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01/28/2014 City Council Edmonds City Council Draft Minutes January 28, 2014 Page 1 EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL DRAFT MINUTES Special Meeting January 28, 2014 The Edmonds City Council meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Mayor Earling in the Council Chambers, 250 5th Avenue North, Edmonds. The meeting was opened with the flag salute. ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT Dave Earling, Mayor Diane Buckshnis, Council President Kristiana Johnson, Councilmember Lora Petso, Councilmember Strom Peterson, Councilmember (arrived 5:02 p.m.) Joan Bloom, Councilmember Adrienne Fraley-Monillas, Councilmember (arrived 5:30 p.m.) STAFF PRESENT Jeff Taraday, City Attorney Scott Passey, City Clerk Jana Spellman, Senior Executive Council Asst. 1. ROLL CALL City Clerk Scott Passey called the roll. All elected officials were present with the exception of Councilmembers Peterson and Fraley-Monillas. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA COUNCIL PRESIDENT BUCKSHNIS MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER PETSO, TO APPROVE THE AGENDA IN CONTENT AND ORDER. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. (Councilmembers Peterson and Fraley-Monillas were not present for the vote.) 3. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS COUNCILMEMBER PETSO MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT BUCKSHNIS, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. (Councilmember Fraley-Monillas was not present for the vote.) The agenda items approved are as follows: A. APPROVAL OF CLAIM CHECKS #206631 THROUGH #206704 DATED JANUARY 23, 2014 FOR $216,727.09. APPROVAL OF PAYROLL REPLACEMENT CHECKS #60779 AND #60780 FOR $5,597.45 B. COMMUNITY SERVICES/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT QUARTERLY REPORT - JANUARY, 2014 C. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 21, 2014 4. AUDIENCE COMMENTS Edmonds City Council Draft Minutes January 28, 2014 Page 2 Roger Neumaier, Edmonds, responded to questions that have arisen since submitting his letter of resignation. First, a citizen asked during Audience Comment last week whether he had been coached when writing his resignation letter, specifically by Mayor Earling. Mr. Neumaier assured he wrote the letter without assistance from the Mayor or any other City staff, feeling it necessary to elevate the issues that he believed existed before he worked for the City and may continue after. To the second question, which Councilmembers he was commenting on in his resignation letter, he explained the letter referred to a culture that allowed micromanagement and disrespect; naming individuals would continue unconstructive behavior. The third question relates to the prior period adjustment in the 2012 audited financial statements. The 2002 Interlocal Agreement between the City, Edmonds PFD, Snohomish County and the Snohomish County PFD specifies only sales tax revenues are pledged to fund payment on the contract to the City. If sales tax revenue to the PFD falls below the committed levels, the contract allows payment to the City to be reduced. As a result of that uncertainty, State audit staff told the PFD that the liability should not be included in its balance sheet. That did not mean the liability did not exist, only that it did not meet the accounting standard for inclusion in the balance sheet and should be removed. State audit staff recommended to the City that since the PFD would not be booking the liability; the City should not book the liability. Since that time an agreement has been reached with the Office of the State Auditor; if the PFD is willing to document that it will utilize other revenues in addition to sales tax to repay the City, then the PFD can appropriately book the liability to the City and the City can book the receivable. Mr. Neumaier provided written material to the City Clerk. 5. INTERVIEW APPLICANTS FOR COUNCIL POSITION #6 VACANCY Mayor Earling turned the gavel over to Council President Buckshnis and left the meeting at 5:06 p.m. Council President Buckshnis described the process for interviewing candidates. Each applicant will have a 15 minute interview which can include an opening statement and questions from Councilmembers. At the conclusion of the 14 interviews, Councilmembers will identify up to 2 candidates for a second interview process that will occur on February 4. All applicants will be on the ballot on February 11 when the Council ballots to fill the vacancy. On February 11, if the Council does not reach consensus after an hour, an executive session will be held to discuss the merits of the candidates. The Council will then continue balloting after the executive session. Council President Buckshnis recessed the meeting until 5:30 p.m. when interviews were scheduled to begin. City Attorney Jeff Taraday clarified the process. He explained selection for a second interview was not a narrowing of the candidate list; the Council could still appoint a candidate that was not selected for a second interview. The Council may decide not to interview someone a second time because they knew them well enough and did not need to get to know them better. After tonight’s interviews, each Councilmember will select up to two candidates for a second interview. Any candidate selected by a Councilmember for a second interview will be interviewed a second time. Mr. Taraday relayed his understand there will not be an executive session tonight to determine which candidates to interview a second time. The only executive session would be if the Council deadlocks in the balloting process and wanted to deliberate and evaluate candidates’ qualifications. The Council interviewed the following candidates for City Council Position #6 vacancy: • Deborah Anderson • Thomas W Mesaros Edmonds City Council Draft Minutes January 28, 2014 Page 3 • Kathleen Dewhirst • Harry Gatjens • Randy Hayden • Tim E. Healy • Philip Lopresti • Steve Bernheim • Carreen Nordling Rubenkonig • Alvin A. Rutledge • Timothy A. Schell • Stephen C. Schroeder • Neil Tibbott • Ron Wambolt Council President Buckshnis declared a 15 minute recess at 9:25 p.m. for Councilmembers to determine the candidates they wished to have return for a second interview. The meeting was reconvened at 9:40 p.m. City Clerk Scott Passey read the names of the candidates that Councilmembers wished to have return for a second interview: Councilmember Peterson: Thomas Mesaros and Kathleen Dewhirst Councilmember Johnson: Carreen Nordling Rubenkonig and Neil Tibbott Councilmember Petso: Tim Healy Council President Buckshnis: Thomas Mesaros and Stephen Schroeder Councilmember Fraley-Monillas: Harry Gatjens Councilmember Bloom: Thomas Mesaros and Tim Healy Mr. Passey summarized there would be six additional interviews. As Mr. Healy is not available on February 4, Councilmembers’ questions will be emailed to him and he will respond via email. Council President Buckshnis suggested applicants be allowed to ask questions of Councilmembers. Councilmember Fraley-Monillas pointed out the candidates interviewed once would not have that opportunity. It was agreed Councilmembers could ask up to two new questions, ask a question there was not time to ask at the first interview, and/or further explore a candidate’s response to a question asked at the first interview. Councilmembers’ questions are to be forwarded to Senior Executive Council Assistant Jana Spellman. 6. REPORTS ON OUTSIDE BOARDS AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS Councilmember Johnson reported on the Economic Development Commission meeting; one of their goals is to improve communication between the Commission and the City Council. Councilmember Petso reported on the Regional Fire Authority (RFA) discussions; the Council voted some time ago to discontinue participation as did several other agencies. The remaining organization is not financially feasible. The agencies intended to meet to discuss reconvening as a larger group and inviting back agencies that discontinued participation. She will report again after that meeting occurs this summer. Councilmember Fraley-Monillas reported the Parking Committee has nearly reached a stalemate regarding the committee’s purpose and role. Edmonds City Council Draft Minutes January 28, 2014 Page 4 Councilmember Bloom reported the Tree Board discussed the Heritage Tree Program and forwarded a draft resolution to the City Attorney for review. The Tree Board also discussed revisions to its mission statement, grant applications and the process for submitting grants and communication issues. Councilmember Bloom reported the Port Commission reviewed its Small Works Roster, was updated on the sling launch renovation, approved purchase of a John Deere tractor, was informed the Architectural Design Board approved the Jacobsen Marine building, and discussed the Port’s booth at the boat show. Council President Buckshnis reported Snohomish County Tomorrow discussed 2014 agenda items, approved an agenda bill for Arlington-Marysville Manufacturing Industrial Committee, had a report on HO5 housing and had a legislative briefing. Council President Buckshnis reported the WRIA 8 meeting included discussion of 2014 priorities and updating their legislative agenda. She learned to qualify for federal grant funding buffers must be at least 100 feet. 7. MAYOR'S COMMENTS Council President Buckshnis relayed Mayor Earling’s “Go Seahawks.” 8. COUNCIL COMMENTS All Councilmembers expressed “Go Seahawks.” 9. ADJOURN With no further business, the Council meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m.