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; Dennis Peterson, Police Chief; John Hawley, Finance Director; Sarah Phillips, Government & Community Relations Coordinator; Frank Zenk, Director of Public Services; Scott Walker, Public Works; Ty Peterson, City Planner; Evelyn Jahed, Deputy City Clerk

Others present: Four visitors

Mayor Hutchinson called the special meeting to order at 7:33 p.m.

Hutchinson opened the public hearing on Ordinance 866/Adopting Year 2002 Budget at 7:35 p.m.

There being no comments, the public hearing on Ordinance 866/Adopting Year 2002 Budget was continued at 7:36 p.m. to the December 13, 2001 regular council meeting.

Mayor Hutchinson administered the oath of office to Municipal Court Presiding Judge Linda Portnoy for the term ending December 31, 2005.

Hutchinson reported on the north-end mayors’ meeting in which Cmbr. Thompson was also in attendance. Thompson noted that he had discussed his concern regarding the reduction in human services and funding and described a proposal for working with the other cities to study the options.

Hutchinson also reported on his attendance at the Association of Washington Cities meeting and discussed the proposed reorganization and strategic plan for the Suburban Cities Association.

LaNita Wacker, 19839 8^th Ave NW, Shoreline, said she also owns property in Lake Forest Park. She expressed her concern regarding land clearing that was done on property located at Northeast 150^th Street and 25th Avenue Northeast in Shoreline. She gave her phone number (206) 542-3906 and email address: rawacker@aol.com if anyone wanted additional information. She said she has contacted the city of Shoreline and asked the city of Lake Forest Park to make an official statement regarding environmental protection related to the property.

Victoria Stiles, 11827 32^nd Avenue NE, issued an invitation to the first in a series of community history exhibits: "Linking the Community: Lake Forest Park." She distributed a history project questionnaire for council members to complete and return.

Cmbr. Herzog requested to pull the November 8, 2001 council regular meeting minutes.

Cmbr. Armanini requested to pull Warrant 40482 from the November 29, 2001 finance warrant.

Herzog moved to amend the November 8, 2001 council regular meeting minutes as follows:

Councilmembers absent excused: Armanini, Thompson, Olstad.

Cmbr. Goss seconded. The motion carried with four votes; Cmbrs. Armanini, Thompson, Olstad abstaining.

In response to a question from Armanini, City Administrator Doug Jacobson discussed Warrant 40482 in the amount of $17, 385 for public defender services.

Thompson moved to approve the consent calendar as amended as follows:

1. November 8, 2001 Council Regular Meeting Minutes
2. November 29, 2001 Finance Committee Report covering Warrants No. 40453 through 40492 in the amount of $83,530.92 drawn from the Claims Clearing Fund and Warrants No. 21723 through 21799 in the amount of $116,644.49 drawn from the Payroll Clearing Fund. Automatic withdrawal from checking account 11/29/01, $418.42, monthly bank service fees.

Armanini moved to advance Resolution 658/Authorize Mayor to Sign Agreement with Doug Jacobson for City Administrator, Resolution 659/Establishing Fees for Permits and Services for 2002, and Ordinance 867/Establishing Sewer Rates and Charges to second reading calendar.

Armanini moved to advance Ordinance 864/Amending Transportation Element of City’s Comprehensive Plan to final action calendar. Cmbr. Sterner seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Following a discussion of the order of the agenda, council members agreed to suspend the rules and to take action on Ordinance 864/Amending Transportation Element of City’s Comprehensive Plan from the final action calendar out of order as a courtesy to City Planner Ty Peterson.

Thompson moved to adopt Ordinance 864/Amending Transportation Element of City’s Comprehensive Plan. Armanini seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Cmbr. Armanini discussed issues related to salary and cost of living increases for the city administrator, her review of the proposed and existing agreements and discrepancies between the Lake Forest Park Municipal Code and the city administrator’s personal services agreement. She suggested that corrections to the code be made in conjunction with action on the city administrator’s agreement.

Discussion ensued with respect to performance evaluation, severance pay, vacation and other terms of the agreement.

In response to a request by Thompson, Resolution 658/Authorize Mayor to Sign Agreement with Doug Jacobson for City Administrator was placed at the end of the second reading calendar so that the city attorney could review and compare the proposed and existing agreements.

Finance Director John Hawley reviewed the changes proposed in Resolution 659/Establishing Fees for Permits and Services for 2002. He noted the two changes included a warrant booking fee and the sewer fee.

He requested that Resolution 659 remain on second reading calendar for the December 13, 2001 council meeting for further review by staff members prior to council action.

Olstad moved to advance Ordinance 867/Establishing Sewer Rates and Charges to the December 13, 2001 final action calendar. Kiest seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Kiest said he requested the proposed ordinance be prepared for council discussion. He noted that the proposed increase would help the city provide the services that citizens expect.

Armanini noted that the proposed 2002 budget is in balance, and she cannot support Kiest’s proposal for an increase in the natural gas utility tax for the 2002 budget year.

Herzog said he was comfortable with the current 4 percent tax and would not support Kiest’s proposal.

Council members reviewed and discussed various budgetary issues related to the police department with Chief Peterson.

Armanini moved to amend city council recommended amendments to the mayor’s proposed 2002 budget as follows:

Public Safety

Reserve officer program                 $9,184     $0

Herzog seconded.

In response to questions from Thompson, Peterson discussed the department’s reserve program and proposed expenditures related to training and safety of reserve officers. He noted that the department currently has one reserve officer.

Thompson moved to amend the motion to retain $500 dollars in the reserve budget for costs related to current staffing. Goss seconded.

After further discussion, the maker and seconder withdrew their motion to amend.

The motion to reduce the reserve officer program budget to $0 carried 6-1 (Aye - Kiest, Armanini, Goss, Herzog, Olstad, Sterner; Nay - Thompson).

A five-minute recess was taken at 9:33 p.m.

The meeting was resumed at 9:44 p.m.

Armanini moved to amend the city council recommended amendments to the mayor’s proposed 2002 budget as follows:

Communications

Verizon Wireless Crime Watch Cellular Phone    $588         $120.

Armanini moved to amend the city council recommended amendments to the mayor’s proposed 2002 budget as follows:

Police Chief Step Increase                $0        $2,619.

Herzog seconded.

In response to questions from council members, Jacobson discussed the proposed step increase and the plan for a performance review.

Discussion followed regarding police dispatch and courtroom security. Thompson expressed his interest in adding a proviso to the proposed ordinance related to the use of volunteers for courtroom security.

Herzog moved to amend the city council recommended amendments to the mayor’s proposed 2002 budget as follows:

Desk Jet Printer                     $500         $100.

Kiest moved to amend the city council recommended amendments to the mayor’s proposed 2002 budget as follows:

Court Security                        $0         $14,384

Goss seconded.

Thompson said he supports the amendment but would like a proviso added to the ordinance regarding the implementation of a pilot program for courtroom security.

Following further discussion, the motion carried unanimously.

Thompson moved to amend the proposed Ordinance 866/Adopting Year 2002 Budget by adding the following proviso:

Following discussion, Thompson noted that the word "volunteer" should be inserted to his amendment as follows: "…pilot volunteer program…"

Olstad withdrew his second, and Herzog seconded.

Following additional discussion, Thompson requested that the word "volunteer" should be deleted from his proviso. Olstad noted that he supported the motion as seconder as originally stated.

Armanini commended Officer Jason Becker for his thought and action in informing residents along Forest Park Drive regarding the recent landslide.

Director of Public Services Frank Zenk also thanked Community and Government Affairs Manager Sarah Phillips and Officer Becker for their team effort in notifying the public of this incident. He provided a brief report of the event and the city’s response.

In response to a question from Sterner, Zenk noted that a Perkins Way site was marked and is being monitored.

Kiest moved to amend the proposed Ordinance 866/Adopting Year 2002 Budget by adding the following proviso:

Armanini seconded. The motion to amend carried unanimously.

Herzog moved to amend the mayor’s proposed budget as follows:

Page 114, Parks Improvement Fund

Grace Cole Memorial Property Acquisition

Herzog said he understood that other groups within the city were willing to contribute to this project.

Following additional discussion, a five-minute recess was called for at 10:45 p.m.

The meeting was resumed at 10:55 p.m.

Thompson moved to extend the meeting for an additional 15 minutes. Herzog seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

In response to questions from council members, Community and Government Relations Coordinator Phillips discussed information included in the grant application for the Grace Cole property and options for funding.

Following further discussion, Herzog said that his intention with this motion is to save the city $75,000 and to encourage community support of the project.

Kiest moved to suspend the rules and to proceed to the personal services agreement for the city administrator. Thompson seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

There was no objection to City Attorney Mike Ruark’s request for an opportunity to meet with the mayor and city administrator regarding the existing and proposed personal services agreements for the city administrator prior to council action.

Goss provided a report on transportation-related issues and particularly the proposal for clean diesel fuel for buses.

There being no objection, the meeting was adjourned at 11:22 p.m.

Evelyn Jahed, Deputy City Clerk

APPROVED:

David R. Hutchinson, Mayor