HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Planning and Economic Development Committee - 03/07/1989 KENT CITY COUNCIL
PLANNING COMMITTEE
March 7, 1989 4:00 PM
Committee Members Present Planning Staff Present
Judy Woods, Chair Charlene Anderson
Steve Dowell Lin Ball
Jon Johnson Fred Satterstrom
City Administration Other City Staff
Jim Harris, Acting City Administrator Cheryl Fraser
Jim Hansen John Marchione
Tony McCarthy
Others Present Helen Wickstrom
Sharon Atkin
Dick Ballinger
Bill Carleton
Judy Clegg
Mary Eckfeldt
Dick Foslin
Kathy Hall, Valley Daily News
Dee Moschel
Leona Orr
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEMO PROJECT - RESOLUTION
Chairwoman Woods confirmed that the resolution will move forward to the
Council with herself and Councilman Johnson in favor and Councilman Dowell
opposed. In response to Councilman Dowell, Chairwoman Woods, Fred
Satterstrom, and Dick Ballinger of HUD indicated that HUD would consider the
PUD option concurrent with their study of the project feasibility.
Councilman Dowell requested that this item be removed from the Consent
Calendar at the Council meeting of March 7. Leona Orr requested that staff
provide a brief explanation of the project/resolution at the Council meeting;
she has had several citizens inquire about it. Staff agreed to be prepared
for a presentation. Dick Ballinger indicated that project architect Eric
Campbell would be present at the Council meeting.
FUNDING BASE - HUMAN SERVICES
Chairwoman Woods announced that no action would be taken on this item at this
meeting and that it would be pulled from the Council agenda of March 7 in
order to further examine the issue. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to
pursue a Council resolution rather than an ordinance to establish a goal for
funding human services but at the same time allow flexibility in the budget.
Lin Ball iterated that this item had been continued from the last Planning
Committee meeting. In addition, the Human Services Commission had broached
the subject at a Council workshop last year in order to establish a
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predictable way to fund human services and bring available funding in line
with agency requests and needs in the community. In 1988 and 1989 the
funding level was 47% and 57% respectively of what was requested. The Human
Services Commission has recommended a funding level of one percent (1%) of
the General Fund Budget.
Human Services Commission Chairman Eckfeldt identified two issues: a) the
method by which the percentage funding base would be established, i.e. ,
resolution or ordinance, and b) the threshold level of funding of human
services (1% is recommended by the Human Services Commission) . He indicated
that by establishing a threshold funding level, the Council would be making
a statement of continuing support of human services. In addition, there
would be a predictable base upon which to operate in this area; the process
would be less political by not requiring the Human Services Commission to
lobby for funds each year. This could result in less pressure on the City
council from various agencies. However, this funding level would not exclude
grants above the threshold level should the need arise. The Human Services
Commission would be able to focus with the agencies on the review process
rather than on justifying the entire funding amount each year.
Human Services Commissioner Carleton stated he has lived in Kent for over 30
years. The community has a good spirit because of the people's caring
attitude and pride. Kent is a leader in supporting the schools and human
services.
Human Services Commissioner Foslin stated that when one uses revenues, it is
important to focus one's management ability on using those revenues in the
best way. Having a predictable funding base would allow the Human Services
Commissioners the freedom to focus their skills on how to use the money and
how to best support the human service agencies.
Human Services Commission Vice Chairwoman Moschel stated that having a stable
funding base for human services recognizes the importance of those services.
In addition, it allows the Human Services Commission to assist agencies in
leveraging other dollars. To lobby and fight for funding takes energy which
could otherwise be used in assisting the agencies in becoming more efficient
in managing their funding. She believes it would be a disservice to Kent not
to reach a point where one would no longer need to go through a political
process to lobby for human service dollars.
Human Services Commissioner Atkin stated the Human Services Commission has
worked hard at making funding recommendations. It is more difficult to make
their recommendations when the Commission doesn't know what dollars are
available. Some agencies believe the Commission is keeping them from having
a specific level of funding and they feel they need to go around the
Commission and directly to the Council to request funding. This presents a
bad atmosphere. Ms. Atkin stated the Commission has had to focus on how much
the Council will authorize rather than on what the human service needs are
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in the community.
Councilman Dowell noted that the budget changes from month to month. He
clarified that the one percent would be calculated on the previous year's
final budget. Finance Director McCarthy repeated that the 1990 human
services funding level would then be based on the 1988 final budget.
Chairwoman Woods responded to Councilman Dowell that the Human Services
Roundtable is a separate item from this funding base.
Finance Director McCarthy is concerned that establishing a threshold level
of funding for human services takes away the budgetary priority setting from
the City Council. He wondered where human services funding would be found
in a lean year when perhaps other department budgets would need to be cut.
He does not believe that if the Council established a funding level via
ordinance, they would want to renege on that amount when times are lean.
Chairman Eckfeldt responded that if other departments would need to be cut
10%, he assumes the Human Services Commission funding base would be cut an
equal amount. He would like to discuss this issue further with Mr. McCarthy.
Councilman Johnson stated the Council, Mayor and staff need to plan for new
programs during the budget setting process rather than adopt the budget for
the year and then introduce new programs. He supports the proposal for human
Services but would like to adopt only the concept now and let the Council
determine the level of support during the budget process.
Chairwoman Woods added that the Council Target Issues should be decided early
enough to be incorporated into the budget planning process. At their
retreat, the Council reaffirmed a commitment to human services and agreed to
set about determining the funding formula. The Human Services Commission has
worked this issue over a period of time and studied several options. She
believes there is a commitment to the Human Services Commission to proceed
and come up with a statement providing a direction in this regard, perhaps
not at the level suggested.
Acting City Administrator Harris reiterated that the City Council at their
retreat did support the concept of support for Human Services Commission
activities. Predictability in funding is essential; if human services is
going to be supported, it needs to be supported with a firm financial
footing. The Human Services Commission is different from other departments;
the Commission does not have staff; their funding recommendations directly
support agencies in the community. There are other dollars in the Health &
Human Services budget that do not relate to agency support; they relate to
such things as Seattle-King County Health Services, King County Alcohol
Services, PSAPCA, items supported by contract. Other departments generally
know they will continue to be supported. Predictability in funding comes
about by some mechanism that appears fair over time.
^ouncilman Dowell noted the City Council needs to resolve that they recognize
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and appreciate the efforts of the Human Services Commission regardless of
the outcome on this issue. The Council feels indebted to the Commission for
the work they are doing.
Chairwoman Woods would like an update on this issue at the meeting on March
21st. She requested that staff break out from the Health & Human Services
budget the mandated costs versus those funds directly under the jurisdiction
of the Human Services Commission recommendations. She proposed Committee
action on this item at the meeting of April 4th.
HUMAN SERVICES ROUNDTABLE
Lin Ball noted that Phase II of the Roundtable Planning Project is at its
end. Members of the Roundtable are meeting twice in March to discuss
extension of the Roundtable itself and implementation of the action agenda.
Councilman Mann, Kent's representative at the Roundtable, will seek direction
from the Council on whether Kent desires to continue to participate in the
Roundtable.
Judy Clegg, Director of the Roundtable Planning Project, recapped the focus
and work of the Roundtable. It began in March 1988 as a one-year planning
effort to identify key human service problems and to look at solutions which
-ire feasible through the efforts of this unique group. Phase I of the
project involved geographic work groups which identified key human service
problems within their areas. Then, problems common to all areas were
identified. The purpose of the Roundtable was to take the problems in common
and lend the influence and capability of the Roundtable to solve those
problems. Five regional problems were identified: a) child care, b)
affordable housing, c) health care, d) employment, and e) family support.
A regional task force was formed to identify the types of solutions at which
the Roundtable was in a unique position to look. The regional solutions are
predicated on local jurisdictions pulling together the infrastructures for
their community-based agencies. The Roundtable officials are looking at ways
to not only support their local human service needs but also to make gains
through a regional effort in larger schemes. The regional task force looked
at where to invest now to reduce costs down the line, i.e. , early
intervention. They proposed an action agenda with a series of specific
strategies; this information was distributed in the agenda packet. For the
most part these strategies involve taking an existing agency or mechanism and
looking at making it work for what is needed locally. In addition, how can
the prestige and influence of the Roundtable be used to bring consistency
around the county to the response to issues such as family violence? The
regional task force looked also at generating additional revenues to fight
the human service problems. They recommended a tax on jet fuel for
commercial airlines and a property tax levy. It was projected that $16
million would be needed to implement specific actions in the five problem
areas on an annual basis.
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Councilman Mann will need to present feedback to the Roundtable on Kent's
response to the content of the action agenda, the five problem areas and the
recommended solutions. In addition, he will need feedback on whether Kent
wishes to continue as a member of the Roundtable, whether the Roundtable
should continue and in what form. If it is decided to go ahead with the
action agenda, the Roundtable either can use staff from participating
jurisdictions or can continue with the project management staff who will look
at financing options and start work in the five problem areas. The
Roundtable needs to know not only if it should continue, but at what level
it can be supported.
Lin Ball stated that the proposed level of continued participation by Kent
is approximately $13,800. This is based on Kent's percentage of
participation last year times the costs identified for the project. Judy
Clegg indicated project staff is continuing to refine the cost estimates.
For example, the Local Initiative Support Corporation, an offshoot of the
Ford Foundation, provides technical assistance to people looking at community
development, at developing affordable housing. They are interested in
working with the Roundtable and private developers at their cost to put
together a strategy to address an equitable solution to siting affordable
housing. This would save the project an estimated $45, 000.
:hairwoman Woods appreciates the clear identification of five problem areas
and the overall productivity of the Roundtable group.
Lin Ball stated the Human Services Commission is planning a special meeting
to address this issue and will bring forward a recommendation to the Planning
Committee at the meeting of March 21. The Roundtable issue will be on the
Council agenda that same evening.
SPECIAL POPULATIONS KITCHEN REHAB. - BLOCK GRANT PROJECT
Councilman Dowell MOVED and Councilman Johnson SECONDED the motion to approve
the reallocation of Block Grant funds to rehabilitate the Resource Center
kitchen. Motion carried. Cheryl Fraser stated that the kitchen
rehabilitation will allow classes for the physically disabled as well as for
the low-income citizens in the neighborhood. This item will be placed on the
City Council agenda of March 21 under Other Business. Public notice will be
given.
ADDED ITEM
Councilman Johnson MOVED and Councilman Dowell SECONDED the motion to present
to the Planning Commission a code amendment related to public notice boards.
Motion carried.
ADJOURNMENT
the meeting adjourned at approximately 5:25 PM.
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