LAKEWOOD CITY COUNCIL
STUDY SESSION MINUTES
Monday, March 12, 2007
City of Lakewood
City Council Chambers
6000 Main Street SW
Lakewood, WA 98499
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Thomas called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers Present: 5 ? Mayor Claudia Thomas; Deputy Mayor John Arbeeny; Councilmembers Ron Cronk, Pad Finnigan and Helen McGovern.
Councilmembers Excused: 2 ? Councilmembers Walter Neary and Doug Richardson.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION:
Amending the gambling business tax rate.
City Manager Neiditz stated that the current method of taxing gambling is on a sliding scale. He reported that several gambling businesses and the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce have indicated that they support a uniform rate. He recommended an amendment to the gambling tax rate to reflect a flat rate of 11percent.
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Speaking before the Council was:
Greg Bekamis, General Manager of Great American Casino, spoke in favor of the flat tax rate.
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Discussion ensued on what other tax rates are being used by other jurisdictions; what is the purpose of the tax; what was the total amount collected in 2006; and what is the limit that can be charged.
City Attorney Wachter stated that she would do some research into what the limit is and whether there are other options than the flat tax rate.
City Council Study Session Minutes -2- March 12, 2007
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Speaking before the Council was:
Ken Severe, Lakewood resident, spoke against amending the gambling tax rate.
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Update on mobile home parks affected by redevelopment.
Community Development Director Bugher provided a PowerPoint presentation on mobile home parks in Lakewood and how they may be affected by redevelopment.
City Manager Neiditz reported that he and City staff held a meeting with housing providers including Pierce County Housing Authority, Lakewood Area Shelter Association, Pierce County Community Services, and Metropolitan Development Council to discuss this issue. The meeting resulted in a plan for the housing providers to tour sites in Lakewood where affordable housing could potentially be developed in the future.
Discussion ensued on the demographics of residents in mobile home parks; possible options such as Section 8 subsidies and incentives such as multi-family tax credits; and alternative design standards.
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Speaking before the Council was:
Dennis Haugen, Lakewood resident, spoke about mobile home standards.
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Amending the Lakewood Municipal Codes relative to misdemeanor criminal conduct.
City Attorney Wachter presented three proposals to change Lakewood?s criminal codes for domestic violence relative to harassment, domestic violence strangulation, and exposing children to domestic violence.
Discussion ensued on whether strangulation and exposing children to domestic violence should be charged and prosecuted separately; and the number of domestic violence cases in Lakewood that would justify such a concern. City Attorney Wachter indicated that she will provide the Council with more information.
City Council Study Session Minutes -3- March 12, 2007
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Speaking before the Council was:
Dennis Haugen, Lakewood resident, spoke about the connection between domestic violence and drunk driving.
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BRIEFING BY THE CITY MANAGER
City Manager Neiditz reported that a meeting was held with the Lake Steilacoom Improvement Club President and its attorney regarding the street end issue. He indicated that copies of the legal opinion outlining the process for street ends have been distributed in the Council mailboxes.
City Manager Neiditz reported that he will be discussing a possible change in retirement systems with employees.
City Manager Neiditz briefed the Council on the status of parking arrangements around City Hall and the Lakewood Towne Center.
City Manager Neiditz announced that the Police Department will be making a presentation about ?gangs? at the Community Caf? on Tuesday, March 13, 2007, at 6:00 p.m., at the Clover Park High School.
City Manager Neiditz reported that Pierce Transit will be holding an affordable housing forum sponsored by Pierce County Regional Council.
City Manager Neiditz stated that Councilmembers are invited to the Puget Sound Regional Council General Assembly on April 5, 2007.
ITEMS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR THE MARCH 19, 2007 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING:
1. Amending the gambling business tax rate. ? (Ordinance)
2. Amending the Lakewood Municipal Codes relative to misdemeanor criminal conduct. ? (Ordinance)
3. Proclamation recognizing Paul Webb for his service as Fire Chief at the Lakewood Fire District. ? Fire Chief Paul Webb, Lakewood Fire District 2
4. Presentation on Tillicum Vision. ? Mr. Jeff Brown, President, BCRA
City Council Study Session Minutes -4- March 12, 2007
5. Appointing individuals to the Citizens? Transportation Review Committee. ? (Motion ? Regular Agenda)
6. Setting Monday, April 16, 2007, at approximately 7:00 p.m., as the date for a public hearing by the City Council on the Draft FY 2007 Consolidated Annual Action Plan and Second Amendment to the FY 2005 Consolidated Plan on the proposed use of Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership Act funds. ? (Resolution - Consent Agenda)
7. Setting Monday, April 16, 2007, at approximately 7:00 p.m., as the date for a public hearing by the City Council on vacating the portion of the right-of-way on Fairlawn Drive SW and Gravelly Lake Drive SW for construction of improvements at Steilacoom Boulevard and Gravelly Lake Drive. ? (Resolution ? Consent Agenda)
8. Setting Monday, April 16, 2007, at approximately 7:00 p.m., as the date for a public hearing by the City Council on vacating the portion of the right-of-way on Gravelly Lake Drive SW and Steilacoom Boulevard for construction of improvements at said streets. ? (Resolution- Consent Agenda)
9. This is the date set for a public hearing by the City Council relative to extending a moratorium on the filing of applications for licenses, permits and approvals for card rooms (casino gambling) for an additional six months.
10. Awarding a bid relative to the road overlay and patching program. ? (Motion ? Regular Agenda)
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS
Councilmember Cronk asked that copies of Council meeting materials be provided for the audience to follow at Council meetings.
Councilmember Cronk spoke about the issue of speeding on Angle Lane.
Mayor Thomas reminded Councilmembers about working on the City Manager?s performance evaluation.
Mayor Thomas reported that she received a letter from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announcing that Lakewood will receive $660,268 in Community Development Block Grant funds for FY 2007.
Mayor Thomas spoke about the deployment ceremony she attended at Fort Lewis.
City Council Study Session Minutes -5- March 12, 2007
Mayor Thomas spoke about the Habitat for Humanity breakfast she attended.
Mayor Thomas announced that she met with representatives of the other Washington communities that won the 100 Best Communities for Youth designation to discuss the possibility of Washington becoming a State of Promise.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
_____________________________________
CLAUDIA B. THOMAS, MAYOR
ATTEST:
____________________________
ALICE M. BUSH, MMC
CITY CLERK
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