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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Operations - 03/04/2008 OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 4, 2008 Committee Members Present: Debbie Raplee, Les Thomas and Tim Clark The meeting was called to order by Chair Tim Clark at 4:04 p.m. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES DATED FEBRUARY 19, 2008 Les Thomas moved to approve the minutes of the February 19, 2008, Operation Committee meeting. Debbie Raplee seconded the motion, which passed 3-0. 2. APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS DATED FEBRUARY 29, 2008 Finance Director Bob Nachlinger presented the vouchers for February 29, 2008, for approval. Debbie Raplee moved to approve the vouchers dated February 29, 2008. Les Thomas seconded the motion, which passed 3-0. 3. 2007 – 2ND HALF BUDGET ADJUSTMENT ORDINANCE Finance Director Bob Nachlinger presented the 2007 2nd Half Budget Adjustment Ordinance. Nachlinger advised that authorization is requested to approve the technical gross budget adjustment ordinance totaling $90,435,060 for budget adjustments made between August 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007. The net amount, excluding transfers and internal service charges, is $89,523,704. Please note that $89,816,641 was previously approved by Council, including $78,600,000 for the Events Center. These were primarily for projects. The net amount of $618,419 not yet approved by Council, is for the allocation of dedicated revenues and authorizing expenditures. The authorized position count is increased by 15 for 14.0 for Fire for permanent full-time firefighters to staff new Covington station, which is covered by revenues from Fire District 37, and for one (1) Public Works Engineering for a permanent full-time Engineer Tech 2. Questions were raised by the Committee which Nachlinger responded to. Les Thomas moved to recommend Council approve the consolidating budget adjustment ordinance for adjustments made between August 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007 totaling $90,435,060. Debbie Raplee seconded the motion, which passed 3-0. Operations Committee Minutes March 4, 2008 Page: 2 _________________________________________________________________________________ 4. TOWN SQUARE PLAZA BUDGET ADJUSTMENT – AUTHORIZE Superintendent of Parks and Open Space Lori Flemm presented the Town Square Plaza Budget Adjustment - Authorize. Flemm advised that staff provided an update on the Town Square Plaza Project at the January 15, Operations Committee meeting. The report highlighted the significant progress to date, outlined some of the challenges that the project has overcome, and informed the Committee members that a budget adjustment would be necessary to complete this project. The additional funds needed to complete the project address changes resulting from the fact that Phases I and II of Project Springboard have not been completed, along with addressing the significant amount of unsuitable soil that was found on the site. Funds for this budget adjustment are available in the Parks CIP fund, and through the deferral of some 2008 projects - namely Riverview Park. Questions were raised by the Committee which Flemm responded to. Debbie Raplee moved recommend authorizing a budget adjustment of $654,000.00 for changes orders from JV Constructors, Inc. for the Town Square Plaza Project, subject to final terms and conditions acceptable to the City Attorney. Les Thomas seconded the motion, which passed 3-0. 5. ARCHITECTURAL FEES FOR AUKEEN COURT EXPANSION - AUTHORIZE Chief Administrative Officer John Hodgson presented the Architectural Fees for Aukeen Court Expansion - Authorize. Hodgson advised that the Municipal Court staff have been working in very crowded conditions. The City is negotiating an agreement with King County District Courts to allow the City to complete a renovation of the current Aukeen District Court building to allow expansion for courts and office space. Once the schematic design has been finished and a budget developed, additional funding will be requested to complete the design, bidding and construction services. Staff is proposing entered into the proposed agreement with David Clark Architects, PLLC. Questions were raised by the Committee which Hodgson responded to. Les Thomas moved to approve establishing a budget of $90,000.00 for schematic design services to expand Aukeen Court, and authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with David Clark Architects PLLC, subject to final terms and conditions acceptable to the City Attorney. Debbie Raplee seconded the motion, which passed 3-0. Operations Committee Minutes March 4, 2008 Page: 3 _________________________________________________________________________________ 6. CABLE FRANCHISE CONTRACT CONSULTANT WITH BRADLEY & GUZZETTA Information Technology Multimedia Manager Dea Drake presented the Cable Franchise Contract Consultant with Bradley & Guzzetta, LLC. Drake advised that the City of Kent Comcast Cable Franchise Agreement will expire in June of 2008. The constantly changing landscape of emerging technologies in telecom, cable and broadband, combined with recent FCC rulings, has created a trend toward National and State franchising. This convergence of technology and policy also creates a complicated and constantly changing set of priorities with multiple considerations. Local municipalities like ours are often left with very little negotiating power and leverage and the negotiating team that from 1993 is no longer available. Drake advised that the City would benefit from having a consultant with strong experience in negotiating cable franchises and seasoned experience in the kind of climate we find ourselves today. The recommended consultant, Bradley and Guzzetta LLC, is currently negotiating on behalf of the cities of Auburn and Renton. This Valley Cities backdrop will provide us with a measure of regional leverage along with cost sharing benefits. The negotiating team will consist of staff from IT and Law coupled with the Bradley and Guzzetta principle, Michael Bradley. Secondary support will be provided by the Bradley and Guzzetta consulting firm as a whole. Funding for this effort was included in the 2007 Tech Plan which was adopted as part of the comprehensive 2008 City budget. Questions were raised by the Committee which Drake and City Attorney Tom Brubaker responded to. Debbie Raplee moved to approve entering into a contract with Bradley and Guzzetta LLC, Attorneys at Law, for the purpose of assisting the City in negotiation of the Comcast Cable Franchise for an amount not to exceed $35,000 plus taxes and expenses. Les Thomas seconded the motion, which passed 3-0. The meeting adjourned at 4:37 p.m. __________________________ Renee Cameron Operations Committee Secretary