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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-10-1997 - MinutesMEDINA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES March 10, 1997 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 7:00 PM by Mayor Pro Tern Susan Potts. The Council meeting was recorded on audio tape. ROLL CALL: Present: Councilmembers Daniel Becker, Lynn Benz, Thomas Morgan, Grahame Ross, Mayor Pro Tern Susan Potts and Mayor Dewey Taylor. Absent: Councilmember Ray Cory. City Staff Present: City Manager Doug Schulze, Assistant City Manager/City Clerk Woody Edvalson, Police Chief Joe Race, City Attorney Kirk Wines. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Councilmember Benz moved to approve the minutes from the February 10, 1997 meeting. Councilmember Becker seconded the motion. Approved unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS: City Attorney, Kirk Wines, announced that representatives of the Myrhvold/Havranek project at 7939 Overlake Dr. W. had agreed to barge out the excavated materials during the new home construction. He also announced that Sprint Spectrum had withdrawn their request for appeal to the Council for permits at the St. Thomas Church site due to the approval of a permit on an alternate site in Clyde Hill. His final announcement was that the date for the Sprint appeal hearing before the City Council at the Medina Store site was scheduled for March 24. He reported that Sprint had agreed to withdraw its court petition for a writ of mandamus, to force the City to make a decision. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION There were no members of the audience choosing to address the Council on items not on the Council agenda. Medina City Council Minutes March 10, 1997 Page 2 DISCUSSION 77TH AVENUE NE The City Council considered recommendations from residents in the area of 77th Ave. NE and NE 22nd Street addressing speeding in the area. A meeting had been previously facilitated at City Hall to allow the residents to arrive at a consensus for a solution. Residents speaking in favor of the proposed solution were Roger Barbee, 1687 77th Ave. NE, reported that 15 people representing 12 households had been at the neighborhood meeting. He said that another two households had written letters for consideration at the meeting. Mr. Barbee reported that the group consensus had been to create four-way stops on NE 22nd St. at 77th and 78th Ave. NE, and to install a no right turn sign at NE 22nd St. and 77th Ave. NE. The sign would be oriented to impact west bound traffic on NE 22nd St. Also speaking on the issue were Helen Argus, 2056 77th Ave. NE, Gail Pratt, 2232 78th Ave. NE, Walter and Karen Scott, 2022 77th Ave. NE, Steve Brustskern, 2012 77th Ave. NE, and Steve Johnson, 1898 77th Ave. NE. Walter Scott presented a petition that he reported was signed by all but one resident on NE 22nd St. At the conclusion of discussion, the Council consensus was to try the four-way stop signs without the additional no right turn sign. There was concern about increasing confusion for other City residents, and a desire expressed to create the least impact possible that would still reduce the speed on 77th Ave. NE. Councilmember Ross moved that four way stops be created at the intersections of NE 22nd St. and 77th and 78th Ave. NE, and that residents be notified of the City's action. A second to the motion was provided by Councilmember Potts. The affirmative vote was unanimous. WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES POLICIES Susan Lawrence, 822 Evergreen Point Road, asked that the Council remember in their deliberations that the wireless carriers are private companies, not public utilities. She also reported that New Jersey has a law that requires homeowners to disclose proximity to EMF sites when selling their homes. She said that Jeff Steinberg, an attorney with the Federal Communications Commission, sent a letter that said the 1996 Telecommunications Act allowed communities to regulate the placement of wireless communications facilities, and that if other reasonable alternatives exist, communities do not have to provide sites. She proposed that the City's ordinance be rewritten to state that due to the unique residential character of Medina, no place for wireless facilities exists that will not have a negative impact on property values. Ms. Lawrence also requested that the Sprint appeal hearing be re -scheduled to 6:00 PM. The City Council discussed the request with City Attorney Wines and determined by consensus to change the hearing to 6:00 PM. Medina City Council Minutes March 10, 1997 Page 3 After a brief introduction to the topic by City Attorney Wines, the City Council discussed changes to the proposed wireless communications facilities policies. A 500 ft. or greater setback from all residential properties was part of the discussion. Other provisions discussed included a height limitation of 35 ft., the requirement that antennas be concealed and/or screened, that new updates in technology be applied to approved sites, that no sub -lease of permitted sites be allowed. Continuing the discussion, the Council asked that the following items be considered: that no towers be allowed on park or school grounds, that pre -installation testing be done at the applicant's expense, and that compensation for use of public land be set at the maximum allowable. Members of the public speaking on the proposed policies were Susan and Jim Lawrence, 822 Evergreen Point Road, Ron Santi, 7842 NE 8th St., and Rusty Roetman, 848 Evergreen Point Road. At the conclusion of the discussion, City Attorney Wines said that he would be doing further refinement of the policy based on Council and Planning Commission input. TCI SERVICE COMPLAINTS City Manager Doug Schulze gave a brief background to the current complaints about the disparity in channel capacity between Medina and the surrounding areas. He asked if the Council wished to have a representative of TCI available at the next meeting to respond to questions about compliance with the City's franchise. Councilmember Potts moved that TCI be required to appear at the next Council meeting and meet with the City to discuss the current service and the required upgrades. Councilmember Benz made the second. All were in favor. LAKE WASHINGTON FORUM INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT City Manager Doug Schulze presented a brief staff report. By participating in the Forum, the City would have a voice in the development of regional solutions to fish habitat, water quality and flooding within the watershed. A $3,000 membership assessment was budgeted and part of the agreement. Councilmember Ross moved for approval of the interlocal agreement. Councilmember Potts seconded the motion. Approval was unanimous. STAFF REPORTS FINANCE REPORT Councilmember Morgan moved the approval of City general expense warrants Nos. 10152 - 10222, except 10188 which was void, totaling $101,977.41. He also moved the approval of personnel warrants - 15227 - 15275 for a total of $74,353.99. Councilmember Benz seconded the motion. All were in favor. Medina City Council Minutes March 10, 1997 Page 4 POLICE DEPARTMENT Police Chief Race had nothing to add to his written report provided in the agenda packet. NEW BUSINESS LEOFF I AGREEMENT City Manager Schulze presented a letter outlining a compromise with the City of Bellevue to resolve the current impasse over the degree of liability for the City of Medina with respect to future funding of LEOFF I firefighter retiree medical benefits. The City Council briefly discussed LEOFF I Issues. The essential element of the agreement is that the Cities agree to negotiate the setup of a LEOFF I Reserve. Medina's maximum liability for 1997 would be $8,800 or the amount arrived at through the negotiation process, whichever was the lesser of the two amounts. Councilmember Ross moved the approval of the letter agreement. Councilmember Potts made the second. Five Councilmembers were in favor, with Councilmember Morgan opposed. TRAFFIC CIRCLE AT HUNTS POINT AND 84TH AVE. NE The City Council expressed concern regarding the implementation of a traffic circle in Hunts Point on 84th Ave. NE. Council asked staff to obtain proposed plans for further comment. COMPUTER MODELING FOR 84TH AND 92ND AVE. NE Councilmember Morgan announced that a demonstration of a traffic computer simulation modeling traffic on 84th and 92nd Ave. NE would take place the following day at the City of Bellevue. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Becker moved for adjournment. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Ross. All were in favor. The meeting adjourned at 9:40 PM. 2i'L j V -Tb* Susan Potts, Mayor Pro Tern Attest: Harwood T. Edvalson, City Clerk