HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Meeting - Council Workshop - Minutes - 10/16/2018Kent City Council Workshop
Minutes
October L6,2OL8
Kent, Washington
Date:
Time:
Place:
Attending:
Approved November 6, 2OL8
October 16, 2018
5 p.m.
Council Chambers East/West
Bill Boyce, Council President
Brenda Fincher, Councilmember
Dennis Higgins, Councilmember
Satwinder Kaur, Councilmember
Marli Larimer, Councilmember
Toni Troutner, Councilmember
Les Thomas, Councilmember
Council President Boyce opened the meeting at 5:04 p.m
Agenda:
2019-2O2O Biennial Budget Process
Aaron BeMiller, Finance Director, provided responses to the following questions from
councilmembers:
Question #38 BeMiller provided the written response to Councilmember Kaur's
question regarding providing additional detail regarding the 2019 increases in Finance
and Police.
Question #39 BeMiller provided responses to Councilmember Higgins question
regarding expanding on an analysis of the parking enforcement 7lo/o cost recovery.
Are there any industry standards? What do other cities experience? BeMiller advised
that he could not locate any analysis done by other cities.
Question #40 BeMiller and Chief Padilla provided responses to Councilmember
Higgins request to fund the parking enforcement officer to a 1.0 FTE. Chief Padilla
provided additional information to Councilmember Thomas regarding the reason for
this increase. The other cities that are the equivalent size of Kent have more than
one parking enforcement officer and Kent needs more than one officer.
Higgins indicated he requested increasing this position to a 1.0 FTE, given the fact
that this position is more than 70olo revenue backed and the hope is that the tickets
issued by this officer will cover 100o/o of the cost of the FTE.
Question #4L Uriel Varela, the City's Community Engagement Coordinator,
provided details regarding Councilmember Fincher's request of $30,000 for
cultural/diversity training. Varela is working in partnership with King County on the
"Under our Skin" project. The purpose of this workshop is to bring together
Neighborhood Association groups, Cultural Community Board Members and City staff
to discuss race, diversity and inclusiveness.
Councilmembers expressed their support of this request.
Page 1 of 3
Kent City Council Workshop
Minutes
October 16, 2018
Kent, Washington
Approved November 6, 2018
Council President Boyce advised that budgeting the $30,000 would set the funds
aside while Varela investigates alternatives. Varela will bring the results to the
Operations Committee.
Varela advised that he has received interest from neighborhood groups and churches
for this type of program.
Matheson advised that as this program develops, staff will provide an update during
an Operations Committee that will include outreach strategies and metrics.
Question #37 - Julie Parascondola, Parks Director, provided details in response to
Councilmember Higgins' question regarding additional information on the plan for
Green Kent and the role of volunteers in parks, including:
. Why Natural and Forested Areas are Importanto Benefits of Natural Areas and the Urban Forest
o Threats to Natural Areas
o What Happens if we do Nothing
o If we Re-invest and Protect. Summary / History of Green Kent Program. Park Acres Relevant to the Green Kent Planr Maintenance / Restoration Needs and Definitions
o Four Phases of Active Management. Plan Approach for Parks Department. Current Park Restoration Accomplishments. King Conservation Grant / Park Program Cost Summary¡ What Changed Since Plan Adoption / Challengeso This issue should have been addressed when the City Authorized the
2OL2-13 Teamsters Collective Bargaining Agreement
o Maximum capacity of community engagement has been reachedo Cost to produce a restored acre is not yielding the expected return
o Park system continues to be under-fundedo Park staff do not have the resources to keep up with active restoration
efforts¡ Next Steps / Recommendations
o Reduction in annual overtime
o Re-purpose the existing King Conservation District Granto Use grant funds to fund part-time staff crew to focus exclusively on
restoration efforts of priority siteso If the grant cannot be re-purposed, recommend the Parks Depaftment
pull out of Green Kent completely until new plan and appropriate funding
is identified
o In 2020, update the full Green Kent Plan, including Public Works effortso Continue existing routine, natural area level of service by Park staff
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Kent City Council Workshop
Minutes
October 16, 2018
Kent, Washington
Approved November 6, 2018
Parascondola responded to Councilmember's questions regarding Green Kent
volunteers and the union agreement.
BeMiller provided the next steps for tonight's Council meeting and advised that his
staff will update the budget reflecting the increase to the parking enforcement
position and the additional funds for community engagement.
The budget ordinances will go before the November 6, 2018, Operations Committee
and then onto the full City Council on November 20, 2018 for adoption.
Boyce encouraged councilmembers reach out to BeMiller and Matheson with any
additional questions or concerns.
The meetin I concluded at 5:56 m
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motoKimberley A.
City Clerk
October 16, 2018
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