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
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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
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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
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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.
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November 14, 2006
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