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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Operations - 04/29/1997 OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MINUTES ApAi 29, 1997 COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Jon Johnson, Chair, Jim Bennett, Leona Orr STAFF PRESENT: Tom Brubaker, Ken Chatwin, John Hillman, Jim Huntington, Dena Laurent, Charlie Lindsey, Brent McFall, Kelli O'Donnell, Ron Spang MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: Sharon Senn The meeting was called to order at 4 07 p in by Chairperson Johnson Approval of 4/15/97 Vouchers Committeemember Orr moved to approve the vouchers of April 15, 1997 for payment in the amount of $2,248,712 02 Bennett seconded and the motion carried with a vote of 3-0 Kent Reporter Contract Cont Government Affairs Manager Dena Laurent stated that as requested she was bringing back before the Committee the proposal for the distribution of the City newsletter as part of the Kent Reporter She stated that this would be a monthly issue replacing the quarterly issue currently printed,as part of the Parks brochure Committeemember Orr commented that she would liked to have seen a second edition of the newspaper before taking action on it and asked if insertion in the utility billing had been considered or a quarterly newsletter She stated her concern that more money was being spent with the proposed cost of $45,000 for less than a year She stated that she could not be supportive at this point in time and that it was not up to the City to insure the survival of this newspaper McFall responded that this proposal is in response to the Council Target Issue on Community Outreach and it is the Council's choice whether to contract During further discussion, Sharon Senn stated that she was a merchant on Meeker and the incoming President of the Kent Downtown Partnership (KDP) for which she has been serving on the marketing and promotion committee Senn stated that this would be an affordable way to reach the most people in the community and stated that the KDP had advertised in the Kent Reporter with good response She noted that she had heard back only good comments and this newspaper covers only our community She stated the KDP is very supportive of the proposed newsletter as the city will only benefit from it Senn added that this publication has a distribution of over 30,000 while the South Valley Journal only is distributed to 12,000 by subscription Laurent noted that she had brought some issues of the Renton Reporter as examples for the Committee to review Committeemember Bennett stated that he concurred with Ms Orr that he did not feel it was the city's responsibility He noted that the city is supporters of KDP with matching funds McFall asked to clarify the issue, stating that tlus would be a use of the paper as a communications tool not whether this publication succeeds or fails He stated that it was a good tool for reaching all households in Kent Orr noted that one person has been telling committee members it is our responsibility or the newspaper will fail Orr suggested that a small ad could be taken out if an issue is important enough Committee Chair Johnson stated that he had thought it was a good idea to try, but he could seethe Committee members points He noted it has always been a problem to reach all citizens Hearing no support for the item, Johnson stated he would use the Committee Chair's prerogative to drop the item ADA Modification Funding- Project#M-26 Risk Analyst Ken Chatwin reviewed a map with the Committee showing the previous sound absorption modifications He noted that training has changed from fixed target shooting to scenario shooting from an angle which is hitting plywood and the sound absorption material causing fiberglass particles to become airborne He noted that the architect had originally recommended insulation in the hallways and control OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MINUTES, CONT. April 29, 1997 tower which would require extending the walls and installing sound absorption door in the outer area of the building Chatwin stated that the total cost of implementing the proposed changes would be $50,000 which would replace the fiberglass, add panels and the ceiling, upgrade the bullet trap, and the add the doorway He recommended that the workers' compensation fund be utilized Committeemember Bennett moved to authorize allocation of$50,000 of the Worker's Compensation Trust Fund to upgrade the Police Firing Range as outlined for acoustical improvements Orr seconded the motion Motion passed with a vote of 3-0 Regional Planning of Wireless Technology Resolution Information Services Director Ron Spang distributed a packet of backup material with a summary and draft resolution Spang noted that staff had been meeting to meet the schedule to develop a telecommunications policy and strategic plan before the end of the moratorium He added that a Regional Telecommunications Committee had begun meeting in March. Assistant City Attorney Tom Brubaker distributed a revised resolution stating that two changes had been made from the resolution distributed with the agenda Instead of stating a regional master plan will be developed, the resolution provides for a coordinated regional effort Brubaker noted that such a coordinated effort may or may not result in a master plan The second change involves the last section which previously designated a specific staff person be designated with the revised resolution stating that the Mayor's Office will designate appropriate staff Brubaker stated that these changes will provide more flexibility in dealing with telecommunication issues Orr recommended adoption of the resolution regarding regional planning of wireless technology Bennett seconded the motion Calling for a vote, the motion passed 3-0 Proposed Interlocal Agreement with Kent School District Regarding Cooperative Cable Television Initiatives Councilmember Tim Clark stated that this proposal was an outcome of the Joint school district, school board, and council meeting held last week He noted that it would also fulfill the Council goal to create a better partnership with the local school district Clark recommended that the Mayor be directed to create an interlocal agreement authorizing Joint use of filming capabilities He noted that the Kent School District has started a filming facility and the city also has one He stated that there may be times when the school district or city could benefit from being able to use each others equipment on occasion McFall noted that a resolution had not been prepared but the item was brought forward to gauge council's support of the idea Bennett stated that it made sense to work together Orr agreed with the idea noting that other school districts had successful partnerships and the increased need to coexist together utilizing resources Ron Spang noted that the city currently does not have any surplus of staff time or equipment but the department is supportive of the concept McFall recognized the limited capacity but suggested that we could benefit by cooperative efforts with the school district and stated he would draft the documents and coordinate with the school district to bring back an agreement for approval Committee Chair adjourned the meeting at 4 47 p in Page 2