Shoreline City Council Meeting 1-6-2014

Deputy Mayor Chris Eggen and Mayor Shari Winstead
Photo by Devon Rickabaugh

Shoreline City Council 

Meeting 1-6-2014

By Devon Vose Rickabaugh

During the first meeting of the new year the Shoreline City Council elected Councilmember Shari Winstead to the office of mayor, following Councilmember Keith McGlashan. Reelected councilmembers Will Hall, Chris Roberts and Shari Winstead were sworn in by Judge Richard Eadie.

The Council adapted an ordinance returning the building setbacks to 15 feet from the road in the Town Center but allowing exceptions for transition areas along principal arterials and across from Public Open spaces. The affected residential properties would include small properties on Westminster Way, N 155th Street, 15th Avenue NE, Ballinger Way NE, and NE 149th Street.

A citizen on the city Planning Commission, Easton Craft, expressed regret that the Council had exempted areas from the 15 foot setback without letting the Planning Commission study the effect of the zero foot setback on the affected areas. The Planning Commission had originally recommended 15 foot setbacks everywhere. After the Council reduced some places to zero, once again the commission recommended returning the setbacks 15 feet. Craft said transparency with the city residents is an issue here. He called the council’s action “a backdoor way”.

Supporters of a public vote on Ronald assumption
Photo by Devon Rickabaugh

A dozen citizens showed up to speak and hold signs demanding a vote on whether the City should be allowed to assume the Ronald Wastewater District in October of 2017 as the agreement between the City and the District outlined. Residents questioned whether the City would maintain the current 6% tax and stated it could go much higher.

City Manager Debbie Tarry agreed there is no limit on taxing water utilities but said the City had been diligent in keeping utility taxes at 6% and she said any rate increase would have to go through the council. She also said that the agreement with Ronald Wastewater District did not prevent the possibility of a citizen vote on the assumption.

One audience member questioned the need for the swift vote at the December 9th council meeting where the Council adopted an ordinance authorizing the assumption of Ronald Wastewater. She said had she known she could have been at that meeting. She praised Councilmember Roberts for refusing to vote without citizen input. City Manager Tarry reiterated that the council had acted swiftly to protect citizens' water assets under threat by the city of Woodway.