PRHSPSC MINS 07-14-2009
City of Federal Way
City Council
PARKS, RECREATION, HUMAN SERV ICES & PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
5:30 p.m.
SUMMARY
Committee Members in Attendance: Committee Chair Jeanne Burbidge and Committee members Mike Park and
Jim Ferrell
Council Members in Attendance: Councilmember: Linda Kochmar
Staff Members in Attendance: Brian Wilson Interim City Manager, Amy Jo Pearsall, City Attorney, Interim Chief
Andy Hwang, Ray Gross EOC Manager, Mary Hobday, Emergency Management Specialist, Greg Fewins,
Community Development Director, Lynnette Hynden, Human Services Manager, Cary Roe, PRCS Director, and
Mary Jaenicke, Administrative Assistant II.
Chair Burbidge called the meeting to order at 5:33p.m.
Public Comment: None.
Commission Comments: Jaye Zern, Chair of the Diversity Commission stated that she was here in support of the
memo regarding the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, and to answer any questions that the committee may have.
APPROVAL OF SUMMARY
Council member Park moved to approve the June meeting summary. Council member Ferrell seconded.
Motion passed.
BUSINESS ITEMS
Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
Ms. Hynden stated that after the MLK Celebration this year Ron Walker stepped down as the Chair of the MLK
Celebration Committee. He had been involved with the committee for ten years. When he stepped down, the MLK
Celebration Committee dissolved. The role of the Diversity Commission has been to offer support with funds and
volunteering. It was the MLK Celebration Committee that put the event on every year. The Diversity Commission
put together a sub group to explore whether or not they would have the momentum, the manpower and the funds to
put together the event. The sub-committee met for several months. A lot of time and effort went into fundraising by
the MLK Celebration Committee. The student forum was $4000, student scholarships were $5000 and the event
itself was $3000. There were also in kind services; the school district provided the facility, buses to transport the
students, and janitorial services. The Diversity Commissions yearly budget is $4000, and they have been giving the
MLK Celebration Committee $1500. The Commissions recommendation is to continue their participation in a
supporting role of the MLK Celebration should another private entity show interest and take the lead in organizing
the event, including fundraising. The Diversity Commission would also like to work jointly with the Arts
Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission to preserve the MLK Celebration artifacts. They would like
to have the Community Flame on display more than just once a year. Council member Burbidge stated that she was
a volunteer for the event when it first started. At that time it was not connected with the Diversity Commission, it
was a separate group that put on the first Celebrations. There were not any student forums. There were essay
contests and poster contests. There was some fundraising that occurred. It was a more compact event and it was less
expensive. Ms. Hynden stated that it was very difficult to raise money this past year. Many of the donors said that
they would not be donating to the event next year. Council member Park was also a volunteer when the event first
started, and at that time there were between 10-15 citizen volunteers. Ms. Hynden stated that no one previously
involved with the event has offered to take on a leadership role. Council member Ferrell stated that he will not
approve a work plan that does not include the MLK Celebration. He feels that it is a very important event for the
Community, and we need to figure out how to get it done. Council member Kochmar suggested scaling back the
event, and finding someone that would be willing to chair it again. Council member Park stated that he believes the
Diversity Commission did not want to walk away from the event, that they want to work on the event, but not be the
PARKS, RECREATION, HUMAN SERVICES & PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
Tuesday July 14, 2009 Summary
Page 2
main group that organizes the event. The Diversity Commission is not able to fundraise. Council member Ferrell
suggested forming an ad hoc committee. Interim City Manager Wilson stated that a key piece that is missing is
somebody to take on the leadership role. The committee wants the event to continue. Mr. Wilson suggested that no
action be taken at this time; staff will discuss the event and come back to Committee with more information.
Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Ms. Hobday reported that this plan was adopted in 2003. FEMA requires that these plans be reviewed and updated
on a 5 year cycle in order to continue in the regional plan. King County Office of Emergency Management is the
lead agency for the regional plan. They have the responsibility of revising the plan. The first step is providing them
with a letter of intent that we will continue. There are two primary benefits to participating in the regional hazard
mitigation plan: 1) FEMA approved plans will have access to pre and post-mitigation grants. 2) Eligibility to receive
post-disaster mitigation funds; this is in addition to the standard declared emergency disaster recovery funds.
Council member Park moved to approve the Resolution to continue participation in the Regional Hazard
Mitigation Plan of King County. Council member Ferrell seconded. Motion Passed.
Federal Way Police Department Response to Gang/Youth Violence
Interim Chief Hwang addressed what the Federal Way Police Department is doing in response to the increase in
gang violence. There has been an increase in gang violence in this region and in the Country. There were 83
homicides in King County last year. There were two Homicides in Federal Way in 2008 that were gang related.
These two incidents prompted the Police Department to reverse that trend. There has not been a gang related
homicide in 2009 in Federal Way. Interim Chief Hwang stated that what is different about gangs today is that they
are very mobile. No community is immune from gangs. There are 16 active gangs in the region. The King County
Police Chiefs have made a commitment to address gang and youth violence, and gang detectives are communicating
and sharing information. The decrease in gang/youth violence in Federal Way can be attributed to the following five
areas: 1) Restructuring the Organization, 2) Graffiti Abatement Program, 3) Safe City Program, 4) Special
Operations/Projects, 5) Targeted Enforcement. When looking at crime rate per capita, we are the 4th safest city.
When looking at looking at Western Washington with a population between 50,000-100,000 people we are rated the
2nd safest city. In 2009 index crimes for the 1st quarter are 1,172 this is the lowest 1st quarter index crimes we have
had in the history of the agency for the past 13 years
Agreement between Federal Way Police Department and Washington Auto Theft Prevention Authority for
the PATROL Task Force
Interim Chief Hwang reported that the Federal Way Police Department received a grant in the amount of $800,000
from WATPA to work with other jurisdictions to reduce auto theft in our region. The team is made up of Auburn,
Kent, Bonney Lake, King County Prosecutors Office, Renton and Federal Way. Interim Chief Hwang stated that the
team is doing tremendous work along with other regional teams, and there has been a downward trend in our region.
The term of the Agreement is from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010. The team is comprised of one Lieutenant, four
detectives and two employees from the King County Prosecutors Office.
Proposed Interlocal Agreement Regarding Distribution of Proceeds from the Sale of Bellevue Property and
Indemnification of Bellevue
Ms. Pearsall stated that this is to disperse funds from the sale of the property in Bellevue and will finance the
purchase of the property in Des Moines. Council member Ferrell moved to approve the proposed Interlocal
Agreement regarding proceeds distribution from the sale of Bellevue property, and authorize the Interim
City Manager to execute said agreement. Council member Park seconded. Motion Passed. The City’s portion
of the purchase is a little bit over $900,000. Ms. Pearsall stated that they are hoping to purchase the property for the
South King County Jail Facility and start the grading soon.
Pending Items
None
NEXT MEETING – August 11, 2009 5:30 p.m. in the Hylebos Conference Room
ADJOURNMENT - Meeting adjourned at 6:37 p.m.