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Home My WebLink About03-03-03 RENTON CITY COUNCIL Regular Meeting March 3, 2003 Council Chambers Monday, 7:30 p.m. M I N U T E S Renton City Hall CALL TO ORDER Mayor Jesse Tanner led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and called the meeting of the Renton City Council to order. ROLL CALL OF COUNCILMEMBERS KATHY KEOLKER-WHEELER, Council President; TERRI BRIERE; KING PARKER; DON PERSSON; RANDY CORMAN; TONI NELSON; DAN CLAWSON. CITY STAFF IN ATTENDANCE JESSE TANNER, Mayor; JAY COVINGTON, Chief Administrative Officer; LAWRENCE J. WARREN, City Attorney; BONNIE WALTON, City Clerk; GREGG ZIMMERMAN, Planning/Building/Public Works Administrator; LESLIE BETLACH, Parks Director; VICTORIA RUNKLE, Finance & Information Services Administrator; ELAINE GREGORY, Fiscal Services Director; GINA JARVIS, Finance Analyst Supervisor; DEREK TODD, Assistant to the CAO; CHIEF GARRY ANDERSON, DEPUTY CHIEF KEVIN MILOSEVICH, COMMANDER KATHLEEN MCCLINCY, and COMMANDER CURTIS SMALLING, Police Department. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS Finance: Financial Reporting Award, 2001 CAFR Finance and Information Services Administrator Victoria Runkle introduced Finance Analyst Supervisor Gina Jarvis who announced that Renton was presented a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting in recognition of its 2001 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) from the Government Finance Officers Association. Ms. Jarvis recognized the cumulative effort of the entire Finance Department in preparing the CAFR each year. Police: Employee Recognition Police Chief Garry Anderson, before beginning his presentation, introduced the new Crime Analyst, Shirley Rickman, and he also thanked Commander Curtis Smalling for performing the Deputy Chief and Chief duties as needed over the past six months. Chief Anderson then announced the Police Department Employees of the Quarter awards for 2002 as follows: Employee of the First Quarter: Officer Christine Paget and Sergeant Chad Karlewicz Employee of the Second Quarter: Officer John Awai Employee of the Third Quarter: Jailer Tom Wilkinson Employee of the Fourth Quarter: Officer Jeff Eddy Chief Anderson announced that Officer John Awai was also chosen as the Police Department Employee of the Year for 2002. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT Chief Administrative Officer Jay Covington reviewed a written administrative report summarizing the City’s recent progress towards goals and work programs adopted as part of its business plan for 2003 and beyond. Items noted included: The Gene Coulon Beach Park play area replacement project was completed and opened to the public in February. Improvements include a redesigned play area with new play equipment for age groups two to five years and five to twelve years, picnic tables, benches, landscaping, lighting, a new paved trail connection to Bird Island, and a new paved trail connection to the Southport Development. Renton's general property tax rate decreased again in 2003. Renton citizens March 3, 2003 Renton City Council Minutes Page 81 pay for basic City services through their property taxes as well as paying for the Renton School District, countywide emergency management services, hospital, Washington State for Public Schools, Port of Seattle, and King County. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's website, www.ready.gov, is designed to educate the public, on a continuing basis, about how to be prepared in case of a national emergency. The Renton Fire Department also offers free disaster preparedness classes, which include handouts, display kits, and an audio-visual presentation. Free composting workshops will be held in March at the Community Center. Pre-registration is required, and participants will receive one free composting bin per household. Finance: Property Tax Rate In regards to the property tax issue, Mayor Tanner noted for the record that aside from the increases due to new construction and annexation, the Citywide property tax dollar amount was held to 1% in accordance with Initiative 747. He pointed out that the property tax rate decreased by 2.8% from last year. AUDIENCE COMMENT Citizen Comment: Johnson - I-405 Noise, Power Outage Arland "Buzz" Johnson, 334 Wells Ave. S., #221, Renton, 98055, noted the noise that traffic on I-405 produces and the close proximity of the Spencer Court Apartments, located on Wells Ave. S., to I-405. He asked for the City's help in encouraging the State to construct a sound barrier if I-405 is expanded. Mr. Johnson also noted the occurrence of a power outage on February 16th. CONSENT AGENDA Items on the consent agenda are adopted by one motion which follows the listing. Council Meeting Minutes of February 24, 2003 Approval of Council meeting minutes of February 24, 2003. Council concur. Annexation: Bales, SE 128th St Economic Development, Neighborhoods and Strategic Planning Department recommended a public hearing be set on 3/17/2003 to consider the resolution calling for an annexation election and the proposed prezoning of R-5 (Residential Single Family; five dwelling units per acre) for the proposed Bales Annexation; 8.52 acres generally bounded by SE 128th St. to the north, SE 130th St. to the south, 156th Ave. SE to the east, and the middle of 152nd Ave SE to the west. Council concur. Airport: 2003 CIP Amend, Apron C Utility Conversion Transportation Systems Division requested authorization to amend the 2003 Capital Improvement Program in the amount of $357,624 for the Airport Apron C area utility conversion project, and to appropriate and adjust the 2003 Budget for the Airport 402 account by $357,624 from the Airport Reserve Fund. Refer to Transportation (Aviation) Committee. Transportation: Strander Blvd Extension Design, Perteet Engineering Transportation Systems Division recommended approval of a consultant agreement in the amount of $2,213,349 with Perteet Engineering, Inc. for the design of the Strander Blvd. extension from West Valley Hwy. to East Valley Rd. Refer to Transportation (Aviation) Committee. MOVED BY KEOLKER-WHEELER, SECONDED BY CORMAN, COUNCIL APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. CARRIED. CORRESPONDENCE Appeal: Elle Rain Preliminary Plat, Patricia Wilson, PP-02- Correspondence was read from Robert D. Johns and Duana T. Kolouskova, 1500 114th Ave. SE, Suite 102, Bellevue, 98004, attorneys representing Patricia Wilson, withdrawing her appeal of the Elle Rain Preliminary Plat (PP-02-047) March 3, 2003 Renton City Council Minutes Page 82 047 (Withdrawn) road modification standards. MOVED BY BRIERE, SECONDED BY KEOLKER-WHEELER, COUNCIL REMOVE THE ELLE RAIN PRELIMINARY PLAT APPEAL FROM THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REFERRAL LIST. CARRIED. City Attorney Larry Warren expressed his gratitude to the Renton Housing Authority Board for granting the City an emergency access easement across the Houser Terrace property, which provided the secondary means of access necessary to develop the Elle Rain plat. OLD BUSINESS Community Services Committee Appointment: Board of Adjustment Community Services Committee Chair Nelson presented a report recommending concurrence in the Mayor's appointment of Mark Rigos to the Board of Adjustment, Position #3 (practicing professional engineer, State licensed) for a four-year term expiring on September 6, 2006, replacing Gregg Guillen who resigned in 2002. MOVED BY NELSON, SECONDED BY CORMAN, COUNCIL CONCUR IN THE COMMITTEE REPORT. CARRIED. Community Services: Landscape Maintenance Services, Facility Maintenance Contractors, CAG-01-042 Community Services Committee Chair Nelson presented a report concurring in the staff recommendation to amend the existing landscape services contract (CAG-01-042) with Facility Maintenance Contractors by extending the contract through December 31, 2003. This contract provides for the maintenance of 22 locations including rights-of-way, traffic circles, a fire station, parks, and trails. The contract amount is $104,521.94. The Committee further recommended that the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to execute the contract amendment. MOVED BY NELSON, SECONDED BY PARKER, COUNCIL CONCUR IN THE COMMITTEE REPORT.* In response to Council President Keolker-Wheeler's inquiry, Councilwoman Nelson confirmed that a Local 2170 union representative attended the Committee meeting and she emphasized that by contracting out these services, the City is saving money and is not replacing any City employees. *MOTION CARRIED. Mayor Tanner stated that the City has a legal right to contract out for services; however, the City does not have a legal right to replace City employees with contracted services. NEW BUSINESS Community Services: Community Center Weight Room Fee, Disabled Person Discount Councilman Corman reported receipt of a telephone call from Randall South, 518 William Ave. N., #4, Renton, 98055, asking that the City offer disabled persons a discount for using the weight room at the Community Center, similar to the discount offered senior citizens. Mr. Corman asked that the Administration look into the matter. Police: Criminal Nuisance Abatement Councilman Clawson noted the recent publicity surrounding the nuisance abatement action being taken against the West Wind Motel located at 110 Rainier Ave. S., and requested more information about the legal implications of this type of action. MOVED BY CLAWSON, SECONDED BY PARKER, COUNCIL REFER THE ISSUE OF CRIMINAL NUISANCE ABATEMENT TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. CARRIED. Metro: Renton Transit Center Safety Noting the recent stabbing incident at the Renton Transit Center, it was MOVED BY CLAWSON, SECONDED BY KEOLKER-WHEELER, COUNCIL REFER THE ISSUE OF RENTON TRANSIT CENTER SAFETY TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. CARRIED. March 3, 2003 Renton City Council Minutes Page 83 EXECUTIVE SESSION MOVED BY KEOLKER-WHEELER, SECONDED BY CORMAN, COUNCIL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR 21 MINUTES TO DISCUSS LITIGATION. CARRIED. Time: 8:07 p.m. The meeting was reconvened at 8:28 p.m.; roll was called; all Councilmembers present. ADJOURNMENT MOVED BY PARKER, SECONDED BY NELSON, COUNCIL ADJOURN. CARRIED. Time: 8:29 p.m. Bonnie I. Walton, City Clerk Recorder: Michele Neumann March 3, 2003