HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-29-2005Committee of the Whole
CITY COUNCIL
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
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WASHINGTON
August 29, 2005 5:00 PM
Council Chambers
MINUTES
The Auburn City Council Committee of the Whole met on August 29,
2005, in the Council Chambers of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street in
Auburn at 5:00 p.m. Mayor Peter B. Lewis and the following Councilmembers
were present: Rich Wagner, Sue Singer, Gene Cerino, Nancy Backus, Bill
Peloza, Roger Thordarson and Lynn Norman.
Staff members present included: Public Works Director Dennis Dowdy,
Human Resources/Risk Management Director Brenda Heineman, Fire Chief
Russ Vandver, Assistant Police Chief Bob Lee, Planning and Community
Development Director Paul Krauss, Environmental Protection Manager Aaron
Nix, Finance Director Shelley Coleman, Community Development Administrator
David Osaki, Information Services Administrator Lorrie Rempher, City Attorney
Daniel B. Heid, Transportation Planner Joe Welsh, Environmental Protection
Manager Aaron Nix, Cultural Arts Manager Lori Patrick and City Clerk Danielle
Daskam.
Annexations
Mayor Lewis introduced the first item of discussion regarding annexations
and noted that the Lea Hill Annexation Financial Summary has been updated by
the Finance Department to reflect 2005 costs. The minimum ongoing operating
shortfall is $689,101. Other ongoing costs, including capital, increase the deficit
to $1.1 million. Mayor Lewis reported that the fire service is looking at options to
secure other revenue sources. Mayor Lewis spoke of the need to maintain the
current fire level of service for the current city limits and contracting for fire
service in annexation areas until such time as additional revenue is available to
provide the same level of fire service to the annexation areas.
Fire Chief Vandver spoke briefly regarding the fire service benefit charge.
Only a fire district or regional fire authority can levy the fire service benefit
charge; a city cannot levy the charge. The fire service benefit charge is
calculated based on square footages, usage and zoning. King County Fire
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City of Auburn Committee of the Whole Minutes
Auaust 29. 2005
District 40, Woodinville Fire District and a few other districts in the State have
implemented the fire service benefit charge.
Mayor Lewis reported that the City is moving forward with ambulance
service contracts and implementing a fee for emergency medical service
transport.
City Attorney Heid, Public Works Director Dowdy and Planning and
Community Development Director spoke briefly regarding annexation, utility
services in potential annexation areas, and utility service provider areas. City
Attorney Heid also spoke regarding the City Council's ability to approve or reject
petitions for annexation.
Human Services Funding
Mayor Lewis introduced the subject of human services funding. Mayor
Lewis spoke of the number of requests the City receives each year for human
services funding, and the extensive review process that is conducted by the
Human Services Committee. Mayor Lewis questioned whether the existing
human services funding is effecting change in human service needs. He
suggested requiring measurable outcomes as part of the application process,
and funding outcomes rather than funding agencies.
Planning and Community Development Director Krauss reported that
David Okimoto, Senior Vice President of Community Services for United Way of
King County, delivered a preliminary briefing on the subject of outcome based
funding to the Human Services Committee. During his presentation, Mr.
Okimoto made several suggestions, such as ensuring the food bank refers
clients to sign up for food stamps and have clients apply for the earned income
tax credit. Mr. Okimoto also suggested phasing in the outcome based funding by
giving an incentive to agencies to bring about the expected goals.
Streamline Sales Tax (SST) Issues
Mayor Lewis presented the Council with an update on streamline sales
tax. Representatives of positively and negatively affected cities met recently and
produced a possible mitigated agreement for streamline sales tax. It is expected
that the negotiations will result in a bill to be presented during the 2006
legislative session. The mitigation proposal would cover the existing uses (up to
approximately 95% of losses), but would not protect against tax losses from
future land uses. The mitigation funds would come from the state portion of
sales tax.
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AUQust 29. 2005
Councilmember Wagner expressed reluctance to support the State's
initiative to pursue national streamline sales tax until such time as more states
are on board.
In the event the streamline sales tax proposal is adopted by the
Legislature, Mayor Lewis proposed implementing amendments to the City's
Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Codes that would promote uses that would not
be disadvantageous to the City.
WRIA 9 Habitat Plan Presentation and Timeline for Adoption
Councilmember Peloza, who is the City's representative on the Water
Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 9 Committee, stated that Councilmembers
have received a copy of the WRIA draft Salmon Habitat Plan and the executive
summary. Councilmember Peloza also stated that the Council will be
considering adoption of the WRIA Salmon Habitat Plan and a new WRIA
interlocal agreement in the near future.
Mr. Gordon Thompson, WRIA 9 Habitat Plan Manager, presented a brief
PowerPoint presentation on the WRIA 9 Salmon Habitat Plan. The Salmon
Habitat Plan calls for 77 on-the-ground capital improvements projects, 57 of
which are protection projects. There are 56 high priority projects with an
estimated cost of $198 - $291 million over the next ten year. The projects are
founded on sound science and ecological economics analysis. The projects
include set back levees and reconnect side channels, gravel and large woody
debris supplementation, acquisition of good functioning habitat, increase in
transition habitat, and removing marine shoreline bank armoring.
Mr. Thompson also noted that the improvements in the habitat also
provide economic values. The ecosystem services were quantified to assess
benefits. Approximately $1.7 billion to $6.3 billion in economic benefits are
realized annually. The Habitat Plan actions are targeted and prioritized to
preserve and increase the benefits, including recovery of salmon.
Mr. Thompson reviewed the Plan adoption process. On September 8,
2005 the Joint Steering Committee and Forum will meet to review the Plan. The
Forum of local governments will take action on the Plan on September 21, 2005.
If adopted, the Plan is then transmitted to local governments for ratification. The
Plan is ratified when a minimum of five local governments with at least seventy
percent of the population within WRIA 9 adopts the Plan. Mr. Thompson
reported that the proposed WRIA 9 interlocal costs will be $368,635 for 2006,
down from $470,051 in 2005. Auburn's current share is $20,580; Auburn's
proposed 2006 share is $16,282.
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Mr. Thompson reported on the status of the Fenster/Pautzke grant project
proposal submitted to the Salmon Recovery Funding Board. The project would
restore instream, riparian and off-channel habitat along 1,320 feet of the Green
River in Auburn. The proposed project is the top scored project among the
seven submitted. The cost estimate of the project is $823,458 with $687,958 in
funding requested from the Salmon Recovery Funding Board and matching
funds of $135,500 from the Auburn and King County flood control district. The
projects will be officially ranked on September 15th. Mr. Thompson also
reviewed the salmon habitat funds and support directed to Auburn to date.
Mayor Lewis recessed the meeting for a brief intermission at 6:40 p.m.
Mayor Lewis reconvened the meeting at 6:44 p.m.
Fire Access Issues
Councilmember Wagner stated there have been issues on Lea Hill with
short dead end streets creating fire access issues. Councilmember Wagner
questioned whether the City's standards for fire access should be more stringent
than the national standards. Fire Chief Vandver spoke regarding City fire access
standards. The current standards include the requirement for a minimum twenty-
foot fire lane with a minimum twenty-eight foot street if parking is permitted on
one side. Any driveway that is over 150 feet long must have a 65-foot diameter
circular turnaround or a 120-foot hammer-head turnaround. The City of Auburn
fire standards are in line with the national fire standards and other local cities
and King County. Councilmember Wagner expressed concern with illegal
parking on streets and spoke regarding the need to enforce parking restrictions
so that fire access is ensured.
Councilmember Wagner suggested that a committee review the fire
access issues and look into tightening the current standards. Planning Director
Krauss pointed out that the fire access issue primarily concerns private streets.
The issue of private streets and adequate fire access will be discussed at
future Public Works and Planning and Community Development Committee
meetings.
Residency Requirements for Board and Commission Members
Mayor Lewis solicited Councilmembers' input regarding a residency
requirement for members of Auburn boards and commissions. Mayor Lewis has
consistently appointed those who are Auburn residents.
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Councilmember Wagner suggested that a small percentage of a board or
commission could be from outside the community if they bring something of
benefit to the board or if they have some ties to the community.
Councilmember Norman noted that there are several residents in the
City's potential annexation areas that consider themselves Auburn residents.
Mayor Pro Tern Singer spoke in favor of the status quo and requiring
residency for appointment to the City's boards and commissions.
Councilmember Thordarson suggested appointing interested persons
from outside the City as non-voting members.
Councilmembers suggested a maximum of one nonresident member on
boards and commissions consisting of five or more members.
Draft Economic Strategies
Planning and Community Development Director Krauss spoke regarding
the development of the draft Economic Development Strategies. The document
identifies four economic development strategy areas: North Auburn, the Golden
Triangle, Urban Center, and 15th Street SW and C Street SW. The document
also includes targets within the strategy areas, the economic development
strategies for those areas, and the steps for implementation. Director Krauss
encouraged Council feedback on the draft strategies. He reported that many of
the strategies are included in the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendments
for this year.
Councilmember Wagner and Mayor Pro Tern Singer suggested adding
two additional strategy areas: A Street SE and the Auburn Environmental Park
strategy areas.
Public Art Proposal at Auburn Way Sand "F" Street SE
Cultural Arts Manager Lori Patrick displayed a model of the public art
planned for the intersection of Auburn Way South and F Street SE sign. The
artist, Ingrid Lahti, is proposing a beaded stainless steel sign with cut-out
lettering to mark the access point for the Les Gove Community Campus. The
sign measures fourteen feet wide by three feet high and is slightly convex. The
artist intends the sign to be an elegant reminder of the White River.
Manager Patrick reported that the Public Works Committee expressed
concerns regarding the readability of the sign, landscaping, and wayfinding. The
artist stands by her original design, but has offered to sand or bevel the inside of
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City of Auburn Committee of the Whole Minutes
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the lettering to further highlight the lettering. Landscaping will also increase the
visibility of the lettering. The sign will be lighted at night, and supporting
directional and wayfinding signs will be added later. Parks Planning and
Development Manager Dan Scamporlina is working on a supporting landscape
plan.
Councilmembers spoke in favor of an artist contract that allows the City to
modify or relocate the artwork as determined by the City.
Mayor Lewis suggested that in the future the Public Works and Planning
and Community Development Committees review each piece of public art work.
Parking
Councilmember Cerino spoke regarding the need to restrict over-sized
vehicle parking on residential streets. Councilmember Cerino spoke in favor of
restricting over-sized vehicle and commercial vehicle parking on residential and
non-arterial streets. A proposed ordinance relating to on-street parking
restrictions will be presented to Council Committees in the near future.
There being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
\ l'\-l~ DAY OF OCTOBER 2005.
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Ie Daskam, City Clerk
Peter B. Lewis, Mayor
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