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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Meeting - Council - Minutes - 02/18/2014 KE 'IT Kent City Council Meeting Minutes February 18, 2014 The regular meeting of the Kent City Council was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Mayor Cooke. Councilmembers present: Berrios, Boyce, Ralph, and Ranniger. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA A. From Council, Administration, Staff. Council President Ralph removed item 7D, Legislative Update and added Consent Calendar Items I and J, excused absence of Councilmember Higgins and excused absence of Councilmember Thomas. B. From the Public. None. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS A. Public Recognition. None. B. Community Events, Councilmember Ranniger announced the Kids' Art Day event on March 1 at the Kent Commons. C. Introduction of Human Service Commission Reappointees, Mike Heinisch, Bill Hallerman and Wade Schwartz. Mayor Cooke announced the reappointments to the Human Service Commission. Mike Heinisch and Bill Hallerman were absent. Wade Schwartz stated he has been on the commission for the past two years. D. Legislative Update. Removed from the agenda. E. Economic and Community Development Report - Ben Wolters, Economic and Development Director noted that there were over 4,000 permit applications issued in 2013 with a value of over $154 million dollars in building valuation. He stated that there have been $10 million in permits issued in January this year. He communicated there is significant potential for development in 2014 to increase REET and sales tax returns. He stated that aerospace is a large part of the city's growth. He noted that housing growth has also increased with 1,000 homes being built over the past five years. Additionally, there are thirty new plat applications going on now, concluding that Trader Joe's is here and is scheduled to open in October 2014. Kurt Hanson, Economic and Development Manager discussed how the City tells its' story to the marketplace. He communicated about Trader Joe's opening up at the Marketplace in Kent Meridian. He discussed how retail will be attracted to Kent in the future and noted that the work done to locate a Trader Joe's in Kent will be used as a case study going forward. Hanson discussed grocery store vacancies in the future and the reduction in size of grocery stores. However, he noted that grocery sales are estimated to go up 13 percent. Therefore, there is opportunity for a new grocer here, especially since Top Foods vacated their lease on East Hill. He noted that he and Ben will be working on this in the next twelve months. He discussed The Platform and the excitement that is being generated in this development and that Airways Brewing has a plan related to that project. He reviewed some of the amenities involved in the Kent City Council Minutes February 18, 2014 project. He discussed the Meeker Street Revitalization Project to spur on investment in that area and that it will be going to the Economic and Development Committee in the next few months. Mayor Cooke verified that Josh Hall is leaving the City and taking a position with the City of Seattle Human Service Division. F. Public Safety Report. Ken Thomas, Police Chief communicated that vehicle prowls are higher this month and auto theft is slightly going up. He said that he has recalled one of his officers from the King County Task Force to work the City of Kent theft cases. He continued and noted that robberies have bounced up a little in the statistics, but have reduced over the past two weeks. He stated that commerical and residential burglaries continue to go down. Council President Ralph communicated that there is a Community Meeting hosted by Police Chief Thomas on March 13 and he explained what topics would be discussed at the meeting. Mayor Cooke suggested having police statistics concerning if the suspects are repeat suspects, if they are tied to more than one crime, and if they are from Kent. Thomas repled that he would get that information to the Council at the next meeting. Councilmember Berrios communicated that the arrest information should be tied to the crimes for each month. He said it would be good to see how many arrests go along with the offenses. G. Council Appointment Process Update, Council President Ralph communicated that there is was a special Council meeting for reviewing the thirty-eight applicants. She stated that the interview process will take place next Tuesday and the Council will have an Executive Session and hopefully name the next Councilmember that evening. H. Intergovernmental Reports, Council President Ralph attended the WRIA-9 Watershed meeting and the highlights were that Colonel Bruce Estok, Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers gave an overview of the projects going on at the Boeing Levee. She added that there was conversation concerning stormwater and what cities can do to continue preventing runoff and make the project better. She also communicated that there was a South County Area Transportation Board meeting and 2040 transportation was discussed and there would be some federal dollars coming and work on creating a list to obtain some of those funds. Councilmember Boyce said the Water Quality District meeting was cancelled and will be held next month. He noted that he attended the Sound Cities Association meeting and the 60/40 proposal was adopted. He noted that since the Council took a neutral position he had to recuse himself from the vote. PUBLIC HEARINGS None. 2 Kent City Council Minutes February 18, 2014 PUBLIC COMMENT 1. Danny Miller, Kent - Miller stated that he is here on behalf of his daughter. He communicated that he contacted the police and was told that his daughter had to park three blocks away from her home. He said there should be parking permits or a zoned parking area. Mayor Cooke communicated that this issue has been brought to light and there is a parking study going on right now. 2. R.C. Sample, Kent - Sample stated that he tried to speak to the Council last week and it is a shame that citizens have to speak to the media to get the Council to respond. He said that the committee to "Save the Par 3" has a meeting scheduled with Councilmember Higgins and Jeff Watling. Councilmember Boyce thanked Sample for coming. He said the Council takes public comment seriously and added that no decision has been made. Council President Ralph communicated that she takes this part of the meeting seriously and is greatful for what Sample has done with Veteran's Drive and what he is doing with Par 3. 3. Richard Wilkinson, Kent - Wilkinson communicated that the City will miss Josh Hall and he has been an asset to the City. He noted that he was surprised when Bailey Stober wasn't chosen as one of the candidates to move forward in the Council vacancy interview process. He added that Bailey received 46% of the vote for Position #6 and the Council ignored this. He wants the Council to reconsider how the process is being done. He stated that Councilmember Boyce communicated in the last meeting that the Council is following the process of the state and felt his vote as a resident has been ignored. He inquired if there will ever be a "Meet your Council" type of process in the future. Pat Fitzpatrick, Acting City Attorney communicated that state law doesn't prescribe any specific process. He communicated that in both of the previous processes when a councilmember vacancy occurred it was done this way. He added that the process was deliberative and publicly noticed in several manners. 1. CONSENT CALENDAR Council President Ralph moved to approve Consent Calendar Items A through J, seconded by Councilmember Boyce. A. Minutes of the workshop and regular Council meeting of February 4th 2014 and special meeting of February 11, 2014. The minutes of the workshop and regular Council meeting of February 4, 2014 and special meeting of February 11, 2014 were approved. 3 Kent City Council Minutes February 18, 2014 B. Public Disclosure Administrator Position — Approve. The Mayor was authorized to add a Public Disclosure Administrator position to the City Clerk's Office, including a budget adjustment of $11,408, and freeze the position of Deputy City Clerk until further notice. C. Ordinance changing Council Workshop meeting time - Adopt. The Council adopted Ordinance No. 4104 , amending Section 2.01.020 of the Kent City Code to change the Council workshop meeting time to 5:00 p.m. on all regular Council meeting days except when the regular Council meeting occurs at 5:00 p.m. D. Emergency guardrail repair service contract with Peterson Brothers. Inc. — Authorized. The Mayor was authorized to sign a service agreement with Petersen Brothers Construction, Inc. to perform emergency repairs of damaged guardrails on an as needed basis in an amount not to exceed $20,000, subject to final terms and conditions acceptable to the City Attorney and Public Works Director, E. Lab sampling agreement with Am Test Inc — Approved The Mayor was authorized to sign a Goods and Services Agreement with Am Test, Inc. for coliform sampling and testing in an amount not to exceed $43,392.00 subject to final terms and conditions acceptable to the City Attorney and Public Works Director. F. East Hill Well Motor Control Center & Generator upgrade project completion — Accept. The Mayor was authorized to accept the East Hill Well Motor Control Center & Generator Upgrades Project as complete and release retainage to Gary Harper Construction, Inc., upon receipt of standard releases from the state and the release of any liens. G. Zoning code landscape provision amendment ordinance — Adopted. The Council adopted Ordinance No. 4105, amending Section 15.07.060 of the Kent City Code to correct an error in Ordinance No. 4074. H. Reappointments to Human Services Commission — Confirmed. The Council confirmed Mayor Cooke's reappointment of Mike Heinisch, Bill Hallerman and Wade Schwartz to the Kent Human Services Commission for three-year terms. OTHER BUSINESS A. None. BIDS REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES, STAFF AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES A. Council President. Council President Ralph noted that the Top Issues from the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services and Public Works was discussed. She added that the B&O Project list was also discussed during the workshop. She highlighted that this would be brought to the Council at the first meeting in March. 4 Kent City Council Minutes February 18, 2014 i B. Mayor. Mayor Cooke communicated that she has expressed her opinion on the liquor control board marijuana process as the Mayor which the Council hasn't taken a position on. She noted that she testified in Olympia that a portion of the taxes from marijuana sales be distributed to cities. She reaffirmed that the position she has taken is that of the Mayor and not as the Council. Mayor Cooke also stated that she, as the Mayor, also has verbally supported the King County establishment of a Transportation Benefit District. Mayor Cooke brought up Councilmember Boyce's previous comment in that he had to recuse himself from the vote at the Sound Cities Association on this issue because the Council put forth a neutral vote. She urged the Council to move forward on these issues and look at the alternatives. Mayor Cooke continued and discussed cooperation between the departments, to include the collaboration between Public Works and the Parks Department working on street maintenance, parks areas, levees, and other projects in the City. She also noted that the police are delving into what needs to be done in order to reduce crime. She also stated that the staff is moving forward with its RESPECT training. C. Administration. No report. D. Economic & Community Development Committee. Councilmember Boyce stated that the report is in the minutes. E. Operations Committee. Councilmember Boyce communicated that the B&O Tax is going into its second year and the process of omitting non-profits in the future was discussed. F. Parks and Human Services Committee. Councilmember Ranniger stated that the next Parks and Human Services meeting is February 20 at 5:00 p.m. G. Public Safety Committee. No report. H. Public Works Committee. Council President Ralph communicated that the next Public Works Committee meeting is on February 24th and they will be reviewing the B&O project list. I. Regional Fire Authority. No report. Councilmember Boyce communicated that there was a Lodging Tax Advisory Board meeting and the branding effort the City will be going through was discussed. He noted the meetings will be February 24 and 25, and a report out by the consultant on February 26. EXECUTIVE SESSION No executive session. ACTION AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION Mayor Cooke introduced Austin England, a Boy Scout. 5 Kent City Council Minutes February 18, 2014 England stated that he has never been to a Council meeting and would like to attend future meetings. He stated it is interesting to hear all the discussion on items that go through the Council. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m. Ronald F✓Moo e, MMC City Clerk i 6 PUBLIC COMMENT KEIsT SIGN UP SHEET w.sHi.arr+ For the Kent City Council Meeting of: NAME Street Address Email Address Topic 1234 Maim com Street SE Comprehensive �x Jane Doe Kent, WA 98032 jdoe@hotmail. Plan i DdAlwl ,-� tz_c�2 K£,v; W4. y a 3� 1"o.v1v/. °L SO C, cLtu rert(L- &)4A 4 6 7 8 10 1.1 1.2 13 14 35 16 1.7 18 19 20 Members of the public are invited to speak under "Public Comment" Agenda Item #6. Please sign above and when asked by the Mayor, come to the podium. Please limit your comments to three (3) minutes.