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11/14/2006 City CouncilFollowing Council Committee meetings at 5:30 and 6:00 p.m., the Edmonds City Council meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Haakenson in the Council Chambers, 250 5th Avenue North, Edmonds. The meeting was opened with the flag salute. ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT 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 ALSO PRESENT Kisa Nishimoto, Student Representative STAFF PRESENT Tom Tomberg, Fire Chief Al Compaan, Assistant Police Chief Duane Bowman, Development Services Director Stephen Clifton, Community Services Director Dan Clements, Administrative Services Director Brian McIntosh, Parks & Recreation Director Noel Miller, Public Works Director Kathleen Junglov, Asst. Admin. Services Dir. Frances Chapin, Cultural Services Manager Don Fiene, Assistant City Engineer Erin Anderson, Accountant Sandy Chase, City Clerk Jana Spellman, Senior Executive Council Asst. Jeannie Dines, Recorder 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Approval of Agenda COUNCILMEMBER MARIN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WAMBOLT, FOR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 2. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS COUNCILMEMBER MARIN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The agenda items approved are as follows: Approve (A) ROLL CALL 11/6/06 Minutes (B) APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 6, 2006. Old entary y Elementary (C) AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE FOR STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATION FROM School Park LANDSCAPE ARCHITECURRAL FIRMS OR CONSULTANT TEAMS FOR PARK Site DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE OLD WOODWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PARK SITE. SR 99 Traffic Signal (D) AUTHORIZATION FOR THE MAYOR TO SIGN AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT Retuning WITH THE CITY OF LYNNWOOD FOR SR 99 TRAFFIC SIGNAL RETIMING. Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes November 14, 2006 Page 1 Senior Center Elevator (E) REPORT ON FINAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS FOR THE SENIOR CENTER Rehabilitation Project ELEVATOR REHABILITATION PROJECT AND COUNCIL ACCEPTANCE OF PROJECT. 200 -08 Budget 3. 2007 -08 COUNCIL BUDGET DELIBERATIONS Deliberations Council President Dawson explained the purpose of tonight's meeting was to allow Councilmembers to ask additional questions of staff, for staff to provide brief presentations based on questions raised during the past week, and for Councilmembers to request any additional information. The intent was not to take action on the budget tonight as a public hearing was scheduled for the November 21 meeting. She urged Councilmembers to provide any additions to the budget to staff within the next few days so that the fiscal impact of those additions could be analyzed. Administrative Services Director Dan Clements advised the packet contained responses to Council questions regarding the police budget, EMS, Utility Engineer and future General Fund stability. At the request of Council President Dawson, Fire Chief Tom Tomberg provided an overview of his response to the questions Council raised with regard to EMS. He advised the materials in the packet addressed how the EMS system operated and how funds were allocated. He explained as the responses to the Council's questions were developed, several costs were identified that had heretofore been in the budget, were not in the department's budget but were associated with EMS. These include a share of the bonds that built the Public Safety Complex and Fire Station 17, a share of Fire Station 16, payments for the fire station purchased in 1996, and a share of the Emergency Services Coordinating Agency (ESCA). In identifying the cost of EMS, staff reviewed the call volumes and found 73% or 5,061 of the calls in 2005 were for EMS. He noted EMS calls not only utilized the services of paramedics but also firefighters/EMTs. He summarized the purpose of the EMS levy would be to move some of the costs directly associated with EMS from funding provided by property taxes to an EMS levy. Mayor Haakenson commented staff planned to return to the Council early next year with a more detailed presentation on the EMS levy. For Councilmember Olson, Mayor Haakenson explained the reason he did not include the Utility Engineer in the preliminary budget was he was reluctant to add staff and until he was convinced there was a need to add that position, he would not add it. He noted the position was not planned to be filled until 2008; if he was convinced the position was necessary, funding for the position would be presented to the Council as a mid -year budget adjustment. Councilmember Moore asked whether a longer range financial vision had been developed. Mr. Clements answered he provided a projection to 2010, with an overlay of last year's projections. Councilmember Wambolt asked why the EMS levy was envisioned in May, noting it would be more expensive for the City if there was a single item on the ballot. Mr. Clements advised the timing of the election was a Council decision. May was selected because: 1) the primary election in 2007 was in August, 2) knowing the outcome of the EMS levy election would assist with budget preparations, and 3) several transportation issues were planned for the November ballot. Councilmember Wambolt relayed a suggestion two citizens made to him that the City consider parking meters as a source of revenue. Mayor Haakenson recalled the Council had discussed parking meters in the past and declined that as a revenue source as it was not viewed to be customer friendly. He suggested the Finance Committee discuss it again if Councilmember Wambolt wished to pursue it. Councilmember Wambolt advised these citizens had talked to some merchants who favored the parking meters, Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes November 14, 2006 Page 2 anticipating the meters would control parking. Council President Dawson recalled parking meters had been discussed within the past five years. She suggested staff provide the minutes containing the Council's discussion. Council President Dawson commented she had heard the Department of Revenue (DOR) did not anticipate revenues from sales tax sourcing would be collected until the next biennium due to the time to implement it. Mr. Clements answered consideration was originally given to a January 2008 implementation; DOR determined that would be too soon and implementation in July 2008 was anticipated. Council President Dawson requested he confirm the implementation date with DOR. Mr. Clements explained DOR anticipated nearly a year would be required to train businesses. He advised there was no revenue in the budget anticipated from sales tax sourcing in 2007. There was approximately $300,000 in revenue from sales tax sourcing in the 2008 budget. Councilmember Moore asked for a chart that showed sales tax revenue separate from all other General Fund revenue. The reason for her request was to encourage the Council to think long term about available revenues for maintaining existing City services in view of increasing costs. She preferred to address this via economic development — building the City's retail base. The chart would provide information regarding sales tax trends which would facilitate a discussion regarding how to stimulate more sales tax revenue. Councilmember Plunkett suggested appropriating $2,000 in 2007 and $2,000 in 2008 to the Historic Preservation Commission for plaques to be funded from ending cash balance. He also suggested appropriating $75,000 for lighting from Main up 5`h Avenue with the funding spread over the two years as staff deemed appropriate. Councilmember Marin advised at last week's Cities & Town's meeting, AWC Executive Director Stan Finkelstein commented the difficult financial situation Edmonds found itself in was not uncommon for most cities in Washington. Council President Dawson asked the Council to consider adding to the budget a $1000 membership in Transportation Choices. She offered to provide further information in the November 21 packet. She noted this membership would make a statement regarding the City's commitment to alternate forms of transportation including sidewalks, bike trails, etc. Councilmember Plunkett asked whether the intent was to approve the 2007 -2008 budget next week. Council President Dawson answered a public hearing on the budget was scheduled for next week. Following the public hearing, the Council could consider adoption. She noted there were numerous items on the November 28 agenda. She requested Councilmembers provide any additional information or requests for information to staff as soon as possible. 4. MAYOR'S REPORT Mayor Haakenson had no report. 5. COUNCIL REPORTS Councilmember Moore commended staff for their efforts in Mayor Haakenson's absence. She referred to a memo from Community Services Director Stephen Clifton that stated the City fared well during the intense rainfall over the past few days and experienced no significant problems due to flooding. Although there was some standing water at Dayton and 4`h, the City was fortunate the overall stormwater system withstood nearly record levels of rainfall. This is a testament to why it was important to maintain and Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes November 14, 2006 Page 3 upgrade the stormwater system and a good example for implementing preventative measures. He offered his compliments to the Public Works and Engineering staff which Councilmember Moore echoed. Student Representative Kisa Nishimoto reported the Edmonds - Woodway High School football team was undefeated, currently I 1 -0, defeating Curtis High School last week 41 -38. The team plays Woodinville High School on Saturday, November 18; the time and location have not yet been confirmed. She announced Edmonds - Woodway High School would be conducting a food drive November 27 — December 8. Students would be collecting food at local grocery stores as well as distributing bags door - to -door. Council President Dawson congratulated Edmonds - Woodway on their second place ranking, explaining her alma mater, Gonzaga Prep, also undefeated, was ranked first. She was hopeful the two would play each other in the championship. 6. ADJOURN With no further business, the Council meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m. Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes November 14, 2006 Page 4