Shoreline City Manager's report

From Shoreline City Manager Debbie Tarry

On Saturday, October 11, the City held its Third Annual Monster Mash Dash in conjunction with the Family Safety Fair! Both events were great. We had 300 participants in the Monster Mash Dash, which didn’t include strollers, and there were quite a few of those! Events Coordinator Pam Barrett tells me that this was 70 more or about a 30% increase from the 2012 event! At the safety fair there were over 20 vendors along with representatives from the Shoreline police and fire departments. Home Depot was one of the vendors and they provided materials for kids to build wooden EMS vehicles.

October 13 Council Meeting

Dinner Meeting

·         2015 Legislative Priorities:  Council reviewed the following as its draft 2015 Legislative Priorities:

1.    Support local government financial sustainability and flexibility:

2.    Advocate funding for 145th Street Corridor Project including ensuring safe pedestrian and bicycle access to the future 145th Street Light Rail Station

3.    Defend cities’ ability to assume water/sewer districts without a vote and support clarifying the City utility tax  'proprietary' vs. 'governmental' issue

4.    Support clarification of state law regarding medical marijuana vs. recreational marijuana

Legislative Issues the City Supports:

1.    Transportation funding - adopt new comprehensive transportation revenue package with direct distribution to local governments and additional local option authorities

2.    Maintain and restore funding for infrastructure programs such as the Public Works Trust Fund

3.    Ronald Commons Project capital budget funding request

4.    Advocate for city tools, such as funding and regulatory authority, to support Transit Communities

Regular Meeting

·         Amending Prosecution Services Contract with Sarah Roberts through 2015: Staff requested a one-year extension of the contract.

·         Adoption of Resolution No. 363 Revising the Personnel Policies for the Affordable Care Act Employer Mandate: Council adopted the revised definitions regarding extra-help that were discussed with Council at their April 29 meeting.

·         Strategies for Implementing the City’s Climate Action Plan Recommendations: Elizabeth Willmott, of Climate Solutions’ New Energy Cities program, helped present proposed strategies to meet the City’s green house gas reduction targets.

·         Transmittal of the 2015 Proposed Budget: Answers to budget questions from Councilmembers Salomon and Hall

October 20 Council Meeting

Dinner Meeting (5:45 p.m.)

·         Joint Meeting with the Shoreline Community College Board of Trustees and President

Regular Meeting

·         Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Contract with CH2MHill for the Development of the 145^th Street Route Development Plan (RDP): The contract amount is $469,140. The project will create a master plan for the corridor from 3rd Avenue NW to Bothell Way NE (SR 522). The RDP will evaluate the needs for capacity, safety, access management, and accommodations for multiple travel modes (vehicles, buses, walking, cycling, and freight).

·         Adoption of Resolution No. 364, Hazard Mitigation Plan: In 2009, the City of Shoreline adopted its State and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-approved Hazard Mitigation Plan (Plan). The Plan is a five year plan that expires at the end of 2014. The City must have an up to date FEMA-approved Plan in order to receive any post-disaster funding to help recover from loss after a significant event that impacts our community. This City Plan Annex includes a review of work done to implement the 2009 Plan, an evaluation of new information as to the current hazards we face as a city and experience gained in recent events that impacted the City and/or the County. The draft 2014 Plan was reviewed by the Planning Commission and they recommended on July 10 that the City Council pass a resolution approving the Plan. The draft 2014 Plan has been reviewed by both the State and FEMA, with the State approving the Plan and FEMA’s final approval forthcoming following the City’s adoption of the Plan.

·         2015 Budget Department Presentations: The focus of the departmental presentations will be on any significant changes between the department’s 2014 budget and the 2015 proposed budget. Staff plans to complete department reviews through the Planning & Community Development Department on October 20. On October 27 we will review the Public Works Department, the 2015-2020 Capital Improvement Plan, and the Capital and Operating Surface Water Utility budgets. 

Meetings and Events of the Past Week (October 6-10)

·         New Energy Cities: On Tuesday, Councilmember Hall participated with King County Executive Dow Constantine and Mercer Island Mayor Bruce Bassett at an after-hours event to discuss the importance of local-governments' proactive commitments to implementing strategies to reduce the carbon footprint through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

·         North End Mayors Meeting: On Tuesday, Mayor Winstead attended this meeting.

·         Naturalization Ceremony in Shoreline: Mayor Winstead participated in this ceremony with Councilmember Hall and Roberts also being in attendance.

·         Chamber of Commerce Meeting: On Wednesday, Economic Development Manager Dan Eernissee was the featured speaker at the Chamber meeting sharing information about the 185^th Light Rail Station Sub-Area planning process.

·         145^th Subarea Plan Design Workshop II: On Thursday night it was standing room only for the Design Workshop. The purpose of the workshop was to get feedback from participants on the “Connecting Corridor” and “Compact Community” zoning options and to explain the environmental review process. Height and density continues to be a concern for many residents.

·         Comcast Newsmakers Interview: On Thursday, Mayor Winstead completed an interview on the City’s light rail and environmental sustainability efforts.

Echo Lake Park Construction Update

Echo Lake Park is nearing completion. The future turf areas were hydro seeded Monday. With cooler temperatures and reduced daylight it will take longer to germinate the seed planted and get the turf established than was originally estimated. The staff worked hard to get the contractor moving faster but was unsuccessful. The quality of work is good, but a small contractor without a lot of staff took longer to get the work done than a larger contractor might have. As a result we will be leaving the construction fence around the site for several more weeks. If the good weather continues we might be able to dedicate the site in November. If the turf areas are not ready for activity it would be a dedication only and then close the park for another month or two for turf establishment. Dick will keep me posted on the schedule. Some photos and descriptions:

·         1st Photo: Looking from the trail across the open field area to the playground and remodeled restroom

·         2nd Photo: The trail near the beach that connects the beach/Interurban Trail area to the restroom and play area. It shows the regarded turf area that will be much more usable than previously.

·         3rd Photo: A much improved beach area with ADA access and a lot of the concrete bulkhead is the right height for sitting. In addition there are picnic table pads where tables will be installed.

Calendar Items

·         October 28 – Shoreline will host a King County Youth Action Plan meeting. King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski is sponsoring this effort.

This and That

·         Planning and Community Development has created a description of the MUR zoning designations that are being considered by the Planning Commission as part of the light rail station development regulations.

·         Trader Joe’s has Shoreline listed on their site as “coming soon!”

·         I received a response letter from Olympic View Water and Sewer District from my October 3 letter stating the City's interest in participating in the District's update to its 2009 Comprehensive Water System Plan and potential amendment to its 2007 Comprehensive Sewer Plan.