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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - September 23, 2013RENTON CITY COUNCIL Regular Meeting September 23, 2013 Monday, 7 p.m. MINUTES Council Chambers Renton City Hall CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL OF COUNCILMEMBERS CITY STAFF IN ATTENDANCE SPECIAL PRESENTATION Public Works: Employee Recognition AUDIENCE COMMENT Citizen Comment: Bellomio- King County Mayor Law called the meeting of the Renton City Council to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Randy Corman, Council President; MARCIE PALMER; DON PERSSON; ED PRINCE; RICH ZWICKER; GREG TAYLOR. MOVED BY ZWICKER, SECONDED BY PRINCE, COUNCIL EXCUSE ABSENT COUNCILMEMBER TERRI BRIERE. CARRIED. DENIS LAW, Mayor; JAY COVINGTON, Chief Administrative Officer; MARK BARBER, Senior Assistant City Attorney; BONNIE WALTON, City Clerk; CHIP VINCENT, Community and Economic Development Administrator; GREGG ZIMMERMAN, Public Works Administrator; IWEN WANG, Administrative Services Administrator; DOUG JACOBSON, Deputy Public Works Administrator - Transportation; PETER RENNER, Facilities Director; DEPUTY CHIEF ERIK WALLGREN, Fire & Emergency Services Department; COMMANDER PAUL CLINE, Police Department. Public Works Administrator Gregg Zimmerman recognized the 2013 Outstanding Employees of the Year as follows: Jayson Grant, Pavement Management Technician - Maintenance Services Division, Ryan Zulauf, Airport Manager-Transportation Systems Division, and Hebe Bernardo, Civil Engineer - Utility Systems Division. Mr. Zimmerman also announced that the Good Teamwork Award was awarded to the Rainier Avenue Improvement Project team: Bob Hanson, Chris Barnes, Jim Seitz, Eric Cutshall, and Derek Akesson. Sam Bellomio (Seattle), representing Stand Up America, stated that he has repeatedly spoken to Council about King County's no-public-comment policies and asked if City officials had contacted the county about changing that. He also complained that his face was not being shown on Renton's government access television channel video camera while he is speaking. Councilmember Persson reminded Mr. Bellomio that that the audience comment period is the allotted time for Renton citizens to address Council regarding City issues; not to be on television. In response to the speaker's continued camera complaints, Mayor Law warned Mr. Bellomio to sit down if he did not have anything constructive to say. Council President Corman remarked that there are other ways to influence behavior, and suggested that Mr. Bellomio reserve time on the local public access channel to raise awareness for his issue. He added that Mr. Bellomio's actions are beginning to threaten Council's ability to conduct City business, and are a threat to the five-minute audience comment time limit. Mr. Corman explained that Council may have to choose to reduce the time allotted for audience comments if speakers from outside Renton continually bring up non- City business. September 23, 2013 Renton City Council Minutes Page 289 Citizen Comment: Zimerman - King County Citizen Comment: McOmber- Affordable Housing Citizen Comment: Cejudo- Parking Issues on the 200 Block of Main Ave. S CONSENT AGENDA Council: Meeting Minutes of 9/16/2013 Human Services: CDBG Block Grant Capital Funding Recommendations Lease: Edlund Property House, Renton Housing Authority, LAG-06-001 Chief Administrative Officer Covington pointed out that Mr. Bellomio is a Seattle City Council candidate. He remarked that City policy prohibits candidates from campaigning at City Hall, especially during the audience comment portion of the Council meeting. Alex Zimerman (Seattle), representing Stand Up America, demanded Council join his organization in opposing the King County Council's policy of not allowing public testimony during their meetings. He also remarked that he believes Councilmember Palmer should speak up more at regional transportation meetings. Councilmember Palmer stated that she works extremely hard to serve the public, and one thing her constituents are in agreement with is that they are fed up with having to listen to Mr. Zimerman and Mr. Bellomio, who do not live in Renton, repeatedly disparage the Renton Council for not joining a cause that has nothing to do with City business. Ms. Palmer agreed that Council may have to reduce the audience comment portion of the meeting so that legitimate City business can be conducted in a timely manner. Howard McOmber (Renton) advocated for additional owner-occupied, affordable housing in the Renton Highlands. He warned that monthly payments will go up as interest rates rise, which makes affordability even more difficult. Mayor Law expressed appreciation for Mr. McOmber's commitment to affordable housing in that area, and noted that the City wants to work with him on this issue. Nancy Cejudo (Renton), owner of Ben's Loans, stated that she received notice from the City that as of 9/16/2013, parking stalls on the 200 block of Main Ave. S. now have two-hour time limits. She stated that not being able to park close to the building has increased safety risks for her employees. Ms. Cejudo requested that the City reverse this new policy. Mayor Law stated that the administration will discuss this issue and provide a response to both Council and Ms. Cejudo. Items listed on the consent agenda are adopted by one motion which follows the listing. Approval of Council meeting minutes of 9/16/2013. Council concur. Community Services Department recommended approval of the 2013 Community Development Block Grant capital funding recommendations of $22,155 allocated to the Meadow Crest Playground, and $39,686 allocated to the Emergency Feeding Program. Council concur. Community Services Department recommended approval of an amendment to LAG-06-001, lease with Renton Housing Authority, in an amount up to $5,316 per year, and extension of the lease term to 12/31/2015 for the City-owned Edlund property house located at 10062 SE Carr Rd. Refer to Finance Committee. September 23, 2013 Renton City Council Minutes Page 290 Transportation: Transportation Administrative Secretary I, Hire at Step D Utility: Adopt 2013 Water Use Efficiency Goal UNFINISHED BUSINESS Finance Committee Community Services: Reclassify Facilities Technician to Facilities Electrical Technician Community Services Committee Attorney: Decriminalizing Alcohol Consumption in Park, Code Amendment RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES Attorney: Decriminalizing Alcohol Consumption in Parks, Code Amendment NEW BUSINESS Fire: Class A Burn Prop for Fire Station 14 & Aging Staff (HR) AUDIENCE COMMENT Citizen Comment: Avery- Audience Comment Time Limits Transportation Systems Division requested authorization to hire a Transportation Administrative Secretary I at Step D of the Grade a09 salary range. Refer to Finance Committee. Utility Systems Division recommended setting a public meeting on 10/14/2013 to consider adopting the 2013 Water Use Efficiency Goal. Refer to Utilities Committee: set public meeting on 10/14/2013. MOVED BY PERSSON, SECONDED BY CORMAN, COUNCIL APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. CARRIED. Finance Committee Vice-Chair Persson presented a report recommending concurrence in the staff recommendation to upgrade one Facility Technician position (grade al7) to a Facility Electrical Technician position (grade al9) resulting in an annual increase of $2,750. No budget adjustment will be necessary at this time. MOVED BY PERSSON, SECONDED BY ZWICKER, COUNCIL CONCUR IN THE COMMITTEE REPORT. CARRIED. Community Services Committee Chair Taylor presented a report recommending concurrence in the staff recommendation to approve an ordinance amending the Park Rules to decriminalize opening or consuming alcohol in parks in order to be consistent with State law. MOVED BY TAYLOR, SECONDED BY PALMER, COUNCIL CONCUR IN THE COMMITTEE REPORT. CARRIED. (See later this page for ordinance.) Councilmember Taylor pointed out that consuming alcohol in parks is still illegal, but now only subject to a civil infraction. The following ordinance was presented for first reading and referred to the 10/7/2013 Council meeting for second and final reading: An ordinance was read amending Section 2-9-8 of Chapter 9, Parks Commission, of Title II (Commissions and Boards), of City Code, by reducing the penalty for possessing or consuming alcohol in parks to a civil infraction. MOVED BY TAYLOR, SECONDED BY PALMER, COUNCIL REFER THE ORDINANCE FOR SECOND AND FINAL READING ON 10/7/2013. CARRIED. Councilmember Persson stated that he thought Council would benefit from the briefings presented to the Public Safety Committee earlier in the day. MOVED BY PERSSON, SECONDED BY CORMAN, COUNCIL REFER THE TOPICS OF CLASS A BURN PROP FOR FIRE STATION 14, AND AGING STAFF - FIRE & EMERGENCY SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND CITYWIDE -TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. CARRIED. Stuart Avery (Renton) commended Council for being graceful while listening to representatives from Stand Up America disparagements. He stated that the audience comment period has tremendous value to residents, and is a valuable piece of democracy that needs to be preserved. He urged Council to keep in mind that most people in the City have respect for the process and appreciate the amount of time allotted for citizen comments. September 23, 2013 Renton City Council Minutes Page 291 Citizen Comment: Watt- Audience Comment EXECUTIVE SESSION & ADJOURNMENT Jason Seth, Recorder September 23, 2013 Paul Watt (Renton) stated that he disagrees with the tactics the representatives of Stand Up America are using to make their point; however, he believes the argument that King County should accept public testimony at their meetings is valid. He suggested that Council send a letter to King County, which can then be provided to the group's representatives. Mr. Watt explained that Council can provide the County's response to Stand Up America and then tell them to quit wasting the City's time. MOVED BY CORMAN, SECONDED BY TAYLOR, COUNCIL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES TO DISCUSS LABOR NEGOTIATIONS (RCW 42.30.140.4.3.) WITH NO OFFICIAL ACTION TO BE TAKEN AND THAT THE COUNCIL MEETING BE ADJOURNED WHEN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS ADJOURNED. CARRIED. Time: 7:53 p.m. Executive session was conducted. There was no action taken. The executive session and the Council meeting adjourned at 8:14 p.m. Bonnie I. Walton, CMC, City Clerk RENTON CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETING CALENDAR Office of the City Clerk COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETINGS SCHEDULED AT CITY COUNCIL MEETING September 23, 2013 •REVISED* COMMITTEE/CHAIRMAN DATE/TIME AGENDA COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (Corman) MON., 9/30 NO MEETINGS (Fifth Monday) MON., 10/7 Regions Issues (briefing); 5:30 p.m. Emerging Issues in Community Services (briefing); "Coverage is Here in King County" Public Health Presentation (briefing) *7TH FLOOR CONEEftEAICING CENTER* •Moved to COUNCIL CHAMBERS* COMMUNITY SERVICES (Taylor) FINANCE MON., 10/7 Vouchers; (Briere) 4 p.m. Emerging Issues in Revenue Streams (briefing); Edlund Property House Lease with Renton Housing Authority; Hire Transportation Administrative Secretary I at Step D PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT (Zwicker) PUBLIC SAFETY MON., 10/7 Police Department Staffing Update (Persson) 5 p.m. (briefing) Emerging Issues in Public Safety (briefing) TRANSPORTATION (AVIATION) THURS., 9/26 Emerging Issues in Transportation (Palmer) 4 p.m. (briefing); Performance Based Navigation Renton Airport Advisory Committee (RAAC) Recommendations (briefing) UTILITIES (Prince) NOTE: Committee of the Whole meetings are held in the Council Chambers unless otherwise noted. All other committee meetings are held in the Council Conference Room unless otherwise noted.