CITY OF UNIVERSITY PLACE
MINUTES
Regular Meeting of the City Council
Monday, December 5, 2016
City Hall, Windmill Village
1. CALL REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER
Mayor Figueroa called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Roll call was taken by the City Clerk as follows:
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Councilmember Belleci |
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Present |
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Councilmember Grassi |
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Present |
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Councilmember McCluskey |
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Present |
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Councilmember Nye |
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Present |
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Councilmember Worthington |
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Present |
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Mayor Pro Tem Keel |
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Present |
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Mayor Figueroa |
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Present |
Staff Present: City Manager Sugg, City Attorney Victor, Engineering and Capital Projects Director Ecklund, Deputy Finance Director Blaisdell, Public Works, Parks & Facilities Director Cooper, Planning and Development Services Director Swindale, Human Resources Manager Petorak, Executive Director/ACM Craig, and City Clerk Genetia.
Mayor Figueroa called for a moment of silence in remembrance of the fallen Tacoma Officer.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Figueroa led the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION: By Councilmember Belleci, seconded by Councilmember Grassi, to approve the minutes of November 21, 2016 as submitted.
The motion carried.
5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: By Councilmember Belleci, seconded by Councilmember McCluskey, to approve the agenda.
The motion carried.
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS – None.
7. CONSENT AGENDA
MOTION: By Councilmember Belleci, seconded by Councilmember McCluskey, to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:
A. Receive and File: Claims dated 11/30/16, check nos. 51979012 through 51979073, in the total amount of Nine Hundred Seventy Thousand One Hundred Sixty-Three and 39/100 Dollars ($970,163.39).
B. Receive and File: 2016 Third Quarter Financial Report.
C. Adopt a resolution declaring certain equipment surplus and authorizing its sale. (RESOLUTION NO. 824)
D. Pass an ordinance amending the Franchise Agreements with University Place Refuse and Harold Lemay Enterprises to streamline the implementation of contractually required rate adjustments. (ORDINANCE NO. 678)
The motion carried.
COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
8. PUBLIC WORKS CODE AMENDMENTS
Staff Report – Engineering and Capital Projects Director Ecklund presented an ordinance amending Chapters 13.05, 13.20, 13.25 and 19.54 of the University Place Municipal Code. He addressed questions raised at the last study session with regard to temporary right-of-way signs, street banner sizes and allowed locations.
The Public Works Code establishes the standards for construction, improvement and maintenance of the City’s transportation, storm drainage facilities, utilities, grading and clearing, as well as emergency vehicle access standards and related amenities.
Public Comment – None.
Council Consideration - MOTION: By Councilmember Belleci, seconded by Councilmember Grassi, to pass an ordinance amending University Place Code Chapters 13.05, 13.20, 13.25 and 19.54.
The motion carried. (ORDINANCE NO. 679)
9. LOT 12 PURCHASE AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
Staff Report – City Attorney Victor presented the proposed Development Agreement between the City and SEB, Inc. for Lot 12 of the Town Center. Lot 12 is located on the west side of Bridgeport Way (the former Briarview Apartments). The proposed development is a mixed-use building with approximately 10,000 square feet of commercial retail space and approximately 125 market rate residential units. Under the Agreement, the City will receive $15.00 per square foot for the property.
Public Comment – None.
Council Consideration - MOTION: By Councilmember Belleci, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Keel, to adopt a resolution approving a Development Agreement between the City of University Place and SEB, Inc. for U.P. Town Center Lot 12 substantially in the form attached hereto.
The motion carried. (RESOLUTION NO. 825)
10. COUNCIL COMMENTS/REPORTS
City Manager Sugg informed the public that the Regional Growth Center Subarea Planning Workshops are scheduled for December 13 and 14 at Town Hall throughout both days. He also informed Council that the Tree Lighting event last Friday was a success and that other holiday event festivities are programmed at the Civic Building atrium for the coming weeks.
Councilmember Worthington commended Deputy Finance Director Blaisdell for her great work on the third quarter financial report.
Mayor Pro Tem Keel remarked that 2016 has been a great year for the City. He thanked the Council for their fellowship, dedication, and hard work.
Councilmember Grassi echoed Mayor Pro Tem Keel’s comments and thanked Council for the privilege of working with them. He also commended the contractor for the Bridgeport Way project for their exceptional customer service.
Councilmember Belleci wished the Council and the community happy holidays.
Mayor Figueroa expressed his appreciation to Council for their support and energy. He also thanked the community volunteers who have provided their time and efforts to make this community a better place to live. In addition, he recognized the City’s executive staff for their dedication and hard work.
The City Council concluded its business meeting at 7:04 p.m. and recessed to study session at 7:11 p.m. after a five-minute break.
STUDY SESSION
11. CITY COMMISSIONS
City Attorney Victor provided a brief background on the City Commissions discussion that began in January of this year during Council’s retreat. The City Council wanted to look at whether it was necessary to continue with four commissions, as well as look at the current appointment process. The January discussion didn’t conclude and has not reached an outcome. This study is to continue that discussion and bring it to a resolution. As it currently exists, the City has four standing commissions - Planning, Parks & Recreation, Public Safety, and Economic Development. He explained the legal role, status and utilization of the City’s legislative advisory commissions. He also clarified the statutory requirement of a planning agency, noting that the City’s official planning agency is composed of the Planning and Development Services department and the Planning Commission.
Mayor Figueroa introduced the proposed commission restructuring concept outlined in the packet – to consider revising the City Council’s legislative advisory structure to two seven-member committees: a Planning Advisory Committee to continue in its current form; and a Community Advisory Committee for all other legislative policy issues including economic development, parks, public safety and any other legislative policy issues referred by Council resolution. He noted that the members to these committees will be appointed as advisors vs. commissioners.
Thoughts and ideas were expressed with regard to forming an ad-hoc committee of specific interest; on committee being more than resolution-based – they are the “eyes and ears” (listening post) of the community and should be the ones sending Council recommendations on issues that need to be addressed; committees need the flexibility to have a broad based outlook on issues; the need to look at Council’s priorities to see how those committees could best serve the Council; continuing with the grass roots volunteer efforts; the pros and cons of having a community advisory committee; creating two equal Planning Commissions to move things faster (eliminate the bottleneck); establishing a potential task force for limited specific agenda that has a sunset date; changes to the appointment process to share the responsibility and its effect among the Council overall; creating a “catch-all” advisory committee that will take on specific issues that don’t occur frequently; keeping the Planning Commission as it stands; the need to have two-way communication between Council and the Commission; and the need to further discuss/study the pros and cons of each commission for an effective and efficient restructuring concept.
After much discussion on the commissions restructuring concepts, Council agreed to keep the Planning Commission as it currently stands; and potentially, create a Parks Advisory Committee (standing committee combining parks, CIP, friends group, events, surplus and acquisition) and a Community Advisory Committee (an ad-hoc combination of Economic Development and Public Safety). City Attorney Victor informed Council that there is a staff administrative piece to this process and advised them that they need to be very specific as to the tasks they want these committees to do. A second study session to discuss commission purpose, function, appointment process, and other details is scheduled for January, 2017.
At 9:00 p.m., a motion was made and was carried to extend the meeting to 9:30 p.m.
12. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m. No other action was taken.
Submitted by,
Emy Genetia
City Clerk