03/03/2006 City Council1 i 1 i
MARCH 3 -4, 2006
The Edmonds City Council retreat was called to order at 9:02 a.m. at the LaConner Channel Lodge in La
Conner, Washington.
ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT
Present Friday, March 3 & Saturday, March 4
Gary Haakenson, Mayor
Deanna Dawson, Council President
Michael Plunkett, Councilmember
Richard Marin, Councilmember
Mauri Moore, Councilmember
Peggy Pritchard Olson, Councilmember
Dave Orvis, Councilmember
Ron Wambolt, Councilmember
PUBLIC PRESENT
Present Friday, March 3
None
Present Saturday, March 4
Sue Waldburger, Enterprise
STAFF PRESENT
Present Friday, March 3
Tom Tomberg, Fire Chief
David Stern, Chief of Police
Duane Bowman, Development Services Director
Stephen Clifton, Community Services Director
Dan Clements, Administrative Services Director
Brian McIntosh, Parks & Recreation Director
Jennifer Gerend, Economic Development Dir.
Noel Miller, Public Works Director
Debi Humann, Human Resources Manager
Scott Snyder, City Attorney
Linda Carl, Senior Executive Assistant
Jana Spellman, Senior Executive Council Asst.
Jeannie Dines, Recorder
1. OPENING REMARKS
Dick Van Hollebeke, retreat facilitator, described his background, community activities since serving on
the Edmonds Council and his interest in the success of the community. He then led the Council in a
team building exercise illustrating the importance of listening and civility.
2. DISCUSSION ON CIVILITY
Mr. Van Hollebeke distributed a definition of civility, citing the importance of working together to
reach compromise and consensus and occasionally agreeing to disagree agreeably.
Mr. Van Hollebeke pointed out the Council being respectful to each other, staff, the public and the
Mayor would lead others to be civil as well. He cited the importance of speaking to an issue, not the
person and avoiding characterization of Councilmembers' opinions. He commented on the value of
retreats as an opportunity for Councilmembers to get to know each other. He referenced written
materials on groups working together. A general discussion regarding civility followed.
Councilmember Marin offered to organize a Council picnic this spring. Discussion continued regarding
meeting procedures. Councilmembers were encouraged to review Roberts Rules of Order.
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March 3 -4, 2006
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3. INDIVIDUAL COUNCILMEMBERS' GOALS FOR THE YEAR
Council President Dawson explained this was an opportunity for Councilmembers to identify their
goals; staff would provide their department and city goals this afternoon. Tomorrow the Council would
review goals and identify a lead person for each.
Councilmember Marin
• Resolve design guidelines and building height issues within the next couple months.
• Pursue economic development issues — zero in on what is holding the Council back.
Councilmember Moore
• Neighborhood development in Five Corners, Stevens Hospital, Perrinville, Firdale Village, and
Westgate including consideration of increasing height limits in these neighborhoods.
• Purchase park property — Old Woodway Elementary School and 115 acres nature preserve (west
side of Olympic View Drive).
• Channel 21 — partner with other cities to provide programming for public access channels via
partnership with high school students to do filming. Councilmember Moore advised she was
working on this.
Councilmember Orvis
• Miscellaneous Height Issues — 1) third party measurements in the BC zone. It was agreed to ask
Building Official Jeannine Graf to provide a presentation regarding how building heights were
determined. 2) Making height variances a direct Council decision. It was agreed to ask City
Attorney Scott Snyder and Development Services Director Duane Bowman their opinion
regarding this suggestion.
• Campaign signs — investigate creative approaches to eliminating campaign sign cluster areas
such as on Main. It was agreed to seek an opinion from the City Attorney.
• Channel 21 — creating a video voter's guide.
Council President Dawson
• Funding for SnoCom Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system coming in 2011 -2012.
• Identify funding source for roads.
Councilmember Plunkett
• Complete Economic Development and Public Safety Comprehensive Plan elements.
• Incorporate 4th Avenue corridor project into Comprehensive Plan.
• Broadband — Council and public need layperson's explanation.
Councilmember Olson
• Broadband/CTAC. It was recommended a one page, layperson's description be developed that
described the existing fiber optics, pilot program and benefits.
Councilmember Wambolt
• Ways to recover $2 million revenue shortfall.
• Major redevelopment of Harbor Square.
• Expand the charter of Hwy 99 Task Force to consider economic development for entire City.
• Possibility of an Edmonds aquatic center.
• Resolve development of Sunset property.
• Investigate State funding for enforcement of ferry traffic.
• Eliminate building height moratorium
4. DISCUSSION ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Councilmembers described what economic development meant to them. Discussion followed regarding
neighborhood centers' role in economic development, importance of learning what residents around
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neighborhood centers want to see, economic development via tourism, and desire to attract a high -end
hotel.
Action Plan: Councilmember Marin offered to provide the results of the Hwy. 99 Task Force focus
groups. Discuss with City Attorney Scott Snyder how the Council could be provided information
regarding what businesses are not coming or leaving and why. Establish a Council economic
development committee with two Councilmembers with different perspectives who would work with
the Economic Development Director to search for nuggets of opportunity; central question for
subcommittee — what is not working and why and actual businesses that are not coming /leaving and
why. Determine why there has not been any movement toward results- oriented permitting.
The Mayor and staff joined City officials at 2:00 p.m.
5. UPDATE STAFF ON THE WORK OF THE MORNING AND COUNCIL GOALS
Council President Dawson updated staff on the goals identified by Councilmembers.
6. DIRECTORS' #1 DEPARTMENT AND CITYWIDE PRIORITIES
Development Services
Department Goal: How can the Council make more effective use of their time and decision making,
focusing on the big picture policy issues rather than small stuff and making decisions.
City Goal: How do we secure long term financial stability for the City and what is our strategic plan to
accomplish? What is strategic development and how do we achieve it, how do we maintain our
infrastructure and what levels of service should the city provide?
Administrative Services
Department Goal: Lack of Council- approved plan for addressing financial future. Without this vision it
is extremely difficult to have a "top to bottom" plan that is shared with all staff and becomes marching
orders. At present there are no incentives to reduce staff costs, become more efficient, look for
alternative ways of delivering services /products to citizens or generate new revenue.
City Goal: Financial future — review and adopt strategies for dealing with the City's long term financial
future, and how we will structure ourselves in an environment where the city will be able to expand
staffing levels on an extremely limited basis.
Action: It was suggested the 5 -year budget projection and existing revenue options be presented to the
Finance Committee.
Community Services
Department Goal: Maximizing future benefits of Edmonds Crossing, e.g., land use planning along the
waterfront and throughout the downtown; connectivity between Edmonds Crossing /downtown and
downtown /waterfront; and working with the Port.
City Goal: Efficient use of resources (i.e., time, money and staffing). Examples: lengthy processes,
deferring of decisions, revisiting issues, etc. Stability of revenue and expenditures — continued delivery
of quality services.
Economic Development
Department Goal: Five Corners and Firdale Village neighborhood plans.
City Goal: Diversification of tax base /economic development.
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Human Resources
Department Goal: Non - represented employee compensation strategies.
City Goal: Consistent, reliable revenue stream.
Parks & Recreation
Department Goal: Solicit from Council their vision for parks /recreation /cultural services and discuss
the number of people Parks & Recreation and Cultural Services bring to the City.
City Goal: Economic development and its role in the livability and economic vitality of the City.
Action: Council requested a copy of last year's Power Point "Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services:
Trends & Visions."
Public Works
Department Goal: Adequate funding to maintain City buildings for the long term.
City Goal: Adequate funding to maintain existing transportation and non - utility infrastructure for the
long term.
Suggestions included exploring options for private fund raising for buildings used by organizations,
exploring hiring a professional grant writer, and staff providing a quarterly report regarding grants.
Police Department
Department Goal: Defining service and staffing levels and identifying stable funding sources.
City Goal: Establishing long -term financial stability.
Fire Department
Department Goal: Integrate public safety into the Comprehensive Plan and the Strategic Plan.
City Goal: Address the long -term financial needs of the City.
Fire Chief Tom Tomberg emphasized the importance of identifying priorities for public safety in a
Strategic Plan versus in the Comprehensive Plan.
City AttorneX
Determine issues in which Council retain quasi judicial role. Staff's review of Design Guidelines
developed by the ADB determined they will not meet the Anderson v. Issaquah test; they could be used
first in the process but not as a quasi judicial document. If I -933 passes, Mr. Snyder planned to
recommend the City look to similar cities and ask the State to pay any costs as unfunded mandates.
Staff left the meeting at 5:42 p.m.
A brief discussion of the day's agenda items followed. It was agreed staff did not need to attend the
retreat on Saturday. Council requested staff provide a copy of the design guidelines recommended by
the Planning Board. It was suggested the Council consider a mini - retreat prior to the budget. With
regard to height, Council agreed they would be prepared to vote on at the March 21 meeting.
RECESS UNTIL 9:10 a.m. SATURDAY MARCH 4
The retreat was recessed at 6:01 p.m., Friday, March 3 and reconvened at 9:10 a.m. on Saturday, March 4.
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6. REVIEW GOALS
Goal: Neighborhood Development
Lead: Councilmember Moore
Action: Continue to investigate
Goal: Nature preserve property
Lead: Councilmember Moore
Action: Investigate restrictions on IAC grant
Goal: Former Woodway Elementary School property
Action: Consensus to continue as is
Goal: Channel 21 voters guide
Lead: Councilmember Moore
Goal: Eliminating campaign signs cluster areas, explore possibilities for reducing
Lead: Councilmember Orvis
Action: Discuss options with Mr. Snyder and report to Council
Goal: Third party measurement of height
Lead: Council President Dawson
Action: Coordinate presentation to Council by Building Official Jeannine Graf
Goal: Council making decision regarding height variances
Action: 1) Request Mr. Snyder review and report to Council
2) Ms. Spellman investigate the number of height variance requested per year
Goal: More frequent updates from Hearing Examiner regarding types of decisions, code interpretations, etc.
Lead: Council President Dawson
Goal: Funding for SnoCom Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system
Lead: Council President Dawson
Goal: Transportation Funding
Lead: Council President Dawson
Action: 1) Discuss options with new Traffic Engineer and report to Council
2) Council to discuss whether to pursue a levy lid lift ballot measure for dedicated funding source for
only roads and sidewalks
3) Work with Transportation Committee; Ms. Spellman to investigate who serves on the
Transportation Committee
Goal: Public Safety Comprehensive Plan Element
Action: 1) Council President Dawson and Councilmember Marin discuss with Chief Stern and Chief
Tomberg their resistance to Comprehensive Plan element
2) Assign Council Committees responsibility for certain departments and Committees conduct
quarterly review of strategic plan for those departments. Council President Dawson to determine
committee /departments assignments
3) Council Committees request strategic plan from all departments along with 5 -year needs
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4) Ms. Spellman provide Councilmembers a copy of strategic plans developed at past retreat
Goal: 4th Avenue Corridor
Lead: Councilmember Plunkett
Action: Work with Historic Preservation Commission and Ms. Gerend
Goal: Broadband
Lead: Councilmember Olson
Action: 1) Pursue a layperson's explanation
2) Investigate other cities' successes and failures
Goal: Harbor Square Redevelopment
Lead: Councilmember Wambolt
Action: Include Mr. Clifton in conversations with Port regarding Edmonds Crossing
Goal: Hwy 99 Task Force
Action: See Action Plan above under discussion regarding Economic Development
Goal: Economic Development
Action: 1) Establish Council Economic Development Committee with members Council President Dawson
and Councilmember Olson. Councilmembers provide Committee actions /information they want from
the Economic Development Department. Committee present to Ms. Gerend and she report actions to
Committee as well as provide a quarterly report to the full Council. Structure of the quarterly report
to be similar to Community Services quarterly report
2) Economic Development Committee provide revenue projections that particular economic
development strategies could provide
3) List of opportunities Committee would "mine" include recruiting a boutique hotel on the Port
and /or old Safeway site and information regarding what businesses not coming /leaving and why
4) Have Ms. Gerend flush out her priorities and identify how the Council can assist
Goal: Council BBQ in spring
Lead: Councilmember Marin
7. REVIEW STAFF COMMENTS
Goal: Long term financial stability.
Comments: Council aware that is important and needed. Need to identify strategies for new revenue and not
only economic development.
Goal: Economic Development
Comments: Economic Development strategies include broadband, Hwy. 99, neighborhood centers, arts
corridor, boutique hotel, etc.
Goal: Code Rewrite
Comments: Underway.
Goal: Funding for building maintenance
Comments: Have Finance Committee explore building maintenance issues and potential funding options.
Councilmember Moore to present options regarding Senior Center to Finance Committee
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Goal: Design Guidelines
Comments: Presentation on design guidelines March 7; Council will receive a copy of new design guidelines
before as well as a copy of design guidelines recommended by Planning Board. Councilmembers
provide any proposed changes to design guidelines by March 14 or at least for packet (Thursday
noon). Public hearing on design guidelines on March 21 (if sufficient time to notice)for potential
action on March 21 or March 28. Council's intent to provide direction on March 21 to Planning
Board with regard to building heights and urge them to move forward as soon as possible.
ADJOURNMENT
Adjourn 11:40 a.m.
GARY HAAKENSON, MAYOR SANDRA S. CHASE, CITY CLERK
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AGENDA
EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL RETREAT
La Conner Channel Lodge
205 N. First Street
La Conner,WA 98257
Second Revision 3/2/06 11:15 a.m.
Friday, March 3
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
9:00 to 9:30 a.m. Introduction
9:30 to 10:00 a.m. Discussion on civility.
10:00 to 10:45 a.m. Council goals for the year.
10:45 to 11:00 a.m. Break
11:00 to Noon Continue discussion on Council goals for the year.
Noon to 1:00 p.m. Working Lunch
1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Discussion on Economic Development
Discussion Starting Points:
► What is economic development?
► Why do we do it?
► How do we bring in tourism dollars, and also have businesses that
appeal to residents?
► Where do we go from here?
2:00 p.m. Mayor and Staff arrive.
2:00 to 2:45 p.m. Update staff on the work of the morning and Council goals.
2:45 to 3:00 Break
3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Staff reports.
Each Director will be asked to give a brief(15 minute) report on an issue
that they think the Council should be focusing on for the year. The order
will be(times approximate):
2:45—3:00 p.m. ---Duane Bowman
3:00—3:15 p.m. ---Dan Clements
3:15—3:30 p.m. ---Stephen Clifton
3:30—3:45 p.m. ---Jennifer Gerend
3:45—4:00 p.m. ---Debi Humann
4:00—4:15 p.m. ---Brian Mcintosh
4:15—4:30 p.m. ---Noel Miller
4:30—4:45 p.m. ---Chief Stern
4:45—5:00 p.m. ---Chief Tomberg
5:00—5:15 p.m. ---Scott Snyder
5:15—6:00 p.m. ---Follow-up questions,wrap up for day.
Saturday, March 4, 2006
9:00 a.m. to 12 noon
9:00 to 9:30 a.m. _ Review goals—issues set forth by Councilmembers and staff.
9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Prioritize goals for the year.
10:30 to 10:45 a.m. Break
10:45 to 11:30 a.m. Establish time lines for goals.
11:30 to 12 noon Wrap up.