Summary of Shoreline City Council Meeting June 9, 2008

Council Members Present: Mayor Cindy Ryu, Deputy Mayor Terry Scott, Council Members Chris Eggen, Doris McConnell, Keith McGlashan, Janet Way Member Absent: Ron Hansen (excused)

Meeting called to order at 7:30 p.m.

City Manager's Report

City Manager Robert Olander announced three news items:

1) Two community workshops will be held on proposed City Council goals, on Wednesday, June 11, and Tuesday, June 24. The June 24 meeting will be held at the Shoreline Center's Highlander Room, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. 2) A dedication at the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden was held June 7. 3) A meeting on the proposed off-leash dog area will be held Thursday, June 12, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Shoreline Historical Museum. A study group will present recommendations.

Special Presentation Tom Holz, a civil engineer and low-impact development consultant, gave a presentation on low-impact development ideas that Shoreline could implement.

On transportation, green streets can be made of bridge decking, a well understood technology, which can be laid atop a bio-retention facility to treat and infiltrate stormwater. Such a technology has been used on the State Route 104 bridge over Hood Canal.

Rail transit, including suspended monorails and conventional surface railbeds, produce little to no runoff. As fuel prices continue rising, transit may be the only practical way to get around.

On housing, there are good and bad forms of high-density housing. Queen Elizabeth II lives in what could be described as multi-family housing. High-rise buildings can integrate vertical farms that provide for stormwater treatment and local food production. Conventional high-rise towers allow for the high density that makes transit economical. Condominiums can be designed attractively, in ways that resemble single-family housing.

Citizens can be encouraged to practice low-impact design on their properties. By removing conventional lawns and replanting with native vegetation, private property can meet the "65-10-0" low-impact standard, where 65 percent of the property is natural soils and vegetation, impervious surface is limited to 10 percent, and zero runoff leaves the site.

Public works is low-hanging fruit because local governments own and control them. On the demonstration "SEA Street" in Seattle, 60 to 70 percent of the right-of-way was converted to a rain garden. Such projects are relatively easy to accomplish, and would give Shoreline a brand identity that would attract job-producing companies. With a long-term strategy, the city could implement green projects at a relatively low marginal cost as maintenance and replacement projects come up.

In response to questions from the council, Mr. Holz said building green streets would require restoring soils. While the glacial tills common in Shoreline can be problematic for infiltrating stormwater, the soils are not totally impervious and with a large enough project area, stormwater can be effectively infiltrated even with very poor soils. In areas that have combined sanitary and storm sewers, aggressively intercepting stormwater before it hits the combined sewer can result in significant cost savings.

Council Member Reports

Deputy Mayor Scott reported attending the Sea Shore transportation meeting, where there was continuing discussion about Sound Transit's plans for a ballot measure to raise money for light rail and other transit projects. Mayor Ryu reported that King County Council Member Bob Ferguson has asked north King County cities to send a letter to Sound Transit.

General Public Comments

LaNita Wacker said she was amazed and bewildered at the City Council's recent adoption of Ordinance 500, setting transition area requirements for residential development in RB, CB, and I zones, and Ordinance 505, adopting a six-month density cap of R-110 in the RB zone.

Patty Hale thanked the council for approving neighborhood mini-grants. For Ridgecrest, mini-grants have funded a community mural, planting of street trees, and purchase and hanging of banners featuring art from local artists.

Richard Johnson said the city should ask King County Council Member Larry Phillips to justify Shoreline's payment of taxes to Sound Transit when the city receives no benefit from the taxes.

Consent Calendar

Items on the Consent Calendar included: a) minutes of April 28, 2008 business meeting, b) approval of payroll and expenses as of May 28, 2008, c) approval of Ridgecrest Neighborhood Mini-Grant Project, and d) Resolution 276 authorizing applications for Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program funding.

Council Member McGlashan moved to adopt the Consent Calendar. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Scott.

On passage of the motion to approve the Consent Calendar:

Ayes: Ryu, Scott, Eggen, McConnell, McGlashan, Way Nays: None Absent: Hansen Motion passed.

Resolution 277, Supporting Ballot Proposition 1 for August 19, 2008 Special Election, "Proposed Annexation to Ronald Wastewater District"

Michael Derrick, general manager of the Ronald Wastewater District, explained the ballot proposition. Ronald Wastewater District provides wastewater collection services to all of Shoreline and parts of southern Snohomish County. Collected wastewater is sent to King County and City of Edmonds wastewater treatment plants.

About 19,200 southeastern Shoreline pay for district services but do not live within the district's boundaries, making them ineligible to vote in or run for elections for the district's three-person board of commissioners. Once annexed into the district, those residents will then be eligible to vote for and run for the board of commissioners. Annexation will not result in rate increases, new costs, or higher taxes. The district does not have taxing authority.

Public Hearing

LaNita Wacker said the district offers the best value in town, and the annexation should be approved.

Richard Johnson said he will encourage his neighbors to vote "yes" on the annexation.

Discussion

Council Member McGlashan moved to adopt Resolution 277. Seconded by Council Member Way.

Art Wadekamper, president of the district board of commissioners, said the annexation needs a simple majority approval from voters who turn out to cast ballots.

In response to a question from Council Member Way, Commissioner Wadekamper said the district experiences some infiltration and inflow of stormwater into its collection system, but the district operates a segregated sanitary sewer system, not a combined system. The City of Shoreline is responsible for managing stormwater.

Mayor Ryu asked the district to consider expanding its board of commissioners if voters approve the annexation.

On passage of the motion to adopt Resolution 277

Ayes: Ryu, Scott, Eggen, McConnell, McGlashan, Way Nays: None Absent: Hansen

Motion passed.

Presentation of 2009-2014 Capital Improvement Plan

Finance Director Deborah Tarry presented the draft Capital Improvement Plan for council review and comment. The plan is a long-term policy document that identifies future needs and sets priorities, but is also subject to change.

The document, updated annually, is used to plan for funding and implementing capital projects, and coordinating implementation with city departments and other public agencies. The plan does not provide precise cost estimates, schedules, or a scope of work for projects.

The draft plan includes 47 projects costing a total of $155 million. Three projects account for 77 percent of the cost: 1) the Aurora Avenue N improvement from 165th Avenue N to 205th Avenue N, which totals $88 million 2) construction of the Civic Center and City Hall, which totals $29 million, and 3) completion of projects funded by the parks bond approved by voters in 2006, totaling $3.2 million.

About half the anticipated funding for all projects will come from grants. Another funding source is the real estate excise tax (REET), which is imposed upon sale of property and by law must be reserved for capital expenditure.

The 2008 budget projected REET revenues of $1,683,000, but with the softening of the real estate market, the most recent projection estimates REET revenues of only $1.4 million.

A selection of proposed new projects includes $800,000 for acquisition of the Pym property in Richmond Beach, and $1.1 million for an Interurban Park near the new Civic Center.

For the Surface Water Utility, 14 drainage projects costing an estimated $10.5 million are proposed, including basin plans for the Boeing Creek and Thornton Creek watersheds. The surface water utility fee charged to all single-family properties is $124 per year. An annual increase of $7 per year is anticipated.

Long-term issues include volatility of fuel and construction costs, and uncertainty regarding fuel tax collections in light of rising fuel costs and consequent reduction in fuel purchases by drivers. One option for dealing with these issues is a transportation benefit district. A bill passed by the Washington Legislature in 2007 gives cities the authority to form such districts, which can be funded by a $20 license tab fee that must be approved by city councils. A higher tab fee, up to $80, could be adopted with voter approval. A district can be funded with a 0.1 percent sales tax, which would also require voter approval.

The council will hold a public hearing on the draft Capital Improvement Plan on June 23. Final council adoption is scheduled for July 14.

Public Hearing

Boni Biery asked the city to consider conducting a street tree inventory. In reply, City Manager Olander said the city has such an inventory, which includes information on species and tree conditions.

Proposed Environmental Sustainability Strategy

Associate Planner Juniper Nammi briefly presented the strategy for continued council discussion. The strategy is a toolbox. Implementation details will be fleshed out through the city's budgeting process.

City Manager Olander said the strategy will create another screen for decision-making, in the same way that policy and legal considerations are used as decision-making screens.

Discussion

Council Member McConnell said the staff did a great job producing the strategy.

Council Member Eggen said he wants more discussion about reducing use of pesticides and other toxic products. In response, Planner Nammi said the city uses few pesticides. Through an environmental purchasing program, the city will strive to reduce toxic products, including pesticides.

Council Member Way said she liked the idea of a permanent green leadership team to keep the city focused on sustainability priorities.

Council Member Way asked about a natural resources management plan. In response, Planner Nammi said the city plans to examine ways of linking habitat protection and restoration on both private property and public lands, to build ecosystem linkages and minimize habitat fragmentation.

Council Member Way asked how the strategy will be used in everyday activities, such as permitting. Planner Nammi said the strategy will be a screen that will be part of the decision-making process. City Manager Olander said staff reports include information on financial implications. Future staff reports could include information about implications for sustainability.

Council Member Way asked for additional language about linking trails, providing for more than one green street demonstration project, and highlighting fish habitat.

Meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m.

Modified 6/17/2008