2018-10-30 Council Minutes - Special Budget 41/4, CITY OF
Federal Way
CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
Council Chambers - City Hall
October 30, 2018 — 6:00 p.m.
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Mayor Ferrell called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.
City officials in attendance: Mayor Jim Ferrell, Deputy Mayor Susan Honda, Councilmember Lydia
Assefa-Dawson, Councilmember Hoang Tran, Councilmember Mark Koppang, Councilmember
Martin Moore, and Councilmember Dini Duclos.
City staff in attendance: City Attorney Ryan Call and City Clerk Stephanie Courtney.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Ferrell led the flag salute.
3. BUDGET WORKSHOP — 2019/2020 BIENNIAL BUDGET WORKSHOP
Mayor Ferrell noted due to the high number of citizens wishing to comment tonight he asked to
take citizen comment first.
• Citizen Comment
Judge Dave Larson spoke on salary inequities in staff and in support of the Municipal Court budget
requests.
Dana Hollaway expressed her shock at the state of city finances and suggested the hiring a Chief
Administrative Officer. She shared her opinion of the top priorities for the budget including employee
retention, noise and toxic emissions from the airport, and public safety.
Diana Noble-Gulliford spoke regarding Proposition One which was passed by voters in 2006. This
vote increased utility taxes to enhance police and community safety. She pointed out that the
community has an expectation for the level of policing and requested the budget work towards
achieving those expected levels.
Denisse Christensen shared her experience with a homeless camp on her property and their inability
to afford to clean up the mess left behind. She requested the city consider adding funding to assist
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October 30, 2018
private citizens in cleaning up after homeless encampments.
Scott Chase reported increased crime rates and requested the Police Budget be increased to allow
for the hiring of additional police officers
Mike Culleton requested Council consider lifting the ban on marijuana. He has traveled the world and
seen many lovely cities with legalized marijuana.
Nathaniel Wannenmacher requested Council consider lifting the ban on retail marijuana stores. He
noted the opening of recreational marijuana stores has stopped the interactions people had with
street dealers.
Lamont Styles shared that he feels youth programs will reduce the need for additional police officers.
He requested the budget be altered to allow for funding of these projects as well as assisting the
homeless in the area.
Written comments read into the record from Debbie Smith by the City Clerk.
• Council Discussion and Deliberation
Mayor Ferrell stated he worked with Finance Director Ariwoola and Police Chief Hwang to identify
areas of reduction in the general fund budget of$51,000 which could fund the Federal Way Youth
Action Team ($25,000) and the Affordable Housing Task Force ($26,000), as Council as indicated.
Council discussed the need for revenue and asked Finance Director Ariwoola to report back on
potential marijuana revenue if the city decided to zone for retail stores.
Discussion also took place on Proposition One, approved by voters in 2006. City Attorney Call
responded to questions, clarifying no Council has the legal authority to bind future Council action.
Finance Director Ariwoola also noted Prop One monies are being spent accurately as shown on page
D-11 of the budget book; due to inflation the money collected only funds a portion of the costs;
general fund is used to fund the remaining need.
Council further discussed maintaining ample reserves and the increased cost of deferred
maintenance to facilities and city buildings. The Police Department overtime budget was heavily
debated, as a there is shared concern and desire to manage costs and keep the community safe.
Councilmembers discussed additional items they would like to see incorporated into the budget such
as LEAN training for staff; additional sensitivity training for police officers;and an allocation for a Rally
to Vote Event. Suggested areas of reduction to offset these allocations could come from a reduction
in staff at the Performing Arts & Event Center; maintaining the current level of Police Department
staff; and capping Police Department overtime to $500,000 with any overage approved by Council.
Chief Hwang spoke to cyclical nature of crime and efforts to maintain an officer ratio that is
appropriate to the community. He also discussed the effects of capping Police overtime and explained
the types of overtime which are unavoidable such as SWAT Team, court hearings and sick call outs.
He spoke strongly against budget cuts and the implications of what that will do to across the board.
Other discussions included increasing the IT Department by 2 FTE's; adding a .50 FTE Youth
Coordinator; addition of a Chief Administrative Officer; increasing funding for landscape maintenance
costs, and utilizing volunteers to adopt neighborhood parks and streets.
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October 30, 2018
Council discussed the next steps and scheduling additional budget meetings.Consensus was to add
budget meetings on November 7 and 8 following the next scheduled meeting on November 6.
4. ADJOURNMENT
There being nothing further on the agenda; Mayor Ferrell adjourned the Special Meeting at 8:40 p.m.
Attest:
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St_. a ie Courtney
City Clerk
Approved by Council: (t 1'LD/2_V j8'
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October 30, 2018