02/22/1997 City CouncilBarbara Fahey, Major
Dave Earling, Council President
Gary Haakenson, Councilmember
Tom Miller, Councilmember
Dick Van Hollebeke, Councilmember
Jim White, Councilmember
Roger Myers, Councilmember
John Nordquist, Councilmember
Art Housler, Adm. Serv. Director
Brent Hunter, Personnel Manager
Paul Mar, Community Serv. Director
Police Chief Robin Hickok
Scott Snyder, City Attorney
Acting Fire Chief Tim Whitman
Dee McGrath, Exec. Sec. to Mayor
Jana Spellman, Council Assistant
Dave Sittauer and Steven Allison, from the Fire Department, supplied the Council Retreat
participants with the Fire Apparatus Replacement Committee's Final Summary dated February
14, 1997. They then set out the goals and objectives for this presentation as follows:
• That the City of Edmonds Mayor and Council adopt a Master Plan for Fire
Apparatus Replacement as outlined by the Fire Apparatus Replacement
Committee's recommendations
• That the City of Edmonds Mayor and Council authorize a funding source for
Fire Apparatus Replacement as outlined by the Fire Apparatus Replacement
Committee's recommendations.
The following issues were presented:
• Overview
• History Current Vehicle Needs
• Future Vehicle Needs
Aid Units
Utility Apparatus
Fire Truck (Aerial)
Fire Engines
• Apparatus Replacement Costs
• Recommendations for Funding/Purchase Options
(Committee Recommendations rated for Best to Worst
• Summary
Discussion regarding this Session was tabled until after Session III. .
Edmonds City Council Retreat Approved Minutes
February 21 and 22, 1997 - LaConner, WA
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Mr. Mar had a two-part presentation: A presentation was made based on the following:
• What is virtual reality?
• How can virtual reality be used?
• What will it cost?
• What are the next steps?
This was then followed by a brief visual video taped presentation showing how virtual reality can
be utilized.
Brief dialogue ensued regarding the benefits of virtual reality in being able to show the Council,
citizens of Edmonds, and all interested parties what a project will look like from start to finish,
what impacts it will have on views, and immediately be able to implement changes visually.
Mr. Mar pointed out that the City is not far off in being able to implement virtual reality.
There was general consensus that this was not a high priority item at this time.
Mr. Housler proceeded with his portion which focused on the General Fund but made a few
comments about the other operating funds. Because the Combined Utility Fund is undergoing a
rate study, he suggested that it would be premature to look at the bottom line as far as taxes are
concerned.
He continued by reviewing the material entitled Review of Short and Long -Term Financial
Forecast for City which was in the Council Retreat packet. This material focused on:
• Chart #1 - General Fund - Historical Trend of Cash Position (December 31, 1980-97)
• Chart #2 - Balancing the 1997 Budget
• Chart #3 - General Fund - Revenue Increase from 1996 thru 1997
• Chart #4 - Revenue Assumptions (1996-2000)
• Chart #5 - Revenue Conditions/Assumptions
• Chart #6 - Revenue Trend 1996-2001
• Chart #7 - General Fund - Revenue/Expenditure Forecast Trend (December 31, 1997-2001)
• Chart #8 - Expenditure Assumptions
• Chart #9 - Additional Revenue Sources 1997 - 2001
• Chart #10 - Professional Business Surcharge
After Mr. Housler's presentation, the Council began the Goal Setting session.
Edmonds City Council Retreat Approved Minutes
February 21 and 22, 1997 - LaConner, WA
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The Goal Setting portion began with review of the material presented culminating in the
following PRIORITIZATION:
1. Human Resources Study was the top priority among the Council.
a. Immediate implementation of addition of a permit technician to the
staff which position would be financed by increasing permit fees.
2. Multimodal Development
3. Fire Equipment
4. Finding ways to increase revenue streams for Edmonds.
Mayor Fahey pointed out that transportation issues were touched on but it is really important,
because of what is going on in the Legislature for everyone to encourage the gasoline tax to help
obtain more dollars to help with the infrastructure.
Mr. Earling made suggestions as to approaching legislators with a plan in mind to ensure
receiving a portion of these moneys and indicated that it would be helpful if the Council
supported this tax as a whole.
The following were recognized as important issues and already works in progress (not
prioritized listing):
• Self health insurance for the City
• Medic 7
• Building Maintenance Replacement Fund (work in progress by Long -Range Financial
Task Force Committee)
• Aquatic Center (Councilmember Dick Van Hollebeke was given 60 days to research this
issue and make a presentation to the Council).
• Cultural Arts & Convention Facility (it was agreed that this may become a bond issue.
and the Council would have to decide whether they would support the bond.)
• Fire Consolidation (bring forward to the Council with recommended plan)
After Mr. Housler's Review of Short and Long -Term Financial Forecast for the City, the Council
focused on Chart #9 - Additional Revenue Sources 1997-2001. Listed below is the GENERAL
CONSENSUS OF THE COUNCIL REGARDING CHART #9:
Using property tax limit as a way of increasing revenue:
It was the general consensus of the Council that they would not like to see
this occur. However, it was pointed out by Dave Earling and Dick Van
Hollebeke that this might be an option only if there were a dire or true
emergency in which the City found itself in desperate need of additional
funds.
Edmonds City Council Retreat Approved Minutes
February 21 and 22, 1997 - LaConner, WA
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Raising all utility taxes to the full 6%:
It was unanimously agreed that all utility taxes.would be raised to the 6%
limit.
BLS Transport Fee:
It was decided to have this issue tabled until the Medic 7 issue is resolved.
B & O Tax:
There was a unanimous no vote regarding this tax issue.
Special Excise Tax:
It was decided to turn this over to the Finance Committee to look over
options regarding this tax. The Finance Committee Chairman, John
Nordquist, agreed to have a presentation ready for Council review in 45
days.
Annexations:
It was unanimously agreed that future annexations would be used to
increase the revenue stream.
Sale of Property:
The sale of city property was discussed and it was decided to look into this
option in more detail before making a decision.
Mr. Earling excused the staff during this portion of the retreat. The session began with Mr.
Nordquist commenting on what he felt was improved communication between the Council and
Mayor. He felt there needed to be better communication between the staff as concerns
Councilmembers and the community but indicated that this concern should be addressed by the
administration and not the Council.
Because of his comment it was the general consensus that when a citizen has a complaint which
it addresses to a Councilmember, the Councilmember should report it'directly to the Mayor and
not to the head of the department involved. By using this process, the Mayor is apprised of the
situation, able to delegate the issue to the appropriate person, can keep abreast of the progress,
and ultimately inform the Council and citizen(s) involved of progress/outcome.
The Mayor informed the Council in a true emergency, that a citizen should call 911 and they
would then contact the appropriate person/department.
The suggestion was also made that if a Councilmember needed to ask for information from a
particular department, to make sure that the request did not interfere or interrupt high priority
works in progress thus preventing a particular department from meeting a deadline. Also, if a
Edmonds City Council Retreat Approved Minutes
February 21 and 22, 1997 - LaConner, WA
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department head could not meet a time line specified by a Councilmember, to inform the
Councilmember and work out an acceptable time line.
It was the general consensus that when dealing with the staff or citizens, that the Mayor and
Council need to familiarize each other with the particulars of ongoing communication so that
there are no miscommunications or misinformation dispersed.
This session concluded with general agreement regarding the above issues.
Council President Earling gave a short closing summary.
Tapes of these minutes are available in the City Clerk's office.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned 2:45 p.m.
BARBARA S. FAHEY, MAYOR
SANDRA S. CHASE, CITY CLERK
Edmonds City Council Retreat Approved Minutes
February 21 and 22, 1997 - LaConner, WA
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