LAKEWOOD CITY COUNCIL
STUDY SESSION MINUTES
Monday, May 14, 2007
City of Lakewood
City Council Chambers
6000 Main Street SW
Lakewood, WA 98499
CALL TO ORDER
Deputy Mayor Arbeeny called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers Present: 5 ? Deputy Mayor John Arbeeny; Councilmembers Ron Cronk, Pad Finnigan, Walter Neary and Doug Richardson.
Councilmembers Excused: 2 ? Mayor Claudia Thomas (arrived at 7:20 p.m.) and Councilmember Helen McGovern.
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City Manager Neiditz announced that Governor Chris Gregoire will be at Lakewood City Hall on May 15, 2007, at 11:30 a.m., to sign the Offender Re-entry Bill.
City Manager Neiditz announced that the Third Annual Basketball game between Police and Fire Departments will be held at the Clover Park High School on May 19, 2007, at 6:00 p.m.
City Manager Neiditz announced that on June 2, 2007, between 10:00 a.m. ? 4:00 p.m., the Firefighters? Appreciation Day event will be held at LeMay Museum.
City Manager Neiditz welcomed and introduced Mr. Choi Halladay, Assistant City Manager of Finance and Administrative Services.
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City Council Study Session Minutes -2- May 14, 2007
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION:
Review of proposed policies on the use of lodging taxes.
Economic Redevelopment Administrator Hannan reviewed the proposed policies for the use of lodging taxes and the Legislative Bill that changed the use of the taxes.
Councilmember Richardson asked for Council input on what the City should focus on for spending its lodging taxes.
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Mayor Thomas arrived at 7:20 p.m.
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Discussion ensued on the definition of tourism; articulating ideas to the community for bringing in more tourism to encourage more economic development; not choosing priorities and consider all applications; establishing guidelines, criteria and parameters for funding applicants; what is the return on investment; expanding membership of the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee; whether a lodging tax policy is needed; adding the priority of facility development (private or public events, historical or athletic convention) with the goal of owning local convention/meeting facilities; adding festival or special events funding (City sponsored or community group sponsored) with the existing goal of supporting groups (arts, sports, cultural efforts); and government facilities that result in increased tourism; and removing the priority order of funding projects.
Status report on a proposed agreement with LKW Associates and Lakewood Center Building, LLC, relative to shared parking at City Hall.
Assistant City Manager Bugher and Associate Planner Bilderback provided the background information on the Reciprocal Easement Agreement and proposed amendments relative to the shared parking spaces between Lakewood City Hall, LKW Associates and Lakewood Center Building.
Discussion ensued on whether the new agreement will be providing for designated parking among the three parties.
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Speaking before the Council was:
Dennis Haugen, Lakewood resident, spoke about reading the content of the contract, specifically the non-competitive section.
City Council Study Session Minutes -3- May 14, 2007
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Amending the Lakewood Municipal Code to create a sentencing enhancement to convictions of Assault in the Fourth Degree for strangulation findings.
City Attorney Wachter reviewed the proposed code amendments to create a sentencing enhancement for convictions of Assault in the Fourth Degree for strangulation findings.
Discussion ensued on State law finding that strangulation is a felony; defining what is an ?Assault in the Fourth Degree? and the level of bodily harm for mandatory jail time to be imposed; providing evidence of what the benefits are for effectuating the proposed ordinance; and how much jail time would be imposed.
BRIEFING BY THE CITY MANAGER
Citizens? Advisory Boards and Committees joint meetings
City Manager Neiditz reported that a pre-meeting was held today with a facilitator to hold a training session with the Chairs of the Citizens? Advisory Boards and Committees (CABCs) in June.
City Manager Neiditz suggested that the joint Council meetings with each of the CABCs be scheduled for 30 minutes prior to Study Sessions. He suggested that the meetings start with a recognition of the members of the Committee, review of the Committee?s role, work plans and Council?s expectation of the Committees.
Discussion ensued on holding the joint meetings in the Council Chambers starting at 7:00 p.m., followed by the Study Session topics.
Street-ends policy
City Manager Neiditz reported on a legal opinion about access to lakes which, in accordance to State law, gives the Council the authority to set policy on lake access. He suggested that the City focus on American Lake and Steilacoom Lake, and suggested that the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board spearhead a citizen input process for information gathering.
Discussion ensued on having a clear legal opinion on what the Council can do and if the City can charge fees for a street vacation; considering all lakes for street-ends access instead of limiting it to two; how some of the street-ends are fenced and how their appearance do not portray public access; resolving private/public access boundaries; and making street-ends access usable and not develop them into parks.
City Council Study Session Minutes -4- May 14, 2007
It was the consensus of the Council for the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) to hold a community meeting and that the PRAB develop a street-ends plan.
Naming of HOPE Center meeting room
City Manager Neiditz indicated that the Boys and Girls Club is requesting Council to decide on a name of a HOPE Center meeting room by May 21, 2007. Councilmember Neary suggested ?City of Lakewood Room,??Harrison Room,??Flora Tensler Room,? and ?Admiral Russell Room.? He also added ?William Wallace? as another possibility. Councilmember Cronk suggested the name, ?Chief Leschi Room? because of Lakewood?s multi-cultural diversity.
It was suggested that a contest be held on the naming of the room to engage Lakewood citizens and get residents interested.
ITEMS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR THE MAY 21, 2007 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING:
1. Establishing policies on the use of lodging taxes. ? (Motion ? Regular Agenda)
2. Amending Chapter 9.14 of the Lakewood Municipal Code to create a sentencing enhancement to convictions of Assault in the Fourth Degree for strangulation findings. ? (Ordinance ? Regular Agenda)
3. Proclamation declaring June 1 and 2, 2007 as the Lakewood Relay for Life event. ? Ms. Charlene Richardson and Ms. Connie Coleman-Lacadie, Co-Chairs, Lakewood Relay for Life
4. This is the date set for a public hearing by the City Council relative to the use of public funds for abating a dangerous building at 6902 146th Street SW.
5. Appointing individuals to serve on the Redevelopment Advisory Board. ? (Motion)
6. Presentation on the Offender Re-entry Program. ? Senator Mike Carrell
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS
Councilmember Richardson distributed a document by the Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) asking Council for some policy guidance and priorities being considered by the PSAC.
City Council Study Session Minutes -5- May 14, 2007
Councilmember Cronk spoke about the PSAC broadening their scope to include input from other departments such as Public Works.
Councilmember Cronk asked if the CABCs have a general policy on electing their Chairs and Vice-Chairs.
Councilmember Finnigan spoke about the Lake City Neighborhood Association meeting he attended and their activities they have been working on for the next National Night Out event.
Mayor Thomas asked for Council input on the Human Services Funding Advisory Board appointments.
Mayor Thomas asked if the grass could be mowed at the grassy knoll next to City Hall.
Mayor Thomas asked about installing a flashing school zone lights on 108th Street.
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Speaking before the Council was:
Glen Spieth, Lakewood resident, spoke about all school zone signs operate consistently throughout the City.
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ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:05 p.m.
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CLAUDIA B. THOMAS, MAYOR
ATTEST:
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ALICE M. BUSH, MMC
CITY CLERK
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