DRAFT

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; Dennis Peterson, Police Chief; Sarah Phillips, Government & Community Relations Coordinator; Susan Stine, City Clerk

Others present: 33 visitors

An open house regarding the city hall programming and space needs analysis with representatives of Arai/Jackson preceded the council study session.

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

Cmbr. Thompson requested the addition of a motion for reconsideration and action on Ordinance 788/Relating to Non-conforming Signs, Providing for Amortization.

Cmbr. Kiest requested that the discussion of drug abatement take place earlier on the agenda because he must leave early.

Kiest said that the City of Lacey was given an award at the Association of Washington Cities conference for a program linking code enforcement and drug abatement. He requested that staff draft a similar process for council consideration.

Thompson moved for reconsideration of Ordinance 788/Relating to Nonconforming Signs, Providing for Amortization.

Thompson moved to place Ordinance 788/Relating to Nonconforming Signs, Providing for Amortization on second reading.

Thompson moved to amend Ordinance 788 as follows:

Page 2, Line 29: " as non-conforming signs, provided that no such permit shall be granted to a business that does not possess a current business license."

Thompson said that approval of the motion would delete the amendment, which was approved at the July 13, 2000 council meeting. He has discussed this issue with the city attorney who indicated that that business license should be treated as a separate issue.

Armanini thanked Cmbr. Thompson for his extra work on this ordinance.

Thompson moved to suspend the rules and to advance Ordinance 788/Relating to Nonconforming Signs, Providing for Amortization immediately to final action calendar.

Thompson moved adoption of Ordinance 788/Relating to Nonconforming Signs, Providing for Amortization.

Cmbr. Thompson presented a review of the work of the Local Government Committee in developing its special report and recommendations on acquisition, capital funding and development of open space and recreational parks.

He discussed the recommendations that emerged from the committee’s research and study. Various properties of interest were noted.

Bill Van Horn, 3010 NE 163^rd, said the Hillside area represents a tremendous opportunity that should not be lost. Based on his experience as a precinct captain, he believes that a ballot measure would do well.

Dave Crawford, 17230 Brookside Blvd. NE, said he believes the role of government is to do what individual citizens cannot; however, he said that taxpayers’ money should not be squandered. He said he has done volunteer work in Blue Heron, Eagle Scout and Animal Acres Parks. He is familiar with the Hillside area, and he believes that the objective of the Growth Management Act is to develop close-in areas such as the Hillside neighborhood.

Mamie Bolender, 16730 32^nd NE, commended the local government committee for their work on condensing a wish list of properties. She said that the Hillside area is very important to the streams and the lake. She noted that the concept of an opportunity fund would provide flexibility for the city.

Bob Simmons, 3815 NE 182^nd, said the amount of property devoted to parks in the city is infinitesimal. He said he is aware that some voters will not vote for a bond issue if active parks are not included. He said the Growth Management Act encouraged increased density; however, he stated that it’s the little green gems like the Hillside area that make urban life pleasant. He said there is no lack of citizen energy to promote a ballot measure.

Janice Schafer, 16738 37^th Ave. NE, said she endorses a bond issue for the interim city hall property and believes that taxpayers would support such a measure. She said she is personally disappointed that the recommendations do not include funds for active parks. She said active parks have not been promoted because the Parks Commission has strayed from its purpose as described in Ordinance 701. She said she advocates balance between active and passive parks.

Cmbr. Kiest said he appreciated the public interest in the matter of a parks and open space ballot measure. He exited the meeting at 8:45 p.m.

Debra Born, 3715 NE 162^nd St., said she agrees with Janice Schafer’s comments, and she believes that the interim city hall property is truly a bargain for the city and a real value for the community.

Don Power, 4711 NE 201^st Pl., said he has been a resident for 47 years, and he encouraged the council to preserve the keyhole property for greenbelt. He said he would be willing to pay a little more in taxes for that purpose.

Busso Lemme, 18215 33rd NE, said he would vote against a parks and open space measure as presented, and he asked council to develop more detailed information on properties and costs.

Irene Arden, 16270 Beach Dr. NE, said she strongly agrees with Janice Schafer and Debra Born’s comments, and she was surprised that active parks were not represented in the committee’s recommendations. She said the interim city hall property is very valuable to the city and would like to see it used as a community center. She expressed concern regarding the proposal for two separate ballot measures and said she does not believe taxpayers would support both.

Liane Newman, 16715 32^nd Pl. NE, thanked the council for making the difficult decision to keep the Lyon Creek waterfront property. She suggested that school playgrounds would be better utilized by the community if restrooms were available. She said the open space bond would give the city the opportunity to keep Lake Forest Park an oasis in the urban environment.

Stephen Plusch, 4731 NE 201^st Pl., said he supports the acquisition of properties and improvements included in the local government committee report. He said the city may not be able to afford open space and parks properties in the future. He said he considers the interim city hall property an exceptional bargain and is disappointed that those who opposed its use as city hall are not present to support this option.

Walt Prentiss, 18404 47^th Pl. NE, said he would not minimize the need or desire for open space or parks. However, he believes the bond measure would be ill timed now because of I-695. He expressed concern for citizens on fixed or modest incomes.

Jacqueline Gardner, 5111 NE 201^st Pl., said she supports putting both issues to the voters. She questioned whether the acquisition and development cost estimates are realistic. She suggested that some development costs might be offset by volunteers.

Mary Fung Koehler, 4652 NE 201^st Pl., expressed concern that an apple orchard on 35^th Avenue Northeast had been identified as a potential park and said she believed that it may contain a wetland. She also expressed concern about the usefulness of the Hillside properties for parks. She said the interim city hall site should probably be retained.

Bill Bennett, 15804 35^th Ave. NE, said he too is a struggling senior citizen, but he is excited by the prospect of putting the bond issue to the voters.

Yuichi Shoda, 16767 32^nd NE, said he believes the bond issue would be a wonderful gift for Lake Forest Park. He said people would like to feel that life is more than just a job and that they have contributed to a collective effort such as this. He said that preserving and enhancing are common goals of the city and contributed to why the city was formed. He said that citizens should have the opportunity to affirm a common goal and said he would support a ballot measure.

There being no further comments, Hutchinson said the public comments would be continued to the July 27, 2000 council meeting.

A 10-minute recess was called for at 9:25 p.m.

The meeting was resumed at 9:37 p.m.

Janice Schafer, 16738 37^th NE, said she enjoyed meeting the architect and believes the city made a good choice. She said she has reviewed the space program summary and encourages staff to continue to look for areas that can be multi-purpose. She said there might be opportunities to economize in the police department and encouraged making meeting rooms available to the public.

In response to a question from Thompson, Schafer said she would prefer that unnecessary space be eliminated rather than designated as public space.

Debra Born, 3715 NE 162^nd, commended the city on the great selection of the architect and commended the architect for very good public displays. She suggested comparing the proposed space program to the existing building and asked if a value engineering study is being considered. Jacobson said Olympic Associates has been hired as project manager and will be doing value engineering analysis throughout the design phase. Schafer urged the council not to compromise the budget, not to increase program space and noted that she endorses community meeting space.

City Administrator Jacobson said council should give direction to the architect regarding the city hall project space programming by the July 27 meeting.

In response to a question from Cmbr. Goss, architect Bruce Ellison said it is best to incorporate art for the building in the design process.

Hutchinson said he is aware of several citizens who are interested in serving on a committee to plan for public art for the city hall project.

In response to a question from Goss, Jacobson said the council approved a percentage for public art for the last city hall project but has not done so for this project.

Thompson moved that 1 percent of the total construction cost of the city hall project be allocated for public arts, either as separate works or incorporated into the design of the facility.

In response to a question from Olstad, Jacobson said that the council had approved ½ of 1 percent for arts in the last city hall project.

Armanini moved to table the motion made by Thompson to the July 27 meeting.

Ellison reviewed various space designations in the preliminary design and the plan to keep the court and police department on the same level. He also noted that administration office have been designated for the area on the upper floor with good views to the south.

In response to a question from Herzog, Ellison said preliminary information regarding cost should be available within the next month. He noted that decisions regarding the quality of the building and various details would affect the total cost. He also noted that the wood frame building would require electrical and seismic upgrades.

In response to questions from councilmembers, Ellison discussed non-windowed areas and court room/council chambers space and features. He noted that the current plan does not include much room for future expansion, and he has not seen a trend to reduced office space in the future. Jacobson said the professional building next to the city hall site might provide overflow office space if required at some later date.

Jacobson distributed information regarding a proposal from the state department of transportation (DOT) for improvements along Bothell Way Northeast. He noted that curbing and raised islands in front of Acacia Cemetery are part of the proposal. He noted the concern of the cemetery regarding traffic stacking in the left turn lane for funeral processions. Jacobson noted that staff supports the DOT proposal, and he wanted to make the elected officials aware of the plan.

In response to questions from councilmembers, Jacobson discussed how the proposed changes would ease pedestrian crossing of Bothell Way.

Armanini said that in all fairness, the Acacia Cemetery management should be allowed to speak to council regarding their concerns so that council can hear them firsthand. She said the staff report seems to be very well reasoned, but she believes that Acacia should be given the opportunity to address the council on this issue since the council is being asked to bless the DOT proposal.

Councilmembers discussed the impact of street lighting and other changes in the area shown in the DOT proposal.

There being no objection, the meeting was adjourned at 10:41 p.m.

Susan Stine, City Clerk

APPROVED:

David R. Hutchinson, Mayor

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