HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-30-2017 MinutesCITY OF w City Council Study Session
'' January 30, 2017 - 530 PM
B 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 of the Auburn
City Hall, 25 West Main Street in Auburn.
A. Roll Call
Councilmembers present: Deputy Mayor Largo Wales, Bob Baggett, Claude DaCorsi, John
Holman, Bill Peloza, Yolanda Trout -Manuel, and Rich Wagner.
Mayor Nancy Backus and the following department directors and staff members were present:
City Attorney Daniel B. Heid, Assistant Chief of Police Bill Pierson, Human Resources and Risk
Management Director Rob Roscoe, Human Services Coordinator Erica Aczueta, Human Services
Program Assistant Emily Pearson, Director of Administration Dana Hinman, Economic
Development Manager Doug Lein, Assistant Director of Community Development Services Jeff
Tate, Innovation and Technology Director Paul Haugan, and Deputy City Clerk Shawn Campbell.
B. Announcements
Deputy Mayor Wales acknowledged members of the audience and clarified that the meeting this
evening is a study session where no public testimony is taken. She encouraged those in the
audience who wished to address the Council, to attend the next regular meeting of the Council and
address the Council during the audience participation portion of the agenda.
C. Agenda Modifications
The agenda was modified as follows: Resolution No. 5279 was removed from the agenda, the
Council Travel Policy was added to the agenda, Ordinance No. 6637 regarding impact fees and the
fee schedule was added to the agenda, and the Council ad hoc committee report on the honoring
naming for former Mayor Pete Lewis.
II. CONSENT AGENDA
Consent Agenda items are not considered at study sessions. There was no Consent Agenda item.
III. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Human Services Workshop (Hinman)
An overview of the City's Human Services activities.
Director of Administration Hinman, Human Services Program Coordinator Azcueta, and Human
Services Assistant Pearson. presented an overview of the City's human services activities, including
General Fund human services priorities and funding, community services, the Human Services
Committee, source of income discrimination endeavors throughout the region and collaboration
with regional housing partners.
Director Hinman reported human services funds equal one percent of the City's General Fund.
The funds are allocated through a biennial competitive application process. The funding priorities
were set over ten years ago and include poverty reduction, child abuse and neglect prevention,
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domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and services, and health care services. Director
Hinman reviewed the funding breakdown for the 2017-2018 funds for each priority.
Councilmembers requested additional information regarding the non-competitive portion of human
services funding provided by the City.
Director Hinman explained the application process where organizations submit applications
through the Human Service Funders Collaborative, a joint application process with 18 other King
County cities (began in 2013). Applications are submitted to the City's Human Services
Committee and evaluated. In 2016, 70 programs applied and 46 were selected for funding.
The City of Auburn Human Services Committee is comprised of seven (7) members (per ACC
2.36). Applications are submitted to the City's Human Services Committee and evaluated. In
2016, the Committee instituted new strategies to streamline their work. The committee will add
more site visits in the 17-18 funding cycle.
Councilmembers asked if the city can fund a way to measure the outcomes related to the funds
spent in order to determine the effectiveness of the programs.
B. Income and Voucher Discrimination and Safety for Diverse Communities
Councilmember DaCorsi recalled the Council previously received a presentation from King County
Housing Authority on Section 8 housing and income and voucher discrimination from landlords.
Source of income discrimination can also occur for those who are on pensions, social security and
other government programs.
Joy Scott, Seattle -King County Planner for the Housing Development Consortium of Seattle- King
County, described occurrences of rent discrimination in South King County. She noted cities of
Renton and Kent have passed ordinances prohibiting source of income discrimination. Also, King
County has some source of income discrimination prevention policies.
Councilmember DaCorsi explained the Section 8 tenant -based voucher application process and
periodic opening of the waiting list.
In response to questions from Deputy Mayor Wales, Ms. Scott stated it is too early to gauge the
success of City of Renton ordinance prohibiting source of income discrimination.
Councilmember Wagner questioned why the Rental Housing Association is against the proposed
source of income discrimination. Mayor Backus stated she believes the Rental Housing
Association is not opposed to source of income regulations applied to Section 8 vouchers but not
all income sources or rent control.
Councilmember Wagner requested an opportunity to hear from the Rental Housing Association
again before making a decision on source of income discrimination regulations.
Councilmember Holman requested feedback from the cities of Renton, Redmond and Kent on the
effectiveness of their source of income discrimination regulations related to rental housing.
Deputy Mayor Wales explained the second part of the agenda item relates to safety for diverse
communities and review of the city's inclusive city resolution. She asked for comments from
Council.
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Councilmember Wagner recalled in 2008 the City Council passed Resolution No. 4345 committing
to an inclusive city. He stated it should be featured in the next newsletter or Mayor's Update.
Councilmember Holman stated the inclusive city resolution has been in place for nine years and
should be modernized and updated to reflect Auburn's circumstances. Councilmembers DaCorsi
and Peloza agreed.
Deputy Mayor Wales objected to the word "citizen" in the resolution and thinks it should read
"resident" instead. She stated is should also reflect personal safety and affirm human rights.
City Attorney Heid stated the information he collected regarding sanctuary cities revealed that each
city was different in their message and there was no consistency in their statements. He cautioned
against language that could be construed by the federal government as a sanctuary city.
Deputy Mayor Wales suggested an ad hoc con-Anittee to review the City's inclusive city resolution.
Deputy Mayor Wales appointed Councilmembers Trout -Manuel, DaCorsi and Baggett to the ad
hoc committee.
At 7:01 p.m., Deputy Mayor Wales recessed for ten minutes for a brief intermission. The meeting
was reconvened at 7:11 p.m.
C. Council Travel Budget
The ad hoc committee to study Council travel policies, comprised of Councilmember Peloza
(chair), Councilmember Trout -Manuel and Councilmember Baggett reported on their
recommendations.
Councilmember Peloza provided a brief summary of the ad hoc committee's meetings and work
on the travel policy and referred to the policy as contained in the agenda packet. The policy will
ultimately be incorporated as part of the Council Rules and Procedures.
Councilmember Holman suggested the policy should contain a statement on the purpose of
Council travel.
Councilmember DaCorsi suggested a stronger statement to take advantage of early registration
discounts. He also suggested allowance for Sister Cities travel.
D. Ordinance No. 6637
Economic Development Manager Lein, Assistant Director of Community Development Services
Tate, and City Attorney Heid presented Ordinance No. 6637 relating to impact fee exemptions.
Manager Lein stated the reason the ordinance is being brought forward is to incentivize
development in the downtown area:.
Assistant Director Tate explained the ordinance covers several actions that allow developers to
receive fee reductions on their development in the downtown catalyst area so that the City can
realize future property and sales tax benefits from currently undeveloped and underdeveloped
properties in the downtown core. Under current state law and local regulations, the City is able to
make adjustments to certain fees charged to private sector development and to fees charged for
building review, planning and engineering review, including the facility extension agreement process
and for park and transportation impact fees.
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Traffic and park impact fees cannot be waived, so any impact fees not paid by the developer must
be paid by the City. Traffic impact fees can range from $100,000 to $500,000.
Ordinance No. 6637 would amend City Code to exempt 75 percent of the park impact fee charged
by the City applicable to those parcels located in the downtown catalyst area. Additionally, the
City's Master Fee Schedule would be modified to authorize a 75 percent reduction in fees for
building review, planning review and engineering review inclusive of the facilities extension
agreement process applicable to only those parcels located in the downtown catalyst area. Traffic
impact fees would also be exempted for those parcels in the downtown catalyst area. Similar
exemptions have sunset.
Finance Director Coleman explained that sales tax from construction is dedicated to streets. The
exempted impact fees must be paid by the City and will need to be budgeted.
E. Honorary Naming for Pete Lewis
Councilmember Trout -Manuel; on behalf of the ad hoc committee studying honorary naming for
former Mayor Peter B. Lewis, reported on the committee's activities to date. She stated she and
Councilmember Baggett reduced the number of locations/sites from the initial seven to four
primary locations:
Auburn Lake on West Hill
Auburn Environmental Park
Auburn M Street SE Underpass
Auburn 20 -acre parking along Green River on 104th Street SE
Former Mayor Lewis suggested the lake on West Hill as the site for an honorary naming.
Councilmembers agreed with the wishes of the former Mayor and were agreeable with either the
lake on West Hill or the Environmental Park.
Councilmember Holman pointed outthe Park Board duties include naming city parks and he
questioned whether the honorary naming should be initiated through the Park Board. City Attorney
Heid stated he would clarify the process at the next regular meeting.
IV. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m.
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APPROVED THIS '`= DAY OF 2018.
Shawn Campbell, City Clerk
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