03/12/2002 City CouncilEDMONDS CITY COUNCIL APPROVED MINUTES
March 12, 2002
The City Council Community Services/Development Services Committee meeting began at 6:00 p.m.;
the City Council Finance and Public Safety Committee meetings began at 7:00 p.m.
ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT
Gary Haakenson, Mayor
Dave Earling, Council President
Dave Orvis, Councilmember
Jeff Wilson, Councilmember
Michael Plunkett, Councilmember
Lora Petso, Councilmember
Richard Marin, Councilmember
Deanna Dawson, Councilmember
STAFF PRESENT
Stephen Clifton, Community Services Director
Peggy Hetzler, Administrative Services Director
Arvilla Ohlde, Parks & Recreation Director
Jim Larson, Assistant Admin. Serv. Director
Sandy Chase, City Clerk
At 7:30 p.m., Mayor Haakenson announced that the City Council would recess the committee meetings
and meet as a whole in Executive Session to discuss a real estate matter. It was anticipated that the
Executive Session would last 30 minutes. Mayor Haakenson stated the Council may or may not
reconvene as a whole Council following the Executive Session.
At 8:00 p.m., Mayor Haakenson reconvened the whole City Council in open public session. He stated at
the conclusion of the Executive Session, the City Council indicated the desire to make comments in
public session regarding the matter discussed in Executive Session. The Mayor reported the matter
involves an offer that was presented to him by a potential purchaser of the Puget Sound Christian College
(PSCC). The City has the Right of First Refusal with regard to the purchase of that property.
Councilmember Marin stated based on the fact that the price that has been offered for the property is "out
of our league" at the moment, and the fact that the City has empowered a Public Facilities District (PFD)
to try to put something together, he felt it was appropriate that the City pass on the Right of First Refusal
at this time to allow the PFD to move ahead.
Council President Earling concurred with Councilmember Marin. Because of the purchase price, the
City should decline the ability to claim the Right of First Refusal. He commented it is important that the
PFD do the work they were created to do, which is to put together a financial package that would make a
performing arts or conference center available to the community. Councilmember Earling also stated he
wanted to put on the record that he felt strongly the City of Edmonds should still be a partner in trying to
put together an agreement that would allow the Edmonds PFD, the Snohomish County PFD, the potential
purchaser of the property, and the City of Edmonds to make the project succeed.
Mayor Haakenson noted for the record that the potential purchaser of the property is more than willing to
work with the PFD to accomplish their stated goal of trying to create a performing arts center where the
Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes
March 12, 2002
Page 1
auditorium and gymnasium are located at the PSCC. They are willing to be a partner with the,PFD. To
try to accomplish that end, they intend to be a very good neighbor on the project.
Councilmember Orvis indicated his support for not exercising the Right of First Refusal. The cost is
simply not something that the City can manage. He supports the PFD efforts in trying to acquire that
building. It is a direction that makes sense and shows a lot of courage as there is a lot of pressure to do
other things. He supports the efforts of the PFD in trying to acquire that building.
Councilmember Wilson stated that given the purchase price and the fact that the City is not in a position
to be able to compete at this point, the City should allow its Right of First Refusal to go away. Although,
he pointed out there may be other opportunities that may come up in the future (such as working with the
PFD or with the purchaser should some other arrangements come together) to allow the City to look at
preserving the facility for public use. At this point, he believes the City needs to step away from its
Right of First Refusal.
Councilmember Dawson stated she believes the City should be in a position to attempt to do What it can
to save the old high school building and the auditorium in particular. Unfortunately, the purcha$e price is
not something that the City can match at this point in time. She indicated this is not taking a position on
the PFD or the merits thereof, or what will happen if this matter is put to a public vote. She commented
at this point that there is no way the City can match the offer that was made.
At 8:05 p.m., Mayor Haakenson adjourned the meeting of all City Council members to return to the
Council Committee meetings.
G Y H ENSON, MAYOR
0
SANDRA S. CHASE, CITY CLERK
Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes
March 12, 2002
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v AGENDA
EDMONDS- CITY COUNCIL
Public Safety Complex
250 511 Avenue North
MARCH 129 2002
NOTE: Special meeting time of 6:00 p.m. for the Community Services/Development
Services Committee only. All other committee meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m.
NOTE: The City Council will recess at 7:30 p.m. from the three committee meetings
in order to meet as a whole in Executive Session for 30 minutes regarding a real
estate matter. The Executive Session will be held in the Jury Room.
City Council Committees
The City Council Committee meetings are work sessions for the City Council and staff only.
The meetings are open to the public but are not public hearings. The City Council will meet
separately as committees in different meeting rooms as indicated below.
1. Community Services/Development Services Committee - Special Meeting Time of 6:00 p.m.
(Meeting Location: Council Chambers)
(A) Team Edmonds Marketing Plan
(B) Employee Parking Permit Amendment
(C) 2002 - 2007 Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
2. Public Safety Committee - 7:00 p.m.
(Meeting Location: Police Training Room)
(A) Entry Level Firefighter Testing Contract with PublicSafetyTesting
3. Finance Committee - 7:00 p.m.
(Meeting Location: Jury Room)
(A) Cable Franchise Transfer from AT&T to Comcast
(B) Authorization to Purchase Map Scenes Software
(C) Edmonds Historical Museum - Utilities
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CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
March 12, 2002
Page 2 of 2
(D) Flexible Spending Plan (AFLAC)
(E) Potential Revenue Sources
(F) Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) 34 Update
(G) Utility Financial Plan Update
Parking and meeting rooms are accessible for persons with disabilities.
Contact the City Clerk at (425) 771-0245 with 24 hours advance notice for special accommodations.
The Council Agenda appears on AT&T Cable, Channel 21. 1