Councilmembers present: Alan Kiest, Carolyn Armanini, Dwight Thompson, Mary Jane Goss, Nate Herzog, Roger Olstad, Ed Sterner (8:10 p.m.)

Staff present: Karen Haines, City Administrator; Michael Ruark, City Attorney; Dennis Peterson, Police Chief; Frank Zenk, Public Works Operations Director; Neil Jensen, City Engineer; Sarah Phillips, Government & Community Relations Manager; A.J. Housler, Interim Finance Director; Jennifer Kuczenski, Computer Systems Technician; Susan Stine, City Clerk

Others present: 13 visitors

Mayor Hutchinson called the regular meeting to order at 7:38 p.m.

Cmbr. Herzog led council in the pledge of allegiance.

Hutchinson noted that an adjustment to the agenda would be made to the citizen comments to allow for comments on the Brightwater presentation at the council study session.

Cmbr. Thompson moved to adopt the agenda as amended. Cmbr. Armanini seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Henry Reed, 18438 47^th Place NE, expressed his concerns regarding the potential danger to Lake Forest Park water quality from the Brightwater project. He said the possibility of switching to Seattle water is not an acceptable solution if problems arise with the Lake Forest Park water supply. He supported an interlocal agreement between the county and the Lake Forest Park water district.

There being no other comments, Hutchinson thanked King County Major Capital Improvement Section Manager Christie True, Washington State Department of Ecology Brightwater Facility Engineer Mark Henley, CDM Senior Vice President John Newby, and Jacobs Associates Principal Daniel Adams for their presentation on the Brightwater project at the council study session.

A three-minute break was called for at 7:46 p.m.

The meeting was resumed at 7:49 p.m.

Jim Small, 18944 40^th Place NE, encouraged the council to accept the proposal from Northshore Utility District to provide sewer service in his neighborhood. He said failing septic systems make this an urgent matter. He noted that he and his neighbors have signed a letter in support of Northshore’s offer to provide sewer service.

Lynn Thomas, 18920 40^th Place NE, spoke in support of Northshore’s offer to provide sewer service. Thomas said he has lived in his home for 16 years and has had many talks with city representatives regarding sewer service, and this proposal should be supported.

Kennan Muzzy, 18909 40^th Place NE, expressed his support for the offer from Northshore Utility District to provide sewer service to his neighborhood. He noted the importance of acting quickly while the funds for the project are available.

Bill Robertson, 18724 40^th Place NE, encouraged council to accept the offer of Northshore Utility District to provide sewer service to his neighborhood.

Bob Travis, 15308 Beach Drive NE, expressed his concern regarding the Burke Gilman Trail and said that it appears that the county still plans to widen the trail which would increase traffic and safety hazards from speeding cyclists.

Thompson moved to confirm Heidi Coffman to serve on the Parks and Recreation Commission, position 1, term ending 3/31/2004. Armanini seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Thompson moved to approve the consent calendar as follows:

1. October 9, 2003 Council Study Session Minutes
2. October 9, 2003 Council Regular Meeting Minutes
3. October 23, 2003 finance committee report covering warrant nos. 44372 through 44447 in the amount of $254,422.01 drawn from the claims clearing fund and warrant nos. 25364 through 25437 in the amount of $135,481.99 drawn from the payroll clearing fund and a monthly bank service fee of $395.70.

Herzog moved to authorize staff to proceed with the hiring of a maintenance worker for the vacated position. Armanini seconded.

Armanini said that Teddy Mitalas will be missed, but she wished him well in his new position with a local soccer association.

Cmbr. Kiest moved to adopt Resolution 807/In Support of Lake Forest Park Water District Related to Brightwater.

Armanini seconded.

Kiest expressed his support for the Lake Forest Park Water District and said adoption of the resolution would support the District’s efforts for an agreement with King County.

Armanini moved to amend Resolution 807 as follows:

Page 1, lines 17-18:

WHEREAS, the city of Lake Forest Park has emphasized protection of its sensitive areas and environmental assets related to the Brightwater project, and .."

After discussion with Cmbr. Sterner, Cmbr. Goss moved to amend Resolution 807 as follows:

Page 1, line 21: "WHEREAS, approximately 1,700 2,500 Lake Forest Park residents…"

Kiest discussed issues related to the statewide mobilization plan and noted that his questions regarding the agreement had been answered. He thanked Chief of Police Dennis Peterson for his work on this matter and noted that Peterson had agreed to finalize a departmental general order policy related to the mobilization plan.

Kiest moved to adopt Resolution 795/Authorizing Mayor to Sign Interlocal Agreement for Statewide Mobilization Plan. Armanini seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Herzog distributed his proposed amendments to Ordinance 902/Increasing the Compensation for the Mayor and City Council Members.

Herzog moved to amend Ordinance 902 as follows:

Page 1, line 7:        "…MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS COUNCILMEMBERS"

Page 1, line 22:    "…individual Council member councilmember until the member …"    

Page 1, line 38:    "…Council member councilmember shall be paid …"

Page 1, line 13:    "…last revised in 1998 and 1997, respectively, and…"

Page 1, line 18-19:    "…with the addition of various departments within the city, including expansion of a the sewer utility program serving the that now serves a majority of …"

Page 1, line 31:    "…the person filling the office of person filling the office of mayor shall …"

Page 1, line 32:    "…be paid $30,000 per year $2,500 per month plus benefits…"

Page 1, line 40:    "…election, or, in the case of a vacated seat, at the time of council appointment."

Following discussion, Herzog moved to strike the final item (Page 1, line 40) of his proposed amendments and to strike line 21-23 on page 1 as follows:

Page 1, line 40:    "…election, or, in the case of a vacated seat, at the time of council appointment."

Page 1, lines 21-23:     "Whereas, in accordance with State law, increases in salary will not go into effect for any individual Council member until the member is elected to a term of office other than the term during which the increase in salary was made."

After further discussion, the maker and seconder accepted a friendly amendment offered by Armanini as follows:

Page 1, line 18:    "…with the addition expansion of various departments within the city, including expansion of the sewer utility program serving the that now serves a majority of …"

Discussion followed on the role of the mayor pro tempore and compensation in the absence of the mayor.

Thompson noted for the record that the issue of compensation for the mayor pro tempore should be discussed only if the mayor is absent for a period longer than one week.

Following discussion, the maker and seconder accepted a friendly amendment offered by Armanini as follows:

Page 1, line 31:    "…the person filling the office of mayor shall …"

Thompson moved to amend Ordinance 902 as follows:

Page 1, line 38:    "…Councilmember shall be paid $600 $500 per month; …"

Thompson noted he felt $500 was a reasonable increase for councilmembers’ compensation taking into consideration the cost of inflation.

Sterner said his questions from the October 9 meeting had been answered, and he believes this is a reasonable proposal.

Goss stated her opposition to the proposed increase for councilmember compensation and expressed her concern about the timing of the proposal in the present economy.

Armanini said that she joined Cmbr. Goss in opposing the increase in compensation for councilmembers.

Herzog said that he was hesitant to support the proposed increase, but he believes that Cmbr. Thompson’s amendment is reasonable.

Goss said that she would support an increase to $425 instead of the proposed $500.

Olstad said he believed that an increase to $500 proposed by Cmbr. Thompson is a good compromise.

Thompson moved to advance Ordinance 902/ Increasing the Compensation for the Mayor and City Council Members to final action calendar. Kiest seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Thompson moved to adopt Ordinance 902/ Increasing the Compensation for the Mayor and City Council Members. Kiest seconded. The motion to adopt Ordinance 902 carried 5-2 (Aye—Kiest, Thompson, Herzog, Sterner, Olstad; Nay—Armanini, Goss).

In response to a question from Armanini, City Attorney Mike Ruark stated he would provide the analysis of the Burke-Gilman Trail regulations at the November 13 meeting.

In response to a question from Armanini, staff members discussed the temporary closure of the Arco gas station on Bothell Way.

Olstad reported on the first meeting of the Lake Forest Park Task Force on Sustaining a Livable Lake Forest Park and highlighted some of the discussion that took place during the meeting.

Kiest reported on his participation on the Reinvesting in Youth steering committee and discussed benefits of participation for the city.

Goss noted receipt of a letter from King County Executive Ron Sims in response to her letter on the Burke-Gilman Trail. She also reported on Sound Transit issues.

A five-minute recess was taken at 9:20 p.m.

The meeting was resumed at 9:33 p.m.

Hutchinson presented his proposed 2004 budget to council. He reviewed various changes including 1) asking employees to pay 5 percent of their benefit costs due to the high increase in premiums, 2) initiating a passport acceptance service, and 3) hiring a building official and a permit technician. He noted that the proposed budget included an increase in compensation for the mayor and city council as well as a 1 percent property tax increase. Hutchinson also discussed the community planning process for the Strategic Plan for Sustaining a Livable Lake Forest Park. Hutchinson thanked Interim Finance Director A.J. Housler and City Administrator Karen Haines for their work in preparing the proposed 2004 budget.

Haines discussed the budget preparation process and noted that Interim Finance Director Housler has been learning Finance Director Hawley’s system. She said that several errors had been noted and would be corrected. Haines asked councilmembers to contact her if they had questions.

Interim Finance Director A.J. Housler presented an overview of the proposed budget.

Councilmembers requested that staff presentations be limited to significant changes in the proposed budget.

Haines reviewed proposed changes in the budgets for the city council, legal services, and the executive department.

There was no objection to Thompson’s request to extend the meeting for 15 minutes at 10:30 p.m.

City Clerk Susan Stine reviewed changes in the proposed 2004 budget for the municipal services department. Councilmembers requested additional information on several items in the proposed departmental budget.

Haines reviewed proposed changes in the finance department budget and noted the request to increase the computer technician position to ¾ time.

There being no objection, the meeting was adjourned at 10:46 p.m.

Susan Stine, City Clerk

David R. Hutchinson, Mayor

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