilmember Carter also attended the Sister City barbecue on August 23, 2007, and the Highway 99 Action Committee cleanup on August 25, 2007. Councilmember Haggerton accompanied Councilmember Duffie (along with a City of SeaTac Council- member) to visit the site of citizen complaints north of Key Bank. Business owners in the area are concerned about the number of vehicles parking in the area (possibly employees of Sea -Tac Airport), which limits access for customers or blocks customers as they try to exit. Litter and truck parking on Tukwila's side of the road are also a problem. Councilmember Linder was not present. Councilmember Robertson had no report. Council President Griffin reminded staff that she will be returning to work on September 4, 2007, and noted that Foster High School's first home football game of the season is Friday, August 31, 2007. City of Tukwila Page 6 of 6 City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes Auaust 27. 2007 c. Staff Rhonda Berry, City Administrator, had no report. d. City Attorney The City Attorney's presence is not required at Committee of the Whole meetings. e. Intergovernmental Kimberly Matej stated that invitations were just distributed to Council for the City's Volunteer Appreciation Picnic scheduled for Friday, September 14, 2007 at Tukwila Community Center, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. That same evening, the Parks Recreation Department will be holding their first Movie Night in the Park, featuring a showing of Charlotte's Web (beginning at dusk). ADJOURNMENT 8:39 p.m. COUNCIL PRESIDENT GRIFFIN DECLARED THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING ADJOURNED. f ma Griffin, Council PPesident Barbara Saxton, Administrative Support Coordinator