Staff present: David R. Hutchinson, Mayor; Karen Haines, City Administrator; Michael Ruark, City Attorney; Dennis Peterson, Police Chief; Sarah Phillips, Government & Community Relations Manager; Stephen Bennett, Planning and Building Director; Susan Stine, City Clerk
Others present: 37 visitors
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hutchinson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Cmbr. Goss led council in the pledge of allegiance.
RECOGNITION—RETIREMENT
Ronald Seguin, Police Officer
Chief of Police Dennis Peterson thanked Officer Ron Seguin for 21 years of service as a patrol officer with the Lake Forest Park Police Department. Peterson noted that Seguin began his law enforcement career as an officer in Cleveland, Ohio. Peterson said that Seguin’s service as the D.A.R.E. officer made him an outstanding role model for the students and school staff as well as the community. Peterson presented Seguin with a plaque and an American flag as mementos of his service and noted that Seguin would attend his last roll call as an officer with the Lake Forest Park Police Department.
Melvin Walton, Police Records Clerk
Chief of Police Dennis Peterson thanked Records Specialist Melvin Walton for 15 years of service to the city of Lake Forest Park. Peterson noted that Walton had served as a 911 dispatcher and then as police department records specialist. Peterson noted that records specialists are often the unsung heroes of the police department and thanked Walton for his honesty, integrity and pride that he took in his work. Peterson presented Walton with a plaque and an American flag as mementos of his service and noted that Walton would attend his last roll call as a member of the Lake Forest Park Police Department.
A five-minute recess was taken at 7:42 p.m.
The meeting was resumed at 7:46 p.m.
MAYOR’S REPORT
Hutchinson noted the upcoming Picnic in the Park July 23-24 and invited everyone to attend. Community and Government Affairs Manager Sarah Phillips described some of the scheduled events and said that fun for the whole family is planned.
Hutchinson reported on the status of the streamlined sales tax (SST) issue.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Thompson noted that Cmbrs. Kiest and Armanini are planning to leave the meeting early, and he requested to add the report from the council ad hoc committee on Burke Gilman Trail issues following citizen comments.
Cmbr. Thompson moved to hold over Ordinance 905//Relating to City’s Sign Regulations and Ordinance 906/Relating to Legal Nonconforming Signs to the August 12, 2004 regular council meeting agenda. Cmbr. Armanini seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Armanini moved to adopt the agenda as amended. Cmbr. Kiest seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Kiest requested that no action be taken on the proposed ordinances related to signs in his absence at the August 12, 2004 meeting. He said that he had no objection to action on the ordinance related to trails if this were perfected in his absence.
COUNCIL AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORT ON BURKE GILMAN TRAIL ISSUES
Thompson noted that he and committee members Armanini and Goss had met, and he distributed a committee report.
Thompson noted that the ad hoc committee recommended that regulatory issues related to development that are customarily the realm of legislative policy-making should remain under council work plans.
Thompson reported on the committee’s recommendation regarding the role, membership and reporting structure for the proposed advisory committee. The committee also recommended that the proposed memorandum of agreement with King County be limited in scope.
In response to a question from Cmbr. Goss regarding signage, councilmembers discussed the County’s authority regarding design issues. Sterner said that the council’s regulatory authority includes public safety and noted the council’s process for developing additional regulations if necessary.
Cmbr. Kiest exited the meeting at 8 p.m.
Olstad agreed with Sterner’s comments and recommended that public safety be added as an area of legislative policy-making related to trail development.
Herzog moved that council accept the report of the council ad hoc committee on Burke Gilman Trail issues, including the proposal for developing a memorandum of agreement with the Council, and incorporate comments from councilmembers as follows:
Special Committee Report
(First paragraph) “…regulating the development through land use, drainage, maintenance, SEPA, public safety, and related areas….”
(Fourth and final paragraph) “…The membership would consist
of: 3 Councilmembers, 2 BG Trail adjacent property owners, 1 recreational
cyclist, 1 commuter cyclist, 1 Planning Parks and Recreation Commissioner,
and 1 to 3 at-large members.”
Thompson seconded.
Hutchinson discussed his plans to meet with County representatives regarding the Burke Gilman Trail and his proposal that the advisory committee requested by the county report to and be staffed by the County.
Armanini expressed her concern regarding Hutchinson’s comments and also expressed her interest that a councilmember be included in meetings with the County.
Herzog said that he has no problem with the County supplying the staff for the proposed advisory committee, but he emphasized the need for the city council to have a significant role in the redevelopment process.
Goss expressed her concern that the County is using “divide and conquer” tactics with the council and the administration.
Armanini expressed her concern that that county has not kept promises it made 30 years ago when the Burke Gilman Trail was originally developed.
Following further discussion, Thompson reminded the council that the proposed advisory committee is not involved with regulations.
Herzog said that he hopes that the proposed advisory committee will be balanced and that it would not be stacked with absolutist proponents.
Olstad said that he would not want to see two separate advisory committees working on Burke Gilman Trail redevelopment issues, and he expressed his support for establishing one committee.
Sterner recommended that the ad hoc committee report, following council approval, be transmitted to the County tomorrow so that they are aware of the council’s wishes prior to the proposed meeting next week.
In response to a question from Olstad, Thompson confirmed that the work of the council ad hoc committee on Burke Gilman Trail issues is completed. He encouraged his colleagues to keep in mind that the county owns the trail and has the funding for the improvements, and he mentioned the need to keep the issues in perspective. Thompson also reminded councilmembers that the administration has the authority to meet with King County.
Cmbr. Armanini exited the meeting at 8:30 p.m.
Thompson reminded the administration that policy is made by ordinance or resolution, and he said that the council does not wish to manage details.
The motion to accept the committee report as amended carried unanimously with five votes.
For the record, Thompson said that Cmbr. Armanini was in favor of approval of the committee report as amended.
SECOND READING CALENDAR
Ordinance 909/Amending LFPMC 18.52.48 Relating to Conditional Use Permit
Requirements for Trails
Thompson moved to take Ordinance 909/Amending LFPMC 18.52.48 Relating to Conditional Use Permit Requirements for Trails as the next item on the agenda. Cmbr. Olstad seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
City Administrator Karen Haines noted that documents discussing AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) standards for trails had been provided earlier, and the recent council packet included additional information regarding trails, bicycle and multi-use facilities, trail effects and other issues. Haines noted that Planning and Building Director Stephen Bennett has researched the area of SEPA lead agency options related to the proposed redevelopment of the Burke Gilman Trail.
Bennett said he had worked with the city attorney to prepare information for council consideration regarding lead agency options. He said that the city could assume lead agency status if the County issues a Determination of Non-Significance (DNS); the city would remain a party of record if the County is lead agency and thereby retain the ability to appeal the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); or the County and City could agree to be co-lead agencies.
Councilmembers discussed potential issues related to co-lead status, noted that the city lacks experience in this area and agreed that lead agency responsibilities should remain with the County.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Thompson moved to approve the consent calendar as follows:
Herzog seconded.
There was no objection to Herzog’s request to correct the July 8, 2004 council regular meeting minutes to show Cmbr. Sterner’s absence as excused.
The motion to approve the consent calendar as amended carried unanimously.
FIRST READING CALENDAR
Ordinance 912/Amending 2004 Salary Schedule for City Administrator Position
Ordinance 912/Amending 2004 Salary Schedule for City Administrator Position was advanced to the second reading calendar by council consensus.
NEW BUSINESS
Reports—Council
Cmbr. Olstad reported that the Sustaining a Livable Lake Forest Park Task Force held its final community forum on July 15. Citizens reviewed and discussed three designs for the town center, which were developed based on citizen input at the previous community forums.
CONSENT CALENDAR/RECONSIDERATION
Amendment to July 8, 2004 Study Session Minutes
Goss stated that Cmbr. Armanini had requested an amendment be made to the July 8, 2004 study session minutes.
Thompson moved to reconsider the approval of the consent calendar. Herzog seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Goss moved to amend the July 8, 2004 council study session minutes as follows:
Page 2, line 49: “…aware of the level and cost of service that is …”
Thompson seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Thompson moved to adopt the consent calendar as amended. Goss seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
Reports—Council
Goss reported on recent meetings of the SeaShore Transportation Forum and discussed issues and ideas related to Sound Transit’s second phase planning.
New topics for discussion
--Council Retreat Summary
Herzog noted that the council retreat summary has been listed on several council agendas and suggested that this topic should be scheduled for discussion at the August 26, 2004 council meeting.
Herzog moved to excuse Cmbrs. Sterner, Thompson and Kiest from the August 12, 2004 study session and council meeting.
Haines noted that no study session is planned for August 12, 2004.
Olstad seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Community and Government Affairs Manager Sarah Phillips reported to the council that cable and telecommunications franchise consultant Lon Hurd died recently and unexpectedly.
In response to a question from Thompson, Hutchinson discussed the vacancies on various city commissions.
CANCEL AUGUST 12, 2004 COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
Herzog moved to cancel the August 12, 2004 council study session. Sterner seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
At 9:10 p.m., Hutchinson noted that the next item on the agenda is an executive session for discussion of personnel matters for approximately 15 minutes. Those not required to remain for the executive session exited the council chambers at this time.
Executive Session
--Personnel matters
The meeting was recessed to executive session at 9:14 p.m. for approximately 15 minutes for discussion of personnel matters.
The meeting was reconvened at 9:26 p.m.
SECOND READING CALENDAR
Ordinance 912/Amending 2004 Salary Schedule for City Administrator Position
Thompson moved to suspend the rules and to advance Ordinance 912 to the final action calendar for action. Sterner seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
FINAL ACTION CALENDAR
Ordinance 912/Amending 2004 Salary Schedule for City Administrator Position
Olstad moved to approve Ordinance 912/Amending 2004 Salary Schedule for the City Administrator Position.
Sterner seconded. The motion to approve Ordinance 912 carried unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no objection, the meeting was adjourned at 9:27 p.m.
Susan Stine, City Clerk
David R. Hutchinson, Mayor
|Return to the City Council Minutes page |
|Home|
|City|
|Community|
|Kiosk|
|Search|
|News|
|About This Site|