19721017 City Council Minutes•
347
October 17, 1972
ROLL CALL
The regular meeting of the Edmonds City Council was called to order by Mayor Harve
Harrison with all council members present.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes of the meeting of October 10 had been posted, mailed and distrubuted, and
with no corrections nor omissions, they were approved as written.
Present in the audience.was a group of 5th graders from Chase Lake Elementary School.
Mayor Harrison thanked them for coming to see how city government functions.
COUNCIL PARTICIPATION
Councilman Gellert asked what happened to the local dog pound? Mayor Harrison answered
that this was in the hands of the Police Department and they are watching developments;
and will have a report to the Mayor when the study is completed. City Attorney John
Wallace mentioned that the doctor is out of town for the next three or four weeks.
Councilman Haines stated that he had received a call from John Reid, who lives in the
area south of the Meadowdale Junior High School, indicating that a number of people
in the area are anxious to hook up to the sewer. Councilman Haines said he could see
no reason why we could not go ahead with the LID at this time. City Engineer;..Leif-
Larson stated that he had received a petition signed by a majority of the property
owners about three years ago. Councilman Haines stated that he would like to have
• petition,implemented at this time. Mr. Larson stated that he had written a letter to
Lynnwood regarding this matter, but as yet has had no response, but will follow through.
Councilwoman Shippen said,she thought there was some confusion regarding the noise
ordinance and referred the Council to the minutes of August 29th, and asked that
Merlin give an indication of what it means at some future date.
Mayor Harrison announced that there will be an Urban Arterial Board Meeting on October
19th at 1:30 p.m. at the Highway Administration Building in Olympia for a review of
the entire concept of UAB administration, future planning,. -design standards and
pending legislation. He stated that City Engineer, Leif Larson, will be attending
the meeting. Leif said he would like to have council input so that he can go down
with a majority viewpoint. Mr. Larson stated that the UAB program has benefited the
city. Councilman Gellert asked if the meeting was for the purpose of initiating
program:: changes. Mr. Larson said the object was to get feedback from the various
cities in the area. Councilwoman Shippen asked if the UAB recognizes scenic streets.
The City Engineer said they have looked at Olympic View Drive and realized that it
is a scenic drive and that you cannot put in a full width street there without con-
siderable damage to rockeries, etc. They have suggested ways and means that it could
have variances. Mr. Larson thought each street ''should-..be"...evaluated'according to
what is best for that particular street. He said he would let UAB know that we are
interested in flexible widths, and variances should be dependent on street and
route. CAO Whaley said one other area they desire input on is on the matching funds.
Councilman Nelson stated that he would like to set a goal date on the Design Commission
that was discussed earlier in the year. City Attorney John Wallace said this is
being heard by the Planning Commission tomorrow. The City Planner noted that the
ordinance is in its final draft form, and it should come to the council in about
a month. Councilman Haines made a motion that we do not form LID's for improvement
• of Urban Arterial Streets. This motion died for lack of a second. A motion was
then made by Councilman Gellert to instruct the City Engineer to strive for utmost
flexibility in street width and design and that if money is available, some should
be available for beautification and underground wiring. The motion was seconded by
Councilwoman Shippen and after further discussion, the motion carried.
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AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
Mayor Harrison introduced Minor Lile from Book Publishing Company, Book Publishing
Company has been codifying. the City Code for a number of years and has recently been
attempting to perform additional community services. One of these is an annual city
calendar. The City of Edmonds had one of these made up two years ago. Mr. Lile said
he feels this calendar assists the citizen in familiarizing himself with the city
and its officials and he is asking the council to consider having a calendar printed
for the coming year. He stated that it would take one and one-half months to.complete
the calendar for the first of the year. The cost would be $2950.00 for 5,000. It
was noted that the City had ordered 8,000 last time. Mr: Life left a packet of
information for each council member with the Deputy City Clerk.
HEARING: ITEMS 7-9 PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION ;#383
ITEM 7: This was a recommended denial from the Planning Commission to change from
Parks designation to multi -family a tract of land lying north-northwest of the
Tradewell Store at 5 Corners.
The hearing was opened, but since no one wished to speak, the hearing was closed.
After some discussion, a motion was made by Councilman Nelson and seconded by
Councilman Nordquist to uphold the Planning Commission recommendation to deny.
Motion carried.
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ITEM 8: This was a Planning Commission recommendation to deny a change from commercial
designation to multi -family a tract of land lying between Stevens Hospital and U.S. 99
and between 214th Street S.W.-and 218th Street S.W.
This area is zoned general commercial with half of the arearundeveloped and the other
half being the location of two auto wrecking yards. It was Mr. Logan's proposal to
change the zoning to multiple -family in an effort to improve the quality of develop-
ment near the hospital. Mr. Logan thought that the heavy industrial uses in this area
is incompatible where a hospital is located and would like to discourage this. The
hearing was declared open.
Mr. William Wilson, an attorney associated with Mr. Baker, was in attendance repre-
senting Mr. Ducy and Mr. Sievers, owners of a tract north of 216th. Mr. Wilson stated
that there has been a change in their status since the Planning Commission hearing. At
that time they appeared and opposed the proposed change in the Comprehensive Plan.
There has now been an option to purchase this property and the optionee desires to
use the property for a nursing home, professional offices and clinic, which would,
of course, be a related use to the hospital property. Upon looking at,the zoning
ordinance, it was discovered that nursing homes are not permitted in a general com-
mercial zone, and therefore the change in thinking. Mr. Wilson asked that the council'
keep in mind the border nature of this particular tract. Basically, their position
at this time is to support Mr. Logan's proposal. He stated that they do acknowledge
the position of the owners of the property to the south of 216th asthey have an
existing use and they have undertaken that use for a number of years. Mr. Wilson
asked the council to consider the segregation of these two pieces of land. Council-
man Gellert asked if they plan to petition the Planning Commission for a rezone.
Mr. Wilson answered that they anticipated doing so. No one else wished to comment
on this property and the hearing was declared closed.
A motion was made by Councilman Haines and seconded by Councilman Tuson that the
council uphold the Planning Commission recommendation, with the exception of property
north of 216th, which should appear on the Comprehensive Plan as multiple -family.
Councilman Nelson said he cannot see making an exception of this piece of property.
He said it would be his opinion that the commercial zoning would go westward from
72nd to 74th. Councilman Haines noted that it is natural to follow streets and
usage would dictate proper method to break Comprehensive Plan. Councilman Gellert
noted that. if you take the north parcel and make that multi -family and take the south
parcel and make that multi -family, you have in effect a strip about 200 feet wide
abutting Highway 99. Councilman Nelson said he was against the motion. Councilwoman
Shippen then said that she would support Councilman Gellert's point of view that we
should stay away from commercial strip zoning as she thinks this is ugly. Following
a roll call vote with Councilmen Gellert, Nelson and Nordquist and Councilwoman Shippen
voting no, the motion failed to carry. Then, Councilman Gellert made a motion
seconded by Councilwoman Shippen to uphold the Planning Commission recommendation.
Following a roll call vote with Councilmen Tuson, Winters and Haines voting no, the
motion carried. Councilman Haines thought perhaps we should postpone this hearing
in order to give the people that oppose the proposal a chance to be heard. Councilman
Nelson pointed out that this is not a zoning hearing, but the Comprehensive Plan
which reflects what we would like to see in the long term, so he would like to see
the council uphold the motion. Following a roll call vote the motion carried.
Councilman Gellert made a motion to direct the Planning Commission to consider multi-
family -zoning for parcel north of 216th. This motion died for lack of a second.
ITEM NO. 9: This was a recommended approval from the Planning Commission to change
from commercial designation to multi -family on a small tract of land on the south
side of 220th Street S.W. approximately 157 feet east of 76th Street S.W.
City Planner, Merlin Logan said the purpose of this was to straighten out an irregular
boundary line between the two types of land uses. The land is undeveloped. Property
is owned by Tri-Cities Trailer Court and there has been no public input. A motion
was made by Councilman Nelson and seconded by Councilman Haines to uphold the Planning
Commission recommendation to change from commercial designation to multi -family
designation on this tract of land. Motion carried.
CONSIDERATION OF FULL TIME MAYOR POSITION
Mayor Harve Harrison stated that two weeks ago he had opened a "can of worms". He
then read a -statement to the council members and the public. He said he had been
asked what change have occurred in the last five years that would warrant a change
in the Mayor's time requirements. He said some of these are environmental concerns,
new job training methods, new accounting methods, senior citizen housing, etc. He
said the biggest frustration is lack of sufficient time to keep informed on these
new developments and to perform his duties. He stated that the question had been
asked, Can the City afford two administrators?" The Mayor pointed out that in a
Mayor -Council form of government, the Mayor is hired by the public and, therefore,
there is only one administrator. The Mayor then asked for comments from the council
and the public.
Chet Bennett, in the audience, said he would like to have some input from the council
before audience comments. Councilman Tuson said he had no objection to a full time
Mayor if we put it to a vote of the people, but he would not be in favor of any special
election to decide this. Councilman Haines said that some time ago we had a Prior
Study and at that time the council voted to have a part-time Mayor and CAO. He said
he sees no need for an immediate change. Councilwoman Shippen thought that if we have
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a full time Mayor there wouldn't be enough work to go around. Her own preference would
be a City Manager, but that she would prefer to put that on the ballot. She said
she would not support a full time Mayor and would prefer to leave it the way it is.
Councilman Nordquist said that he had received many calls and comments from the public
since this issue was raised two .weeks ago. -It was his feeling, based upon thoughts
voiced by these people, that the administration of city government in Edmonds remain
as is. He said he is concerned about the increase in the salary budget and about the
CAO. He stated that he had the,opportunity, during his recent tenure as Mayor Pro-
tem, to study the city from the inside and that he thought the CAO was doing a great
job. Councilman Nordquist invited the council to explore the possibility of using
the Mayor Pro-tem to assist the Mayor with some of his duties. Councilman Gellert
said that according to calls he had received the people seem to be satisfied with the
way Edmonds is run. The people seem to want less government rather than more govern-
ment. He said he would favor the election approach which should come up at the next
Mayoral election which comes up in 1975. Councilman.Winters stated that since he
also is a.businessman in towns he can sympathize with the Mayor with respect to being
available to the public. Councilman Nelson said that in looking at the report on
time spent by the Mayor. in performing his duties, he finds that a lot of the items
could be assumed by the CAO as outlined by the ordinances specifying the CAO duties.
He said he favors the Mayor Pro-tem taking over some of the duties and possibly
establishing some council committees to help.. Following further council discussion
the hearing was opened to the public.
Chet Bennett said if we have a full time Mayor we may have people running for the office
simply for the salary, but that it does not necessarily follow that the person will be
qualified. He thinks this is an inappropriate way to select a Mayor in Edmonds, since
$500 a month may not be important, but $18,000 to $20,000 per year is. He said the
Mayor chosen for Edmonds should be a person sensitive to the needs of the community.
He stated further, that the thing to do now is to consider how to relieve the workload
of the Mayor. Mr. Jerry Wells said he represents the average citizen of Edmonds, and
that they think they already have a full time Mayor.. Jim Paul mentioned that some
time ago he was instrumental in starting a Boys Club in Edmonds., He needed help to do
this and received that help from Mayor Harrison. He said that at the time he voted
he saw nothing on the ballot about a half time Mayor and as far as he is concerned, we
don't have a part-time Mayor. He said all the Mayor is asking is.enough money to do
the job right. Dia Bock stated that she used to work for the Mayor and that unless
you are there from 8 to 5, five days a week you cannot know the demands put on the
Mayor's time. She feels a full time Mayor is needed. Mr. Orland Christensen, a former
councilmen, said he agreed with Chet Bennett's appraisal and concern. He said it
is not true that the problems of today are magnified, just different. He said he
thought there is a real hometown benefit to have a part-time Mayor such as Mayor
Harrison, who is a dedicated citizen and not a professional Mayor. He thinks we'should
continue as we have in the past, as it is working well. Al Kincaid stated that since
he had been a councilman for a number of years, he could speak with some semblance
of authority about what goes on in city affairs. He said he has not heard any of the
citizens complain about how the city is run, and that they are inclined towards less
government rather than more. Mr. Kincaid noted that it has been just over a year since
he left the council and that he can't see where volume of business has increased so
much since last year. He said running a city is like running a large corporation,
you don't expect the president of a corporation to do the hiring, etc. - he delegates
these.jobs to CAO and on down to department heads. Mr. Sam Felton said that if we
make a change, we should leave it up to the people in the next election for Mayor.
Mr. Ward Phillips stated that he went to school here and then left for twelve years.
He said the-only'-chang("upon his return was-that'some of the boundaries had moved
and many of the buildings downtown needed paint. He also said he has not heard that
anyone thinks -negatively about how our government is being run. He thought that
perhaps the specifications for the job of Mayor need to be re -analyzed. Mr. Phillips
said CAO Ron Whaley had not -'been given the public image that needs to be created.
He said Mr. Whaley's position should be well defined and let citizens know. Rod
Garretson stated that he could see a need for two full time administrators. Dia
Bock stated that she thought we were talking about a minor change - $500.00 a month,
which is about what you pay a typist with the City. The hearing was then closed
as -no one else wished to speak.
The Mayor asked the council for a motion on this agenda item. Councilman Nordquist
made a motion seconded by Councilman Tuson to reject with regret your offer, but at
this time we would like you to remain as a part-time Mayor with no increase in salary,
but that consideration be given to development of the Mayor Pro -teen's office to give
you assistance and that consideration be given to the development of committees which
can make your job a little bit easier. Councilman Gellert amended the motion to
delete the reference to expansion of committees. The amendment was seconded by
Councilman Haines. Following a roll call vote the amendment failed to carry. After
another roll call vote the main motion carried unanimously.
The Mayor then declared a recess at 10:15 P.M.
CONSIDERATION OF LICENSE FOR CASCADE WHEELCHAIR TAXI
Chief of Police, Marlo Foster, said he has completed his investigation and that Cascade
has complied with all the existing regulations of,our ordinance. A motion was made
by Councilman Tuson.and seconded by Councilwoman Shippen that a license be granted
to Cascade Ambulance to operate a wheelchair taxi service. Motion carried.
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CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS DISCUSSION (CONTINED FROM SEPTEMBER 26)
City Planner, Merlin Logan stated that there was some discussion previously to set a
certain fixed amount to be spent for capital items in the coming year. He said the
staff may, in the next two weeks, be able to give the council some idea of what was
done in the past. Mr..Logan mentioned charts and diagrams which had been submitted
to the council members which show that our income has doubled in the past six years.
It was his suggestion that the staff prepare a summary of capital expenses for the
past three years to help gt council some direction. CAO Ron Whaley noted that
the amount available for capital expenditures is about $415,000 as indicated by
the preliminary budget. Councilman Nelson stated that during the last meeting the
council had acted on one item and that was for obtaining a space consultant, and he
thought.the council should take some action on the others. There was some discussion
on street improvements. Councilman Haines stated that he would like to have input on
money spent last year as a guide for future years before we proceed further. A motion
was then made by Councilman Haines and seconded by Councilman Nelson that we postpone
this matter for two weeks until additional figures are available with which to
make decisions on futudre e inditures. Motion carried. Councilwoman Shippen
made a motion seconded 891 uncilman Gellert to include beautification under the
non -departmental budget to the amount of $6,'000. Motion carried. Councilwoman
Shippen made.a motion that Main Street be given primary consideration for -under -
grounding. This motion was seconded by Councilman Gellert. City Engineer Larson said
he had requested some figures from PUD on this some time ago, but as yet has heard
nothing. Following further discussion regarding Main Street, Councilman Haines asked
for a ruling on whether Main Street meets the criteria set up by the council some
time ago. The Mayor replied in the affirmative. Councilman Nelson said he would
rather give the arterials number one priority for the expenditure of our contingency
fund for undergrounding, instead of going down to Main Street, since we have already •
had an indication from owners that they are not interested. Councilman Gellert noted
that Main Street does develop the character of the city, and that in talking to Al
Kincaid., Mr. Kincaid had indicated that the Chamber of Commerce would like to make
this a project for 1973. Mr. Kincaid had mentioned that the attitude of the downtown
businessmen and owners has changed since this was spoken against in the past. There
was some further discussion. Following a roll call vote the motion failed to carry.
Councilwoman Shippen then made a motion that Olympic View Drive from Puget Drive to
the edge of the University of Washington property be given primary consideration for
undergrounding. This motion died for lack of a second. Councilwoman Shippen then
moved that 5th.Avenue South (Edmonds Way) from Elm to Bell Street be given priority
for undergrounding.. Councilman Nelson noted that this was on the six year construction
program and. that in two weeks the council will take that program under consideration.
The motion was not seconded.
PRESENTATION OF PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 4390
This is a resolution recommending denial of proposed amendment to official -zoning
ordinance, increasing permitted height of structures to 35 ft..in duplex zoned areas.
No appeal was received.
A motion was made by Councilman Tuson and seconded by Councilman Nordquist to accept
the Planning Commission recommendation. Motion carried.
SET HEARING DATE.FOR PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 4391
This is a resolution recommending approval of amendment to official zoning ordinance
removing paragraph E, Section 1.2.13.200, requiring a separation of 500 ft. between
any school grounds, public.park, playground, or church and any establishment handling
alcoholic beverages, or serving food outside of buildings. File ZO-8-72. •
A motion was made by Councilman Nordquist and seconded by Councilman Tuson to set
November 21 as the date to hear this matter. Motion carried. Councilman Haines
stated that he abstained from voting on this as he owns a small piece of property
that falls within this radius.
FIRST READING: AMENDMENT OF OFFICIAL ZONING ORDINANCE TO REVISE SECTIONS FOR
GUARANTEE FOR SITE IMPROVEMENTS. (ACTION TAKEN OCTOBER 10)
First reading was heard.on an amendment to the Official'Zoning Ordinance of the City
of Edmonds.by adding a new section to Chapter 12.13 of the Edmonds City Code requiring
a performance bond to guarantee the installation of required site improvements and
the maintenance of said improvements for a one year period as a condition of issuance
of a building permit on business, commercial and industrially zoned property within
said city.
CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES
Council acknowledged receipt of a Claim for Damages from Richard and Karla Brown
and another from Dr. Olav Sola. They were referred to the City Clerk for processing.
There being no further business to come before Council the meeting was adjourned at
11:20 P.M.
Irene Varney Mor , City Clerk HarV-e H. Harrison, Mayor
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