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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-01-09 Committee of the Whole MinutesCALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OFFICIALS ATTENDANCE TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL January 9, 2006 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers City Hall COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Council President Dennis Robertson called the meeting to order at 7:00 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; Lucy Lauterbach, Council Analyst; Jim Morrow, Public Works Director; Pat Brodin, Public Works Operations Manager; Jane Cantu, City Clerk. SPECIAL PRESENTATION Pat Brodin, Public Works Operations Manager, introduced Paul Freeman, a new employee in Fleet Maintenance. Prior to coming to Tukwila, Paul worked for WSDOT for 15 years. He lives in Maple Valley and enjoys a variety of outdoor activities. The Council welcomed Paul to the City. CITIZEN COMMENT Joel Wold, 3203 S. 136 Street, came to Council to inform them of the parking problems in his neighborhood during school hours. Mr. Wold said he received a parking ticket for parking closer than 20 feet from the crosswalk on the street in front of his house. He asked that a sign be posted informing the residents that there's no parking within 15 to 20 feet of the intersection. Mayor Mullet explained the police did an emphasis around Cascade View School after receiving several complaints about the parking during school hours. City Administrator Rhonda Berry will look into this issue further. SPECIAL ISSUES Discussion of Legislative Priorities Council Analyst Lucy Lauterbach introduced this issue and asked Council to review the list of priorities and determine their support or non support of each individual item. Those items approved will be put on a list for lobbying. Councilmember Hernandez requested two items be added to the draft list. They are the Public Works Trust Fund bill (HB2337). Last year the City tried to obtain additional funding from the PW Trust Fund for the Foster Point sewers and found out the funding is somewhat limited and difficult to attain. Hernandez noted her support of anything that would increase Tukwila's opportunity to receive funding for more projects from that fund. Additionally, she would like to look at a bill supporting affordable housing. Council President Robertson requested the above items be added to the list for discussion. Council President Robertson requested the above items be added to the list for discussion. City of Tukwila Page 2 of 5 City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes January 9. 2006 Council President Robertson suggested the proposed legislative list of priorities be discussed one by one and the two items proposed by Councilmember Hernandez added at the end. At the conclusion of the initial discussion, Council can decide to use broader language or treat the whole thing differently than we're currently doing. 2006 State Legislative Priorities as presented by the Council Analyst. These items will most likely be before the State Legislature this session. It is important Council reach consensus on these issues for future lobbying. 1. Transportation. a. Permanent Funding for Transportation Partners Tukwila supports legislation that will allow permanent funding of TIB, WSDOT and Public Transportation Grants. b. Providing Local Transportation Options for Transportation Tukwila supports providing cities the ability to increase transportation funding through local revenue options in order to meet local transportation needs. c. Changes to Regional Transportation Funding Legislation Tukwila supports changes to the RTID authorizing legislation to address technical issues, such as bonding and ballot title, and to provide the region the most flexibility to craft a package that will be approved by voters. Council Analyst Lucy Lauterbach explained the funding would come from budgets as in the Legislature. It is the second year of a two year session so they aren't going to have a lot of new initiatives. All of these agencies will be funded to some extent. Councilmember Carter requested item "a Permanent Funding for Transportation Partners, be deleted as she has been advised by the AWC lobbyist that it is already being considered in a cleanup bill. Unanimous Council consensus existed to delete Permanent Funding for Transportation Partners. Providing Local Transportation Options for Transportation Item "b" Tukwila supports providing cities the ability to increase transportation funding through local revenue options in order to meet local transportation needs. Council supports. Changes to Regional Transportation Funding Legislation Item "c" Tukwila supports changes to the Regional Transportation Improvement District (RTID) authorizing legislation to address technical issues, such as bonding and ballot title, and to provide the region the most flexibility to craft a package that will be approved by voters. Council supports. 2. Streamlined Sales Tax The City supports State legislation (SB 5622) that meets the objectives of the mitigation principles agreed to by AWC. This includes full mitigation for cities such as Tukwila who would be negatively impacted by the change by sourcing. Councilmember Carter added that the SST bill is perceived to be another tax, however, it is not. It's still a sales tax. This bill, if approved, would level the playing field for things such as internet sales. Council supports. Mayor Mullet concluded the governor supports our side for full mitigation in regards to the SST issue. 3. Gambling /Zonina Issues Tukwila supports legislation (SB 5994) that would grant cities the authority to allow current gambling establishments to continue "grandfathering while banning all new such businesses. Tukwila supports confirmation of City authority to exercise its planning and zoning powers over gambling establishments. Council supports. City of Tukwila Page 3 of 5 Citv Council Committee of the Whole Minutes January 9. 2006 4. Multi family Property Tax Exemption Tukwila supports legislation (HB 1742) that would expand the property tax exemption for multi family housing in urban downtown areas. The current bill limits it to populations of 30,000 or more. Council supports this option for cities that want to do it. 5. Pension Funding LEOFF I Medical Liability Tukwila requests help from the State Actuary to identify its estimated liability for medical and long -term care costs for LEOFF 1 retirees. Tukwila would also support some financial assistance for this liability, including the possible use of the LEOFF 1 pension surplus. 6. PERS Plan I Pensions Tukwila supports spreading, over several years, appropriate payments towards the unfunded liability of PERS Plan 1. It was suggested the City and State need to come up with funds to make the pension fully funded. Tukwila does not support any new benefits until the current benefits are fully funded. 7. Telecommunications Tukwila opposes any preemption of local authority for managing local public rights -of -way, taxing authority, and the ability to provide telecommunication services. Council spoke of the importance of maintaining control of our own rights -of -way. 8. Municipal Courts Tukwila opposes any legislation that adversely affects or threatens the existence of municipal courts. It was noted that if we want to maintain our own court, we need to support our municipal courts. 9. Authority to Trap Moles The City supports an exemption to the anti trapping initiative that would allow cities to trap moles and gophers. 10. Jailed Offender Medical Costs Tukwila will support an AWC move to pursue funding options for helping cities pay for their cost of paying medical costs of providing medical care for offenders arrested in a city and sent to jail. It was noted that felons go to the Yakima Jail; and whoever books them into jail, pays for their medical expenses. 11. Extend the Length of Collective Bargaining Agreements Tukwila supports a bill that would extend a union contract period from three years up to six years. Councilmember Hernandez requested Council also support the following legislative bills: 1) the Public Works Trust Fund bill (HB2337) that authorizes the use of the public works assistance fund for project loans; and 2).The bill known as the ending homelessness act (HB 2163) that helps those in need and funding for housing that leverages other funds. Council voiced their support of both bills. Council formally noted their opinion regarding two additional legislative issues as follows: 1) Tukwila considers accessory dwelling units a local issue requiring local control; 2) Tukwila opposes requiring density bonus incentives for affordable housing (HB 2324) Council Analyst Lucy Lauterbach will prepare a resolution listing these legislative priorities and submit it for action at a Regular meeting. REPORTS a. Mayor Mayor Mullet reported he attended an all day retreat of the Suburban Cities Association Board. He explained he is no longer on the board, but is on the Public Issues Committee. City of Tukwila Page 4 of 5 City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes January 9. 2006 b. Council Councilmember Duffie reported he had the opportunity to see the $400,000 Universal House. Councilmember Hernandez reported her attendance at the following activities: Bob Abbott's retirement party at TCC; the Equity and Diversity meeting, and a visit to the Universal House. She noted that contractors are interested in discussing the possibility of senior housing on Tukwila International Boulevard (TIB) and /or cottage housing. Lastly, Ms. Hernandez will attend a Martin Luther King assembly at 9 a.m. entitled "The World is our Neighborhood Councilmember Carter reported the following activities: the Suburban Cities Association (SCA) caucus orientation; participation in a Streamlined Sales Tax (SST) conference call; and a visit to the Universal Design House. Councilmember Haggerton reported he attended the National League of Cities Conference and a teleconference session on National League of Cities (NLC) conference business; attended a session with Maria Cantwell and Michael DoIm at the City of Bellevue Council Chambers. Mr. Haggerton noted that the Tukwila American Legion will host Adam Smith and he will host the open meeting at 10 a.m. at TCC. Councilmember Linder reported she would be attending the upcoming Community Affairs Parks meeting, Highway 99 meeting at Tukwila Community Center, and the South King County cities meeting. Councilmember Griffin reported she will attend the following meetings: Equity Diversity Committee meeting; AWC new Council workshop; and a Tukwila Community Schools Collaboration (TCSC) board meeting. Councilmember Robertson thanked Councilmember Linder for her help in his transition to Council President. Robertson informed Council the retreat agenda will be forthcoming and that Chuck Gall will facilitate the meeting. There will be no decisions made at the retreat. Discussion will consist of fact gathering and deliberation. Council will be working on major strategic projects with the Mayor and will be taking a comprehensive look at projects now on the books as well as things that are not currently on the books. The meeting agenda is close to completion. c. Staff City Administrator Rhonda Berry announced the following: l As of January 3 the Department of Community Development has activated an interactive voice response inspection line. Beth Adams, the new domestic violence advocate, has been hired. She has worked several years of experience in this field. Larry Richardson, Tukwila P.D., is retiring January 16 City Clerk Jane Cantu announced the appointment of Christy O'Flaherty as the City's new Deputy City Clerk. Christy stepped down as the City's Records Management Technician to take this promotion. She's been with the City for over 20 years. d. Intergovernmental Lucy Lauterbach announced that Councilmembers Griffin, Haggerton, Carter, and Robertson will attend the upcoming AWC conference. Mayor Mullet will also attend. City of Tukwila Page 5 of 5 City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes January 9. 2006 MISCELLANEOUS Jim Morrow, Public Works Director, announced a failing outfall at Christensen Road behind Kinko's; a voucher in the amount of $650,000 and payable to Seattle City Light has been prepared for Phase I of the undergrounding project. Mr. Morrow explained the check will not be presented as payment until all work is completed. Cost overruns were negotiated by Mr. Morrow and Bob Giberson, Acting City Engineer. Consequently, the final bills for Phase II and III will be reduced. Councilmember Duffie reminded everyone of the Martin Luther King celebration on January 18` ADJOURNMENT 9:16 p.m. COUNCIL PRESIDENT ROBERTSON DECLARED THE MEETING AJOURNED. Dennis Roberts bbh, Council President 4'a E. Cantu MC, City Clerk