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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 4, 2009RENTON CITY COUNCIL Regular Meeting May 4, 2009 Monday, 7 p.m. MINUTES Council Chambers Renton City Hall CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL OF COUNCILMEMBERS CITY STAFF IN ATTENDANCE ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT Public Safety: HlNl Influenza Virus (Swine Flu) Briefing 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; KTNG PARKER; TERRIE BRIERE; RICH ZWICKER; GREG TAYLOR. 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. 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 HlNl 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 HlNl 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 CONSENT AGENDA Council Meeting Minutes of 4/27/2009 Utility: Release of Drainage Easement Request, Jim Hanson CED: City Center Community Plan, MAKERS architecture + urban design CED: 2009 Neighborhood Program Grants CED: Renton Small Business Development Center, Renton Technical College MOU UNFINISHED BUSINESS Finance Committee Finance: Vouchers NEW BUSINESS Citizen Comment: LeFevre • Two-Hour Parking in Downtown Renton Transportation: Trails and Bicycle Master Plan 4. 5. 6. 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; Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; 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 HlNl virus and it is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1-877-903-KING (5464). Items listed on the consent agenda are adopted by one motion which follows the listing. Approval of Council Meeting minutes of 4/27/2009. Council concur. 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. Commumty 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. 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. Commumty 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. 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. 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. 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 AUDIENCE COMMENT Citizen Comment: Dideon - 2009 Neighborhood Program Grants Citizen Comment: Osborne - 2009 Neighborhood Program Grants ADJOURNMENT Jason Seth, Recorder May 4, 2009 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. 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. 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. MOVED BY TAYLOR, SECONDED BY CORMAN, COUNCIL ADJOURN. CARRIED. Time: 7:26 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 May 4, 2009 COMMITTEE/CHAIRMAN DATE/TIME AGENDA COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MON, 5/11 Legislative Wrap-up; (Corman) 6:00 p.m. Trails and Bicycle Master Plan COMMUNITY SERVICES (Briere) FINANCE MON, 5/11 City Center Community Plan Contract with (Persson) 5:30 p.m. MAKERS architecture + urban design; Emerging Issues in Revenue Streams PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT (Parker) PUBLIC SAFETY (Taylor) TRANSPORTATION (AVIATION) (Palmer) UTILITIES (Zwicker) 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.