PRHSPSC MINS 10-13-2020 K:\PRHSPS Committee\2020\10-13-2020 Minutes.doc
City of Federal Way
City Council
PARKS, RECREATION, HUMAN SERVICES & PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE Tuesday, October 13, 2020 5:00 p.m.
SUMMARY
Committee Members Participating via Video Conference: Chair Kochmar and Committee members
Assefa-Dawson and Baruso
Council Members Participating via Video Conference: Council President Honda
Staff Members Participating via Video Conference: Del Kolde, Assistant City Attorney, Andy Hwang,
Chief of Police, Kurt Schwan, Commander, Sarah Bridgeford CDBG/HS Manager, John Hutton, Parks
Director, Jason Gerwen, Parks Deputy Director and Mary Jaenicke, Administrative Assistant II.
Chair Kochmar called the meeting to order at 5:00pm
Public Comment:
None
BUSINESS ITEMS
Approval of Minutes Committee member Assefa-Dawson motioned to approve the September 8, 2020 minutes as written.
Committee member Baruso seconded. Motion passed.
Portable Toilet Services Contract Amendment
Staff Gerwen provided the background information. The Parks Department utilizes Sani-cans in various
Parks and special events. There are currently 13 Sani-cans in the Parks system. Due to Covid-19 the restroom facilities were closed so staff had to increase the number of units at various park locations and the
frequency of servicing. Committee member Baruso moved to forward the proposed Amendment to the
October 20, 2020 consent agenda for approval. Committee member Assefa-Dawson seconded. Motion passed.
Thundering Oak Enterprises Contract Amendment for Tree Services
Staff Gerwen provided the background information. The Parks Department contracts with a certified
arborist for tree services. The provide tree removal, assessments of hazardous trees and write letters on the
City’s behalf. The city has been experiencing an increase in calls regarding dangerous or down trees on city
properties. Parks staff will handle tree calls in-house if they are able to do so. Committee member Assefa-
Dawson moved to forward the proposed Amendment to the October 20, 2020 consent agenda for
approval. Committee member Baruso seconded. Motion passed. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance FY20 Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental
Funding Program
Commander Schwann provided the background information. The Department of Justice awarded funding
through the Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance for law enforcement reimbursement and equipment
due to Coronovirus. The total amount of funding that the Federal Way Police Department will receive is $132,455.00. The funding will be used primarily to purchase IT equipment so that essential employees can
continue to work remotely from home. They will be purchasing laptops and docking stations. Committee
member Baruso moved to forward the DOJ Funding Program to the October 20, 2020 Council consent agenda for approval. Committee member Assefa-Dawson seconded. Motion passed.
PARKS, RECREATION, HUMAN SERVICES & PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
Tuesday, October 13, 2020 Summary
Page 2
Valley Narcotics Enforcement Team (VNET) / U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force Agreements
Chief Hwang provided the background information. The Department is seeking approval to continue their
agreement with the Valley Narcotics Enforcement Team (VNET). This is a multi-jurisdictional Task Force that is supervised and managed by the DEA. There is a large problem of drug trafficking in the country that
is responsible for a large amount of the violence and crime. This task force is very critical for the region. A
Commissioned Officer is assigned to the DEA Task Force and this agreement pays for the reimbursement
of overtime for this Officer. The Commissioned Officer is rotated every five years. Committee member Assefa-Dawson moved to forward the proposed Agreement to the October 20, 2020 Council consent
agenda for approval. Committee member Baruso seconded. Motion passed.
Valley Independent Investigation Team Agreement (VIIT) Chief Hwang provided the background information. In approximately 2012 several agencies created the
Valley investigation Team (VIT). This was established so that South King County Agencies would not investigate their own officer’s use of deadly force. Whenever there is a shooting the VIT is activated to
conduct the investigation. In 2019 the state of Washington enacted RCW 10.114.011. This statute requires
an independent investigation to determine whether the use of deadly force meets the good faith standard
established by Washington law. After the investigation is done it’s forwarded to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for their review and they will determine if there will be any criminal charges. The VIT has changed their name to the Valley Independent Investigation Team (VIIT) and the Department
is seeking approval to formally enter into an agreement with these jurisdictions to conduct independent
officer involved shootings. Each jurisdiction dedicates four officers and a commander. Committee member Baruso moved to forward the proposed Agreement to the October 20, 2020 Council consent agenda
for approval. Committee member Assefa-Dawson seconded. Motion passed.
Resolution: Pooling Funding between South King Housing and Homelessness Partners (SKHHP)
Cities Related to Affordable and Supportive Housing – Sales and Use Tax (RCW 82.14.540) as Authorized by Substitute House Bill (SHB) 1406 Staff Bridgeford provided the background information. SKHHP is a group that was established to coordinate efforts in South King County on homelessness and affordable housing. It consists on nine cities
and King County. House Bill 1406 provided an opportunity for jurisdictions to recapture a portion of the
existing sales tax. In 2019 the City Council passed an Ordinance that authorizes a recapture of sales tax to
support affordable housing for those at or below 60% of the area median income. In early 2020 the City Council enacted a Resolution to support to pool funds provided all other member cities also agreed to pool funds. Due to the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic two smaller cities directed these funds to
rental assistance. The resolution that was passed earlier this year was very specific that all cities had to
pool their funds. This new resolution will allow the City of Federal Way and other SKHHP member cities
the ability to pool funds without having to create new resolutions any time that the percentage being pooled changes. Pooling funds will have greater potential to leverage other public and private funds. An Interlocal
agreement will be entered into by SKHHP cities agreeing to pool funds and will contain details of how
projects will be prioritized with the cities providing funds. Committee member Assefa-Dawson moved to
forward the proposed resolution to the consent agenda for approval. Committee member Baruso seconded. Motion passed.
South King Housing and Homelessness Partners (SKHHP) 2021 Budget
Staff Bridgeford presented the background information. This budget is in accordance with the Interlocal
agreement that the City has entered into with SKHHP. This will allow SKHHP to implement their
workplan. The cost to the City is $26,000. Committee member Baruso moved to forward the proposed
SKHHP 2021 Budget tot the October 20, 2020 consent agenda for approval. Committee member
Assefa-Dawson seconded. Motion passed.
PARKS, RECREATION, HUMAN SERVICES & PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
Tuesday, October 13, 2020 Summary
Page 3
South King Housing and Homelessness Partners (SKHHP) 2021 – 2022 Workplan
Staff Bridgeford provided the background information. The workplan is divided into three areas: 1)
Governance and administration which includes the start-up procedures and budget development. 2) Policy
and planning this includes establishing a SKHHP Housing Capital Fund and inventorying affordable housing vulnerable to market pressures. 3) Outreach and Education includes representing South King
County at local and regional forums. The workplan is consistent with the SKHHP Interlocal agreement.
Committee member Assefa-Dawson moved to forward the proposed SKHHP 2021-2022 Workplan to the October 20, 2020 consent agenda for approval. Committee member Baruso seconded. Motion passed.
Other
Council President Honda stated that the Council gets questions regarding the homeless camps and
population in Federal Way. She requested a quarterly update from staff regarding where the camps are
located, are they being cleaned up, how big the camps are etc. It would help the City Council if they had
accurate information. Staff Bridgeford answered that this is a question that would be better suited for the Police Department and Chief Hwang. Staff Bridgeford is not involved with encampments and the Police
coordinates with social services to for outreach services.
Community Forum: Council President Honda stated that the Mayor started a forum for Black and African
Americans and there is a Korean Quarterly meeting. Both forums are very different; the Korean Quarterly meetings provides information regarding things that are happening in the city. The African-American Black
Community forum is a new forum and will develop over time. She inquired if the Council would be
interested in any other Community forums. Committee member Assefa-Dawson would like to have a forum
for the immigrant population. Council President Honda and Committee member Baruso have both served on the Diversity Commission and have tried to put together a forum in the past and the largest difficulties was advertising and the format – there needs to be an objective. Chair Kochmar stated she was concerned
about staff time. She also suggested talking with local churches to see if there is a need in the community.
It’s important to be fair to all community groups and not leave anybody out. Council president Honda will
speak with the Mayor about staff time. This will be discussed at a meeting in early 2021.
NEXT REGULAR MEETING November 10, 2020
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 6:28p.m.