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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-10-1997 - MinutesMEDINA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES November 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 Potts. The Council meeting was recorded on audio tape. ROLL CALL Present: Councilmembers Daniel Becker, Lynn Benz, Ray Cory, Tom Morgan and Mayor Susan Potts. Absent: Councilmembers Grahame Ross and Dewey Taylor. City Staff Present: City Manager Doug Schulze, City Attorney Kirk Wines, Asst. City Mgr./City Clerk Woody Edvalson, Acting Police Chief Doug Ambrose MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING Councilmember Benz moved the approval of the minutes for the October 13,1997 Regular Council Meeting. Councilmember Becker seconded the motion. All were in favor. ANNOUNCEMENTS Councilmember Becker reported that the Trans- Lake Study organizational meeting to establish the study committee was apparently a flop. Opposition was expressed at the meeting regarding the committee composition. The next meeting to determine committee representation will be held in early 1998. City Manager Doug Schulze reported that staff had received a proposal to grind out the ghost" lines on 24th Ave. NE for $3,150. After brief discussion, the Council gave the go-ahead to eradicate the confusing lines. Medina City Council Minutes November 10, 1997 Page 2 City Manager Schulze also reported that METRO had said they would send a crew to clean the park-n-ride at Evergreen Point Road. Resolving the maintenance concerns and their impact on adjacent properties would require additional follow-up with METRO. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION Susan Lawrence, 822 Evergreen Point Road, congratulated the City on its timely support of Senator Leahy's bill to guarantee local zoning control of wireless communications applications. She asked that the City Newsletter contain the contacts for Senator Gorton's and Congressman White's Offices so that residents could express support for the bill. Jim Lawrence, 822 Evergreen Point Road, a Medina planning commissioner, expressed his concern to the Council regarding the parking in the City's rights -of -way for construction and landscape service workers. He was particularly concerned about the City Hall area, but noted the problem existed city-wide. He asked the Council if they would like to direct the planning commission to look at the issue. Mayor Potts asked Mr. Lawrence to report the Council's desire for the commission to address these concerns. STAFF REPORTS FINANCE COMMITTEE Councilmember Morgan moved the approval of October finance warrants numbered 10799 to 10875 along with the three corrections, 910608, 910766 and 910804, in the amount of $145,494.11. He also moved the approval of September personnel warrants numbered 15673 to 15718 in the amount of $71,721.69. Councilmember Benz seconded the motion. All were in favor. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS Acting Chief Ambrose reported the occurrence of two assault incidents. One involved teens at a bus stop. The other was a fight between two brothers, which resulted in an arrest. Two attempted burglaries also occurred. One home had a broken window with no apparent entry, the other had a kitchen door kicked in, again with no further entry. Two thefts were reported from automobiles-- a car phone and a pair of binoculars. An auto theft was also reported but the vehicle was stopped before leaving Medina. Two incidents of malicious mischief/prowlers were reported with no further incident. Acting Chief Ambrose also reported that the apparent discrepancy in use of reserve hours between Hunts Point and Medina was a typographical error. The use of reserves is the same for the two jurisdictions. He reported further that the use of delineator pylons on 84th Ave. NE near SR520 helped decrease the number of lane jumpers. Tickets were also written at that location. Medina City Council Minutes November 10, 1997 Page 3 The last item under public safety reports was a discussion regarding winter season response from the Mercer Island Marine Patrol. Councilmember Morgan, again, expressed concern that he had been informed by a dispatcher with Mercer Island that Marine Patrol Services had been suspended for the winter. Mayor Potts assigned the Council Public Safety Committee to review the contract and report back to the Council. PUBLIC HEARING TCI - CONSIDER IMPOSING PENALTIES FOR FRANCHISE NON-COMPLIANCE Hearing Continued from October 13, 1997.) City Manager Schulze reported that TCI appeared close to receiving a franchise from Clyde Hill to put the fiber optic link through the town that would allow increased channel capacity in Medina. Citing the continued delays on the part of TCI, the Council discussed the potential for alternative services. Mayor Potts appointed Arthur Dietrich who was in the audience to head a committee charged with investigating cable TV competition for TCI in Medina. After further discussion, Councilmember Becker moved that staff be instructed to pursue fines according to the franchise agreement with TCI, if the City was entitled to collect such fines, and to offer TCI the opportunity to rebate customers or offer free services in lieu of fines, such as, free access to premium channels. Councilmember Morgan made the second to the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS ORDINANCE NO. 632 -AN ORDINANCE REGULATING ACCESSORY STRUCTURES WITHIN SIDE AND REAR YARD SETBACKS City Attorney Kirk Wines reviewed the proposed ordinance with the Council. In summary, he said the ordinance grandfathers in all existing accessory structures in the setback, allows each building site, with appropriate permit, to construct a new accessory structure within 5 ft. of the side and/or rear side yard setback. Mechanical equipment enclosures would be limited to no more than 100 sq. ft. within 10 feet of the rear yard property line. Screening landscaping must conceal the accessory structures within 5 years. Any new structures would require neighbor approval. Tom Dropchinski, 7979 NE 28th Ave, commented on the Councilmember's concerns that accessory structures in the setbacks would be too noisy for adjacent properties. He noted that the City had a noise ordinance that already regulated allowable mechanical noise as measured by the number of decibels at the property line. Councilmember Cory expressed concern over the time period to screen the structures. He suggested the time frame be reduced to one or two years. The Council also discussed the process for notification of neighbors. Medina City Council Minutes November 10, 1997 Page 4 Steve Preston 7640 NE 32nd St., commenting on the Council's proposal to reduce the allowable square footage for structures, suggested that the size should not be reduced below 10 by 10 feet. Jim Sisley, 3450 Evergreen Point Road, supported the earlier comments on sound. He felt that sound level not size should be the only limiting factor. He also suggested that properties with two distinct topographical levels should be allowed an accessory structure for each level of the property. Tom Dropchinski, added to his earlier comments that the landscape screening should be given adequate time to grow and fill in. He was concerned that mature landscape material would be very expensive. Councilmember Cory moved to approve Ordinance No. 632 in the form submitted with a change to require that landscaping screen the structure within two years. Councilmember Morgan seconded the motion. Councilmember Becker offered an amendment to the motion requesting provisions to allow for an administrative variance for existing structures. After Council discussion of the concept, he withdrew his motion. Voting on the original motion and second was unanimous. ANNOUNCEMENTS Councilmember Morgan announced that Hedges and Roth had been asked to prepare diagrams to assist the Council in visualizing the concepts involved in Ordinance No. 614 Preservation of Quality Communities. ORDINANCES ORDINANCE NO. 633 -AN ORDINANCE AMENDING MEDINA MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 6.04.040 - DOG AND CAT LICENSES AND PROVIDING FOR LIFETIME DOG AND CAT LICENSES Assistant City Manager Woody Edvalson provided a staff report on the proposed ordinance. He noted that the current annual license system created a great deal of administrative paperwork. He felt that a lifetime license would reduce the paperwork involved and the administrative expense to the City. Councilmember Morgan expressed concern about the monitoring of rabies vaccinations. He suggested that a fine be imposed on those who do not keep current their animal's rabies vaccinations. Edvalson suggested a fine of not less than $25 dollars. Councilmember Becker moved to adopt Ordinance No. 633 to include a penalty of not less than $25 dollars for failure to maintain current rabies vaccinations. Councilmember Cory provided a second. All were in favor. Medina City Council Minutes November 10, 1997 Page 5 PRELIMINARY BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 1998 City Manager Schulze prefaced the public hearing with a brief overview of anticipated revenues and expenditures. He added that the budget allowed the Council to reduce the property tax levy and still retain approximately $95,000 in contingency to offset any revenue shortfall. Mayor Potts opened the public hearing. Arthur Dietrich, 707 Overlake Drive East, complimented the City Manager on the preparation of the preliminary budget. He asked to be supplied a comparison of expenditures by department for the current and previous year. Steve Preston, 7640 NE 32nd St., asked about various proposed expenditures for computer related items. City Manager Schulze reported that the impact to the City of the EMS levy failure may be as much as $80,000. After further discussion, the Council directed staff to provide more detail on proposed park maintenance, to look at using a trained dog for geese control at the Beach Park, and to add in the capital projects proposed by the Park Board and Council Public Works Committee. The Council complimented the City Manager on his presentation of the preliminary budget. DISCUSSION ALTERNATES TO PLANNING COMMISSION City Manager Schulze reported that one of the alternates to the Planning Commission, Herb Lyon, had announced his inability to further serve in that capacity. He explained that the Planning Commission recommended the Council appoint one of the following three past planning commissioners as an alternate, i.e., Maryel Duzan, David Odegard, or Anne Zubko. The Council discussed the relative merits of having community members without previous service on the commission versus appointing community members with previous experience. The first alternative offered community members the opportunity to become familiar with the workings of the planning commission preparing them for more extensive service in the future. The other alternative relied upon the experience of former commissioners to integrate more quickly into the commission's workings on an as needed basis. At the conclusion of discussion, the Council consensus was to allow the Mayor to appoint Maryel Duzan as an alternate to the Planning Commission. CITY HALL POLICE VEHICLE PARKING City Manager Schulze reported the recent plans to move police vehicle parking from in front of City Hall to the City's shop on 80th Ave. NE. He explained the plans to move the fencing at the shop to increase the available parking area. He added that if a rock Medina City Council Minutes November 10, 1997 Page 6 wall were needed to shore up the parking expansion, the cost could escalate from the previously reported amount of $3300 to $8800. Councilmember Morgan moved to approve the expenditure of $3300 until the City Engineer could advise as to the need for the rock wall. Councilmember Cory seconded the motion. Councilmember Becker offered an amendment to the motion, moving to approve up to $8800 as needed, allowing staff the discretion to proceed with the project if it was determined the rock wall was needed. Both Councilmembers Morgan and Cory accepted the amendment. The amended motion was adopted unanimously. NEW BUSINESS JOINT USE AGREEMENT FOR BALL FIELDS WITH BELLEVUE SCHOOL DISTRICT Councilmember Becker reported that he was approached by Bellevue West Baseball inquiring as to the City's interest in converting the upper area of Fairweather Park into a ball field. He said that the organization would front the cost to allow for the conversion of the space. Councilmembers expressed concern that neighbors would oppose the change in use. Mayor Potts asked that the City Manager present the issue to the Park Board for discussion. Kathryn Akita was mentioned as a contact for Bellevue West Baseball. FIRE CONTRACT City Manager Schulze reported that the negotiations between the Points Communities and the City of Bellevue were progressing. He described one of the major sticking points as the unwillingness of Bellevue to allow any input into the actuarial formula for determining the LEOFF I retiree health benefits liability. He asked for Council representation at the next negotiating session. At Mayor Pott's request, Councilmember Morgan agreed to attend. EXECUTIVE SESSION At 10:35 PM, and under authority of RCW 42.30.110 Mayor Potts announced that the Council would hold an executive session to discuss personnel issues. She announced the session would conclude at 11:00 PM. Medina City Council Minutes November 10, 1997 Page 7 ADJOURNMENT At 11:05 PM, the Council reconvened the regular session and by common consent adjourned the meeting. Attest: wood T. Edvalson, City Clerk Susan Potts, Mayor