HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-22-2016 --"---"46, .
CCiY OF �
� "� City Council Study Session
RC"All ' February 22, 2016 - 5:30 PM
V Auburn CitY Hall
WASHINGTON MINUTES
I. 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.
A. Roll Call
Councilmembers present: Deputy Mayor Largo Wales, Bob Baggett,
John Holman, Bill Peloza, Yolanda Trout-Manuel, and Rich
Wagner. Councilmember Claude DaCorsi was excused.
City officials, department directors and staff members present
included: Mayor Nancy Backus, City Attorney Daniel B. Heid, Police
Chief Bob Lee, Director of Administration Dana Hinman, Economic
Development Manager Doug Lein, Assistant Director of Engineering
Services/City Engineer Ingrid Gaub, Planning Services Manager Jeff
Dixon, Innovation and Technology Director Paul Haugan, Parks,
Arts and Recreation Director Daryl Faber, Arts Coordinator Maija
McKnight, Arts and Events Manager Julie Krueger, Finance Director
Shelley Coleman, Human Resources and Risk
Management Director Rob Roscoe, and Deputy City Clerk Shawn
Campbell.
II. AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION
A. Auburn Avenue Theater Update (15 Minute Presentation/30 Minute
Q&A) (Faber)
Director Faber explained the City is approximately half way though
its lease agreement for the Auburn Avenue Theater. The City will
need to start planning early for the future of the theater.
Director Faber stated staff is considering four scenarios. Scenario
No. 1 is to continue the lease program as it is now. Scenario No. 2 is
purchase the theater outright and make needed upgrades. Scenario
No. 3 is to purchase the theater and rebuild the interior and Scenario
No. 4 to allow for a property acquisition opportunities to develop a
theater at a different site. He explained the City would apply for
grants for long term investments in the Theater, but the granting
jurisdiction will require the City to have more than a lease prior to
awarding funds.
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Councilmember Holman stated the community needs a venue of this
type and size.
Councilmember Wagner stated he would like to see the lobby and
back space upgraded. He also wants to ensure the historic feel of
the theater is maintained.
Councilmember Peloza asked if the City can vacate the alley
between the theater and the adjacent property. Director Faber
stated that is something that is under consideration.
B. Expiration of Existing Temporary and Portable Sign Allowance (5
Minute Presentation/5 Minute Q&A (Snyder)
Planning Services Manager Dixon presented Council with the
temporary sign code allowances. The City implemented temporary
sign code allowances to allow additional signs. The temporary sign
code allowances have been extended four times, and there is a
sunset clause. The options staff are asking Council to consider are:
adopt a new ordinance to extend the temporary allowances or adopt
a new ordinance that permanently incorporates the allowances into
the sign code.
Councilmember Holman stated these allowances were originally put
in place during the great recession. The City has not fully
recovered. He would like to see the allowances incorporated into
the sign code permanently.
Councilmember Wagner stated the comprehensive sign plan needs
to include electronic signs.
Councilmember Baggett stated he wants to be careful to mitigate the
light pollution from electronic signs.
C. Capital Project Status Report and GIS Tool (10 Minute
Presentation/5 Minute Q&A) (Snyder)
Assistant City Engineer Sweeting and Capital Projects Manager
Vondrak presented Council with the Capital Projects Status report
incorporating the new GIS tool on the City website.
Deputy Mayor Wales asked how often the data is updated and who
is responsible to input the data. Capital Projects Manager Vondrak
explained the project managers are responsible for inputting the
data for each of their projects and keeping the information up to
date.
Council questioned the unspent funds for preservation projects.
Mayor Backus explained the underspending on the preservation
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projects is partially a philosophy discussion. There are too many
projects to get done so staff on paper, but the number of proposed
projects are not realistic with time allowances and current staffing.
D. 4th Quarter 2015 Financial Report (10 Minute Presentation/5 Minute
Q&A) (Coleman)
Director Coleman provided Council with the 2015 year end final
report. She reminded Council this is the cash basis report. She
stated the revenues came in $2 million over what was anticipated,
and the expenditures were $3 million less than budgeted. Some of
the taxes came in below what was anticipated, and the sales tax for
construction came in higher than anticipated.
Councilmember Holman asked about the General Fund summary.
He asked why there is a negative amount in the transfer-in category.
Director Coleman explained this is from an Innovation and
Technology transfer that was anticipated but did not happen.
Councilmember Peloza stated the Cemetery Fund looks great. He
stated the animal licensing looks like it is improving. Director
Coleman stated the City has issued less licenses in 2015 than
in 2014.
E. Council Retreat Goals (5 Minute Presentation/10 Minute Q&A)
(Hinman)
Economic Development Manager Lein updated Council on progress
on the Council Retreat Goal of "Increase of Middle Income Jobs". He
explained the growth of middle income jobs is important
because they are the jobs that create expendable incomes. He is
working with various partners to develop stronger resources in the
community to allow residents the ability to attain the middle income
jobs and have the resources to keep them. He explained the
Economic Development Plan that is currently being developed will
have strategies to assist with this goal.
Councilmember Wagner stated he is interested in making sure the
incentives that are offered to companies will work.
III. EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 7:17 p.m., Deputy Mayor Wales recessed the meeting to executive
session for approximately ten minutes in order to discuss
pending/potential litigation pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i). City
Attorney Heid, Director Roscoe and Director Coleman attended the
executive session. No action was anticipated following the executive
session.
The meeting was reconvened at 7:27 p.m.
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IV. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting
adjourned at 7:27 p.m.
APPROVED THIS 3 DAY OF , 2017.
L g W es, Deputy Mayor Shawn Campbell, Deputy City Clerk
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