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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Meeting - Council - Minutes - 07/06/1993 Kent, Washington July 6, 1993 Regular meeting of the Kent City Council was called to order at 7 : 00 p.m. by Mayor Dan Kelleher. Present: Councilmembers Bennett, Houser, Johnson, Mann, Orr and White, Chief Administra- tive Officer McCarthy, Assistant City Attorney Brubaker, Human Services Manager Ball and Public Works Director Wickstrom. Also present: Police Chief Crawford, Fire Chief Angelo and Human Resources Director Olson. Councilmember Woods was excused. Approximately 25 people were in attendance. PUBLIC Recreation and Parks Month. Mayor Kelleher read COMMUNICATIONS a proclamation noting that parks and recreation services contribute to the overall quality of life of a community, enhance the desirability of locations for families and businesses, stimu- late tourism, and create socially beneficial connections between individuals, groups and communities. He proclaimed the month of July, 1993 , as Recreation and Parks Month in the City of Kent and asked citizens to join in this cele- bration. He then presented the proclamation to Patrice Thorell, Cultural Superintendent. Ms. Thorell invited the Mayor, Councilmembers and citizens to attend the many functions taking place this summer, including the Summer Concert Series, the International Balloon Classic and the Chili Cookoff. Citizen Commendation Award. Mayor Kelleher announced that during the early morning hours of April 12 , 1993 , Anthony B. Campagna entered a local convenience store and noted that the con- dition of the store was not normal. Campagna immediately left and called 911, then returned to the store to observe a store clerk being forcibly removed. He again called 911 and re- mained at the location. The Mayor stated that Campagna ' s quick thinking, diligence and caring attitude likely saved the clerk' s life. Police Chief Crawford expressed his appreciation to Mr. Campagna, and presented him with the Chief ' s Commendation Award. Employee of the Month. Mayor Kelleher announced that Assistant City Attorney Tom Brubaker has been selected as Employee of the Month for July. He noted that Brubaker is a dedicated, conscien- tious employee who strives to protect the City. He added that Brubaker works well with all de- partments and does so with a friendly, caring attitude. 1 Regional Justice Center Update. Wendy Keller reported that the contract with the architect will be signed very soon, and that Kent' s input is a part of it. She said work groups including police groups have gone through the program plan working on room adjacencies, such as the intake area. She noted that a community relations work group will meet within the next month, and that this group will talk to people who live and have businesses near the site about issues such as operations of the facility and construction. She noted that they are currently in the process of hiring someone to write up a remediation plan for the site, and that a process has been devel- oped to receive input on the arts program. She said that their technical committee will meet on July 19 to discuss traffic patterns. White noted that he has asked the Mayor to consider appointing a citizens mitigation group to dis- cuss impacts other than traffic, and added that he is glad the County is addressing this as well. CONSENT WHITE MOVED that Consent Calendar Items A CALENDAR through F be approved. Mann seconded and the motion carried. MINUTES (CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEM 3A) Approval of Minutes. APPROVAL of the minutes of the regular Council meeting of June 15, 1993 . STREETS (CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEM 3C) 76th Avenue S. Asphalt Overlay/Resurfacing - Acceptance of Grant. AUTHORIZATION for the Mayor to sign the City/County Agreement for this project and to establish the budget for same, as recommended by the Public Works Committee. The project consists of resurfacing the existing roadway on 76th Ave. S. with asphalt overlay, including the replacement of failed pavement sections, cracked curbs, gutters and driveways. Grant funding in the amount of $72 ,850 is avail- able from ISTEA. STORM DRAINAGE (CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEM 3D) Garrison Creek Stormwater Control Proiect Con- demnation. ADOPTION of Ordinance No. 3126 au- thorizing condemnation of an easement at the northeast corner of 104th Ave. SE & SE 240th St. , in the Benson Shopping Center, as recom- mended by the Public Works Committee. Construc- tion of a new drainage trunk line is required in 2 STORM DRAINAGE this area to help resolve the flooding in and around apartment complexes in this vicinity. Staff has continued to negotiate without success for this easement and in order to proceed with the project, condemnation is necessary. (BIDS - ITEM 5A) 94th Avenue Storm Drainage Improvements. Bid opening was June 18th with eleven bids received. The low bid was submitted by Moss Construction in the amount of $81, 061. 28 . The Engineer's estimate is $83 , 698 . 11. The project consists of an enclosed storm drainage system with miscella- neous restoration work. The Public Works Com- mittee has recommended that this bid be accept- ed. WHITE MOVED that the contract for 94th Avenue Storm Drainage Improvements be awarded to Moss Construction in the amount of $81, 061. 28 . Bennett seconded and the motion carried. (BIDS - ITEM 5C) Downtown Infrastructure Watermain Replacements _& Storm Drainage Improvements. Bid opening for this project was held on July 2 , 1993 with eight bids received. The project consists of the con- struction of watermains and storm sewers in two separate locations and includes, but is not limited to a 40 ' bore of a 20" casing under Burlington Northern right-of-way; 280 feet of 22" casing in public right-of-way and under Union Pacific Railroad; 1080 sq. yds. of cement concrete sidewalk; 350 lineal feet of water service lines and temporary erosion/sedimenta- tion control provisions. It has been recommended by the Public Works Committee and the Public Works Director that the low bidder, Robison Construction, be awarded the contract for the Downtown Infrastructure Water- main Replacements & Storm Drainage Improvements in the amount of $552 , 483 . 27 . WHITE SO MOVED. Houser seconded and the motion carried. ASPHALT OVERLAY (BIDS - ITEM 5D) 1993 Asphalt Overlay. Bid opening for this project was held on July 2 , 1993 with four bids received. The project consists of furnishing and placing approximately 600 tons of asphalt concrete pavement and other related work. It has been recommended by the Public Works Com- mittee and the Public Works Director that the low bid from Lakeside Industries be accepted for the 1993 Asphalt Overlays in the amount of $28 , 975 . 00. WHITE SO MOVED, Bennett seconded and the motion carried. 3 CONDEMNATION (OTHER BUSINESS - ITEM 4C) (ADDED BY ASSISTANT ATTORNEY BRUBAKER) Eminent Domain Litigation. Assistant City At- torney Brubaker explained that the City owns a parcel of property in the vicinity of Kent- Kangley Rd. and 152nd SE that lies entirely outside the jurisdiction of the City. The par- cel is approximately 4000 square feet in size and was originally acquired in 1957 for a pump station for the Kent Springs Transmission Main. He added that the pump station has since been abandoned. He noted that the State plans to widen State Route 516 in the area fronting this property and offered to acquire the whole par- cel, but that the City did not agree with the offering price and resisted the sale. He ex- plained that the State commenced a condemnation action against the City, conducted a fair market appraisal, and that a fair settlement of $9 , 000 to settle the lawsuit and purchase the parcel, including all the City' s legal costs has been negotiated. WHITE MOVED that the City Attorney be authorized to take any action necessary to settle the State condemnation action against the City over a par- cel of City property affected by the State Route 516 road widening project if the State agrees to pay the City at least $9, 000 in settlement, including all City costs. Johnson seconded and the motion carried. MAYOR'S SALARY (OTHER BUSINESS - ITEM 4B) Mayor' s Salary and Benefit Advisory Committee Report. The Mayor' s Salary and Benefit Advisory Committee, following their meetings of June 25th and June 30th, recommended a mayoral salary of $75, 000 per annum plus benefits as provided to other full time employees of management status. Part of the rationale is that the mayoral posi- tion would assume the responsibilities of the Chief Administrative Officer so that there would not be two positions with similar executive responsibilities in City Administration. The Mayor noted that the Operations Committee met this date and recommended that this item not be passed, but that the $50, 000 salary origi- nally proposed be maintained. Houser explained that the Advisory Committee had done extensive research and that at $50, 000, Kent's mayor would be the lowest paid. She added that Kent now has 40, 000 citizens and everyone who is interested 4 MAYOR' S SALARY in running for mayor should have that opportuni- ty. She pointed out that it is a temporary job, and therefore it should pay enough to get back into the job market after the term is up. She also noted that people who already make $50, 000 would be reluctant to leave their job for the same salary. She noted that if the salary is left at $50, 000, there will be twelve people under the mayor who will make more than that. She added that the mayor' s salary can only be changed by a vote of the Council. Houser noted that both of the other members of the Operations Committee are running for mayor, and that they both voted to leave the salary at $50, 000. WHITE MOVED to keep the salary at $50, 000. Bennett seconded. White said the City is still in a budget crisis and reserve funds are diminished. He stated that the salary has nothing to do with whether the mayor can lead the city. He noted that he is against any sala- ry raise until the reserve funds are restored and deficit problems are eliminated. Houser pointed out that since there would not be a need for a City Administrator, that salary could be saved. She noted that the $50, 000 figure was simply a benchmark, and the reason for the in- crease is to assure that anyone who is interest- ed can run for the position. Bennett stated that the fact that twelve employees would make more than the mayor has no bearing, and that the money from the City Administrator' s salary should be saved. Johnson pointed out that even at $75, 000 people may not be willing to move from the private sector to the public sector on a temporary basis, unless they are facing layoff or retirement. He agreed that it is the charac- ter of the person and not the salary that will make a good mayor. He suggested forming a com- mittee to determine whether to raise the salary after the mayor has been in office for a year. The motion to keep the Mayor' s salary at $50, 000 then carried, with Houser and Mann opposed. The Mayor asked that McCarthy report at the next Council meeting on the City' s financial situa- tion. McCarthy pointed out that there will be a workshop on the budget on August 3rd. He noted that financial conditions are improving, and that sales tax has shown an approximate 10% growth rate. He added that there could be more 5 MAYOR'S SALARY Boeing layoffs in the area, and that not all labor agreements have been settled. Upon Mann' s request, McCarthy noted that he will include information on what effect the tax initiatives would have on the City in his next report. White noted that he had suggested a parallel budget to McCarthy if cutbacks are anticipated because of Initiatives 601 and 602 , but that McCarthy has indicated that might not be neces- sary. HUMAN SERVICES (OTHER BUSINESS - ITEM 4A) The Way Back Inn. The Planning Committee has recommended that the City enter into a lease agreement with The Way Back Inn, a non-profit organization, to use the Campus Park House for five years to house homeless families. The lease will express the City's intent for The Way Back Inn to perform and pay for specific repair, maintenance, and insurance costs on the Campus Park House. Betsy Czark of the Planning Department, ex- plained that The Way Back Inn proposes to repair a currently uninhabitable City-owned rental house in exchange for five years free rent. She noted that The Way Back Inn provides three months housing to families with children, which allows them to save enough money to pay first, last and deposit on their own apartment. She added that the YWCA screens all the families that The Way Back Inn houses. She noted that all liability issues have been covered in the agreement. Larry Kennedy, President of The Way Back Inn, stated that their approach is to give people the dignity to make their own decisions. He noted that they have converted a house in downtown Renton, and that of the 23 families they have helped, 17 are now self-provident. Mariah Yberra, Director of the YWCA, said that the collaboration between the YWCA and The Way Back Inn has worked very well. She explained that the families they refer to The Way Back Inn have been in the YWCA shelter for 2-4 weeks. She added that the families can always rely on the YWCA for information, referral or support even while living at The Way Back Inn. 6 HUMAN SERVICES ORR MOVED that the City enter into a lease agreement with The Way Back Inn to use the Campus Park House for five years to house home- less families, as recommended by the Planning Committee. Bennett seconded. White said that this appears to be a very good use of City prop- erty and urged staff to look at other City-owned properties to use as part of the program. Bennett concurred. The motion carried. WATER (BIDS - ITEM 5B) Watershed Fencing Project. Bid opening was June 25th with six bids received. The low bid was submitted by Guyline Construction in the amount of $148, 268 . 22 . The Engineer' s estimate is $303 , 066. 03 . The project consists of fur- nishing and placing fencing around Kent Springs, Clark Springs and Armstrong Springs. The Public Works Committee has recommended that this bid be accepted. WHITE MOVED that the contract for the Watershed Fencing Project be awarded to Guyline Construction in the amount of $148 , 268 . 22 . Bennett seconded and the motion carried. ANNEXATION Chestnut Ridge Annexation. Mr. George Kresovich, of Hillis Clark Martin & Peterson, 1221 Second Avenue, Seattle, noted that he is representing Schneider Homes. He said he has written a letter to Councilmembers regarding a problem with the recent Chestnut Ridge Annex- ation, and suggested that the matter be sent to the Planning Committee for consideration. He explained that the Copper Ridge property is within the Chestnut Ridge annexation, and that a P.U.D. application was made in January, 1991 when the property was in King County. He said that no one in the County who was working on this project was aware of the annexation, that the City was not aware of their proposed pro- ject, and that no one at Schneider Homes knew of the proposed annexation. He said there are ways to solve these legal issues and they would like to work with the city to solve them. There was no objection to forwarding this issue to the Planning Committee and it was so ordered. CAPITAL (CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEM 3F) IMPROVEMENT 1994-1999 Capital Improvement Program, AUTHORI- PROGRAM ZATION to set July 20 and August 3 , 1993 , as the dates for public hearings to receive comments on the 1994-1999 Capital Improvement Program. 7 FINANCE (CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEM 3B) Approval of Bills. APPROVAL of payment of bills received through June 30 after auditing by the Operations Committee at its meeting on July 6, 1993 . Approval of checks issued for vouchers: Date Check Numbers Amount 6/16-6/30 131775-132219 $1, 595, 046.53 Approval of checks issued for payroll: Date Check Numbers Amount 7/2/93 Checks 01184723-01185145 $ 296, 999. 04 Advices 01007694-01008010 $ 361 , 212 . 17 $ 658, 211. 21 APPOINTMENT (CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEM 3E) Arts Commission Appointment. CONFIRMATION of the Mayor ' s appointment of Leah Connor as a member of the Arts Commission. Leah is a stu- dent at Kent Junior High School and was active in the "Dreambuilders" program which encourages students to get involved in their community. She will replace Claudia Appell, who resigned, and her appointment will continue to 10/31/95. REPORTS McCarthy noted that five employees have taken advantage of the early retirement program autho- rized by Council on March 2 . He also stated that he has directed staff to look at options to the current voucher system for the Severe Weather Program. EXECUTIVE At 7 : 50 p.m. , the Mayor announced an executive SESSION session of five minutes to discuss labor negoti- ations and litigation regarding Western Process- ing. The meeting reconvened at 8: 00 p.m. Human Resources Director Olson announced that tentative agreement has been reached with Fire- fighters Local 1747, Teamsters Local 117 , and AFSCME Local 21-K, and outlined the terms of the contracts. HOUSER MOVED to authorize approval of all three contracts. White seconded and the motion carried. McCarthy clarified that the AFSCME contract is in effect as of July 1, 1993 , and is not retroactive, saving the City approxi- mately $9 , 000. 8 EXECUTIVE The Mayor stated that discussion was held SESSION regarding a cleanup issue at Western Processing, and noted that City staff is dissatisfied with the cleanup which the EPA is overseeing. Assis- tant City Attorney Brubaker noted that the City has been in negotiations with the EPA and Western Processing trustees regarding the clean up and remediation of Mill Creek and has been unable to reach a satisfactory agreement. He asked the Council to authorize the City Attorney to take all necessary steps to obtain the proper cleanup of Mill Creek and to protect the City from its extraordinary expenses incurred in construction of 196th and 72nd Streets which are caused by the Western Processing Superfund site. WHITE SO MOVED, Orr seconded. The motion car- ried. ADJOURNMENT The meeting then adjourned at 8 : 10 p.m. Brenda Jacooe'r, CMC City Clerk( 9