FEDRAC MINS 03-25-2008
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City of Federal Way
City Council
Financel Economic Developmentl Regional Affairs Committee
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
5:30 p.m.
City Hall
Hylebos Conference Room
SUMMARY MINUTES
Committee Members in Attendance: Chair Park and Member Duclos; Member Faison excused.
Staff Members in Attendance: Assistant City Manager Iwen Wang, Economic Development
Director Patrick Doherty, Deputy City Attorney Aaron Walls, Finance Director Tho Kraus, Senior
Financial Analyst Mark Turley, Planning Manager Isaac Conlen and Deputy City Clerk Krystal Roe.
1. CALL TO ORDER - Chair Park called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT - Mr. Purton addressed the Committee and requested a full update of
Proposition 1 funding and the distribution of any surplus Prop 1 funds. Ms. Wang replied that
staff is preparing a comprehensive written response to his requests for information. The
Committee directed Ms. Wang to bring the report to the April FEDRAC meeting so that the
information could be presented to the Committee members.
3. COMMITTEE BUSINESS
A. Approval of Minutes: February 26, 2008 FEDRAC Meeting - The Committee m/s/c to
approve the minutes as presented.
B. Legislative Update - Mr. Levy provided a comprehensive overview of the legislative
session and distributed handouts summarizing legislation which impacts (or would have
impacted) the City. The Committee thanked him for his hard work and success this year and
for his regular updates which they found very useful.
Assuming the Governor approves funding for the project, the Committee directed staff to
immediately begin working on the creation of a beach management district and to bring it
forward to the Parks and Recreation Committee, Land Use and Transportation Committee or
directly to Council as time permits. To ensure that the public is actively involved and
informed, the process will be very formal and will include public hearings at either the
Committee level, Council level, or both.
Mr. Kaplan was permitted the opportunity to address the Committee outside public comment
and requested that the Committee seek information about taking responsibility for issuing
land clearing/grading permits from the Department of Natural Resources and giving it to the
City to limit vegetation damage in new Federal Way property development areas.
Chair Park gave a brief summary of the topics they discussed with Senator Murray, Senator
Cantwell, Congressman Smith, and Congressman Reichert's Chief of Staff during the City
Council visit to Washington D.C. this past month.
The Committee discussed a potential $2 million grant from the National League of Cities for
energy assistance/conservation; staff is awaiting final passage before applying for the funds.
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In regards to the analog-to-digital television signal conversion, the Committee discussed a
program available from the Federal government to provide vouchers to citizens who need
digital converter boxes. The Committee requested that staff work to inform the Community
about this program.
Committee member Duclos stated that she will be attending a reception on April 2, 2008 at
the Twin Lakes Golf and Country Club and will speak with the Governor regarding the five
top-priority issues of South Sound Cities. All south sound King County cities (and Tacoma)
are in agreement on these issues and will seek to lobby the Governor's support at this event.
C. Council Retreat FOllow-Up Items - Ms. Wang presented the staff report and noted key
topics that would be returning to Committee for further direction and subsequent action.
The Committee expressed a preference for virtual, digital modeling to communicate the
City's vision and asked staff to return at a near-future FEDRAC meeting for further direction
regarding neighborhood district development.
D. LIFT Planning and Next Steps - Economic Development Director Doherty presented the
informational staff report to update the Committee on the current status and progress of
UFT projects.
The Committee was supportive of a possible Request for Concepts (RFC) process (similar to
the AMC Theater Redevelopment Project process) which would encourage citizen
involvement, input and participation.
In terms of partnering for UFT projects, staff recommended working toward "tandem-
partnerships" with bUSinesses/developers rather than prospective partnerships to reduce the
risk to the City. Staff will be coming forward with more updates at the April FEDRAC
meeting including a draft RFC document for the Committee's consideration.
E. 2008 LOdging Tax Budget Adjustment - Economic Development Director Doherty
highlighted the bUdget adjustments recommended by the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
at their recent annual retreat. Mr. Doherty noted he encourages a continual "savings" fund
to lure future major sporting events like the Olympic Diving Trials two years from now.
The Committee m/s/c to approve the L TAC 2008 Program and Budget as recommended by
L TAC and forward to the April 1, 2008 City Council Consent Agenda.
F. Approval of February Vouchers - Chair Park inquired about the numerous King County
noxious weed control charges; Ms. Wang replied they are mandatory fees for all City-owned
property and right-of-way.
The Committee m/s/c to approve the vouchers as presented and forward to the April 1, 2008
City Council meeting.
G. 2008 February MFR - Mr. Turley presented the staff report and highlighted key figures.
The Committee inquired about the seemingly-high subSidy funding for the Dumas Bay
Center. The Committee directed staff to return at the April FEDRAC meeting to report the
corrected subsidy amount.
The Committee m/s/c to approve the Monthly financial Report as presented (with the
understanding that staff will correct the subsidy funding number in their April report) and
forward to the April 1, 2008 City Council Consent Agenda.
H. Symphony Multi-Family Tax Exemption Agreement - Mr. Conlen presented the staff
report and noted that the developer has met all City and State application requirements to
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qualify for the exemption; in fact they far exceeded the basic minimum requirements in their
initial reply.
The Committee m/s/c to approve the proposed resolution and agreement and forward to the
April 1, 2008 City Council meeting (Option 1).
4. OTHER- None.
5. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
· UFT Program Process
· Neighborhood Development Program Update
· Proposition 1 Utility Tax Allocation Report
· Monthly Financial Report Adjustment for Knutzen Family Theatre Subsidy
6. ADJOURNMENT - Chair Park adjourned the meeting at 6:50 PM.
Attest:
I Roe, Deputy City Clerk
<J;1i~I~
Committee Member
Committee Member