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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-11-2001 - MinutesMEDINA CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING AND REGULAR MEETING MINUTES June 11, 2001 Medina City Hall _ 7:00 PM 501 Evergreen Point Rd. Mayor Becker called the public hearing and regular meeting of the Medina City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Council Members Paul Demitriades, Suzanne Cohen, Jim Lawrence, Thomas Morgan, Mary Odermat, Steve Preston and Mayor Daniel Becker Staff Present: City Manager Doug Schulze, City Attorney Kirk Wines, Police Chief Michael Knapp, Planning Manager Jenny Schultz, Public Works Superintendent Carl Burris, and City Clerk Caroll Wedlund PRESENTATION OF AWARDS Chief Knapp announced in celebration of National Police Week, the Medina Police Department had sponsored a poster contest at Medina Elementary School asking students to depict a police officer on the job. He introduced Police Records Manager Linda Crum, who called the first -place students to receive their certificates from Mayor Becker. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Becker announced he sent a letter to the Governor requesting a one-year delay of the Trans -lake project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Mayor Becker relayed since that letter, several meetings had taken place with Trans -lake representatives, and there seemed to be growing consensus moving into the EIS at this time might not be prudent. He stated on Wednesday, June 13, a Trans -lake discussion would take place at the Museum of History and Industry regarding environmental issues and potential process extension. Mayor Becker continued on Saturday, June 9, 2001 he and Council Member Morgan attended a sensitive areas tour for SR-520, which included a discussion of Fairweather Nature Preserve. He commented it did not make sense to take homes of citizens while preserving the Park and Ride lot and a WSDOT building no longer being utilized. Mayor Becker also met with Washington State Secretary of Transportation Doug McDougal, who had agreed moving quickly might not be the prudent approach at this point. City Manager Schulze announced he had met with some of the Trans -lake engineers and planners regarding eight proposed lanes for SR-520. The Trans -lake engineers and planners been informed eight -lane alternatives would create a significant capacity problem for interchanges along the corridor. He indicated the next lower step included six -lane alternatives, which did not meet the 2020 general-purpose capacity needs for SR-520. City Manager Schulze predicted the actions being considered were probably not going to meet the demands of the future. Mayor Becker informed the audience the Traffic Demand Measures (TDM) committed to environmental groups had not really been taken into account, and this threw into question whether traffic demand issues were truly being considered. He added the city would continue to keep residents informed, including another SR-520 newsletter mailing within the next two weeks. Mayor Becker relayed Port of Seattle Commission Chair Clare Nordquist and Chief Executive Officer Mic Dinsmore sent a letter indicating they had received an FAA report stating aviation safety and airspace capacity concerns precluded shifting more flights over the Duwamish flight path. After meeting with FAA officials, both the Port of Seattle Commission Chair and the Chief Executive Officer had concluded there were no viable alternatives to the current plan. Mayor Becker announced an executive session would be held following the Council meeting to discuss pending litiga'ion. Council Member Demitriades relayed the State Legislature was currently in its second special session, to adjourn on June 14, 2001 after passage of the general fund budget. He relayed a two-tier tax system was being proposed for this fall, at the state level and at the county level, and indicated the Legislature preferred to let the citizens decide regarding this issue. Council Member Demitriades also reported all the Seattle Community Councils would meet on June 28, 2001, and he and a few others from the east and west sides had been invited to brief them regarding SR-520. He continued there seemed to be uniformity against any SR-520 expansion, because the Seattle system could not handle the increased traffic. CONSENT AGENDA Council Member Odermat moved, seconded by Council Member Cohen, to approve the consent agenda, which passed by unanimous consensus. REAPPOINTMENT OF PLANNING COMMISSIONER AND PARK BOARD MEMBERS As part of the Consent Agenda, Mayor Becker reappointed Planning Commissioner Robert Brog to the Planning Commission, as well as Park Board Members Danya Hill, Joseph Brazen and James McGraw to the Park Board. City Council Meeting June 11, 2001 Page 2 STAFF REPORTS PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT Chief Knapp introduced Police Captain Jeffrey Chen, who joined the Medina Police Department June 1, 2001. Chief Knapp noted Captain Chen's 13 years of experience with the Seattle Police Department, where he had served as a supervisor of detectives. Chief Knapp also relayed vehicle prowls continued to be a problem, and cautioned citizens to remove all valuables and to lock their vehicles. He also reminded residents to mail checks at the post office, and to promptly retrieve mail at home. Chief Knapp also announced the Police Department was enforcing the stop sign law, and that the number of citations had doubled last month. He cautioned residents to make a full stop when driving, and requested they call with perceived speeding vehicle problems. PUBLIC WORKS REPORT Public Works Superintendent Burris stated the city was awaiting the final air pollution monitoring report, which would be distributed upon receipt. He also indicated the city now had a full complement of lifeguards. Public Works Superintendent Burris relayed the swim float would be installed after July 16, 2001, due to migration of Chinook salmon. Several members from the audience complained about goose droppings in the park. The Council also received a complaint regarding the early departure of the lifeguards last summer. Public Works Superintendent Burris responded the lifeguard season would be completed Labor Day weekend. Mayor Becker added the lifeguards had left early last summer to return to school, and at that point, the city did not have an opportunity to find replacements. An unidentified woman from the audience suggested a tarp be placed over the sand, to ward off goose droppings. Mayor Becker cautioned if the city created an impervious surface that close to the lake without storm water runoff, there could be problems with the Department of Ecology, unless they went through an extensive permit process. Another unidentified woman suggested the lifeguards could remove goose droppings from the beach. She also suggested more sand be deposited on the beach. City Manager Schulze reported Juanita Beach had been closed several years ago due to fecal count in the water from spraying goose droppings into the lake. City Manager Schulze stated he would talk request the Public Works Superintendent to have lifeguards vacuum the park and beach. Council Member Morgan announced the Endangered Species Act (ESA) had introduced legal constraints regarding what Medina personnel could do in the water, to the point if personnel did something against the 4(d) rule of the ESA, the city could be sued by any third party who wished to do so. Council Member Cohen suggested utilizing goose dogs. Mayor Becker stated the City Manager and the Public Works Superintendent would do whatever they could to solve the problem. City Manager Schulze added the Park Board was working on a master plan, which might identify some ideas to discourage the geese from coming onto the lawn. An unidentified male citizen urged the Council to make the goose dropping issue a priority this summer. City Manager Schulze requested citizens with concerns to call him at City Hall. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT City Attorney Wines briefed the Council regarding the Shirley hearing to quash a Writ of Mandamus, which would have required the city to enforce the project mitigation plan in a manner the petitioners felt to be appropriate. He continued the King County Superior Court decision would be based upon the record before the Planning Commission, and whether or not their decision had been responsible. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION Mayor Becker opened the meeting to the audience for non -agenda items. Linda Dicks, 2631 Evergreen Point Road Ms. Dicks complained about Bellevue Christian School traffic congestion at the north end of Evergreen Point Road. She emphasized the diverted traffic for those living between NE 24'h Street and NE 28th Street on Evergreen Point Road ranged between inconvenient and dangerous, depending upon the day. Mayor Becker suggested City Manager Schulze organize a committee to review Bellevue Christian School traffic concerns, with the possibility of a collection point outside Medina. OTHER BUSINESS NE 8T" STREET/82ND AVENUE NE PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS City Manager Schulze noted during the May Study Session, the Council had agreed to further discuss the NE 8th Street and 82nd Avenue NE pedestrian improvements project at the June Council meeting. Staff had been directed to provide additional information regarding engineering standards for crosswalks and walkways. City Manager Schulze relayed Lori McFarland of Otak reported the speed table design was very close to completion, and would be ready for bid distribution to small works roster contractors within the next two weeks. He suggested construction could take place the latter part of July City Council Meeting June 11, 2001 Page 3 and the first part of August. City Manager Schulze requested confirmation to move forward with the bid recommendation. He suggested the Council authorize a phase II committee to review the issues raised, as this would allow an opportunity to work with concerned residents. Council Member Morgan moved, seconded by Council Member Demitriades, to proceed with a bid award and installation of cross walks, speed tables and advisory signage. City Manager Schulze noted there was a sidewalk on the south side of the street, and was of the opinion a sidewalk on the north side was a more effective solution than a t-intersection. He stated sidewalks on both sides of the street to connect the crosswalks were essential for safety. He noted another option was the potential of creating a one-way traffic flow, which would allow the city to make an approved walkway from part of the current roadway. Council Member Odermat was concerned about cross walks being on top of the speed humps, as people would be crossing from a safe sidewalk to an area without one. City Manager Schulze announced the engineer would determine appropriate crosswalk locations for better safety. He indicated a traffic study of NE 8th Street and 82"d Avenue NE conducted in March of this year revealed a traffic speed issue on NE 82"d Avenue, and on NE 8th Street. City Manager Schulze noted some vehicles had been speeding at a considerable rate above the limit. He relayed less than 300 vehicles traveled through that corridor on a daily basis, most of which occurred prior to the beginning of the school day and at the end. He pointed increased enforcement emphasis had resulted in slower traffic during those periods of time. Following comments from several residents, Council Member Odermat amended the motion, seconded by Council Member Demitriades, to remove the crosswalks and to proceed with speed tables, pavement markings and advisory signage. Jim Arata, 8422 NE 10th, Medina Mr. Arata asked City Attorney Wines whether or not the city would be liable if an accident were to occur due to the line of sight being blocked from vegetation in the city right-of-way. If so, he suggested the Council increase the pace. Peggy Whiting, 7828 NE 8th, Medina Ms. Whiting complained a vehicle had nearly hit her when she was walking. She noted both the traffic and the traffic patterns had changed within the past 30 years. Julie Maxwell, 815 82nd Avenue NE, Medina — Ms. Maxwell suggested she and the city work together regarding the right-of-way vegetation in front of her home. Jackie Curtis, 7616 NE 8th Street, Medina Ms. Curtis was of the opinion the pedestrian improvement project should be resolved as quickly as possible, and the public should be allowed to see the engineering design and to comment upon it. Council Member Odermat's amended motion carried by unanimous consensus to remove the crosswalks, to proceed with speed tables, pavement markings and advisory signage. Mayor Becker recalled City Manager Schulze's suggestion the Council authorize a phase II committee to review the issues raised, including vegetation in the right-of-way. He recommended the committee convene this summer, decide which vegetation should be removed for visibility issues, and meet with the involved homeowners for removal before September. City Manager Schulze added the city could require homeowners to relocate, maintain or trim vegetation in the right-of-way. However, he was uncomfortable telling them to remove or trim vegetation, when the final design might not dictate such action. Mayor Becker recommended, with citizen input over the summer, the committee develop a proposed design concept for the sidewalk, curb and gutter or rolled curb and pathway. He also requested a recommendation from the engineer. Mayor Becker indicated by that time, the vegetation issue would have been resolved, so the project could move forward for bid. He requested the City Manager obtain a phase II design completion schedule from the engineer depicting how quickly the design could be out on the street, and how long it would take to build. Council Member Morgan suggested the issue of continuous or discontinuous sidewalks be examined as well. Mayor Becker recommended the Public Works Committee (Council Members Morgan, Preston and Odermat) work on this issue. Bill Kinzel, 802 — 80th Avenue NE, Medina Mr. Kinzel suggested a balance between safety and what citizens wanted Medina to be. He urged the Council to utilize the south side of NE 81h Street. City Manager Schulze stated the concept was to create a one-way traffic flow potentially the entire length of the street from Evergreen Point Road to NE 12'h Street. He noted the city could utilize the existing surface for the walkway by narrowing the street width to one lane. Council Members were not in favor of a one-way street concept. Following discussion, the Council authorized proceeding with speed tables, signage and pavement markings on NE 8`h Street and 82"d Avenue NE. They also requested design drawings of the proposed speed table and crosswalk locations for public review during the week of June 18, 2001, along with a phase 11 design completion schedule. The Council also asked City Council Meeting June 11, 2001 Page 4 for two options for presentation at the June 25, 2001 Study Session, with option one showing discontinuous sidewalk, curb and gutters, and option two depicting rolled curb and pathway. They also requested an overlay design with house locations. DISCUSSION OF 2002 — 2007 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN City Manager Schulze announced the 2002 — 2007 Transportation Improvement Plan must be submitted to the state by August 1, 2001. Following discussion, the Council requested the 2002 — 2007 Transportation Improvement Plan be presented at the July Council meeting for adoption, and that the 2002 — 2007 Capital Improvement Plan be discussed at the July Study Session. PARTICIPATION WITH HUNTS POINT IN 80T" AVENUE OVERLAY City Manager Schulze explained the Town of Hunts Point was interested in joint participation in the 80th Avenue NE overlay. Council Members decided they did not wish to participate in this project. FEE SCHEDULE RECOMMENDATIONS City Planning Manager Schultz briefed the Council regarding the proposed fee schedule, and recommended a two -level fee structure. The Council requested the fee schedule be discussed in more detail at the staff/consultant level, with an article inserted in the Medina Newsletter identifying minor and major fees, as well as administrative decision items. ORDINANCE NO. 719 City Attorney Wines explained the Council had suggested adding exceptions during the moratorium, which would expire in October of 2001. Council Member Morgan moved, seconded by Council Member Demitriades, to approve adoption of Ordinance No. 719. Following discussion, Council Member Lawrence moved, seconded by Council Member Demitriades, to amend the motion for adoption, with a change of existing floor area square feet for Section 1(b), and a modification of Section 1(c) to add "free standing walls, including retaining walls". Laura Whitaker, Cascade Trust Ms. Whitaker announced she had submitted a comment letter in May of 2001, and stated if the requested improvement did not change the existing structure bulk, she was in favor of Ordinance No. 719. She also asked about a permanent ordinance, to which Planning Manager Schultz replied a recommendation would go before the Council sometime in July. The Council voted by unanimous consensus to approve Ordinance No. 719. NEW BUSINESS MORE DETAIL FOR CHECK REGISTER DESCRIPTIONS AND PASS -THROUGH BILLINGS Council Member Morgan requested the Finance Officer revise the check register for better identification of pass -through billings, with an annotation of "PT" to identify them. Council Member Morgan was of the opinion this greater detail in check register descriptions would be helpful to determine identification of pass -through billings. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS WETLANDS REPORT Council Member Demitriades offered to distribute the Army Corps of Engineers wetlands report for input and comments to be submitted by the City. MITIGATION OF IMPACTS TO PARK PROPERTY The Council requested Public Works Superintendent Carl Burris to check into City of Seattle park regulations for mitigation of impacts to park property. POINT OF ORDER At 10:54 p.m. and under authority of RCW 42.30.110, an Executive Session was held for the purpose of discussing pending litigation. By unanimous consensus, Council members closed the Executive Session at 11:15 p.m. ADJOURNMENT Council Member Demitriades moved to adjourn the Regular City Council meeting, seconded by Council Member Preston. All were in favor, and the meeting was adjourned at 11:15 p.m. Attest: Caroll P. Wedlund, City Clerk Daniel . Becker, Mayor