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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-25-2006 - MinutesMEDINA CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MINUTES September 25, 2006 6:00 pm EXECUTIVE SESSION Medina City Hall 501 Evergreen Point Road The city council convened in executive session at 6:00 pm, for the purpose of labor negotiation discussions per RCW 42.30.110 (1) (g). City Manager Doug Schulze; City Labor Attorney Scott Snyder; and Councilmembers Miles Adam, Lucius Biglow, Drew Blazey, Katie Phelps, Robert Rudolph, and Pete Val[-Spinosa were present. No action was anticipated and duration of the session was expected to be one -hour. Executive Session adjourned at 7:00 pm and no action was taken. CALL TO ORDER Miles Adam called the September 25, 2006 Medina City Council Study Session to order at 7:06 pm. ROLL CALL Councilmembers Present: Miles Adam, Lucius Biglow, Drew Blazey, Katie Phelps, Robert Rudolph and Pete Vall-Spinosa Councilmembers Absent: Jim Lawrence City Staff Present: Doug Schulze, City Manager, Wayne Tanaka, City Attorney, Ogden Murphy Wallace; Joseph Gellings, Director of Development Services; Joe Willis, Director of Public Works; Dan Yourkoski, Acting Police Lieutenant; and Rachel Baker, City Clerk ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor announced there would be an executive session following the meeting to discuss a legal matter Adam announced he attended an AWC meeting regarding communications last week and provided notes from the session to councilmembers. He conveyed AWC suggested that a good way to improve communication would be to conduct 90-minute forums for major topics. Mayor thanked Schulze and King County Councilmember Jane Hague for efforts contributed to Metro bus stop relocation on 841h Avenue Northeast. Schulze stated the stop would be relocated to the north side of Northeast 241h Street near the northeast corner of the Wells -Medina property and the southeast corner of the Puget Sound Energy substation. Adam declared council received formal notification today from Doug Schulze resigning from his position as city manager in Medina and announcing his acceptance of the city manager position with the city of Normandy Park. Adam said his final day in Medina would be Friday, October 27t", which would conclude ten years of exemplary service in Medina. Phelps reported she recently attended the NORCOM meeting regarding long term planning for a proposed regional dispatch center and reminded council there was a memo from Chief Chen included in the September 11 t" meeting packet which outlined information pertaining to NORCOM. DISCUSSION Tree and Vegetation Ordinance (7:11 pm) Gellings introduced Jack McKenzie, town administrator for Hunts Point who was in attendance to speak about Hunts Point's tree code. Jack McKenzie said Hunts Point takes the approach of preserving only evergreen trees, not controlling deciduous trees or landscaping and has kept the code simple due to limited resources. He said a tree inventory and tree cover condition study were recently completed in cooperation with records from 1953, old photographs and assistance by an urban forestry senior from the University of Washington. Mr. McKenzie stated the current tree cover resulted after turn of the century clear cutting and consists mostly of Douglas Fir or red cedar and that most of those trees are past their prime. Mr. McKenzie reported trees could be removed if a hazard or danger has been posed to a house, if a tree has been deemed diseased, if it destroys driveways, or if located in the footprint of planned development. He said there is a one for one replacement requirement and replacement must be with a similar species tree that is at least eight feet tall, however, on heavily treed lots a payment into the tree fund would be allowed and the city would choose and place the tree in town. McKenzie answered inquires from council and left meeting at 7:22 pm. Gellings responded to council directives given during earlier discussion regarding a reward -based system and a pre -qualified list of arborists. Gellings reported he looked to survey results gathered from peer cities and cited a system used by the city of Bellevue. Gellings recommended council adopt system of certifying arborists known through the American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA) if there would be council interest to continue in that direction and explained certification process. Council discussed option of choosing a single city arborist that would be a certified member of ASCA and not associated with a tree -cutting firm. Council agreed to eliminate rejection clause. City Council Minutes September 25, 2006 Page 2 Mayor opened floor to public participation at 7:32 pm. Resident Dale Dier remarked he recently spoke with Gellings regarding a tree -cutting incident which involved a Rambling Lane resident who wanted cedar trees on a non- adjacent property topped to protect her view. He said the non -adjacent property owner convinced and influenced the property owner that the trees were diseased and then the owner obtained a permit to top trees. Mr. Dier urged council to tighten the code to prevent another attempt to bypass code in the future. Resident suggested code allow for a public comment process regarding tree removal. Gellings defined code restrictions and requirements and elaborated on case which allowed permit to be granted administratively without a public hearing due to the fact that the person who would benefit the most from trimming was able to influence adjacent property owner to obtain a permit. A resident since 1967, Lyn Grinstein reminisced how tree code discussion reminded her of the fable of a frog in hot water and its similarities to how subtle tree removal would not be noticed until it would be too late. She argued citizens must stay vigilant to protect the natural environment and property values. She claimed private rather than for profit builders voluntarily take expensive measures to protect trees. Resident Whitney Hines said trees removed by Puget Sound Energy should be completely replaced and that only two of her four fir trees were replaced. She asked if an environmental impact statement has been done and remarked about efforts Bainbridge Island has taken and elaborated about the city of Seattle's recent efforts to replace canopy and increase green space. Resident showed personal pictures taken of lots under construction in Medina which have had trees removed and/or cut and repeated that the tree requirement should be protected. Resident Rod Binden said there should be a happy medium between view preservation and tree preservation. Greta Sterns spoke not as a resident, but as a representative for The Berger Partnership. She said current tree replacement requirement is too cumbersome and recommended a focus in tree replacement that would keep a balanced staggering in hierarchy of canopies. Resident Mark Nelson said the plan could be revised to maintain Medina's sylvan character and expressed appreciation for Hunts Point's simplified and one for one replacement policy and suggested council consider that during plan revision. He said he would like to see a master plan to protect right of way trees and agreed with Ms. Sterns's comments regarding the replanting of numerous small trees and stated concerns regarding the development of tree farms resulting from current mitigation requirements. Resident Kay Koelemay Dicharry remarked about the number of trees greater than 20 inches in diameter which have been removed during the past two years and commented on Hunts Point's code. She stated large significant trees impact the surrounding City Council Minutes September 25, 2006 Page 3 neighborhood, not just adjacent owners and suggested surrounding neighbors be notified of tree removals and cited an earlier tree removal situation near her property and the negative impacts which resulted. Resident Cindy Pigott emphasized the term evergreen in both her address in Medina and in the state of Washington and expressed agreement with Ms. Koelemay Dicharry's comments. She added that trees help with absorption of carbon dioxide and water run- off and quoted author Jim Conrad from an American Forests essay. Paul Saad claimed to be a proponent for tree protection as both a builder in Medina and as a Medina property owner, as long as it balances with property rights and coordinates with the view and sunlight ordinance as defined in the comprehensive plan. Mr. Saad expressed he likes Hunts Point's one for one tree replacement and supports protection of right of way trees. He stated it would be unfair should the city continue to regulate and require mitigation for trees located in the footprint of a proposed house. Resident Suzanne Cohen responded to earlier comments made regarding Hunts Point properties and compared lots to those in Medina. She suggested evidence of tree inventory be used as a case study and for a decision to be made based on evidence at some point in the future. Ms. Cohen agreed to earlier direction regarding city arborist and was in agreement to neighbor noticing comments for removal or trimming of significant trees. Mayor closed public comment period at 8:22 pm and council discussion followed. Phelps favored staff proposed mitigation schedule which was included in July study session packet. Vail-Spinosa presented an idea for payment into a tree fund based upon caliper inch of tree removal as an alternative to tree replacement and as a measure to prevent development of tree farms. Council directed Gellings work with suggestion. Council suggested a definition be developed for weed trees and that "not recommended deciduous trees" and "prohibited deciduous trees" be lumped together and to not require mitigation for those. Council requested changing mitigation level from 2.5 to 3.0 and agreed to recommendation for one city arborist with ASCA certification that would not be associated with a tree removal firm and also not a current existing consultant. Council majority agreed to change mitigation requirement from 24 to 36 inches if tree located in footprint of proposed construction. There was no consensus for creating regulations special to neighborhood districts. A consensus was reached pertaining to non -specification of rights of way plantings. Consensus was reached to preserve same genus at 25% replacement. Discussion continued regarding performance bond requirement as an incentive for finalization of landscaping and for requiring public noticing by means of a sign posted in the right of way for right of way tree trimming and removal. Tanaka indicated he would look into fine penalty limitations for tree code violations. City Council Minutes September 25, 2006 Page 4 Mayor called a break at 9:40 pm and the meeting was ordered back into session at 9:46 pm. 2007 Budget Discussion (9:46 pm) Schulze conveyed he would like to receive council comment regarding draft budget to prepare for special October budget meeting presentation and provided an overview of draft document. Council asked Schulze to take a closer look at interest income projections and Adam requested an inventory of police department vehicles and a list of police department software upgrades requested in budget. MOTION BLAZEYAND SECOND RUDOLPH TO EXTEND MEETING ONE HOUR, MOTION PASSED 6-0 AT 10:04 PM. Adam requested 2006 budget figures and projected 2006 expenditures for Medina Beach Park and Rudolph requested costs for storm sewer repairs and upgrades. Willis conveyed storm sewer estimates could be available after he has opportunity to review videotapes. Council discussed videotaping of council meetings and informally determined to budget only for cable broadcasting of council meetings. Blazey requested a list identifying full time budgeted positions for both year 2006 and 2007, and Rudolph requested a detailed financial and duty breakdown as well as the physical placement for the proposed development services position. Adam inquired why there was a large increase in the legal department budget and for WCIA annual dues. Schulze indicated he would follow up with these items and at council's request would obtain information pertaining to intergovernmental services contributions. Adam requested a schedule outlining city expenditures for Medina Days. Initiative 933 Discussion (10:55 pm) Councilmembers voiced their opinions regarding the city taking a position on the issue. An informal poll determined there would be a 3-3 vote regarding the publishing of a city stance on the initiative and Schulze stated Medina would therefore remain silent on issue. SR 520 Project Draft EIS Comments & Preferred Alternative Resolution (10:58 pm) Adam invited council to comment on draft resolution and the potential SR 520 comment points and reported Medina's final position paper must be passed during the October 9tn meeting. Adam confirmed a stop would be included at Evergreen Point Road, and Medina would support the request for transit access at 108t" Avenue made by Kirkland and Bellevue. Adam remarked Medina's position for clearance of the east high rise City Council Minutes September 25, 2006 Page 5 would be no more than 70 feet and a comment would be added against the taking of slivers of land. Rudolph suggested the city take a position against diverting truck traffic from 1-90 to SR-520. Schulze suggested and Adam agreed to place resolution on the October 91h consent agenda. Donations Policy Item not discussed due to time limitation and was moved to October 9th meeting agenda. MOTION AND SECOND TO EXTEND MEETING TEN MINUTES, MOTION PASSED 6-0 AT 11:09 PM. Council Agenda Calendar (11:09 pm) Agenda calendar briefly discussed. Rudolph explained he would be unavailable to attend an October 23rd study session and council determined they would forward availability for alternative dates of either October 25`h or 26'h via email to city manager. EXECUTIVE SESSION The council recessed into executive session at 11:13 pm, for the purpose of discussing a legal issue, per RCW 42.30.110 (1) (i) for an estimated time of ten minutes and it was undetermined if action would follow. City Councilmembers Adam, Biglow, Blazey, Phelps, Rudolph and Vall-Spinosa; city manager, city attorney, and city clerk were present. Executive session adjourned and the city council reconvened study session at 11:50 pm and no action was taken. ADJOURNMENT MOTION AND SECOND TO ADJOURN THE SEPTEMBER 25, 2006 CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION, MOTION PASSED 6-0 AT 11:50 PM. The September 25, 2006, Study Session of the Medina City Council adjourned at 11:50 pm. The next Regular Meeting of the Medina City Council will be held Monday, October 9, 2006. An Executive Session will begin at 6:00 pm to discuss labor negotiations, per RCW 42.30.110 (1) (g) and the public portion of the meeting will begin at 7:00 pm. Miles R. Adam, Mayor Attest: z2x-411— R�chel Baker, City Clerk City Council Minutes September 25, 2006 Page 6