Shoreline City Manager's Report 1-6-2014

January 6, 2014 Council Meeting

From Debbie Tarry, Shoreline City Manager

Swearing in of Councilmembers: Re-elected Councilmembers Will Hall, Shari Winstead, Keith McGlashan, and Chris Roberts were sworn in for new four-year terms.

Election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor: Councilmember Winstead was elected Mayor by the other Councilmembers and Councilmember Eggen was re-elected Deputy Mayor. In Shoreline’s Council/City Manager form of government it is the City Council that elects the Mayor and Deputy Mayor from amongst themselves. Mayor Winstead and Deputy Mayor Eggen will serve in this capacity through December 2015.

Consent Calendar:

Resolution No. 354: Council adopted Resolution No. 354 supporting Shoreline School District’s Proposition No. 1 and No. 2 that will appear on February ballot.

Approval of the Contract for City Manager: Council appointed Debbie Tarry as the new City Manager on December 8, 2013. Her contract was approved at Monday’s meeting.

Adoption of Ordinance No. 682 – Transition Area Setback for Commercial Zone Development Across from Single Family Zones: Council adopted a 15-foot set-back for these transition zones, except for those located on a principal arterial or across from public open space. For those located on a principal arterial or across from comprehensive plan public open space there will be a zero-foot setback. The transition area setback in the Town Center zone is set at 15-feet.

Discussion and Update of 185th Light Rail Station Design Dialogue: Staff updated Council on the outcomes from the design dialogue workshops held in November. Follow-up from this discussion will include opportunities for Council to meet with staff in January and then further review at the February 8, Council workshop.

Upcoming Council Meetings: January 13, 2014

10-Year Financial Sustainability Sub-Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. (Mayor Winstead, Deputy Mayor Eggen, and Councilmember Salomon)

• Proclamation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Representatives of the Ballinger Teens, with City staff support from Christy Vien, Teen Programs Assistant in the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department, will receive the proclamation.
• Metro Service Reductions: On November 7, 2013, King County Metro Transit released their proposal for system wide service reductions in response to a significant funding shortfall. Because funding for service operation is heavily reliant on sales tax revenues, the recent economic downturn has greatly impacted Metro’s budget. Metro will need to make significant service reductions beginning in June 2014. The purpose of this agenda item is to provide Council with an update on the proposed bus service cuts currently under consideration by King County Metro Transit. Metro staff will present the details associated with the proposal to Council at this meeting.
• 145th Street Discussion: The purpose of this agenda item is to provide Council with an update on the activities surrounding 145th Street. After the last discussion in October 2012, Council instructed staff to continue conversations with the City of Seattle regarding issues associated with annexation. Additionally, Council allocated $250,000 in the City’s 2014-2019 Capital Improvement Plan for creation of a Route Development Plan (RDP) for the corridor. However, Council directed staff to not actively pursue the annexation or begin the RDP until such time as Sound Transit identified the preferred alternative for Lynnwood Link light rail. On November 21, 2013, the Sound Transit Board identified the preferred alternative for Lynnwood Link and it includes a light rail station at Interstate 5 and NE 145th Street.

Pt. Wells

Later this week, Snohomish County will most likely begin the scoping process for its environmental review of the proposed development at Point Wells. The review will look at the development’s impacts and determine how to address them. The first step in the process is to conduct “scoping”. Scoping is the process of identifying the elements of the environment to be evaluated in an environmental review. It is the community’s opportunity to comment on the impacts of the proposed development, identify alternatives to the development, and make suggestions on how to address the impacts.

Snohomish County and BSRE have agreed to a 30 day scoping comment period, which is longer than the minimum 21 day requirement. Snohomish County will hold two public meetings during the scoping period, including one in Shoreline.

The City will submit official scoping comments on the Point Wells project’s impacts to our community. Join us for an overview of the Snohomish County environmental review process and to review and comment on the impacts we have identified.

Workshop: Preparing for Snohomish County’s Environmental Review Process

Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014, 6:30 to 8:30pm

Shoreline City Hall Council Chambers

Retail Carryout Plastic Bag Ban – Effective February 1

REMINDER: The City’s ban on single use retail plastic bags will go in effect on February 1, 2014. For more information visit the City webpage 

Tent City Administrative Order

A temporary use permit has been issued for the St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, 722 N 145th St, to host a tent city temporary homeless camp on their property. Approximately 100 people will be housed in up to 79 tents. The proposed site of the camp is in the auxiliary parking area in a flat clearing behind the church, just west of and below the Interurban Trail. The permit is valid from January 4, 2014 through March 8, 2014.

Economic Development

New Business Licenses – The City issued a total of 157 new business licenses for businesses operating in Shoreline in the 4th quarter of 2013. By far the majority are home businesses.

This and That

Congratulations to Councilmember McConnell – Councilmember McConnell has been appointed to the National League of Cities (NLC) Human Development Steering Committee. The committee has the lead responsibility for developing NLC federal policy positions on issues involving social services, children and learning, poverty and income support, employment and workforce development, equal opportunity, Social Security and seniors, individuals with disabilities, public health care, mental health parity and immigration reform.

We are excited to report that in 2013 staff and Spartan Recreation Center users donated 1,066 lbs. of food to the Hopelink Food Bank. Shana Swift and Melissa Welch were faithful to deliver the donations at least once per month to very grateful recipients. As Mary Anne Kelly put it, “This is one of those “feel good” yet simple services we provide here, and it makes us all feel proud by association.”