FEDRAC MINS 05-24-2005 A-1
City of Federal Way
City Council
Finance/Economic Development/Regional Affairs Committee
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
5:30 p.m.
City Hall
Hylebos Conference Room
MINUTES
Committee Members in Attendance: Chair Eric Faison, Member Jeanne Burbidge, and Member Jim Ferrell.
City Council Members in Attendance: Deputy Mayor Linda Kochmar.
Staff Members in Attendance: Iwen Wang, Management Services Director; David Moseley, City Manager; Derek
Matheson, Assistant City Manager; Pat Richardson, City Attorney; Tho Kraus, Finance Manager; Patrick Doherty,
Director of Economic Development; Mark Turley, Senior Financial Analyst; Mehdi Sadri, Information Services
Manager; Mary McDougal, Human Resources Manager; Jason Suzaka, Deputy City Clerk/Management Analyst.
Others in Attendance: Doug Levy.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Eric Faison called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
3. COMMITTEE BUSINESS
Motion by Chair Faison to move item b) on the agenda to between items g) and h). Motion seconded and carried.
a) Approval of the April 26, 2005 meeting minutes
Motion to approve the April 26, 2005 meeting minutes. Motion seconded and carried.
c) New City Hall Update
Presented by Derek Matheson
Mr. Matheson gave the committee an update on the project. The punchlist for the new city hall is
just about done; the focus is now on the evidence building across the street. The Patrick Maher
Memorial design is complete and is now in fabrication.
d) Ordinance/Judge and Commissioner Salaries
Presented by Mary McDougal
Ms. McDougal presented the ordinance to the committee. The 95% requirement for Court
Improvement Funds from the State is set by the legislature, and would be adjusted in order for the
City to stay eligible for those funds. The ordinance would change the municipal judge to
40hrs/wk, and the commissioner to 22hrs/wk.
Motion to forward option 3 to full Council for approval. Motion seconded and carried.
K:\FEDRAC\2005\0524\052405 Minutes.doc A-2
It was also clarified that there are other ways for a municipal judge to be removed from office than
those listed in the ordinance. They are contained in the state statute.
e) Approval of Bid for Purchase of Police Laptops
Presented by Mehdi Sadri
Mr. Sadri reviewed the bids with the committee.
Correction: The word “buggerized” in the committee action should be changed to “ruggerized.”
Motion to forward the quote from CDW for seven police laptops to full Council for approval.
Motion seconded and carried.
f) Tourism Enhancement Grants
Presented by Patrick Doherty
Mr. Doherty reviewed the grant awards with the committee. .
Motion to forward the Tourism Enhancement Grant awards to full Council for approval.
Motion seconded and carried.
The committee reiterated their desire to examine future TEG awards before forwarding to full
Council for approval.
g) Proposed Amendment to VSNL Telecommunications Franchise (Ordinance #05-485)
Presented by Pat Richardson
Ms. Richardson reviewed the proposed amendment with the committee.
Motion to forward option 1 (approve the proposed ordinance) to full Council for first reading.
Motion seconded and carried.
b) Congressional and Legislative Affairs Update
Presented by Derek Matheson
The primary issues being worked on by our federal lobbyist are:
TEA-21 reauthorization: The legislature is negotiating the level of funding for the program. Our
federal lobbyist has been busy drafting letters to our congressional delegates and keeping in
communication with them about the importance of transportation projects such as the triangle
project.
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG): The issue is maintaining the level of funding for
this program and whether or not to consolidate it with other grant programs. The Senate has voted
not to consolidate at this time; the House has not yet made a decision. A letter has been sent to our
congressional delegates reiterating Federal Way’s position.
Mr. Matheson introduced Doug Levy to give a end of session report on state legislative issues.
Mr. Levy reported a very favorable session for Federal Way. The City is receiving funding for
transportation projects such as the triangle project ($100 million over several years) I-5/272nd, and
the City Center Access Study; capital projects such as Joe’s Creek and the Hylebos boardwalk
replacement ($856,000 and $100,000, respectively); Han Woo-Ri Festival ($50,000); and a
permanent board seat for the Puget Sound Regional Council. He credited good preparation on the
City’s part for their success.
K:\FEDRAC\2005\0524\052405 Minutes.doc A-3
Issues that the City wasn’t as successful were property tax lid lifts and sales tax streamlining. The
Legislature generally did not provide any forms of financing in the form of local options; although
they did provide some money in the form of a gas tax for cities. He recommended that funding for
local options become one of the top priorities for the City in 2006.
The Legislature provided a remedy for the issue involving Driving While License Suspended
violations. Included in the remedy is a requirement for cities to provide a payment plan for those
who cannot pay the fine all at once.
A Job Development Fund was created by the State, which provides funding for infrastructure that
will be help create jobs and retain existing jobs. The companion bill that was passed provides the
Governor will a strategic grant fund for attracting and retaining businesses.
Annexation financing died in Senate this year, but may come up again at the next session.
Note: At the June 21, 2005 Council Meeting, Mr. Levy and our three legislators will be invited
and recognized for their efforts during the 2005 legislative session.
h) FWTV (Channel 21) Programming
Presented by Iwen Wang
Correction: The Resolution cited should be 98-283, not 98-293.
Ms. Wang reviewed the memorandum with the committee. Some of the ideas offered were:
Broadcasting city events such as MLK Celebration and State of the City Address; human services -
funded groups/programs, replaying council committee/city council regular meetings.
Staff reminded the committee that new equipment will allow for more programming beginning
June 1st.
i) April 2005 Monthly Financial Report
Presented by Tho Kraus
Ms. Kraus presented the April 2005 Monthly Financial Report to the committee. Revenues are
currently $863,000 above year to date budget (favorable) and expenditures are $1,270,000 under
year to date budget (favorable). It was noted that revenues from building permits, real estate
excise taxes, and sales taxes from The Commons have been much higher than expected; a good
sign for the City budget. Municipal Court revenues are lower than expected, partly due to a lower
caseload.
Motion to approve the Monthly Financial Report and forward to full Council for approval.
Motion seconded and carried.
j) Vouchers
Presented by Tho Kraus
Ms. Kraus reviewed the vouchers with the committee.
Motion to accept the vouchers and forward them to full Council for approval. Motion seconded
and carried.
4. OTHER
None.
K:\FEDRAC\2005\0524\052405 Minutes.doc A-4
5. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Ms. Wang announced that there would be an update on the Wi-Fi project at the June 28 FEDRAC meeting.
6. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING
June 28, 2005 at 5:30 p.m. in the Hylebos Conference Room.
7. ADJOURN
Chair Eric Faison adjourned the meeting at 7:06pm.
Recorded by Jason Suzaka