PRPSC MINS 03-13-2006
City of Federal Way
City Council
PARKS, RECREATION, & PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
Monday March 13, 2006
6:00 p.m.
SUMMARY
In attendance: Council Committee members Chair Jeanne Burbidge, Deputy Mayor Jim Ferrell, Council member
Jack Dovey, Derek Matheson, Interim City Manager, Anne Kirkpatrick, Director of Public Safety, Pat Richardson,
City Attorney, Jenni Snell, City Staff Attorney, Iwen Wang, Director Finance, Donna Hanson, Director PRCS, B
Sanders Park Planner, Mary Faber, Superintendent PRCS, Mary Jaenicke, Administrative Assistant.
Council member Kochmar was excused.
Guests: Charlie Demming, Heery International, C.T. Purdom, Parks Commission, Renee Tanner 4Culture, Artists:
Bruce Myers and Laura Sindell.
Chair Burbidge called the meeting to order at 6:05p.m.
COMMISSION COMMENT
None
APPROVAL OF SUMMARY
Council members Ferrell and Burbidge moved to accept the February meeting minutes as written. Motion
passed.
BUSINESS ITEMS
Community Center 2% for Art Program
Ms. Faber introduced Laura Sindell and Bruce Myers, the selected artists for the Community Center 2% for Art
Program. The artists were present to show the Committee how far along the designs have come. Ms. Sindell stated
that the artwork displays the human body in motion. It talks about motion in a way where the unseen is made visible.
The background pattern is a heartbeat. Ms. Sindell also showed the café tables. There are 4 tables. The tables are
meant to be public art space for interchangeable exhibits. Bruce Myers is creating the exterior fountain. The
circular plan is inspired by a raindrop pattern. The overlapping circles identify the different zones. Within some of
the circles there will be two circles with a mosaic. Three areas within the fountain zone will have pebble mosaics.
The idea is that the exterior art is brining in outdoor elements. Boulders will be used for the fountain.
Community Center Update
Mr. Demming presented the Community Status report for February 2006. The billings to date are $3,490,601. We
continue to be on budget with the project, and continuing to do a monthly monitoring of the project schedule. The
pool piping issues have been resolved. They are in the process of negotiating change orders. The climbing wall
subcontractor has been selected. The company is Entre Prises USA, Inc. The climbing wall is scheduled to be
installed in October 2006. The design is a blended system of free form, which relates to the natural rock and a
panelized system. They have also negotiated the rest of the kitchen equipment pricing and installation schedule.
West Hylebos Wetlands Park: Boardwalk 85% Design
Ms. Sanders stated that there are three problems with the boardwalk at this time. 1) Damage from trees resulting
from storms and tree roots extending into the area 2) Foundation decay 3) Alignment problems. They have tried to
maintain the overall alignment with the boardwalk. They are doing minor alignment adjustments to avoid trees
encroaching into the boardwalk. The viewing area at Brooklake will be enlarged. They are also going to improve
the interpretive signage. They are looking at other materials for the foundation that are not wood-based. There are
two different types of material that they are looking at. Those items are: 1) Diamond Pier Foundation with concrete
block that have piers that are driven down into the soil. 2) A foundation that is made up of recycled tires with
Styrofoam inside to help them float. They are then encased in a heavy plastic. The goal is to get back a beautiful
trail in the woods. The trail will be a little bit wider to meet the ADA requirements. Deputy Mayor Ferrell moved
to complete design, with direction established by the 85% documents and place this item before Council on
April 4, 2006. Council member Burbidge seconded. Motion passed.
PARKS, RECREATION, & PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
Monday March 13, 2006 Summary
Page 2
Public Comment
Bob Kellogg, Bob Roper and Toni Mikesell spoke in support of a breed specific legislation.
Glen Bui, Laina Cole, Janet Noble, Juli Goodrich, Cynthia McCammon, Jim Anable, Susan McBain, Rachel Dube,
Nikki Osborn, Julia Jones, Aaron, Suzanne Danielle, and H. David Kaplan spoke against a breed specific legislation.
H. David Kaplan asked for clarification on what the Ordinance is that is being proposed. Chair Burbidge answered
that they do not have a recommendation from staff at this time, but there is a potential for asking staff to modify the
existing code, and present the proposed modification at the next committee meeting. There has not been a specific
Ordinance or change to the existing code at this time. There is nothing breed specific. Deputy Mayor Ferrell read
the 4 options that they can consider to the audience.
Dangerous Dogs Ordinance
Deputy Mayor Ferrell stated that this issue presents a real challenge. If committee were to implement option 3 it
would not address what occurred to the Mikesell Dogs. He does not want to penalize people that already own certain
breeds of dogs. He would like to find a creative way to prevent things like this happening in the future. We need to
have a responsive system, and hold people accountable. Council member Dovey stated that we needed to look at the
laws we have in place and make sure that we are enforcing them. We need to ensure that we’ve done everything
within our current ordinance and enforcing what we have. Deputy Mayor Ferrell thinks it is important to analyze
every option. What can we do proactively? Mr. Ferrell would like to move option 1, to have the City Attorney and
staff come up with different options that would address and try and prevent what happened to the Mikesells. Chair
Burbidge seconded. Chair Burbidge stated that it makes sense to support option 1 with consideration in modifying
the existing code. It is important to base this legislation on behavior and consider animal control issues. Chair
Burbidge stated that Seattle, Olympia, Kent, Renton and Tacoma have adopted ordinances that follow dangerous dog
regulation based on dog behavior. Seattle Municipal code states that the dog’s breed will not be a factor in the
designation of a dangerous dog. There are stringent registration requirements in some cities. Council member
Dovey stated that option 4, which is do not modify the City code makes sense to him. He needs to be convinced that
the current ordinance is not working. The real issue is enforcement and possibly having our own animal control.
Mayor Ferrell is envisioning regular ordinance language with 3 to 4 options. Deputy Mayor Ferrell stated that there
is confusion about what the existing state of the law is. He would like a staff presentation about the current status of
the law and what the proposed changes are going to be and what the possible options will be. City Attorney
Richardson stated that the motion that is on the floor is to direct staff to modify the ordinance and bring back to the
committee. If this is not the direction that is being given, then the motion and the second needs to be withdrawn.
Ferrell stated that the ordinance can be drafted with options, and then to modify and increase the fines and penalties
and have several options to add in. Ms. Richardson wanted to know what the options are that they want to work in.
Are you going beyond fines and penalties? After further discussion, it was clarified that the Committee wants to
know what other more restrictive requirements that could be placed on the dog owners. Deputy Mayor Ferrell
moved to amend option one and include consideration of other restrictive measures. Chair Burbidge seconded.
Discussion was held. It was moved and seconded to move option 1 which is to: Direct staff to prepare and
ordinance modifying the City code to increase the fines and penalties for violations of the existing dangerous
dogs and potentially dangerous dogs definitions, and consideration of other restrictive measures.
Memorandum of Understanding with the Friends of the Hylebos Wetlands for the Invasive Weed Removal
Program
Ms. Wang stated that The Friends of the Hylebos are proposing to continue to monitor the work they started in 2005
and also to start a new invasive weed removal program. The two programs they started in 2005 and want to continue
to monitor are in the Hylebos Wetland Park and the Brooklake Blueberry Farm. They removed the invasive weeds in
2005. This year they would be monitoring to ensure that there is not any re-growth and if there is additional re-
growth they will manually remove the weeds. In the Historic Cabins Park there is a sufficient amount of Himalayan
blackberry and they are proposing to remove that, cover the area with thick fabric to make sure that there is not any
re-growth. If they receive additional grants then they will help the City of Federal Way replant that area. The City
will compensate them with $10,000 for their effort. Deputy Mayor Ferrell moved to approve the attached MOU
and authorize $10,000 as compensation for the proposed scope of work forward to the April 4, 2006 City
Council Consent Agenda. Chair Burbidge seconded. Motion passed.
Police Officer “Over-hiring” Program
Ms. Wang stated that council has been talking about the police department staffing issue. They have identified that
the issue is recruiting difficulties, staffing level and the training process for new recruits. It takes approximately nine
months before a position can be filled. The program would allow the City of Federal Way to hire more officers
PARKS, RECREATION, & PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
Monday March 13, 2006 Summary
Page 3
while exceeding the budgeted positions as long as the total officer count stays below the maximum. The goal is to
maintain a steady stream of officers in the pipeline to fill the vacancies as needed. The questions to consider is what
is the level of over-hiring, the type of vacancies where over-hiring may help, and at what cost? Ms. Wang stated that
they are asking council to allow for the over-hiring of seven officers, and also want to recommend Council to allow
the over-hiring program to be used to cover both regular vacancies as well as extended military leave – we have had
three officers put into military leave for approximately two years. Because the vacancies do fluctuate and they will
need to carry additional officers from time to time, there will be additional costs than the current budgeted amount.
The ongoing costs will depend on how long the over-staffing condition persists and how quickly attrition occurs to
allow the staffing level to be lowered back to normal. They are looking at about 3.5-4 FTE officers at an annual cost
of $340,000 for the salary and wage and $100,00 for the equipment. When they have too many officers they can
stop hiring, and allow the attrition to come down to the authorized level. Deputy Mayor Ferrell moved approval
of option 1, Chair Burbidge seconded. Discussion was held. Council member Dovey asked if seven officers were
enough. Ms. Wang stated it will depend on the current vacancy, and how soon we can fill those vacancies. Right
now we have a vacancy of five. Ms. Wang did clarify that this is not in lieu of additional staffing needs, this is so we
can bring our regular staffing to the budgeted level. Motion passed to forward option 1 to the April 4, 2006 City
Council Consent Agenda.
Interlocal Agreement between the City of Federal Way and Federal Way School District No. 210 for School
Resource Officers
Chief Kirkpatrick reported that this is a contract that the City entered into in 1999 to put school resource officers into
the school system. This is a three year term from September 1, 2005 through August 31, 2008. There are a few
changes to this contract, they are as follows: 4 full time school resource officers, which will be assigned to the
following schools: Decatur, Todd Beamer, Federal Way, and Thomas Jefferson, one full time officer to serve as
relief, and one half time officer for Truman High School. When that officer is not at Truman his other
responsibilities will be to traffic. Deputy Mayor Ferrell moved to authorize the City Manager to execute the
new Interlocal Agreement between the City of Federal Way and Federal Way School District No. 210 for
School Resource Officers, forward to the full City Council for approval on March 21, 2006. Chair Burbidge
seconded. Motion passed.
PENDING ITEMS
Deputy Mayor Ferrell asked if the April meeting could be changed to April 17, he would like to be in attendance
when the Dangerous Dog Ordinance is discussed. Ms. Richardson stated that a motion was made; it could be put on
the agenda and delay action on the Ordinance, and do it in May. The motion does not need to be amended if the
meeting will be moved to April 17.
Council member Kochmar was absent from this meeting, so her availability needs to be verified.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
NEXT MEETING – April 10, 2006 6:00 p.m. in the Hylebos Conference Room
ADJOURNMENT - Meeting adjourned at 7:55p.m.