HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-07-2010FINANCE COMMITTEE
WASHINGTON
MINUTES
JUNE 7, 2010
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Nancy Backus called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in
Conference Room No. 2 located on the second floor of the City Hall
Annex located at One East Main Street in Auburn. Chair Backus, Vice
Chair Lynn Norman and Member John Partridge were present. Present
during the meeting were Mayor Peter B. Lewis; City Attorney Daniel B.
Heid; Financial Accounting Manager Dunyele Mason; Acting Planning and
Development Director Kevin Snyder; Public Works Director Dennis
Dowdy; Risk Manager Rob Roscoe; Police Chief Jim Kelly; Employee
Relations and Compensation Manager John Fletcher; Utility and
Accounting Services Manager Rhonda Ewing, Emergency Preparedness
Manager Sarah Miller; and Deputy City Clerk Cathy Richardson.
II. CONSENT ITEMS
A. Approval of Minutes
1. Minutes of the May 17, 2010 Finance Committee
meeting.
Vice Chair Norman moved and Member Partridge seconded
to approve the May 17, 2010 minutes.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3-0.
B. Vouchers
1. Claims
F4.9.5
Claims check numbers 395157 through 395550 in the
amount of $2,605,080.04 and wire transfer numbers 0097
through 0098 in the amount of $24,957,229.06 and dated
June 7, 2010.
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Finance Committee Minutes June 7, 2010
2. Payroll
F4.9.2
Payroll check numbers 529015 to 529116 in the amount of
$316,605.17 and electronic deposit transmissions in the
amount of $1,147,886.55 for a grand total of $1,464,491.72
for the pay period covering May 13, 2010 to June 2, 2010.
Committee members reviewed the vouchers and briefly
discussed voucher numbers 395187, 395238, and 395241.
Vice Chair Norman moved and Member Partridge seconded
to approve the vouchers.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3-0.
III. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
A. Ordinances
There was no ordinance for Committee consideration.
B. Resolutions
Resolution No. 4597
F4.6.1
A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Auburn,
Washington, declaring certain items of property as surplus
and authorizing their disposal
Vice Chair Norman moved and Member Partridge seconded
to approve and forward Resolution No. 4597 to the full
Council.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3-0.
IV. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Resolution No. 4601
F4.3, 01.8, 07.1
A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Auburn, Washington,
amending the City of Auburn fee schedule, to adjust for rentat
housing business license fees
Acting Director Snyder reported that Resolution No. 4601 adjusts
the City's fee schedule for rental housing business license fees for
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Finance Committee Minutes June 7, 2010
the remainder of the 2010 calendar year. Resolution No. 4601 is a
companion to Ordinance No. 6309 which adjusts the due date for
rental housing business licensing fees to a calendar year.
Resolution No. 4601 prorates the fees for year 2010 to reflect the
change to a calendar year licensing and renewal program
beginning January 1, 2011 for rental housing business licenses.
Committee members briefly reviewed Resolution No. 4601.
B. Ordinance No. 6309
F4.3, 01.8, 07.1
An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Auburn,
Washington, amending Sections 5.10.030, 5.10.050, 5.15.020 and
5.20.030 of the Auburn City Code related to business licensing
Committee members reviewed Ordinance No. 6309.
In response to questions from Member Partridge, Acting Director
Snyder stated that many businesses in the City of Auburn have
expressed a desire to have the business license renewal on a
calendar year program.
C. Resolution No. 4603
04.9.1 C201 A, A3.13.4
A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Auburn, Washington,
authorizing the Mayor to negotiate agreements and execute
documents necessary to acquire property and relocate inhabitants
related to City Project C201A - M Street SE Grade Separation
Director powdy displayed a map indicating the areas involved in
the property acquisition related to the M Street SE Grade
Separation project. Resolution No. 4603 authorizes the Mayor to
negotiate agreements related to the property acquisitions and
relocation of inhabitants to meet the City's needs. Director powdy
reviewed the map with regard to full and partial property
acquisitions. Director powdy reported on soil nailing methods used
to ensure stability and longevity for walls which will go below
railroad grade. Director powdy explained the need to obtain partial
property acquisitions for easements from property owners on each
side of the road where it goes below grade. The City can only
acquire property necessary to accomplish this phase of the project.
Staff began notification to property owners last week regarding the
City's right-of-way and relocation plan. To date, the City has not
received opposition to the proposed property acquisitions. Any
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Finance Committee Minutes June 7, 2010
condemnation procedures would require additional action by
Council. Director powdy reviewed the Federal Relocations Act
which the City must follow in order to receive federal funding.
Committee members briefly discussed Resolution No. 4603.
D. Resolution No. 4604
04.9.1 C207A, A3.13.4
A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Auburn, Washington,
authorizing the Mayor to negotiate agreements and execute
documents necessary to acquire property related to City Project
C207A - A Street NW Extension
Director powdy distributed a map of the A Street NW Extension
project. Resolution No. 4604 authorizes the Mayor to negotiate
agreements related to the property acquisitions to meet the City's
needs. Most of the properties will be partial acquisitions for right-of
way with only one full property acquisition for the storm pond. A
portion of the extension was completed by the developer of the
Mohawk project. The A Street NW Extention project is also subject
to the Federal Relocations Act.
Director powdy reported that Resolution Nos. 4603 and 4604 were
reviewed in the Public Works Committee this afternoon.
Committee members were inclined towards payback agreements
for those properties wishing to develop in the future.
E. Resolution No. 4600
A3.16.13
A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Auburn, Washington,
authorizing the acceptance of a grant from the Washington Service
Corps to provide a full-time member to the City of Auburn, and
authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the necessary
agreements to accept said member
Chief Kelly stated that Resolution No. 4600 provides for
acceptance of a grant which will provide an AmeriCorps Disaster
Education Specialist. The current grant terminates in August 2010
and the new grant would begin at that time to continue the City's
comprehensive disaster education.
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Finance Committee Minutes June 7, 2010
F. Resolution No. 4602
01.1, A1.3
A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Auburn, Washington,
authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute an Interlocal
Agreement between the City of Auburn and King County for animal
services
Risk Manager Roscoe distributed a summary of costs related to
King County Animal Control services and a newspaper article
related to confiscation by Pierce County Animal Control of 78
animals from a home in Pierce County.
Chair Backus referred to page 8, item 9.b of the agreement and
inquired regarding the hold harmless verbiage.
Risk Manager Roscoe stated that each entity is held harmless by
the other in the event of a negligent act or omission by either party.
In response to questions from Member Partridge, Manager Fletcher
stated that some cities opted out of the King County agreement
which increased fees for participating cities. Transition fees also
increased for 2011.
Mayor Lewis stated that the King County Animal Control Services
agreements will be taken before the King County Council for
approval. Associated fees were recommended by the King County
Executive's office, but final approval rests with the King County
Council.
In response to questions by Member Partridge, Mayor Lewis stated
that King County alleges that services under the proposed
agreement will be superior to the enhanced services currently
received by the City of Auburn. City staff recommends that the City
delay engaging the enhanced services until such time that it is
deemed necessary in order to maintain the level of service required
by the City. Enhanced services can be engaged any time
throughout the contract.
Manager Roscoe stated that if license collections change during
the course of the agreement, the contract would be audited and the
figures adjusted accordingly. If license fee collections increase,
then costs to King County be could reduced significantly.
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Finance Committee Minutes June 712010
Mayor Lewis referred to the newspaper article distributed by
Manager Roscoe and pointed out that the 78 animals confiscated
by Pierce County included horses, dogs, goats, a guinea pig, cats
and a duck. Significant shelter space and funding for care of the
animals was required.
In response to questions by Chair Backus, Mayor Lewis stated that
the two islands of unincorporated property in Auburn are the
responsibility of King County.
Mayor Lewis pointed out that all the cities within King County, with
the exception of Federal Way and a few northern cities that have
made arrangements with other entities, will be contracting with King
County for animal control and care services. Discussions continue
with Pierce County and various cities, including the South
Correctional Entity (SCORE) cities, in an effort to find alternatives
to contracting with King County. The SCORE facility site might be
an excellent site for an animal shelter and care facility. Labor costs
could be reduced by use of inmates at the facility and would still
allow for volunteer and non-profit participation. The biggest
problem for Auburn is the lack of a facility for sheltering and
isolation requirements. The only other option at this time would be
euthanization due to lack of a shelter.
Member Partridge reported that he has been monitoring a group of
six veterinarians located in the City. The group has made
themsetves available to the City as an advisory group. They
agreed that it would take some time to develop a shelter to meet
the needs of the City and expressed their disappointment in
services provided by King County. The group is endeavoring to
develop a plan that meets the needs and requirements of the City
of Auburn. The group agrees that animal control and care is a
difficult commercial venture. They believe there is a disconnect
befinreen the licensing fees collected and the services provided by
King County, which is why licensing collection is low in Auburn.
The group is considering several sites located within the City and
will continue to explore options for a shelter.
Mayor Lewis spoke regarding marketing efforts to increase pet
licensing within the City of Auburn which would decrease costs to
King County significantly.
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Finance Committee Minutes June 7, 2010
G. Boeing Water and Sewer Meters
Director powdy reported that the Utility Department recently
processed billing adjustments for two Boeing water meters and one
sewer meter. The water meters and lack of billing were brought to
the attention of the City by Boeing staff. The City is atlowed to
process back billing for three years. Legal staff is researching the
issue to determine if the City can process a claim for additional
years. Director powdy explained the process used to determine
the amount owed for the back billing based on an estimated
average consumption over the time period. Staff is researching the
issue further at the request of the Public Works Committee.
Director powdy stated that the sewer meter back-billing was due to
Boeing replacement of a sewer meter that measured flows in
gallons which was replaced with a meter that measured in cubic
feet. The change in measurement was not communicated from
Boeing to the City.
V. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Committee, the
meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
r
APPROVED THE ~ DAY OF JUNE 2010.
~Nancy c s, Chair Cathy Ric ` rdson, Deputy City Clerk
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