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; Frank Zenk, Director of Public Services; Charles Price, City Engineer; Sarah Phillips, Community and Government Relations Manager; John Hawley, Finance Director; Susan Stine, City Clerk

Others present: Three visitors

Mayor Hutchinson called the study session meeting to order at 7:34 p.m.

Hutchinson noted that this is the final council meeting for City Administrator Doug Jacobson, and October 18, 2002 is his last day in the office. He thanked Jacobson for his years of service to the city.

Hutchinson reported that interviews for the position of city administrator would be scheduled for Friday, November 8, 2002. He discussed the process for recruitment and selection of the finalists.

Cmbr. Herzog said he would like to add a report on Sound Transit to the agenda.

City Administrator Jacobson requested that the Brightwater Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) be added for discussion.

Olstad added a report on Water Resources Inventory Area 8 (WRIA 8) to the agenda.

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

Director of Public Services Frank Zenk, Interim City Engineer Chuck Price and City Administrator Jacobson discussed information regarding plans for sewering unsewered areas. Jacobson noted that a motion had been prepared for council consideration to implement the plan.

Cmbr. Thompson suggested the following amendment to the proposed motion in the second paragraph:

"- Identify no more than at least two small areas…" There was no objection to the language proposed by Thompson.

Discussion followed regarding how residents are notified and areas are selected.

Thompson moved adoption of the plan for a pilot program for sewering unsewered areas in Lake Forest Park as defined in the city administrator’s outline as amended. Herzog seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Finance Director John Hawley said that eight workshops were held for a total of 161 attendees. He stated that the process worked well and was very valuable from an educational standpoint.

Council members discussed the information provided regarding the workshop results.

Kiest asked if anything came out of the workshops that could be useful in the current budget process. Hawley said the exercise was valuable to citizens and staff in understanding how the city’s budget is developed. Hawley said that the exercise promoted discussion of the value of various programs or departments but did not identify specific level of service issues per department.

Jacobson praised Hawley’s efforts in preparing the financial planning workbook and facilitating the workshops. Hutchinson said he has had requests from other cities for the financial planning workshop outline.

Thompson suggested that the financial planning workshop project should be submitted for an Association of Washington Cities (AWC) award. He suggested that the workshops be a continuing effort so the effect of this experience is not lost. He asked that the workshop report be available at the upcoming budget meetings.

Thompson moved to cancel the Thursday, November 28, council meeting due to the Thanksgiving holiday, and to schedule the following special meetings of the council:

1. Tuesday, October 29, 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers - budget workshop
2. Thursday, November 7, 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers - budget workshop and regular business
3. Thursday, December 5, 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers - budget workshop

Council members discussed other upcoming meetings and events.

In response to a question from Kiest, Hawley said that the strategic planning process for future budgets could be considered after the first of the year and suggested several options to begin the process.

Kiest said that the city has revenues forecast to 2007, and suggestions for expenditure reductions are needed.

Armanini moved to table discussion of the September 20, 2002 letter from Washington Coalition for Tribal Self-Reliance regarding gambling issues. Thompson seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Hawley reviewed his memorandum dated October 17, 2002 regarding 15-year and 20-year options to pay Ronald Wastewater for their portion of the sewer district in the city. He noted that council concurrence is requested on the 15-year term option so that staff can work with financial institutions on the most favorable deal.

Thompson moved approval of a 15-year term for the Ronald Wastewater assumption financing. Kiest seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Herzog reported on a recent message from former King County Council Member Maggi Fimia who is seeking signatures of elected officials on a letter that she and Metropolitan King County Council Member Rob McKenna have prepared regarding Sound Transit issues. Herzog said he would share the letter with interested council members.

Olstad reported on recent activities of the Water Resources Inventory Area 8 group and discussed the shared strategies concept. He noted that funding is currently focused on preservation projects rather than restoration, and, therefore, Lake Forest Park projects are not likely to receive WRIA 8 funding.

In response to a question from Kiest, Olstad noted the involvement of the Environmental Quality Commission on the city task force.

Thompson noted that the Environmental Quality Commission has several vacant positions and encouraged the mayor to seek nominees for the commission.

Jacobson noted that King County is extending an offer to impacted agencies to reimburse the cost of reviewing the Brightwater Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). He noted that King County wants the comments in 45 days and is willing to reimburse $15,000 to $20,000 for the cost of review. Jacobson said the proposed agreement for reimbursement is being reviewed by the city attorney and has been discussed with the city’s planning manager. He said this could be placed on the October 24 agenda for council discussion.

In response to a question from Kiest, Jacobson said he has some names of consultants for the EIS review, and there may be other options, such as sharing a consultant with a neighboring city.

In response to a question from Goss, Hutchinson said that leadership team members are available to respond to questions from council members if issues arise that the city administrator would typically respond to.

Hutchinson reported on his recent conversation with Terry Pollard regarding the future location of the YMCA and noted that the Shoreline School District’s land bank task force will meet again next week.

There being no further discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 8:58 p.m.

Susan Stine, City Clerk

APPROVED:

David R. Hutchinson, Mayor

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