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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 !ITY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES OF MEETING OF MARCH 7, 1989 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 2 ;ITY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES OF MEETING OF MARCH 7, 1989 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 3 :ITY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES OF MEETING OF MARCH 7, 1989 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. 4 =Y COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES OF MEETING OF MARCH 7, 1989 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. 5