HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 4, 2009RENTON CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting
May 4, 2009 Council Chambers
Monday, 7 p.m. M I N U T E S Renton City Hall
CALL TO ORDER Mayor Law called the meeting of the Renton City Council to order and led the
Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL OF
COUNCILMEMBERS
RANDY CORMAN, Council President; MARCIE PALMER; DON PERSSON;
KING PARKER; TERRIE BRIERE; RICH ZWICKER; GREG TAYLOR.
CITY STAFF IN
ATTENDANCE
DENIS LAW, Mayor; JAY COVINGTON, Chief Administrative Officer;
LAWRENCE J. WARREN, City Attorney; JASON SETH, Deputy City Clerk;
ALEX PIETSCH, Community and Economic Development Administrator;
GREGG ZIMMERMAN, Public Works Administrator; MARTY WINE,
Assistant CAO; PREETI SHRIDHAR, Communications Director; FIRE
CHIEF/EMERGENCY SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR I. DAVID DANIELS,
DEPUTY CHIEF ROBERT VAN HORNE and EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR DEBORAH NEEDHAM, Fire Department;
COMMANDER PAUL CLINE, Police Department.
ADMINISTRATIVE
REPORT
Public Safety: H1N1 Influenza
Virus (Swine Flu) Briefing
Fire Chief/Emergency Services Administrator Daniels reported that although
there are 28 confirmed cases of the flu in King County, one of which is in
Renton, none are for the H1N1 flu, known as swine flu. He reported that the
symptoms of swine flu are virtually the same as the regular flu and include a
roughly 100 degree temperature, body aches, vomiting, and diarrhea. Chief
Daniels stated the virus is contagious but it is preventable and that the
medication Tamiflu is being used to treat sick people, but is not used to prevent
the illness. He also clarified that the word pandemic refers to the spread of the
virus, not the severity.
Chief Daniels reported that the King County Public Health Department has
established a command center at their downtown Seattle location and is
providing every-other-day briefings. He explained that the City does not have
its own Public Health Department, so by design, the Fire and Emergency
Services Department takes the lead during these types of situations.
Emergency Management Director Needham reported that in response to the
H1N1 virus, the City is following public health recommendations regarding
prevention and public messaging. She stated that a link to the Public Health
Department’s swine flue webpage has been placed on the homepage of the
City’s website. Ms. Needham also reported that the City’s first responders have
elevated the amount of personal protective equipment used, as recommended
when encountering infectious diseases in the community. She remarked that a
pandemic flu element will be added to the City’s continuity of operations plan.
Ms. Needham outlined the Center for Disease Control’s public health
recommendations concerning infectious diseases as follows:
1. If you are sick stay home from work or school;
2. Seek medical care only if you are sick enough that you would normally
see your healthcare provider;
3. Cover you nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze and throw the
tissue in the trash after you use it;
May 4, 2009 Renton City Council Minutes Page 128
4. Wash hands often with soap and water; if you do not have access to soap
and water and cannot wash for at least 20 to 30 seconds, use a 60% or
greater alcohol based hand sanitizer instead;
5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth;
6. Avoid close contact with sick people.
Ms. Needham stated that the influenza virus is a contagious illness, it is
circulating through the community, and it is likely that there will be more cases
in the future. She stated that the Public Health Department has established a
hotline to answer questions regarding the H1N1 virus and it is available Monday
through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1-877-903-KING (5464).
CONSENT AGENDA Items listed on the consent agenda are adopted by one motion which follows the
listing.
Council Meeting Minutes of
4/27/2009
Approval of Council Meeting minutes of 4/27/2009. Council concur.
Utility: Release of Drainage
Easement Request, Jim
Hanson
City Clerk submitted application for release of drainage easement by Jim
Hanson, consisting of approximately 1,010 square feet located in the vicinity of
Monterey Ave. NE and NE 24th St. Refer to Utilities Committee.
CED: City Center Community
Plan, MAKERS architecture +
urban design
Community and Economic Development Department recommended approval of
a contract in the amount of $34,350 with MAKERS architecture + urban design
to develop a framework City Center Community Plan. Refer to Finance
Committee.
CED: 2009 Neighborhood
Program Grants
Community and Economic Development Department reported submission of
grant applications for the 2009 Neighborhood Grant Program and recommended
funding fourteen projects and six newsletters totaling $50,660, and authorizing a
second round of funding with a deadline of 10/9/2009. Refer to Community
Services Committee.
CED: Renton Small Business
Development Center, Renton
Technical College MOU
Community and Economic Development Department recommended approval of
a Memorandum of Understanding with the Renton Technical College for
services and funding in the amount of $25,000 to continue the work of the
Renton Small Business Development Center. Council concur.
MOVED BY CORMAN, SECONDED BY PERSSON, COUNCIL APPROVE
THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. CARRIED. Councilmember
Zwicker abstained.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Finance Committee
Finance: Vouchers
Finance Committee Chair Persson presented a report recommending approval of
Claim Vouchers 282658 - 283004 and one wire transfer totaling $2,668,810.26;
and approval of zero Payroll Vouchers, one wire transfer, and zero direct
deposits totaling $1,126,281.27. MOVED BY PERSSON, SECONDED BY
TAYLOR, COUNCIL CONCUR IN THE COMMITTEE REPORT.
CARRIED.
NEW BUSINESS
Citizen Comment: LeFevre -
Two-Hour Parking in
Downtown Renton
MOVED BY CORMAN, SECONDED BY PERSSON, COUNCIL REFER
THE EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE FROM LURA LEFEVRE REGARDING
TWO-HOUR PARKING IN DOWNTOWN RENTON TO THE
ADMINISTRATION. CARRIED.
Transportation: Trails and
Bicycle Master Plan
Council President Corman stated that he would like City staff to be prepared to
answer what affect, if any, the $3 million settlement King County agreed to pay
a bicyclist for injuries sustained while utilizing a trail, will have on the City’s
Trails and Bicycle Master Plan at the 5/11/2009 Committee of the Whole
meeting.
May 4, 2009 Renton City Council Minutes Page 129
Citizen Comment: Wheeler -
Speed Limit on 116th Ave SE
MOVED BY PERSSON, SECONDED BY ZWICKER, COUNCIL REFER
THE CORRESPONDENCE FROM MARCIA WHEELER REGARDING THE
RECENT SPEED LIMIT INCREASE ON 116TH AVE. SE TO PUGET DR. S.
TO THE ADMINISTRATION. CARRIED.
Councilmember Zwicker pointed out that the Transportation (Aviation)
Committee recently reviewed the issue and had recommended the speed limit
increase.
AUDIENCE COMMENT
Citizen Comment: Dideon -
2009 Neighborhood Program
Grants
Scott Dideon (Renton), Treasure, Maple Ridge Estates Homeowners’
Association (HOA), expressed concern over the $82,000 budget request for the
2009 Neighborhood Grant Program. He explained that his HOA is responsible
for budgeting for their maintenance projects and have set aside $10,000 to re-do
the entrance signage for their community. Mr. Dideon stated that a local sign
contractor remarked that the City hands out “free money” for projects and that
their HOA should take advantage of the program. Mr. Dideon opined that this
should be the responsibility of local homeowners’ associations, not the City’s,
and encouraged Council to re-assess the value of the Neighborhood Program in
light of current economic conditions.
Council discussion ensued regarding the grant approval process, the amount of
sweat equity neighborhoods must provide to receive funds, the fact that many
projects for small subdivisions or neighborhood infrastructure improvements
have been declined in the past, the program’s merit as a method of getting
neighbors to work together for the betterment of the entire community, and that
the program is not just for neighborhoods that have homeowners’ associations.
Citizen Comment: Osborne -
2009 Neighborhood Program
Grants
Ross Osborne (Renton), Maple Ridge Estates Homeowners’ Association (HOA)
board member, encouraged reducing levels of funding for the Neighborhood
Grant Program. He opined that funding for neighborhood newsletters which go
directly to associations that collect dues should be cut or reduced.
ADJOURNMENT MOVED BY TAYLOR, SECONDED BY CORMAN, COUNCIL ADJOURN.
CARRIED. Time: 7:26 p.m.
Bonnie I Walton, CMC, City Clerk
Jason Seth, Recorder
May 4, 2009