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Home My WebLink About08-11-08RENTON CITY COUNCIL Regular Meeting August 11, 2008 Council Chambers Monday, 7 p.m. M I N U T E S Renton City Hall CALL TO ORDER Mayor Denis Law called the meeting of the Renton City Council to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL OF COUNCILMEMBERS MARCIE PALMER, Council President; DON PERSSON; KING PARKER; TERRI BRIERE; RICH ZWICKER; GREG TAYLOR; RANDY CORMAN. CITY STAFF IN ATTENDANCE DENIS LAW, Mayor; MARTY WINE, Assistant CAO; ZANETTA FONTES, Assistant City Attorney; BONNIE WALTON, City Clerk; ALEX PIETSCH, Community and Economic Development Administrator; IWEN WANG, Finance and Information Services Administrator; PREETI SHRIDAR, Communications Director; EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR DEBORAH NEEDHAM, Fire Department; COMMANDER CHARLES KARLEWICZ, Police Department. AUDIENCE COMMENT Citizen Comment: Giberson - Fairwood Incorporation Joe Giberson (King County), President, Fairwood Municipal Initiative, stated that he is seeking a resolution from Council directing staff to refrain from activities calculated to interfere with or influence the incorporation process of the proposed City of Fairwood. He pointed out that the use of public funds is prohibited for influencing elections, and stated that groups such as Choose Renton should seek funding from non-public sources. Mr. Giberson also stated that additional annexations may not proceed in the Fairwood area until the incorporation process is completed, and that the incorporation election may be scheduled for August 2010. Citizen Comment: Bujanovich - Fairwood Incorporation Nick Bujanovich (King County) stated that King County has commissioned a fiscal feasibility study, and asked that the City of Renton wait until the study is complete before taking any action on Fairwood annexations. He also stated that he believes a City of Fairwood would be financially feasible. Citizen Comment: Edwards - Fairwood Incorporation Tom Edwards (King County) stated that he has been a resident of Fairwood for 15 years and owns a business in the area. He remarked that he is concerned about the efforts being made to push Fairwood to join Renton. He noted that Fairwood residents are passionate about this issue, and requested that the City of Renton make every effort to show no signs of support either for or against the incorporation effort. Citizen Comment: Rodriguez - Valley View Mobile Home Park Jose Rodriguez (Renton) inquired about the recently-annexed Valley View Mobile Home Park (that may be sold). Mayor Law encouraged Mr. Rodriguez to speak to Alex Pietsch, Community and Economic Development Administrator, for clarification. Citizen Comment: McBeth - Communities in Schools of Renton Bob McBeth (Auburn) introduced Dr. Sari Pascoe, new Executive Director of Communities in Schools of Renton. Dr. Pascoe thanked Council for the opportunity to serve as the new Executive Director and challenged them to participate and get excited about the program. Mayor Law welcomed Dr. Pascoe and noted that many of the Councilmembers have served as mentors in the past. Citizen Comment: Johnson - Parking Issues & Bus Service Arland "Buzz" Johnson (Renton) stated that local shopping centers have started placing time limits on parking stalls. He remarked that the vacant lot on Grady Way S. and Rainier Ave. S. could be used for overflow parking for the Park & Ride lot located on S. 7th St. Mr. Johnson also remarked that people should continue to use and be concerned about bus service, even when the price of gas goes down. Citizen Comment: Johnson - Parking Issues & Bus Service Arland "Buzz" Johnson (Renton) stated that local shopping centers have started placing time limits on parking stalls. He remarked that the vacant lot on Grady Way S. and Rainier Ave. S. could be used for overflow parking for the Park & Ride lot located on S. 7th St. Mr. Johnson also remarked that people should continue to use and be concerned about bus service, even when the price of gas goes down. Citizen Comment: Nelson - Fairwood Incorporation Bryce Nelson (King County) stated that he is the spokesperson for Choose Renton and that the organization is not looking for support from Renton, just asking that information about Renton be provided to citizens living in the Fairwood area. Mr. Nelson remarked that he believes that annexing to Renton is the best option for the future governance of the area. Councilmember Corman stated that he intends to stay neutral on the issue and that the decision to be annexed or to incorporate is up to Fairwood residents. He also pointed out that Fairwood is in Renton's potential annexation area (PAA) and an annexation petition would be accepted the same way as one from any other area inside Renton's PAA. He noted that the City of Renton provides unbiased, non-political City information to anyone who makes such a request. MOVED BY BRIERE, SECONDED BY CORMAN, COUNCIL EXTEND THE AUDIENCE COMMENT PERIOD TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS. CARRIED. Citizen Comment: Henderson - Fairwood Incorporation Paula Henderson (King County) urged Council to allow citizens in Fairwood to make their own decision regarding their future governance. She also cautioned that any information provided to the public by the City of Renton needs to be accurate. Citizen Comment: Parnell - Fairwood Incorporation Greg Parnell (King County) stated that he was disconcerted (during the previous incorporation effort) to read Mayor Law's response in the Renton Reporter to a letter published by a Fairwood Homeowners' Association. He indicated that he believes the response should have been directed to the Homeowners' Association. Responding to Councilmember Parker's inquiry, Mayor Law stated that the City will provide information to all who make a request. CONSENT AGENDA Items on the consent agenda are adopted by one motion which follows the listing. Council Meeting Minutes of 8/4/2008 Approval of Council meeting minutes of 8/4/2008. Council concur. CED: 2008 Neighborhood Program Grants, Budget Amend Community and Economic Development Department requested authorization to amend the 2008 Budget by transferring $18,700 from the General Fund (000/023) to the Municipal Facilities CIP Fund (316) for the 2008 Neighborhood Program, primarily because of the Benson Hill Communities annexation. Council concur. (See page 260 for ordinance.) Transportation: Airport Layout Plan Design, URS Corporation Transportation Systems Division recommended approval of an agreement in the amount of $40,573.41 with URS Corporation for planning design services to complete the Airport Layout Plan. Refer to Transportation (Aviation) Committee. MOVED BY PALMER, SECONDED BY CORMAN, COUNCIL APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. CARRIED. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Finance Committee Finance: Vouchers Finance Committee Chair Persson presented a report recommending approval of Claim Vouchers 274916 - 275314 and three wire transfers totaling $4,088,055.39; and approval of 353 Payroll Vouchers, one wire transfer, and 814 direct deposits totaling $2,925,479.77. MOVED BY PERSSON, SECONDED BY BRIERE, COUNCIL CONCUR IN THE COMMITTEE REPORT. CARRIED. Fire: Secretary I Conversion to Emergency Management Coordinator Finance Committee Chair Persson presented a report recommending concurrence in the staff recommendation to authorize the reorganization of the Fire and Emergency Services Department to convert the Secretary I position to an Emergency Management Coordinator position. MOVED BY PERSSON, SECONDED BY BRIERE, COUNCIL CONCUR IN THE COMMITTEE REPORT. CARRIED. CAG: 08-036, Space Planning & Move Management, Heery International Finance Committee Chair Persson presented a report recommending concurrence in the staff recommendation to authorize additional space planning, architectural, and move management services by Heery International, Inc. related to annexation growth. The amendment to the contract amount is $156,008, which is entirely subject to the State reimbursement program for one time expenditures related to annexation. The Committee further recommended that the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to sign the contract amendment. MOVED BY PERSSON, SECONDED BY BRIERE, COUNCIL CONCUR IN THE COMMITTEE REPORT. CARRIED. Finance: Bankruptcy Claim, Treasure Casino & Restaurant Finance Committee Chair Persson presented a report recommending concurrence in the staff recommendation to issue a payment of $19,346.43 as negotiated with the City Attorney's Office and waive the bankruptcy claim previously filed by the City of Renton, as a settlement with the bankruptcy trustee for Fortuna, LLC, dba Treasure Casino and Restaurant. The Committee further recommended to write off of the full amount of $107,595.96 ($88,249.53 bankruptcy claim amount filed by the City of Renton and $19,346.43 (trustee payment described above) = $107,595.96) as uncollectible bad debt. MOVED BY PERSSON, SECONDED BY BRIERE, COUNCIL CONCUR IN THE COMMITTEE REPORT. CARRIED. Councilmember Zwicker noted for the record that he abstained from voting. Human Resources: Reclassifications (Four Positions) Finance Committee Chair Persson presented a report recommending concurrence in the staff recommendation to approve reclassification of positions and pay ranges for City departments effective July 1, 2008. Funds to implement this recommendation are provided in the 2008 budget. Financial Systems Coordinator, (new title Sr. Finance Analyst), grade a25 to m25, $2,076 budget change 2008. Waste Water/Special Operations Manager, grade m26 to m28, $1,980 budget change 2008. Street Maintenance Manager, (new position due to Benson Hill annexation), grade m26 to m28, $1,980 budget change 2008. Court Services Director, grade m30 to m38, $2,166 budget change 2008. MOVED BY PERSSON, SECONDED BY BRIERE, COUNCIL CONCUR IN THE COMMITTEE REPORT. CARRIED. RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES The following ordinance was presented for first reading and referred to the Council meeting of 8/18/2008 for second and final reading: CED: 2008 Neighborhood Program Grants, Budget Amend An ordinance was read amending the 2008 Budget by transferring funding of $18,780 for the Neighborhood Grant Program from the General Fund, Community and Economic Development Department 000/023, to the Municipal Facilities CIP Fund 316. MOVED BY BRIERE, SECONDED BY PALMER, COUNCIL REFER THE ORDINANCE FOR SECOND AND FINAL READING ON 8/18/2008. NEW BUSINESS Finance: Gambling Tax Collections MOVED BY PERSSON, SECONDED BY BRIERE, COUNCIL REFER THE ISSUE OF GAMBLING TAX COLLECTIONS TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. CARRIED. ADJOURNMENT MOVED BY PERSSON, SECONDED BY CORMAN, COUNCIL ADJOURN. CARRIED. Time: 7:31 p.m. Bonnie I. Walton, CMC, City Clerk Recorder: Jason Seth August 11, 2008