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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-08-1996 - MinutesMEDINA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES April 8, 1996 Medina City Hall 7:00 PM 501 Evergreen Point Rd. CALL TO ORDER: The regular meeting of the Medina City Council was called to order at 7:05 PM by Mayor Pro Tern Potts. The meeting was tape recorded. ROLL CALL: Present: Councilmembers Daniel Becker, Lynn Benz, Ray Cory, Thomas Morgan, Grahame Ross, and Mayor Pro Tern Susan Potts Mayor Taylor arrived at approximately 7:10 PM, and received the gavel from Mayor Pro Tern Potts. City Staff Present: City Manager Papke, Police Chief Race, City Clerk Edvalson, City Attorney Wines MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Councilmember Morgan moved the approval of the minutes from the Council meeting of March 11, 1996. Councilmember Becker seconded the motion. All were in favor. ANNOUNCEMENTS Councilmember Potts announced the Community Night at Medina Elementary School on Thursday, April 11, 1996 at 7:00 PM. She said that it was an opportunity for the school kids to give something back to the community for all the support during fund-raisers, etc. City Attorney Wines presented information to the Council on the Open Space application process. He noted that King County had gathered all the information that would be made available for the Council's review and decision. City Attorney Wines said that he would be distributing the information to the Council over the next week or so. He asked that the Council set a public hearing for the Council meeting in May to consider the application. The Council asked City Clerk Edvalson to coordinate a visit to the site by the Council committee assigned to review the application. Mayor Taylor announced the resignation of City Manager Papke. She will continue to serve until the end of June. Both Councilmember Cory and Mayor Taylor praised the work accomplished by City Manager Papke during her four years with Medina. They noted particularly her ability to unify the staff and focus their energies on resolving the City's problems. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION Dr. Steve Guyton, 7404 NE 18th Street, requested that the City Council consider limitations on the length of time construction projects may continue in the City of Medina. He noted that his family had been exposed to an adjacent construction project for 5'/2 years. He expressed his feelings that the health consequences to long term Medina residents exposed to long-term construction projects is so severe that it needs to be curtailed. Medina City Council Minutes April 8, 1996 Page 2 PUBLIC HEARING City Attorney Wines provided a brief background to the moratorium on the issuance of special use permits for the installation of cellular communication facilities. His comments included the purpose for the public hearing and the Council process for continuing the moratorium at the conclusion of the hearing. Steve Bennett, a representative of Sprint Spectrum read a list of questions to the City Council based on the proposed Council resolution for continuing the moratorium. When asked about the intent of the questions, Mr. Bennett responded that it was an attempt to initiate a dialogue with the City to address Sprint Spectrum's concerns with the moratorium. The Council responded that the time for dialogue was before Sprint sued the City, not during litigation. Councilmember Morgan asked staff if they had received any of the information that the cellular industry had offered at the last combined meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission. City Attorney Wines responded that no additional information had been forthcoming. City Manager Papke said that it was her understanding that industry representatives were meeting to provide the information requested by the Council and hoped that something would be forthcoming. She asked if in the meantime the Council would like to direct staff to develop a draft ordinance for consideration. The Council concluded that it would prefer to wait until the industry information was received before work started on a draft ordinance. Randi Hilleso of Vento Communications Inc. (VCI), 4040 Lake Washington Blvd. NE, Suite 110, Kirkland, WA, another representative of Sprint Spectrum said that the consortium of industry representatives have been meeting and trying to coordinate the provision of information to the Council. She anticipated that the information would be provided within the next couple of weeks. Wilma Edmonds, 7721 NE 24th St., asked if the Council would be holding additional public meetings. She was concerned that there were many more citizens concerned about this issue than were present at the meeting. City Manager Papke responded that the process of consideration and adoption of an ordinance would involve several more opportunities for public input. Receiving no further requests to speak, Mayor Taylor closed the public input portion of the hearing. Councilmember Cory moved the adoption of Resolution No. 237 with the findings of fact. Councilmember Benz seconded the motion. Councilmember Potts offered an amendment to the motion to include "church" in the list of existing non- residential uses in the City. Councilmember Ross seconded the amendment. Mayor Taylor called for a vote on the amendment. All were in favor. He then called for a vote on the original motion with the amendment. Again, all were in favor. DISCUSSION EASTSIDE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM(ETP) AGREEMENT City Manager Papke reviewed the past Council action on the agreement in late 1995, when approval was granted for the agreement. She said that subsequently several cities had expressed concerns, and the ETP had made revisions to the agreement and sent it back to the participating cities for ratification. Councilmember Becker, one of the Points Communities representatives to the ETP, provided additional information on the changes to the agreement. He moved that Resolution No. 238 be adopted. Councilmember Cory seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and in the affirmative. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS UPDATE/DISCUSSION City Manager Papke noted that Councilmembers Morgan and Potts requested an update on emergency preparedness. She gave a background and status report on the emergency preparedness plan for the City. Explaining that Medina contracts for fire protection services with the City of Bellevue, she introduced Pete Lucarelli, the Bellevue Fire Chief and his Emergency Services Manager, Barb Graff. Medina City Council Minutes April 8, 1996 Page 3 Police Chief Race reported that the preparedness plan is nearing the stage where citizen input is appropriate. He described how the City was divided into reporting districts in the police department, and that the same districting was envisioned as a basis for emergency preparedness organization within the City. Medina Heights is district one. City Hall/Post Office area is number two. Overlake Country Club area is district number three, and Evergreen Point number four. Fire Chief Lucarelli added that there was a program they are currently sponsoring in Bellevue called Strength and Preparedness Among Neighbors (SPAN). It organizes groups of residents along the lines of the neighborhood watch program with an emphasizes on emergency preparedness. Councilmember Morgan asked about the fire department's ability to respond to the areas north of SR-520 after a seismic event. Fire Chief Lucarelli responded that the department had been studying optional access to the Evergreen Point Area, and discussed the possibility of moving fire apparatus up along the pedestrian path at the bus stop on the north side of SR-520 just east of the overpass. He outlined some minor improvements that should be made to make emergency access more acceptable, but felt confident that with those improvements, the department could provide service to Evergreen Point if the overpass was unstable. The Council asked about the need to integrate the schools' preparedness plans with the City's plan. Police Chief Race and Fire Chief Lucarelli briefly described the schools plans and agreed that integration of the plans was essential for successful emergency planning. Police Chief Race concluded that the City 's plan was in a stage where it could be reviewed in detail again with Ms. Graff. He would then organize a process for citizen input and comment. Fire Chief Lucarelli concluded by complimenting staff, and particularly City Manager Papke. STAFF REPORTS Finance Report and Claims On behalf of the Finance Committee, Councilmember Morgan asked that information be provided on the number of new building permits, valuation of construction and the fees associated with the permits. City Manager Papke responded that the monthly report the building permit coordinator prepares has all the information that the committee is requesting. She will provide it to the committee each month. Councilmember Morgan moved the approval of March warrants numbered 9238 through 9312 including 999209 in the amount of $101,325.42, and personnel warrants numbered 14637 through 14687 totaling $71,789.72., excluding those warrants marked as voided. Councilmember Cory seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously. Police Report Police Chief Race reported several incidents of burglary and malicious mischief. One of the incidents involved children throwing objects off of the SR-520 overpass. He also relayed citizen concern over solicitor's approaching homes after dark. He suggested that the Public Safety Committee meet to discuss screening on the SR-520 overpass and the solicitor's ordinance. The committee set Tuesday, April 16, 1996 at noon as the time and date for their meeting. Police Chief Race requested permission from the Council to donate the abandoned bikes that have been accumulated to the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club. The Rotary has an annual drive to repair bicycles and give them without obligation to needy children. The Council requested that an item be placed in the Newsletter. Councilmember Potts complained of speeding construction workers in the morning. City Manager Papke noted that there was a lot of construction going on in the City. Police Chief Race said that they would put more emphasis on the problem. Public Works Councilmember Becker advised staff to be aware that some types of plastic wood become dangerous when mistreated or broken apart. He wanted to make sure that the plastic wood proposed for use in the parks would not present a hazard. Councilmember Becker also asked about the period of time it was estimated that the temporary fencing would remain in place around the playground in Medina Park. City Manager Papke responded that she would speak to the Public Works Superintendent and provide the Council an answer. NEW BUSINESS MEGA -HOUSE RECOMMENDATIONS Councilmember Potts asked that it be conveyed to the Planning Commission and staff that detailed supporting information be provided to help the Council understand the background behind the proposed legislation dealing with large houses. City Manager Papke responded that Planning Commission Chairperson Mark Lostrom plans to deliver an interim report at the May Council meeting and will go over in detail the Commission's work so far. He will take back any additional direction from the Council to the Commission for their further work. WCIA INVESTMENTS Councilmember Cory expressed concern about the Washington Cities Insurance Authority investments and the associated article in the Journal American. City Manager Papke responded that the investments had been carefully studied and were a much more secure investment than those that caused the financial distress in Orange County, CA. She offered to provide additional information to the Council. SR-520 UPDATE Councilmember Becker reported that ETP was asked to review the funding recommendations for transportation projects on the Eastside by the Regional Transit Authority (RTA). ETP made the recommendation to allocate $3,000,000 for the feasibility to look at SR-520. Despite the recommendation, RTA allocated $10,000,000 for an environmental impact statement. He is concerned that RTA may have in mind to use the Washington Transportation Partners (WTP) sponsored SR-520 project as the project upon which to base the impact statement. He recommends that the City voice this concern to its state legislators. Councilmember Morgan expressed his suspicion as well. Mayor Taylor invited Grahame Ross to join him in a meeting with a representative of RTA. At Councilmember Becker's suggestion Mayor Taylor asked him to set up a meeting for the three of them with Bob White of the RTA. TCI RATES Councilmember Cory shared his recollection that residents of the City of Medina were supposed to receive the lowest rates available. He was concerned about reports that some portions of King County were scheduled to receive a lower rate. City Manager Papke volunteered to review the franchise agreement and follow-up on her findings. EXECUTIVE SESSION Mayor Taylor announced that Council would move into executive session to discuss city manager recruitment and ongoing and potential litigation. The Council adjourned to executive session at 9:00 PM, anticipating a return to open session at 9:30 PM. ADJOURNMENT The Council reconvened in open session at 10:00 PM. Councilmqmber Cory moved that the regular meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Ross secnded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously. Dewey L. T arwood T. Edvalson, City Clerk