19800708 City Council Minutes•
July 1, 1980 - continued
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Ray Martin, 18709 94th Ave. W., asked if it would be indicated.on the.postings for setback adjust-
ments to be made by the Community;:Development.Director that.the neighbors could request a hearing,
and he was told it would. He said he would like to see the Hearing Examiner be a person not influ-
enced by, -planners or City officials,. so he can be intelligent,and..use his best judgment. Mr. Martin
noted that.there are some fine .PRDs:, but he felt there is a.potential for some bad ones, and he felt
_very tight:control should be exercised over them. He felt.there could be a density problem. He
observed that a PRD might be a small segment of the development of the'City, but it would be very
big in the local neighborhood.
Falk Kelm, Director of the Snohomish County Master Builders Association, congratulated the Planning
staff on their foresight in drafting,the Code as presently -proposed.. He stated that.in each instance
where his association had seen the land use hearing examiner system adopted they had found it worked
extremely well. As to qualifications, he said an.attorney.is not necessarily.better qualfied than a
person who has dealt in land use matters or as a planner, engineer, or in an allied field. However,
if an attorney is considered, .he felt it should be one who has experience in land use issues, and he
said that when .that person is hired it is important that everyone agree that this is a nonpolitical
appointment and neither the Mayor nor the Council can exert pressure on him. Mr. Kelm felt that in
appeals -'de novo hearings would defeat the use of a land use hearing examiner --any appeal should be
on the record. -Regarding PRDs, he said they allow for.a.mix-of housing.
Bi'orn.Thuesen responded to Mrs..Kasmar's comments regarding increased density caused by PRDs. He
said there is no such thing as a piece of land that is unbuildable--but there is the option of
better development such.as in saving trees. He said it,was his intention to ask a number of builders
to band together informally to see if they can work with,the Council of Concerned Citizens as he
would.l-i-ke.to see the information which is.being disseminated.be factual. Lloyd Ostrom said they
welcomed that kind of sentiment,:and.that they never wanted.to,be.in a position of fighting City
Hall or being -anti -builders. He said they would be delighted to work with the builders and developers.
Councilman Gould asked the Staff to prepare, before the July 15 review of Title 20, some.sketches of
the existing five PRDs in the City and demonstrate what they would have looked like fully developed
in the underlying zone, including trees, impervious surfaces,.etc.. Councilman Kasper felt drainage
also should -be included, as one of the main benefits of PRDs is the ability to reduce runoff. The
Staff responded that drainage is very complex and it would.be difficult to do that in anything but a
cursory manner for this purpose.
Greg Farrar_, 133 4th Ave. N., said he was one of the youngest people present, and he was grateful
for the values he had learned in growing.up in Edmonds and for the benefits of having small neigh-
borhoods. He asked that the -Hearing Examiner be someone who has a value.system and that everybody
in the neighborhoods be made aware of what is happening.
Jim Shields, 709 6th Ave. N. said he hoped the Hearing Examiner. hearings Would be scheduled at a
time convenient to the citizens, which probably would be evenings. -
There was no further business to come before the Council.,.and the meeting was adjourned'at 12:00 p.m.,
the scheduled Executive Session being cancelled because of the late hour.
IRENE VARNEY14ORAN, C' y Clerk HARVE.H. HARRISON, Mayor
July 8, 1980 - Work Meeting
The regular meeting of the Edmonds.City..Council was called to order at 8:00 p.m. by Mayor Harve
Harrison in the Council Chambers of the.Edmonds Civic Center.. All present joined in the flag
salute.
PRESENT
Harve Harrison, Mayor
Bill Kasper
Katherine Allen
John Nordquist
Ray Gould
Larry Naughten
Mary Goetz
CONSENT AGENDA
ABSENT STAFF PRESENT
Jo -Anne Jaech Charles Dibble, M.A.A.
Irene Varney Moran,.City Clerk
John LaT-ourel.le, Planning Consultant
Mary Lou Block, .Pl anni.ng ..Division .Mgr.
Jim Adams.,.City Engineer.
Marlo Foster; Police Chief.
Jack Wei nz, Fire Chief
Art Housl-er,• Finance Director,
Bill Nims, Traffic, Engineer
Steve Simpson, Recreation Administrator
Ji'm Murphy, City Attorney
Jackie Parrett, Deputy. City Clerk .
MOTION: COUNCILMAN GOULD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN,.TO:.AP.PROVE.THE CONSENT AGENDA, INCLUDING A
CORRECTION TO THE MINUTES [ITEM (B.) ON THE CONSENT AGENDA] -SUBMITTED BY THE DEPUTY CITY CLERK.
The correction to the Minutes was a notation that Councilman Gould's name.had been omitted from
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July 8, 1980 - continued •
the listing of those present,.at last week's meeting. THE MOTION CARRIED., (Councilman Kasper
was not present for the vote,,•arriving at 8:25 p...m.).. The approved -items -on the Consent Agenda
included the following:
(A) Roll call.
(B) Approval.of Minutes of July 1, 1980, as corrected.
(C) Setting date of July 29, 1980 for Report and Discussion of Downtown Parking.
MAYOR
Mayor Harrison advised that the Association of Snohomish County Cities & Towns will meet at,
6:30 p.m., July 24, 1980, at Edmonds Community College, and he asked that those planning to
attend advise his office.
Mayor Harrison also announced that there would.be a management breakfast meeting.at 7:00 a.m.,
July 18, 1980, at the.Pancake.Haus, for presentation of the midyear financial review.
Mayor Harrison stated that on advice of the City Attorney he would withdraw his application for
membership in the Edmonds Council.of Concerned.Citizens. He said there is enough doubt cast
regarding the Appearance of Fairness Doctrine that it -would be better..that he not be a member.
City Attorney Jim Murphy had prepared and distributed to the.Mayor-and Council an opi.nion
regarding "Appearance of Fairness Doctrine, Membership in Nonprofit Adversary or. other Parti-
cipatory Groups," in which he concluded that the most cautionary.step for City officials would
be to refrain from any membership in associations or other advisory -groups which may'.take a,
position on an action which may come before the City official.
COUNCIL
Councilman Naughten.reported on the Finance.Committee meeting, held earlier this evening. One
of the subjects discussed was the possi.bility.of insurance pooling.. Results of a recent study
of a number of cities' insurance programs indicated that Edmonds had the least number of claims
paid. The'Finance Committee felt the Council should discuss the question of insurance pooling.
MOTION: COUNCILMAN NAUGHTEN THEREFORE MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN, TO SET FOR DISCUSSION ON
AUGUST 5, 1980 THE SUBJECT OF INSURANCE POOLING. Discussion will.include advantages, disadvantages,
and cost effectiveness of joining a pool. Councilman Nordquist•asked to see the loss claims.
for the other cities involved. THE MOTION CARRIED. (Council.man Kasper was not present for the
vote.)
Another subject.discussed by the Finance Committee was the midyear financial report, and although
it is scheduled as the subject of a management breakfast, it was felt --it should also be on a
MOTION: City Council agenda. COUNCIL-MAN*NAUGHTEN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN, THAT THE
MIDYEAR FINANCIAL REPORT BE PLACED ON THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA OF JULY 22, 1980. MOTION CARRIED.
(Councilman - Kasper was riot present for the vote.)
The requested museum elevator had been discussed by the Finance Committee, although they did
not have,the data which had been furnished regarding this request (it was in the hands of the
Public Works/Community Development Committee which will consider it on July 29, 1980). One .
suggestion which came out of the discussion.was that the museum be moved to the Senior Center.
The last item -discussed by the Finance Committee was the 1981 budget. .The committee agreed
with the Mayor that some early discussions should be held regarding the budget. Councilman
Naughten asked that each Council member submit a 1 ist of those expense items he or she would
like to review in depth, and also that each submit a "wish list." He suggested that there be
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an early fall budget meeting for a day to discuss all of it.
MOTION:
Councilwoman Allen brought up the subject of Fourth of July fireworks and suggested a street
dance -on Labor Day to help finance fireworks for 1981. Several Council members felt there
would be a positive response to requests for donations to provide fireworks next year. Council-
man Nordquist will correspond. with the; Chamber of Commerce to offer City cooperation with the
Chamber's efforts towards a fireworks display next year.
Councilman Nordquist requested an Executi.ve.Session following this evening's meeting regarding
a personnel matter and he asked that the Mayor and the City.Attorney attend.
HEARING ON PROPOSED RESOLUTION FOR SIX -YEAR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT.PROGRAM,
1981 THROUGH 1-987
Traffic'Engineer Bill Nims reviewed the items listed on the plan and gave a slide presentation .
to demonstrate the streets proposed for improvement. (During.this presentation Councilman
Kasper arrived.) The hearing was opened to the public, no one wished to speak, and the public
portion of the hearing was closed. Councilman.Gould suggested that the plan be submitted but
also that the Finance Committee be asked to look at the road restoration and reconstruction
section (1/2�.gas tax money) to see what roads really will be able.to be done. Then, he felt
there should be some discussion about priorities to determine if the priorities remain the
same. Mr. Nims commented that he had checked .with the State this,date and the 1/2� nas tax
money will be approximately $11,600 per month -this year, whereas it had been $12,500 per month
last year. COUNCILMAN NORDQUIST MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN GOETZ,.THAT RESOLUTION 471 BE
APPROVED, ADOPTING THE SIX -YEAR -TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM TO BE FILED WITH THE DIRECTOR
OF HIGHWAYS AND THE URBAN ARTERIAL BOARD.: MOTION CARRIED.
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July 8,. 1980 - continued
'IN VITATII.ON..TO JOHN. C: ,BROWNSON.,;".DI,RECTOR OF SNOHOMhS.H COUNTY DEPARTMENT_OF..EMERGENCY
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SERVICES-,.: TO;E�XPLAIN SERVLCES .P,ROV>IDED" AND. THEIR REQUEST. ,FOR. 'ADD'LTIONAL .ASSESSMENT .
Mr.,Brbwnso'n'described the 6cti'vitie.s,.-:of2the Department of Emergency Services (DES). He discussed
the reorganization of that department and the shortfall of $23,000 in federal funds upon which
their .budget was dependant. The increased activity at Mount St. Helens had impacted them, as
well as inflation and modification oftheir communications.systems. Mr. Brownson felt that
federal.funds'had been diverted which should have gone to them as they are one of only three
DESs in Washington counties which meet the staffing standards. Their guidelines indicate that
departments which are fully staffed should have a priority on the funds, and they have plans to
file suit on that basis. Anything they recover would be credited to the next year's assess-
ment. He was asking for an increase of 8t or 11t per capita. The City's assessment for this
year is 15t per capita. Councilman Gould asked how the City's Fire and Police Chiefs felt
about the additional assessment: Fire Chief Weinz responded that South County had been overlooked
by the DES. He.noted that when.DES hired the additional man last year that additional person
was promised to South County for assistance, but he had not been seen. In fact, Chief Weinz
felt there had not been much from DES of great importance until -Mount St. Helens erupted. He
said'he was aware that they are underbudgeted, and maybe they needed this money in order to
help South County more, but more help was needed locally. He noted that the DES used to have
surplus property which could be obtained, but that no longer is.available; and he said nobody from
DES had ever checked the fallout shelter. supplies. He added that the Ash Fallout Contingency Plan
was prepared by the City of Edmonds and sent to them. Mr. Brownson acknowledged that it was a good
plan and he briefly discussed the other matters. Councilman Naughten suggested that more input be
MOTION:
obtained before making a decision. COUNCILMAN NAUGHTEN.MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN, THAT
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THE DISCUSSION REGARDING THE REQUEST FROM THE SNOHOMISH.COUNTY-DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR
AN ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT BE CONTINUED TO JULY 29, 1980 IN ORDER TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INPUT. MOTION
CARRIED.
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DISCUSSION...OF LONG-RANGE PLAN..E.OR A PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING
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Councilman Kasper, as Chairman of the Public Safety Committee, reported that the committee had
reviewed the highlights of the retreat discussion -on this.subject and decided that the Council
should study it further. They felt the Council should start thinking about what will be wanted so
that in another year or so they canbe ready if funds should become available. Councilman Kasper
noted that the major items to be determined would be what size site would be needed, the location of
the site, and the design of the building. The committee suggested -that Police Chief Foster attend
an upcoming International Association of Chiefs of Police training program on "Police Facilities
Planning and Design," which"should"bean excellent source in the planning process. In looking
forward to a ballot proposal at some future election, the committee felt the Planning Department
should prepare an outline of the procedure, timetable, and.cost estimates for contracting the
professional -services for an architect's rendering, floor plans, site plan, and cost estimates.
Fire Chief Weinz said his biggest concern was the storage of the -firefighting equipment, and he felt
Chief Foster's attendance at the seminar would be beneficial.to his planning also. Councilman
Kasper cautioned that all site alternatives would have to be.considered and there should be investi
gations into such things as empty school buildings which could be converted. COUNCILMAN NORDQUIST
MOTION: MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN., THAT A COMMITTEE BE FORMED TO WORK ON THE LONG-RANGE PUBLIC
' SAFETY PLAN, THE COMMITTEE TO CONSIST.OF THE POLICE CHIEF,.THE FIRE CHIEF, THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR,
THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, AND -THE CHAIRMAN OF THE,PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE: MOTION CARRIED.
Mayor Harrison commented that, -.there was a problem of which he would advise''the Council later, after
MOTION: discussing it with the Staff. COUNCILMAN NORDQUIST MOVED,.SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN, THAT A
PROGRESS REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE BE SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 30,. 1980. MOTION CARRIED.
DISCUSSION�REGARDING.ATTENDANCE-REQUIREMENTS ON BOARDS AND.COMMISSIONS
At the onset of this discussion Mayor Harrison said he thought the City Attorney should write an
opinion as to who nominates, confirms., etc. City Attorney.Jim.:Murphy responded that the statute
states that the Mayor will appoint all employees, but i.t.does not say anything about commissions or
boards. However, he said a written opinion would be forthcoming. . This discussion was initiated'
because a member of the Edmonds Arts Commission had missed three.consecutive regular meetings and
Ordinance 2033 calls for removal in -such instance. It.had been.suggested that the Council may want
to review the ordinance. Councilman Naughten stated that.he was comfortable with the present ordinance
regarding attendance requirements. In.response to a request from the audience, COUNCILMAN NORDQUIST
MOTION: MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN NAUGHTEN., TO OPEN THE DISCUSSION.TO.ACCEPT INPUT FROM CHAIRMEN OF
BOARDS AND.COMMISSIONS. MOTION CARRIED.. Harry Hise,;Chairman of the Edmonds Arts Commission, said,
he had written a letter to the Mayor and Council which had not yet been.delivered but which requested
that this ordinance be amended to give the chairman of each.'board or commission the authority to
determine .if an absence is excused. He suggested several reasons which would be an acceptable
MOTION: excuse...It was agreed that his suggestion should be given consideration. COUNCILMAN GOULD MOVED,
SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN, TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION -REGARDING ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS ON'
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO JULY 29, 1980. MOTION CARRIED.
There was no further business to come before the Council, and the meeting adjourned to Executive
Session at 9:30 p.m.
IRENE VARNEY MORAN, City,1erk
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HARVE H. HARRISON, Mayor
C�