This is an information-only record of the proceedings of the Lake Forest Park City Council. Please contact the city to request a paper copy of the official minutes of the council.

City of Lake Forest Park

City Council
Regular Meeting
January 27, 2000

Councilmembers present: Alan Kiest, Carolyn Armanini, Dwight Thompson, Mary Jane Goss, Nate Herzog, Roger Olstad, Ed Sterner

Staff present: David R. Hutchinson, Mayor; Douglas Jacobson, City Administrator; Michael Ruark, City Attorney; Frank Zenk, Director of Public Services; Ty Peterson, City Planner; Sarah Phillips, Government & Community Relations Coordinator; Susan Stine, City Clerk; Evelyn Jahed, Deputy City Clerk

Others present: 19 visitors

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Hutchinson called the regular meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

Scott Christiansen, CHS Engineers

Philip Montgomery, General Manager

Arnold Lind, Commissioner

Arthur Wadekamper, Commissioner

David Findlay, President, Financial Consulting Solutions Group, Inc.

A brief summary of the district’s efforts to negotiate assumption/purchase of the system was given. Mr. Christiansen distributed information to council and discussed the boundaries of different districts. He briefly discussed the costs and testing done on the system. He also discussed the analysis of the system in the Sheridan Beach area.

Mr. Findlay discussed financial aspects of the proposed purchase, the current rate structure and how the revenue is distributed.

City Administrator Doug Jacobson said he concurs with the report that was provided to the city.

Discussion followed regarding various aspects of the District’s plans to purchase the system and the condition of the system.

Mr. Christiansen noted that an interlocal agreement regarding the portion of the system within the Lake Forest Park boundaries must be negotiated.

Hutchinson reported that the City of Lake Forest Park will host the Suburban Cities dinner on March 8 at Third Place Books. He said the police chief selection committee will hold its first meeting on January 31 to discuss the selection process. He reported that he testified before a Senate committee on regional justice matters.

Councilmembers discussed a response to the letter from citizen Mamie Bolender and other matters related to recent hearings before the Board of Adjustment.

Thompson moved to adopt the agenda. Herzog seconded. The motion to adopt the agenda carried unanimously.

Ros Bird, Executive Director of Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council, presented a certificate to the mayor honoring the city as a community arts partner in 1999 and said that she looks forward to the continued partnership in the new millennium. She distributed information regarding upcoming arts events.

Thompson moved to confirm Lisbeth Gilbert to serve on the Human Services Commission, position 3, term ending March 31, 2001.

Thompson moved for the adoption of the consent calendar as follows:

1. January 13, 2000 Council Regular Meeting Minutes
2. January 20, 2000 Council Study Session Minutes
3. January 27, 2000 Finance Committee Report covering Warrants Nos. 36760 through 36821 drawn from the Claims Clearing Fund in the amount of $41,695.34 and Warrants No. 18477 through 18546 drawn from the Payroll Clearing Fund in the amount of $109,165.74.
4. Authorize Mayor to Sign/Interlocal Agreement with City of Kenmore for Public Works
5. Authorize Release of Retainage/Emerald Paving for Tennis Courts

Jacobson noted the changes made in the proposed agreement. In response to a question from Kiest, Jacobson discussed the review process for projects and the language in the municipal code.

Thompson noted an e-mail message he received from Parks and Recreation Cmr. Debra Born regarding the Commission’s action at its Jan. 26 meeting. He noted that they voted to recommend to the council that the money dedicated for the master plan process for the Lyon Creek Waterfront (Morris) property be used instead for the development and maintenance of existing park projects. Thompson noted that the council must decide if it wishes to approve the $5,500 contract for the master plan process for the property. He said the council had agreed that a plan was necessary prior to making a final decision on the property.

Olstad questioned why should the city spend $5,500 for consultant services if the city is not planning to keep this property.

Hutchinson discussed the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation grant and the potential for total funding of the property acquisition through other grants. He noted that additional information is needed regarding the property valuation.

Kiest said he is not comfortable in making a decision on this issue tonight and said the council must see the Parks and Recreation Commission minutes. He asked for written clarification of the issues and agreed that the city needed to have public involvement in this process.

Community and Government Affairs Manager Sarah Phillips noted that the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC) had asked the City to accept the grant and to sign the agreement. She noted that the city can opt out of this acceptance prior to April 30 if the council decides not to proceed with the purchase of the property.

In response to a question from Sterner, Phillips said the outcome of other grant applications would not be known prior to the April 30 deadline.

In response to a question from Armanini, Phillips said that if this agreement with Worthy & Associates is approved, the report by the consultant would be done by late March.

Cmbr. Herzog expressed his concerns regarding the use of the property as an active park and said he believes that the city is not in the position financially to keep the property.

In reference to a comment made by Herzog, Jacobson noted that the master plan will address his concerns regarding uses of the property.

Goss said she attended the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting and noted that Cmrs. Raj Manhas and Debra Born both have professional experience with parks and discussed the maintenance costs for the property.

Olstad said he questioned the expenditure of the $5,500 and doubts that the master plan process could be done by April 30.

Armanini said she would like to have more information regarding the valuation and the potential selling price of the property.

Sterner noted that one of the key pieces of information needed is what can be done with this property and that a master plan process would help him make a good decision.

In response to a question from Thompson, Hutchinson said he requests authorization to sign the acceptance for the IAC grant and the contract for Worthy & Associates. He said an appraisal is needed also to provide complete information in order to make a good decision.

Thompson said as chair of the Local Governance Committee, he believes this information is needed from Worthy & Associates. He said he understood the concerns that the Parks and Recreation Commission have, but $5,500 is a reasonable amount of money to help the council in the decisionmaking process.

Herzog questioned if council was willing to have the city commit a minimum of $500,000 for this property, through general obligation bonds or other financing. He said the city is agreeing to provide the remaining funds for this property by accepting the IAC grant.

Goss addressed the issue of public input and said that opportunities for public comment regarding the property have been limited.

Hutchinson encouraged the council to approve the acceptance of the IAC grant and the contract with Worthy & Associates. He noted that the timeline is tight, and answers are needed before the end of April.

Armanini moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement with the Interagency for Outdoor Recreation and to authorize the Mayor to sign a contract with Worthy and Associates.

Kiest seconded.

Herzog moved to divide the question. Olstad seconded. The motion to divide the question carried unanimously.

Kiest said he concurred with the administration’s proposal for this process. He said the city must reduce the assumptions regarding policy, use and valuation. He felt $5,500 is a prudent amount for this process.

A five-minute recess was taken at 9:35 p.m.

The meeting was resumed at 9:46 p.m.

Thompson moved to table Ordinance 788/Relating to Nonconforming Signs, Providing for Amortization to the March 16, 2000 study session meeting.

Planning Commissioners Rich Morrisey and Ron Klages and Economic Development Committee chair Jeff Weissman presented information regarding the proposed amendments to the sign code.

Morrisey said members of the Economic Development Committee had presented to the Planning Commission very valuable information regarding signs in the Towne Centre. Two Planning Commissioners did an inventory of the signs currently located at the Centre, and their findings are included in the information presented to the council.

Morrisey discussed the proposed amendments to the code. He said the Commission agreed that signs up to 60 square feet should be allowed, and real estate open house signs should be permitted until 7 p.m. He said the commission disagreed with the request for additional real estate signs.

Morrisey noted the increased importance of sales tax revenue to the city’s budget, and he noted that the city’s residents cannot support the Town Centre entirely. He said in fairness, the tenants should be allowed to advertise to a wider audience.

Morrisey said the commission found that the signs in the Towne Centre are not bad overall, and their purpose was to achieve consistency in application of the code. He discussed the existing signs that are in compliance and those that are not and the proposed increase in square footage to bring most of the signs into compliance with the code.

Armanini thanked both Planning commissioners Ron Klages and Steve Plusch for their visual aids supplied to council for their review and discussion.

In response to a question from Goss, Morrisey said the sign survey had been limited to the Towne Centre. Goss said that other businesses are not aware of these amendments in the code.

Plusch discussed the purpose of the sign survey in the Towne Centre and said the recommendations should make sense for the rest of the city as well. He suggested that the city should look at how many signs are not in compliance prior to adopting the amortization ordinance.

In response to a question from Kiest, Morrisey said the issue of celebration signs was not addressed.

In response to Thompson, City Planner Ty Peterson discussed neighborhood businesses and frontage and freestanding signs.

Thompson moved that the administration be directed to put the Planning Commission recommendations in ordinance form for introduction on the Feb. 24, 2000 council agenda; provided that the method for determining frontage signage requirements that apply to the Towne Centre also apply to the commercial zones.

Olstad seconded.

Peterson discussed the requirements for other businesses outside the Towne Centre relating to signs. He said areas previously governed by the King County code had no restrictions on the amount, location or size of signs.

Morrissey discussed the different requirements for signs for commercial businesses other than the Towne Centre.

Olstad said he would be interested seeing data on the other businesses in the city.

Kiest said he is not comfortable with the proposed amendments and would prefer to develop standards that could be applied throughout the city.

Thompson moved to schedule a public hearing on the proposed amendments on March 16, 2000.

Thompson moved to adopt the proposed council rule amendments recommended as follows:

Council Rules (version 1/13/00)

Page 7, line 33:

"… 3. Agenda items

1. Confirmation Review
2. Agenda items…"

Page 10, line 30:

Herzog seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Thompson moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the Agreement with Hammond, Collier & Wade-Livingstone for Engineering Services.

In response to a question from Kiest, Armanini noted that the retreat had been discussed during the budget process. Councilmembers agreed that a one-day retreat will be held on March 11 at the Interim City Hall.

There being no objection, the meeting was adjourned at 10:48 p.m.

Susan Stine, City Clerk

David R. Hutchinson, Mayor

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