10-12-2021 Minutes
K:\PRHSPS Committee\2021\10-12-2021 Minutes.doc
City of Federal Way
City Council
PARKS, RECREATION, HUMAN SERVICES & PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
5:00 p.m.
SUMMARY
Committee Members Participating Via Zoom: Chair Kochmar, Committee member Baruso Assefa-
Dawson
Council Member Participating Via Zoom: Council President Honda
Staff Members Participating Via Zoom: Joanna Eide, City Attorney, Steve Groom, Finance Director,
Chief Andy Hwang, Sarah Bridgeford, Human Services Manager, John Hutton, Parks Director, Jason
Gerwen, Parks Deputy Director and Mary Jaenicke, Administrative Assistant II.
Guest Via Zoom: Angela San Filippo, Executive Manager of South King County Housing and
Homelessness Partners
Chair Kochmar called the meeting to order at 5:00pm
Public Comment: None
BUSINESS ITEMS
Approval of Minutes
Committee member Assefa-Dawson motioned to approve the September 14, 2021 minutes as
written. Chair Kochmar seconded. Motion passed.
South King Housing and Homelessness Partners (SKHHP) 2022 Work Plan and Budget
Staff Bridgeford provided the background information. The City incurs costs as a member of the South
King Housing and Homelessness Partners (SKHHP). $26,000 was included in the adopted budget. There
is an increase of $3,900, bringing the total to $29,900.00 for 2022. This increase will be covered by other
cost savings at the City. The membership fee is determined by population. Ms. San Filippo presented an
overview of 2022 work plan and budget to the committee. This was approved by the SKHHP executive
board. Each partner’s legislative body needs to adopt the work plan and budget. There are three
objectives that help to guide the work plan process. These include sharing technical information,
coordinating public resources and provide a unified voice for South King County needs at a local,
regional and state level. The work plan includes three major areas of work that will facilitate
implementation of the SKHHP Interlocal Agreement: (1) Governance and Administration; (2) Outreach
and education; and (3) Policy and planning. They have been working on developing an administrative
plan and structure for the housing capital fund with the goal that they will have that plan adopted towards
the end of the year. They are working on establishing a SKHHP 501 (c)(3). A key area of the work plan
is to develop some longer term goals and objectives. Three priorities have been identified in the budget:
(1) Work towards a balanced budget; (2) Increase staff capacity to two full time positions; and (3)
Consider a compensation structure for SKHHP Advisory Board members. Committee member Assefa-
Dawson moved to forward the proposed SKHHP 2022 Work Plan and Budget to the October 12,
2021 consent agenda for approval. Chair Kochmar seconded. Motion passed.
Portable Toilet Service Contract Amendment
Staff Gerwen provided the background information. Due to Covid-19 it was necessary to increase the
number of units deployed at various park locations and the frequency of servicing. The proposed
amendment will increase the compensation by $50,000 for a total compensation of $138,250.00.
Committee member Baruso moved to forward the proposed Amendment to the October 19, 2021
consent agenda for approval. Committee member Assefa-Dawson seconded. Motion passed.
PARKS, RECREATION, HUMAN SERVICES & PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
Tuesday, October 12, 2021 Summary
Page 2
Tree Services Contract Amendment
Staff Gerwen provided the background information. There has been an increase in calls from citizens
concerned about dangerous or down trees that are on city properties which threaten private property
interests. The budget for tree services is $45,000 per year, which is inadequate. The Parks department
stance is to protect the City’s liabilities and to protect the trees. We do not cut down healthy trees, we
only cut down trees that are dead, diseased or dying. The proposed amendment will add $247,725.00 in
compensation for a total contract amount of $396,225.00. The contract will be extended to March 31,
2025. Committee member Assefa-Dawson moved to forward the proposed Amendment to the
October 19, 2021 consent agenda for approval. Committee member Baruso seconded. Motion
passed.
Lease Temporary Work Trailers for Parks Maintenance Staff Displaced due to Covid-19
Staff Gerwen provided the background information. In February of 2020 the Parks and Public Works
management met and felt it was best to separate crews into smaller work groups to ensure there was
adequate coverage if a Covid-19 outbreak occurred. The Parks Maintenance Division have been working
out of their trucks, broom closets and pipe chases for the past 19 months. Since the pandemic started,
there has been numerous changes to the way the Steel Lake Maintenance Shop functions. Public Works
has added more than six staff members that now report out of the Steel Lake Shop; it is no longer a joint
used facility. City staff is making progress on finding a new maintenance facility; it’s estimated that the
city is 18 months to three years from moving into a new facility. All of the expenditures are a justifiable
and identified use of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money. The city would enter into a three-
year lease agreement that can be pro-rated if there is a need to exit out of the lease. The cost to lease
three travel trailers is $165,000.00 per trailer. The total cost estimate for the leased temporary work
trailers along with the cost of security, water, power, sewer and site prep is $300,000.00. The Parks
Maintenance staff need and deserve to have a dedicated work space to meet, coordinate and function as a
work group. Council President Honda stated that she is in full support of the Park Maintenance staff
being taken care of, but is frustrated that the Council is being asked to spend ARPA money when the
Council has not been given the opportunity to have a discussion about ARPA money. Staff Groom stated
that there are two elements; (1) Is it smart to spend ARPA money; and (2) Is it so urgent that you need to
make that decision before there is a master plan of how to spend the ARPA funds. The total amount of
ARPA funding is 19.2 million. This request is for $300,000.00 and this has enough urgency to grant this
request; it’s not a huge dollar amount. Committee member Baruso moved to forward the proposed
allocation of ARPA funds in the amount of $300,000.00 for work trailers to temporarily house
Parks maintenance staff to the October 19, 2021, consent agenda for approval. Committee member
Assefa-Dawson seconded. Motion passed.
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program FY2021
Chief Hwang provided the background information. The Police Department is seeking approval to accept
the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance (JAG) Grant award for FY2021 in the amount of
$39,550.00; there are no matching funds required for this award. This grant is the primary provider of
federal criminal justice system funded projects. The money will be used for replacing equipment in the
Bomb Disposal Unit. Committee member Assefa-Dawson moved to forward the 2021 Jag Grant
award to the October 19, 2021, consent agenda for approval. Committee member Baruso seconded.
Motion passed.
Police Department Proposing Additional Personnel and Resources
Chief Hwang provided the background information. The Police Department is seeking approval to
increase police staffing, expanding the take home car program and bonus pay for new hires. With the
changes in the environment, now is the time to invest in the police department to enhance public safety in
the community. Chief Hwang’s presentation included an overview of crime statistics, addressing gun
violence, the changes in public safety, historical staffing background, the Police Chief’s
recommendations and deployment enhancements. The Mayor and the Police department is
PARKS, RECREATION, HUMAN SERVICES & PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
Tuesday, October 12, 2021 Summary
Page 3
recommending a police force of 150 police officers. They are asking Council to authorize hiring 13
additional new police officers, 13 additional vehicles, two additional records specialists and 15 additional
vehicles; this would give all of the patrol officers a take-home car. Staff Groom stated that there are four
questions that need to be answered: (1) How do we find “extra money?”; (2) Are there any current-year
savings; (3) Is there any new revenue; and (4) How are future years impacted? There are two options to
be considered: (1) With ARPA and (2) Without ARPA. With ARPA expenses are covered with about 2
million dollars of the ARPA funding; this would cover the patrol cars. Without ARPA they would use
jail savings accumulated in 2021 and projected into 2022. Staff would be directed to come back with a
budget amendment for $478,000.00 in the current budget cycle, recognizing sales tax in 2022. There are
two options to consider: (1) Approve increases in police staffing, hiring bonus and new vehicle purchase
committing ARPA Revenue for the vehicle purchases and funding the remainder from current-year
savings; and (2) Approve increases in police department staffing, hiring bonus and new vehicle purchases
directing staff to add Sales Tax Revenue to the next budget amendment. Committee member Baruso
moved to forward the proposal using Option 1 to the October 19, 2021 City Council Business
agenda for approval. Committee member Assefa-Dawson seconded. Motion passed.
Ordinance: Revising FWRC 6.35.030 – Pedestrian Interference
Staff Eide presented the background information. The city regulates public property; this includes
authority over city property and parks, public rights-of-ways and areas within the rights-of-ways such as
sidewalks and benches. The Pedestrian Interference code was enacted in 1991, with modifications over
time. The city has received concerns from members of the public regarding safe and effective use of
public property. All people may use areas within the public right-of-way, including sidewalks, benches
and medians in a way that doesn’t interfere with the use of the public at large. The existing code is
focused primarily on vehicle traffic. It is a misdemeanor for a person while in the right-of-way to
intentionally obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic. It does exempt people engaged in development,
maintenance and construction type of work. The proposed ordinance adds language to ensure that
sidewalks and other areas within the public rights-of-way are not obstructed and may be used by the
public as they are intended. They added the definition of sidewalk as it is currently defined in the FWRC
for consistency and clarity. It also adds exemptions to restrictions for people with disabilities and
activities with an issued permit. The proposed ordinance explicitly prohibits laying or sitting on
sidewalks, addresses the use of bus benches to protect their intended purpose and availability to members
of the general public. Clarifies existing language for increased organization and enforceability; these
changes aim to ensure these public areas are able to be safely used by the general public according to
their intended uses. Violation remains a misdemeanor with an added provision that a person violating this
section receives notice that their conduct is in violation of the code and that if they refuse to discontinue
that conduct they will be subject to a misdemeanor. Restrictions on use must be equally applied to all
people regardless of status. Conduct reaches a concern when it reaches the level where it causes threats
to public health and safety or welfare of that person or members of the public or interferes with use and
enjoyment by other members of the public. Committee member Assefa-Dawson moved to forward the
proposed ordinance to First Reading on October 19, 2021. Committee member Baruso seconded.
Motion passed.
Other
None
NEXT REGULAR MEETING
November 15, 2021
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 7:51 p.m.