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Home My WebLink About01-09-2017 Minutes. City Council Study Session January 9, 2017 5:30 PM Auburn City Hall VA§HINGTN,MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Deputy Mayor Wales called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street in Auburn. (For the record, no audio of the meeting exists due to technical malfunctions of the recording equipment.) A. Roll Call City Councilmembers present: Deputy Mayor Largo Wales, Bob Baggett, Claude DaCorsi, John Holman, Bill Peloza, Yolanda Trout -Manuel and Rich Wagner. Mayor Nancy Backus was also present. Department directors and staff members in attendance included: City Attorney Daniel B. Heid, Finance Director Shelley Coleman, Innovation and Technology Director Paul Haugan, Economic Development Manager Doug Lein, Community Development and Public Works Director Kevin Snyder, Director of Administration Dana Hinman, Police Commander Jamie Sidell, Assistant Director of Engineering Services/City Engineer Ingrid Gaub, and City Clerk Danielle Daskam. AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION A. Council Discussion on Retreat Goals _ Affordable Housing and Family Wage Jobs Presentation by Stephen Norman, King County Housing Authority Councilmember DaCorsi introduced Stephen Norman, Executive Director of King County Housing Authority. Mr. Norman spoke regarding the King County Housing Authority's subsidized housing programs, particularly the Section 8 Voucher Program. There are currently 20,400 households in King County assisted by the subsidized housing program. Section 8 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 provides support to low-income renters living in private housing. There is a limited number of vouchers allocated in any region of the country. Of the 20,400 households in King County, approximately 850 are tenant based voucher holders or four percent of the countywide total. For those households receiving assistance from King County Housing Authority, 30% are elderly residents, 30% are disabled, and 40% are Page 1_ of 4 families with children. There are over 14,000 children housed every night in King County Housing Authority subsidized housing. It was noted the City of Kent may be considering an ordinance modeled after the City of Redmond's to provide protections to Section 8 voucher holders against source of income discrimination. Mr. Norman explained the City of Redmond ordinance was a result of one of Redmond's large property owners terminating all of their Section 8 voucher holder tenancies. The large property owner/landlord later rescinded the terminations, but many of the residents never returned. The City of Redmond took action to adopt an ordinance which bans discrimination against Section 8 voucher holders. Deputy Mayor Wales questioned the eviction rate for Section 8 certificate holders. Mr. Norman stated the rate of eviction for Section 8 tenants is very low. Councilmember Trout -Manuel asked about domestic violence victims access to Section 8 vouchers. Mr. Norman stated that King County Housing Authority, in partnership with other organizations, offers many types of support services. Mr. Norman stated that during the last Section 8 voucher open enrollment, over 22,000 applications were received for the approximate 2,500 spots on the waiting list. Deputy Mayor Wales requested that the January 30, 2017 Council Study Session agenda include an item on income/voucher discrimination and safety for diverse communities. B. Ordinance No. 6634 (Hinman) An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Auburn, Washington, amending Sections 2.76.020, 2.76.040, 2.77.010, 2.77.020, 2.77.040 and 2.77.050 of the Auburn City Code relating to the City's tourism promotional efforts Economic Development Manager Doug Lein presented Ordinance No. 6634 amending sections of the City Code relating to the Lodging Tax Advisory Board and the Auburn Tourism Board. The purpose of the ordinance is to eliminate overlapping responsibilities and functions and condense the number of meetings necessary to carry out the functions of both groups. Councilmember Peloza recommended substituting language in Section 2.76.020(D) with: "One elected official appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council shall serve as Chair of the Auburn Lodging Tax Advisory Committee." Councilmember Peloza also noted scrivener's errors on page 4 of the ordinance. It was noted that State law requires an elected official on the Lodging Tax Advisory Board. Page 2 of 4 Deputy Mayor Wales suggested a Councilmember liaison on the Tourism Board. C. Ordinance No. 6635 (Coleman) An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Auburn, Washington, amending Sections 3.04.600 and 3.04.610 of the Auburn City Code relating to funds Finance Director Shelley Coleman presented Ordinance No. 6635. The ordinance establishes a petty cash fund for the Pantry at the Senior Center in the amount of $1,500.00, which will permit the Senior Center's volunteer shopper to take advantage of cost savings. The Senior Center Pantry is open two days a month and offers seniors the opportunity to shop for low-cost foods. Cost savings are achieved through the purchase of bulk food and re -packaging into individual sizes. The ordinance also removes reference to the Municipal Court and Detention Facility change funds and the Municipal Court petty cash fund. D. Hybrid Study Session Format Deputy Mayor Wales recessed the meeting at 6:39 p.m. for a five minute intermission. The meeting was reconvened at 6;43 p.m. Councilmember Wagner, chair of the ad hoc committee to study the Council structure and study session format, presented a PowerPoint of the Hybrid Study Session format. Councilmember Wagner reviewed the Council special focus areas and scopes of authority. The four special focus areas are: Public Works and Community Development, Municipal Services, Health and Human Services, and Finance and Economic Development. Councilmember Wagner reviewed a calendar and schedule of typical meetings under the hybrid study session format. He also reviewed sample agendas for Council meetings and study sessions with special focus areas. Councilmember Wagner presented a sample matrix; one matrix would be maintained for all special focus area topics. The topics for discussion will be grouped by focus area. Councilmember Wagner recommended removing any reference to Committee of the Whole; the fifth Monday of the month would be reserved for a Council Study Session that would focus on Council rules, operations, and other topics as necessary. The Council then discussed selection of Special Focus Area chairs and whether vice chairs should be designated. Councilmembers discussed the use of ad hoc committees, which shall have no more than three Councilmembers and shall serve for a stated Page 3 of 4 period of time. Deputy Mayor Wales suggested that the Council review the Hybrid Study Session Format at the next Study Session to allow further study and opportunity for any clarification. Councilmember DaCorsi suggested any further questions or concerns be directed to the chair of the ad hoc committee, Councilmember Wagner. E. Council Travel Budget Deputy Mayor Wales reported she met with Finance Director Coleman to discuss methods for Council to manage their own travel budget. Deputy Mayor Wales asked for volunteers for an ad hoc committee to study and create a policy for Council travel. Councilmember Peloza volunteered to serve as chair of the ad hoc committee, and Councilmembers Baggett and Trout -Manuel will serve as additional members. Mayor Backus stated Finance Director Coleman will provide staff support for the ad hoc committee. The ad hoc committee will report to the City Council at the February 13th study session. F. Council One -on -One Versus Two -on -One Meetings with the Mayor Deputy Mayor Wales inquired whether Councilmembers preferred their meetings with the Mayor with another Councilmember or on a one=on-one basis with the Mayor. Councilmember Trout -Manuel stated she believed she got more information out of meetings with the Mayor with another Councilmember in attendance. There was no objection from Mayor Backus or members of the Council to change the meetings with the Mayor to two Council members. G. Annual Selection of Deputy Mayor Deputy Mayor Wales requested volunteers to serve on an ad hoc committee relating to the annual selection of Deputy Mayor. Councilmembers DaCorsi, Peloza, Trout -Manuel volunteered. The ad hoc committee will report back to the City Council at the March 13th Study Session. Ill. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m. APt d of , 20't. L\ARGO WALES. DEPUTY MAYOR Danielle Daskam, City Clerk Page 4 of 4