Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Meeting - Council - Minutes - 08/23/1976 Kent, Washington August 23, 1976 The regular workshop meeting of the Kent City Council was called to order at 7:00 P.M. Present : Mayor Hogan, Councilpersons Carey, Johnson, Just, Kitto, McCaughan and Storment, City Administrator Street , Planning Director Harris, Public Works Director Ulett . Councilperson Masters was absent. Also present : Parks Director Wilson and Ted Bower, Architect. KENT COMMONS It was noted that at the regular meeting of the City Council of August 16, 1976 a motion had been passed to hold a public hearing on August 23, 1976 at 7:00 p.m. to receive input on the subject of the proposed Kent Commons and on other Parks projects so that the Council could come to a decision on proposing an excess levy bond issue. Notice of this public hearing was published in the Kent News Journal. Mayor Hogan opened the public hearing. Joe Street ex- plained that the Kent Commons proposal would consist of Phases la and lb and Phase 2. Phases la and lb would be funded by referendum funds and/or Housing and Urban Development funds. Phase 2 would be funded by an excess levy bond issue which would be voted upon by the citizens at the November 2nd election. He pointed out that the proposed bond issue would cover the following: Kent Commons, Phase 2 $ 2,300,000 Parks Projects 500,000 I . Russel I Road Park 100,000 2. Lake Fenwick Park 3. Parking for Senior Citizens' 58,000 Center 4. Glen Nelson Park 40,000 Street pointed out that a 20-year $3 million bond issue would cost homeowners approximately: $ 10.80 per year for a home assessed at $20,000 $ 16.20 per year for a home assessed at $30,000 $21 .60 per year for a home- assessed at $40,000 Street explained that the $500,000 for the Russell Road Park was approximately r of the amount estimated to complete the project and that it was anticipated that the $500,000 would attract an additional $500,000 from the county and $ 1,000,000 from the state and federal governments. He pointed out that at first it was anticipated that if grant money was not forth- coming the project would not proceed, but that now Wilson had recommended that the city propose the $500,000, as it would get the project started even if grants were not secured. He stated that in the matter of the $ 100,000 for the Lake Fenwick Park, it was anticipated that this would also attract additional funds. It was determined that the site for the proposed Commons project was the corner of 4th and James and that the architect , Ted Bower, was in attendance to answer any questions. Street noted that many meetings were held by several committees and that the Bond Issue Committee had re- commended seeking approval for two separate bond issues, one for Phase 2 of the Commons and the other for the Parks projects. The Park Board, however, has recom- mended that there be only one bond issue to include both Phase 2 and the Parks projects. KENT COMMONS Upon Kitto's questions, Street determined that this excess levy bond issue could be passed and we would still have a wide margin of bonding capacity in the excess levy area. He noted that a bond issue could be placed on the November ballot if the ordinance for the issue was passed no later than the September 7 Council meeting. it was pointed out that after the ordinance was passed, it would be the citizens' responsibility to work to get the issue approved by the voters in November. Street further determined for McCaughan that the cost of the bond issue to homeowners could be less than he had estimated if the assessed valuation of the city increases due to new industries, etc. Storment spoke against splitting the bond proposal into two issues, as he was in favor of the total Commons project, which included Phase 2. Tom Bailey, Chairman of the Bond Issue Committee, stated that the committee believed that the voters should have the opportunity of approving part of these projects rather than voting on an "all or nothing" basis. Barney Wilson spoke in favor of combining the projects under one bond proposal , stating that the four Parks proposals were needed, and that the city had been suc- cessful in the past in securing IAC and HUD funds for Parks programs. Upon direct questions, he clarified that the amount listed would complete the parking areas for the Senior Citizens' Center, that the $40,000 would complete the present, 10-acre Glen_Nelson Park by pro- viding for two additional lighted tennis courts, would enlarge the soccer field to a full sized field and pro- vide for sanitary facilities. He pointed out that the $ 100,000 listed for the Lake Fenwick Park would not pro- vide for completing the project , but that this amount would cover Phase I , development of the area near the waterfront, and that this development would attract matching funds from IAC and HUD. He noted that the maximum funding we could expect would be on a 75/25 basis and the minimum would be on a 50/50 basis, and that the project would be done in separate phases. Wilson stated that the original Russell road Park plans were for a $2 million project, and we are negotiating with the county for $500,000 from Forward Thrust Funds. He noted that the $500,000 requested on the bond issue could cover one phase, and in turn, be the basis for matching fund requests. Matching funds could make this a $2 million project . McCAUGHAN MOVED to instruct the City Attorney to draft an ordinance for the September 7 Council meeting for placing an excess levy bond issue on the November ballot, in accordance with the recommendation of the Bond Issue Committee, in two separate issues, one for Phase 2 of the Kent Commons and the other for the Parks projects. Just seconded. Kitto, Storment and Johnson spoke against having two proposals. Motion failed with only McCaughan and Just voting in favor. KITTO MOVED to accept the Bond Issue Committee's recom- mendation except that all of the projects be listed in one bond issue proposal , and for the attorney to prepare an ordinance for the September 7 Council meeting for placing such excess levy bond issue on the November ballot . Johnson seconded and the motion carried with McCaughan dissenting. KENT COMMONS Mayor Hogan noted that a citizens' committee would be necessary to work for the passage of the bond issue. There were no further comments and the public hearing was closed at 7:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, I c Marie Jens?,. MC City Clerk