HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-10-2015 crrY.:oF. _" City Council Study Session
a :
D August 10, 2015 - 5:30 PM
Auburn City Ball
,. 'M WASHINGTON MINUTES
I. CALL.TO ORDER.
Deputy Mayor John Holman called the meeting to order at 5:37 p.m. in the
Council Chambers at Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street in Auburn.
A. Roll Call
City Councilmembers present: Deputy Mayor Holman, Rich Wagner, Bill
Peloza, Largo Wales, Claude DaCorsi and Yolanda Trout. Councilmember
Wayne Osborne was excused.
Department Directors and staff members present included: Community
Development and Public Works Director Kevin Snyder, Public Affairs and
Marketing Liaison Dana Hinman, Innovation and Technology Customer
Support Manager Reba Stowe, City Attorney Daniel B. Heid, Human
Resources Director Rob Roscoe, Finance Director Shelley Coleman, Police
Commander Mike Hirman, Economic Development Manager Doug Lein,
Assistant Director of Engineering Services/City Engineer Ingrid
Gaub, Engineering Aide Amber Price, Urban Design Planner Lauren
Flemister, and Deputy City Clerk Shawn Campbell.
II. AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION
A. Façade Improvement Program Update (15 Minute Presentation/15 Minute
Q&A) (Hursh)
Urban Design Planner Flemister introduced the Facade Improvement
Program. The official kick off of the program was in June 2015. The
program has many steps for implementation including program education
for local businesses., launch of the website, contacting interested parties,
preliminary assessments, preparing budgets and quotes, businesses to
apply for a grant to receive conceptual design services, businesses
preparing the applications, businesses submittal of the application, permit
review and finally construction and payment of purchase orders. Currently
the City has received several applications and many others have
expressed an interest in the program.
Councilmember Wagner asked what the maximum allowed per grant was
for each business and what is the matching requirement. Urban Design
Planner Flemister stated the maximum grant.is$30,500.00 for a project
that has a total budget of over $50,000.00 or more. The first $5,000 is pure
grant without any matching funds required.
Councilmember DaCorsi stated this is an impressive program. He asked if
there are additional businesses interested in the program. Urban Design
Planner Flemister stated there are many other businesses that have
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expressed an interest in the program. She stated the businesses in this
initial year seem to need a lot of assistance and support designing
concepts and creating ideas for improvements.
Councilmember Peloza stated the total annual budget for this program is
$100,000.00. Urban Design Planner Flemister said some of the proposed.
improvements are substantial.
Councilmember Wales stated it is important during the first year of the
program to set high standards.
B. Economic Development.Update (15 Minute Presentation / 5 Minute Q&A)
(H u rsh)
Economic Development.Manager Lein reviewed the mid year totals
regarding permits submitted and the permit values, business licensing and
tax revenue earned. The permits for single family homes have gone down.
Before the housing crash there were a lot of available lots, those lots have
mostly now been built out. Developers will have to start from scratch to
build new homes. He reviewed the various new businesses that have
opened in the City, businesses that have expanded and current projects.
Councilmember Wagner asked if the 10 Year Economic Development
Plan includes information about demographics outside the City concerning
the market region. Economic Development Manager Lein explained this will
be a part of the scope of work.
Councilmember DaCorsi asked if the City has an idea of business
retention percentages. Economic Development Manager Lein explained
there has been a numb er of home based business that have closed. The
new businesses seem to have more storefronts and employees.
Councilmember Holman stated the Business Development Workshops are
a great asset to existing businesses.
C. Right-of-Way Vacation No. V4-14 (10 Minute Presentation / 20 Minute
Q&A) (Snyder)
City Attorney Heid stated the discussion needs to deal only with the City's
interest in the right-of-way. The property dispute between the property
owners has nothing to do with the right-of-way vacation.
Councilmember Peloza asked for additional detail on how the City acquired
the right-of-way. Assistant Director of Engineering Gaub stated the right-of-
way was dedicated to King County in 1944 and the City of Auburn acquired
the right-of-way when the City annexed the area.
Councilmember Wales stated the decision before the Council is only if the
City wishes to vacate the right-of-way.
Councilmember Wales stated the former Public Works Committee
requested City staff to start to use the Auburn City Code 12.48 that states
compensation may be required.
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III. OTHER DISCUSSION ITEMS
Councilmember Peloza asked about the Trillium employees at the City. He
requested a Study Session discussion on how the City uses the Trillium
employees. Councilmember Wagner requested it be a broader discussion to
include employees with disabilities.
Councilmember DaCorsi stated he would like to have a discussion on what
could happen if there was a sequestration.
Councilmember Wagner stated he would like to know how many federal grants
have been issued to the City.
IV. EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 6:50 p.m. Mayor Backus recessed the meeting to executive session
for approximately 30 minutes in order to discuss pending litigation pursuant to
RCW 42.30.110(1)(i). City.Attorney Heid, Assistant City Attorney Watcher,
Human Resources and Risk Management Director Roscoe and Finance
Director Coleman attended the executive session. It was indicated no action
would follow the executive session.
V. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned
at 7:22 p.m.
APIJ4tD D this 1ii/A y of AA pril, 2016.
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j =7-0 ES°i l TY MAYOR a ►n Campbel , Deputy City Clerk
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