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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-01-12 Committee of the Whole MinutesTukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting City Hall Council Chambers January 12, 2009 7:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER /PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE MINUTES Council President Hernandez called the Tukwila City Council meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Ms. Hernandez introduced Girl Scout Troop 470, who led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Ms. Hernandez thanked Girl Scout Troop 470 for participating in the meeting this evening. Other groups or individuals who would like to lead the Pledge of Allegiance are welcome to do so, and can contact the Council Analyst. OFFICIALS Present were Joan Hernandez, Council President, Councilmembers Joe Duffie, Dennis Robertson, Verna Griffin, Kathy Hougardy, De'Sean Quinn. Councilmember Linder was not present. CITY OFFICIALS Jim Haggerton, Mayor; Rhonda Berry, City Administrator; Jack Pace, Community Development Director; Moira Bradshaw, Senior Planner; Jaimie Reavis, Assistant Planner; Frank Iriarte, Deputy Public Works Director; Mary Miotke, IT Director; Peggy McCarthy, Deputy Finance Director; Bruce Linton, Police Commander; Kimberly Matej, Council Analyst; Melissa Hart, Deputy City Clerk. CITIZEN COMMENT There were no citizen comments SPECIAL ISSUES a. Walk and Roll Plan (Non- motorized Transportation Plan). Jack Pace, Community Development Director, introduced Jaimie Reavis and Moira Bradshaw of the Tukwila Planning Department. Mr. Pace indicated this project is a collaboration between Community Development and Public Works. Ms. Reavis utilized a Powerpoint presentation, outlining the following key points: Changes to the public review draft, including adding allocating funds for non motorized improvements, enlargement of maps, information on Complete Streets principles, changes to infrastructure design standards, addition of a Capital Facilities list, and a method for prioritizing sidewalk segments. The Walk and Roll Plan contains seven major recommendations: 1) Designation of bicycle friendly routes 2) Adoption of bicycle and pedestrian designs 3) Continue construction of neighborhood links 4) Provide more than the minimum for pedestrian safety 5) Preserve railroad spurs for future use 6) Promote and participate in biking and walking programs 7) Allocate funding for Walk and Roll projects Ms. Bradshaw indicated there is a capital facilities list in the Council packet. The first step is to prepare a design report that looks at the streets that are identified as bike routes. Paved, multi -use trails are regional trails, hopefully to be connected with surrounding towns and cities. Unpaved, multi -use trails are grouped by neighborhood. The Transportation Committee reviewed sidewalks, and is requesting that the Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes January 12, 2009 Page 2 of 4 Council decide which ten sidewalks would be included in the design report. Once agreed upon, these sidewalks would be added to the capital facilities list and attached to the ordinance to be forwarded to the Regular Meeting next week. Future actions will include code changes, design reports, and engineering for bike routes and priority sidewalk segments. Councilmember Duffie inquired as to what group was involved in the decision making process for the list of potential sidewalk charts. Ms. Bradshaw indicated Community Development worked with the Transportation Committee to create the scoring system. The Council is able to change and rearrange the list. Councilmember Quinn thanked the staff for their work on this plan. One of the biggest issues was figuring out a predictable plan for rating the streets. The Complete Streets principles addresses the issues based on those criteria. Councilmember Hougardy expressed her concern that 53rd Avenue South, between 144th and 139th, is not on the list. There is a high amount of traffic on it, and it is a very busy area with kids walking to and from school. Councilmember Griffin concurred and added that there is a lot of community concern. This area should be a high priority and moved up on the list. Councilmember Robertson inquired about how the Council will decide on the exact order of deciding on the sidewalk order. He suggested not removing anything from the list, but adding the additional two streets, and continuing discussions. Councilmember Duffle indicated that Southcenter Boulevard to South 139th Street would be his first priority. Councilmember Quinn stated the City is competing for grants. It is important to get the criteria for this project set so applications for grants can be submitted. Ms. Bradshaw stated that Exhibit A will be the actual plan and Exhibit B will list 12 sidewalks. Council President Hernandez asked for citizen comments regarding the Walk and Roll Plan. Anna Bernhard, 14241 59 Avenue South, indicated the addition of the sidewalks improved the City aesthetically, and adds to home values. Devlin Johnson, 14202 52 Avenue South, stated the primary focus should be the sidewalks, not the bike lanes, to provide safe corridors for children. Discussion ensued regarding priorities between sidewalks and bike paths. Jack Pace, Community Development Director, indicated they are looking at opportunities where grant funding is available, whether they are for bikes or pedestrians. Mayor Haggerton commented that he supported the Lakes to Sound trail. He inquired as to the status of planning for that project. Ms. Reavis stated that a series of meetings were organized by King County Councilmember Julia Patterson. Staff from multiple cities were invited and were provided with information on Tukwila's Walk and Roll Plan to help them with their planning for the route. King County is the lead and Tukwila is providing input in support of the effort. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING. Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes January 12, 2009 Page 3 of 4 b. Discussion of Council representation on regional boards and commissions. Council President Hernandez has requested a discussion of Council representation on regional, state and national committees, commissions and /or boards for the 2009 calendar year. Ms. Hernandez read the committee assignments for the 2009 year. Citv of Tukwila Local Representation: Firemen's Pension Board Councilmember Linder Lodging Tax Advisory Board Council President Hernandez Equity and Diversity Commission: Council President Hernandez and Councilmember Griffin Regional Representation: Cascade Water Alliance Board of Directors Mayor's Alternate Verna Griffin Suburban Cities Association Public Issues Committee (PIC) Mayor's Alternate Kathy Hougardy South King County Area Transportation Benefit District (SCATBd) Dennis Robertson South King County Economic Development Initiative (SKEDI) Pam Linder Water Resource Inventory Area 9 (WRIA 9) Mayor will attend and, if a replacement is needed, Councilmember Robertson indicated he would be able to be an alternate. Highline Forum Mayor Haggerton National Representation: National League of Cities (NLC) Institute for Youth, Education Families (YEF) Verna Griffin. This position is an appointment by NLC. The Council discussed and agreed with the above list of representation. REPORTS a. Mayor Mayor Haggerton attended the Tukwila Government Affairs Committee meeting on January 6, 2009 with Shawn Hunstock, Finance Director. Mr. Hunstock reported on sales tax revenue and the state's mitigation of streamlined sales tax at that meeting. This presentation will be provided to the Council in the future. On January 7, 2009, Mayor Haggerton attended the Regional Suburban Cities Caucus meeting, where all the regional committees elected their chair, vice chair, and identified key priority items. If time allows, he encouraged Council members to get involved in one or more of those committees in the future. On January 8, 2009, he attended the Highline Forum meeting regarding Sea -Tac Airport and the third runway noise issue. He also attended the Suburban Cities Association Board of Directors Orientation on January 9, 2009. b. City Council Councilmember Duffie thanked the Police Department, Public Works Department, and Fire Department for the hard work they did to clear the mudslide on Interurban Avenue on January 8, 2009. Councilmember Griffin attended the Equity and Diversity Commission meeting on January 8, 2009. Councilmember Hougardy attended the Tukwila Government Affairs Meeting on January 6, 2009. She also attended the Southwest King County luncheon on January 9, 2009. Councilmember Quinn held the Council Coffee Chat on January 10, 2009. Council President Hernandez attended the Tukwila Government Affairs Committee meeting on January 6, 2009. On January 8, 2009 she attended the Equity and Diversity Commission meeting, and the Chamber of Commerce lunch on January 9, 2009. Ms. Hernandez extended an invitation to Mayor Haggerton and City Administrator Rhonda Berry to attend the Council Retreat February 27 through March 1, 2009. She also asked the Mayor and City Administrator to provide a presentation on the 2009 workload. Ms. Hernandez also requested the Council provide any suggestions to her regarding possible topics for discussion at the Council Retreat. Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes January 12, 2009 Page 4 of 4 c. Staff Rhonda Berry, City Administrator, indicated she would like to brief the Council on the mudslide. The City contacted a geotechnical engineer on January 8, 2009 to survey the hillside and situation of buildings 6, 7, and 8 of the Canyon Estates, and to provide a recommendation to Administration regarding the stability of the hillside. Their report indicated the residents could be allowed to stay there. However, if the City were to evacuate buildings, and if the Red Cross was not able to relocate the displaced families, the City would house the families at the Tukwila Community Center. Bruce Fletcher, Parks and Recreation Director, has had training on operating a shelter in an emergency. In terms of the storm response and river flooding, Ms. Berry indicated, there was a discrepancy with the gauge in Auburn and the gauge at the dam. Tukwila's low point is around the Riverside Casino. Hillman Mitchell, Emergency Management Coordinator, went door -to -door to local businesses in the area to discuss what options were available to them. d. City Attorney The City Attorney's presence is not required at Committee of the Whole meetings. e. Intergovernmental There was no report. MISCELLANEOUS Councilmember Quinn inquired about communication between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local City officials about releasing water from the dam up- river. Rhonda Berry, City Administrator, indicated the levee located in Tukwila is a Certified Army Corps of Engineers levee. As such, the City can proactively call the Army Corps, rather than waiting to hear from them, when there is a concern. Going forward, the City needs to ensure procedures are formalized and documented. Councilmember Quinn requested an update on the assessment of the levee and how the Army Corps is making decisions. Mayor Haggerton indicated Congressman Adam Smith contacted local jurisdictions and asked each Mayor what could be learned from this and what improvements could be made. The Mayor relayed to Congressman Smith that more gauges are needed along the Green River. ADJOURNMENT 8:39 p.m. COUNCIL PRESIDENT HERNANDEZ DECLARED THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING ADJOURNED. Joan Hernandez, Council President Minutes prepared by Lady of Letters, Inc. Reviewed by Melissa Hart, Deputy City Clerk