City Council

City Hall City of Olympia 601 4th Avenue E Olympia, WA 98501 Information: 360.753.8447 Meeting Minutes City Council Tuesday, January 14, 2014 7:00 PM Council Chambers 1. ROLL CALL Present: 6 - Mayor Stephen H. Buxbaum, Mayor Pro Tem Nathaniel Jones, Councilmember Julie Hankins, Councilmember Steve Langer, Councilmember Jeannine Roe and Councilmember Cheryl Selby Excused: 1 - Councilmember Jim Cooper 1.A ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Buxbaum noted C-SPAN's visit earlier this week and asked to add an item under Special Recognition to hear from the C-SPAN spokesperson. The Council agreed. 1.B APPROVAL OF AGENDA Councilmember Langer moved, seconded by Councilmember Hankins, to approve the agenda as amended. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 6 - Mayor Buxbaum, Mayor Pro Tem Jones, Councilmember Hankins, Councilmember Langer, Councilmember Roe and Councilmember Selby Excused: 1 - Councilmember Cooper 2. SPECIAL RECOGNITION Report on C-SPAN Visit to Olympia Ms. Ashley Hill, Producer/Representative from C-SPAN Cities Tour, provided a brief background of their mission and what they are doing in Olympia. She noted the program will air February 1 and 2 on a local cable channel. The report was received. 2.A 14-0048 Hands On Children’s Museum Annual Report Assistant City Manager Jay Burney introduced this item. Ms. Patty Belmonte, Executive Director of the Hands On Children's Museum, provided statistics on the number of visitors, memberships, volunteers, and website visits. She also shared City of Olympia Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes January 14, 2014 written comments praising the museum, first-year honors received, and highlights of Phase II. Councilmembers thanked her for all the work she has done to make the museum such a success. The report was received. 3. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION Crisis Clinic Manager Paul Larsen spoke on the upcoming Thurston County homeless census to be held on Thursday, January 23. He said they are in need of volunteers to help with this effort. Mr. Terry Zander spoke of negative behaviors by members of the Olympia Police Department and others. Mr. Mark Foutch, 1056 Boundary St SE, spoke of the newly formed Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum and encouraged Councilmembers and members of the public to become a member. Mr. Jim Reeves spoke of an impending earthquake and eruption of Mt. Rainier. Mr. Lawrence Jacobson, 2628 113th Way SW, stated his son has disabilities and cannot find a job. He asked the City to look at an employment diversity initiative and suggested the City work with the Division of Vocational Education. Mr. Andy Jacobson, 2628 113th Way SW, said he has a learning disability and medical problem which limits the jobs he can get. Design Review Board Member and Architect Thomas Carver, 205 Rogers St NW, reviewed urban planning studies and efforts in the downtown over past years . He asked the Council to develop something in writing when working on the Downtown Master Plan in order to help move forward with the plan. COUNCIL RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMUNICATION (Optional) Councilmember Langer asked about the City's diversity in employment policy. City Manager Steve Hall said the City currently employs two part time people with disabilities and staff actively engages with Morningside to work with the disabled . Mayor Buxbaum said he would like to pursue this issue further. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR Mayor Buxbaum noted appointments to various interjurisdictional and other committees were made at this past weekend's Council retreat and an updated list is on their desk. Councilmembers made one change and agreed all others were correct. 4.A 14-0049 Approval of January 7, 2014 City Council Meeting Minutes The minutes were adopted. City of Olympia Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes January 14, 2014 4.B 14-0012 Authorization to Submit an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Cleanup Grant Application for Asbestos Abatement in Two City-Owned Buildings on the Isthmus The decision was adopted. 4.C 14-0040 Approval of Amendment of 2013 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Action Plan to include Section 108 Loan for Downtown Safety Improvements The decision was adopted. 4.D 14-0043 Approval of 2014 City Council Committee Assignments, Intergovernmental Assignments, Advisory Committee Liaison Assignments, and Appointment of Mayor Pro Tem The decision was adopted. Approval of the Consent Agenda Mayor Pro Tem Jones moved, seconded by Councilmember Hankins, to adopt the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 6 - Mayor Buxbaum, Mayor Pro Tem Jones, Councilmember Hankins, Councilmember Langer, Councilmember Roe and Councilmember Selby Excused: 1 - Councilmember Cooper SECOND READINGS - None FIRST READINGS - None 5. PUBLIC HEARING - None 6. OTHER BUSINESS 6.A 14-0018 Consideration of Next Steps in the Community Renewal Area (CRA) Process Community Planning & Development Director Keith Stahley reviewed the Council's discussion at the recent annual retreat. These include the following: Decisions made: - Governance: City Council. - Boundary: Downtown inclusive of the Port and West Bay. - Blight: Presently, there are five properties of interest, soils, contamination, and sea level rise. City of Olympia Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes January 14, 2014 - Eminent Domain: Only for removal of blight on properties that have been vacant and unproductive for five years or longer. Direction given: - Timing: Move forward based on CP&D planning projects timeline. - Support the creation of a community renewal area (CRA) for downtown Olympia. - Move forward with the Urban Design Workshop as outlined in the ECONW memorandum. - Pursue broader economic development objectives as defined in the Investment Strategies report. Referral to the CRA Ad Hoc Committee: - Clarify steps necessary to complete the CRA plan, define the public involvement process to complete the plan, clarify the role of the City Council in this process, and update project budget. Mr. Stahley then reviewed next steps: - Hold an urban design pre-workshop to meet with property owners, and the CRA Ad Hoc Committee to consider guiding principles, and then meet with the CRA Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) to refine the guiding principles. - Hold a design workshop with Mr. John Fregonese to develop one to three design scenarios. - Present the scenarios to the CAC and the CRA. - Present the scenarios to the City Council. He noted the CRA will keep the full City Council apprised of all progress . Mayor Buxbaum said an item at the next CRA meeting will be to consider changing the name. Councilmember Langer moved, seconded by Councilmember Hankins, to direct the Community Renewal Area Ad Hoc Committee to continue with the CRA planning process as outlined in Attachment 1 (ECONorthwest's Design Workshop Purpose and Process Memorandum). The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 7 - Mayor Buxbaum, Mayor Pro Tem Jones, Councilmember Cooper, Councilmember Hankins, Councilmember Langer, Councilmember Roe and Councilmember Selby 7. CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMUNICATION 8. REPORTS AND REFERRALS 8.A COUNCIL INTERGOVERNMENTAL/COMMITTEE REPORTS AND REFERRALS Councilmember Langer reported on highlights of the LOTT Clean Water Alliance City of Olympia Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes January 14, 2014 Board meeting. Councilmember Hankins reported on highlights of the TCCOM 911 Board meeting and the Coalition of Neighborhood Association Steering Committee meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Jones reported on the Chamber of Commerce State of the City forum held last week. Councilmember Roe reported on highlights of the HOME Consortium meeting. Mayor Buxbaum reported on the Association of Washington Cities' Center for Quality Communities and the City's participation in the 2014 Quality Community Scholarship Program. He noted that last year the City partnered with Garden Raised Bounty (GRuB) to nominate a person for this scholarship. Council agreed to once again partner with GRuB. Mayor Buxbaum also reported that he received a request for a proclamation for human trafficking prevention. Council agreed to acknowledge January as Human Trafficking Prevention month and put it on next week 's agenda. Mayor Buxbaum also said the Japanese New Year celebration will take place Saturday, January 18 at The Olympia Center. 8.B CITY MANAGER'S REPORT AND REFERRALS City Manager Steve Hall reported on the following items: 1. The resolution to consider support of the Olympia School District Technology & Safety Levy has been placed on the Council's January 21 agenda. 2. He requested a referral to the Land Use and Environment Committee to discuss a public process for a City off leash dog park. Council agreed to the referral. 3. The City received a $5,000 grant from Thurston County to move forward on a downtown alley project. 4. The City received a "Greening America Cities" award and a design team will work on a vision for the future of the Capitol Way corridor. 5. The City has received no applications from AT&T for siting a cell tower site. The City Attorney is looking at our ordinance based on federal law and staff will encourage AT&T to work with all parties to site any cell tower. 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:02 p.m. City of Olympia Page 5