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HomeMy WebLinkAbout011708 Council WorkshopRenton City Council Workshop January 17, 2008, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Merrill Gardens at Renton Centre, 104 Burnett Ave. S, Renton AGENDA Workshop Goals Discuss emerging issues Identify Council questions and priorities for March retreat Agenda 1. Communication priorities ( 1t)&, Jl( J�Q 2. Emerging issues —Transportation (see below) 3. Report -back: Mayor/Administrative Retreat 4. Council Discussion • Emerging Issues (see below) • 2009, Business Plan and Long-term Priorities Emerging Issues: Discussion • Transportation o Regional issues — ST2 o Duvall and 121h Pedestrian Crossing o Duvall Widening Project o Airport o BNSF Projects o Ripley Lane/Seahawks facility • Comprehensive Plan work program/revision and Community Planning • Highlands • Affordable Housing • Space needs • Annexation o Policy o Briefing on implementation activities/interlocal agreements • Essential services (in event of economic downturn) • Dangerous buildings • Code enforcement expectations • Fire code amendments (old downtown buildings) ak • Public safety and perceptions of downtown • Seahawks and Drydocks • Boeing - strategy • Council budget priorities • Update: economic development activities Summary • Priorities for March • Next steps � . � � l'�.- � Emerging Transportation Issues January 17, 2008 ❖ Regional Issues - ST2 and "RTID" CAO Meeting with ST's Joni Earl Jan. 11 ETP Meeting with Earl, Hammond Port of Seattle - BNSF ROW Future Future Potential Role of Tolling ST Board Vacancy ❖ Duvall Ave. Updates PR61 gloor, ,-r� /14 e'd- A)a td Progress Report on Pedestrian Crossing at 12 St. Widening project bidding and budget Community Outreach Update Newcastle Bridge Closures, 3 days -�2114 r CAD ���GJZC% ❖ SW27/Strander Interlocal Agreement w. Tukwila ••• Airport House Move Dec. 28 Revised Airport Layout Plan Leasing Process Update ❖ BNSF Projects Hardie Ave. Bridge Update Houser Way Concrete Panels ❖ Ripley Lane - Seahawks Facility Present Projects - clean up; landscaping; drainage ❖ Valley Cities Draft Letter Prioritizing pavement preservation of certain truck routes for federal funding. Renton City Council Workshop Notes Merrill Gardens at Renton Centre, 104 Burnett Ave. S. January 17, 2008 COUNCILMEMBERS: Marcie Palmer, Council President; Randy Corman; Terri Briere; Don Persson; Greg Taylor; King Parker. CITY STAFF: Mayor Denis Law; Jay Covington, Chief Administrative Officer; Mary Wine, Assistant CAO; Alex Pietsch, Economic Development Administrator; Mike Bailey, Finance and Information Services Administrator; Fire Chief/Emergency Services Administrator I. David Daniels; Mike Webby, Human Resources Administrator; Police Chief Kevin Milosevich; Terry Higashiyama, Community Services Administrator; Gregg Zimmerman, Planning/Building/Public Works Administrator; Peter Hahn, Deputy Planning/Building/Public Works Administrator - Transportation; Preeti Shridhar, Communications Director; Larry Warren, City Attorney; Julia Medzegian, Council Liaison. WORKSHOP GOALS Palmer opened the meeting at 9:05 a.m. She stated the goals of the meeting as follows: 1) determine and prioritize Council priorities, and 2) raise Council issues for further discussion at Council's March 2008 retreat. EMERGING ISSUES - TRANSPORTATION Hahn reviewed the emerging issues (attachment 1). Regional Issues Items discussed included: Sound Transit - funding of projects in Renton, agency's interest in BNSF Railway Company right-of-way, light rail, BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), equity issue regarding agency's rule that any tax collected has to be spent in area collected, desire for improved regional service, and $65 million set aside due to compromise with agency; Renton's representation on ETP (Eastside Transportation Partnership) and SCATBd (South County Area Transportation Board); hot lanes; I-405 improvements; and encouragernent for King County Executive's appointment of Mayor Law to Sound Transit Board. BNSF Railway Company Updates were provided on the Hardie Ave. and Rainier Ave railroad bridge projects for which the goal is completion by end of February, and on the Houser Way S. railroad track crossing improvements project and related franchise agreement. SW 27th St./Strander Blvd. Project Interlocal Agreement with Tukwila Valley Cities Draft Letter Duvall Ave. NE Project Items included: installation of new crosswalk on NE 12th St.; public outreach is priority; award of bid will follow bid opening (2/14/08) in approximately two weeks; road closure will occur at the end of March; Newcastle bridge closure; and concern about the size of the advanced warning signs. Council Workshop Notes January 17, 2008 Page 2 of 4 Airport Items reviewed included: Boeing's retention of Apron B, which affects airport layout plan; interested tenants; progression of revised airport layout plan and leasing policy review; and television airing of the house that was barged out of airport. Point was made that Council has contributed to airport and leasing policies and now it is up to the Administration to move forward with the policies and the formal application process for leasing space. ADMINISTRATION WILL WORD ON STRATEGY FOR MOVING FORWARD AND REPORT BACK TO COUNCILS TRANSPORTATION (AVIATION) COMMITTEE. Ripley Lane - Seahawks Facility Items included: review of the beautification efforts and consideration of Seahawks suggestions; review of road improvements such as timing, funding, and upcoming drainage improvements (regional stormwater project); usage of funding; landscaping issues; City marketing opportunity; and need to address transportation and parking issues. ADMINISTRATION WILL PROVIDE COUNCIL WITHMORE INFORMATION REGARDING THE STORMWATER AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS, AND LANDSCAPING CLEANUP AT THE MARCH RETREAT. Lake Washington Dry Docks Removal State Department of Natural Resources working with Renton regarding removal of dry docks hopefully this year. Project cost is $2 million, with City holding $200,000 in reserve. Other jurisdictions expected to contribute and federal assistance is being pursued. ADMINISTRATION (CITY ATTORNEY) WILL WRITE LETTER TO STATE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO EMPHASIZE DANGEROUS CONDITION AND LIABILITY OF SITUATION. COMMUNICATION PRIORITIES The Mayor detailed his strategies and goals regarding effective communication between Council and Administration, including: creating high level of trust between Administration and Council, encouraging Councilmembers to contact Administrator's directly, allowing Council adequate time for decision making, and prioritizing internal and external communications. Councilmembers noted the following: need to know issues that are coming up, not only what has already been done (50 percent of communications should be forward looking and 50 percent on what has been done); and need for Committee chairs to be informed of any concerns rather than being surprised on the floor. MAYORJADMINISTRATIVE RETREAT REPORT The Mayor reviewed the topics discussed at the retreat, which were: REACT and code enforcement; sustainability and maintaining quality City services; City space planning needs; Comprehensive Plan; Renton Results; annexation vision; Parks Maintenance Facility; affordable and low-income housing; community outreach and communication; changes in the City workforce; Boeing; Highlands neighborhood; downtown area; The Landing; quality of development; boulevards and streetscapes; Municipal Arts Program; Neighborhood Program; regional transportation issues; Strander Blvd.; Airport; future fire stations; parks; May Creek area; special events; and water rights. COUNCIL REQUESTED UPDATE IN FUTURE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING ON ISSUES THE CITY IS FACING REGARDING THE BENSON HILL COMMUNITIES ANNEXATION. EMERGING ISSUES - FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY Discussion ensued regarding the downtown area. Issues discussed included: no incentive exists today for owners of older buildings with businesses on street level and residential on upper levels to rebuild, as tenants Council Workshop Notes January 17, 2008 Page 3 of 4 provide steady income; forcing owners to bring buildings up to higher code such as requiring sprinklers; fear that building owner would close building rather than bring building up to code; idea of tax on vacant properties; use of positive economic incentives as encouragement to improve buildings; need for a balance of encouragement and enforcement to follow City Code; policy decision needed regarding applying code enforcement in downtown area only or Citywide; development of relationship with owners; and market forces. ADMINISTRATION ASKED TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES ADDRESSING PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT AND TO DEVELOP A FRAMEWORK FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH CHARGING A FEE FOR VACANT BUILDINGS. EMERGING ISSUES - CODE ENFORCEMENT EXPECTATIONS Items noted included: public may not know that some items are illegal; creation of a web page to inform public of rules; opportunity with upcoming annexation to communicate the rules; need for rule against setting up a tent and truck type restaurant next to a gas station; and need to find balance between enforcement and incentives and between issuing warnings and issuing tickets. EMERGING ISSUES - COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Pietsch discussed proposal to overhaul the Comprehensive Plan and making it a more meaningful document, which entails looking at new way to engage the community in land use to avoid "top -down" planning. He suggested dividing the City into community planning areas and then working with communities to develop localized plans. The goal is for the Comprehensive Plan to drive everything the City does, and other planning efforts, such as the Transportation Improvement Program, will be connected to the Comprehensive Plan. He noted that this effort could set-up and lead to updated development regulations that are easier to use. The importance of community engagement and the considerable work effort involved in this process was discussed. ADMINISTRATION TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL WITH A WORK PLAN AT THE MARCH RETREAT. EMERGING ISSUES - CITY SPACE NEEDS Discussion ensued regarding the immediate strategy for the addition of 91 employees and the long-term future space needs. There is a three to five year plan with flexibility to expand spaces. A longer -term plan is needed for all City facilities. EMERGING ISSUES - ANNEXATION Discussion ensued regarding current annexation policy; West Hill area; need for infrastructure study of West Hill area; need for policy decision regarding bringing in smaller areas, as the cumulative effect on level of service is unknown; need for better assessment of fiscal impacts and needs for City staff and costs as areas are added; need for policy decision regarding the question of how big a city Renton wants to be; and the need for refinement of the fiscal analysis of annexations, including sustainability. EMERGING ISSUES - REGIONAL JAIL UPDATE Items discussed included: potential South King County sites, size of building with expansion possible, and administrative authority of jail. COUNCIL CONCURRED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD PURSUE DISCUSSION OF PROPERTY ACQUISITION WITH POTENTIAL SELLERS. SCHEDULE REGIONAL PLANNING AS A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE DISCUSSION. Council Workshop Notes January 17, 2008 Page 4 of 4 EMERGING ISSUES - CITY'S APPROACH TO HOUSING AFFORDABILITY Council discussed the need for a creative discussion about housing affordability; what housing looks like in Renton today; what the City's role is in supporting housing affordability; types of development; and how to encourage live/work options for residents. CONSENSUS OF COUNCILMEMBERS IS THAT HOMEBUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS NOT DESIRED; AN OVERVIEW OF DEFINITIONS (0-30 PERCENT OF MEDIAN VS. 30-80 PERCENT OF MEDIAN INCOME) IS NEEDED AT MARCH RETREAT. GENERAL COUNCIL DISCUSSION Councilmembers discussed their priorities and areas of concern and interest. Items included: need to determine City's essential services; importance of public safety and code enforcement; need for better communication with the public; Highlands neighborhood improvements; possibility of waiving hook-up fees for development; need for cultural arts program; and need to address diversity of community. ADMINISTRATIONASKED TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH THE CITY CHARGES FOR BUILDING A HOUSE (ALL CITY FEES). EMERGING ISSUES - WATER RIGHTS AND WATER CONSERVATION Items included: pursuit of State recognition of water rights Renton has had since 1911 (related to the golf course); future development; instantaneous water use limits; costs and impacts of street landscaping; and WashWise rebate program. Would be useful to communicate with residents about conservation. COUNCIL REQUESTED BRIEFING ON WATER CONSER VA TION EFFORTS A T FUTURE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING. EMERGING ISSUES - PARKS Discussion ensued regarding park policies; definition of pocket parks; acquisition of green spaces; park mitigation fees; and sustainability of parks, as Council desires to maintain what the City has before more is added. It was noted that a discussion about pocket parks can be included as part of the open space review that the Community Services Department will conduct. PRIORITIES FOR UPCOMING COUNCILIADMINISTRATIVE PLANNING RETREAT IN MARCH Topics to be discussed at the retreat are as follows: • Code enforcement (balancing incentives and enforcement; downtown redevelopment) • Comprehensive planning process and update on all planning efforts • Business Plan/2009 Goals (review of vision, mission, goals; overview of Renton Results; priorities of government) • Housing affordability (bring forth ideas to date) • Long term City space needs (10 to 20 years) The meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m. Two recesses were taken during the meeting. The first was from 10:53 to 11:07 and the second was from 11:58 to 12:14. Recorder: Michele Neumann, Deputy City Clerk ATTACHMENT 1 Emerging Transportation Issues January 17, 2008 ❖ Regional Issues - ST2 and "RTID" CAO Meeting with ST's Joni Earl Jan. 11 ETP Meeting with Earl, Hammond Port of Seattle - BNSF ROW Future Future Potential Role of Tolling ST Board Vacancy ❖ Duvall Ave. Updates Progress Report on Pedestrian Crossing at 12 St. Widening project bidding and budget Community Outreach Update Newcastle Bridge Closures, 3 days ❖ SW27/ Strander Interlocal Agreement w. Tukwila ❖ Airport House Move Dec. 28 Revised Airport Layout Plan Leasing Process Update ❖ BNSF Projects Hardie Ave. Bridge Update Houser Way Concrete Panels ❖ Ripley Lane - Seahawks Facility Present Projects - clean up; landscaping; drainage ❖ Valley Cities Draft Letter Prioritizing pavement preservation of certain truck routes for federal funding.