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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-09-1998 - MinutesMEDINA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES February 9, 1998 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 Becker. The meeting was recorded on audio tape. ROLL CALL Present: Councilmembers Lynn Benz, Tom Morgan, Susan Potts, Steve Preston, Grahame Ross and Mayor Dan Becker. Absent: Suzanne Cohen 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 regular meeting minutes for the January 12, 1998 council meeting. Councilmember Preston seconded the motion. All were in favor. ANNOUNCEMEN Mayor Dan Becker announced that the Washington Transportation Partnership had finally withdrawn their proposal for tolls on SR520. He added that the current Trans -lake Washington study was going forward. He said that both he and Mayor Phil Rourke of Clyde Hill would be representing the Points Communities. Councilmember Tom Morgan announced that the families living north of SR520 on Evergreen Point would be meeting February 12 at Bellevue Christian School to reformulate their neighborhood emergency preparedness plans. Medina City Council Minutes February 9, 1998 Page 2 RE -ORDERING OF AGENDA Mayor Becker announced that a report on a proposed study to share a police chief with the Town of Clyde Hill would be added under the Reports section of the agenda. He also noted that the discussion on emergency preparedness would then follow. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION Bob Rudolph, 1455 Evergreen Point Road, provided an update on efforts to reduce jet noise impacts on the City. He said that the Port of Seattle was looking for some sites in Medina for installation of temporary and potentially permanent noise meters/monitors. Some members of the audience offered to provide a secure location for siting the temporary meter. Mr. Rudolph also noted that the FAA was not requiring the use of the FMS system that would reroute a greater number of planes over the water corridor between Mercer Island and Medina. He added that the FAA was considering March as a starting time to require use of the FMS system by equipped planes as is done in Boston. Susan Lawrence, 822 Evergreen Point Road, encouraged the City to write Sid Morrison of Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and Governor Gary Locke to request copies of any agreements, minutes of meetings, etc., that relate to the cell phone industry efforts to gain access to the WSDOT rights -of -way for siting cell towers. She reported that an agreement between the State and providers was imminent. She complimented the City on its work in the area of cell tower regulation. She said that Medina's efforts had been the basis for cell tower siting regulation in may cities and towns throughout the U.S. STAFF REPORTS PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS Reporting on the past month's criminal activities, Acting Chief Ambrose listed a burglary on Evergreen Point, where the home was occupied by the residents, the theft of some hand-held radios in another incident, and a domestic violence call that involved no arrests. TREASURER'S REPORT/APPROVAL OF WARRANTS The following warrants were submitted for approval to the City Council: December 1997 regular warrants # 10952 - 11062 and 810539, 90000, 910539 and 910773. Voided warrants #11017, 11037 and 11051. December 1997 personnel warrants #15765 - 15791. Voided warrant #15771. Medina City Council Minutes February 9, 1998 Page 3 January 1998 regular warrants #11064 - 11124 and 911037 in the amount of 77,291.06 Voided warrants #11065 and 11071. January 1998 personnel warrants 15821 - 15865 in the amount of $72,642.10. Finance committee member Benz moved the approval of the December 1997 and January 1998 warrants as submitted. Committee member Preston seconded the motion. All were in favor. SHARED POLICE CHIEF Councilmember Ross reported on a meeting with Clyde Hill representatives to discuss a study of the potential to share a police chief. He added that Clyde Hill was the catalyst for the discussion, and that the group agreed on the need to hire a consultant to study the potential merits. After some initial discussion by Councilmembers, it was determined that further action would be taken after an executive session to consider personnel matters. DISCUSSION EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS City Manager Schulze introduced the topic, providing some background on the development of the City's Emergency Preparedness Plan. Officer Maurice Parrish made a presentation on the City's plan. Councilmember Morgan noted that the City still needed to adopt ordinances dealing with continuity of government and a formal adoption of the City's plan. The Council encouraged staff to break the City into identifiable neighborhoods for emergency organization purposes, and to promote the availability of the Bellevue Fire Department's neighborhood emergency preparedness program called S.P.A.N. - Strengthening Preparedness Among Neighbors. ORDINANCES ORDINANCE NO. 637 - AN ORDINANCE AMENDING MEDINA MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 2.04.040 SETTING FORTH THE ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS City Manager Schulze provided an overview of the proposed change to the order of Council business for its council meetings. He noted that the ordinance establishes an updated order of business for their meetings, and includes the use of a consent agenda for items of a routine nature requiring no discussion before approval. Councilmember Potts questioned the need for a consent agenda noting that items not requiring Council discussion have traditionally been few. Medina City Council Minutes February 9, 1998 Page 4 After further Council discussion on the merits of the ordinance, Councilmember Morgan moved to approve Ordinance No. 637 as submitted. Councilmember Benz seconded the motion. All were in favor. DISCUSSION APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE CHAIRS Mayor Becker introduced the item. He noted that subsequent to last months meeting, Councilmember Potts had expressed interest in being added to the special projects Committee and made that appointment. Understanding that there was no set policy on appointment of committee chairs, he felt it appropriate to act on Councilmember Benz' request to be appointed chairperson of the personnel and finance committees. Councilmember Potts spoke in opposition to the concept of appointment by the Mayor, feeling that the committees should determine their own chairpersons. Mayor Becker asked City Manager Schulze to review the Municipal Code to see if there was some direction contained therein. The Council agreed by common consent to table the item to allow for additional research. NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION POLICY Tom Morgan reviewed the development history of the City's Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance. He asked for Council assistance in achieving a consensus on development of a draft ordinance. Asking for Council indulgence, he polled their opinion on four possible positions, i.e., retaining the present ordinance, establishing 15' sideyard setbacks, establishing proportional setbacks allowing the height of the sidewall at the setback to vary with a line set at 45 degrees from the property line to the roofline, and/or further development of an ordinance to limit the bulk or volume of homes. Councilmember Ross expressed his strong opinion that any changes to the zoning should be done in a comprehensive manner. He abstained from participating in the development of a consensus. The remaining Councilmembers reached agreement, and directed City Attorney Wines to prepare an ordinance that would implement the proportional setbacks with varying sidewall height based on the described 45 degree slope. In addition, a majority of the participating Council agreed that there was still some need to look at limiting the bulk or volume of homes on larger lots. This issue was referred back to the Council special committee for further study. APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE CHAIRS (CONT'D.) Reporting on his review of the Municipal Code, City Attorney Wines said there was no clear answer as to appointment of committee chairpersons by the Mayor. He added that it does indicate a duty of the presiding officer to appoint committees, and that questions of order should be decided by the Mayor. The right of appeal to the Council by any member is also available. With Councilmember Potts having expressed an appeal of his action, Mayor Becker asked each of the Council in turn to express their opinion. The Council being evenly split between appointment by the Mayor or having the committees Medina City Council Minutes February 9, 1998 Page 5 select chairpersons themselves, Mayor Becker resolved the issue by agreeing that the committee's should appoint their own chairpersons, unless they were unable to do so. The issues of the SR520 park-n-ride lot and the neighborhood preservation bulk/volume limitations were referred to this committee. INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR JOINTLY FUNDED TRAFFIC STUDY Responding to the call for a motion on this item, Councilmember Potts moved to approve the proposed interlocal agreement and scope of work. Councilmember Ross made the second to the motion. In discussion, Councilmember Morgan asked that the study address the control and timing of the signal at 24th and 84th. Mayor Becker also mentioned that he had suggested the agreement could serve as a mechanism for including items of study for individual communities. All were in favor. STREET SIGNAGE AND BEAUTIFICATION City Manager Schulze explained that the city staff desired direction regarding the establishment of standards for street signs in the City. He added that the public works staff had started to replace the wooden signs with metal posts and reflective aluminum signs in an effort to enhance visibility and reduce the cost associated with replacement and maintenance of the wooden posts and routed cedar signs. A new federal standard for signs would make the use of wooden signs and posts unwieldy. The Council determined that the street sign issue was not only a safety issue, but an aesthetic issue, and agreed to refer the issue to the Planning Commission for review and recommendation. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT VACANCY City Manager Schulze explained that staff sought direction in how to fill the board vacancy. The Council consensus was to provide the personnel committee with applications submitted in the past along with any new applications received subsequent to a recruitment through the newsletter. 1998 CITY COUNCIL PLANNING RETREAT City Manager Schulze invited the Council to hold a planning retreat to allow the new council to review goals and priorities for the City. After some discussion, the Council consensus was to have an off -site facilitated retreat. They asked the City Manager to work on either February 25 or April 27 as tentative dates. NEW BUSINESS BUOY REPLACEMENT City Manager Schulze reported on a recent letter from the Mercer Island Marine Patrol identifying missing or damaged buoys in the waters surrounding Medina. Mayor Becker Medina City Council Minutes February 9, 1998 Page 6 suggested that any action be deferred to incorporate a discussion on marine patrol services for Medina. Both Councilmembers Morgan and Potts expressed an opinion that the buoys should be replaced without delay. Councilmember Potts moved to authorize the transfer of funds in the amount of $4,650 for the purchase and installation of replacement buoys. Councilmember Morgan seconded the motion. All were in favor. ONGOING RESEARCH City Attorney Wines reported that he was researching the street use permit process in neighboring jurisdictions to compare against Medina's current practice. OPEN SPACE PETITION City Attorney Wines reported that the City had received a petition for a reduction of taxation for open space. Mayor Becker assigned the review of the petition to the special projects committee. MUNICIPAL COURT STUDY Councilmember Morgan asked that the Council be provided information on the feasibility of a municipal court, e.g., revenues, expenditures, potential losses, etc. City Manager Schulze said that type of information would be coming in a future report. The report they had received was provided to reflect the direction that was currently being taken by the Suburban Cities Association. ANIMAL CONTROL ENFORCEMENT IN MEDINA PARK Councilmember Ross expressed concern for the abuse of the voice command and leash regulations in Medina Park. He asked that there be more enforcement of the regulations. The Council agreed that there was a problem. City Manager Schulze took direction to increase enforcement in the park and install larger signs. CABLE ISSUES MEETING Mayor Becker reported that Arthur Dietrich would like a meeting set for the end of February for further discussion of the cable issue with the expert that has been meeting with the City. The Council agreed to invite the expert for lunch on February 25 at 12:00 Noon. EXECUTIVE SESSION At 9:40 PM, and under authority of RCW 42.30.110 Mayor Becker announced that the Council would hold an executive session to discuss personnel issues. He announced the session would conclude at 10:10 PM, and that the Council would reconvene to their regular meeting to take further action. Medina City Council Minutes February 9, 1998 Page 7 REGULAR MEETING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR STUDY OF JOINT POLICE CHIEF The Council reconvened their regular meeting at 10:30 PM. Councilmember Morgan moved to adopt the interlocal agreement for the study of the Police Chief. Councilmember Potts provided the second. Councilmember Ross asked that the agreement be clear that the study is for feasibility only, not for the defacto consolidation of the departments. He also asked that it be clear that the special committee establish the basis for the consulting scope of services. He also asked that it be clarified that costs of the consultants include expenses. He also asked that mediation be the preferred method for resolving disputes between the communities on the agreement. Mr. Wines noted that if it did go to court it would fall under the mandatory arbitration rules anyway. Mr. Ross ended the description of his concerns by noting that the agreement must note that the study must be completed on a timely basis, e.g., thirty days from execution of the agreement. Following the call for the question, the original motion unanimously failed. Councilmember Preston offered a second motion to authorize City Manager Schulze to pursue an agreement with Clyde Hill in the amount of $2500. Councilmember Morgan provided the second. The vote was unanimous. ADJOURNMENT At 10:40 PM, Mayor Becker called for a motion to adjourn. Councilmember Morgan moved to adjourn. Councilmember Ross seconded the motion. All were in favor. Attest: 4(yam H rwood T. Edvalson, City Clerk A i Daniel Becker, Mayor