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Home My WebLink About01-22-2001 - MinutesMEDINA CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MINUTES January 22, 2001 4:00 P.M. Medina City Hall 501 Evergreen Point Rd. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Becker called the Study Session of the Medina City Council to order at 4:00 p.m. Present: Council Members Suzanne Cohen, Paul Demitriades, Tom Morgan, Mary Odermat, Steve Preston and Mayor Daniel Becker Absent: Council Member Jim Lawrence Staff Present: City Manager Doug Schulze, City Attorney Kirk Wines, City Planning Director Jenny Schultz, Public Works Superintendent Carl Burris, Chief Michael Knapp and Interim City Clerk Caroll Wedlund ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Becker announced a hearing would be held January 23, 2001 regarding Senate Bill 5130. He suggested questions be sent to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) regarding consideration of the benefits and costs of the floating tunnel option. Council Member Demitriades indicated the U.S. Department of Transportation had funded Sound Transit $500 million for one year, and they were moving forward with the project. Mayor Becker reported the National League of Cities Conference would be held in Washington, D.C. March 9 through 12, 2001. Mayor Becker announced a jet noise meeting would be held with Port of Seattle Executive Committee members. Council Member Demitriades reported on an Eastside Transportation Program (ETP) meeting on February 2, 2001 to hear Sound Transit representatives discuss firewall protection for sub -areas. He added another meeting would be held February 9, 2001 to vote for a new ETP chairperson. Council Member Demitriades continued Council Member Odermat, Mayor Becker and he would attend the annual City Club Legislative Preview meeting on Friday, January 26, 2001 in the Washington Athletic Club. DISCUSSION PUBLIC HEARING — RESOLUTION NO. 275 City Manager Schulze stated by continuing the moratorium and prohibiting demolition, the City was not necessarily saving the Medina Grocery, because they could not require the property owner to expend funds to save the structure. He added the property owner was not interested in selling the parcel. City Manager Schulze recommended the Council not adopt Resolution No. 275, thereby lifting the moratorium and allowing the property owner to apply for a demolition permit. City Council Study Session January 22, 2001 Page 2 A Council Member suggested continuing the moratorium until the February Council meeting. City Planning Director Schultz announced the property owner planned to be present at the February Hearing Examiner meeting. City Manager Schulze indicated the property owner's architect wished to hold a public information meeting to share some ideas and to receive citizen comments. He offered to have notices posted, the use of City Hall, and planning staff availability at the meeting to answer zoning -related questions. Following discussion, Council Member Cohen moved, seconded by Council Member Morgan, to approve Resolution No. 275. By unanimous consensus, Resolution No. 275 was approved. ORDINANCE NO. 698 RELATING TO THE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF LANDMARKS IN THE CITY OF MEDINA Two amendments were proposed for Ordinance No. 698, so that any homeowner whose residence had been nominated could voice their objection and have the right of refusal. Also suggested were including the Kranda, the Eddy and possibly the Lakelure properties as well on the historical landmark register list, so that all five properties could be nominated for adoption at the February Council meeting. City Manager Schulze cautioned the potential was much larger than what had originally been envisioned, which could result in a staffing burden. City Attorney Wines pointed out if Ordinance No. 698 was changed to nominate properties for the historical register, there would still be no protection for the store. Council Member Demitriades suggested a three -person Historical Landmark Preservation Board. City Attorney Wines pointed out the ordinance as written gave the Board authority to vary zoning requirements if the property owner had plans that made sense. Planning Director Schultz reported the property owner could not afford to rehabilitate the current building, but had proposed saving the exterior wall so that it would retain the outward appearance of the structure. By consensus, the Council agreed to adopt a revised Ordinance No. 698, and to appoint a permanent Historical Landmark Preservation Board at the February Council meeting. NE 28T" STREET PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS Mayor Becker relayed the Council was being asked to authorize the City Manager to hire an engineering consultant to provide scoping and design alternatives for NE 8th Street pedestrian improvements. City Manager Schulze explained if the Council gave permission, an engineering consultant would be hired to provide the City with several alternatives to meet safety issues on NE 8th Street. By unanimous consensus, the Council authorized the City Manager to begin the hiring discussion for an engineering consultant and to report back with a suggested amount. The Council was informed crossing guards had been removed from northern crossing for Medina Elementary, due to concern about safety issues for children crossing the street before and after school. The Council requested police presence in the Medina Elementary area during morning and afternoon hours until the end of the school year. Chief Knapp promised officer presence beginning the next morning. Public Works Superintendent Burris explained letters had been sent to affected residents requesting removal of plantings from the right-of-way. Due to safety considerations, it was suggested property owners be given a deadline, after which the City would remove right-of-way plantings and bill the homeowner. SET WORK PLAN FOR 2001 STUDY SESSIONS Mayor Becker reported the Council was looking for more effective ways to utilize both Council workshops and meetings. Council Members were of the opinion study sessions were useful for discussion of issues, and the committee meetings should be discontinued. Mayor Becker believed the workshop focus through City Council Study Session January 22, 2001 Page 3 June of this year should be upon discussion of high priority issues, and the rest of the workshop agendas — for the following six months could be scheduled after that. The Council reviewed the Medina City Council Goals for 2001 handout distributed earlier during the study session. It was recommended the Planning Commission tackle the following four issues of the Medina City Council Goals for 2001. A joint meeting with the Planning Commission was also suggested prior to assignment of proposed agenda items. • Resolve the "pools as structure" and other issues regarding lot coverage issues • Explore and if necessary modify Council Committee structure and number of meetings • Complete ESA -related risk analysis, develop ESA compliance plan and implement, as required — P.D. • Begin to consider future source of elected officials as Council terms expire and the Board of Adjustment phases out — Continuity — P.D. Following discussion, Council Members decided by unanimous consensus to add the issue of continuous mega house impacts to the Medina City Council Goals for 2001. The Council decided to review the following issues during the second half of the upcoming Council retreat: • Establish decorum at Council meetings and workshops; respect other opinions and styles • Respect City Manager and staff's positions and standing • Resolve staffing issues; full time vs. consultants • Resolve facility needs and develop plan City Manager Schulze suggested setting the next month's agenda during the current month. Following discussion, the Council decided by consensus to discuss the mitigation and the enforcement officer issues at the February 2001 study session, and to review large home mitigation during the March 2001 study session. NEW BUSINESS TAPING OF COUNCIL MEETINGS The Council requested City Attorney Wines to conduct legal research regarding both taping of Council meetings and the retention policy. POINT OF ORDER At 5:35 p.m. and under authority of RCW 42.30.110, an Executive Session was held for the purpose of discussion of pending litigation. By unanimous consensus, Council members closed the Executive Session at 6:35 p.m. At 6:05 p.m., the Council reconvened the regular study session. ADJOURNMENT Council Member Demitriades moved, seconded by Council Member Cohen, to adjourn. Council Members agreed by consensus to adjourn the City Council Study S Zs'6:05 p.m. a ie F. Becker, Mayor Attest: r. � ; r^ �clo Caroll P. Wedlund, Interim City Clerk