Council MIN 12-15-2016 SpecialCITY OF
Federal Way
CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING SUMMARY
WITH 30TH DISTRICT STATE LEGISLATORS
Federal Way Community Center — Forest Lounge
December 15, 2016 - 8:00 a.m.
1. WECOME AND INTRODUCTIONS — MAYOR FERRELL
Mayor Ferrell called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.
City Elected Officials in attendance: Mayor Jim Ferrell, Deputy Mayor Jeanne Burbidge,
Councilmember Lydia Assefa- Dawson, Councilmember Susan Honda, Councilmember Mark
Koppang, and Councilmember Dini Duclos.
Invited Elected Officials in attendance: Senator Mark Miloscia, Representative -Elect Mike
Pellicciotti.
Councilmember Martin Moore arrived at 8:15 a.m.; Representative -Elect Kristine Reeves arrived
at 8:32 a.m.
City staff in attendance: Acting City Attorney Mark Orthmann, Acting City Attorney Ryan Call,
Senior Advisor Steve McNey, Senior Policy Advisor Yarden Weidenfeld, Office Manager Kathy
Arndt, Finance Director Ade Ariwoola, Community Development Director Brian Davis, Public
Works Director Marwan Salloum, Performing Arts and Events Center Executive Director Theresa
Yvonne, Economic Development Director Tim Johnson, Parks Director John Hutton, Police Chief
Andy Hwang, IT Manager Thomas Fichtner, and City Clerk Stephanie Courtney.
2. LEGISLATOR'S GOALS
• Senator Mark Miloscia
• Representative -elect Kristine Reeves
• Representative -elect Mike Pellicciotti
Senator Miloscia and Representative -Elect Pellicciotti both thanked Council for the invitation and
hosting this meeting. They reviewed their goals for the upcoming session and the Committees
they will be serving on. They also encouraged the public to contact them with any issues they
have via email or a phone call.
3. DISCUSSION OF PRIORITIES FOR THE 2017 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
a. Public Safety /Law Enforcement
Staff support: Chief Andy Hwang; Senior Advisor Steve McNey, IT Manager Thomas Fitchner
Councilmember Koppang spoke in support of Public Safety as the number one priority for the
City. The City urges the Legislature to provide adequate and sustainable funding to maintain
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December 15, 2016
high - quality statewide training for law enforcement personnel. Federal Way is seeking capital
funding of $250K to add new and replace outdated or obsolete Safe City Cameras.
b. Transportation Investment
Staff support: Public Works Director Marwan Salloum, Senior Advisor Steve McNey
Councilmember Koppang noted the importance of the City Center Access Project which will
incorporate one of two alternatives for modifying current access at the interchange of 1 -5 and
320th Street. A Interchange Justification Report (IJR) and environmental documentation are
needed as the first steps to improve the arterials and traffic flow conditions resulting from the
failing safety and level of service at this interchange.
Deputy Mayor Burbidge also noted the city supports fully funding the Public Works Trust Fund in
order to keep up with the growing demand for infrastructure improvements, job creation, and
economic vitality and enhance quality of life.
The funding request includes completing the IRJ and start of Right -of -Way Acquisition.
c. Performing Arts & Event Center Funding
Staff support: PAEC Executive Director Theresa Yvonne
Councilmember Duclos noted the Performing Arts and Events Center is on -time and on- budget.
The city is seeking $1 million dollars in capital funds for a kitchen upgrade to be utilized by the
Native American Culinary Institute in partnership with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe. This 716 seat
theater and conference center is scheduled to open in the Summer of 2017.
Mayor Ferrell, Deputy Mayor Burbidge and Councilmembers also noted their appreciation for the
past and continued support from the legislature on this project.
d. Community Development
Staff support: Community Development Director Brian Davis
Councilmember Assefa- Dawson spoke to encourage funding to combat the dire conditions of
persons without shelter. Funds would provide coordination of service providers for the city and
region; provide referral services; encampment cleanup; and other issues afflicting the under-
employed populations. Councilmember Honda also stated the city is seeking capital funds to
secure a center for homeless youth. She reiterated the gap in services available to youth in our
community and her desire to work with Auburn Youth Resources or a similar community program
to service this need.
e. University Initiative
Staff support: Senior Advisor Steve McNey
Deputy Mayor Burbidge thanked Councilmember Maloney for spearheading this initiative. She
noted the city recently completed a higher education needs assessment which shows a clear
need for higher educational opportunities in our community. Federal Way has been in
communications with University of Washington — Tacoma and Washington State University to
determine interest level in a downtown Federal Way campus.
Mayor Ferrell noted there has been a huge step forward on this initiative including a meeting and
a draft MOU with UW- Tacoma, Highline College, and the Federal Way School District.
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December 15, 2016
Adjustment of the Property Tax Cap
Deputy Mayor Burbidge noted property tax is the largest revenue source for cities and the current
levels are capped. This creates an ever - widening gap between the cost of providing public
services to a growing population and the revenue available to pay for them. Federal Way urges
the legislature to give local governments the option to replace the arbitrary annual 1% cap on
property tax with a growth limit whose maximum is inflation plus the rate of population growth.
The property tax should correspond to the actual costs of local governments to continue to
provide services and keep up with increasing demand.
g. Investment in Public Health Services
Councilmember Honda and Councilmember Duclos spoke to this subject noting Public Health has
been defined and there is a growing crisis in funding these needs. There is funding for the next
two years, however there needs to be ongoing funding and investment in core public health
services. Washington State Department of Health is requesting $54 million for local public health
jurisdictions to fill critical gap in services and Federal Way strongly urges the Legislature to fund
basic public health.
h. Education
Mayor Ferrell noted Dr. Campbell was unable to attend today's meeting; he thanked Ms. Liz
Drake for attending on her behalf.
Councilmember Honda and Councilmember Koppang noted the city in partnership with the
Federal Way School District is encouraging the State Legislature to continue to work towards the
constitutional requirements outlined in the McCleary ruling, by fulling funding the cost of basic
education and competitive compensation to attract the best and brightest teachers. Additionally,
Councilmembers urged the legislature to create a fair state tax structure to lessen property tax -
based public education inequities and address the Levy Cliff.
Councilmember Duclos would like to see the term "basic education" defined.
i. MRSC Funding
Councilmember Moore and Councilmember Honda both spoke to the importance of the Municipal
Research and Services Center for smaller jurisdictions and elected officials. Cutting funding for
MRSC has been discussed in years prior and Federal Way supports maintaining funding for this
vital support for local governments.
j. Public Records Reform
Councilmember Moore and Councilmember Koppang stated Federal Way supports updating the
Public Records Act so cities can continue to provide transparency however not be allowed to be
paralyzed by excessive over -broad requests which have gone beyond the spirit of transparent
and open government.
4. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ferrell invited Representative -Elect Kristine Reeves to speak to the group and report on
her priorities and Committees she will be serving on. Mayor Ferrell also had staff introduce
themselves.
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December 15, 2016
There being nothing further on the agenda; Mayor Ferrell adjourned the Regular Meeting at 9:15
a.m.
Attest:
S h:nie Courtney
City Clerk
Approved by Council: 01-03 -W/9
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December 15, 2016