FEDRAC MINS 10-02-2007
City of Federal Way
City Council
Financel Economic Developmentl Regional Affairs Committee
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
5:00 p.m.
City Hall
Hylebos Conference Room
MINUTES
Committee Members in Attendance: Chair Faison, Member Burbidge and Member McColgan.
Council Members in Attendance: Kochmar and Dovey (5:12 arrival).
Staff Members in Attendance: Assistant City Manager Iwen Wang, Assistant City Manager Cary Roe, City
Attorney Pat Richardson, Senior Financial Analyst Mark Turley, Economic Development Director Patrick
Doherty; Deputy Police Chief Andy Hwang; Deputy Public Works Director Ken Miller; Solid Waste & Recycling
Coordinator Rob Van Orsow; Communication & Governmental Affairs Manager Linda Farmer; and Deputy City
Clerk Krystal Roe.
1. CALL TO ORDER - Chair Faison called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT - None.
3. COMMITTEE BUSINESS
A. Approval of Minutes: September 4, 2007 FEDRAC Meeting - The Committee m/s/c to approve
the minutes as presented.
B. Solid Waste & Recycling 2008-2009 Grant Approvals and Resolution - Mr. Van Orsow
presented the staff report and highlighted key aspects of the resolution.
The Committee inquired if there would ever be a time the City might provide waste collection
services directly. Mr. Van Orsow replied that because Federal Way does not provide other utilities
(such as water, cable, etc.) it would not be likely that it could collect solid waste at a savings to
customers and a profit to the City. The amount of money and time to create a billing system alone,
in addition to capital expenditures for equipment and vehicles, would be cost prohibitive; the City will
likely continue to contract for this service.
Committee members expressed their pleasure with the success of the September 29, 2007 Special
Recycling Event and remarked they were impressed by the number of customers served, by the
community's participation and by staff's efforts.
The Committee m/s/c to approve the draft resolution and enter into grant-related agreements with
related agencies and forward to the October 16, 2007 City Council meeting (Option 1).
C. Regional Solid Waste/Recycling Planning Update - Mr. Van Orsow provided the Committee
with an update on new developments since his last presentation in April 2007. Mr. Van Orsow
reviewed the three recommendations made by the Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Advisory
Committee (MSWMAC) to the King County Council in regards to waste-to-energy conversion.
The Committee m/s/c to approve providing a City representative's signature on MSWMAC's letter to
the King County Council to highlight concerns about waste-to-energy conversion technology and
forward to the October 16, 2007 City Council meeting (Option 1).
D. Clearwire Franchise - Ms. Richardson presented the draft ordinance to the Committee and noted it
was a standard franchise agreement. The Committee inquired about the diameter of the proposed
replacement pole and expressed concern that it not be larger than the existing pole. Mr. Roe
committed to providing the dimensions before the next Council meeting.
The Committee m/s/c to approve the draft ordinance and forward to the full Council for first reading
at the October 16, 2007 meeting (Option 1).
E. August 2007 Monthly Financial Report - Mark Turley presented the monthly financial
report. The Committee remarked on tt-Je big increase in August lodging taxes and was interested in
finding out the cause of the increase and to better understand what went right so the results can be
duplicated.
The Committee m/s/c to approve the Monthly Financial Report as presented and forward to the
October 16, 2007 City Council meeting (Option 1).
F. Vouchers - Mr. Turley presented the staff report.
The Committee m/s/c to approve the vouchers as presented and forward to the October 16, 2007
City Council meeting.
G. Early Retirement of Debt - Ms. Wang asked the Committee to consider using excess REET
revenue to retire the $1.89 million balance of 1997 bonds which would free up $430,000 utility tax
funds annually. She outlined key aspects of her staff report and encouraged Council discussion.
The Committee discussed the benefit of using the excess REET revenue to payoff the bond versus
using the REET revenue for current capital expenditures. Ms. Wang answered that no specific capital
needs have been identified. Ms. Wang further stated that REET revenue can only be used for very
specific expenditures, whereas the utility tax money freed up by paying off the bond could be spent
or saved at the Council's discretion. The Committee noted Council will have more flexibility in
spending or saving the freed up funds if the bond is paid off.
The Committee asked if staff has identified earmarks for the freed funds. Ms. Wang remarked that
staff has not made current earmark recommendations for the money. Instead, the funds will be
brought forward for Council consideration at the next budget adjustment in the spring.
The Committee m/s/c to approve using additional REET to retire the $1.89 million balance of 1997
bonds on December 1, 2007 and forward to the October 16, 2007 Council meeting.
4. OTHER - Chair Faison asked staff to provide the rationale for conducting the citizen survey in early 2008
instead of now. Ms. Wang replied that in her opinion, the holidays would make citizens less likely to
respond and that the election season might skew survey results. For these reasons, staff recommended
conducting the survey in early 2008.
5. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - None.
6. ADJOURNMENT - Chair Faison adjourned the meeting at 5:50 PM.
Attest:
COMMITIEE APPRO?: ~
~c ~ison
Committee Chair