Councilmembers present: Dwight Thompson, Mayor pro tempore, Alan Kiest, Carolyn Armanini, Mary Jane Goss, Nate Herzog, Roger Olstad, Ed Sterner
Staff present: David R. Hutchinson, Mayor; Karen Haines, City Administrator; Rosemary Larson, Assistant City Attorney; A.J. Housler, Interim Finance Director; Dennis Peterson, Police Chief; Ty Peterson, Planning Manager; Sarah Phillips, Government & Community Relations Manager; Susan Stine, City Clerk
Others present: Three visitors
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hutchinson called the special meeting to order at 7:39 p.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Cmbr. Thompson led the council in the pledge of allegiance.
MAYOR’S REPORT
Hutchinson provided a brief report of events and issues of interest to the council. He noted that he and several councilmembers had participated in the December 2, 2003 Youth and Community Leader Forum organized by the YMCA. In response to a request from Hutchinson, Chief Peterson reported on the power outage, and he noted that power was restored to city hall at approximately 5:15 p.m., but some stores at the shopping center are still dark.
Cmbr. Goss expressed her concern regarding the recent power outages and the impact on traffic local streets. Goss recommended that this issue should be discussed with the state legislators at the December 11, 2003 study session. (Council approved 12/11/03)
PUBLIC HEARING
Ordinance 904/Adopting 2004 Budget
Hutchinson opened the public hearing on Ordinance 904/Adopting 2004 Budget at 7:50 p.m.
Karen True, 13822 93rd Avenue NE, Kirkland, reported on the Friends of Third Place Commons’ increased emphasis on fundraising and grants.
Teri Howatt, 5123 NE 187th, expressed her appreciation for the work of Karen True as executive director for Friends of Third Place Commons. She reported on increasing requests for Commons use by the community and discussed the focus on the arts and music.
Ros Bird, 16061 37th NE, said as a resident she is not afraid to pay for the services she appreciates. She expressed her appreciation that the city is interested in investing in the heart of the community by providing funding for the Commons. As Arts Council executive director, Bird reported that $67,000 had been raised for the mobile stage to date and thanked the council for its support.
There being no further comments, the public hearing on Ordinance 904/Adopting 2004 Budget was closed at 8:12 p.m. (Council approved 12/11/03)
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Cmbr. Olstad moved adoption of the agenda as proposed. Cmbr. Armanini seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Cmbr. Thompson moved to approve the consent calendar as follows:
Goss seconded. The motion to approve the consent calendar carried unanimously.
SECOND READING CALENDAR
Resolution 811/Authorizing Mayor to Sign City Attorney Services Contract
Armanini moved to adopt Resolution 811/Authorizing Mayor to Sign City Attorney Services Contract. Goss seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
CONSENT CALENDAR
December 4, 2003 Finance Committee Report/Reconsideration
Thompson moved for reconsideration of the December 4, 2003 finance committee report. Goss seconded. The motion for reconsideration carried unanimously.
Thompson moved to pull Warrant 44611 to King County Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $8,184 for marine patrol services.
Goss seconded.
Thompson noted that he would like to see copies of the citations noted in the county report and proof of the 207 boat inspections in the three-month period.
Cmbr. Kiest said that he hopes that an entrepreneurial city would come forward to provide marine patrol services.
Armanini requested that the warrant for marine patrol services be presented for council approval on a separate finance committee report on the December 11, 2003 agenda.
The motion to approve the November 20, 2003 finance committee report carried unanimously as follows:
December 4, 2003 finance committee report covering warrant nos. 44595 through 44637 (less warrant no. 44611) in the amount of $104,471.43 $96,287.43 drawn from the claims clearing fund and warrant nos. 25594 through 25677 in the amount of $183,337.94 drawn from the payroll clearing fund.
SECOND READING CALENDAR
Ordinance 904/Adopting 2004 Budget
(Motion tabled to December 4, 2003 at the November 20, 2003 meeting.)
Thompson moved to amend the proposed 2004 budget as follows:
Page 109: Increase sewer utility budget to fund sewer rate study $35,000.
Olstad seconded.
In response to a question from Thompson, Haines reported that City Engineer Jensen had contacted several firms specializing in such studies and the city of Mountlake Terrace regarding its recent study. The firms estimated costs for a rate study at $25,000 – 50,000 depending on public involvement, and Mountlake Terrace’s study was approximately $50,000. Haines said the budget recommendation for the rate study is $35,000, and staff members would continue to look for ways to reduce the cost.
The motion to amend the proposed 2004 budget carried unanimously.
Discussion followed regarding the need to capitalize the sewer fund with a rate increase.
(Motion tabled to December 4, 2003 at the November 20, 2003 meeting.)
Sterner moved to amend the proposed 2004 budget to restore the following item:
Page 3: Disability insurance for employees $13,820.
Herzog seconded.
A 10-minute recess was called for at 8:43 p.m.
The meeting was resumed at 8:56 p.m.
Herzog said that he appreciated information provided by the administration and noted that he would suggest other budget cuts after this discussion.
Kiest moved to place the motion to amend on the table until all other amendments have been acted on tonight. Herzog seconded. The motion to table carried unanimously.
Thompson informed the council that he might not be able to attend the December 11, 2003 meeting.
Armanini pointed out that the proposed 2004 budget includes $150,000 for street overlay funded by real estate excise tax. Interim Finance Director Housler said that the funding source has not changed from prior years.
Kiest noted that the council had discussed taking such funding from the general fund and had determined that option was not preferable.
Herzog moved to amend the proposed 2004 budget as follows:
Page 32 Reduce Mayor’s salary by $500
Kiest seconded.
Herzog noted that this reflects the reality of the payroll schedule.
The motion to amend carried unanimously.
Herzog moved to amend the proposed 2004 budget as follows:
Page 32 Consultant for City Administrator contract $2,500 $0
Kiest seconded.
Following discussion, the motion failed 3-4 (Aye—Herzog, Sterner, Goss; Nay—Olstad, Armanini, Kiest, Thompson).
Herzog moved to amend the proposed 2004 budget as follows:
Page 27 Decrease Internet Access or Internet Access Allowance $1,080$0
Sterner seconded.
Following discussion, the motion to amend carried 4-3 (Aye—Olstad, Goss, Herzog, Sterner; Nay—Armanini, Kiest, Thompson).
Herzog moved to amend the proposed 2004 budget as follows:
Page 62 Decrease contribution for mobile stage $9,000$7,500
Kiest seconded.
Herzog said his intent is to fund the mobile stage proportionately with the Shoreline contribution. Following further discussion and comments from Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council Executive Director Ros Bird, the maker and seconder withdrew the motion to amend.
Herzog moved to amend the proposed 2004 budget as follows:
Page 48 Decrease Information Services Strategic Plan $15,000$5,000
Following discussion, the motion did not carry 2-5 (Aye—Goss, Herzog; Nay—Olstad, Armanini, Kiest, Thompson, Sterner).
Olstad moved for reconsideration of the approved amendment as follows:
Page 27 Decrease Internet Access or Internet Access Allowance $1,080$0
Kiest seconded.
Following discussion, the motion for reconsideration carried unanimously.
Armanini moved to amend the proposed 2004 budget as follows:
Page 27 Decrease Internet Access or Internet Access Allowance $1,080$360
Kiest seconded. The motion to amend carried unanimously.
Thompson moved to amend the proposed 2004 budget as follows:
Page 62 Increase Lake Forest Park Arts Council contribution $14,025$14,425.
Olstad seconded. The motion to amend carried unanimously.
In response to a question from Armanini, Olstad reported on the recent interviews of interested firms conducted by the Sustaining Lake Forest Park Livability task force. He reported that the task force had selected Berk & Associates after a complete review and discussion of the firms. He noted that the proposed timeline, goals and scope of work had been reviewed with the firm at a meeting earlier in the day.
Haines noted that the administration is seeking other grants that might be appropriate to fund a portion of the study.
Armanini said that she is still working on understanding the public benefit of the study and remains incredibly skeptical regarding the public/private relationship and interest represented.
Thompson moved to amend the proposed 2004 budget as follows:
Page 61 Third Place Commons – programs
Third Place Commons – development grant$7,500
$7,500
Sterner seconded.
Following discussion, Sterner moved to amend as follows:
Page 61 Third Place Commons – programs
Third Place Commons – development grant$7,500
$7,500$10,000
$10,000
Goss seconded.
Olstad noted that he serves on the board of Friends of Third Place Commons and recused himself from action on the proposed amendment.
The motion to amend the proposed amendment did not carry 2-4 (Aye—Goss, Sterner; Nay—Armanini, Kiest, Thompson, Herzog; Olstad recused).
The motion to amend the proposed 2004 budget carried with six votes (Aye—Goss, Armanini, Kiest, Thompson, Herzog, Sterner; Olstad recused) as follows:
Page 61 Third Place Commons – programs
Third Place Commons – development grant$7,500
$7,500
Thompson moved to amend the proposed 2004 budget as follows:
Page 95 Add Permit Technician 0.51.0
Olstad seconded.
Discussion followed regarding funding for the full-time position.
The motion carried 4-3 (Aye—Olstad, Goss, Kiest, Thompson; Nay—Armanini, Herzog, Sterner).
(Motion placed on table until all other amendments completed.)
Sterner moved to amend the proposed 2004 budget to restore the following item:
Page 3: Disability insurance for employees $13,820.
Herzog seconded.
Haines discussed the proposal to add long-term disability insurance for non-represented employees and noted that this coverage is for catastrophic illness or injury.
In response to a question from Goss, Haines noted that of the cities surveyed, 29 cities provide long-term disability insurance for employees, and Lake Forest Park is one of five cities that do not.
Armanini noted that information had been provided showing that other cities require employees to pay 6 percent – 23 percent of benefit costs. She said the city should not say yes to everything at a time of double-digit increases in health insurance costs.
Haines noted that employees would be paying 5 percent of benefit costs, and the city is changing to the less expensive Group Health plan. With the addition of the disability insurance option, the increase is 14 percent.
Herzog said that consideration should be given to lowering the cost-of-living increase to pay for the disability insurance benefit.
Thompson expressed his concern regarding the proposal to lower the cost-of-living increase. He noted that the entire employee group must participate if the disability increase insurance benefit is offered, and disability insurance is a benefit that employees value highly. (Council approved 12/11/03)
Following further discussion, the motion did not carry 3-4 (Aye—Olstad, Goss, Thompson; Nay—Armanini, Kiest, Herzog, Sterner).
Thompson moved to advance Ordinance 904/Adopting 2004 Budget to the final action calendar on December 11, 2003. Olstad seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
COUNCIL REPORTS
Goss expressed her concern regarding recent correspondence with King County Councilmember Carolyn Edmonds regarding the proposed engineering study for the Burke Gilman Trail and requested that Edmonds be informed that the mayor had not consulted with the council.
Kiest noted that some residents do not trust the county regarding any action involving the Burke Gilman Trail.
Armanini noted that the Burke Gilman Trail is a hot button issue and noted that the mayor’s letter covers policy issues on which the council was not consulted.
Kiest noted the importance of a unified council regarding this process and the need to proceed carefully.
Thompson said that a letter from the mayor could indicate that he had agreed to consult further with the council in response to Cmbr. Edmonds’ letter and that a timely response to her letter was anticipated.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no objection, the meeting was adjourned at 11:05 p.m.
Susan Stine, City Clerk
David R. Hutchinson, Mayor
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