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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-14-2002 - MinutesMEDINA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES January 14, 2002 7:00 PM Medina City Hall Mayor Becker called the regular meeting of the Medina City Council to order at 7:00 p.m 501 Ever reen Point Rd. ROLL CALL Present: Council Members J. Drew Blazey, Paul Demitriades, Thomas E. Morgan, Todd Nunn, Mary Odermat, and Mayor Daniel Becker Absent: Council Member Robert Rudolph Staff Present: City Manager Doug Schulze, City Attorney Kirk Wines, Police Chief Michael Knapp, Public Works Superintendent Carl Burris, and City Clerk Caroll Wedlund Staff Absent: Planning Director Jenny Schultz Consultant: Joseph Gellings, OTAK OATH OF OFFICE FOR NEW AND CONTINUING MEMBERS Mayor Becker swore into office new Council members Blazey and Nunn and continuing Council member Odermat for the 2002 — 2005 term. ELECTION OF MAYOR City Manager Schulze accepted nominations for Mayor for the 2002 — 2003 term. Council member Demitriades nominated Dan Becker, seconded by Council member Blazey. The vote was unanimous. ELECTION OF MAYOR PRO TEM Mayor Becker requested an ordinance be drafted amending the Medina Municipal Code to change the title of mayor Pro Tem to Deputy Mayor. Council member Morgan moved, seconded by Council member Demitriades, to nominate Council member Odermat as Mayor Pro Tem. The motion passed unanimously. Mayor Becker announced the following: ANNOUNCEMENTS • A new federal agency is being formed to handle security issues throughout the United States. • The American Bar Association President expressed concern at the National League of Cities Conference about dissolution of civil rights in the name of national security. • He attended a session on emergency preparedness for small cities, and noted Medina was moving in the same direction as other cities our size. • He attended a Suburban Cities Association (SCA) discussion regarding dividing that entity into two regional caucuses, with Medina in the northeastern cities group. • The Eastside Transportation Partnership is sponsoring a trip to Washington, D.C. in February 2002. They will urge Senator Patty Murray to immediately fund construction projects, as some discretionary funds have been set aside that could be channeled into this region. • An Executive Committee Trans -Lake meeting will take place at 1:00 p.m. on January 30, 2002 at the Museum of History and Industry. • In response to an email from resident Arthur Dietrich, the Council will be reviewing current ordinances and what can be done to remove ambiguities. Council member Demitriades announced a 60-day legislative session had convened in Olympia. Also, the Governor hoped to get the state budget passed by January 30, 2002. If it is passed, a proposed gas -tax increase will be on the ballot in March, as well as a proposed Puget Sound Transportation Authority, and a projected toll on new facilities. Council member Demitriades continued both Medina and Hunts Point had received responses regarding SR-520 runoff, and he suggested the City of Medina take some action. POINT followOORDER Mayor Becker announced an Executive Session would ton h Study Session. CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Becker explained the consent agenda process to new Council members. Council member Morgan moved, seconded Council member Morgan moved, seconded by Council member Odermat, to approve the by Council member Demitriades, to approve the Council minutes of December 10, 2001, which carried unanimously. report, which passed unanimously. Council member Morgan requested the Council receive December 2001 finance officer's a 2001 year-end report at the February Council meeting. Council member Odermat moved, seconded by Council member Demitriades, to confirm the reappointment of Medina's Municipal Court Judge. The motion carried by unanimous vote. City Manager Schulze explained the 4:00 p.m. Study Session meeting time did not work well for some Council members and suggested 6:00 p.m. as an alternative. City Council Meeting January 14, 2002 Page 2 PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT STAFF REPORTS Officer Mark Marcroft, Mercer Island Marine Patrol, indicated there had been an exceptional amount of activity around the SR-520 east high rise during 2001. He noted the success of the goose round up which occurred in Hunts Point and partially in Medina. He summarized the 2001 statistics, noting the Mercer Island Marine Patrol had stopped a total of 427 vessels in 2001. Officer Marcroft continued he had submitted a grant for buoys to the State of Washington, and had received four buoys. He noted Mercer Island Marine Patrol had attended a conference of marine patrol entities and ended up number one in the state at the conclusion of the daylong competition. Chief Knapp relayed last year's burglaries compared to this year were pretty much the same. However, the one crime that increased was car prowls. He reminded residents and Council members to lock their vehicles and to install and use home alarms. Chief Knapp promised the Council would have a completed Emergency Preparedness Plan and pocket guides by the end of the month. He outlined the steps necessary to implement the Plan, and promised to brief the Council again in February. Chief Knapp announced the Police Department mock accreditation process had gone smoothly, and they would undergo a final assessment on March 26 and 27, 2002. After passing, the Medina Police Department would become accredited in April of 2002. Mayor Becker commended both Chief Knapp and the Department for their efforts in the accreditation process. Chief Knapp acknowledged the charitable contributions of Overlake Golf and Country Club for the Ronald McDonald Christmas eve cruise, noting Overlake personnel had prepared the meals for over 250 children and their families. He also pointed out Overlake's sizeable cash contribution to support gift purchases for the children. PUBLIC WORKS REPORT Public Works Superintendent Burris relayed the restoration of NE 18'h Street and Evergreen Point Road was 50 percent complete. He continued Medina Public Works personnel and the City Manager had received several independent reports of a second otter at Medina Park. The trapper will return at no charge to capture this otter and transport it to Green River. DIECE CIPATION Mayor Becker opened the meeting to the audienLcee for non non -agenda items. John Dern Palmer, 1600 — 77th Avenue NE, Medina, reiterated the Civil Service Commission's recommendation for a police detective position. Mr. Dern Palmer also read aloud a position paper he planned to submit at the Trans -lake open house on January 15, 2002. He also volunteered to serve in an ad hoc or advisory position for Trans -lake. Arthur Dietrich, 707 Overtake Drive East, Medina, thanked the Council for reviewing the issue of variances and interpretation of the Code. He volunteered to assist the Council with their efforts. TRANS -LAKE RECOMMENDATIONS OTHER BUSINESS Mayor Becker referred to his January 14, 2002 email to Council members regarding Trans -lake recommendations. He noted on January 30, 2002, the Executive Committee would ask for three alternatives concerning an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Mayor Becker reviewed the alternatives to be presented to the Executive Committee at the January 30 meeting, and suggested the Council make recommendations for the EIS. He also inquired about whether or not to close the Evergreen Point Road park and ride lot. Following discussion, the Council consensus was to recommend six lanes. Mayor Becker opened the meeting to the audienUDIENCE PARTICIPATION Paul Saad, 7644 NE 81h Street, Medina, relayed his wish to retain the Evergreen Point Road park and ride lot, but indicated the majority of those using it were not from the Medina area. Rodney Tom, P.O. Box 594, Medina, was of the opinion the SR-520 bridge should have eight lanes, due to the possibility of future expansion. Henry Paulman, 1415 — 80th Avenue NE, Medina, volunteered to speak to the Tolls Represent Unfair State Taxes (TRUST) group regarding a third Lake Washington crossing. City Council Meeting January 14, 2002 Page 3 Connie Gerlitz, 2415 — 78th Avenue NE, Medina, was in favor of retaining the Evergreen Point Road park and ride lot, adding the Police Department should enforce illegal parking in that area. City Manager Schulze noted it was the City's responsibility to maintain the park and ride lot. John Dern Palmer, 1600 — 77th Avenue NE, Medina, commented the upper level of the SR-520 Bridge would not be required to have the same mode of transportation as the lower level. Mayor Becker commented City of Seattle personnel had indicated there would be no consideration for expansion of 1-5. CONSIDER COUNCIL PROTOCOL MANUAL City Manager Schulze stated the Council Protocol Manual was an attempt to centralize a number of different policy and procedure issues that currently affected the Council. Mayor Becker recommended the Council review the Protocol Manual for consideration at the March 2002 Study Session. CONTINUATION OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE NO. 729 STRUCTURAL LOT COVERAGE Consultant Joseph Gellings stated the City Attorney had drafted ordinance language, which incorporated the Council's December 10, 2001 comments regarding changing lot coverage and related zoning code regulations. Mayor Becker expressed concern about the definition of mechanical equipment. Further discussion regarding Ordinance No. 729 was moved to the January Council Study Session. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION Mayor Becker opened the public hearing to the audience for non -agenda items. Bob Horseley, P.O. Box 4468, Seattle, 98010, announced he was working for a Medina resident as a landscape architect, and was concerned about retaining walls being considered as structures. Consultant Joseph Gellings responded Ordinance No, 729, Structural Lot Coverage, would exempt all walls less than one foot in width from being counted toward lot coverage. Paul Saad, 7644 NE 8th Street, Medina, voiced concern about the definition of structural lot coverage and the proposed language. He did not think a patio over 30 inches high should be included in structural lot coverage calculations, as it was inconsistent with the history of the Medina community. Council member Nunn explained there had been abuses under the former way of doing things, and that was why Ordinance No. 729 had been drafted. Mr. Saad replied it might affect the way a person could use their property and it could result in an unintended consequence as a result. He predicted with the Proposed changes for Ordinance No. 729, there would be ambiguity with regard to accessory structures. Joseph Yoler, 2841 Evergreen Point Road, Medina, noted his property faced an eight -foot concrete wall from another parcel. Miles Adam, 8424 NE 10th Street, Medina, suggested at some point in the future, all the Medina impervious surfaces should be reduced. Mayor Becker asked Mr. Gellings to revise the ordinance language for comment at the January Council Study Session. DISCUSSION OF GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACTOGMARBUSIESS COMPLIAN E City Manager Schulze explained the City had developed a work program to ensure compliance with the requirements of the State's Growth Management Act (GMA) update. The project purpose was to update the City's comprehensive plan, development regulations and critical area regulations to reflect compliance with the GMA. He noted the GMA update deadline was September 2002, in order to qualify for certain grants, and the City had been working with the Watershed Company to meet the objectives as required by the GMA update. City Manager Schulze summarized the Watershed Company had completed the review of Medina's current regulations and comprehensive plan. The company was currently working on a literature search for existing information that may be used to revise Medina's regulations and identify any additional studies necessary to complete the project. He referred to the Scope of Work and Agreement for Services in the Council packet, noting the 2002 budget included $35,280 for this project. City Manager Schulze added the City had received a State of Washington grant for $10,000 to assist with project costs. Mayor Becker voiced concern about the contract being open-ended, suggested it should have fiscal control, and requested more information about the scope of work. Council member Demitriades moved, seconded by Council member Odermat, to authorize the agreement for services with the Watershed Company, contingent upon modifications to language to address the issues raised by Mayor Becker. The motion carried, with Mayor Becker opposed. City Council Meeting January 14, 2002 Page 4 ORDINANCE NO. 734, AMENDING THE 2002 BUDGET City Manager Schulze noted Ordinance No. 734 authorized the transfer of $900,000 from General Fund unencumbered resources to the Reserves Fund. He suggested the Council delay adoption of Ordinance No. 734 until the 2002 Council retreat and adoption of financial policies and goals. Council member Morgan moved, seconded by Council member Demitriades, to approve Ordinance No. 734, Amending 2002 Budget. The motion carried unanimously. DISCUSSION OF ORDINANCE NO. 723 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR CONSULTANT FEES City Manager Schulze reminded the Council they had adopted Ordinance No. 723 on December 10, 2001, which amended the Medina Municipal Code to include fees for the Planning Director, Public works Superintendent and Code Compliance Officer. He noted the intent of Ordinance No. 723 was to authorize fees for service related to staff time spent reviewing development permits. City Manager Schulze requested the Council to review and confirm the administrative procedures for charging fees for services. Council member Demitriades moved, seconded by Council member Odermat to adopt the administrative procedures for consultant fees for Ordinance No. 723, amended by Council member Morgan to change the billing to the nearest one tenth of an hour. The motion carried unanimously. RESOLUTION NO. 285 ADOPTING A RECOGNITION POLICY Council member Demitriades moved, seconded by Council member Blazey, to pass Resolution No. 285 Adopting a Recognition Policy, which passed unanimously. The Council requested they be provided with definitions of award criteria. DISCUSSION OF COUNCIL COMMITTEES The Council decided upon the following committee appointments: a. Finance Council members Morgan and Rudolph b. Personnel Mayor Becker, Council members Demitriades and Odermat C. Code/Zoning Council members Nunn and Odermat d. Organization Mayor Becker, Council members Morgan and Odermat e. Emergency Preparedness Council members Blazey, Morgan and Nunn Mayor Becker suggested residents might also serve as volunteers on any of these committees. CONSIDER AMENDMENT TO CITY MANAGER EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT Mayor Becker suggested and the Council unanimously agreed an amendment to the City Manager's employment agreement should be deferred to the Personnel Committee. NEW BUSINESS EASTSIDE TRANSPORTATION PARTNERSHIP APPOINTMENT City Manager Schulze stated he received a letter from King County Executive Ron Sims requesting two Council members to serve as Points Communities representatives for one-year terms as part of the Eastside Transportation Partnership. TREE PRESERVATION Council member Morgan stated in 2000 the Council passed Ordinance No. 686, intended to be an interim tree preservation measure. However, it did not address removal of vegetation on steep slopes, and did not conform to federal requirements for endangered species. He requested some direction. City Manager Schulze mentioned software for development of tree ordinances was available from www.treetrust.org or (800) 649-5246. The Council requested the Park Board to make arrangements for recognition of National Arbor Day on March 26, 2002. EXECUTIVE SESSION The Council recessed at 11:06 p.m., followed by Executive Session. The regular meeting was reconvened at 11:55 p.m. ADJOURNMENT Council member Blazey moved, seconded by Council member Odermat, to adjourn at 11:55 p.m., which carried unanimously. The motion passed unanimously, and the meeting was -adjourned at 11:55 p.m. Attest: [Pan iel`F.'Becker, Mayor Qf tL76 NQGt(UV� Carol[ P. Wedlund, City Clerk