HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Meeting - Council Workshop - Minutes - 07/21/2015 KENT KEN,�a
Kent City Council Workshop Minutes
July 21, 2015
The workshop meeting was called to order at 5:04 pm by Council President Ralph.
Councilmembers present: Ralph, Berrios, Boyce, Fincher, Higgins, and Ranniger.
Council President Ralph noted that Councilmember Thomas will not be here and Councilmember
Ranniger will be late.
Metro Transit's Lonc-Rance Plan — Monica Whitman, Senior Transportation Planner
introduced Stephen Hunt, Project Manager, Metro Transit Long Range Plan. Hunt reviewed what
the long range plan is and where Metro is in the process. He noted that the plan will help the
County grow by providing higher levels of detail for frequent and alternative services. He added
that the long range plan includes regional coordination. He added that Sound Transit and Metro
have begun their coordinated transit planning which assumes a shared regional vision for the
County. He presented the long range plan timeline and noted that the final plan is expected to
be presented in October 2016 when the King County Council considers and adopts the final Long
Range Public Transportation Plan through the legislative process.
Councilmember Ranniger arrived at 5:11 p.m.
Hunt communicated what has been done thusfar. He stated that there have been advisory
committees/groups formed including a technical and community advisory group to determine
what the right mix of the services would be. He noted that there have been two surveys done
with over 3,000 results tallied from 38 different cities. He stated that there have been three
community vision events and joint open houses with Sound Transit. He pointed out the steps
that will be taken to get to the draft preferred concept completed by spring of 2016. He
reviewed the service tradeoffs, advantages and disadvantages between frequent, express, and
local transit services. He noted that the draft long range plan will be ready in August.
Councilmember Higgins thanked Hunt for attending the workshop. He stated that one concept he
has brought up at the Regional Transit Committee is that Kent has good core services including
connectivity with the airport, Seattle, and Tacoma. He mentioned the high number of Metro
commuter routes being run and wondered why so many are needed for downtown Seattle. He
said it makes sense to run routes from Covington to the Sounder station allowing those
individuals to transfer to get to downtown Seattle. Hunt responded that Metro is open to
listening to these type of suggestions for frequent scenarios as meetings continue. Hunt
communicated that the task force is looking at service guidelines, overcrowding, and
performance.
Councilmember Fincher inquired about the local service and Hunt replied that ridership is low
due to the infrequency of the routes. He stated that having to wait long periodsof time for a bus
is not useful to residents and often lowers ridership.
Hunt also replied to Councilmember Fincher and said that the long range plan framework doesn't
address specific stops, it addresses higher levels of service and the street network.
Kent City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes
Councilmember Fincher verified with Hunt that they do look at demographics now, changes in
the future, and how well services assist people in certain areas.
Council President Ralph discussed ridership information as it pertains to age groups.
Councilmember Higgins noted that he is having a hard time keeping track of the various studies
being done at Metro right now. He inquired about the alternative services plan, how it would
look, and how it wraps into the long range plan. Hunt responded that the task force wants to
determine how to best meet the needs of the people who don't have any way to get to Metro
Transit. He added that Metro is looking at ways to expand the program that addresses people
who have a hard time accessing the system and discussed a possible enhancement to the
carpool system.
Council President Ralph communicated that she was pleased to see the integration between
Metro and Sound Transit in the presentation.
Fireworks — Council President Ralph introduced the topic of fireworks and said the data
collection has been done and it is time to move forward. She said the City can either do nothing,
adopt an Ordinance similar to Auburn concerning fireworks that go up in the air, discuss a total
ban to include public displays or have a provision to have public displays continue. She
suggested having the Law Department present two options; one to do a full ban and one to do a
ban to exclude public displays. She added that if a ban is done today the law doesn't go into
effect until July 2017.
Councilmember Berrios stated that he was out on the streets on July 4 with the Police Chief and
observed what was happening in the community. After July 4, he knew something needed to be
changed. This year, he said, was the first year he stayed home to experience July 4 in Kent. He
stated the the City can't take the status quo approach and he understands why people are
upset. He favored a total ban on the sale and discharge of fireworks in Kent with exemption of
the Lake Meridian Fireworks display. He discussed an event involving a gunshot and the police
contending with the noise of the fireworks while trying to coerce and individual from their
apartment. He stated that Sergeant Hollis was the police officer in charge of the event and asked
that Sergeant Hollis make a statement.
Sergeant Hollis, Kent Police Officer communicated that the police were dispatched around 10 pm
to the Maple Lane Court apartments. He stated that his officers approached the complex with
fireworks going off and tried to hail the person out of the apartment. He stated that because of
the fireworks, which sounded like mortars, it was difficult to communicate and for the subject to
hear the announcements that were communicated to him.
Councilmember Higgins inquired what the proximity of the people shooting fireworks were. Hollis
noted that the people shooting off fireworks were about 50 yards away from the police officers.
He stated that the people to the north of the event didn't even know what was going on because
of the fireworks.
Councilmember Berrios noted that there were 38 fireworks infractions and three arrests. Hollis
noted that the offenders in three of the four infractions he reviewed were from cities other than
Kent. Councilmember Berrios also noted that Officer Steffis responded to a knife fight call and he
was the only officer on that call at 260t" and Highway 99 and he had issues communicating
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Kent City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes
because of the loudness of the fireworks. He also stated that Steffis wrote four citiations and
three of the offenders were from out of town.
Councilmember Ranniger recommended that this be discussed during a full City Council meeting
because the meeting starts at 7 pm, giving the public the opportunity to come and speak as
well.
Councilmember Boyce stated that there are 125,000 residents in Kent and he received about 20
emails and 4 people spoke to the Council. He said he listened to the Public Safety Committee
meeting, but inquired as to what the problem is that the City is trying to solve. He stated that he
isn't for or against a fireworks ban and would like the opportunity to have people come and
speak to this to gather more facts and data. He felt that every voice needs to be heard and the
Council needs to figure out what the problem is that they are trying to solve. He agreed with
having this heard at a regular Council meeting.
Council President Ralph stated that a draft ordinance will give the public a chance to have
something to look at. She added that Councilmember Thomas felt this should be deliberated by
the Council after January 2016 because there will be at least one new councilmember on the
Council.
Councilmember Fincher communicated that she wants this to be discussed at a 7 p.m. regular
meeting and wants to hear the rationale to support or ban fireworks.
Councilmember Boyce noted that if a ban is done this year or not it won't be effective until 2017.
He felt the Council should take its time and make the right decision for the City.
Councilmember Berrios suggested having a public meeting concerning fireworks and said it's
time for the Council to ask the community their opinion.
Chief Administrative Officer Derek Matheson communicated that King County Elections charges
on a participation basis. He noted that if there is an item on the ballot already the cost is close
to zero. However, if there is nothing currently on the ballot the cost would be about $66,000. He
also noted that it is possible to put something on the ballot, but the resolution would need to be
submitted to King County before August 4. He also explained that the referendum would be an
advisory item and it would be a charge to the residents to begin the petition process. He also
explained that there could be a special meeting prior to the August 4 meeting to adopt the
resolution and the August 4 meeting would be to name the pro/con committees.
Councilmember Boyce communicated that it is the will of the people and he believes that it's the
right thing to do.
Councilmember Berrios added that he agrees and would like this to be heard in November.
Councilmember Ranniger stated that she also agrees that this should go forward and a full ban
still wouldn't go into effect until 2017 if that is what is decided.
Councilmember Fincher communicated she would like to move forward with this process.
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Assistant City Attorney Pat Fitzpatrick noted that this is a tight timeline, but it can be done. He
reviewed the timeline for having a ballot measure with Council President Ralph. He noted that
the Council needs to be clear what the language on the resolution would be and suggested that
events, based on statutes, be specifically called out as being permitted and not permitted.
Councilmember Boyce stated he would like to keep things simple. He stated he would either like
to ban fireworks or let them happen. However, he stated that he would like to see the public
events like the City's "Splash" event remain.
Councilmember Higgins noted that the language on the ballot would discuss specialty permits for
fireworks events.
Councilmember Berrios added that it should include the sale, possession, and discharge of
fireworks. He also added that it would include that the Fire Marshal inspect the fireworks being
sold.
Council President Ralph also noted that the language in the resolution should include
environmental concerns, PTSD, and how fireworks affect animals.
Councilmember Fincher noted that the specialty licensed shows should be allowed.
Councilmember Berrios thanked Council President Ralph and the rest of the Council for their
work on this. He thanked the City staff for working on the information for the Public Safety
Committee meetings. He noted that the data was helpful in validating what he witnessed that
day.
Councilmember Higgins communicated that it should be noted that if a ban is put into place it
won't be effective until July 4, 2017 by state law. He stated he is comfortable that this is going
to a vote of the people.
Meeting adjourned at 6:18 pm.
Ronald F. Moor
City Clerk
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