HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-13-2017 MinutesWASHINGTON
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION AND
SPECIAL FOCUS AREA
MARCH 13, 2017 — 5:30 PM
Auburn City Hall
MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
Deputy Mayor Wales called the meeting to order at 5:31 and found no
quorum. The call to order was paused for approximately ten minutes to
allow a fourth Councilmember to arrive to create a quorum. Deputy Mayor
Wales called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m.
A. Roll Call
Councilmembers present: Deputy Mayor Wales, Bob Baggett,
Claude DaCorsi, and Rich Wagner. Councilmembers John
Holman, Bill Peloza, and Yolanda Trout -Manuel were excused.
Mayor Nancy Backus and the following department directors and
staff members were present: Innovation and Technology Director
Paul Haugan, Police Chief Bob Lee, City Attorney Daniel B. Heid,
Finance Director Shelley Coleman, Community Development and
Public Works Director Kevin Snyder, Assistant Director of
Engineering Services/City Engineer Ingrid Gaub, Utilities
Engineering Manager Lisa Tobin, Chief City Prosecutor Harry
Boesche, Police Detective Jon Postawa, Director of Administration
Dana Hinman, and City Clerk Danielle Daskam.
II. ANNOUNCEMENT, REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS
There was no announcement.
III. AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION
A. IT Digital Parity Update
Innovation and Technology Director Haugan presented the first
quarter update on digital parity using a PowerPoint presentation.
Director Haugan recalled the Council set a goal to increase internet
access to achieve digital parity by 80 percent by the year 2020.
Director Haugan spoke about the expansion of wireless access
points in south Auburn and along Auburn Way North. IT staff are
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City of Auburn Council Meetina Minutes. March 13, 2017
working on a complete update of internal IT practices and
procedures. Major progress has been made in expanding fiber
optics to Lea Hill, which brings high speed fiber optic connection to
the Police Lea Hill substation. This will also allow the extension of
Access Auburn to the Lea Hill area. The City's fiber optic network
is now ready for regional extension to support the Community
Connectivity Consortium. Director Haugan noted the expansion of
fiber optics was achieved through private -public partnership with
the help of Legal staff and Community Development and Public
Works staff. The fiber optic expansion cost estimate was originally
$1.5 million but was achieved at no cost to the City through private -
public partnership.
B. City Slogan
Deputy Mayor Wales reported this discussion item was generated
by Councilmembers. She indicated that there has been discussion
over the years that the current slogan doesn't reflect what's really
happening in Auburn.
There was consensus the slogan needs to be changed.
Councilmember DaCorsi cautioned that rebranding is expensive.
Councilmember Baggett expressed concern with the cost of a new
slogan and how it would be implemented.
Mayor Backus stated city slogans are waning, and a slogan is used
for a campaign or a specific purpose. Deputy Mayor Wales
agreed.
Councilmember Baggett suggested creating a committee for any
change to the slogan.
Deputy Mayor Wales suggested not having a slogan. She stated
the current slogan has worked well for the City's parks and arts
programs.
Councilmember Baggett questioned the economic development
aspect of a slogan.
Councilmember Baggett agreed to gather further information on
other cities' slogans and bring the information to a future Council
study session.
C. City Committee and Board Appointments
Deputy Mayor Wales acknowledged City Attorney Heid's handout
of Boards and Commissions and appointment provisions.
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City of Auburn Council Meetin4.Minutes March 13, 2017
Councilmember Wagner suggested amending the code provisions
so that all Boards and Commissions have similar verbiage and
language.
City Attorney Heid stated the Civil Service Commission, Planning
Commission and the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC)
language is taken from state statutes. Many of the other Boards
and Commissions are unique to Auburn.
Councilmember Wagner questioned the term "serve at the pleasure
of the Council' in some of the Board and Commission provisions.
City Attorney Heid stated the verbiage for the LTAC is taken from
the state statute.
Deputy Mayor Wales suggested clarification on minimum
membership requirements for appointees and a limit to the number
of Boards and Commissions an individual can serve on.
Deputy Mayor Wales suggested the Council review appointments
at study sessions. Mayor Backus stated sometimes it is difficult to
recruit individuals for volunteer Boards and Commissions, and
open debate of committee and board volunteers at study sessions
may reduce the pool of appointees. Councilmember Baggett.
questioned debating the qualifications of appointees in public, since
the information is made available to Councilmembers prior to
confirmation.
Councilmember DaCorsi stated he would like input from the three
other Councilmembers who are not in attendance this evening. He
suggested the City make it a simple enough process to volunteer
while at the same time ensure the best and most qualified are
appointed to the Boards and Commissions.
Deputy Mayor Wales suggested referring this item to the next study
session.
Deputy Mayor Wales expressed concern with conflicts of interest.
D. Airport Management Services Contract
Community Development and Public Works Director Snyder
presented the Airport Management Services Contract along with
Assistant Director of Engineering Services/City Engineer Gaub and
Jamelle Garcia, principal of Airport Management Group LLC.
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City of Auburn -Council Meetina Minutes. March 13, 2017
Director Snyder provided a brief update on the progress of the
contract negotiations.
Director Snyder reported staff and Airport Management Group are
close to finalizing the contract with the issue of prevailing wages
the only item not settled.
Mr. Garcia assured the Council that both sides are working
diligently to finalize the contract. He stated the prevailing wage
provision is a concern due to reporting requirements, fees, and
increased wages.
Assistant Director Gaub explained other changes in the contract
clarify responsibility.
Director Snyder stated it is anticipated the contract will be settled
this week and available for Council consideration at the next
regular meeting.
Councilmember Baggett brought up recent emergency repairs to a
hangar. Councilmember Baggett requested assurance that the
new contract provides for periodic inspections of the facility.
Director Snyder stated Airport Management Group routinely
inspects the facility and brought the hangar beam issue to the
City's attention. A more intensive inspection process will be built
into the airport business practices.
Councilmember Wagner suggested a glossary for the contract.
Councilmember Wagner also recommended adding a provision
that would allow Airport Management Group to bring forward
suggested capital improvements.
Councilmember DaCorsi suggested the City utilize a position of a
Comprehensive Needs Assessment Analyst for facilities.
Councilmembers discussed the potential for a longer term contract
for airport management services rather than the two year
agreement proposed. Director Snyder stated staff and Airport
Advisory Board members agreed it is a good practice to periodically
request for proposals for airport management services. There has
been no issue with the provision of services by Airport
Management Group.
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City of Auburn Council Meeting Minutes March 13, 2017
E. Regional Water Supply Discussion
Utilities Engineering Manager Tobin led the presentation on the
regional water supply discussion.
In October 2015, staff discussed with the City Council two options
for meeting future water supply demands and for providing
redundant supplies when existing supplies are out of service for
maintenance and rehabilitation. These options fall into two
categories: 1) investing in Auburn -owned supplies, or 2)
purchasing additional regional water supply from Tacoma Public
Utilities and the Cascade Water Alliance.
Under the terms of the 2013 agreement with Cascade Water
Alliance, the City must notify Cascade Water Alliance by June30,
2017, if it intends to purchase additional regional water supply in
addition to the regional water supply that Auburn has already
purchased from Cascade and Tacoma.
Staff is meeting with Cascade Water Alliance in late March to
discuss the water supply option, and is seeking the City Council's
affirmation of its previous decision to invest in Auburn. -owned
sources rather than purchase additional regional water supply.
There was no objection to staff s recommendation to invest in
Auburn -owned water sources rather than purchase additional
regional water.
IV. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Domestic Violence Enforcement and Prosecution Report
Police Detective Jon Postawa and Chief Prosecutor Harry Boesche
presented a report on domestic violence enforcement and
prosecution. Detective Postawa processes the majority of the
domestic violence felony cases along with one other detective.
Domestic violence is any crime against a family or household
member. It is the Police Department's policy to document any
incident where a crime is suspected and verbal domestic disputes
where probable cause cannot be established.
Detective Postawa reviewed the domestic violence statistics for the
last four years in Auburn. There are roughly 2,000 domestic
violence cases in the city each year; approximately half are verbal
only. Cases are typically generated by Patrol after being
dispatched to a call for service. Misdemeanor cases to the City
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City of Auburn .Council Meeting Minutes March 13, 2017
Prosecutor. Felony cases go to the major crimes detectives and
are then filed with the county.
Detective Postawa stated that in most of his felony cases, he can
see a progression of the violence from a verbal argument, to a
misdemeanor case, and then a felony incident. Detective Postawa
referenced a Washington State Institute for Public Policy 2015
study which found that a history of domestic violence is the
greatest predictor of future violent crime, not just future domestic
violence. Additionally, an aggressive, proactive approach to
domestic violence can reduce all violent crime. Domestic violence
perpetrators are more likely to be violent toward others in the
community, especially towards law enforcement. Detective
Postawa discussed the difficulty in predicting domestic violence
and the tools police can use in assessing overall risk.
In order to ensure results with a conviction and protection of
victims, it takes collaboration among police, the prosecutor's office,
advocates, the courts and the community.
Risk assessments on all criminal domestic violence cases assist
victims and domestic violence prevention advocates, identifies
offenders who need higher bail, conditions of release and
appropriate supervision for the courts.
Chief Prosecutor Boesche reported the prosecutor's office currently
has three prosecutors and a fourth will be added in April. The
Legal Department also consists of three paralegals that assist the
prosecutors.
The City's Prosecutor's Office prosecutes misdemeanors, gross
misdemeanors and contested infractions that occur in Auburn city
limits (King or Pierce County). By agreement with the Muckleshoot
Indian Tribe, the prosecutor's office also prosecutes offenses that
occur at the casino and bingo hall. Cases are heard by King
County District Court.
City prosecutors are in court every day. The Prosecutor's Office
receives 60-100 cases for prosecution per week (not counting
infractions, which are usually 75-100 per month). The prosecutors
handle 3,000 to 3,500 criminal cases per year and attend 8,000 to
10,000 criminal case hearings per year.
As stated earlier, domestic violence is virtually any crime committed
between family or household members. Domestic violence can
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City of.Auburn Council Meeting Minutes March 13, 2017
include assault, theft, property damage, trespassing,
harassment/threats, stalking, breaking a no contact order and other
crimes. Penalties differ from other crimes and can include
domestic violence treatment, no contact orders, anger
management, and other treatment.
Chief Prosecutor Boesche explained that once police arrest and jail
a domestic violence suspect, the police report is sent to the
Prosecutor's Office for review and charging. Since the person is in
jail, the prosecutor must decide Whether to proceed with the case
within the next court day after arrest. If the suspect is not arrested
at the time of the incident, the report is sent to the prosecutor for
review. A decision on charging is made in the order the reports are
received. The prosecutors have up to one year from the incident
date to charge a misdemeanor and up to two years from the
incident date to charge a gross misdemeanor.
In response to a question from Deputy Mayor Wales, Chief
Prosecutor Boesche explained, if a no contact order is entered, a
domestic violence suspect has five days to surrender any firearms
or file a declaration of non-surrenderance.
Chief Prosecutor Boesche advised the prosecutors rotate domestic
violence prosecution responsibility among the prosecutors. Each
prosecutor focuses on domestic violence cases for four months
during a year. During their rotation, the prosecutor makes domestic
violence their primary focus, but remains part of the prosecution
team to perform other needed tasks. Likewise, the other
prosecutors are also available and able to prosecute DV cases as
needed. A case will follow a prosecutor until its disposition.
The City Prosecutor's Office received 687 DV cases in 2014 (338
declined); 774 DV cases in 2015 (249 declined); and 731 DV cases
in 2016 (251 declined).
Barriers to domestic violence include: witness/victim refuses to
cooperate, witness/victims cannot be located, witness/victim
dishonors a subpoena to attend trial, witness with credibility issues,
lack of evidence, and questionable/retaliatory motive.
V. OTHER DICUSSION
Deputy Mayor Wales suggested continuation of discussion on the topics
of City Slogan and City Committee and Board Appointments for the next
study session.
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City of Auburn.Council_Meetinp_Minutes March 13, 2017
VI. NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business.
VII. MATRIX
Deputy Mayor Wales requested that Special Focus Area chairs submit
items for the matrix.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
APPROVED this day of eG44,J , 2017.
R O WALES, DEPUTY MAYOR Danielle Daskam, City Clerk
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