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Home My WebLink About09-29-2014 2014 c�rvoF_ '�'� Committee of the Whole ��-�T��r�1 September 29, 2074 - 5:00 PM V a\l�l Council Chambers WASHINGTON MINUTES I. CALL TO ORDER Deputy Mayor Rich Wagner called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Councilmembers in attendance included: Deputy Mayor Wagner, Glaude DaCorsi, John Holman, Wayne Osborne, Bill Peloza, Yolanda Trout and Largo Wales Department directors and staff members present included: Police Commander Steve Stocker, Human Resources and Risk Management Director Rob Roscoe, Community Development and Public Works Director Kevin Snyder, Assistant Director of Engineering Services and City Engineer Ingrid Gaub, Environmental Services Manager Chris Andersen, City Attorney Dan Heid and City Glerk Danielle Daskam. II. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. WRIA 9 Presentation (15 minutes) "Greating Place and Results in the (W9)" Presented by Doug Osterman Doug Osterman, Watershed Coordinator for Green, Duwamish and Central Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Effort also known as 1NRIA 9, presented Gouncil with a PowerPoint presentation. He explained the City is in the final year of a ten year interlocal agreement wi4h King County to provide professional watershed and salmon recovery services. Watersheds are divided into many sub-watersheds. The City of Auburn is in the middle and lower Green River watersheds. The WRIA 9 Watershed Ecosystem Forum's role is to work on funding strategy, build projects and implement programs, education and outreach, implementation oversight and to oversee technical guidance. They also oversee Green Duwamish Ecosystem restoration, fish passage at Howard Hanson Dam and the Tacoma Diversion Dam, they work with the tribes on hatchery and harvest management, Lower Green RiVe� system wide improvement framework and regional stormwatermanagement. The cost sharing to support WRIA 9 is based on each jurisdiction's population, assessed values and total square miles. The 2005 Salmon Habitat Plan has been approved by the federal government. The plan is approximately 18% finished. The watershed Page 1 of 4 projects that are in progress are Reddington Side Channel Connection, Fenster Levee and the Pautzke Levee setback. WRIA 9 is made up of partnerships and collaborations between the local jurisdictions, federal government and local land owners. B. King County Housing Authority Presentation (15 minutes) "Education Initiatives and Status of KCHA" Presented by Stephen Norman, Executive Director Stephen Norman, Executive Director of the King County Housing_ Authority, spoke on the housing challenges in King County including the non-existent vacancy rate, rising rents and incomes not keeping pace with the increases to housing costs. Two trends that are concerning to King County Housing Authority is the number of homeless children and senior homelessness. King County Housing Authority has opened two youth centers in the region. The centers are co-managed by the YWCA. They are working on a pilot project to help families get stable housing. One of the future challenges is seniors with fixed benefits that cannot afford housing. King County Housing Authority has three senior facilities in Auburn with 172 units. The demand for housing is growing faster than housing is becoming available. Other concerns are housing for domestic violence victims and homeless veterans. The King County Housing Authority is working to c�eate plans to help the various groups in need. Mr. Norman explained fixed units housing is federally subsidized. Renters pay 30% of their income for rent and utilities and the remainder of the cost is paid by the federal government. Section 8 Housing sets rental rates fhat are lower than market value but the renter pays the rent out of their income without regards to their income. Councilmember Wales asked what King County Housing Authority is doing to assist residents get out of subsidized housing. Mr. Norman said they have partnered with area resou.rces to help residents get addi4ional education or skills needed. The senior or disabled subsidies are more economical than placing that person in an assisted living or a nursing home, so the housing authority does not try to end subsidies for seniors or disabled renters. C. Study Session Overview (60 minutes) Deputy Mayor Wagner explained the Council Operations Committee has discussed the change in Council structure from Council Standing Committees to Study Sessions at the last several meetings. Director Snyder summarized staff recommendations on replaci��q9eh�f of 4 current three member Council Committee model with Study Sessions, retain Council Operations Committee and the Committee of the Whole meetings. Councilmember Osborne suggested eliminating the Council Operations Committee. Council consensus was to eliminate the Council Operations Committee. Councilmember Wales suggested eliminating the Committee of the 1Nhole and have an addifional Study Session on the fifth Monday of the month. Council consensus was to eliminate the Committee of the Whole. Director Snyder explained the Study Session model helps reinforce the separation of duties between the legislative and administrative functions of City government. The primary duties of the City Council is policy development and fnancial oyersight. The Study Session allows all Councilmembers fo take part in 4he conversation on each topic. Deputy Mayor Wagner stated he believes the quality of the decisions will increase by having all Councilmembers as a part of the original discussion. In conjunction with the Ad-Hoc Committees for more in- depth items the decisions will still be researched and well thought out, Councilmember Wales disagreed. She feels fhe decisions are currently very well thought out and researched by the Standing Committees. She trusts each committee's recommendation on a topic. Councilmember Peloza believes the decision making process will be better because each Councilmember will have fhe opportunity to share in the discussion. Councilmember Peloza stated he feels televising the Study Sessions is more transparent for 4he citizens to see fhe discussion process. Councilmember Holman suggested the Council wait until the process in worked out before fhe meetings are televised. Council consensus is to not televise the Study Sessions until further notice. Director Snyder presented Council with the proposed agenda for a Council Study Session. Councilmember Wales proposed the Study Sessions be chaired by the Deputy Maybr: Council consensus is to have the Deputy Mayor chair the Study Sessions. Council consensus is to change days of the regular Council meetings to the second and fourth Mondays and the Study Sessions at the first, third and fifth Mondays of the month. The Council discussed the first and second readings of Ordinances. Councilmember Wales stated both readings should be at Council meetings. Councilmember Osborne suggested the first reading be at a Study Session to allow for more in-depth discussion and the second Page 3 of 4 reading at the following regular Council meeting. City Attorney Heid stated.the Council can discuss Ordinances at the Study Session regardless of when the readings are. Council discussed implementing the new process effective January 1, 2014. Deputy Mayor Wagner suggested an action tracking matrix of citizen concerns. Councilmember Wales stated the Mayor's office takes care of citizens concerns. Councilmember Peloza requested additional communication regarding the outcome of citizens concems. Director Snyder stated staff proposed providing Council with a capital projects matrix, legislative briefing matrix, general business matrix electronically. The Committee discussed having ad-hoc committee members appointed by the chair of the Study Session, the process for approving agreements, change orders, approval of surplus items, approval of right-of-way easements, design standards and the financial vouchers and quarterly report can be prbvided in an electronic format to all Councilmembers. III. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 7:16 p.m. APPROVED this �°� day of October, 2014. �� t� A CY B I , M YOR Daniel e Das am, City lerk Page 4 of 4