HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-16-03
RENTON CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting
June 16, 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; DAN CLAWSON; TONI
NELSON; RANDY CORMAN; DON PERSSON; KING PARKER; TERRI
BRIERE.
CITY STAFF IN
ATTENDANCE
JESSE TANNER, Mayor; JAY COVINGTON, Chief Administrative Officer;
RUSSELL WILSON, Assistant City Attorney; BONNIE WALTON, City
Clerk; GREGG ZIMMERMAN, Planning/Building/Public Works
Administrator; ABDOUL GAFOUR, Water Utility Supervisor; ALEX
PIETSCH, Economic Development Administrator; DEREK TODD, Assistant to
the CAO; CHIEF LEE WHEELER, DEPUTY CHIEF GLEN GORDON and
BATTALION CHIEF CHUCK DUFFY, Fire Department; COMMANDER
CURTIS SMALLING, Police Department.
SPECIAL
PRESENTATIONS
Fire: 2002 Firefighter of the
Year Award
See page 214 for the 2002 Firefighter of the Year presentation.
Planning: Explore Life Project Alex Pietsch, Economic Development, Neighborhoods and Strategic Planning
Administrator introduced Maura O'Neill, CEO of the Explore Life initiative,
who gave a briefing on the Explore Life business plan. She explained that
Explore Life is an opportunity to become a global leader in new science
exploration and discovery. Explore Life could potentially create 100,000 new
jobs in the region over the next decade, and redevelop large tracts of unique
land.
Ms. O'Neill stated that Explore Life has four quantifiable goals as follows:
• Strengthen our existing world class research engines.
• Create vibrant new work/live environments that are focused on
breakthrough science exploration and development.
• Build global partnerships and promote the region locally and globally as a
world center for breakthrough global health sciences.
• Equip our people and their children with the skills to secure excellent jobs
in life sciences.
She detailed the strategies that have been developed for each goal such as
providing research and auxiliary space to research universities; attracting new,
major tenants; building an international discovery station; securing regional,
national, and global partners; and conducting community outreach.
Continuing, Ms. O'Neill stated that initial funding of $1.5 million is required for
Explore Life, and ongoing annual funding requirements are approximately $2.5
million. Anticipated funding sources are federal grants, regional governmental
contributions, and institutional and corporate sponsorship. She detailed
Renton's role in the initiative, which includes being positioned as the new center
for bioscience, encouraging community involvement, resolving land availability
June 16, 2003 Renton City Council Minutes Page 213
issues, and supporting region-wide Explore Life implementation. In conclusion
Ms. O'Neill reported that the next steps for Explore Life are to finalize the plan,
secure the next round of financing, and launch Explore Life with a community-
wide 60-day outreach.
Councilman Parker expressed his appreciation for Ms. O'Neill's enthusiasm for
the project, and stated that he is excited about the possibilities this initiative
holds for the future. Councilman Corman commented that Renton needs to
work on determining what property is available for the project.
Mayor Tanner expressed his excitement for the effort and recommended a
$50,000 allocation to Explore Life for its continuation with hope that Renton's
support would encourage others in the region to contribute. If no region-wide
interest is expressed within the next couple of months, he recommended
proceeding with the effort at the City level. (See page 215 for further
discussion of this issue.)
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:
Renton swimming beaches at both Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park and
Kennydale Beach Park will open on June 21, and lifeguards will be on duty
at both beaches from noon to 8:00 p.m.
Numerous questions have arisen about noise associated with the pile-
driving activities at the Sam's Club construction project next to City Hall.
This new building requires 719 steel casings (piles) be driven to depths of
up to 70 feet to support the building foundation. This process is estimated
to take three full weeks, but the time may vary depending on site conditions.
Commercial construction activities are restricted to between 7:00 a.m. and
8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on
Saturdays.
AUDIENCE COMMENT
Citizen Comment: DeMastus -
Highlands Community
Association, Time Capsule
Sandel DeMastus, Highlands Community Association (HCA) President, 1137
Harrington Ave. NE, Renton, 98056, announced that Councilman Dan Clawson
will speak on the issue of fireworks at the next HCA meeting on June 26. Ms.
DeMastus also announced that HCA has a new website, and she reported that a
time capsule will be installed in a pillar of the new Highlands Neighborhood
sign on July 12.
Citizen Comment: Corrigan -
Building Violations at 606 S
31st St Residence
Bill Corrigan, Victoria Park Homeowners Association Board of Directors
Member, 700 S. 31st St., Renton, 98055, requested investigation of potential
building code and setback violations at a home located at 606 S. 31st St.
Mayor Tanner assured Mr. Corrigan that a code compliance officer will
investigate the matter. Councilman Clawson requested that Council be
informed of the results of the investigation.
MOVED BY CLAWSON, SECONDED BY KEOLKER-WHEELER,
COUNCIL SUSPEND THE RULES AND PROCEED WITH THE SPECIAL
PRESENTATION REGARDING THE FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR
AWARD. CARRIED.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Fire: 2002 Firefighter of the
Year Award
Fire Chief Lee Wheeler announced that Battalion Chief Chuck Duffy was
selected as the 2002 Firefighter of the Year. Chief Wheeler highlighted Mr.
Duffy's accomplishments and contributions to the City, which includes formerly
June 16, 2003 Renton City Council Minutes Page 214
holding the positions of fire marshal and training officer. Mr. Duffy accepted
the award from Deputy Fire Chief Glen Gordon, and stated that this is one of
the highlights of his career. He recognized the three other individuals who were
in consideration for this award, and emphasized that it is an honor and a
privilege to be a member of the Renton Fire Department.
CONSENT AGENDA Items on the consent agenda are adopted by one motion which follows the
listing.
Council Meeting Minutes of
June 9, 2003
Approval of Council meeting minutes of June 9, 2003. Council concur.
CAG: 03-037,
Runway/Taxiway Lighting
Signage & Paving, Gary
Merlino Const Co
City Clerk reported bid opening on 5/27/2003 for CAG-03-037, 2003 Airport
Taxiway Lighting, Signage and Paving Improvements; three bids; engineer's
estimate $2,531,205; and submitted staff recommendation to award the contract
to low bidder, Gary Merlino Construction Company, in the amount of
$2,527,921.43. Council concur.
CAG: 02-072, Police Evidence
Storage Building, CHG
Building Systems
Community Services Department submitted CAG-02-072, Police Evidence
Storage Facility Building; and requested approval of the project, authorization
for commencement of 60-day lien period, and release of retained amount of
$5,677.34 to CHG Building Systems, Inc., contractor, if all required releases are
obtained. Council concur.
Development Services: St.
Anthony's Parish, Alley
Dedication, Shattuck &
Whitworth Aves S
Development Services Division recommended acceptance of a deed of
dedication of the four feet parallel to the south side of the east-west alley
between Shattuck and Whitworth Avenues S. to fulfill a requirement of the St.
Anthony's Parish development agreement between the City and the parish.
Refer to Planning and Development Committee.
Vacation: Whitworth Ave S &
Alley, St. Anthony's Parish,
VAC-00-003 & VAC-03-001
Technical Services Division submitted appraisal performed for the St.
Anthony's Parish street vacations for portion of Whitworth Ave. S. and portion
of alley running north and south between Whitworth and Morris Avenues S. and
S. 3rd and 4th Streets; and requested that Council accept the appraisal and set
compensation at $183,360 for VAC-00-003, and at $19,200 for VAC-03-001.
Refer to Planning & Development Committee. (See page 215 for related
correspondence.)
Utility: NE 10th St/Anacortes
Ave NE Detention Pond &
Storm System Improvement,
Transfer of Funds
Utilities Systems Division requested approval to transfer $250,000 from the SW
7th St. Storm System Improvement Project to the NE 10th St. and Anacortes
Ave. NE Detention Pond and Storm System Improvement Project. Refer to
Utilities Committee.
SAD: East Kennydale Sanitary
Sewer Infill Phase I
Utilities Systems Division requested authorization to establish the final East
Kennydale Sanitary Sewer Infill Phase I Special Assessment District at the per
unit assessment of $6,122.35 to ensure that the project costs are equitably
distributed to those who benefit. Refer to Utilities Committee.
MOVED BY KEOLKER-WHEELER, SECONDED BY CLAWSON,
COUNCIL APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
CARRIED.
CORRESPONDENCE
Citizen Comment: Various -
Whitworth Ave S & Alley
Vacations, St. Anthony's
Correspondence was read from Father Gary Zender, Pastor of St. Anthony's
Parish, 314 S. 4th St., Renton, 98055, and Michael O'Laughlin, 2300 Jefferson
Ave. NE, C-113, Renton, 98056, both requesting that the City reduce the
amount of compensation the parish must pay for the Whitworth Ave. S. and
June 16, 2003 Renton City Council Minutes Page 215
Parish, VAC-00-003 & VAC-
03-001
alley properties to be vacated (VAC-00-003 & VAC-03-001). MOVED BY
CLAWSON, SECONDED BY PERSSON, COUNCIL REFER THESE
LETTERS TO THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
CARRIED.
OLD BUSINESS
Finance Committee
Finance: Vouchers
Finance Committee Chair Parker presented a report recommending approval of
Claim Vouchers 215858 - 216399 and two wire transfers totaling
$1,940,701.14; and approval of Payroll Vouchers 44455 - 44705, one wire
transfer and 573 direct deposits totaling $1,773,526.66. MOVED BY
PARKER, SECONDED BY PERSSON, COUNCIL CONCUR IN THE
COMMITTEE REPORT. CARRIED.
ORDINANCES AND
RESOLUTIONS
The following ordinance was presented for first reading and referred to the
Council meeting of 6/23/2003 for second and final reading:
Utility: City Code Amends re
Utility Rates Remission &
Water Meter Service Charges
An ordinance was read amending Section 4-1-180, of Chapter 1, Administration
and Enforcement, of Title IV (Development Regulations); and Sections 8-2-1,
of Chapter 2, Storm and Surface Water Drainage, and 8-4-10, 11, 12, 18, 26, 33,
and 34, of Chapter 4, Water, and 8-5-15 and 8-5-16, of Chapter 5, Sewers, of
Title VIII (Health and Sanitation) of City Code to clarify remission of rates,
increase charges to shut off and turn on water meters, and add an after-hours
charge to turn on meters. MOVED BY KEOLKER-WHEELER, SECONDED
BY CORMAN, COUNCIL REFER THE ORDINANCE FOR SECOND AND
FINAL READING ON 6/23/2003. CARRIED.
NEW BUSINESS
Council: Retreat
Council President Keolker-Wheeler stated that Council wants to plan a retreat to
discuss budget priorities and will be working with the Administration to
determine a date for the retreat.
Fire: Dive Rescue Team Praise Councilman Clawson shared a letter from City of Kent Mayor Jim White and
Fire Chief Jim Schneider, 220 4th Ave. S., Kent, 98032, expressing appreciation
to the Renton Fire Department's dive rescue team for their assistance in the
search and recovery of the body of Kent City Councilmember Rico Yingling's
son at Lake Fenwick on June 7.
Community Services: Farmers
Market
Councilwoman Nelson announced that there will be new fruit and vegetable
vendors at the Farmers Market tomorrow, and she encouraged everyone to
attend.
Planning: Explore Life Project Expressing his support for the Explore Life initiative, it was moved by Parker,
seconded by Corman, Council approve the recommendation of the
Administration to allocate an additional $50,000 to the Explore Life effort.*
Councilman Clawson stated that he is inclined to support the effort; however, he
needs more time to review the issue, including the additional information on the
Explore Life work plan forthcoming from staff. Council President Keolker-
Wheeler expressed her hesitation to commit the funds prior to reviewing all of
the information.
In response to Councilman Parker's inquiry regarding the project timeline,
Mayor Tanner stated that there is time for Council to review the issue.
*With the concurrence of Mr. Corman as seconder, Mr. Parker withdrew his
motion.
June 16, 2003 Renton City Council Minutes Page 216
Development Services: SW
3rd Pl Drainage Problems
Councilwoman Briere reported complaint from Lori Anarde who lives on SW
3rd Pl. regarding a short plat development causing drainage problems on her
property. She noted that staff is investigating the matter.
Transportation: Stop Sign
Installation on Camas Ave NE
Councilwoman Briere reported complaint from Kathy and Rico Galliano who
live on Camas Ave. NE, near NE 20th St., regarding the lack of a stop sign on
the south side of Camas Ave. NE while there is a stop sign on the north side.
Ms. Briere requested that staff investigate the matter.
ADJOURNMENT MOVED BY PARKER, SECONDED BY NELSON, COUNCIL ADJOURN.
CARRIED. Time: 8:37 p.m.
Bonnie I. Walton, City Clerk
Recorder: Michele Neumann
June 16, 2003