City Council Committee of the Whole

CITY OF DUVALL CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES August 28, 2014 – 5:30 p.m. Duvall Visitor Center – 15619 Main Street NE Mayor Pro Tem Walker called the meeting order at 5:34 p.m. Council present: Dianne Brudnicki, Scott Thomas, Jason Walker, Gary Gill, Amy Ockerlander, Becky Nixon, Leroy Collinwood Staff present: Jodi Lee Wycoff, Lara Thomas, Boyd Benson, Police Chief Carey Hert, Jill Long King County Assessor’s Office - Presentation Tré Maxie, Chief Deputy Assessor, gave a PowerPoint presentation explaining the recent property value increase in the Duvall area. He showed a variety of graphs and charts to explain how the recent assessments compare to recent years. He said that the average value increase was 25% from 2013-2014. Mr. Maxie said that there are two main misconceptions about property values and how they affect property taxes. The first is that there is an assumption that when values go up, so do taxes. He said that is not necessarily true and the taxes are more dependent on the tax rate than the value. Tax rates can fluctuate based on the various levies and bonds in your tax jurisdiction. The second misconception is the difference between the assessor’s valuation and a real estate appraisal. The two numbers do not always correspond, mostly due to the fact that the assessor does a mass assessment of an entire area whereas a real estate appraisal is usually for one single piece of property. Mr. Maxie then showed graphs of where the property taxes go for the Duvall area and what agencies in the area have current levies or bonds. Phillip Sit, Communications Specialist, shared that the Assessor’s Office has a great web tool for citizens to research their property value and projected taxes. He also said that property owners can now appeal their assessment online. The appeal period for the recent assessment is over but this is another great tool if anyone is looking to appeal the next assessment. Mr. Maxie and Mr. Sit then answered questions from Council. Updates to the Animal Code (bees, chickens) – Boyd Benson Boyd Benson, City Engineer, handed out and reviewed the latest strike & delete draft of the proposed changes to the Animal Code. A majority of the changes have to do with bee-keeping and chickens. Boyd said that they also included a section that will allow for departures from the requirements if granted by the Public Works Director. He also said that these amendments require land use action which requires further public hearing and review. Interlocal Agreement with Riverview School District for Police Liaison Services Dr. Anthony Smith, Riverview School District Superintendent, said that he is very excited about this agreement. He said that the officer will start at four hours a day at Cedarcrest High School Committee of the Whole – August 28, 2014 and a couple hours a week at Tolt Middle School. He said that as in all jurisdictions, they have had issues with drugs, alcohol, and crimes at school and he feels this School Resource Officer can help prevent these issues in the first place and break down barriers that are naturally occurring between teens and police. Dr. Smith said that the School District has committed $25,000 this year towards this program. September 13th Tolt Dam Evacuation Drill – Boyd Benson Boyd Benson, City Engineer, gave a PowerPoint presentation showing a map and plan for the Tolt Dam Flood Evacuation Drill. Boyd said that the Tolt Dam is a safe facility but it is still important to have this drill every year. He encouraged anyone that wants to volunteer or observe the drill to do so. Boyd said there will also be a functional table-top exercise on September 24th. Lastly Boyd gave brief updates on the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan, and the Regional Coordination Framework. Duvall Village Memo of Understanding – Lara Thomas Lara Thomas, Planning Manager, said that the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is in its second review. The MOU will be between the City of Duvall, Wescott Homes, and the Duvall Foundation of the Arts. She said that the Land Use Committee will be reviewing the MOU at their next meeting. Good of the Order Mayor Pro Tem Walker said that the Tee Off for Valley Health golf tournament is on Thursday, September 11th. The tournament will benefit the Snoqualmie Valley Community Network and Sno Valley Senior Center. He asked if any other Councilmembers were planning to attend. Based on the number of Councilmembers planning to attend the tournament, Council would like to move the September 11th meeting to Tuesday, September 9th. This proposed change will be added to tonight’s agenda for approval. Adjournment The Committee of the Whole adjourned at 7:02 p.m. ATTEST: Jason Walker, Mayor Pro Tem Jodi Lee Wycoff, Deputy City Clerk Committee of the Whole – August 28, 2014