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19830830 City Council MinutesAugust 30, 1983 • The regular meeting of the Edmonds City Council was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by Mayor Harve Harrison in'the Plaza Meeting Room of the Edmonds Library. All present joined in the flag salute. PRESENT ABSENT STAFF PRESENT Harve Harrison, Mayor Ray Gould Jim Adams, City Engineer Jo -Anne Jaech Irene Varney Moran, City Clerk John Nordquist Art Housler, Finance Director Katherine Allen Steve Simpson, Parks & Recreation Director Larry Naughten Mary Lou Block, Planning Director Laura Hall Pat LeMay, Personnel Director Bill Kasper Risa Eckes, Recreation Coordinator Jim Jessel, Property Manager Marlo Foster, Police Chief Jack Weinz, Fire Chief Bobby Mills, Acting Public Works Supt. Wayne Tanaka, City Attorney Jackie Parrett, Deputy City Clerk AUDIENCE Jerry Ward, representing the Wade James Theatre, stated that Washington Natural Gas had condemned the heating system in the theatre and -he asked for assistance from the City in financing a new heating system. The existing heating system is the original and is unsafe to operate due to leaks in the heat exchangers and the control valves' inability to turn off the pilot light gas when the system experiences a gas shut -down. Three reputable heating companies were contacted for quotes on replacing the heating system, with the low quote being from Washington Natural Gas at $4,164 plus sales tax. Mayor Harrison suggested that this may qualify under the HUD Block Grant recently • awarded for the theatre, and he suggested that the Executive Board be asked to approve it. Mr. Ward noted that they will have to have heat very soon, for the maintenance of the building as well as for the comfort of the patrons. It was suggested that a system be leased temporarily and Mr. Ward said that would still cost $200-$300 per month. Fire Chief Jack Weinz was asked about the safety of the system, and he responded that if Washington Natural Gas says it is unsafe he has to accept that. Mr. Ward said he had it checked by another heating firm and it was confirmed. The building is owned by the City but the Driftwood.Players have provided much of the major maintenance in the past several years by installing a new roof, installing new smoke doors, installing two new hot water tanks, and just this year spending over $1,000 for new heating ducts to carry hot air into the house. They do not have the means to install a new heating system. COUNCILMEMBER JAECH MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER HALL, THAT THE STAFF INVESTIGATE THE ALTERNATIVES FOR TEMPORARY REPAIRS AND DETERMINE THE AUTHORITY OF WASHINGTON NATURAL GAS TO CONDEMN. MOTION CARRIED. cordon Rosier, representing Fair Use of Snohomish Energy (FUSE), requested that the City's utility tax on electricity be repealed, saying that the City is taking advantage of a difficult situation for citizens and is in a windfall profit situation at the expense of the citizens. He noted the rapi.d escalation in the cost of electricity which accordingly increased the tax revenue, and he said there soon will be further increases. He recited figures relating to the large numbers of people who are unable to pay their electricity bills and who already have had their service dis- connected. He prefaced his remarks by thanking the Council for its action to sewer the north readowdale area, and Councilmember Kasper advised him that some of the City Council had wanted to decrease the utility tax further but they had to keep in mind the Meadowdale sewers and now they were faced with the fact that they will not be able to use the HUD Block Grant for them, so until they know exactly where they are on Meadowdale--when the bids come in --they cannot. do anything to reduce the utility tax. Lloyd Ostrom, President of the Board of Trustees -of the Edmonds Council of Concerned Citizens, read a letter, copies of which were submitted for the Mayor and Council, stating that recent reports in • the local press indicate a possible sale or lease of the Anderson Marina, and suggesting the pos- sibility of acquisition of this property by the City for the purpose of adding it to the City park system. The request was that this possibility be explored. CONSENT AGENDA Item (E) was removed from the Consent Agenda. COUNCILMEMBER NORDQUIST MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL - MEMBER HALL, TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED. The approved items on the Consent Agenda included the following: (A) Roll call. (B) Approval of Minutes of August 23, 1983. (C) Acknowledgment of receipt of Claim for Damages from Mrs. Ronald E. Larsen in the amount of $56.39. (D) (F) Authorization for Mayor to Authorization for Mayor and sign hold harmless agreements with King County Police. Council President to sign letter of support for Washington State Downtown Association Development Assistance Team application. (G) Acceptance of Quit Claim Deed for right-of-way from..Michael.and Joan Mastro. (H) Approval to close Yost Park Pool following Labor Day. APPROVAL OF TOW TRUCK OPERATOR'S LICENSE - INTER -COUNTY TOWING Item (E) on Consent Agenda] Councilmember Hall removed this item from the Consent Agenda at the request of the Police Chief C7 August 30, 1983 - continued 1 I� LJ U 1 1 because he had heard from this comranv's insurance carrier that the insurance was cancelled because the fees were not paid. Police Chief Marlo Foster asked.that if it were acoroved the approval be contingent upon the insurance being in force. He said it is common that he gets cancellation notices immediately followed by renewal notices, and he did not anticipate a problem. COUNCILMEMBER HALE_ MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALLEN, TO APPROVE THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR'S LICENCE FOR INTER -COUNTY TOWING, CONTINGENT UPON RECEIPT OF PROOF OF APPROPRIATE INSURANCE COVERAGE WITHIN TEN DAYS. MOTION CARRIED. RECOGNITION OF 25 YEARS' SERVICE AS VOLUNTEER FIREMEN: CLINT GREY AND DICK SLYE Fire Chief Jack Weinz stated that these men have given much of their time in service to the citizens of Edmonds as volunteer firefighters, and :"lick Slye also had served as a City Councilman. Chief Weinz related a little of the backgrounds of both men and personally thanked them for their time in the volunteer ranks, following which Mayor Harrison presented them plaques in recognition of their service. HEARING ON STRIPING OF 7TH AVE. City Engineer Jim Adams stated that he had received citizen complaints because of the traffic hazard on 7th Ave., from Yalnut to Pine, due to limited sight distance, and also that vehicles have difficulty passing when cars are narked on both sides of 7th Ave. at that location. In response to this,. Ordinance 2369 wa_ passed on May 31, 1983, restricting parking on the west side of 7th Ave. and a plan was prornsed for a fainted centerline. Due to a misunderstanding, the centerline was improperly painted, following which a group of the residents met with Acting Public Works Superintendent Bobby Mills and some of them indicated they preferred 'having the parking restriction on the east side. One citizen asked for a public hearing before repainting the striping. The Engineering Department re-evaluates the orininal recommendation and still believed that there should be no parking on the west side as that would allow for more parking spaces than if the no parking were on the east side. Also, parking only on the west side would create either an offset centerline or a redaction in the lane width going up -hill, south from Walnut St., and this is the point of major hazard. lair. Adams said there is room for one parking lane and two travel lanes. The hearing was opened. Anna Marie Berger, 512 7th Ave. S., said she lives at the apex of the hill. She said her neighbor to the south does not approve of the east side parking, having a family of boys with cars. i1s. Berger, herself, was not personally affected. Winifred. McEnroe, 806 7th Ave. S., favored the proposal. Sondra Percy, 62.2 7th Ave. S., preferred the parking on the opposite side. Jerry Percv, same address, agreed that there is a problem. He lives at the top of the hill and said he is part of the problem because he has boys and several vehicles. He said one of the problems with. parking on the east side only is that on the west side is where most people park. This evening, before cominc to the meetinc, he counted 9 cars on the west side and 3 or. the east side, and he said that is the norm for that street. He added that on the east side between Cedar and Spruce there are two driveways, a fire hydrant, and the mailboxes, eliminating half of the parking. In walking the street he could not see any advantage to putting the parking on the east side or a disadvantage to having it on the west, but he agreed it should all be on one side or the other. Mr. Adams advised that the Citv would move the mailboxes to the other side of the street to accommodate the parking. P. A. R.ueckert, 807 7th Ave. S., did not think the street should be striped and he suggested just marking it for no parking on one side. Mr. Adams.said the striping is required on the hill in a no parking zone and there is no passing going up the hill southbound. Mr. Rueckert said the traffic in the morning and evening is too fast and there would not be a problem if drivers stayed within the speed limit. He observed that if one drives through a street that is not marked one drives slower, but if it is striped it appears to be a throughway and one drives faster. He dick not see why the entire street had to be striped, and he suggested.the use of a speed bump instead. Mr. -Adams responded that they are considering making a four-way stop at the bottom of the hill. Mr. Percy said his driveway is at the crest of the hill and if there is no parking on the west side he cannot see down the hill at all and will be backing into a traffic lane, whereas a parking lane would give him a little room in which to back out of his driveway. Ken Breen, 810 7th Ave. S., asked why they should suffer parking on the opposite side of the street because of a problem up.the hill. He had not seer, an accident or a problem and did not think the striping was needed. The hearing was closed. Councilmember Naughten lives off 7th Ave. and he observed that the safety problem is between Walnut and Hemlock and cars parked on both sides slow the traffic going through there. He thought the street should only be striped from Walnut to Hemlock because one cannot see over the hill when going up, and he thought there should.be parking on the west sire between, those streets because of reduced visibility. COUNCILMEMBER NAUGHTEN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER JAECH, TO STRIPE ONLY BETWEEN WALNUT AND HEMLOCK AND THAT PARKING BE LIMITED TO THE WEST SIDE BETWEEN WALNUT AND HEMLOCK AND, FURTHER, THAT AN ADVISORY SIGN BE PLACED ON THE HILL TO SLOW THE TRAFFIC TO 20 MPH BFCAIISE OF THE SIGHT PROBLEM, AND THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY SHOULD PREPARE AN ORDINANCE TO EFFECT THE CHANGE. Mr. Mills stated that in his meeting with the residents most felt Hemlock should he the dividing line. THE MOTION CARRIED. REPORT ON USE OF CIVIC CENTER PLAYFIELD Parks and Recreation Director Steve Simpson provided copies of this year's schedule for the Civic Center Playfieid, a list of leagues and teams that play on -the field,.a copy of the City's field user priority policy, samples of team rosters, the revenue report from the rental of the field, and a survey of use policies and fees of other cities in the area. He noted that it was shown that most teams that play on the field are from this area, but outside teams do play local teams on the field. n LJ 12 4 August 30, 1983 - continued • He said this is a fair exchange since the local teams play.away from .this area, too. He said that except for the softball field, most play on the Civic Center Playfield is by young people and this bias toward children has increased as the hours of use on the field have been reduced. This fall no adult teams were able to reserve time on the Civic Center football/soccer field. The softball field, on the other hand, is the only adult -sized field in the City and thus receives predominantly adult play. The field was moved by volunteers to its present southeast location to eliminate the hazard of playing into the sun at the northwest corner location. In comparison with other cities' policies and charges, the fees in Edmonds are average, the field upkeep is less, and the policies are more restrictive than many. Mr. Simpson did not recommend any additional restrictions on play at the Civic Center Playfield, but he said the City may wish to consider hiring a part-time employee to monitor field use, prep fields, and enforce existing rules. Councilmember Naughten had heard reports of people playing on the field at 7:30 a.m. on weekends. Mr. Simpson said the only play scheduled on Sundays is tournament play at the end of the season. Councilmember Hall observed that by not scheduling play on Sundays the field is left open to anyone to use it, so teams apparently go there regularly to play although they are not scheduled. Mr. Simpson said they could post it for no play before 9:00 a.m. He said.most of the people who use the facilities are very cooperative, but in his department he has no one there at 7:30 a.m. to police the field. Further, there are joggers who use'the track in the early hours and they are not offen- sive to anyone. Police Chief Foster said his people would enforce a.posting of nobody on the field until a certain hour, but it would have to include everyone. He felt the play.field should be well managed and well posted and that should settle the problems, and that playfi.elds should not be regulated by uniformed police. Dorothy Williamson, 703 Main St., said the Civic Center needs more control. She said the people who are there at 7:30 a.m. are not Edmonds people. She said there are as many as 50 cars there Sunday • mornings and there also are five churches on the same road. She agreed that the joggers are no problem to anyone. She objected to the new schedule of the lights being on five days a week from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. She said Mr. Simpson does a good job of running the Anderson Center but a bad job running the playfield, and she said the players are not cooperating with the neighborhood. She asked for a sign to indicate no play at a certain time, and her preference was that it not be until noon. Jon Rudlang, 14023 62nd Dr. W., Edmonds, a member of a men's soccer team in the Washington State Soccer League, said his team considers themselves to be a South Snohomish County team, three -fourths of the team being from South County.. They were requesting consideration to use the lighted soccer field only on Monday evenings.. They have had to play at West Seattle which is a long drive and he said the WSSL has been allowed to use the Edmonds field in the past but this year it may not because the scheduling has been given almost exclusively to the young people. Six team members were with him this evening and he said he was sure other local teams would have been present had they known this was being discussed. He said in addition to their not having to drive so far if they could play at Edmonds, their families could attend the games, the field here is a better field and not so hard on their arms and legs, and the teams would be patronizing local businesses such as grocers and restaurants. Steve O'Dell, 6125 150th P1. S.W., Edmonds, another member of the team, said the issue they see is that there is a lighted field right in their back yard. Heacknowledged that they perhaps do not understand the issues of the field, but he said the hours have been cut back consistently over the past few years and the community is getting reduced use of the field. He noted that the team members have to work and can only.play at night, and he suggested a compromise in extending the hours one night a week so they can stay close to home. Drew MacAfee, 14005 19th Dr. S.E., Bothell, another member of the team, said they do not wish to force the youth off the field and most of them are parents with youth involved in soccer. He asked for use of the field one night a week, Monday, from 8:30 until 10:00 p.m. • Councilmember Jaech noted that the scheduling of the field now had changed so it was almost exclu- sively for the youth, and she asked if a good policy could not be developed to include the adults as well. Finis Tupper, 711 Daley, referred to the letter written by Don Stay back in June after meeting with the Mayor which he said set forth what the neighbors.think to be possible solutions to make the field a good neighbor. He did not think locking the field would solve the problems and he said scheduled play could be allowed 9:00 a.m, to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays but none on Sundays. During the discussion it became apparent that there was a misunderstanding as to what "scheduled" play is, the neighbors considering that any teams.in uniforms were "scheduled" and Mr. Simpson stating that "scheduled" was only play scheduled by the Edmonds Recreation Department, and that guarantees the team that it has first priority on the field. At unscheduled times, he said, other teams can come in and take.a chance on getting it. Mr. Tupper went on to say that the softball field was moved at the expense of the softball association and it has caused traffic problems and the lights are obnoxious to the abutting property.owners. He wanted the field moved at City expense, and he said the administration should handle it, not the Council. Mr. Simpson said the easiest way to solve the weekend problem is to have an easy rule, such as no play before a certain hour. He said the policy has always been no organized play, but it was left for drop -ins. Mayor Harrison suggested a sign stating no play before 9:00 a.m. on Sundays. A young man who did not identify himself said he is 18 years old., and.he asked how an adult or a youth is defined. He said he has been i.n the school system 12 years trying to understand justice, but nobody wants to accept any'resnonsihility for anything. fie thought everybody should use the field. COUNCILMEMBER JAECH MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER NORDQUIST, THAT THE STAFF PREPARE A DRAFT OF A REVISED POLICY, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT EVERYTHING HEARD THIS EVENING, AND PRESENT IT TO THE COUNCIL • 2.2 ). . • August 30, 1983 - continued THROUGH THE MAYOR FOR CONSIDERATION ON SEPTEMBER 13, 1983. MOTION CARRIED. Councilmember Hall acknowledged receipt of a copy of the letter sent to Peggy Harris by the City Attorney on July 12, 1983, as requested by Councilmember Naughten. FURTHER DISCUSSION ON JOINT USE WITH LYNNWOOD OF MEADOWDALE PLAYFIELD Parks and Recreation Director Steve Simpson reported that Lynnwood has asked for a formal engineer's report and does not plan to rake a decision on the sludge method of development until that is received. Mayor Hrdlicka will talk to Dr. Reasby to let him know the cities are working on a plan which should be ready in six weeks. Councilmember Nordquist commented on the bad odor at the community college from the sludge, and he thought Dr. Hyatt should be consulted about the use of sludge. MAYOR Mayor Harrison had an application for a Class E liquor license (beer by the bottle or package for off -premises consumption) for Mobil Oil Corporation at 7601 Lake Ballinger Way. Their plan is to convert the gas station to a mini -mart. The Police Chief had recommended approval with a qualifying note that adequate training and supervision.of attending employees be required as the present operation is weak in these factors. Councilmember Kasper commented that it is difficult to get into this site, and Councilmember Nordquist said there were a lot of problems when the 7-Eleven went in near this location, but he said more important is the ingress and egress and there is only egress west- bound. He said the center traffic lane should have been extended north on 76th. He felt the traffic problem would be very difficult at that intersection. Chief Foster said he assumes the management of the company will take the responsibility of how their customers get in and out. His concern is whether it is a responsible organization and whether their plans will create any disfavor to the community. He noted that the nearby 7-Eleven already sells beer and that the trend now is • for gas stations to go to the mini -mart concept. Councilmember Hall did not see how this would impact the community anymore by selling beer, and she noted that cars already go in there for gas. COUNCILMEMBER HALL MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALLEN, TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE APPLICATION. MOTION CARRIED, WITH COUNCILMEMBERS KASPER AND NORDQUIST VOTING NO. COUNCIL Councilmember Hall read aloud a letter from Glorine Bentley expressing appreciation for the walkway on 76th W. and for the beauty created in downtown Edmonds with the flowers. Council President Jaech had a letter from Ann Wermus, Chairman of.the Edmonds Library Board, expressing appreciation for the "donation of the painting, "The Clamdiggers," by F. B. Nelson. It was noted that the painting belongs to the City of Edmonds and is not a part of the library but it was purchased to be hung in the library. Council President Jaech was requested to write a letter to Ann Wermus clarifying this. Council President Jaech said she was not satisfied with the letter from the City Attorney regarding liability insurance for the Councilmembers. She wanted to know exactly what she is covered for under the City's policy. City Attorney Wayne Tanaka responded that as stated in his letter the coverage currently is $3.5 million and the Councilmembers are covered for acts done in their official capacities on the part of the City, and beyond the $3.5 million per occurrence the City would indemnify the Councilmembers for amounts over that for acts in their official capacities. Council President Jaech noted that on August 12 the Yost Park Swim Team won the County summer league championship. She thought this was another group of Edmonds citizens that had achieved something and that they should be recognized. Karen Hensel, the pool manager, is the coach for the team. COUNCIL PRESIDENT JAECH MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALLEN, THAT THE TEAM BE GIVEN A RESOLUTION IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENT. MOTION CARRIED. • There was no further business to come before the Council, and the meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m. AM 0 Ju'u.2 ve IRENE VARNEY MORAN, V ty Clerk HARVE H. HARRISON, Mayor September 6, 1983 The regular meeting of the Edmonds City Council was called to order at 7:40 p.m. by Mayor Harve Harrison in the Plaza Meeting Room:.of the Edmonds Library, and immediately was adjourned for lack of a quorum. Mayor Harrison explained that a number of the Councilmembers were attending the memorial service in Everett for Senator Henry Jackson. Items scheduled on this evening's agenda will be placed on the next two Council agendas and people affected were notified to the extent possible. PRESENT ABSENT STAFF PRESENT Harve Harrison, Mayor Jo -Anne Jaech Jim Adams, City Engineer Ray Gould John Nordquist Irene Varney Moran, City Clerk Laura Hall Art Housler, Finance Director Katherine Allen Mary Lou Block, Planning Director Bill Kasper Bobby Mills, Acting Public Works Supt. Larry Naughten Jack Weinz, Fire Chief Jim Jessel., Property Manager Pat LeMay, Personnel Director Jackie Parrett, Deputy City Clerk