19810505 City Council MinutesApril 28, 1981 - continued
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suggested that all inspections:in the -.City -be examined,, not.just the Building Division. Councilman
Gould added that they should,look,back to why they.made th is.,change, whether it`i's as effective as
it was previously, -and how:•effective.:it is now. The Staff..was.asked'to include.'information for the
May'12 discussion as to.when.the:organizational change.wa-s.made..and what the rationale was at that
time. `THE.MOTION CARRIED.
..Councilman Gould advised:that..he-would not be.present May 26, 1981:
Councilwoman Goetz said the.:Mayor.had given her some..brochures:regarding Senior�Statesman Foundation
seminars on 'Politics in -Government and had asked if.there.might be some interest from the school
district.
Mayor Pro tem A1len.said�some.help.was needed,.at least.part-time, for the reception -desk and in the
copy:room, and this had•been discussed previously but.it would entail Tifting the hiring freeze.
The need resulted from.the absorption by others of some of the duties of Judie.Gi--lbo.' It was felt
this should be discussed.on May l2.with the restructure:of-.,the-Executive Department.
There was no further business to come before the. Council ,.and the meeting'adjourned at 10:35 p.m.
IRENE VARNEY MORAN, ty Clerk
May 5, 1981
The regular meeting of the Edmonds City Council was called to order at 7:35 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
Katherine Allen
Ray Gould
Bill Kasper
John Nordquist
Mary Goetz
Jo -Anne Jaech
CONSENT AGENDA
ABSENT STAFF PRESENT
Larry.Naughten Jack. Mitchell, Acting Public Works.Dir.
Jim Adams, City Engineer .
Fred Herzberg, Public -Works Director
Irene Varney Moran, City Clerk
Duane Bowman, Associate Planner
Marlo Foster, Police Chief.
Ron Schirman, Asst. Fire Chief
Art Housler, Finance Director
Jim Jessel, Parks & Recreation Dir.
Wayne Tanaka, City Attorney .
Mark Eames, City Attorney
Jackie Parrett, Deputy City Clerk
Item.(C) was removed from the Consent Agenda. COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN MOVED, SECONDED.BY COUNCILMAN NORD-
QUIST, 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 April_ 28, 1981.
(D). Authorization for.Mayor to sign contract for construction of sport court at Mathay-Ballinger
Park.
(E) Approval of funding City's share of sidewalk repairs.
(F) Setting date of May 19, 1981 for hearing on preliminary plat (Dennis Hania/P-2-81)
(G) Setting date of June.2, 1981, for hearing, at request of John Taylor, regarding Planning Advisory
Board recommendation for denial of rezone (R-2-81)
AUTHORIZATION FOR MAYOR TO SIGN CONTRACT FOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES FOR FRANCES A.NDERSON
CENTER LIBRARY [Item (C) on Consent Agenda]
Councilman Nordquist asked if this was the only landscaper contacted. Parks and.Recreation Director Jim
Jessel responded that unde.r`the.base bid the first part .of the landscape architectural services was paid
for and the landscape architect is working for.Arai/Jackson, but he had been told from the beginning
to hold back on the final, landscape design and.construction observation.services until it was assured
that the entire project. was.within'budget. Arai/Jackson's latest cost estimate indicates that
landscaping will be affordable, so.it wasrequested.that the landscape design services with Edward
MacLeod 'and Associates be completed (through Arai/Jackson). The landscape architectural fees for
working_drawings.through completion will be.$8,725 i.n: addition to .the basic architectural/engineering
contract and,the request.:was for authorization for the Mayor to.sign_the contract addenda in that
amount.; COUNCILMAN NORDQ.UIST MOVED,'SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN.GOETZ, TO APPROVE ITEM (C) ON THE
CONSENT,AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED.
As. a. point of. or -.der, Councilman Nordquist asked why.' "Correspondence" was no longer listed as an
Agenda item. City C1erk.lr.ene�Va.rney.Moran responded thatseveral years ago the Council decided to
• take it off the agenda and instead of correspondence being read aloud the Council receives copies of
all correspondence in their packets.
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May 5, 1981 - continued •
Mayor Harrison recognized Councilwoman Jeannette Wood from the Town of Woodway, who was in the
audience.
HEARING ON'APPEAL FROM ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN BOARD DECISION (LOUISE ZENNAN
Associate Pl.anner Duane Bowman..reviewed this application- A series of ADB meetings had been held on
this item,. beginning on August 2, 1978, with approval finally being given on April 4, 1979. Then,
at the April 1, 1981.meeting.the applicant sought approval of revisions to the the ADB approved
plans. The revisions included:..'(1:):Replacing the approved..white stucco with T-111 beige stained
siding; (2) Replacing the approved greenhouse windows on the west elevation with standard windows;
(3) The upper story windows do'not'have the arched effect.shown in the plans; (4) Chimneys have been
eliminated; and..(5) The landscape plan ..has been.completely revised.. The applicant made all the
above changes.before app:1y.i.ng .for approval.. Mr. Bowman showed slides of the property and the
construction.. Since .the time of taking .the slides the landscaping had been done, but not to the.
approved landscape plan.. Numerous trees on the plan were.no.t.planted and the applicant obtained
plants other than those on the approved plan -and used those without having the landscaping revision
reviewed by .the ADB.- Mr.. Bowman.showed drawings of the approved elevations: The ADB meetings which
Mrs. Zennan attended for review of her'project were August 2., 1978, a special meeting on August 16,
1.978, October. 4, 1978, March 7,- 1979, and'April 1, 1981. At the April 1, 1981 meeting the ADB.
denied approval. of the revisions. A building permit was issued.March 31, 1980. The changes sub-
sequently were made by the applicant without submitting amended plans to the Building -Department.
The inspector who inspected the.construction was a former CETA employee and he did the required
inspections•of the foundation,. -footings, framing, and plumbing. He did not pick up the changes, Mr.
Bowman said,.possibly due to his inexperience, but also the-ADB requirements involve -the exteriors
and landscaping which appear at.the end of a project. The Building Official, Hal Reeves, indicated
to Mr. Bowman that he recalled Mrs. Zennan having called him one day and asking if 1/2" gypsum
sheathing'in combination with T-lll siding formed an approved one -hour fire resistant wall assembly,
as opposed to the approved plywood:sheathing-and 7/8" stucco, and he had told her that it would but
that any changes to the ADB approved plan must receive prior approval. She did not submit any
amended plan, but she did make..the changes. Mr. Bowman said that because the building is.essen-
tially complete there is not too,much that Mrs. Zennan can do. It was Mr. Reeves's opinion that to
require her to comply with the-.ADB approved plans would essentially mean taking down the building
because there is too much done. The interior wallboard is up, it has been sprayed, the electrical.
and plumbing are in. The Planning -.:Department therefore recommended approval of the building changes
because compliance with the original plans would be cost prohibitive, but they recommended that the
landscape plan be remanded to the ADB-.for review because it still could be planted. The hearing was
opened to the public.
Chester Bennett, attorney representing Louise Zennan, said Mrs. Zennan is 61 years old and she does
the work on her houses herself. 'He'said the ADB, the Planning staff, and the Building Division have
been besieged by Mrs. Zennan over a long period of time and they have been extremely helpful to.her.
He said Mrs. .Zennan has come •time.and time again, but she does not always come with all the design
patterns and spokesmen, as she -cannot afford all these things. He noted that Mr. Reeves did say she
called him and'*he talked with her, but he did not say and possibly did not know that at that time
she lost her son who'also was a'builder.and he'had this T-111 siding which she proposed to use. Mr.
Bennett was sure that Mr. Reeves did mention that it must meet ADB review, but he did not know
whether that really registered with her. He said that earlier she had been put upon somewhat by
someone on the ADB, suggesting that she consider not using stucco and using something more natural
to this area such as wood. He stated that she did not ignore the system, that she did call, and
subsequently the framing was approved :by the Building Division. He questioned an inference that a
CETA person may not be qualified to inspect, because -from that one might conclude that everything
that person inspected might have to be thrown.out of town. He noted that the original arched effect
over the windows was to accommodate the stucco, and when the stucco was replaced with wood there was
no need for the arches, but he said that probably was a subjective determination on her side. With
respect to the greenhouse windows, he said the replacement windows do extend from the wall, but like
a bay window.rather than being greenhouse windows. As to the elimination of the chimneys, it turned
out that she could.not put in the fireplaces because of -certain building designs in a beam which she
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had not figured out, so without the fireplaces she did not need chimneys, and he could not.see the
board pass.ing.on the -.removal of an:exterior,extension. In'the landscaping, he said she used azaleas
where it called for rhododendrons.' -and instead of going to the Design Center she went to Pay and
Save. He said he appreciated Mr.. Bowman's last comments in his recommendation to the Council as the
building is almost finished, althou.gh':Mrs.:Zennan may have,,breached some procedural approach. Mr.
Bennett asked .the Council to approve the.design so she could complete her building and to send it
back to the ADB-for the. landscaping.--He-said if the Council: could see fit to approve the project
subject to the landscaping design already approved by the ADB, that would save Mrs. Zennan a month,
and otherwts.e.-she. may lose some of .her financing. ' He sai-d there had been no malice on her part and
she did not do too badly in putting up.a fourplex.
Greg Selvidge,.216 Admiral Way, -a member of the ADB, said -he is probably the oldest member on the
ADB. He said.he does not have..anything against Mrs. Zennan but.he had spent a complete lunch hour
with her and three different nights at meetings, and this project shown now was not the project she
proposed to the ADB that:they.approved.. He said.there are.five major changes; therefore, they could
not approve it at the most recent -.meeting. He stated that'if the Council approved it then they did
not need him and the other members as an` Architectural Design Board. No one else wished to speak,
and the hearing was closed.
Councilwoman Goetz asked for clarification .on the number of:units: Mr. Bowman responded that the
property is zoned for multi-fami,ly.and Mrs. Zennan has a single family residence on the -site plus
the four townhouses, for;a.total of five:units. He explained that the first series of hearings were
to get her through.the:stage.where she-could.be-issued a.building permit, and when.she did call
about the T-lll:siding she.was.tol'd-that.any;revisions would have to.be approved..by the ADB before
they were made. Councilwoman IGoetz asked what had been heard from.the neighbors, and Mr.. Bowman
said he had not heard any comments from the neighbors., pro..or. con.. Councilman Gould said emphatically
that he was not about -to -approve this. :He,thought Greg.Sel�vidge was absolutely right --that if the
Council approved this they did not need an ADB. He said:they.did their:job and they did it well,
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May:S, 1981 - continued
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and if the Council allowed people .to bu'il:d regardless of the way'the ADB states then they are not
needed. He said..he very rarely fee -Is as.strongly.about a.project as he did this., but.plenty of
evidence had`been presented to the bui-lder•,by the department and the ADB, and he would vote to
uphold the ADB decision and whatever,-ias-to happen has to,happen, and that is'the.way it is.going to
be in this community as far as..he is concerned. Councilw man Allen said'she agreed, that this Board
had -been appointed because:the..Council cannot hearal I of these things, and these are professional
people who are willing to.work with the builders. She sa.id she,, also, would u_phold:the ADB.'s decision
on this.
Councilman Kasper asked .if:the..;units are occupied yet,_and Mrs. Zennan replied that they are not.
He asked..if she financed.tlhi.s project, and she said'she had financed part of it but she put in
$36,006.of her own.money.and,the money she borrowed -was not borrowed against this building so she
was not required to go to the loaner of the money for the changes.
Councilwoman-Jaech asked...i°f.there.was•not'a monetary penalty. when.someone violates the Code, so that
the penalty could be levied,.i.nstead of making them tear down.a project. City_Attorney Wayne.Tanaka
responded that it is a criminal offense to violate thhe Code; but this.particular hearing was not to
determine whether or not the applicant was guilty of any crime, but whether or not the changes she
has proposed;meet the criteria.in .the Code in the.chapter.on.the ADB. He said if the Council
upholds the-ADB decision .then -she will either have to:comply with the plans approved by the ADB.or
not bui-l.d the building, and the City could institute a civil proceeding or.a criminal proceeding if
she -proceeds,. Councilwoman Jaech asked for more.information about the CETA inspector,.and Mr.
Bowman'said'Dan Hartle was the.CETA. building inspector that did most of the inspections on that
project -=the foundation, :the footings, the framing,.and the plumbing --and according to Mr. Reeves
the siding should have been caught at the stage of -the framing inspection.. Councilman Kasper
observed that.the inspecti.on.process is taking in the building code but not the ADB process in
detail. He said he had observed that there are things taking place that require that the City be
very hard.on the inspection of structures, and now .it comes to.the ADB process which involves what
we will have.to look at forthe rest of ourlives,.al'though they are not structural things. He said
it is getting to the point.of retaining the ADB or not retaining it, and he noted that the -Council
rather recently came down pretty hard on some other Atems:- He also noted that this individual may
not be'as knowledgeable as.a fully licensed contractor. Councilwoman Jaech asked how the inspection
works -as to what was s.i.gned.off.and what was not signed.off as -far as what she.is.permitted'to do
and not'permitted.to do.. Mr: Tanaka said the fact that the City inspected the framing'to-determine
if it met the building -code would not mean it met the ADB requirements, and the person is not excused
from.complying with the Code. He said the owner has. the responsibility for knowing what the codes
are and what constitutes compliance, and the applicantcannot pass it off onto the City in this
case.
Councilman.Nordquist observed.that sometimes you will -find people who will say'this T-111 is equal
to or similar to stucco.and.the inspector may agree;, so then.the person uses what he wants; or
someone may ask to remove"2,000 yards of fill dirt but :they end up removing 20,.000 yards --people
hear what they want to hear.sometimes. He asked what the next step would be if the ADB decision was
upheld by the Council. Mr:.Tanaka,said Mrs. Zennan could:appeal the Council's.decision to Superior
Court, or if she does not choose to do that or if the Court upholds°the Council she would have to
comply with. the ADB approved plans or the building would sit forever empty. He said it is a require-
ment of the.Code that beforea building permit can issue and before an.occupancy permit can issue
the building must comply .with the ADB. He referred to section 20.105.040 of the Code which states
the Council may refer the.:matter.back to the ADB for further consideration, but'said if that is the
choice.the Council makes'then'the Council should consider setting up some guidelines or indicate
what they want the ADB to do.
Councilwoman Allen asked -who -,does the ADB inspection,.and Mr. Bowman responded that they review the
.application*'.it goes to the ADB, the building permit is -applied for, it A s checked'by the various
departments,,they.check the plans and it goes back to the Building Department -where the permit is
issued. During construction -.the inspections are made; and..afzer constructiona Building Department
inspector is sent out to:.do.the--ADB inspection--but:the building -permit has already been.reviewed to
insure that what the applicant.-is'applying for -is what.was approved by the-ADB'.. The final ADB,
inspection is at the end, and some things may show up such as plants that have died or parking
stalls that have not been striped correctly. Nobody checks the ADB requirements during construction.
In this case the plans and.speci.fications called for stucco. Councilman Gould said he did not think
they wanted to leave that,al'l at the feet of the inspector:.as_the builder is supposed to be a
responsible party and.has.an.obligation to do what'he applies for and what has been approved. He
said he will not shut his eyes to that. Councilman.Kasper said the process does not inspect for ADB
compliance until the end and as they go through each stage.thingt that exist are incorporated into
the next stage. Councilman Gould, however, said it is the exterior appearance.of.the building and
the landscaping -that basically have ADB requirements,and they show up at the end.. He thought the
Council should uphold the ADB decision and not iay it on the ADB by remanding it..to them, but lay it
on.the builder and say the Council requests that she go back to the ADB and,tell them what she can
do to comply. Councilwoman`Goetz said she had some real problems with a citizen going to this
extent with a.building and then finding no answer. She thought there were -'some compromises that
could be made. She thought the owner should.be.listening=-that is what she read in the minutes of
the meetings, -that the owner was not listening.
Councilwoman.Allen said the Council could ask the ADB.to consider a hearing; with Mrs. Zennan, but
if
she said she were on the ADB she would be a little impatient with that sort-of.thing because they
have had a.,number of hearings on the issue. She did not.'particularly want.to see a building sit
there -.empty forever, and she thought they might look at it -and possibly find some areas that could
be accepted, such as ,:.accepting the the -siding as opposed to .the stucco, and accepting the windows.
She said nothing can be done::td those things except tear them down, and:the Council has been.known
to require that something.°be 'torn down, but that appeared in this case to*be a :rather extravagant.
waste'of.time and money. She said -.she would insist, -.however; on compliance with.the landscape plan,
and that no occupancy permit be -issued until the ADB,has,advised the Building Department that they
have accepted the plan. She noted that even this put.it back into the lap of the.ADB. Councilman
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May 5, 1981 - continued •
Nordquist suggested that before this person is put to the relief of.the courts that the hearing be
reopened for any further comment.from'the ADB. COUNCILMAN NORDQUIST MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN
KASPER, THAT THE HEARING BE REOPENED. MOTION CARRIED, WITH COUNCILMAN GOULD VOTING NO. Councilman
Gould thought the decision by the ADB and.the applicant shou.ld.be made aside from this meeting, and
if there is some kind of solution that could be reached they could probably do that better in their
own forum. Mayor Harrison commented that there is no design that is perfect when construction
starts and.every construction job gets changed in some place. He said siding is always a big factor
because you do not know what is available. He noted that you can run into.problems such as leakage
and he referred to the exterior•materials for the new library which were changed. Councilman Kasper
stated that -in that case the Council forced it back to •the.ADB. Mayor Harrison added that the
builder may have every intention of passing it by the ADB but there is always a month's wait.
Councilman Gould said there have been hundreds of buildings built in. this City with the approval of
the ADB and there is no reason why this.one is not. He thought .if he had that kind of money to
build -he would see what building materials were available.
Warren LaFon, Chairman of ADB,.said he thought the board could work.with Mrs. Zennan. He noted that
the point had been -made of the frustration of the board with.this kind of activity, and he said
there -are some builders in this.City who .tend to do what they want anyway and come back after the
fact, .and when Mrs. Zennan was before .the board the comment was made that "enough is enough." He
had some ideas about how the board could be restructured and he -requested a meeting with the Com-
munity Development Committee.: He`said during the ADB review of.the library it came up that people
work for months on.a project and'the ADB is then expected to decide. in a half-hour what to approve,
so he would -like to suggest that: the ADB have a hearing and .that.the ADB comments and decision be
rendered later. That would give them some time to do some thinking, rather than making decisions
off the tops�oftheir heads. Mr..'LaFon.said he had been on the board five years and had seen it hit
its plateaus, and they presently are at.another one and need.some changes. Councilwoman Goetz
advised him that if they and Mrs. Zennan.could get togethe r.it.would be a great service to her and
to the community, but she said Mrs.. Zennan should understand completely what they are talking
about. Mr. LaFon said that what Mrs. Zennan had built was.what the Board had denied at the beginning,
and that was the basis of their frustration. He thought they could come up with some things that
could help, and he had given it.some thought since their last.meeting, but he was more concerned
about the really large projects in -the City, such as the..library, and he had some reservations about
the changes in that. He said .T-ll-l.has been -accepted in the City, but in this case there are five
major elements that had been changed,.not just one, and the chimneys were an element of the total
design which was deleted. The shapes -of the windows, the .greenhouse windows --he said everything was
different and.therefore the relationship,of the elements -was changed. He said the board had been
lenient to.some..extent on some of these items in other projects, but this one was about as bad as
there had been. Councilwoman Allen advised him that the Public-Works/Community Development Com-
mittee would be meeting the next week and would welcome members of the ADB, and the ADB will be
placed on the agenda.
Chester Bennett said he concurred that if the City is going to have advisory boards then.they should
been tragedy.
be supported, but he thought to have closed the door on this project would have a real
With Mr. LaFon's coming forward; and with the attitude of the -Council, he also recommended that it
be remanded to the ADB, and he said -he would be available'to Mrs. Zennan•for assistance. The.
hearing once again was closed. 000NCIL•MAN NORDQUIST MOVED,.SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN GOETZ, THAT
BASED•ON THE VOLUNTEERED HELP OF MR'. BENNETT, THIS MATTER BE REMANDED TO THE ADB FOR FURTHER CON-
SIDERATION.. MOTION'CARRIED. Councilman Gould clarified that this was with the understanding that
no permits of any kind would be issued.
HEARING ON LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATION FOR FIRST SERVE RACQUETBALL CLUB
Mike Hoonan, 505 Olympic Ave., manager of the club, was present to answer any questions. Councilman
Nordquist adv.ised him that this had been placed on the agenda because the last time it came up there
were concerns -from the neighbors. It was�his understanding that food would not be served and he
said he had checked with the neighbors and it appeared that the operation of the club had been good.
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He noted that the Assistant Police.Chief had investigated and recommended approval, and' -he said he
had this placed.on the agenda to give everyone the opportunity to state any problems, but he saw
none. Councilman Nordquist said-he.had been at the last:Lake Ballinger Community Club meeting and
there•was no.,mention of this so it did not appear that they were concerned. The hearing was opened,
no one wished to speak, and the -'hearing was closed. COUNCILWOMAN.ALLEN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN
NORDQUIST, TO RECOMMEND APPROVALOF THE•APPLICATION BY FIRST SERVE RACQUETBALL CLUB FOR A CLASS C
AND D LIQUOR LICENSE. MOTION CARRIED.
HEARING ON TRAFFIC LIGHT AT THIRD AND DAYTON
City Engineer Jim Adams reviewed the history of this traffic light. It had been installed in 1968
when the major ferry traffic .route included 3rd Ave. at Dayton.St. When the new SR 104 route was
completed.wi"th the connection to the ferry ticket booth,. the majority of the ferry traffic relocated
to SR 104 and the traffic volume -on 3rd and Dayton was reduced. A Comprehensive Traffic Planning
Study made in1980 by the traffic:.engineering firm of Northwest Engineering Co. included a recom-
mendation to remove the signal•because it was no longer warranted. In early March a memo was sent
to the Mayor•and Council -indicating the signal would be removed, and it was removed on March 23,
1981 and a stop sign was placed on Dayton St. Since that time many calls have been -received from
citizens regarding the change -in traffic control, some pro.and some.con, with about equal numbers of
each. Traffic counts were taken during.the past week, indicating there is no significant difference
in traffic on'Dayton and'on 3rd, but there are some sight distance problems. Mr. Adams felt instal-
lation of a four-way stop at that intersection would be the best control. He noted that Dayton St.
is a direct route to the waterfront and the Port of Edmonds.area, and.that many pedestrians utilize
this intersection while walking downtown and that a four-way stop would be in the interest of their
.safety. He said State permission would not be necessary. -As-,to.whether a traffic signal should be
reinstalled, he said he did not.recommend that because it had kept.a lot of`people waiting for no
reason and he.had observed many times that people would.wait a bit. -and see no traffic and then go
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May 5, 1981 - conti.nued
through the intersection,;,and.;that was.more 'dangerous than=`having a four' -way stop. Councilman
Kasper said he had observed .that,intersection and,.in.fact,had commented to Mr.. Adams one Friday
that the traffic light.there was bad and possibl,y.should be'removed, and by coincidence the following
week it'disappeared. 'He had,watched.a lot of people.on a Saturday 'and a Sunday stop and then run
the:light.,.He thought the four. -way stop would probably be the most satisfactory solution. The'
hearing was opened to the,public.
Kevin Sherwood, 160 3rd.Ave., S., lives on the corner.of the intersection and said when the light was
it four-way flashing light.
there he constantly saw people go through it, apparently assuming was a
He thought a four-way stop,would go in when the light was removed and thought that would be good.
'But the two-way stop was'put in.and he said he now hears brakes screeching all the time. He said
there.have been several.accidents'since the removal of the light, and'in the three years that he has
lived there he had seen only one accident before the -light was removed. He suggested that there be
a four-way flashing light.and:a four-way stop sign. Also,..he said it would be a convenience to him
because now he has troubl.e.getting out of his driveway between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. because of the
two-way'stop. Councilman.Goul:d.asked him if there.is enough sight.distance there for people to see
the stop signs, or if a flashing light also is needed. He said the restaurant is there and it
sometimes -.has delivery trucks. Because of cars that park there he said you sometimes have to get
into the intersection to see. He did not think people should have the opportunity to shoot through
a yellow light there, and;he thought a four-way stop with a four-way flashing light would be best.
He said there are a lot of pedestrians in the area.
Bob Morrison, 250 Beach Pl., also suggested a flashing light and.a four -way -stop. He said he had
seen two very near misses.and both instances were people coming up Dayton to 3rd.. He did -not know
if it was because of the.:ri.se in elevation, but he said he.uses Dayton'daily and there is something
about the way the cars park:.that adds -to the problem. He said one thing being overlooked is the .
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increase in traffic that will come from the Port's.industrial park.
Gene Olson, 960 5th S., said he is one of the elderly people who use that area,.and he goes down it
at least two or three times a week. His wife and he had a close call in that intersection which he
said would have resulted in an accident if she were not such a.good driver. And.he added that it is
terr-ible to try to cross there on foot. He thought there should be either a.three-way or a four-way
stop there.
Floyd E. Smiths 814 Dayton.; said he had protested r.emoval.of the light and he still protested it.
He thought a four-way stop -was good.but it would not protect.the pedestrian. He noted that a large
number of people go to the Senior Center everyday and have to cross there. He said.they. could take
Main St., but.they do not like to walk any.farther than necessary. It was his preference that the
light be reinstalled, but he said if that was not possible then there should be a four-way stop.and
that:notice of the four-way stop has to be posted north of James St. or the people will not be able
to stop fast enough.
Mr. Morrison asked at this time'what the procedure.-was:to request a traffic study at Dayton and
Railroad Ave. at the rai.1road tracks, and he was told that such would be placed on.an agenda.. No
one else wished to speak, and,the hearing was closed.
Counci.lwoman.Goetz inquired'�about accident reports for that area. Police Chief Marlo Foster said he
did not have figures with.him, but the serious accidents mainly occurred the first week.after the
change. He supported a four=way stop and a flashing light there and said the intersection the way
it is now i-s no better than it was prior to 1968. Councilman Gould noted that he had seen signs
hanging beneath flashing:red lights saying "4-Way Stop," and he suggested the use of those. Mr.
Adams said such signs will -be installed on the stop signs themselves and if they are legal they
would be installed beneath the.flashing light if that was desired. He was not sure whether the
signal.which had been there could.be used for this... COUNCILMAN NORDQUIST MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN
•
KASPER, THAT'FOUR-WAY STOP'SIGNS BE INSTALLED AT THIS..INTERSECTION, AND ALSO THAT'.A FOUR-WAY FLASHING
LIGHT BE SUSPENDED OVER THE'STREET AND ON ALL FOUR SIDES OF THE FLASHING LIGHT THERE BE SIGNS SAYING
"4-WAY STOP." MOTION CARRIED. COUNCILMAN GOULD THEN MOVED, SECONDED BY'COUNCILWOMAN GOETZ, THAT A
TRAFFIC STUDY BE CONDUCTED AT DAYTON ST. AND RAILROAD AVE., AND THAT A REPORT BE PLACED ON THE
DUNE 2,1981 AGENDA. MOTION.CARRIED. A short recess was announced.
REVIEW,AND DISCUSSION.OF.PROPOSAL REGARDING COUNCIL OBJECTIVE OF 1981-AS TO
.ADMINISTRATIVE STAFFING LEVEL IN.CITY
Councilwoman Allen said the Council's concern was to see that the.admini'stration of the City is
going smoothly and'one of the problems is that the administrative staffing level at this point is
not what it was and thereis a feeling that the public could be suffering. Oneof her concerns was
the shortage of help on the switchboard and she noted.that one of the most important jobs is that of
the person who first answers a call from the public and that person must be.aware of'what is going
on in the City so she can properly handle the calls. .-Councilwoman;Allen said the two people presently
doing that job have other, -duties they must perform and-need.some reliefin order to-do it all..
Councilman Nordquist said he -had heard there are changes going on and there should -be job descriptions
for the -people. Councilwoman Jaech said it had come to her attention that there were two reclassifica-
tions that were proposed".*and she thought they should be held until the May.12 discussion on restructure
of the Mayor's officebecause the job descriptions wi.11.determine what the grades..will be. One was
.for the,Mail.'Room.Clerk,and one was`for the Traffic.Violations Chief Clerk.- Mayor. Harrison said he
fel.t.the mot ion made by the .Council to remove the freeze.on- reclassifications allowed the Mayor to
fill those budgeted positions within the existing staff, and -one of these positions is not a budgeted
position - so: that one .should. go to the Council for decision as to, whether, the organization '. chart
shou.ld.be changed to.incl.ude it. Councilwoman Goetz was concerned because the A ncrease in grades'
was .too great. and she said if it took the Council's refreezing the reclassifications she would be
for that because -she would want to see what justification there was for a personto be increased by
several.grades'. She said J ust because.the-position is open does not mean the individual has the
added responsibility and should.be there. Councilwoman Jaech.also suggested that the freeze be
reinstituted until that d-tscussion so they can figure out what -they are doing in those areas and who
2�0
May 5, 1981 - continued •
is doing the job, and so it.can be done in a proper order. She had discussed.the proposed reclassi-
fications with City Attorney Doug Albright in view of the.new clerical union being formed and he had
advised her that a reclassification could be done regarding the positions absorbing the duties which
Judie Gilbo had performed since her.job was dispersed, so anyone absorbing.the duties of that job.
would have a new job description. Councilman Gould noted that a Council Secretary also will be
hired. The Council then discussed what the -hiring freeze actually meant, and their interpretations
varied. After some.discussion.of attrition and the possibility of -not filling all positions that
are vacated, Councilwoman Allen said she doubted that the Council has the time to study the staffing
level of the City and that they:ha.ve to:accept some recommendations as to what is necessary, and
regardless of suggestions that other employees take over pieces of.vacated positions that could only
happen up to'_a.po'int, and -then -it came.to.a point of whether the Council wants to cut City services.
She did not'th.ink there are excess positions in the City as it is. She said if the Council wanted
to take the.time to study this,, it would take the committee meetings from now until budget -time to
.do it. Councilwoman Jaech said -she -would like to leave a position vacant when a person leaves until
some determination is made,. and..to solve the questions she would like to put the freeze back on so
the Counci-l-could finish their..d iscussion`on May 12.- She thought hiring and reclassification were
synonymous. COUNCILWOMAN JAECH MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN GOETZ,.THAT A FREEZE -BE REINSTITUTED
ON BOTH HIRING'AND RECLASSIFICATIONS., AND THAT THE TWO -RECLASSIFICATIONS PROPOSED BY THE -MAYOR NOT
BE PERMITTED... MOTION CARRIED, WITH COUNCIL'MEMBERS ALLEN.AND KASPER VOTING NO. Mayor Harrison said
that would be'honored. It was requested'that the two job descriptions.mentioned'be brought to the
March 12 meeting. It was also noted that the Personnel Administrator should be given some real
direction as to what the Council wants for their -work on administrative staffing. Councilman Gould
noted.that in the recent past there had been some discussion of how the Public Works Department
should be staffed., and he thought that department could be trimmed. He.thought each department
should be placed on an agenda. It -was' -decided to discuss the staffing of the Public Works Depart-
ment and the Planning Department on'May 26, 1981 and Parks and Recreation on May 12. Councilwoman
Allen said the Council would-be delighted to have input from the Staff., the Mayor, and the Personnel
Department.
•
PROGRESS REPORT ON NEW LIBRARY
Parks and Recreation.Director J.im.Jessel said plans and specifications are 85% complete and will be
95% complete-by•May-15. Several meetings are scheduled by various boards and they were listed. The
Library Project Team will meet May 18, and that will be the last meeting before going out to bid.
Everything in the scope of work is..included and is within budget. A list of bid alternates will
also go to bid. The team meeting was'set.for 8:00 p.m., May 18, 1981, and Mr. Jessel said it would
be advertised. Councilman Kasper�.asked'that the ADB minutes of their May 6 review be included in
the Council -packet of May. 15.
REPORT ON SPACE NEEDS STUDY
Public Works Director Fred Herzberg provided copies of the first draft of the report. Existing
office and equipment spaces were inventoried, and current and future needs were identified. Some of
the alternatives developed by the report were discussed.:.Some of the questions asked included what
use will be made of the existing library building when the new library is completed, and whether a
Public Services building will be.considered for the Fire and -Police Departments and whether it would
be cost saving to relocate them to the Five Corners area. Mr. Herzberg asked that the report be
studied and comments submitted,'and he said Planning Director -Mary Lou Block and he would use that
information to refine the draft. Councilman Nordquist commended Mr. Herzberg on the document and
suggested that.the Council President discuss' with the Finance Director the negotiation of a consulting
contract for Mr. Herzberg's work.in completing the study.
COUNCIL
Councilwoman Allen asked -for an -.Executive Session following this meeting regarding a Port matter and
a personnel matter. •
Councilman Gould asked that -the Finance Department furnish the Finance Committee members regular
reports of Expenditure Analysis and Revenue Analysis. Those committee members are Council members
Jaech, Nordquist, and Gould. C
Councilman Gould noted that the bid opening has been scheduled for the improvmeents on SR 524.
Councilman Kasper noted that the State Highway Department.had dropped the sidewalk in front of Roger
Hertrich's home. City Engineer J-im Adams said he had learned of that only this morning and had made
inquiries of their engineer who said the attorneys had done this. The Edmonds City Attorney knew
nothing of.it,.and Mr. Adams assumed that the State had to obligate the money by June 1 and they
went with construction -in the area where the property is owned by the City or the State. To do the
job as designed would require purchasing 5' plus the slope easement. Mr. Adams said he would try to
determine the status of this before next week.
Councilman Kasper called attention to.an unsightly corner at 9th and Main where several trucks are
lined up for sale.on.a corner lot.. Associate Planner Duane Bowman said the property owner had been
contacted.
Councilman Nordquist referred to.:a comment by him in the sixth paragraph on the last page of last
week's minutes, in which he said the inspection work is not being accomplished as it should be
because the.Building Division is short of inspectors. He.said he did not mean that to reflect on
any.one person, and:he hoped there.•wi.11 be time to spend analyzing.this situation. He thought it
might be helpful to have the Bu ilding.Official attend a Council meeting to discuss this. Mr. Bowman
said he already had spoken with Mr: Reeves and he will be attending the May 12 meeting regarding
this.
Councilman Nordquist addressed.the Mayor.and-recalled some.recent incidents in the City and some
articles.in the.newspapers, and he~said:he h.ad spent'some.time around the.City recently and it was
his impression that the Mayor's resignation would be warmly received. •
t 2.51
• May 5, 1981 - continued
Council President Allen noted.that last week's Staff Minutes indicated that the Council had denied
the hiring of a part-time •person.for the reception/copy room function, and she,pointed out that it
was not denied but that consideration was postponed to May 12.
She noted that the Staff -Minutes -also indicated some work being done at:Public.Works to prevent
-tripping.and falling, and:she asked if that was in the budget. City.Engineer Jim Adams said there
had been a problem at the.entrance and it was modified by a small slab. It was done with City
forces.at.a cost of $70-$80.for supplies and a few hours of work.
Council President Allen said she had received a call.on April 29'from a lady on Edmonds Way saying
two large buildings were being moved. This was at 4:00 p.m.,:and it appeared to.her'that if such
permits are allowed they -should not be duringgthe'rush,hours.. It reportedly.took 2 1/2 hours to go
100'.
Council•`President Allen referred to a memo from the'..City Engineer regarding.the parking: restrictions
on Sunset Ave. -from Main.S.t-..to Bell'St. and complaints that had been received from citizens.. The
subject.was•placed on the May 19, 1981 agenda.
Council President Allen asked the Mayor for a reportofthe recent meeting of the Professional
Services Selection Committee. .He said the Public Works.'Department will be looking at the basin to
determine if there is some partial solution to the drainage plan and they will report to the committee
on Friday.. He said they will then be proceeding further_to study the criteria.for selection of
engineers. Council President Allen questioned whether the Mayor should be on the committee because
one -of his previous employers is one of the companies involved.
Council:Pres.ident Allen noted that a 6-year TIP update is being requested by 1984,.and it might be a
• budget -item and should be kept in mind.
Council -President Allen said shehad provided the Council a.current CPI report.
Council President Allen noted.that AWC needs board and.commission members.
Mayor Harrison reported that the State Auditor had..advised that the.Council when it adjourns to
Executive Session has to come back to the meeting to. adjourn. City Attorney Wayne Tanaka said he
would check on that.
Councilman Nordquist thought there. should be some provision for notetaking at the Executive Sessions.
Councilman Gould suggested the use of a tape recorder.
There was.no further business to come before the Council, and the meeting adjourned to Executive
Session at 11:00 p.m.
—� V. V-V/
;IRENE-VARNEY.MORAN,y Clerk HARVE.H. HARRISON, Mayor
May 12, 1981 (Work Meeting)
• The regular meeting of the Edmonds City Council was called to order at 8:30 p.m. by Mayor -Pro tem
Katherine Allen in the Council Chambers of the Edmonds Civic Center. All. present joined in the fl'ag
salute.
1
PRESENT ABSENT STAFF PRESENT
Katherine Allen
Ray Gould
Mary Goetz
Jo-Anne-Jaech
John Nordquist
Larry Naughten
Bill Kasper.
CONSENT AGENDA
Harve Harrison, Mayor. Jack Mitchell, Acting Public Works Dir.
Jim Adams, City Engineer
Irene Varney Moran, City*.Clerk
Jack Weinz, Fire Chief
Marlo Foster, Police Chief
Art Housler, Finance Director
Duane Bowman; Associate Planner
Jim Jessel, Parks & Recreation Director
Felix deMello, Buildings & Grounds Supt.
Wayne Tanaka, City Attorney
Mark Eames, City Attorney
Jackie Parrett, Deputy City Clerk
Items (B), (C), (D), and (F) were removed from the Consent Agenda. COUNCILMEMBEVNORDQUIST MOVED,
SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GOULD, TO -APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED." The
approved items on the Consent Agenda included the following:
(A) Roll call.
(F) Final acceptance of -work by General Repairs for Anderson' Center reroofing and setting of a
30-day retainage period.