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11/25/2003 City Councilfl �J 1 EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL APPROVED MINUTES November 25, 2003 The Edmonds City Council meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Haakenson in the Council Chambers, 250 5th Avenue North, Edmonds. The meeting was opened with the flag salute. ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT Gary Haakenson, Mayor Dave Earling, Council President Jeff Wilson, Councilmember Michael Plunkett, Councilmember Lora Petso, Councilmember Dave Orvis, Councilmember Richard Marin, Councilmember Deanna Dawson, Councilmember ALSO PRESENT Alex Brent - Fielding, Student Representative 0, APPROVAL OF AGENDA STAFF PRESENT Tom Tomberg, Fire Chief David Stern, Chief of Police Duane Bowman, Development Services Director Stephen Clifton, Community Services Director Dan Clements, Administrative Services Director Jim Larson, Assistant Admin. Services Director Arvilla Ohlde, Parks and Recreation Director Noel Miller, Public Works Director Dave Gebert, City Engineer Sandy Chase, City Clerk Jana Spellman, Senior Executive Council Asst. Jeannie Dines, Recorder Mayor Haakenson advised Agenda Item #6 had been postponed as both presenters were ill. COUNCILMEMBER MARIN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ORVIS, FOR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AS AMENDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 2. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS COUNCILMEMBER PLUNKETT MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER MARIN, FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The agenda items approved are as follows: Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes November 25, 2003 Page 1 (A) ROLL CALL Approve 11/18/03 Minutes (B) APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 18, 2003. Approve (C) APPROVAL OF CLAIM CHECKS #66825 THROUGH #66989 FOR THE WEEK OF Claim Checks NOVEMBER 17, 2003, IN THE AMOUNT OF $135,565.61. APPROVAL OF PAYROLL DIRECT DEPOSITS AND CHECKS #37043 THROUGH #37224 FOR THE PAY PERIOD NOVEMBER 1 THROUGH NOVEMBER 15, 2003, IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,094,840.10. ims for mages (D) ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES FROM ZOHREH SAFAI F (AMOUNT UNDETERMINED) AND FRANCES AND JAMES BARNETT ($520,000.00). Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes November 25, 2003 Page 1 3. AUDIENCE COMMENTS Mayor Haakenson relayed a telephone request from Paul Rootvik for the Council to take action on the item he presented in October. Mayor Haakenson suggested the Council make public comment on Mr. Rootvik's request either tonight or at next week's meeting. Council President Earling introduced Jordan Eul, a young man who helped him during his recent campaign. Levy Lid Lift on Wambolt, 504 6th Avenue S, Edmonds, referred to his comments at the last Council meeting that Opposing not much notice had been provided to solicit a statement in opposition to the levy lid lift for the voters' Committee pamphlet. He advised Council President Earling's research determined the opportunity to provide a statement in opposition was announced at three different Council meetings. As apparently he and others did not get that message, he suggested in the future, in addition to announcing at Council meetings, it be announced on the City's Channel 21. Economic Steven Randall, 7103 2101h SW, Edmonds, spoke in opposition to the Economic Development Director Development position, explaining that to account for the salary of the Economic Development Director, the City would Director Position need to increase retail sales by $10 million. He suggested the funds would be better spent on the Fire or iti Police Departments. hristmas Al Rutledge, 7101 Lake Ballinger Way, Edmonds, cited a number of neighborhood programs he was ships concerned with. Next, he announced the annual Christmas Ships would be touring the waterfront on December 9. Edmonds Natalie Shippen, 1022 Euclid, Edmonds, opined that the reason Edmonds tried to withhold public Crossing information regarding the Edmonds Crossing project was because proponents were afraid it would not Project stand up to public scrutiny. She explained approximately six years ago, the Legislature formed the Regional Transportation Investment District comprised of King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties; now Snohomish County residents will decide where the ferry terminal will be located and pay for it themselves (rather than the ferry system deciding on the location and the State funding them). She advised of a November 2004 ballot measure to increase taxes to fund an array of new transportation projects of which the Edmonds Crossing project may be one. In an effort to ensure Snohomish County residents knew about the Edmonds Crossing project, she requested the Mayor place the following documents at the Edmonds and Everett public libraries: four reports by the consultant team, phase 1, phase 2, implementation and the cost estimates that were given to her, the draft EIS for Edmonds Crossing and the feasibility analysis of the Edmonds Ferry Terminal (currently available at the Edmonds Library but not at the Everett library). She also made a request to Council President Earling to arrange a time and place when she could review public documents or other public information pertaining to the Edmonds Crossing project, particularly the period from 1998 to the present. Mayor Haakenson suggested Ms. Shippen contact Community Services Director Stephen Clifton to arrange a time and place to review public documents pertaining to the Edmonds Crossing project. With regard to the information she requested be made available at the libraries, he advised the information could be provided to the libraries but it was the Everett Library's decision whether to display it. Roger Hertrich, 1020 Puget Drive, Edmonds, endorsed the 1% property tax increase, commenting it 004 Budget Was necessary to keep up with inflation and acknowledged it was not enough. He commented that although funds were tight in the City, most agreed the Fire Training Officer was the most important position. He recommended the City not fill the Economic Development Director as the City could not Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes November 25, 2003 Page 2 afford it at this time. He referred to the Renton's Economic Development Director's support staff, commenting no mention had been made regarding support staff for the City's Economic Development Director. He suggested the Council reconsider the Traffic Engineer position, questioning how that individual could secure enough grants to pay for his salary as well as road projects. Fire Training Don Kreiman, 24006 95th Place W, Edmonds, commented the question was not whether the Fire 0ei Department needed a Training Officer (TO) nor was it a question of making a decision between the Economic Development Director and the TO; the question was how to pay for it. He pointed out Fire Department training was occurring, likely by senior fire staff using overtime. He cited the amount of Fire Department overtime expended this year, $425,000, and the amount budgeted for 2004, $397,000. He offered that this lead to an overworked, stressed out Fire Department which in turn lead to more illnesses. He suggested the Fire TO be funded using Fire Department overtime. He thanked the Council for allowing public comment earlier in the meeting tonight. Mayor Haakenson explained public comment often occurred later in the meeting as public hearings were scheduled prior to public comment. 4. PROPOSED ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE PROPERTY TAX LEVIES FOR REGULAR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMPLEX BOND PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE YEAR 2004; AND A RESOLUTION SETTING FORTH THE 2004 REGULAR PROPERTY TAX LEVY DOLLAR INCREASE AND PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER THE 2003 AMOUNT , #347s COUNCILMEMBER MARIN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ORVIS, TO operty Tax ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 3475. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The ordinance vy Rate 2004 approved is as follows: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, MAKING CERTAIN LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS INCREASING THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY RATE FOR 2004, AND FIXING A TIME WHEN THE SAME SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE. COUNCILMEMBER MARIN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ORVIS, FOR ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 1050. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The resolution Res #1050 approved is as follows: Property Tax 00 for A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, INCREASING THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY FOR THE CITY REGULAR PROPERTY TAX LEVY FOR 2004 AT A RATE OF 1% OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR, THIS INCREASE OF CITY REGULAR PROPERTY TAXES OVER THE 2003 LEVY EQUATES TO A RATE EQUAL TO 1% OR $78,199. 004 Budget 5. PROPOSED ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE 2004 BUDGET COUNCIL PRESIDENT EARLING MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER PLUNKETT, FOR APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE NO. 3476, AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE 2004 BUDGET. COUNCILMEMBER PETSO MOVED NOT TO FUND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR IN THIS BUDGET CYCLE AND PURSUE OTHER OBJECTIVES OUTLINED BY THE HIGHWAY 99 TASK FORCE AND FUND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR IN THE FUTURE IF APPROPRIATE AT THAT TIME. MOTION DIED FOR LACK OF A SECOND. Q Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes November 25, 2003 Page 3 COUNCILMEMBER MARIN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER PLUNKETT TO ADD THE HIGHWAY 99 TASK FORCE REQUEST OF $12,990 FROM THE COUNCIL CONTINGENCY CARRYOVER TO FUND THE PROPOSED STUDY. Councilmember Orvis commented that although the Highway 99 Task Force's report and plan was good, his approach to economic development was to fund the Economic Development Director and consolidate the focus of the Highway 99 Task Force into that position for budgetary reasons. He indicated he would not support the proposed amendment. Council President Earling inquired regarding the balance of the Council Contingency carryover. Administrative Services Director Dan Clements answered it was approximately $115,000. Councilmember Petso preferred to allow the Highway 99 Task Force to continue with their discussions. Although she did not support the Highway 99 Task Force a few weeks ago and continued to have concerns with their efforts, she was now willing to support their work to facilitate discussion among residents and property owners on Highway 99. She noted this discussion would provide direction to the Economic Development Director which the majority of the Council appeared to support. MOTION CARRIED (6 -1), COUNCILMEMBER ORVIS OPPOSED. COUNCILMEMBER PETSO MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER DAWSON, TO REVISE THE BUDGET TO FREEZE THOSE SALARIES WHICH ARE ALREADY IN EXCESS OF THE L5 RECOMMENDED SALARY LEVELS. Mayor Haakenson commented a presentation on L5 salaries was scheduled on the December 2 Council agenda. Councilmember Petso explained the L5 recommendations for 2004 were presented to the Finance Committee and she assumed they would be presented to the Council prior to a decision on the budget. She explained the salaries of a number of non - represented employees were above the L5 level, in one instance, as much as $10,000 above. She recalled the suggestion to monitor those salaries to determine whether they remained above the L5 level for three years before freezing the COLA; she preferred to immediately freeze the COLA for any employee whose salary was currently over the L5 level. Councilmember Petso referred to the non - represented employee L5 salary table that had been provided to the Council, pointing out several employees whose salaries were above the L5 level including the Development Services Director, City Engineer, Planning Manager, Assistant City Engineer, Building Official, Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager, City Clerk, Traffic Engineer, Assistant Parks & Recreation Director, Water -Sewer Manager, Wastewater Treatment Plan Supervisor, Parks Manager, Engineering Specialist, Associate Planner, Assistant Planner, and Executive Assistant. Councilmember Dawson indicated she was not prepared to take action tonight without further information and preferred to review it as scheduled at next week's Council meeting. COUNCILMEMBER DAWSON WITHDREW HER SECOND AND THE MOTION DIED FOR LACK OF A SECOND. COUNCIL PRESIDENT EARLING MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER DAWSON, TO RESTORE THE SNOHOMISH COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,000 FROM THE 2004 ENDING CASH BALANCE. MOTION CARRIED (6 -1), COUNCILMEMBER ORVIS OPPOSED. Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes November 25, 2003 Page 4 Councilmember Dawson inquired about SnoCom's assessment to the City for 2004. Mr. Clements answered the decrease in SnoCom's assessment was approximately $75,000 below the amount budgeted. Councilmember Dawson noted those funds could be used to fund the Fire Training Officer. Mr. Clements agreed. Mayor Haakenson requested clarification regarding whether the ordinance on which the Council was deliberating included the Fire Training Officer and the Economic Development Director. Mr. Clements answered yes. For the audience, Councilmember Plunkett clarified the ordinance included the Fire Training Officer, the Economic Development Director, a Fire Fighter, reduction in Fire Department overtime, and now funds for the Highway 99 Task Force and Snohomish County Economic Development Council. rd# 3476 VOTE ON MAIN MOTION Approving MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED CARRIED (6 -1), COUNCILMEMBER PETSO OPPOSED. The he 2004 ordinance adopted is as follows: Budget ORDINANCE NO. 3476 OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, RELATING TO THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING JANUARY 1, 2004, AND FIXING A TIME WHEN THE SAME SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE. 6.- PRESENTATION ON THE AWC WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE RETRO PLAN AND AUTHORIZATION FOR MEMBERSHIP This item was postponed as the presenters were ill. 7. MAYOR'S COMMENTS Mayor Haakenson had no report. 8. INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL REPORTS ON OUTSIDE COMMITTEEBOARD MEETINGS SnoCom Councilmember Dawson reported SnoCom's recent focus had been on the budget and the amount of each city's assessment. When SnoCom first began considering the budget, a 15 -16% increase in assessments was anticipated and the lowest increase originally deemed feasible was 8 -9 %. Through a great deal of hard work, primarily by SnoCom Director Steve Perry, assessments were increased by only 7.8% system wide. She noted this saved the City $75,000 in SnoCom costs. Councilmember Dawson reported SnoCom was working on a revised Interlocal Agreement that would be presented to the Council in December. She requested Councilmembers contact her with any questions or concerns regarding the revised Interlocal Agreement, anticipating it could be placed on the Consent Agenda if there were no significant questions or concerns. Hwy 99 Task Councilmember Marin thanked the Council for their vote of confidence on the work being done by the orce Highway 99 Task Force. adowdale Student Representative Alex Brent - Fielding announced Meadowdale High School's annual food drive on d Sri oe l November 26 through December 12. She explained the high school had collected over 95,000 items each Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes November 25, 2003 Page 5 year for the past two years and they hoped to do the same this year. She encouraged the public to donate to the food drive which would benefit local food banks. Mayor Haakenson wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving weekend. With no further business, the Council meeting was adjourned at 7:33 p.m. /I'. ARY AAKENSON, MAYOR .CaA:�f'iJ�c.CL a0 • �� 'SANDRA S. CHASE, CITY CLERK Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes November 25, 2003 Page 6 1 1 l L� AGENDA Tom EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL Council Chambers, Public Safety Complex 250 5t" Avenue North, Edmonds 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. NOVEMBER 25, 2003 7:00 p.m. - Call to Order Flag Salute 1. Approval of Agenda 2. Consent Agenda Items (A) Roll Call (B) Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes November 18, 2003. (C) Approval of claim checks #66825 through #66989 for the week of November 17, 2003, in the amount of $135,565.61. Approval of payroll direct deposits and checks #37043 through #37224 for the pay period November 1 through November 15, 2003, in the amount of $1,094,840.10. (D) Acknowledge receipt of Claim for Damages from Zohreh Safai (amount undetermined), and Frances and James Barnett ($520,000.00). 3. Audience Comments (3 minute limit per person)* "Regarding matters not listed as Closed Record Review or as Public Hearings. 4. (15 Min.) Proposed Ordinance establishing the property tax levies for regular, Emergency Medical Services, and Public Safety Complex bond property taxes for the Year 2004; and a Resolution setting forth the 2004 regular property tax levy dollar increase and percentage increase over the 2003 amount. 5. (45 Min.) Proposed Ordinance adopting the 2004 Budget. 6. (20 Min.) Presentation on the AWC Workers compensation Insurance Retro Plan and authorization for membership. 7. ( 5 Min.) Mayor's Comments 8. (15 Min.) Individual Council reports on outside committee /board meetings. ADJOURN Parking and meeting rooms are accessible for persons with disabilities. Please contact the City Clerk at (425) 771 -0245 with 24 hours advance notice for special accommodations. The Council Agenda as well as a delayed telecast of the meeting appears on cable television Government Access Channel 21.