HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-22-2021 Minutes City Council Study Session PWCD SFA
February 22, 2021 - 5:30 PM
CITY OF * * Virtual
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I. CALL TO ORDER
Deputy Mayor DaCorsi called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
II. VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION LINK
A. Virtual Participation Link
The City Council Meeting was held virtually.
B. Roll Call
Councilmembers virtually present: Deputy Mayor Claude DaCorsi, Bob
Baggett, Larry Brown, James Jeyaraj, Robyn Mulenga, Chris Stearns, and
Yolanda Trout-Manuel.
MayorNancyBackus, Innovation and Technical Support Specialist Danika
Olson, Director of Innovation and Technology David Travis, Police Chief
Dan O'Neil and City Clerk Shawn Campbell were in Chambers.
The following department directors and staff members attended the
meeting virtually: City Attorney Kendra Comeau, Senior City Staff Attorney
Harry Boesche, Director of Administration Dana Hinman, Director of
Community Development Jeff Tate, Director of Public Works Ingrid Gaub,
Director of Finance Jamie Thomas,Assistant Finance Director Kevin
Fuhrer, Planning Services Manager Jeff Dixon, Capital and Construction
Engineering Manager Ryan Vondrak, Senior Transportation Planner Cecile
Malik, Project Engineer Jeffrey Bender, Community Services Manager
Joy Scott, Human Services Program Coordinator Kyla Wright, Detective
Charlene Hoch and Assistant Director of Innovation and Technology
Ashley Riggs.
III. AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION
A. Pierce Transit Updates (Gaub)(10 Minutes)
Planner Malik introduced Alexandra Mather and Lindsey Sehmel from
Pierce Transit. They provided Council with updates for Pierce Transit
including the 2021 Financial Update,the Bus Rapid Transit System
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Update, the Bus Stop Balancing Project,the 2019-2020 ridership activity
for the City of Auburn and service changes starting in March 2021.
Council discussed the number of stops being removed from the City, if
those stops will be reinstated at a later date, if the rapid stop system will
include the Lakeland route and the progress for electric busses.
B. Housing Action Plan (HAP)- Existing Conditions Report(Tate)(30 Minutes)
--- _ Introductory briefing by the City Consultant, EcoNorthwest, on an early phase of the
_- . project, consisting of the draft Auburn Existing Conditions Memo, as part of the
continued work on the preparation of a Housing Action Plan (HAP)document under a _
Washington State Department of Commerce grant
Manager Dixon provided Council with a brief history on the City's
development of a Housing Action Plan and the Department of Commerce
_: Grant:He introduced Tyler Bump from EcoNorthwest. Mr. Bump provided
Council with an update on the Housing Action Plan including the Draft
Existing Conditions memo, the public engagement plan,findings from the
existing-conditions reports, the South King County Sub-Regional Housing
Action Plan, the market rate rents in Auburn, housing affordability trends,
= displacement vulnerability in Auburn, future housing needs and the 2040
forecast housing need.
Council discussed homeownership rates by race and ethnicity, the average
-.cost ofrentAuburn and the percentage of households in Auburn that are
cost burdened.
C. _ Police Advisory Committee Update (O'Neil)(15 Minutes)
Chief O'Neil provided Council with an update on the Police Advisory
-. - Committee, including Committee Positions, Goals of the Committee,the
meetings agendas and the next steps for the Committee.
Council discussed the main concerns from the community, the makeup of
the leadership of the Committee and how the agenda is set.
D. Domestic Violence Presentation (O'Neil/Comeau)(30 Minutes)
Detective Hoch and Senior Attorney Boesche provided Council with a
Domestic Violence Status report for the City of Auburn. They reviewed
what domestic violence is defined as, challenges with trials and cases
during the COVID pandemic, King County's policy regarding declining
felonies, firearms used in domestic violence cases and removing a firearm
for safekeeping.
Council discussed the number of domestic violence cases, domestic
violence advocates, the challenges of prosecuting the felonies in a
Municipal Court and funding for domestic violence advocates that are not
City employees.
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E. Ordinance No. 6814 (Thomas)(60 Minutes)
Draft B&O Tax Code
Deputy Mayor DaCorsi called for a 5-minute recess at 7:30. The meeting
reconvened at 7:38 p.m.
Director Thomas presented Council with the proposed B&O Tax
Ordinance. She-reviewed the Auburn City Code, the proposed rates,the
proposed square footage tax, tax credits, a sample B&O tax calculation.
She also reviewed the public comments and concerns gathered in the
City's public outreach, exemptions and deductions.
Council discussed the B&O Tax, uniformed rates, tax breaks, square
- footage of warehouses, the accountability of the stores to maintain the
- - -- number of employees for a tax credit, the businesses that the exemptions
would apply to.
IV.°_ PUBLIC WORKS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Capital Projects Status Report and Feature Project(Gaub)(20 Minutes)
Councilmember Steams presided over this section of the meeting. -
Manager Vondrak and Engineer Bender provided Council the Capital
Project Status Report and the Feature Project. They also reviewed the
active projects, the capital projects for the last 4 years and the project for - -
the Academy Pump Station Replacement.
B. Update of Bridges Annexation (Tate)(10 Minutes)
City of Auburn staff to provide an overview and status update detailing the discussions
with the City of Kent about the potential annexation of the Bridges community
Director Tate provided Council with an update on the Bridges Annexation.
He explained why proposed annexation is not moving forward at this time.
Council discussed the concerns from the residents within the Bridges
community.
V. OTHER DISCUSSION ITEMS
There were no other discussion items.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
Deputy Mayor DaCorsi brought forward for discussion the treatment of farmers
and laborers in India.
Council discussed getting involved in international issues and a majority of the
Council expressed support to bring a resolution forward to a Council meeting for
discussion.
Deputy Mayor DaCorsi brought forward a residents concern to create a new
revenue source to build additional sidewalks.
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VII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting
was adjourned at 9:37 p.m.
APPROVED this 15th day of March, 2021.
CLAU D E DACORSI, DEPUTY MAYOR Shawn Campbell, City Clerk
Agendas and minutes are available to the public at the City Clerk's Office, on the City website
(http;//www.aubumwa.gov), and viae-mail. Complete agenda packets are available for review
_ at the City Clerk's Office.
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