Shoreline City Manager report from January 18, 2016

City Manager Update – January 18, 2016

Shoreline City Manager Debbie Tarry

Follow-Up from January 11 Council Meeting

City/Ronald Wastewater District (RWD) Assumption Plan: Deputy Mayor Winstead asked about the current RWD reserve levels. The following is a response from General Manager Mark Gregg: Cash balance is about $3.9 million, which is slightly above the target at assumption. We are managing to that level, although we may dip under it briefly in the first part of 2016 as we pay for the 2 lift station refurbishments that have been contracted out. After that, it is anticipated that positive cash flow will bring us back above the target level and we will remain at or above until assumption, barring unforeseen circumstances.

Important Meetings This Week

·         Joint Five City Council Meeting: On Tuesday night, we had five councilmembers attend the Five City Joint Meeting regarding ST3 candidate projects and specifically the 145^th St (SR 523)/SR 522 Bus Rapid Transit corridor improvements and service. There was great representation from all the cities, and ST Board Members Butler and Balducci appreciated hearing the unified request that these projects be included in the ST3 ballot measure. Mayors from the five cities will sign a letter to Sound Transit (draft letter).

·         Sound Transit - On Friday I met with Rod Kempkes (Corridor Design Manager) and Ahmad Fazel (Executive Director of Design, Engineering and Construction Management) to discuss the partnership between Sound Transit and Shoreline as design and construction of the stations in Shoreline moves forward.

·         Evans School of Public Policy and Governance (UW): On Wednesday evening, I had the opportunity to present on the topic of Politics and Practice of Council-Manager Government to approximately 25 students in the Urban Affairs – Municipal Management class.

Economic Development

·         Bethel Lutheran Church: Dan Eernissee spoke with the broker who helped the Bethel Lutheran sell its facility on 175^th between the library and North City.

·         The facility was purchased by the Buddha Jewel Monastery, which will apparently be moving its northwest location from the Rainier Valley to Shoreline.

·         The Lutheran Church, meanwhile, has purchased the yoga center building in North City -- it is south of Easy Monkey Tap House.

·         Orange Theory: Deputy Mayor Winstead got word that Orange Theory, located in the Gateway Plaza, will have their grand opening on February 25, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Should be lots of excitement with Trader Joe’s opening the next morning at 8:00 a.m.!

2016 Legislative Session

·         AWC City Action Conference, January 27-28: (Agenda) Currently Mayor Roberts and Councilmembers Hall and McGlashan are planning to attend.

·         SB6314, County Roads Efficiency Bill: On Thursday we received notice from King County that this bill was introduced to the Senate. The county is seeking a number of roads related administration and maintenance efficiencies to reduce their cost of the county road system. (Flier). This includes segments of 145^th from SR 522 to Aurora and 205^th. We are very disappointed that there was no discussion between the County and affected cities prior to the introduction of the bill. Companion HB2590 was introduced in the House. Representatives Moscoso, Rodne, Clibborn, Standford, and Springer are the House sponsors and Senators Fain and Mullet are the Senate sponsors. The orphan roads language is in section 4 of this link http://app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6314&year=2015. Staff will be following up with the County on this proposal.

·         SB6115, Cap on Water/Sewer Utility Tax Rates: Senator Chase has introduced SB6115, which was up for hearing on Monday, January 18. The bill would limit water and sewer utility tax rates to six percent and require any city that has a rate greater than this reduce it annually until the rate is down to six percent. Although the City of Shoreline does not currently assess a utility tax on water and sewer utilities, several cities throughout the State have utility tax rates substantially higher than six percent. The 2014 AWC fee survey lists cities and their water/sewer utility tax rates.

145^th Subarea Plan Schedule

Staff has outlined the following schedule for moving forward with the 145^th Subarea Plan. This schedule assumes selection of a Preferred Alternative that requires minimal new analysis and that the Planning Commission and City Council complete their decision-making during the allotted meetings.

·         February 18: Planning Commission meeting: Discuss two white papers produced by OTAK- Geotechnical Considerations for High Groundwater or Peat Conditions, and Station Subarea Wetlands Assessment
·         March 3: Planning Commission meeting: Update on 145^th Street Corridor Study
·         March 17: Planning Commission meeting: Discuss zoning scenarios analyzed in DEIS and any potential modifications based on information from white papers or Corridor Study
·         April 7: Planning Commission meeting: Recommend Preferred Alternative zoning scenario (it is possible this recommendation could happen at the end of the March 17 meeting, but this date is reserved if any of the previous topics take more time than anticipated)
·         May 2: City Council meeting: Council selects Preferred Alternative for analysis in FEIS
·         May-June- OTAK produces FEIS (timeframe will depend on whether there is additional analysis with regard to zoning scenarios from DEIS)
·         April 21, May 5 & 19, June 2 & 16- Planning Commission meetings: Discussion of Development Code amendments for 145^th Station Subarea- number of meetings dependent on amendments proposed
·         June-July- OTAK produces Subarea Plan, staff creates Planned Action Ordinance, Planning Commission reviews
·         August 4- Planning Commission Study Session on ordinances
·         August 18- Planning Commission public hearing on ordinances
·         September 12- Council Study Session on ordinances
·         September 26- Council adoption of ordinances

This and That

·         We received notice from the Liquor Cannabis Board of another marijuana retail license application – BCD Enterprises. The proposed location is 16053 Aurora Ave N, Suite B. This is the location and owner of the current collective garden – A Greener Today. This is more than 1,000 feet from any other retail establishment. Currently the state has allocated a total of four retail licenses to Shoreline – so there are more license applications in process than the state’s allotment at this time.

·         We have scheduled a meeting with Seattle District 5 Councilmember Debora Juarez, for Friday, January 29. Councilmember Juarez’s district abuts 145^th Street.