HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-27-2017WASHINGTON
I. CALL TO ORDER
Deputy Mayor Wales
Council Chambers of
Auburn.
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION AND
SPECIAL FOCUS AREA
MARCH 27, 2017 — 5:30 PM
Auburn City Hall
MINUTES
called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. in the
Auburn City Hall located at 25 West Main Street in
A. Roll Call
Councilmembers present: Deputy Mayor Largo Wales, Bob
Baggett, Claude DaCorsi, John Holman, Bill Peloza and Yolanda
Trout -Manuel. Councilmember Rich Wagner arrived at 5:31 p.m.
Mayor Nancy Backus and the following department directors and
staff members were present during the meeting: Innovation and
Technology Director Paul Haugan, Parks, Arts and Recreation
Director Daryl Faber, Economic Development Manager Doug Lein,
Human Resources and Risk Management Director Rob Roscoe,
Assistant City Attorney Doug Ruth, Chief of Police Bob Lee, City
Attorney Daniel B. Heid, Assistant Director of Engineering
Services/City Engineer Ingrid Gaub, Assistant Director of
Community Development Services Jeff Tate, Planning Services
Manager Jeff Dixon, Finance Director Shelley Coleman, Director of
Community Development and Public Works Kevin Snyder, and
Deputy City Clerk Shawn Campbell.
II. ANNOUNCEMENT, REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS
There was no announcement, report or presentation.
III. AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION
A. Junior City Council Goals
Deputy Mayor Wales reviewed the Junior City Council. goals for the
upcoming year. Junior Council members are planning to request
to increase the number of their meetings, development of a mission
statement, and a presentation on what they view to be the effect of
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City of Auburn Council Meetina Minutes March 27, 2017
homelessness on students. They also want to make a suggestion
to their curriculum staff at the school district.
Deputy Mayor Wales stated Junior City Councilmembers also
asked to be involved in some of the City Boards and Committees.
Councilmembers Wagner and Peloza requested the Junior City
Council minutes. They could not find any on line.
Councilmember Holman expressed support for the idea that the
Junior City Councilmembers are getting more involved and support
their initiatives. Councilmember Holman hoped to see feedback
from them on the City Council's goals and priorities from a youth
perspective.
The Junior Councilmembers were given the opportunity to apply for
a $1,000 leadership scholarship. Councilmember Holman brought
up the idea for a privately funded Council scholarship for a Junior
City Councilmember.
B. City Slogan
Councilmember Baggett reported to the Council on his research on
the use of City slogans. He stated there are many varied City
slogans. The cost for a new slogan could be around $100,000d or
more.
Deputy Mayor Wales stated it may not be worth having a slogan.
Economic Development Manager Lein reported the economic
development plan consultant recommended against using a slogan
or changing the current one if Council feels there is a need for a
slogan. Manager Lein also stated the tourism consultant
recommended against a city-wide slogan and stated the trend now
is to associate an action slogan to a project or single initiative.
Councilmember Wagner stated his analysis revealed only five
percent of cities have slogans.
Councilmember DaCorsi questioned the cost of removing the
slogan from City signs and stationery. Councilmember DaCorsi
expressed support for using a slogan for a single campaign.
Parks, Arts and Recreation Faber reported the Parks Department
uses the current slogan for particular projects or activities. They
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City of Auburn Council. Meeting Minutes March 27, 2017
have used a method of personalizing it for particular project or
activity.
Councilmembers spoke about phasing out the current slogan and
not spending any additional funds on a slogan.
C. City Committee and Board Appointments
Deputy Mayor Wales stated City Boards and Commissions were
discussed at the last study session, particularly responsibility for
appointment and membership.
City Attorney Heid reported he went through and looked at the
different boards and commissions residency requirements and the
appointment process. City Attorney Heid distributed an updated
handout on appointment and qualification provisions. He also
pointed out his memo in the agenda packet asking two questions:
whether an ex -officio member from the Council is needed for the
Arts Commission (a unique provision to the Arts Commission) and
whether the Council rule designating the Deputy Mayor as an ex
officio member of all ad hoc committees should be retained.. He
cautioned that to include the Deputy Mayor as an ex -officio
member of all ad hoc committees could create a Council quorum,
which would fall within the requirements of the Open Public
Meetings Act.
Councilmember Wagner questioned the new provision on a
limitation for serving on more than one board or commission for
more than six months. City Attorney Heid stated the provision
stemmed from the Council's last discussion. The time frame allows
for an overlap until a new member could be appointed to fill a
vacancy.
Councilmember Peloza stated he is not opposed to a volunteer
serving on more than one committee if there are no other
interested and qualified volunteers.
Councilmember Holman spoke in favor of a diverse and broad
representation on City boards and commissions.
Mayor Backus requested that if the rule is implemented, that for
any current member serving on more than one board or
commission, their term should be allowed to expire.
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In response to questions from Councilmember Trout -Manuel,
Mayor Backus stated members of boards and commissions sign
conflict of interest declarations.
Councilmember Peloza suggested a new provision that any board
or commission member who is voting on a recommendation for a
grant to an organization that they may be associated with should be
recused or prevented from voting on the recommendation.
Deputy Mayor Wales questioned the need for a Council liaison on
boards and commissions.
Councilmember Wagner stated he believes having a liaison is
counter-productive. He served as the Arts Commission liaison and
feels it inhibits the members. Councilmembers Holman and
DaCorsi agreed.
Upon further discussion, City Attorney Heid agreed to bring forward
a proposed ordinance that would make the provisions for all boards
and commission consistent.
D. Ordinance No.. 6645 Final Plat Application No. PLT16-0008,
Wyncrest Division III
Planning Services Manager Dixon presented Ordinance No. 6645,
approving the final plat of Wyncrest Division III.
Schneider Homes Inc. has made application or final plat of
Wyncrest Division. III (previously known as "Frederick Allen")
located on the western terminus of South 298th Place,
approximately 650 feet east of 64th Avenue South in the "West Mill"
area of Auburn. The plat was applied for while in King County and
before annexed to the City of Auburn and was vested under King
County standards.
The final plat is the subdivision of approximately 4.99 acres into 12
single-family residential lots, one tract for access and utilities, one
tract for private open space, and dedication of public right-of-way.
Stormwater from the plat will be sent to the existing pond in
Wyncrest Division I. The preliminary plat was approved by the
Hearing Examiner on August 2, 2010 (PLT08-0018) with 21
conditions.
A Certificate of Improvement was issued by the City Engineer
accepting completion of the plat improvements with the exception
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of the following items, which the developer has bonded for: final lift.
of asphalt, installation of permanent monuments, and raising of
utilities to grade.
Staff recommends approval of the final plat. The ordinance will
appear before the Council at its next regular meeting.
E. Ordinance No. 6647 - Abatement of Public Nuisances
Assistant City Attorney Doug Ruth presented Ordinance No. 6647,
relating to the abatement of public nuisances.
Assistant City Attorney Ruth explained that within the City's system
for code enforcement, there are provisions for recovering from
violators unpaid penalties and abatement costs. Currently,
methods of cost recovery include use of collection agencies,
property liens, and special tax assessments. Ordinance No. 6647
Will clarify the manner of using these cost recover options.
The ordinance organizes the cost recovery provisions in code
providing a clearer outline of the City's tools, the provisions for
each collection method are separated and detailed.
Deputy Mayor Wales recessed the meeting at 7:15 for
approximately five minutes for a brief intermission.
The meeting was reconvened at 7:25 p.m.
F. Les Gove Park 911 Phones
Parks, Arts and Recreation Director Faber and Innovation and
Technology Director Haugan updated the Council about the
potential use of 911 blue light style security phones at Les Gove
Park Campus.
Director Faber reported there is a stakeholder group that meets
every two months for the Les Gove Park Campus working on
security and other issues affecting the campus area. Director
Faber spoke about security measures they have taken: designated
police parking stall, additional bike officer, removed some picnic
tables, and limbed up trees for better lines of sight. He reported
Arcadia House is able to stay open until 10:00 a.m. rather than
releasing youth at 7:00 a.m.
Director Haugan spoke about the potential installation of blue light
911 emergency phones and the usage of the phones.
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Director Faber and Director Haugan also spoke about the use of
new 360 -degree surveillance cameras in the campus area.
The phone tower, without wireless and the camera, is
approximately $4,000. Director Faber stated the expense is
already budgeted.
IV. FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSION ITEMS
At this time, Councilmember Baggett, chair of the Finance and Economic
Development Special Focus area presided over the meeting..
A. 4th Quarter 2016 Financial Report
Finance Director Coleman presented the fourth quarter 2016 Finance
Report. She provided an overview of the City's overall financial
position for the fiscal period ending December 31, 2016.
She reported General Fund revenues totaled $64.2 million compared
to a budget of $60.2 million and were $3.2 million more than revenues
collected in 2015. -
All expenditures were within budget.
Councilmembers discussed revenues from property taxes, sales taxes,
gambling taxes, utility taxes, building permits, business licenses, pet
licensing, recreation fees, and development service fees.
Finance Director Coleman and Community Development and Public
Works Director Snyder responded to questions from Council regarding
pet licensing and a proposal from Auburn Valley Humane Society to
perform the pet licensing collection.
Finance Director Coleman reported utility taxes came in higher than
anticipated. The telephone tax continues to decrease.
Director Coleman reviewed the street funds, proprietary funds, utility
funds, and ending fund balance.
B. Ordinance No. 6646 - Budget Amendment No. 1
Finance Director Coleman presented Ordinance No. 6646,
representing Budget Amendment No. 1 for the 2017-2018 Biennial
Budget.
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City of Auburn .Council Meeting Minutes March 27, 2017
The main purpose of the first budget amendment of the year is to carry
forward remaining 2016 budget authority for identified programs and
projects that were budgeted in 2016 but not completed. The
requested unspent budget authority from 2016 to be carried forward
into the 2017 budget year for all funds is $15,352,289.
Additional items included in the amendment are recognition of new
revenue, either grants or transfers in from other supporting funds,
requests to change budget authority for projects, and requests for
funding for projects and other costs not anticipated in the 2017
Budget.
The budget amendment also includes new requests for a transfer from
the General Fund to the Cumulative Reserve Fund, transfers to
replenish the Insurance Fund, corrections to the Police budgets,
funding for public arts, costs for a utility rate study, IT security
software, additional funding for replacement vehicles, temporary help,
badge security, police grants, parks grants, and new funding for Police
recruiting and onboarding.
C. Economic Development Update
Economic Development Manager Lein presented an economic
development update using a PowerPoint handout and slides. He noted
a correction to the number of business licenses issued in 2016 as 291.
Manager Lein reviewed construction valuations for 2016 compared to
2015. Even though the constructions valuations were unchanged. he
noted there is positive growth measured in sales tax growth.
Manager Lein stated staff are moving forward with the ten-year
economic development strategic plan and will see the first draft of the
plan soon.
Manager Lein reviewed the 2017 demographic report from The Retail
Coach.
Manager Lein reviewed the new projects underway in the downtown
area, including the Aub-Dev LLC mixed use seven -story project and
the Teutsch Partners LLC mixed use seven -story project.
Manager Lein provided an update to the North Auburn Logistics
industrial mixed-use project, the US General Services Administration
property development, and the Valley Drive-in property project.
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Manager Lein reviewed efforts to support existing businesses.
V. OTHER DICUSSION
There was no other discussion.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
Deputy Mayor Wales asked that an update on the Auburn Avenue
Theater be scheduled for an upcoming study session.
VII. MATRIX
Councilmember Holman noted the Public Works and Community
Development Special Focus Area is scheduled for the April 10th study
session. There was no other discussion of the matrix.
Vill. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
APPROVED THIS \CJ"- DAY , 2018.
BOBB0EIRUTY
• R Shawn Campbell, City Clerk
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