Council MIN 04-01-2008 Special/Study
FEDERAL WAY CITY COUNCIL
Council Chambers - City Hall
Aprill,2008
Study Session/Special Meeting Agenda
5:30 PM
(www.cityojJl{deralway.com)
******
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Mayor Dovey called the Special Meeting to order at 5:34 PM and excused Councilmember '
Ferrell.
Councilmembers Burbidge, Duclos, Kochmar, Park and Deputy Mayor Faison present.
2.
RETREAT ITEMS FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION
.
Green City Plan
Deputy Public Works Director Ken Miller stated that as part of the 2008 Mid-biennium
Budget Adjustment, the City Council budgeted $80,000 to develop a Green City Strategic
Plan. At their annual retreat Council directed staff to research alternative approaches to
developing the Green City Strategic Plan, other than issuing an RFP, to hire a consultant.
Mr. Miller outlined five recommendations and asked the City Council to give staff
direction on which ones, if any, to further pursue. The five staff recommendations are:
.
Create an internal City Green Team
Review the areas of greatest needs/concern
Organize a Green Ribbon Panel
Calculate the city's and community's carbon footprint
If sufficient funds are available, hire a staff member to assist and
coordinate the Green Team, Green Ribbon Panel and community
outreach
.
.
.
.
Councilmember Kochmar asked staff to look into any available grants that might assist
with this type of program.
Councilmember Duclos asked who in the community would be appointed to the Green
Ribbon Panel. Mr. Miller stated the panel would be a cross-section of citizens, developers
and business leaders.
Mayor Dovey asked about the costs associated with such a program. Mr. Miller stated the
first three recommendations would not create extra costs for the City; however, costs would
be involved for the last two recommendations.
Council consensus was reached to pursue recommendations 1, 2 & 3 and provide Council
with more information on recommendations 4 & 5.
.
Allocation of Utility Tax for Operations
Assistant City Manager Iwen Wang stated at their annual Council Retreat held earlier this
year, Council agreed that the transfer of utility taxes for operations purposes is a significant
fiscal policy. They asked staff to bring this item back to Council for confirmation.
Ms. Wang stated that voters recently approved Proposition 1 designating 1.75% of utility
taxes for police and community safety improvements. She stated this new revenue source is
not part of the base-line budget balancing amounts as it will continue to be designated for
police and community safety. Ms. Wang reviewed the current outlook stating while both
general fund revenues and expenditures have risen higher than anticipated in 2006, a
projected gap is still expected between 2012 and 2014.
Ms. Wang stated that using utility taxes for operations will provide increased diversity to
the City's property and sales tax reliant General Fund. She requested Council direction to
develop a 2009/2010 City Budget. The two options are assume a base budget utility tax
transfer in addition to specific project-based and voter-approved transfers or direct staff to
develop the 2009/2010 budget without utility tax transfer.
Council consensus was reached to continue discussions III the FinancelEconomic
Development/Regional Affairs Committee.
.
Jail Facility Options
Police Commander Stan McCall stated the City of Federal Way has contracts in place with
the following agencies to house prisoners: King County, Fife, Enumclaw and Yakima
County. King County's contract expires in 2012 and they will not be renewing. Yakima
County's contract expires in 2010; they have indicated a willingness to renegotiate their
contract.
Commander McCall outlined three options for long-term housing of inmates and outlined
the pros and cons for each:
1. Continue contracting for jail services
2. Build our own misdemeanor jail facility
3. Partner in a sub-regional jail facility
Due to time constraints the City Council decided to continue this discussion under the
Council Business Section of the Regular Meeting agenda to begin at 7:00 PM.
3. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Dovey adjourned the Special Meeting at 6:58 PM.
ATTEST:
Approved by Council on: 'I115/1J~