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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Meeting - Council - Minutes - 09/20/1984 1 Kent, Washington September 20, 1984 A special meeting of the Kent City Council, rea_uested by Council President Johnson, was called to order at 2 : 00 o'clock p.m. by Mayor Hogan. Present: Mavor Hogan, Councilmembers Bailey, Biteman, Johnson, Kelleher, White and Woods, Assistant City Administrator Webby, City Attorney DiJulio, Planning Director Harris and Public Works Director Wickstrom. Approximately 50 people were present. Leahy was out of town and telephoned to waive his notification of the sT)ecial meeting. It was determined that proper legal notice had been given by the City Clerk and that the purpose of the meeting was to con- sider resubmission of the Kent Civic Center bond issue at the November 6 General Election or an alternate proposal. Mayor Hogan read two letters received todav, one from Citizens for a Better Communitv, siqned by Joseph Street, Alex Thornton and Don Baer and the other from Henry Towne. Both letters were distributed and filed for the record by motion. The Mayor noted that tomorrow would be the last day to file a proposition for the November 6 General Election and therefore this meeting was called to discuss this item. Johnson stated that his intent was to have the Council take some action and to consider some alternatives. He suggested that the matter of the Senior Center be referred to the Parks Committee for further deliberation. He suggested further that in the matter of the Library and Performing Arts Center, that a committee be appointed including the existing Committee members and also some of the opponents to the issue, plus any volunteers . He pointed out that the Council had gone on record in support of building a new Senior Center and that the Parks Committee could consider this issue as to whether to proceed with the original site or consider an alternate site. Mayor Hogan noted that records of the City Council meetings show that the Smith Street Shopping Center was purchased for the purpose of building the Senior Center and that she understood. that the Senior Center was to be built regardless of the outcome of the bond issue in the Primary election. Biteman pointed out that the Council decision on the site was not unanimous . JOHNSON MOVED to not place any issue on the November ballot. White seconded and noted that he had received phone calls indi- cating that the voters opposed the location rather than the facilities. He noted that he had received comments from citizens concerned about relocating existing businesses and taking that - 1 - September 20, 1984 property off the tax rolls . He concluded that other alternatives should be considered. Woods noted that the School District would have bonds on the November ballot and she was therefore not in favor of havinq Citv bonds on at the same election. She noted that the idea was worthy, and that she supported the Civic Center proposal but that the failure of the issue on the Primary indi- cated that the City has to consider the comments and the details of the objections of the citizens , and be receptive to such comments. Bailey stated that he supported Johnson ' s motion, and pointed out that the calls he had from citizens expressed disappointment that the measure failed at the polls . He stated that the City had to view the proposed project in a practical manner to decide what future course to take. Biteman noted that he had worked on many school bond issues over the years and that it was not practical to resubmit this issue in November considerina the wide margin of failure at the primary. Kelleher concurred with the comments made and noted that he would like to hear comments from those citizens in attendance. Pete Curran spoke on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, noting that bonds for other projects had failed the first time out, including the Commons and the City Hall . He suggested that things were done too quickly and that the proposal should not be abandoned. It should be studied unhurriedly and not be locked in to a specific location. He noted that the Chamber felt that probably the loca- tion for the Senior Center had to be changed. He noted that the Chamber supported all three aspects of the issue . He suggested that if a committee is formed for further study that it be com- prised of open-minded citizens who care about the issues rather than the location. Luther Davis of 730 N. Clark opined that the increase in taxes to pay for the Civic Center was a problem for senior citizens . McCarthy suggested that he contact the Senior Citizen Exemption Office and Johnson supplied the telephone number. A woman in the audience stated that the citizens were enraged over the news- paper article about this special meeting and that they felt that the City would find a wav for this project even though the citizens had voted it down. Mavor Hogan noted that perhaps other sources of funding could be found for the project as had been done when the bond issue for the Kent Commons failed . Don Rovig , who leases the Big O tire store in the shopping center, stated that the owner did not want to sell , and that he did not want to move his business from the center . The Mayor noted that 2 - September 20 , 1984 an extensive review of sites for the Senior Center had been con- ducted before the shopping center was purchased and that the Planning staff had made a report as to other suitable locations for existing businesses. Another shopping center merchant sug- gested that other locations would be better for the Senior Center and that the City could refurbish the shopping center and make some money on it. Mary Hofling_ suggested that local people be used for the project, such as the architect, as they know the locale and have a feel for the area and its citizens . Mayor Hogan noted that the contract could be divided so that local contractors could participate in the bidding. Kelleher referred to the comment that the Citv had been stampeded on this matter and he stated that he felt that the City had been rushed on the decision to purchase the shopping center property. He noted that he had asked Barney Wilson to evaluate several other specific locations and that these had not been contained in the report. He added that when the decision was made, the Council had been advised that negotiations were at a critical point and that an immediate decision was reouired. He opined that the comments about re-examining the location were valid. White noted that although the City has already ac��uired the shopping center, thorough investigation of other sites should not be ruled out. Ford Kiene, Chairman of the Advisory Committee, opined that it appeared that the people wanted the facilities and that he felt the issue would pass if no mention was made of the site. He thought that the committee should have done a better job of education on the issue. He pointed out that the major tenant, Prairie Market, would be vacating the premises and that the shopping center would then have a hard time surviving. Margaret Lenahan stated that the site was purchased for the Senior Center and then the Library and Performing Arts Center were added to the project. Mayor Hogan noted that this was thought to be the best use of this site, which was too large for just the Senior Center. Ms . Lenahan stated that she had heard comments that the issue would have passed if the Performing Arts building had been located near the Commons . Don Baer stated that he had called Tradewell today and had been told that the lease for the Prairie Market expires in March, 1986 , but that if business improves they might want to extend it. Gene Johnson spoke against using the Korry property near the Commons noting that it was used extensively for ball games . Mary Hofling opined that 750 of the players were from outside the city. Roger - 3 - September 20 , 1984 Boyer, the City ' s property manager for the Smith Street Shopping Center, stated that Tradewell had advised him that they needed a larger facility so they probably would not renew the Prairie Market lease, and in fact, they would like to terminate the existing lease now. Johnson' s motion, to not submit any issue on the November ballot, carried unanimously. Mayor Hogan noted that it had been the intent that this issue would be discussed at a workshop, noting that the Council should have additional information on the City ' s investment in the site to date, what additional costs might be, etc. She pointed out that the City Administrator was out of the city, but would return tomorrow. She noted that the City had met yesterday with the architect and he is continuing to work on the drawings for the Senior Center through the construction stage, pointing out that the City has committed to build that facility. Biteman noted that the citizens should be asked what type of proposal they would have supported at the polls and Mayor. Hogan stated that such input could be given at the workshop session. Bailey stated that he supported remanding the Senior Citizen Center issue to the Parks Committee where alternatives would be discussed with Cushing and a presentation made at a workshop in October. He noted that the staff and Parks Committee needed time to study the matter, and that although citizens present this after- noon seemed to be against the bond issue, there certainly were many people who supported it. He noted that the Parks Committee had worked on the Senior Center issue for over a year and that he resented the references to "stampeding" relating to the acquisi- tion of the shopping center. He stated that the decision on the site was the subject of much study. The Mayor noted that this matter was already scheduled for the September 24 workshop, and at that time it could be referred to the Parks Committee. Upon White ' s question about the architect, it was noted that a copy of the record showing authorization to proceed would be provided . WOODS MOVED that the meeting be adjourned at 3 : 00 o ' clock p.m. , Biteman seconded. Motion carried. Marie Jensen, CMC City Clerk 4 -