HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Meeting - Council - Minutes - 04/01/2008 Kent City Council Meeting
KENT 111 GTG1. April 1, 2008
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The regular meeting of the Kent City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor
Cooke. Councilmembers present: Albertson, Clark, Harmon, O'Brien, Ranniger, Raplee
and Thomas. (CFN-198)
CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
A. From Council, Administration, Staff. (CFN-198) Hodgson removed Item G from
Public Communications and noted that there will be no Executive Session.
B. From the Public. (CFN-198) There were no comments from the audience.
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
A. King County Council President Julia Patterson. (CFN-198) County Council
President Patterson gave a brief version of the State of the County Address, high-
lighting issues such as bus service, recycling, improved operations of the Election
Department, traffic congestion, environmental challenges, Medic One support, regional
parks and trails improvements, flood levy repair, mental health, menu labeling and
social equity.
B. Public Recognition. (CFN-198) No public recognition was given.
C. Community Events. (CFN-198) Ranniger announced that Earth Day is on April 19
and that trees will be planted at the Service Club Ball Fields. She invited those
interested to contact the Parks Department.
D. Introduction of Appointee. (CFN-122) Mayor Cooke introduced Callius
Zaratkiewicz, her re-appointee to the Civil Service Commission, whose term will expire
on April 30, 2014.
E. Final Legislative Report. (CFN-198) Lobbyist Doug Levy gave a report on issues
affecting Kent which came before the Legislature including the Center for Advanced
Manufacturing-Puget Sound (CAMPS), housing jail offenders, infrastructure funding,
prostitution problems, unfunded mandates, and transportation needs. He also spoke
about other funding decisions which impact the city, areas of new funding available,
and issues coming up in 2009.
F. Employee of the Month. (CFN147) Jeff Watling introduced Garin Lee, the April
Employee of the Month. Watling commended Lee for his commitment to public service
and hard work, and Lori Flemm gave examples of his caring attitude.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Raplee moved to approve Consent Calendar Items A through H. Clark seconded and
the motion carried.
A. Approval of Minutes. (CFN-198) The minutes of the regular Council meeting of
March 18, 2008, were approved.
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Kent City Council Minutes April 1, 2008
B. Approval of Bills. (CFN-104) There were no bills for approval.
C. Reappointment of Civil Service Commission . (CFN-122) The Mayor's re-
appointment of Callius Zaratkiewicz to the Civil Service Commission was confirmed.
Mr. Zaratkiewicz's re-appointment will expire April 30, 2014.
D. Regional Justice Center Human Services Funding Agreement Amendment.
(CFN-118) The Mayor was authorized to sign Amendment No. One to the Memorandum
of Understanding with King County regarding the Regional Justice Center, and the
expenditure of funds in the Human Services budget was approved.
E. United Way of King County Homelessness Grant. (CFN-118) The $17,500
grant from United Way of King County in support of coordinating efforts to end
homelessness in South King County was accepted, and the expenditure of funds in the
Housing and Human Services budget was approved.
F. Russell Road Shops Roof and Wall Repair Change Order. (CFN-120) The
Mayor was authorized to sign Change Order Number Two from Werlech Construction in
the amount of $249,294.82 for the Russell Road Maintenance Facility Roof and Wall
Improvements Project.
G. City Easement to Puget Sound Energy, Mill Creek Sanitary Sewer Lift
Station. (CFN-1038) The Mayor was authorized to sign the Puget Sound Energy
easement to provide electrical services to the new Mill Creek Sanitary Sewer Lift
Station. This lift station is being constructed on city-owned property.
H. LID 353 - 4th Avenue/76th Sidewalk Improvements. (CFN-1269) The
LID 353 - 4th Avenue/76th Sidewalk Improvements project was accepted as complete
and release of retainage to Rodarte Construction, upon standard releases from the
state and release of any liens. The original contract amount was $652,957.50. The
final contract amount was $704,240.32.
OTHER BUSINESS
A. Prohibited Conduct on Public Transit Property and Vehicles. (CFN-122)
The proposed ordinance adopts the substance of King County's transit code of conduct,
creating consistent regulations which ensure the safety and comfort of passengers.
Police Chief Strachan explained that confusion can arise for law enforcement officers
when transit vehicles cross Jurisdictional boundaries, and said this ordinance would
strengthen existing tools.
Harmon moved to adopt Ordinance No. 3877 relating to prohibited conduct on public
transit property and vehicles. Thomas seconded and the motion carried.
B. S. 224th Street Corridor. (CFN-1308) The Public Works Committee has
recommended that a three-lane roadway beginning at the intersection of East Valley
Highway and S. 224th Street and ending at Benson Road (SR 515) be designed and
constructed. The Mayor noted that public input has been taken at seven public
meetings. Chad Bieren, Engineering Supervisor, explained the history of the project
and Mark Howlett, Design Engineering Manager, outlined the five alternatives which
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Kent City Council Minutes April 1, 2008
were included as a part of the Environmental Impact Statement and the EIS process.
Deputy Public Works Director Tim LaPorte explained their public involvement process
and welcomed the possibility of a neighborhood council in the area.
Ranniger moved to approve the S. 224th Street Project utilizing Alternative B, a 3-lane
roadway connecting 84th Avenue S. and 108th Avenue S.E. via S. 224th Street as
described in the S. 224th Street Project Environmental Impact Statement, and
authorize the Public Works Director to move forward with design, permitting, and
construction of the project; and the City will create a S. 224th Street Project Design
Review Committee made up of neighborhood volunteers that will advise on elements of
the project. Raplee seconded.
Ranniger stated that a five-lane roadway would have created a big impact to the
neighborhood and that the three-lane boulevard is a good compromise.
City Attorney Brubaker pointed out that although the steps taken tonight are
significant, it is still early in the process. Clark stated that while not everyone is happy
about this project, the City had to take action for safety reasons. Harmon opined that
the project will be aesthetically pleasing and will move traffic; O'Brien and Albertson
also spoke in favor of the project for safety reasons. The motion to approve the project
then carried.
CLERK'S NOTE: Councilmember O'Brien left the meeting at this point.
C. Regional State Highway Toll Projects. (CFN-171) Deputy Public Works LaPorte
introduced Craig Stone, Deputy Administrator for the Washington State Department of
Transportation Urban Corridors Office and Charlie Howard, Transportation Planning
Director with the Puget Sound Regional Council, who presented a slideshow regarding
tolls on state highways.
Stone discussed the objectives, methods, and applications of tolling. Howard spoke
about regional issues which focus on the long-term future, which includes trans-
portation funding. He noted that they are looking at user benefits, moving freight, the
effects on social, environmental and land uses decisions, growth, equity, pricing,
operations, privacy protection, financing, and so forth. He and Stone then answered
questions from Councilmembers relating to transponders, challenging charges, use of
the tolls, affected roads, etc.
BIDS
A. LID 353, S. 2281h Street Improvements, 72"d Avenue Left Turn Lane.
(CFN-1269) The bid opening was held on March 25, 2008, with 11 bids received. The
low bid was submitted by Road Construction Northwest in the amount of $493,155.
The Engineer's estimate was $574,375. Public Works Director Blanchard explained that
this project does not interfere with the 2281h BNSF project. Engineering Supervisor
Chad Bieren gave an overview of the project and noted that sidewalks are included.
Ranniger moved to award the contract on the LID 353, S. 288th Street Improvements,
72Id Avenue Left Turn Lane project to Road Construction Northwest in the amount of
$493,155. Raplee seconded and the motion carried.
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Kent City Council Minutes April 1, 2008
REPORTS
A. Council President. (CFN-198) No report was given.
B. Mayor. (CFN-198) Mayor Cooke reported that she recently visited Austin, Texas,
to see their tolling system; that she welcomed the Port of Tacoma and the Port of
Seattle at their first joint meeting, which was held in Kent today; and that she, eight
youth and five adults recently attended the Suburban Cities Association "Connecting
with Youth of our Cities" Conference.
C. Operations Committee. (CFN-198) Clark announced that he has accepted an
invitation to Join an advisory board to the Puget Sound Partnership.
D. Parks and Human Services Committee. (CFN-198) Ranniger reported that she
represented the City at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival put on by the School
District celebrating the relationships with Japanese sister cities.
E. Planning and Economic Development Committee. (CFN-198) Albertson noted
that the next meeting will be held at 5:00 p.m on April 14, and invited everyone to
attend the Topping Out ceremony on April 15 at the Kent Events Center.
F. Public Safety Committee. (CFN-198) Harmon noted that the next meeting will
be held Tuesday, April 8, at 5:00 p.m.
G. Public Works Committee. (CFN-198) Ranniger thanked the committee members
for their work on the S. 224th corridor project.
H. Administration. (CFN-198) CAO Hodgson noted that there will be a report on the
Aquatic Center at the workshop of April 15, and that one of the City's top leaders,
Assistant Finance Director Cliff Craig, has been appointed Finance Director for the City
of Puyallup.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 10:15 p.m. (CFN-198)
Brenda Jacober, CM
City Clerk
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