19800729 City Council Minutes61
July 22, 1980 - continued
Councilwoman Goetz said there had.been.testimony about the...checks and balances, but,she had not
heard of very many recalls, whereas''J f'you have an administrator that you have hired you can fire
him. She felt -the people in -the City should have the opportunity for the third time to see if they
want a change of government.
Councilman.Gould said he had lived.in Edmonds 20 years and this was. -his second term as a Councilman.
He said for.five years he had.been trying,pretty hard to make this system work and it frustrates
him. He commented that when you have problems you don't bring them out in public, you try to make
the -system work, -but he thought it was. -time to change this.form of government, and he will support
that. *He said he will support it by putting it on the September ballot, and he was willing to put
his own posi-tion•on the line as otherwise he would not.have..to run for another three years. He felt
there were many things that could be improved --enforcement of ordinances, improvement of morale, be
more cost effective, and remove a layer of bureaucracy.
Councilwoman. Allen said she agreed entirely with Councilman Gould. She said there is talk about an
elected Mayor being more responsive to the voters, but she had not seen that to be the case in her
20 years here. She felt the Council/Manager form of government is more streamlined, and that the
City now is very complex. She noted that it has a large budget and a lot of costs, and that there
are a number of cities to look at as models which have been.ve.ry successful. She noted that some
people had said they want to elect their Mayor, but they do.not propose to elect their school
district superintendent, yet nobody feels he cannot talk to the.school district superintendent. She
felt professional management was needed as soon as possible, and she favored putting it on the
ballot immediately, feeling there is lots of time to discuss .it between now.and September.
COUNCILMAN..GOULD MOVED THAT THE;.000NCIL ADOPT RESOLUTION 473, PLACING ON THE SEPTEMBER 16, 1980
BALLOT THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THECITY EDMONDS SHOULD..ADOP,T_THE COUNCIL/MANAGER PLAN OF GOVERNMENT
• PURSUANT TO RCW 35A.13, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. COUNCILMAN.NORDQUIST SECONDED THE MOTION FOR
DISCUSSION. Councilman Nordquist said the Council had felt some frustrations but they had reorganized
themselves since the first of the year, and it has been a hard working Council. He said he had been
critical of the administrative office but there had been some,inroads in settling differences, and
he did not'particularly "jump up and -down" about the City Manager form of ,government. -A ROLL CALL
VOTE WAS TAKEN ON THE MOTION, WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS JAECH,_ALLEN, GOULD, AND GOETZ VOTING YES, AND.
WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS KASPER, NORDQUIST, AND NAUGHTEN VOTING NO. THE MOTION CARRIED.
DISCUSSI.ON.ON.FISHING PIER PARKING LOT
This item wi-11 be the subject of an Executive Session because.of a possible legal.problem and then
will be placed ona future agenda.
There was no further business to come before the Council, and.the meeting.was adjourned at 11.:55 p.m.
• a
IRE NE VARNEY MORAN, ity Clerk HARVE H. HARRISON, Mayor
July 29-, 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 ABSENT STAFF PRESENT
Harve Harrison, Mayor John Nordquist Charles Dibble, M.A.A.
Jo -Anne Jaech Fred Herzberg, Public Works Director
Bill Kasper Mary Lou Block,.Planning Division Manager
Katherine Allen Irene Varney Moran, City Clerk
Ray Gould Marlo Foster, Police Chief
Larry Naughten Einer Johnson., Fire. Dept. Training Officer
Mary Goetz. Jim Adams, City Engineer
Jim Jessel, Parks.'& Recreation Director
Hank Lewis, Planning Technician
Felix deMello, Buildings & Grounds Supt.
Jim Murphy, City Attorney
Jackie Parrett, Deputy City Clerk
CONSENT -AGENDA
Item (D) wasremoved from the Consent -Agenda. COUNCILMAN.NAUGHTEN�MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN
GOETZ, TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF'THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED. The approved items on the
Consent Agenda included the following:
(A) .Roll call.
(B) Approval of Minutes of.July.22; 1980.
(C)- Acceptance of Quit Claim Deed in conjunction.with short'subdivision--(Tachell.and Davis -
File S-9-80).
(E) ,Approval of appraisa1•regarding vacation of port ion of 4th Ave. S.
MIN
July 29, 1980 - continued •
PROPOSED ORDINANCE....AMENDING ORDINANCE -2.111, INCREASING LID INTEREST RATE
Item D on Consent Agenda
The proposed ordinance increased the maximum interest rate from 8%.to 1.2%.
In the discussion Councilman
Kasper stated that he felt going to 12%.was not
necessary. He.agreed that
something above 8% may be
advisable, but he felt it should be.less.than 12%.
COUNCILMAN KASPER,THEN.MOVED,
SECONDED BY. COUNCILWOMAN
JAECH, TO AMEND THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO STATE
WARRANTS AND BONDS WILL BE RAISED TO A RATE NOT
THAT THE INTEREST RATE...ON
TO EXCEED 10% PER.ANNUM.
LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
MOTION CARRIED. COUNCILWOMAN
ALLEN THEN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN KASPER,
TO ADOPT ORDINANCE.,2153,
AS AMENDED BY THE PREVIOUS
MOTION. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL
Councilwoman Jaech stated that she had.received correspondence from and talked with Dave Murdock of
the State of Washington Department of Ecology regarding.the:Model.Litter Control and Recycling Act
(RCW 70.93), and she had invited him to speak, -to .the Council.this evening. Mr. Mu'rdock'reviewed his
department's programs with regard to -this act, and urged the City of Edmonds to adopt into its
ordinances the Model Litter Control and.Recycling Act. Following his presentation, City Attorney
Jim Murphy advised him that the City of Edmonds had already adopted the act. Councilman Gould added
that he is a.representative of the City of Edmonds on the County's Solid Waste Disposal Project, and
that Public Works Director Fred Herzberg also has been participating.. He said they are debating how
to handle solid waste in the various cities -and if the County ends up building a steam generating ,
plant and separating the wastes of the various cities, that would do a lot of which Mr -.-Murdock had
been discussing. He said they are still working on recommendations and it will be some time before
he can give a report to the Council.
Councilman Gould noted that there was a need for the Council to appoint.an alternate Mayor Pro •
tem/Council President. COUNCILMAN GOULD MOVED., SECONDED BY.000NCILWOMAN GOETZ, THAT COUNCILMAN
NAUGHTEN BE APPOINTED ALTERNATE MAYOR PRO TEM/COUNCIL PRESIDENT. MOTION..CARRIED.
Councilwoman Goetz noted that the City.Attorney had prepared an ordinance, as directed by''the Council
at last week's meeting, amending.Ordinance 1765 to make provision -for a Municipal Arts Fund. The
proposed ordinance had been distributed to the Council this evening but:it had not been'placed on
the Consent.Agenda which is the normal procedure. COUNCILWOMAN GOETZ MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN
NAUGHTEN, TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 2154, AMENDING ORDINANCE 1765 TO MAKE.PROVISION FOR A MUNICIPAL ARTS
FUND. MOTION CARRIED.
Councilman Gould reported that the Public Works/Community Development Committee had received a
request to consider a wall graphic at 5th and Main, and.accompanying therequest was a letter from
Arts Coordinator,Peggy Walton indicating the,Arts Commission.supports the proposal. -Copies of a
photograph of the proposed wall graphic were distributed to the Council. Councilman Gould noted
that there is a problem in that the Sign Code states that this would be a substantial change to the
sign. Councilman Gould felt it should be allowed, even though it is a.substantial change as it
would provide a separate and distinct service for the City of Edmonds and would reduce the amount of
advertising on the sign. He felt the Council should indicate that this is.an exception+to the Code
and should be permitted,.and-then'refer it to the ADB for their approval of col*ors, etc. Council-
woman Goetz felt the proposed sign was an improvement over the existing sign and denotes City pride.
Councilwoman Allen was opposed, saying the City has a Sign Code and should abide by it. She said
the graphics are fine but you look straight down Main St. and you see the real thing, and she was
not sure a picture was needed of what you can see. She also felt this.was'an effort to retain a
sign that will have to come down in 1983. Council members Naughten.and Jaech were concerned that to
approve this.would set a precedent which.may.create future .problems. The discussion then went to
wall graphics, for which the Sign Code.does not.specify a.maximum area. COUNCILMAN'NAUGHTEN THEN
MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN GOETZ,.TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL.OF THE PROPOSED SIGN AS A WALL GRAPHIC,
BECAUSE HE FELT IT WILL BE AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THE EXISTING SIGN.AND WILL. REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF •
PERSONAL ADVERTISING WHICH IS ON THE EXISTING SIGN. It was clarified.that this still will have to
go to the ADB for review, but that the Council was indicating this to be an exception to the Code
and that it would be legal. THE MOTION.CARRIED, WITH COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN-VOTING NO.
Councilwoman Allen noted that two -small motorcycles were on display for consideration in selecting a
vehicle for park security. Parks..& Recreation Director Jim Jessel discussed the vehicles, recom-
mending the Vespa 200 which requires minimal maintenance, runs 80 miles per gallon of fuel, does not
require mixing of oil with the gas, and which would cost $1,599. After discussion, COUNCILMAN
NAUGHTEN MOVED.,.SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN, TO APPROVE..THE.PURCHASE OF A VESPA 200, WITH A
WINDSHIELD, WITH FUNDS-FROM-THE.000NCIL CONTINGENCY FUND. MOTION.CARRIED.
Councilwoman Allen noted that, with regard to the recent discussion about a future Public Safety
Building, the Council had not actually authorized the Police Chief to attend the conference in Las
Vegas regarding public safety buildings. COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN GOETZ,
THAT THE COUNCIL AUTHORIZE THE EXPENSE OF SENDING THE POLICE CHIEF TO A CONFERENCE IN LAS VEGAS
REGARDING PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDINGS, THE EXPENSES WHICH ARE NOT COVERED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAINING FUND -TO -COME FROM THE COUNCIL.CONTINGENCY FUND.. MOTION CARRIED, WITH COUNCILMAN GOULD
VOTING NO.
DISCUSSION ON RECOMMENDATIONS FROM COMMUNITY.TRANSIT INTERMODAL STUDY
Vic Sood and Mike Christoffer of Community Transi.t were present, and Mr. Christoffer reviewed the
last presentation they had given the Council and asked for input from the Council. The intent is to
have a terminal where all the various types of transportation can come together, and to handle
parking, pedestrians; etc.; but construction of an actual -terminal. building is not intended.
Councilman Gould observed that -there are two' -very sensitive issues involved, (1) Parking and (2)
Community Transit had included in their study a suggestion that the Anderson.Marina property be used
as a part of this terminal project, but t' e-Council already -had spoken to.the Anderson property
issue when a waterfront walkway was being considered and the Council's position was*that it was not
July 29, 1980 - continued
the intent of the.City to take that -.property. Ralph White.,.Deputy. General Manager of.the Edmonds
Ferry Terminal, commented that at the present time in their capital..construction fund they are
budgeted to begin some design for the Edmonds Ferry Terminal project on July 1, 1981. He noted that
new lanes would be required'to keep buses'from.interfering.wi:th.traffic in the holding lanes. They
also feel -they need a second transfer span on a terminal as.busy.as the Edmonds terminal is. It was
decided that a public hearing should.be.held so that the public could hear the presentation.
COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN MOVED, SECONDED.BY.000NCILWOMAN GOETZ,.THAT:A PUBLIC HEARING -BE SCHEDULED FOR
AUGUST 19, 1980 ON THE INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION TERMINAL.FEASIBILITY STUDY. MOTION CARRIED.
REPORT AND.D.ISCUSSION OF DOWNTOWN.PARKING
M.A.A. Charles Dibble had prepared a written report discussing.the parking situation in downtown
Edmonds. He noted that whether or.not:it is determined that.there is an imminent parking problem,
plans for site acquisition should proceed because prices continue to rise and there currently -are
underimproved..properties which would be appropriate sites for parking, but once`they are -intensively
improved they will be unavailable. He observed that if people perceive that it is difficult to find
a parking.space in Edmonds they will not come to Edmonds to shop,.but if there is a parking lot_
available they may have to walk to and from it, but they will not havehunt for a parking space
_to
and therefore will not feel there is a problem. A survey of available street parking -spaces was.
made in'April by Planning Technician. Hank Lewis who reviewed that survey for'the Counci*l.- There
Were 519'total spaces and the average number of those available in the morning was 52.2%, and the
average number available in the -afternoon was 50-.3%. He.reaccomplished the survey last week on a
smaller scale and found no real differences, but the weather was much better on the second survey.
The first.survey was presented to the May Chamber of Commerce meeting, and the Chamber appointed a
committee to work with the City Staff on further study,.the main points of the committee's work
•
being to identify potential sites for a parking lot and to determine how to set up an assessment
district for funding. Planning Division Manager Mary Lou Block described to -the -Council efforts by
Kirkland to get a downtown parking .lot. They are attempting to do it by LID-, to acquire a 60-space,
one -level parking lot at a cost of.$4.13,000, and the required.number.of signed petitions have been
submitted --to schedule a public hearing. Floyd Smith, Chairman of the Chamber's Parking Committee,
discussed several potential sites Ifor a:parking lot. He sai-d it.was felt the shopping area must be
visible from the lot and that such a lot is necessary to enable. the Edmonds merchants.to compete
with local malls. He suggested that the Council commit the. City. to participating in, the amount of
25% of the costs of acquiring a site, as that would increase the chances of success -of property.
owner participation in an assessment district.
Councilman Gould observed that the.Council must decide whether it believes there is going to be a
parking problem .in the future, and..if so they should do -something about it now. Mayor Harrison
added that -with the in -lieu parking fees and the ferry parking fees he felt the City, could make a
commitment :to share in the costs of a new lot, and with.that.commitment the Chamber should be able
to work out a feasibility study on.a.potential lot. Councilwoman Allen felt the Council had no
choice but to -be interested and.that the committee should be encourgaged to proceed.' COUNCILMAN
NAUGHTEN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN, TO APPROVE.THE WORK WHICH IS BEING DONE AND TO AGREE
TO.'PARTICIPATE-IN ACQUISITION COSTS OF. & PARKING LOT, AND THAT IT BE RECOMMENDED THAT'THE COMMITTEE
.PROCEED..TO THE,NEXT.STEP OF REVIEWING THIS WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. 'MOTION CARRIED. COUNCIL-
WOMAN ALLEN.-THEN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN JAECH, THAT -THE NEXT REPORT TO -THE COUNCIL BE
SCHEDULED FOR THE SEPTEMBER 30, 1980 MEETING, WHICH WI•LL:FOLLOW..THE PRESENTATION TO THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE. MOTION CARRIED.
FURTHER -DISCUSSION OF REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL. ASSESSMENT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
EMERGENCY SERVICES
Mayor Harrison had suggested that this question be referred.to the SNOCOM Board in an -effort to see
•
if South County cities.can develop a.consensus, and that the other cities be requested to take the
same approach. He felt the South County cities should'sti.ck together on the important question of
planning for -and handling major emergency situations. Counci.lwoman Allen agreed -that the South
County cities should stick together, but she did not think the added assessment would do South
County .any good, so she was opposed to it. Councilwoman. Goetz agreed. Councilman Gould said he had
tried to think of what kind of situation the City would get into that would cause it to ask for
help, and he thought it would have to be -something like a train derailment or overturned tanker.
Eine'r Johnson, Fire Department Training Officer, said the.Department of Emergency Services does have
the radio van, and that is a good resource, but other than that he di.d.not believe they were prepared
to help the City in an emergency situation of magnitude. He noted that the City of Mountlake Terrace
approved the ll¢ additional assessment, but contingent..upon.the Department of Emergency Services'
expending a certain amount of time in South County to.put.South County in a state of readiness to
handle the emergencies. From that -point of view, he said,if.the contingency is made binding it not
only would make them conscious of .the fact that they.need to.help"South County but it also would
make the South County cities obliged to use their services, and he felt that -in the past local
jurisdictions have been just as guilty as the Department.of Emergency Services.in not working together
on risks that are probable to this area. Councilman Gould.:said.some mechanism'is needed "to.keep
the troops together" and SNOCOM may be it. COUNCILMAN KASPER MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN GOETZ,'
TO REFER THE OF THE ADDITIONAL,DEPARTMENT.OF.EMERGENCY
.QUESTION SERVICES ASSESSMENT TO SNOCOM FOR
DISCUSSION... MOTION CARRIED. (Councilwoman Jaech was.not.present for the vote.)
CONTINUED DISCUSSION ON ATTENDANCE. REQUIREMENTS FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
The Chairman of the Edmonds Arts Commission, Harry His.e,,...had.r.ecommended some changes to the ordinance
regulating attendance om boards and commissions. He felt.the.Chairman should, be given the authority
to excuse certain absences.,* such as for.illness, death i.n_the. family,
.or_ a work -related reason, and
he also suggested that the Chairman -be given the authority .to remove.a member. The Council was
agreeable to his suggestion that the Chairman be given the.authority- to excuse.absences but felt
that only the Mayor should have the
power of removal. Minutes of the meetings will indicate whether
9
July 29, 1980 - continued •
the absence is excused or not excused. COUNCILMAN GOULD MOVED, SECONDED, BY COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN, THAT
THE CITY ATTORNEY BE -INSTRUCTED TO DRAFT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 2033, INCORPORATING THE.
IDEAS SET FORTH•IN THE EDMONDS ARTS COMMISSION CHAIRMAN'S LETTER OF JULY 9, 1980, BUT LEAVING THE
POWER OF REMOVAL ONLY TO THE MAYOR. MOTION CARRIED.
PAY PARKING ORDINANCE
The Council had discussed and approved parking.meters for the ferry parking lot and the parking
meters have been installed and are in use, but existing ordinances do not clearly grant enforcement
power, so the proposed ordinance was drafted. It contained an emergency clause to make it effective
immediately. COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN KASPER, TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 2155
DEALING WITH PAY PARKING LOTS. MOTION -CARRIED.
There was no further business to come before.the Council, and the.meeting adjourned to Executive
Session at 10:25 p.m.
IRENE VARNEY MORAN, Ci Clerk HARVE H. HARRISON, Mayor
EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL and ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN BOARD - Special Joint Meeting
July 30, 1980
A special joint meeting of the Edmonds.City Council and the Architectural Design Board was called to
order at 7:30 p.m. by Acting Council President Larry Naughten in the Council Chambers of the Edmonds
Civic Center.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT ADB.MEMBERS PRESENT STAFF PRESENT
Larry Naughten Ken Mattson Mary Lou Block, Planning Div.
Jo -Anne Jaech Greg Selvidge Manager
Bill Kasper Mike -Mitchell, Duane Bowman, Associate Planner
Katherine AllenJim Murphy, City Attorney
Ray Gould Jackie Parrett, Dep. City Clerk
Mary Goetz
Acting Council President Larry Naughten welcomed those present and stated that the purpose of this
meeting was to find a solution to a -conflict in the City Code which has been of frustration to the
Council, the Staff, and to Boards and Commissions. The conflict has to do with PRDs in residential
zones. Up to six attached units are permitted by the Code in PRDs, but at the same time the Code
defines the RS zone as residential in character.with detached, single-family units. Councilman
Naughten said the goal this evening was to.seek.to find a solution to this dilemma and to be as
objective as possible, although this is a very emotional issue.
Councilman Naughten noted that a major -issue was that of common.wall.units in RS zones because such
units give the impression of and have.the.stigma of apartments. At its regular meeting the previous
.
week the City Council had disapproved such.a.PRD after the ADB and the Planning Commission had
reviewed and approved it, and following .that denial the ADB had requested this meeting. Ken Mattson
said another issue, and one of the reasons the ADB had requested this meeting, was that the Council
essentially was "playing games" with property owners and developers because those people are -presenting
proposals according to the Code and on the advice of the Planning.Department which interprets the
Code, and those proposals are being -reviewed -and approved by the various boards only to reach the
Council and be denied. Mr. Selvidge asked if the Council needed the ADB since the Council turns
down so much that the ADB approves, and he felt jf the ADB is not needed it.should be abolished.
Those were the main issues addressed. Some of the responses,were that possibly the City Council
have
should a site review to approve or disapprove the concept at the beginning of the review process,
rather than at the end. It was felt that the ADB was doing -an excellent job in most cases, but
Councilman Gould felt they were not using their.full power and that both the ADB and the Planning
Commission were not doing their jobs because they.were overlooking the philosophy of the Code. A
number of citizens were in the audience and -they expressed the views that they did not want "apartments"
in single family areas, and to them common wall units were apartments. One lady suggested that PRDs
be eliminated altogether from single family zones. Planning Commissioners Laura Hall and John
McGibbon were present and took exception.to Councilman Gould's comments. They explained the depth
of their reviews, and discussed the recent PRD the denial of which had resulted in the request for
this meeting. Mr. McGibbon also felt it made no sense not to allow common walls but allow possibly
a 2' setback as that creates no usable space but causes maintenance.problems. Councilman Kasper saw
the PRD as a secondary use in the RS zoning, and he.noted that RS-6..(the.zoning of the recent PRD)
is designed to be a dense area. He felt that.PRDs could -be built.without common walls by using zero
lot lines and patios. He said if no change.and no growth was wanted .then they should say so, and
that it was unfair to everyone involved -to bring a projectall the way and then turn it down: *He
thought the Council should commit itself up ,front. He also believed that.,the majority of the people
in Edmonds do,not want no g'rowth;'but they want good growth.'
rowth. -
r1
U