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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-08-1999 - MinutesMEDINA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES March 8, 1999 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 Suzanne Cohen, Paul Demitriades, Thomas Morgan, Susan Potts, Steve Preston, Grahame Ross and Mayor Daniel Becker. Staff Present: City Manager Doug Schulze, City Attorney Kirk Wines, Police Chief Michael Knapp, City Planner Bob Burke, Building Official Lowell Erickson, City Engineer Jay Hummell and City Clerk Kristen Finnigan. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Becker announced that there would be an executive session at the end of the meeting. Mayor Becker reported that at the Mayor's meeting in February, the Points Communities Mayors agreed that Mayor Lowry of Beaux Arts and Mayor Becker would be representing small cities on the Eastside Transportation Partnership (ETP). He said that Councilmember Demitriades and Mayor Rourke of Clyde Hill will be alternates. He announced an ETP meeting scheduled for Friday, March 12, 1999, at Bellevue City Hall Conference Room, at 7:30 a.m - 9:00 a.m. Mayor Becker reported on the Trans Lake Meeting held the previous week. He went on to explain that discussion had been held regarding the possibility of the tabling of two subjects: a) elimination of a road between Sand Point and Kirkland, and b) North King County Snohomish County Line Road between 405 and 1-5. Mayor Becker announced that the Puget Sound Regional Council's annual meeting was scheduled for on March 18, 1999. He also reported on Vice President Gore's recent Medina City Council Minutes March 8, 1999 Page 2 visit to the Seattle area during which the theme was livability in this region and throughout the United States. Mayor Becker said that the Vice President had mentioned the salmon issue which Governor Locke had discussed at the AWC Meeting in February. He said that there was a good chance that the Federal Government would list the Chinook Salmon and other species on the endangered species list and that it was anticipated that this would have an impact upon communities within the Puget Sound Region. Councilmember Demitriades reported on the recent AWC Annual Meeting with legislators in Olympia. He said that the top issues discussed were education, salmon recovery and transportation. Councilmember Potts asked if the Park Board had responded with any information relative to the Bellevue Recreation Agreement. City Manager Schulze explained that the Park Board did not have a quorum at their February meeting, so the subject will be on the Park Board agenda for their March 15, 1999 meeting. Councilmember Potts asked when the paths in the park would be redone and City Manager Schulze said that this work was included in this year's budget and would occur when the weather improves. City Attorney Wines gave an update on Proposed House Bill 2060, explaining changes that appeared to be of particular concern. He also explained improvements in the latest version of HB2060. City Manager Schulze reported on his recent meeting with the City of Kirkland, relative to the Municipal Court Study. He said that the Kirkland City Council would be looking at a proposal that their staff had assembled and discussing it at their City Council Meeting on March 17, 1999. He said that he hoped to bring the issue to the Medina City Council for some decision at the April City Council Meeting. Mayor Becker said that he had received applications for the Accessible Services Advisory Committee of the King County Department of Transportation, Metro Transit Department and that these would be made available at City Hall. Mayor Becker removed G (Board/Commission Appointments) and H (Council Committee Appointments) from the Consent Agenda. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS Councilmember Demitriades moved to approve the appointment of Peter Jorgensen to the Civil Service Commission. Councilmember Preston seconded the motion. Approval was unanimous. Councilmember Potts moved to reappoint Mark Lostrom and Gari Andreini to the Planning Commission. Councilmember Preston seconded the motion. All were in favor. Medina City Council Minutes March 8, 1999 Page 3 COUNCIL COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS After discussion it was decided that Councilmember Potts would replace Councilmember Cohen on the Public Safety Committee, in order to allow each Councilmember to serve on two committees. CONSENT AGENDA Councilmember Preston moved to approve the consent agenda items represented below. A Minutes from Special Meeting of February 2, 1999 B. Minutes from Regular Meeting of February 8, 1999 C. Minutes from Special Meeting of February 22, 1999 D. Approval of December 1998 Payroll Warrants Correction Personnel Warrants - #16370 - 16422 $102,326.33 E. Approval and acceptance of January 1999 Warrants/ Treasurer's Report: Regular Warrants - #12035 - 12122 $141,881.10 Personnel Warrants - #16425 - 16470 $ 81, 852.54 F. Approval and acceptance of February 1999 Warrants/ Treasurer's Report: Regular Warrants - #12123 - 12213 & corr. warrants #81216, 912033, 912096, 7, 912161, 992161 $121, 882.48 Personnel Warrants - #164671 - 16518 $ 83,658.24 REPORTS PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT Police Chief Knapp reviewed the Police Report for February, 1999. He stated that there had been three cars broken into, with one vehicle stolen. He stated that there had been $1,500 - $2,000 worth of damage and $1,000 worth of merchandise taken in these incidents which occurred during daylight hours. He pointed out that parking warnings had gone up noticeably in the hopes of seeing an improvement in the construction parking situation and also that the offense of driving while suspended was going up in the city. Police Chief Knapp said that another resident had received hate mail. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT City Manager Schulze invited City Engineer Jay Hummel) to review the public works projects scheduled for 1999. City Engineer Hummell stated that the NE 24th St. Medina City Council Minutes March 8, 1999 Page 4 Improvement Project is to create a more pedestrian -friendly atmosphere. He said that the intent is to get neighbors' input relative to issues involved in the improvements. These issues include: a) traffic calming; b) sidewalk, curb & gutter; c) ACP Overlay; d) bike lane; e) gravel path; f) landscaping planter and g) turn lanes at 84th Ave. NE. Hummell stated that they intend to have neighborhood meetings, one before the April Council Meeting and another before or after the May Council Meeting, to address proposed NE 24th Street improvements and Overlake Drive West Pedestrian Path Phase 2. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION No member of the audience chose to address the Council at this time. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS ORDINANCE NO. 614 - AN ORDINANCE AMENDING MEDINA MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 17.24.010 AND 17.28.010 TO ADD NEW PROVISIONS REQUIRING INCREASED SIDE YARD SETBACKS FOR LARGER LOTS AND REDUCING LOT COVERAGE FOR STRUCTURES IN R-20 AND R-30 ZONES A public hearing was held on proposed Ordinance No. 614. City Attorney Wines summarized the draft of the ordinance which was followed by questions and comments from Councilmembers and the audience. Ruth Whitten, 8335 Overlake Dr. W., asked if anyone had done an economic impact analysis of the impact of the ordinance. It was explained that due to the high increases in property value in the area, accuracy would not have been possible. Paul Saad, 7644 NE 8th, member of the Medina Planning Commission, stated that a problem that the Planning Commission had discussed was the proportionality of the large homes and that this generally had occurred on the sideyard setbacks. He stated that this came to light with the consolidation of lots. He said that he was not convinced that the real problem exists on individual lots of under 100' wide. Rick Leavitt, 9252 Points Drive, Yarrow Point, commended the City Council's efforts in the process of the proposed ordinance. He said that he had been building in the city for twenty-five years and could appreciate these problems. He questioned the language in Paragraph B, in both R-20 and R-30. "From each side line" had a line through, making it appear that the proposed setback was a total of 30', and that this could be misinterpreted. Greg Whitten, 8335 Overlake Drive W, stated his feelings that the impact of the proposed ordinance will be that taller homes would be built if the width is taken away. He commented that his feeling is that R-20 is more of a problem than R-30. Medina City Council Minutes March 8, 1999 Page 5 Art Dietrich, 707 Overlake Drive E, stated that he felt that all issues had not been considered. He expressed his concern that buildings may become taller and that the maximum setback proposed was too large. Ralph Barton, 7944 NE 32nd St, commented that his present home would not conform to the standard of Ordinance No. 614, and he expressed concerns if he were to rebuild. Geof Whitten, 2272 NE 46th St., Redmond, wondered if the Council had considered what this ordinance could do to encourage people to consolidate lots - buying two lots to build a bigger house. Discussion followed. Councilmember Morgan stated that he had amendments to the ordinance to propose. The consensus was to put the ordinance on the table, address the amendments and then table the motion until the April meeting. Councilmember Morgan moved to adopt Ordinance No. 614. Seconded by Councilmember Demitriades, amendments were then considered. Councilmember Morgan moved to amend Paragraph B, in Sections 1 & 2, to read, "The minimum setback of any part of any building or structure on a lot greater than 16,000 square feet in area". Seconded by Councilmember Potts, the motion was on the table. After discussion, Councilmember Morgan withdrew the amendment. Councilmember Morgan proposed amending his amendment to Sections 1 & 2. He moved that the following sentence be added, at the end of the paragraph: "for lots less than 30,000 square feet whose width is greater than their depth, the maximum sideyard setback shall be 20'." Seconded by Cohen. After further discussion, Councilmember Potts stated that she was opposed to the language of the amendment. She stated that it could necessitate addressing the issue lot by lot. She then proposed an alternate amendment with a maximum setback of 20', which was accepted by Councilmember Morgan and seconded by Councilmember Cohen. All were in favor but one nay for the record, from Councilmember Ross. In an effort to clarify language, Councilmember Cohen then moved to amend Paragraph B, Sections 1 & 2, to again include "from each side line." Seconded by Councilmember, Preston, five Councilmembers were in favor, with one nay vote from Councilmember Ross. Councilmember Potts moved to table Ordinance No. 614 to the next regular City Council meeting. Seconded by Councilmember Demitriades, all were in favor. Following a five minute break at 9:35 p.m., the City Council reconvened at 9:40 p.m. Medina City Council Minutes March 8, 1999 Page 6 RESOLUTION NO. 261 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MEDINA WASHINGTON RELATING TO POTENTIAL TOLLS TO FINANCE PRESERVATION AND MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING PUBLIC HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED USING TOLL REVENUES Councilmember Demitriades reviewed Resolution No. 261, explaining that it was intended to send a message to the Legislature and the State Department of Transportation. He stated that it is believed that they are considering putting tolls back on all bridges that were originally built using tolls and were paid off. Councilmember Ross moved to approve Resolution No. 261. Seconded by Councilmember Preston, approval was unanimous. DISCUSSION KING COUNTY CONSERVATION CORPS PROJECTS City Manager Schulze referred to proposals included in the Councilmember's packets as being for the design phase only of improvement projects for Fairweather Nature Preserve and Medina Creek. He said that on March 3rd, Councilmembers Cohen and Demitriades met with Charles Anderson from Anderson & Ray Landscape Architects and Pieter Straub of King County World Conservation Corps., to discuss these proposals. Following discussion, the consensus was to cut public participation from the design phase of the Fairweather Nature Preserve Project and address salmon recovery for the Medina Creek Project. The City Manager was directed to obtain a range of construction costs for each project. He was directed to add a termination clause to the contract and obtain a time schedule for completion of the design work. Councilmember Ross moved to allocate $5,000 at this time, which would be credited toward the overall plan. Seconded by Demitriades, all were in favor. COMMUNITY VISUALIZATION PROJECT City Manager Schulze described the proposal which he had received from the University of Washington for the Virtual Medina Project. He explained that the proposal would provide a three dimensional computer model of a specific area (20-30 homes) for visual impact analysis. Following discussion, the consensus was that the Council would like to meet with Jim Davidson to discuss the Visualization Project. It was requested that City Manager Schulze contact the City of Edmonds to obtain input from them regarding usefulness of the project. RECREATIONAL VEHICLE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT City Manager Schulze explained that the Council packet contained a copy of Clyde Hill's existing City Code relative to recreational vehicles. He stated that Clyde Hill was currently reviewing this ordinance and did not yet have a clear direction on whether it will become more or less restrictive. City Manager Schulze stated that he wanted feedback Medina City Council Minutes March 8, 1999 Page 7 from the Council on what direction they would like to take, in order to begin crafting of an ordinance for the City of Medina. Councilmembers discussed the issue and directed that the City Attorney and City Manager create a recreational vehicle ordinance for the April 1999 City Council Meeting. ARCH - A REGIONAL COALITION FOR HOUSING City Manager Schulze explained that the City Council was being asked to discuss issues concerning membership in A Regional Coalition for Housing (ARCH). He said that this will be discussed at the Mayor's upcoming meeting. City Manager Schulze said that ARCH has approached the Points Communities as one membership as far as the administrative fee is concerned, thus reducing Medina's administrative fee by 25%. He said that the administrative fee being proposed is $6,135, for the Points Communities. He said that Medina's contribution for the parity program would range from $0 - $17,780. Following discussion, the consensus was to authorize membership in ARCH for Medina on their own standing. EMPLOYEE ON -THE -SPOT AWARDS Councilmember Demitriades explained that this was a program that he was familiar with from Boeing and that has been very successful in the F.B.I. He said it had been proposed by Police Chief Knapp. Councilmember Demitriades moved to approve the Employee On -The -Spot Awards. Councilmember Cohen seconded the motion. All were in favor. NEW BUSINESS For the record, Councilmember Demitriades submitted a letter to the Council from Fred and Mary Pneuman regarding peak period congestion on 84th Ave. NE. EXECUTIVE SESSION At 10:58 p.m. and under authority of RCW 42.30.110 Mayor Becker announced that the Council would hold an executive session to discuss pending litigation. ADJOURNMENT On a motion by Councilmember Cohen and a second by Councilmember Demitriades, the executive session was concluded and the Council meetin djourned at 11:25 p.m. Daniel F. Becker, Mayor Attest: Kristen Finnig ' , City Clerk