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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Meeting - Council Workshop - Minutes - 11/29/2016Kent City Council Special Workshop Meeting Minutes November 29, 2016 Kent, Washington The special workshop meeting was called to order at 5:04 p.m. by Council President Boyce. Councilmembers present: BC1 I VD, Boyce, Budell, Fincher, Higgins, Ralph and Thomas. 1. Joint Council and Parks and Recreation Commission Presentation: YMCA/Morrill Meadows Garin Lee, Interim Parks Director, provided a brief overview of Morrill Meadows renovation and YMCA project that included the intent of the project and detailed the City's partnership with the YMCA to provide a unique community campus. Mayor Cooke presented history on the City's work in bringing a YMCA to Kent. She conveyed that she is thrilled that city staff and the YMCA are working together to make this a reality. Hope Gibson, Park Planning Manager, provided details regarding the preferred plans and the city's work on siting the YMCA at this location. Hope indicated staff continues to seek community input on the design. Nathan Phillips, Regional Executive at the YMCA of Greater Seattle, provided a status of the site planning and design phase, and details of fundraising the required $25 million (the Association is responsible for $12.5 million and the City is responsible for $10.5 million). To date, King County has committed to funding $1 million and the Morford family has committed to donating $1 million. The Association has completed their fundraising and the project is moving forward. Nathan Phillips presented a PowerPoint presentation that included the design and details of the facility. Concerns were voiced over making sure the size of the building is adequate for the community needs. Hope Gibson indicated that safety has been and continues to be the main concern when finalizing design plans. Garin Lee indicated the conceptual plan will be revised as proposal and concepts become more definitive and that he will keep the Council informed as the project progresses. 2. Source -of -Income Discrimination - Landlord -Tenant Topics Merina Hanson, Interim Parks and Human Services Director, provided a brief history of source of income discrimination that included council discussions during a recent workshop in addition to the discussion at an Economic and Community Development committee meeting. None of the protections included in the ordinance would prevent rent from going up. Protections provide fairness for those seeking housing and wish to remain in stable housing. Page 1 of 3 Kent City Council Special Workshop Meeting November 29, 2016 Minutes Kent, Washington Kent has several apartment complexes where landlords no longer accept future Section 8 tenants or renew leases of current tenants using Section 8 vouchers or certificates. Tom Brubaker provided details of the ordinance adopted by the City %J Renton. Renton's ordinance prohibits landlords from refusing rentals when a portion of the rent is paid by Section 8 vouchers or certificates. The ordinance does not apply to rental units that do not qualify for Section 8 vouchers. The ordinance provides for exemptions to owner -occupied, single family dwellings that rent portions of the residence, and religious, non -profits that rent housing to persons of the same religion. The ordinance provides for penalties for violating the ordinance. Tom explained the challenges of enforcing ordinance. Stephen Norman, Executive Director of King County Housing Authority, presented information regarding Seattle, Redmond, Bellevue, Kirkland's ordinances for source of income discrimination. They differ from Renton's ordinance, as they are permanent ordinances and don't' discriminate on other sources of income. Mr. Norman provided the council with information regarding the County's two housing programs. He went on to explain the situation that precipitated the adoption of the ordinances. One of the main reasons is that there is a movement to consolidate management and that there was a directive that came down from a national organization. Mr. Norman advised that this problem has increased due to the shift to national management firms, properties can rent without inspections and criteria imposed, and that there is a level of stigma against Section 8 voucher holders. Doug Levy, the City's lobbyist, provided information regarding the landscape at the state level and that they have been entertaining enacting source of income discrimination legislation. It would be beneficial to have a statewide system, rather than the scattered local regulations in place. The Low Income Housing Alliance has been trying to get legislation passed for years and the City may want to think about adding this item to the legislative agenda. Doug Levy indicated that some legislators view source of income prohibitions as a form of rent control that exceed the authority of local jurisdictions. Merina Hanson indicated that Seattle and Vancouver have broader source of income discrimination ordinances and that the City of Renton's ordinance sunsets in August. Council President Boyce requested input from the councilmembers regarding whether or not they support moving forward with having the city attorney prepare a draft ordinance. All councilmembers supported moving forward with preparing an ordinance without waiting for the state to take action. All requested the ordinance include other sources of income, look at surrounding jurisdiction ordinances and compare, add this item to the City's legislative agenda. Page 2 of 3 Kent City Council Special Workshop Meeting Minutes November 29, 2016 Kent, Washington Tom Brubaker, City Attorney, and Adam Long, Assistant City Attorney, will prepare an ordinance that will go before the January 9, 2017, Economic and Community Development Committee and then onto the January 17, 2017, City Council meeting. Tom Brubaker explained the requirements to pass an emergency ordinance, but the council did not anticipate needing an emergency ordinance. Meeting adjourned at 7 Kimberley City Clerk moto November 29, 2016 Page 3 of 3