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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFee Waiver Request and City Council Meeting MinutesFebruary 12, 2018 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES  MINUTES  City Council Regular Meeting  7:00 PM ‐ Monday, February 12, 2018  Council Chambers, 7th Floor, City Hall – 1055 S. Grady Way    CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE     Mayor Law called the meeting of the Renton City Council to order at 7:00 PM and led the  Pledge of Allegiance.     ROLL CALL    Councilmembers Present:  Ed Prince, Council President  Randy Corman  Ryan McIrvin  Ruth Pérez  Don Persson  Carol Ann Witschi  Councilmembers Absent:  Armondo Pavone                      MOVED BY PRINCE, SECONDED BY CORMAN, COUNCIL EXCUSE ABSENT  COUNCILMEMBER ARMONDO PAVONE. CARRIED.    ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF PRESENT    Denis Law, Mayor  Jay Covington, Chief Administrative Officer  Leslie Clark, Senior Assistant City Attorney   Jason Seth, City Clerk  Ellen Bradley‐Mak, Human Resources / Risk Management Administrator  Gregg Zimmerman, Public Works Administrator  Jennifer Henning, Planning Director  Amanda Askren, Property & Technical Services Manager  Commander Jeff Eddy, Police Department                February 12, 2018 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES  SPECIAL PRESENTATION    Seattle Public Utilities Project on Renton Hill: Fernando Platin, Project Engineer for Seattle  Public Utilities provided a brief presentation regarding the Cathodic Protection Project  scheduled for water lines under Beacon Ave S., between Mill Ave S. and SE 8th Dr. Mr. Platin  reported that the corrosion protection work will prevent exterior pipe corrosion, prolonging  the life of the water lines. He indicated that work will begin next week and will take  approximately four to six weeks to complete. He also noted that his team has coordinated  project outreach efforts with residents, the Renton School District, and the manager of the  utility replacement project also occurring on Renton Hill.    PUBLIC HEARING    Tasca Street Vacation: This being the date set, and proper notices having been posted and  published in accordance with local and State laws, Mayor Law opened the public hearing to  consider the petition to vacate a portion of unimproved N. 38th St. right‐of‐way,  approximately 50 feet in width and 130 feet in length, located between Meadow Ave. N. and  1‐405; petitioner James G. Tasca (VAC‐15‐001).    Planning & Technical Services Manager Amanda Askren reviewed the history of the  petitioner's repeated attempts to vacate this portion of City right‐of‐way. She reported that  100 percent of the abutting property owners have signed the vacation petition, and the City  does not have any facilities in the subject area. She relayed that the petitioner, as public  benefit, would like to develop the area in conjunction with adjacent parcels that he owns. Ms.  Askren reported that upon circulation of the petition to City departments and outside  agencies, there were no objections to the vacation petition. She also reported that this  vacation request was presented to Council in 2006 and 2015, but expired both times before  the petitioner was able to take further action. Concluding, Ms. Askren reported that the  petitioner submitted an appraisal in late 2017, which was reviewed by the Utilities  Committee. She stated that the staff recommendation is to approve the petition without  conditions.    Responding to Councilmember Persson's inquiry, Ms. Askren remarked that if Council  approves this attempt to vacate the property there should be no reason the petitioner cannot  finish the process.     Following the discussion, it was     MOVED BY WITSCHI, SECONDED BY MCIRVIN, COUNCIL CLOSE THE PUBLIC  HEARING. CARRIED.    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 2018 and beyond. Items noted were:   On Wednesday, February 7th at approximately 9:30 a.m., a significant sinkhole at 900  Rainier Avenue North was noticed by police. Officer Marty Leverton immediately  contacted the Public Works Maintenance Division to report the sinkhole affecting the  February 12, 2018 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES  northbound lanes. When maintenance crews arrived on‐site it was discovered that  the sinkhole was caused by a failed storm system situated 15 feet deep. Further  inspection of the system showed failure across the entire width of Rainier Avenue  North. City maintenance staff was required to close this portion of Rainier Avenue  North in both directions and set up detour routes shortly before the afternoon  commute began. Maintenance crews and the contractor worked non‐stop from  Wednesday through Friday to repair the failed storm system and restore pavement to  a drivable condition before reopening the roadway.    Preventative street maintenance will continue to impact traffic and result in  occasional street closures.     AUDIENCE COMMENTS     Dr. David Paul Zimmerman, Administrator of Renton Prep Christian School, provided  an update on the school's history, mission, student diversity, and classroom  technology integration. He also noted that educators from eighteen countries had  recently visited the school's Renton campus to learn more about integrating  technology in classrooms. Concluding, Dr. Zimmerman thanked Council for  authorizing the administration to move forward on the 200 Mill proposal submitted  by Cosmos Development Group, and indicated that the school supports their  redevelopment vision.    CONSENT AGENDA  Items listed on the Consent Agenda were adopted with one motion, following the listing.   a) Approval of Council Meeting minutes of February 5, 2018. Council Concur.   b) AB ‐ 2081 City Clerk reported the results from the January 23, 2018 bid opening for CAG‐17‐ 235, Fire Station 15 project; and submitted the staff recommendation to accept and award  the lowest responsive bid from Par‐Tech Construction, Inc., in the amount of $4,273,500, for  the Fire Station 15 project. Council Concur.   c) AB ‐ 2082 Community Services Department recommended approval of a professional services  agreement with Baylis Architects, in an amount not to exceed $106,000, for the design of  programming spaces, concept development, community outreach, and other elements for the  Family First Community Center project. Council Concur.   e) AB ‐ 2077 Public Works Administration requested authorization to purchase a 12‐passenger  vehicle to replace the existing Senior Center bus, in the amount of $42,000, using state bid  contract 05916. Sufficient funds to cover this purchase were included in the 2017/2018  Biennial budget. Council Concur.   f) AB ‐ 2086 Utility Systems Division recommended adoption of a resolution declaring an  emergency for the purpose of replacing the storm water infrastructure and failed City street  in the vicinity of 901 Rainier Ave N. Council Concur.    MOVED BY PRINCE, SECONDED BY MCIRVIN, COUNCIL CONCUR TO APPROVE THE  CONSENT AGENDA, MINUS ITEM 7.d. CARRIED.        February 12, 2018 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES  Separate Consideration ‐ Item 7.d.   d) AB ‐ 2080 Human Resources / Risk Management Department recommended approval of  Mayor Law's appointment of Bob Harrison for the position of Chief Administrative Officer  (CAO) in the Executive Department, and requested authorization to enter into an  employment agreement with Mr. Harrison with an effective start date of May 1, 2018.    Councilmember Persson remarked that confirming the Mayor's appointment of a Chief  Administrative Officer is one of the most important decisions Council can make. He noted that  Council supports Mr. Harrison's appointment and congratulated the Mayor for finding and  hiring such a qualified candidate in advance of current Chief Administrative Officer Jay  Covington's pending retirement. Mayor Law thanked the Councilmembers who participated in  the interview panels, and Council for confirming Mr. Harrison's appointment. He also noted  that Mr. Harrison was in attendance at tonight's meeting.    MOVED BY PERSSON, SECONDED BY CORMAN, COUNCIL CONCUR TO APPROVE  CONSENT AGENDA ITEM 7.d. AS COUNCIL CONCUR. CARRIED.    UNFINISHED BUSINESS   a) Committee of the Whole Council President Prince presented a report recommending  concurrence in the recommendation of the 200 Mill RFP Review Committee to authorize the City  Administration to commence negotiations with Cosmos Development Group for the  redevelopment of the City‐owned parcels at 200 Mill Ave S.    MOVED BY PRINCE, SECONDED BY CORMAN, COUNCIL CONCUR IN THE  COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION. CARRIED.   b) Utilities Committee Chair Witschi presented a report concurring in the staff recommendation to  accept the appraisal and set compensation for Street Vacation Petition VAC‐15‐001 at $13,000  for an approximately 6,500 square foot portion of land located south of 3804 Meadow Avenue N.  The Utilities Committee also recommended concurrence in the staff recommendation to waive  the initial fees for street vacation due to the previous expiration period on the vacation request.  Additionally, the Utilities Committee recommended the ordinance regarding this matter be  prepared and presented for first reading.     MOVED BY WITSCHI, SECONDED BY MCIRVIN, COUNCIL CONCUR IN THE  COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION. CARRIED.   c) Finance Committee Chair Persson presented a report concurring in the staff recommendation to  approve the following payments:  1. Accounts Payable – total payment of $13,599,227.00 for vouchers 10048‐10060 and  363154‐363156, 363159‐363161, 363175‐363443; payroll benefit withholding vouchers  5730‐5740 and 363162‐363174; and eight wire transfers.  2. Payroll – total payment of $1,322,081.22 for payroll vouchers which includes 611 direct  deposits and 42 checks (January 01‐15 2018 pay period).    MOVED BY PERSSON, SECONDED BY PÉREZ, COUNCIL CONCUR IN THE  COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION. CARRIED.         February 12, 2018 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES  d) Finance Committee Chair Persson presented a report concurring in the staff recommendation to  waive the application fee for a setback variance for Juan Pablo and Esperanza Arroyos due to  economic hardship. In addition, the Committee recommended that the Arroyos’ pay the  applicable building permit fee, rather than a double‐fee that is applied to permits with code  compliance violations.    MOVED BY PERSSON, SECONDED BY PÉREZ, COUNCIL CONCUR IN THE  COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION. CARRIED.   e) Finance Committee Chair Persson presented a report concurring in the staff recommendation to  authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the consultant contract, not to exceed $100,000,  with Reid Middleton to review structural and non‐structural plans submitted to the City of  Renton. Reid Middleton has provided structural and non‐structural plan review services, verifying  compliance to Renton City Code requirements. The amount of reviews they conduct for the City  of Renton has varied, based primarily on the level of projects being presented to the City, and  also fluctuates with the level of City plan review employees on staff.    MOVED BY PERSSON, SECONDED BY CORMAN, COUNCIL CONCUR IN THE  COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION. CARRIED.   f) Finance Committee Chair Persson recommended concurrence in the staff recommendation to  authorize converting the budgeted Limited Term Capital Project Coordinator position to a full  time position.    MOVED BY PERSSON, SECONDED BY PÉREZ, COUNCIL CONCUR IN THE  COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION. CARRIED.    LEGISLATION   Resolution:   a) Resolution No. 4332:  A resolution was read declaring an emergency for the purposes of  replacing a failed storm system at Rainier Avenue North.    MOVED BY WITSCHI, SECONDED BY CORMAN, COUNCIL ADOPT THE RESOLUTION  AS READ. CARRIED.   Ordinance for first reading:   b) Ordinance No. 5878:  An ordinance was read vacating a portion of N 38th St. between  Meadow Ave N. and I‐405 (James Tasca, Petitioner; VAC 15‐001; PRM‐25‐0064).    MOVED BY MCIRVIN, SECONDED BY CORMAN, COUNCIL REFER THE ORDINANCE  FOR SECOND AND FINAL READING AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. CARRIED.   Ordinance for second and final reading:   c) Ordinance No. 5877:  An ordinance was read amending Section 2‐17‐2 of the Renton  Municipal Code adding one voting member from the Benson Hill Neighborhood to the Airport  Advisory Committee, and providing for severability and establishing an effective date.    MOVED BY CORMAN, SECONDED BY MCIRVIN, COUNCIL ADOPT THE ORDINANCE  AS READ. ROLL CALL: ALL AYES. CARRIED.        NEW BUSINESS Please see the attached Council Committee Meeting Calendar. Councilmember Persson requested a report summarizing the final costs for the emergency repairs conducted to replace the failed storm system located under Rainier Ave . N. ADJOURNMENT MOVED BY PRINCE, SECONDED BY CORMAN, COUNCIL ADJOURN. CARRIED. TIME: 7:39P.M. February 12, 2018 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Jason Seth, Recorder Monday, February 12, 2018 Council Committee Meeting Calendar February 12, 2018 February 15, 2018 Thursday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Council Retreat, Maplewood Greens, Cedar Room February 16, 2018 Friday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Council Retreat, Maplewood Greens, Cedar Room February 19, 2018 Monday NO MEETINGS COUNCIL HOLIDAY February 22, 2018 Thursday CANCELLED Utilities Committee, Chair Witschi CANCELLED Planning & Development Committee, Chair McIrvin February 26, 2018 Monday 5:00 PM Finance Committee, Chair Persson – Council Conference Room 1. Vouchers 2. Emerging Issues in Revenue Streams CANCELLED Public Safety Committee, Vice Chair Corman 5:30 PM Committee of the Whole, Chair Prince – Conferencing Center 1. Safe and Healthy Housing Recommendations 2. Renton River Days Funding Alternatives January3,201$CITYOFRN1uFCFk/JuanandEsperanzaArroyosJAN5?018$54DaytonAveNEDEVELOPMENTRenton,WA9056SERVICESDearChipVincent,BothmywifeandIdecidedtorepairandreplaceourcarportthatwasbecomingverydangerousandunsafe.Thepre-existingonewasfallingapartandcouldpotentiallycauseharmbeingthatpiecesofthefiberglassceilingwereloose.Duringwindydaysandheavyrainfallpieceswerefoundonthegroundandwebecameconcernedforthesafetyofothers,ourselvesandourvisitors.Wefearedthatatsomepointpiecesofthematerialweregoingtodamagetheneighbor’svehicleorthemselves.DuringavisitofmybrotherinlawfromArizona,heofferedtohelpusreplacethepre-existingcarporttoamorefirmandsteadystructure.Wewereverymotivatedtodosobecausewerecognizedthatthismatterneededattention.Weliketomakeapositivecontributiontoourneighborhoodandwecareaboutmaintainingacleanenvironment.Whatwedidnotrealizeatthetimeisthatweneededapermittoremoveandreplacelikeforlike.Duetothecarportbeinginplaceasfromwhenwepurchasedthehomeroughlymorethan20yearsagowedidnotseethisasa“new”constructionbutyetareplacementandrenovationofwhathadbeeninplace.Atleastfourofourneighborsareawareofoursituationandaresaddenedbythepossibilityofusneedingtoremoveourstructure,theyallhaveagreedinwritingthatthishavegivenagoodimpacttotheneighborhoodandthisstructureissaferthanthepreviousone.Ourintentionsforthisdecisionwasnottoviolateanycodebuttomakethissaferandhazardousfree.MonaDavishasbeenveryhelpfulintheguidanceprocessofwhichwemuchappreciateandouronlyoptioncurrentlyistoapplyforavariance.Wefaceafinancialhardshipinpayingthepermitfeeof$1,300,plus3%technologyfeewithoutreliancethatitwillbegranted.Wehavespentapproximatelyover$2,000onthecarport.Wealsopaidadesignertohelpusbringthecarportintocomplianceanddraftupplansthatcan’tworkwithoutthevarianceapproval.Ontopofallthiswereceivedacodeviolationfineof$100.00on11/20fornotunderstandinghowtoproceedtocorrecttheviolation.Thishasbecomeaverystressfulmatterandhasbeguntoaffectourhealthmostlybecauseourintentionswerenottoviolateanycodeandorrulebuttomakethissaferanditwouldbeunfortunatetohavetotearitdownandnotbeabletohaveacarportthatwouldfitourcar.WereachouttoyouforguidanceregardingourcarportandthankeveryonewhoishelpinglookforapositivesolutionBestRegards,JuanandEsperanzaArroyos—O5C(Er+ DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT M E M O R A N D U M DATE: February 12, 2018 TO: Ed Prince, Council President Members of Renton City Council VIA: Denis Law, Mayor FROM: C.E. ‘Chip’ Vincent, Administrator STAFF CONTACT: Jennifer Henning, Planning Director SUBJECT: Arroyos Carport Fee Waiver ISSUE: A homeowner has requested to have the application fee associated with a setback variance waived due to economic hardship. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the fee waiver request for this property owner due to economic hardship, in order to allow the owner to submit an application for a setback variance for a carport. Staff also recommends that the double-fee, normally charged for building permits associated with a code compliance action, be waived. DISCUSSION: The property owner residing at 854 Dayton Ave NE purchased their home in 1996. The home was constructed in 1942 and had an existing attached carport. Recently, the 75- year old carport was failing, with pieces of the structure falling on the ground during windy and raining conditions. The original carport was demolished by the owner and a family member and replaced in generally the same location with a slight expansion toward the street. The owner did not realize that permits were needed for the replacement of the structure. The property is zoned Residential – 8 Dwelling Units per Acre (R-8). A minimum front yard setback of 20 feet and a minimum side yard setback of 5 feet are required in the R- 8 Zone. The original and replacement carport meet the front yard setback. However, the original carport was constructed when the property was within King County, and had a 0-foot setback from the side yard property line. The new carport also has a 0-foot setback from the side yard property line, and the nonconformity is incrementally increased as the extended roof area also has a 0-foot setback from the side yard. As the minimum setback of the structure is not compliant with the side yard setback of the R-8 Zone, and because the structure was in place before being annexed to Renton, it is Ed Prince, Council President Page 2 of 2 February 12, 2018 therefore considered to be non-conforming. Renton Municipal Code regulates a non- conforming structure such that any legally established nonconforming structure may remain as long as it is not abandoned, and is kept in a safe and secure condition. Enlargements to the non-conforming structure are not permitted unless set back at least 3 feet from any property line. In this instance, replacement of the carport was the only viable way to keep the structure in a safe and secure condition. As the new carport (including the extended roof area) is located less than 3 feet from the side yard property line, a setback variance is needed in order to retain the replacement carport. This situation came to light when a complaint was received by Code Compliance. Investigation confirmed that the structure had been replaced without building permits. The owners have been in regular contact and have fully cooperated with staff; they have stated that they did not intentionally violate City codes. The owner is willing to apply for and pay for the necessary building permits in order to retain the carport. The Arroyos’ have expended more than $2,000 on the repair, and have paid a $100 code violation fine. They also state that they lack the financial resources to pay the $1,300 variance application fee (plus applicable technology fee), and that they have resources to pay for the processing of the building permit for the carport.