03/29/1994 City CouncilEDMONDS CITY COUNCIL APPROVED MINUTES
MARCH 29, 1994
THESE MINUTES WERE APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE APRIL 5,1994
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
The work meeting of the Edmonds City Council was called to order at
7:00 p.m. by Mayor Pro Tem Nordquist at the Library Plaza Room, 650
Main Street., Edmonds. The meeting was preceded by a flag salute.
ELECTED OFFICIALS
John Nordquist, Mayor -Pro Tem
Steve Dwyer, Councilmember
Dave Earling, Councilmember
Barbara Fahey, Councilmember
Michael Hall, Councilmember
William J. Kasper, Councilmember
Tom Petruzzi, Councilmember
ABSENT
Laura Hall, Mayor
STAFF
Paul Mar, Community Srv. Dir.
Rhonda March, City Clerk
Barb Mehlert, Recorder
Before the meeting began, Mayor Pro-Tem Nordquist welcomed anyone who
makes a'press release to.the newspaper or to the media of any sort, to
place it either in verbage which would indicate it was their own
opinion, and not the opinion of the City Council, unless it was an item
voted on by the Council. Mayor Pro-Tem Nordquist said he is getting
calls often where items have been released to the press, and it really
is their own opinion not necessarily the option of the entire City
Council.
Mayor Pro Tem Nordquist reminded Councilmembers of the Police Chief
p11L��candidate interviews in the Wastewater Treatment Plant Conference Room
dt. 'e Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m.
PRESENTATION ON REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TOM
MATOFF AND COUNCILMEMBER DAVE EARLING
Councilmember Earling, and RTA Board member,introduced the Executive
Director for the Regional Transit Authority, Tom Matoff. Councilmember
�-r Earling said the RTA was put into place by the legislation this past
Auqust and is made up of officials from Snohomish, King, and Pierce
����"Counties. The charge of the RTA is to review/revise the regional system
n (QS plan, prepare a detailed financing plan, seek state and federal funding
t' strategies, and submit final plan to counties for review.
Councilmember Earling played a video for the City Council on the RTA
which "portrays the sense of the regionalism" the RTA is trying to
accomplish with transportation in the Puget Sound Basin.
Following the video, Tom Matoff addressed the Council. Mr. Matoff said
last month, the Board of Directors of the RTA adopted a work program
based on the concept of bringing the incremental approach to the work
of the RTA. Mr. Matoff said at the present time, the staff assisted by
a consultant, are developing a few alternatives to what the first
increment of the plan might look like. Mr. Matoff said those will be
presented to the Board at the next meeting in April and then worked on
and adopted on in some form on May 27, 1994. Mr. Matoff said over the
summer and into the Fall, the RTA will have an extensive, quantitative,
and qualitative evaluation of those alternatives. In October, 1994 the
Board will select one of the alternatives or different pieces of the
alternatives and put into a recommended first phase when then has to be
referred back to the Councils of the three counties involved. Mr.
Matoff said at that time, the Councils of two contiguous counties need
to approve that first increment to be sent to the voters. If that
happens, the voters will be asked to vote on a funding referendum on
May 16, 1995.
Mr. Matoff said the plan will be based on working closely with local
transit agencies within the three counties. Mr. Matoff said he is
pleased that the feasibility study conducted on the northern corridor
commuter rail service seems to.indicate the service would be feasible.
Mr. Matoff is optimistic a regional transit system can be implemented
if approached in a pragmatic way.
Council discussion
Councilmember Petruzzi asked Mr. Matoff to explain his vision of a
start up light rail system. Mr. Matoff replied in addition to a bus
operation, it could include a commuter rail line from Everett to
Edmonds, and on to Seattle and Tacoma, and a starter light rail line in
addition that which might operate from the downtown Seattle bus tunnel,
with a joint station at the International District King Street Station.
Councilmember Kasper inquired why Kitsap County is not involved in this
project. Councilmember Earling said they opted not to join in.
Councilmember Fahey asked how far into the process is the RTA with
regards to whether the rail will be in the I-5 Corridor or Highway 99
Corridor. Mr. Matoff said this has not yet been decided. There are two
basic rail systems under consideration which are the commuter rail
using existing track and the rapid transit system of some kind. It was
noted the RTA is now in the process of reviewing/revising the regional
system plan.
Bill MacCully of Community Transit,who also serves on the RTA Technical
Staff said this is one of several times 'the RTA will be coming to the
City Council. Mr. McCauley said he will be updating the City Council on
a quarterly basis on the progress of the RTA. Mr. McCauley said
Councilmember Earling is stressing the importance that all City
Councils and County Council in Snohomish County are made aware of
progress to date.
Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes
March 29, 1994
Paqe 2
BRIEFING BY BRUCE AGNEW - THE LOCAL OPTION MOBILITY ACT
Bruce Agnew, 1141 7th Ave. South, spoke on behalf of the Regional
Transportation Coalition, which is a consortium of business,
environment, labor and civic groups from Pierce, Snohomish and King
Counties. Mr. Agnew said the Coalition is proposing a local option
sales tax on gasoline for counties and the Regional Transit Authority.
Mr. Agnew said the goal is to fund multi -modal regional transportation
needs which increase the mobility of people and goods above levels
state funding is currently providing. Mr. Agnew said the proceeds can
only be used for transportation purposes and cannot be diverted by
local governments to general fund purposes. Mr Agnew noted current
local option taxes are not as flexible as federal ISTEA funds. The
local option gas tax is restricted to highway purposes.
Mr. Agnew reported voter surveys indicate a strong preference for a
"user fee" local option sales tax on motor fuel over currently
authorized general sales and use tax up to .9% for regional transit.
The Ballot measure must identify transportation projects or programs
the local option tax will fund. The Multi -Modal Plan local governments
submit to the voters can include: 1) regional transit projects (i.e.
multi -jurisdictional, public/private) and Americans with Disabilities
Act compliance; 2) Supplemental (not as a substitute) funding for
completion of HOV network; 3) road and bridge safety and seismic
projects in high accident or traffic areas, 4) commuter, inter -city
rail and multi -modal (and pass -only ferry) facilities; and 5)
transportation projects necessary to meet Growth Management concurrency
requirements. Mr. Agnew said the total rate levied by local government
cannot exceed (and may be less than) the maximum general sales tax levy
in effect in any jurisdiction.
Mr. Agnew said the draft proposal was adopted by the
Legislative/Finance committee of the Regional Transportation Coalition
(RTC).
Councilmember Earling said he sees a potential timing problem with the
time line of RTA objectives.
Mr. Agnew said it could potentially be a problem, however, he submits
that if you look at the merits of the proposal, this has a better
chance of passage and said the goal is to present this issue in concert
with the RTA. Mr. Agnew said the Coalition believes the RTA needs to
take a longer vision of the proposal.
Councilmember Earling asked if he will be speaking to the RTA
concerning this issue. Mr. Agnew said it is planned to meet with the
RTA in the near future.
Mr. Agnew said he would like to return to the City Council in the near
future to receive a formal endorsement of the proposal.
CONTINUED REVIEW OF COUNCIL RETREAT AND GOALS
Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes
March 29, 1994
Page 3
Mayor Pro-Tem Nordquist stated the following goals:
1. Formation of an Economic Development Council. This would be a
joint venture with the Chamber and non -chamber members.
2. Space Needs Relocation of Fire Department to the Public Works
Site on an interim basis.
3. Improve in -town transportation
COOL"' 4. Continue to pursue annexation opportunities.
C00--� Councilmember Fahey agreed with the above items as well as having this
Q Council set some long range goal setting.
Councilmember Earling agreed with the above, as well as having the
Space Needs study completed, and to ballot this year; improve the
economic/business climate which includes pursuing annexation along
Highway 99; and continue to work on long/short term goals i.e.
transportation issues.
Councilmember Dwyer said he would also like decisions made on Fire
Consolidation, determining where do we want to be in terms of service
and geography 15 years from now. Councilmember Dwyer said you also have
to figure in the likelihood that Shoreline will become a City in the
future and there will be 3 major fire departments north of 145th.
Councilmember Dwyer said he would like to vision what the Police
Department will look like 15 years from now taking into account the
technology constantly being introduced.
Councilmember Kasper said he would like to affirm the Council
position to move the fire station to the current Public Works site on
an interim basis in order to expand the current fire department site
for police department expansion until a new police facility is acquired
or built.
Mayor Pro-Tem Nordquist said he will compile a list of.Council goals
and submit them at a future Council meeting.
COUNCIL
COUNCILMEMBER EARLING MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT NORDQUIST,
TO EXCUSE COUNCILMEMBER PETRUZZI FROM THE MARCH 22 CITY COUNCIL
COUL, MEETING. MOTION CARRIED.
�X COUNCILMEMBER EARLING MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER HALL, TO EXCUSE
bS.e(1&�COUNCILMEMBER DWYER FROM THE MARCH 22, 1994 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MOTION
�- CARRIED.
With no further business before the City Council, Mayor Pro-Tem
Nordquist adjourned the meeting at 8:29 p.m.
R NDA J. MAR CITY CLERK
Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes
March 29, 1994
Paqe 4
AGENDA
EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL
PLAZA MEETING ROOM - LIBRARY BUILDING
7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
MARCH 29, 1994
COUNCIL WORKSHOP - NO AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
CALL TO ORDER - 7:00 P.M.
FLAG SALUTE
1. (60 Min.) PRESENTATION ON REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TOM
MATOFF AND COUNCILMEMBER DAVE EARLING
2. (60 Min.) BRIEFING BY BRUCE AGNEW - THE LOCAL OPTION MOBILITY ACT
3. (60 Min.) CONTINUED REVIEW OF COUNCIL RETREAT AND GOALS
ADJOURNMENT
PARKING AND MEETING ROOMS ARE ACCESSIBLE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. CONTACT THE CITY CLERK AT 771-0245
WITH 24 HOURS ADVANCE NOTICE FOR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS.
THE COUNCIL AGENDA APPEARS ON CHAMBERS CABLE, CHANNEL 32.