PRHSPSC MIN 06-14-2004
City of Federal Way
City Council
PARKS, RECREATION, HUMAN SERVICES & PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
Monday, June 14, 2004
5:00 p.m.
SUMMARY
In attendance: Council Committee members Chair Jeanne Burbidge, Jim Ferrell, Jack Dovey; Council member
Linda Kochmar; David Moseley, City Manager, Pat Richardson City Attorney, Derek Matheson, Assistant City
Manager, Anne Kirkpatrick, Chief of Public Safety, David Tracy, Municipal Court Judge, Kelli O’Donnell CDBG
Coordinator, Donna Hanson, Interim Director, Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services, Kurt Reuter, Park
Maintenance Superintendent, Aaron Moe, Senior Services Coordinator, Steve Ikerd, Facilities Manager, Mary
Jaenicke, Administrative Assistant.
Guests: Don Dennis, Parks Commission, George Pfeiffer, Parks Commission, Kevin King, Human Services,
James Dalton, Citizen
Chair Burbidge called the meeting to order at 5:05p.m.
PUBLIC FORUM
James Dalton: Spoke regarding his concerns about the increase use of motorized and electric scooters on the bike
paths. He urged City Council to take a firm stand and pass an Ordinance on this issue. They are dangerous and
incompatible for bike paths, parks and sidewalks.
COMMISSION COMMENT
Kevin King, Human Services Commission: Reported that they are starting the process of reviewing the
applications that have been submitted for CDBG.
APPROVAL OF SUMMARY
Council members Ferrell and Dovey motioned to accept the May meeting minutes as written. Motion
passed.
BUSINESS ITEMS
Washington Conservation Corps Interlocal Agreement
Mr. Ikerd reported that the City entered into an Interlocal Agreement with the Washington Conservation Corps in
2003 to remove exotic plants such as Himalayan Blackberry and Scot’s broom at Celebration Park. The program
has been very successful. Mr. Ikerd is recommending extending the term of the agreement through the end of the
year. The cost is approximately $12,800.00. Funding will come out of the 2004 facility maintenance contract
account. Parks will continue to use volunteers to supplement related tasks. Dovey moved to place this item on
Councils July 6, 2004 consent agenda with a “do pass” recommendation to accept the Interlocal agreement
with the Department of Ecology, Washington Conservation Corps for the amount of $12,800.00, extending
the term until December 31, 2004. Ferrell seconded. Motion passed.
Community Development Block Grant Application for the Community Center
Ms. Hanson reported that a grant application has been submitted for CDBG funds for funding equipment at the
new Community Center. Council member Dovey asked if this application would be part of the Human Services
Analysis. It will be the Human Services Commissions decision if this will be funded or not. Ms. O’Donnell
reported that the total amount of funding requested is 1.3 million dollars. There is approximately $600,000.00
available in capital. The city is requesting about 20% of the $600,000.00 that is available.
Motorized (Scooter) Vehicle Use Ordinance Revision
Mr. Reuter reported on the Ordinance Revision to ban motorized scooter use from all park areas, including paved
hard surface areas, trails, sidewalks, and parking lots. Currently these are not banned from sidewalks in the City.
Mr. Matheson stated that this is a legislative issue. There are cities that are currently trying to get these banned
from sidewalks. State law does not give cities authority to regulate motor scooters on public roadways. Cities are
pursuing a legislative change. Reuter has received approximately 8-10 complaints within the past two months.
PARKS, RECREATION, HUMAN SERVICES
& PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
Monday June 14, 2004 Summary
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The complaints have come from both users of the trail, and property owners adjacent to the trail. Council member
Dovey would like it to be a severe penalty for illegally using these scooters. Ms. Richardson said the code allows
for Civil Enforcement first. The motor scooter users are minors, so the infraction would be against the parents or
guardian. It would be up to the code enforcement or law enforcement officer to enforce this Ordinance. One of the
conditions for funding of the BPA Trail was that the trail was a footpath. Motorized vehicles are not allowed.
Council member Dovey stated the Ordinance would need to be enforceable. It cannot be an Ordinance that the
enforcement people need to think about. Council agreed that there needs to be a fine, but there also needs to be an
education and awareness program about this new law. Discussion was also held regarding confiscating the scooter
vs. a large fine. Chief Kirkpatrick reported there would be a lot of issues if they start confiscating scooters. Ms,
Hanson recommended sending this item back to staff for more research. Staff will research what other cities have
done, banning sidewalks, penalties, and how the community was made aware of the new law. It was also
suggested that this Ordinance should be made citywide. Chair Burbidge said she would be in favor of that, but if it
seems that the broader Ordinance gets more complex, then we need to take care of the immediate need for a Park
Ordinance.
Jim Webster Field Memorial
Mr. Reuter reported that staff and the Parks Commission would like to name Softball field #1 at Celebration Park
after former Council member Jim Webster. Mr. Webster devoted his life to Parks and Recreation. Council
member Dovey moved to recommend to Council a “do pass” to accept the recommendation to name
Celebration Park Ball field number one, “Jim Webster” Field, and to place this item on the consent agenda
at July 6, 2004 meeting. Ferrell seconded. Motion passed. Mr. Ferrell inquired as to how much money was
collected on Mr. Webster’s behalf. The city collected $1,400, WRPA has $1,000, and INPRA has $1,000.
“Pray Federal Way” Event at Saghalie Park
Mr. Reuter reported that this event was held last year at Saghalie Park. It was a one-day event last year. This year
it will be a two-day event, and they are expecting a larger crowd. Due to the increase, staff felt it was important to
formalize the agreement, and draft an MOU. Mr. Dovey questioned why the MOU is presented at Council. Reuter
answered that not all park rentals require an MOU, but an event this large does require an MOU to formalize the
arrangements. Ms. Hanson stated that in the future MOU’s would be presented to Council Committee as an
informational item, so Council would be aware of the event. The park will be open to the public. Ferrell moved
to recommend to Council a “do pass” to accept the 2004 Memorandum of Understanding between the City of
Federal Way and “Pray Federal Way” and to place this item before Council on the July 6, 2004 consent
agenda. Dovey seconded. Motion passed.
Interlocal Agreement for Jail Administration
Ms. Richardson reported that City staff has been working very hard to reduce jail cost. They have established an
agreement with Yakima County for jail beds. Yakima County is in the process of building a jail facility. The
Interlocal Agreement discusses forming sub-groups that would administer the Interlocal agreement. The Interlocal
agreement specifies the sub-groups responsibilities. 1) Oversight group of elected officials, 2) Jail Administrative
Group, 3) Jail Operations Group. The agreement has signature lines for all of the cities that are a part of the
Interlocal agreement on the Yakima Jail Contract. The other cities have seen this agreement, and have approved it
and adopted it. Mr. Moseley stated that we are using less jail space because crime is down. We are currently using
approximately 40 beds. Council member Dovey asked if we were signing this agreement to help finance Yakima’s
jail. Mr. Moseley explained that for Yakima to accommodate King County’s new prisoners it is building a new
facility financed by the Yakima Contract. We currently have a contract to rent 29 spaces for seven years. The city
is currently renegotiating what happens with the unused bed space. Mr. Moseley clarified that this Interlocal
Agreement for Jail Administration is an agreement between the City of Federal Way and other cities in King
County and discusses how the King County contract and the Yakima contract will be administered. Ferrell moved
to recommend approval of the proposed Interlocal Agreement for Jail Administration and forward it to full
council for consideration at the July 6, 2004 City Council meeting. Dovey seconded. Motion passed.
Municipal Court Judge Election
Ms. Richardson reported that she met with Iwen Wang, the city’s financial Director, regarding the financial impact
if the city converted the position to an elected position. There is not a requirement to convert the elected position
to a full-time position. Ms. Wang’s opinion is that there is not a financial impact because City Council can control
the hours of the position, whether it is elected or appointed. Council member Ferrell stated that he has been
PARKS, RECREATION, HUMAN SERVICES
& PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
Monday June 14, 2004 Summary
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thinking about this issue for several years. He believes that it is important to discuss this issue now, before we are
too close to a contract renewal. There needs to be a separation of powers. The judge is essentially an employee of
the City Manager. Council member Ferrell also believes that the citizens of Federal Way should be able to choose
the person that sits on the judgment of their cases. Council member Ferrell would like to see this as an action item
on the next Council Committee meeting for passage to Full Council. Council member Dovey would like to wait
until 2005 to make this decision. He believes that this is a monumental decision for the city, and he does not want
to move too fast. Council is not ready to make a decision on what is best for the city regarding this issue. Deputy
Mayor Kochmar stated that there are a lot of other issues facing the City at this time. She would like to revisit this
issue at the first part of 2005. Chair Burbidge agreed that it makes sense to take time on this issue. The committee
requested that staff provide a matrix of comparisons with other cities that have elected and appointed judges.
Narcotics K-9 Ownership Settlement Agreement between Washington State Patrol and the Federal Way
Police Department
Chief Kirkpatrick stated that this is a settlement agreement requesting to transfer all rights, titles and interest from
Washington State Patrol Narcotic K-9 dog (Diesel) to the City of Federal Way. Council member Dovey moved to
approve and accept this request for transfer of all rights, titles and interest in the dog known as K-9 Diesel
from the Washington State Patrol to the Federal Way Police Department, and forward to full Council for
consideration at its July 6, 2004 meeting. Ferrell seconded. Motion passed.
2004 Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant
Chief Kirkpatrick stated that this is an annual grant that the department applies for. The Department received
notification that they have received the grant to replace bulletproof vests in the department. These vests are
replaced every year. This grant is a 50% match. The total for replacement is $72,069.00. Dovey moved to
approve and accept the 2004 Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant of $36,035.50 including authorization to
purchase vests totaling approximately $72,069.00 and forward to full Council for consideration at it’s July 6,
2004 meeting. Ferrell seconded. Motion passed.
PENDING ITEMS
None
NEXT MEETING
July 12 2004, 5:00 p.m. in the Mt. Baker Conference Room
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 6:27p.m.