City Council

CITY OF UNIVERSITY PLACE MINUTES Regular Meeting of the City Council Monday, September 20, 2021 1. CALL REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER Mayor Belleci called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL UN Roll call was taken by the City Clerk as follows: Councilmember Figueroa Present Councilmember Keel Present Councilmember Pro Tem Lee Present OF Councilmember McCluskey Councilmember Flemming Mayor Pro Tem Worthington Mayor Belleci Present Present Present Present FI Staff Present: City Manager Sugg, City Attorney Kaser, Finance Director Blaisdell, and City Clerk Genetia. 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE CI A Councilmember Flemming led Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA LD MOTION: By Mayor Pro Tem Worthington, seconded by Councilmember Keel, to approve the agenda. The motion carried. 5. OC PUBLIC COMMENTS – The following individuals provided public comment: Karen Kooley (in person); and Richard Pettigrew, Helen McDaniel, Linda Wyborney, Bunny Nance, Terry Grayson, and Kim Oman (via e-mail). EN 6. CONSENT AGENDA MOTION: By Mayor Pro Tem Worthington, seconded by Councilmember Keel, to approve the Consent UM Agenda as follows: A. Approve the minutes of the September 7, 2021 Council meeting as submitted. B. Receive and File: Claims dated 08/15/21 and 08/31/21. C. Receive and File: 2021 Second Quarter Financial Report. The motion carried. PUBLIC HEARING T 7. 2021-2022 BUDGET CARRYFORWARD/MID-BIENNIAL BUDGET ADJUSTMENT Staff Report – Finance Director Blaisdell presented the 2020 budget funding amounts that are being carried forward for re-appropriation in the 2021 budget. The re-appropriation is comprised primarily of beginning fund balance adjustments, capital improvement projects, internal service fund carryforwards, and new and continuing grant funding. The most significant change in Restricted and CIP Funds is mostly reflective of carry forwards in revenues and expenditures in Parks CIP, Public Works CIP, and Municipal CIP and the  City Council Minutes of September 20, 2021 Page 2 related interfund transfers. In addition, Director Blaisdell provided an overview on significant revenue projection for the mid-biennial adjustments. She indicated that the remaining revenue adjustments are interfund transfers related to CIP project carryforwards and adjustments to beginning fund balances. On the expenditure side, significant adjustments were made to salary and benefits due to staff attrition, retirements, and department organization. Other expenditures include Council approved expenditures, CIP and other adjustments, and changes to baseline assumptions. Director Blaisdell indicated that the financial forecast has been updated to include all adjustments, and that all existing services and legal and contractual obligations can be met with existing revenues through the biennium and the 10-year forecast period. Public Comment – None. UN Council Consideration – MOTION: By Mayor Pro Tem Worthington, seconded by Councilmember Keel, to pass an ordinance amending the 2021-2022 Biennial Budget for the 2020 Carryforward appropriations and Mid-Biennial adjustments. OF The motion carried. (ORDINANCE NO. 753) 8. SOUTH SOUND HOUSING AFFORDABILITY PARTNERS (SSHA³P) FI Staff Report – City Attorney Kaser indicated that tonight Council will consider its final action of whether the City of University Place will join the South Sound Housing Affordability Partners. The Council has done A extensive study on the matter and along with staff have reviewed the Intergovernmental Agreement. The CI South Sound Housing Affordability Partners (SSHA³P) is a proposed regional coalition of Pierce County, municipalities, tribal governments, and other stakeholders seeking to get together to address common housing needs. The partnering discussions have led to the drafting of an Intergovernmental Agreement that will facilitate the collaborative effort. Attorney Kaser provided an update on the jurisdictions which have LD agreed to join SSHA³P. Public Comment – None. Council Consideration – MOTION: By Mayor Pro Tem Worthington, seconded by Councilmember Keel, to OC pass a resolution approving the City’s participation with South Sound Housing Affordability Partners. The motion carried. (RESOLUTION NO. 958) EN 9. CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL COMMENTS/REPORTS City Manager Sugg reported that construction of the 4201 Bridgeport, a mixed-use development project, is UM underway and is expected to be completed in the fall of 2022. This project is in the residential target area, and when completed, will include construction and dedication of 600-foot-long public road segment that will become part of the City’s street grid. Councilmember Keel reported on the following: Sound Transit’s new light rail stations opening in King County and other rail projects underway; Pierce Transit’s bus base construction work and new routing schedule; and the Association of Washington Cities’ legislative priorities. T Councilmember Pro Tem Lee reported that he attended the Pierce County Regional Council meeting and shared information about the discussion on the Countywide Planning Policies update. He also informed Council and the public that the Veterans’ Memorial Plaza Committee continues to raise funds and that the memorial pavers are still available for purchase. Councilmember McCluskey reported that she joined the restart of United for University Place and attended its first meeting. She also reported on Zoo Trek Authority’s financials, undertakings, and strategic plan. Mayor Pro Tem Worthington shared that he attended the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at the West Pierce Fire District and spoke on behalf of the City. Also, on September 8 he welcomed the Pierce County Council at the Council Chambers for their in-district meeting. At the meeting, he had an opportunity to speak to  City Council Minutes of September 20, 2021 Page 3 them about the City and County’s partnership throughout the years and highlighted future collaboration on the sewer funding proposal. Lastly, he reported that Rainier Communication Commission’s franchise agreements are moving forward with other jurisdictions. STUDY SESSION 10. SENIOR CENTER DISCUSSION Due to technical difficulties this item was tabled to the October 4, 2021 Council meeting. 11. DEBRIEF – 2021 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES UN In anticipation of the upcoming discussion and setting of Council’s legislative priorities for the 2022 legislative session, City Manager Sugg provided an overview and update on Council’s 2021 legislative priorities comprised of the following: (1) Police Reform, (2) Infrastructure Investment, (3) Financial Flexibility, (4) Initiative 976, and (5) City-State Partnership. OF He indicated that many policing and accountability bills were put through last year. The bills addressed several issues raised in Council’s legislative agenda including prohibition on choke holds and neck restraints and no-knock warrants; restrictions on the use of tear gas; adoption of use of force standards; FI deadly force incident investigation process; establishing an officer’s duty to intervene; and updates on rules related to officer background checks and revocation of an officer certification. Police Chief Premo is working with Councilmember Keel through the Association of Washington Cities to bring these reforms back for CI A clarification to better understand the provisions and how to implement them in the field. For Infrastructure Investment, the City requested $150,000 to study the sewer expansion into unsewered areas. All three members of the legislative delegation were instrumental in the legislators’ approval of the City’s largest ever capital budget grant of $2.1 million to fund a major sewer expansion. He added that the City’s previous $1 million grant for Lot 1 infrastructure improvements has been extended. The state capital budget will also LD provide a $128,000 grant for the Curran House museum and a $34,000 grant for University Place arts. Then in Financial Flexibility, Substitute House Bill 1069 provides the City with the flexibility through 2023 to use a portion of revenue for maintenance and operation of the City’s parks and capital facilities. City Manager Sugg indicated that the City remains hopeful that something on Initiative 976 can move forward with the upcoming legislative session in 2022. Lastly, the City continues to ask the legislature to preserve the existing revenue sharing partnerships. OC Mayor Pro Tem Worthington remarked that 2021 has been a good, productive year that brought significant changes in what would have been typical City appropriations. He commended both the staff and EN Councilmembers for their hard work in putting these priorities together and getting it delivered. He also recognized the support and effort of the 28th legislative district delegates – Senator Nobles, Representative Leavitt and Representative Bronoske, who were instrumental in getting the work done. In addition, he noted UM that the City also has a pending $500,000 federal/congressional appropriation for the Homestead Park project with the help of Congresswoman Strickland. Mayor Pro Tem Worthington stated that the City staff and Councilmembers should take a moment to celebrate and applaud these achievements and successes for the Community. Councilmember Figueroa suggested that it may be prudent for Councilmembers to submit their list of priorities prior to the October discussion. An email from Mayor Belleci will follow in this regard. 12. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m. No other action was taken. T Submitted by, Emy Genetia