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

Councilmember excused: Mary Jane Goss

Staff present: David R. Hutchinson, Mayor; Douglas Jacobson, City Administrator; Dennis Peterson, Police Chief; Frank Zenk, Director of Public Services; Ty Peterson, City Planner; Sarah Phillips, Government & Community Relations Coordinator; Susan Stine, City Clerk

Others present: Six visitors

Mayor Hutchinson called the study session meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. He noted that this is the first meeting to be held at the new city hall. Hutchinson said that an open house celebration is scheduled for Saturday, March 23, at the new city hall.

Cmbr. Kiest requested that working relationships be added to the agenda for discussion.

Cmbr. Thompson requested that council workplan be added for discussion.

Cmbr. Olstad moved adoption of the agenda as amended. Thompson seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Thompson announced that the following councilmembers had been selected as committee chairs:

• Cmbr. Carolyn Armanini Local Government
• Cmbr. Ed Sterner Finance
• Cmbr. Dwight Thompson Budget

Community and Government Relations Manager Sarah Phillips noted that annual reports had been distributed to council from the Human Services Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Environmental Quality Commission and the Web Team. She noted that Dennis Barnes of the Web Team is present to provide the Web Team report. Other chairs were not available to present their reports at the meeting, and Planning Commission chair Lloyd Skinner will present the annual report at an upcoming meeting.

Web Team chair Dennis Barnes commented on the work the Web Team and noted that the web page was used effectively several times during the year to provide emergency information. He discussed issues related to training and domain name registration.

Bellevue Emergency Management chair Barb Graff, Laurel Nelson of King County Office of Emergency Management and Tim Osgood, Disaster Preparedness officer of the Northshore Fire Department, were welcomed to the meeting.

Bellevue Emergency Management chair Barb Graff provided a presentation for the council of the proposed Regional Disaster Response Plan for Public and Private Organizations in King County. Discussion followed on issues and benefits related to joining the Plan.

Jeff Brown of Sound Resource Management Group, consultant for King County, described the process for implementation of the pilot program for an organics diversion pilot program for an area of Lake Forest Park. Discussion followed regarding various aspects of the plan.

A 10-minutes recess was called for at 8:55 p.m.

The meeting was resumed at 9:10 p.m.

Director of Public Services Frank Zenk described the work that has taken place on the proposed regional program to address the requirements of the Endangered Species Act. He noted that there is no cost to the city to join in the regional program; however, additional costs will come in staff time. He noted that the city is required to submit a letter of commitment and a Part 3 Application to implement the regional program.

Council requested that costs related to implementation of the program in response to the ESA requirements be isolated in the budget.

City Administrator Jacobson reviewed the questions raised in the hearing examiner’s annual report regarding conditional use permit applications made by the city, variance cases involving steep slope buffer requirements, and reconsideration of hearing examiner decisions.

City Planner Ty Peterson discussed the city’s code requirements for variances involving environmentally sensitive areas and proposed code amendments. Discussion followed regarding implications of the proposed code amendments.

Kiest discussed the importance of good working relationships among councilmembers and recommended an instructive video on the subject. Armanini noted that this might be useful to consider as part of a council retreat.

Councilmembers discussed various ideas for a council retreat timeframe. The dates of April 20 or April 27 were proposed.

Herzog identified his most important issue for discussion at the council retreat is the city’s financial outlook.

Thompson noted that Kiest had recommended the video regarding working relationships, which could be part of the retreat agenda.

Armanini noted that city hall financing should be included for discussion and noted that the city’s financial consultant Steve Gaidos is under contract until mid-2002.

Olstad suggested that the council revisit the parks issue as part of the retreat.

Sterner recommended a discussion of water and sewer issues.

Thompson moved to excuse Cmbr. Goss’s absence from the council meeting Herzog seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Herzog moved to excuse Cmbr. Thompson’s absence at the February 28 council meeting. Olstad seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

There being no objection, the meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m.

Susan Stine, City Clerk

APPROVED:

David R. Hutchinson, Mayor

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