HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-14-1995spSUMMARY OF MEETING AMONG KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE GARY
LOCKE, CITY OF AUBURN MAYOR CHARLES A. BOOTH, MEMBERS
OF THE AUBURN CITY COUNCIL AND OTHER VARIOUS AUBURN
COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES
August 14, 1995 9:15 A.M.
Auburn City Hall Council Chambers
At 9:15 a.m. Auburn Mayor Charles A. Booth introduced King County
Executive Gary Locke. Members of the audience introduced themselves as
follows: Auburn City Councilmember Rich Wagner, Auburn City Councilmember
Trish Borden, Auburn City Councilmember Don Kurle, Auburn City
Councilmember Virginia Haugen, Auburn City Councilmember Pat Burns,
Auburn City Councilmember Jeanne Barber, Auburn Senior Planner Al Hicks,
Assistant Fire Chief Monroe Shropshire, Personnel Director Brenda Kennedy,
Auburn Senior Planner Bob Sokol, Police Chief Dave Purdy, Parks and
Recreation Director Len Chapman, Auburn Associate Planner Bea Sanders,
Intergovernmental Affairs Coordinator Lisa Clausen, Planning and Community
Development Director Paul Krauss, Cultural Programs Manager Josie Emmons,
Marilyn LaCelle, Leslie Donovan, Rick Brumfield, Sharon Mattioli, Michael Hart,
Kris Susee, Don Gardner, Fred Poe, Dennis J. Tiepilman, Katherine Johnson,
Lynn Norman, Michael P. Morrisette, Pete Lewis, and Jim Fugate.
The purpose of King County Executive Locke's meeting is to discuss such
topics as transportation, economic development, annexation, and human
services with members of the Auburn City Council and various other
representatives of the Auburn community.
King County Executive Locke introduced his staff members accompanying
him, Chuck Mize, Juan Codo, and Joan Yoshitomi, and explained he and his
staff members are coordinating meetings in outlying areas of King County to
facilitate discussion with suburban officials and community members.
King County Executive Locke forecasted that all areas west of the urban
growth area will be annexed into cities which will result in a change in the role of
the County. King County Executive Locke stated he and his staff are listening
and learning to be a better provider of regional services.
TRANSPORTATION
King County Executive Locke stated the transit service has not had
enough cross town services and all routes transfer out of downtown Seattle.
King County Executive Locke explained that the recent cancellation of the new
August 14, 1995 Special Council Meeting
Page 2
natural gas buses will save the County approximately $100 million over the next
eight years. The transit will instead use the cleaner burning diesel buses. King
County Executive Locke stated the savings will allow a 12-15% increase in
service hours per year. Some of the changes contemplated in the six year plan
will include more suburban and cross-town services, changes in the
configuration of the routes making cities transit hubs, more use of circulator
buses and smaller vans. King County Executive Locke stated the new
configurations might cause people to transfer more often but will provide quicker
access to their destinations. King County Executive Locke stated next year a
demonstration project will be conducted in the Renton area.
King County Executive Locke stated the cost of the regional transit (RTA)
proposal was too much for the voters, and nobody had confidence that other
areas of transportation, such as the transportation of goods, were being
comprehensively addressed. King County Executive Locke stated that some of
the RTA funds may be used for HOV lanes in rural areas and for the expansion
of dedicated bus lanes.
King County Executive Locke answered questions and concerns
regarding transit service to the Supermall and other emerging needs. King
County Executive Locke stated that in order to serve the Supermall at this time,
cuts in other transit routes would need to be made. King County Executive
Locke stated Metro must first determine where the commuters come from to visit
the Supermall before service can be offered. He also stated he anticipates
service to the Supermall will be implemented in the first few years of Metro's six
year plan.
King County Executive Locke stated he hopes to see the comprehensive
transportation plan and the RTA proposal reconfigured to focus on buses and
some light rail, reduce the cost of the proposal to $2 to $4 billion, include a
southern corridor rather than a north leg, and possibly restore a portion of the
commuter rail.
King County Executive Locke stated he has received comments from
many entities that they feel disconnected from the County regarding
transportation. King County Executive Locke stated Metro has been instructed
to start over on developing its six year plan and work more with the communities
to determine the particular needs of each community.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
King County Executive Locke stated it is important that the community
preserve its downtown to ensure the vitality of the community.
August 14, 1995 Special Council Meeting
Page 3
King County Executive Locke stated the County's permitting department's
sphere of influence is decreasing because of annexations and incorporations,
and the department is underfunded. King County Executive Locke stated the
County is implementing a total quality improvement program to respond to
developers and individuals in a more timely manner. King County Executive
Locke also stated the County is relaxing some environmental laws to give more
flexibility. He stated the County will be working to preserve and enhance more
valuable wetlands and allow construction on marginal wetlands.
ANNEXATION
City of Auburn Planning and Community Development Director Paul
Krauss identified Auburn's potential annexation areas as Lea Hill, the west hill,
and parts of Pierce County. Mr. Krauss stated the City of Auburn has negotiated
agreements with the cities of Kent and Federal Way which lay the ground work
on how to manage potential annexation areas prior to annexation and that
development in the potential annexation areas is done to city standards.
King County Executive Locke stated one of the important issues regarding
annexation and development standards is in streets and roads. King County
Executive Locke stated there needs to be some sort of cost sharing or
reimbursement to the County for newly constructed infrastructure within
annexation areas.
Auburn City Councilmember Don Kurle stated the City's standards are
quite different from the County's standards. He urged a more open and
cooperative attitude from County employees with regard to development
standards.
City Councilmember Haugen stated the City should concentrate on
annexing portions of King County rather than areas of Pierce County.
HUMAN SERVICES
Kathy Johnson presented her written comments which are attached to this
summary.
City of Auburn Parks and Recreation Director addressed King County
Executive Locke regarding the possible transfer of County parks and pool to the
City. Mr. Chapman stated the City has been the recipient of County
conservation futures funds which has enabled the City of Auburn to acquire the
Olson Canyon property.
August 14, 1995 Special Council Meeting
Page 4
King County Executive Locke stated the County courts and law
enforcement will receive full budget funding, but the non-uniformed departments,
including human services, will be downsized. King County Executive Locke
stated that as the County develops its priorities they will work with communities
to effectively deliver services. King County Executive Locke stated the County is
working to be more cost effective and customer oriented.
Them being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m.
King County Executive Locke and his staff members and Mayor Booth traveled
to the Auburn Senior Center for lunch; and afterwards toured the Lea Hill area.
Charles A. Booth, Mayor
Daskam, Deputy City Clerk
95M8-14
AUBURN REPRESENTATIVES MEETING WITH
KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE GARY LOCKE
AUGUST 14, 1995
HUMAN SERVICES PRESENTATION
FUTURE NEEDS
We are deeply appreciative of the recognition of Mayor Chuck
Booth, the Council and the city of Auburn that is exemplified by
putting human services on the agenda for this meeting. And, we
are fortunate be addressing Executive Gary Locke, who has carried
his commitment to human services from his work in the legislature
to King County. Your support of the importance of services to
meet the social, health, counseling, and social protection needs
of Auburn and our neighboring communities will'be critical in the
months and years ahead. The network of human services that
contribute to the quality of life in Auburn and surrounding areas
is increasingly challenged by growing need, as well as the
current threats to adequate and coordinated regional policies and
funding.
Human service providers in the Auburn area have earned a
reputation for effective collaboration and a continuum of high
quality services. The proud sense of community and caring that
characterizes the city of Auburn flows into the relationships of
human service agencies, and is passed on to benefit the families
and individuals we serve. Our network of services is at threat
of cutbacks at all levels -- including federal, state, county,
and charitable funding sources. These reductions in funding come
at a time when the populations of Auburn and surrounding areas
are growing at a rapid rate, and much publicized social ills
result in increasing numbers of people at risk. It is imperative
for the county to join in partnership with Auburn to ensure that
the continuity and adequacy of essential community based and
community controlled services is preserved and can expand to meet
future need.
As the eighth largest city in King County, and the large urban
area farthest from Seattle, Auburn serves as a magnet service
site for people in unincorporated King County. So, Auburn based
human service agencies serve a large segment of county population
spread over a broad geographic area. It is appropriate for these
providers to receive both city and county funding. Therefore, as
regional planning for human services progresses, it is critical
that there be full and equitable involvement of all governmental
entities in determining regional and local responsibilities for
services to people in need. Any mutually agreed upon transitions
in policy and funding responsibilities must be carefully
coordinated to avoid gaps or inequities in funding. Any
transitions must also allow adequate transition time to maintain
the high quality of services that currently exist. Most simply
put, if effective county and city partnership is lacking, people
at risk and in most need will suffer.
Community assessments and review of public health data have
consistently found that South King County in general, and Auburn
in particular have higher than county average rates of teen
birth; mothers with late or no pre-natal care; school age
children; and families - especially children - in poverty and in
need of low income housing. All of these factors point to
individuals with multiple service needs who require a reliable
system of networked services. Many families require the services
of more than one agency to attain or return to self sufficiency.
The appropriate nature and blend of those services and the
desired service outcomes can best be decided at the local level,
and so it is important that the county support the autonomy self
determination of Auburn and other cities. The result will be a
more responsive and efficient system of human Services, and a
stronger and more viable county.
Over the last few years, United Way Community Care Plan forums,
the state Continuum of Care needs assessment, the South County
Teen Health Summit, the Healthy Community Benchmark forums of the
King County Children and Family Commission, the City of Auburn
Human Services Committee, and the Auburn Consolidated Plan for
Housing and Community Development, all have shown consistencies
in identifying human service priority needs and service gaps.
These include transportation; emergency services and shelter;
mental health services; youth services including crisis, shelter,
employment and violence prevention; teen pregnancy prevention and
interventions; ethnic and cultural minority issues; substance
abuse; child abuse; and sexual assault interventions. It is
important that the King County respect local priorities in
developing county service and funding policies.
Finally, it is important to point out that social and health
assessments for Auburn and surrounding areas consistently reveal
that transportation to services is a priority need. The Human
Services Roundtable has proven to be a an innovative and
effective forum for addressing regional human issues. ~owever,
this transportation need is just one indication of the importance
of addressing human services in all regional planning processes,
including the Growth Management Planning Council, the Metro/King
County Regional Policy Committee, and the Ordinance 5038 Process.
Economic development, environmental, and community governance
planning should keep emotionally and physically healthy and self
sustaining people as the focus of their endeavors. That is the
most critical element to the future success of human services.
Ail of the local agencies who provide human services to the
citizens of Auburn and its surrounding communities thank you for
your attention and efforts.
ACAP Day Care Association
Apple Parenting Program
Auburn Food Bank
Auburn Respite Care
Auburn Youth Resources
Catholic Community Services
Childhaven
Childrens Home Society
Community Health Centers
DAWN - Domestic Abuse Women's Network
King County Housing Authority
King County Public Health
KSARC - King County Sexual Assault Resource Center
Northwest Mental Health Services
South County YWCA
Valley Cities Counseling and Consultation
WWEE - Washington Women's Employment and Education
YMCA School Care Program