02-26-2022 Council Minutes - Special (Retreat)CITY of
Federal Wa
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CITY COUNCIL
2022 Annual Council Retreat Summary
City Hall/ Council Chambers*
*remote attendance option was available via zoom
February 26, 2022 — 8:30 a.m.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ferrell called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.
City officials in attendance: Mayor Jim Ferrell, Council President Linda Kochmar, Deputy Mayor Susan
Honda, Councilmember Lydia Assefa-Dawson, Councilmember Erica Norton, Councilmember Hoang
Tran, Councilmember Jack Walsh, and Councilmember Jack Dovey.
City staff in attendance: City Attorney Ryan Call and City Clerk Stephanie Courtney.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Ferrell led the flag salute.
3. WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS
Clerk's Note: A detailed report prepared by the facilitator Andrew Ballard is attached to this summary
as Exhibit A.
4. ICE BREAKERS
5. CITY COUNCIL VISION STATEMENT
6. REVIEW & REVISE TOP PRIORITIES/COUNCIL GOALS
Mr. Ballard recessed the meeting at 9:53 a.m.; the meeting reconvened at 10:07 a.m.
7. PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS
A discussion on Public Safety was led by Police Chief Andy Hwang.
8. HUMAN SERVICES
A discussion on Human Services was led by Community Services Manager Sarah
Bridgeford.
Mr. Ballard recessed the meeting at 11:55 a.m.; the meeting reconvened at 12:24 p.m.
Federal Way City Council Retreat Summary Minutes Page 1 of 2
February 26, 2022
9. COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE
A discussion on proposed amendments to the Council Rules was led by City Attorney Ryan
Call.
10. BUDGET OVERVIEW
Finance Director Steve Groom led a discussion, providing information on the city budget.
Mr. Ballard recessed the meeting at 1:46 p.m.; the meeting reconvened at 1:58 p.m.
11. DOWNTOWN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
A discussion regarding Downtown Economic Development was led by Planning Manager
Keith Niven.
12. TECH -HUB UPDATE
A discussion regarding the status of becoming a Tech -Hub was led by Economic
Development Director Tim Johnson.
13. WRAP-UP
Closing Comments by Mayor Ferrell, Council President Kochmar, Deputy Mayor Honda and City
Councilmembers.
14. ADJOURNMENT
There being nothing further on the agenda; Mayor Ferrell adjourned the special meeting at 3:21
p.m.
Attest:
to hanie Courtney, C
City Clerk
Approved by Council: 6q,(q_1oW
Federal Way City Council Retreat Summary Minutes Page 2 of 2
February 26, 2022
EXHIBIT A
City of Federal Way
Council Planning Retreat Report
February 26, 2022
Prepared by
MARKETINGSOLUTIONS
L4 research -based growth strategies
EXHIBIT A
Vision
Below are revision recommendations for the City's current Vision Statement -
Do not want to tie "ideal lifestyle" only to tech hub.
Everybody's definition of "ideal lifestyle" may be different.
Use "attracts" families and businesses.
Remove tech hub, or put it at the end.
> Use a more inclusive term instead of tech hub.
We want our citizens to want to stay.
* Maybe include "quality of place."
Or, proud to call Federal Way our home.
Council 2020 Goals Revisions
Goal # 1
> Consider also adding reducing expenses as a b. element under the goal.
> a. Grants are not always sustainable.
> Add c. Find creative ways to reduce costs, or finding better ways of doing
business.
> d. Incorporate inflation and recession in our conversation.
— Prepare for economic challenges.
— Reduce impact on our residents.
> Note. There is a conflict between increase and decrease.
Goal # 2
> Address homelessness and drug use.
c. Remove felony court (public safety).
> Add, increase and retain our police force.
Add social workers and mental health professionals.
Add work with community organizations for youth.
Goal # 3
• Add recruiting tech businesses to Federal Way.
> Add completing broadband study with recommendation.
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EXHIBIT A
Outreach to colleges, for educational opportunities, e.g. UWT, and or fund it and
become the education tech hub.
Look at zoning and tax breaks.
Work with the school district.
Add public markets to attract our community.
Goal # 4
Need to address families, not just individuals, through an outreach program for
families living in cars.
Proactively engage community centers to plug gaps in the safety net.
Include childcare as part of the solution.
Look at prevention measures.
Include coordinated entry with navigators.
* Don't lump all homeless people in the same bucket —there is a difference
between street people and those with home insecurity.
Look for faith -based communities as partners for solutions, that are proactive.
Education programs.
Prosecute related crimes.
Goal #5
Remove this goal.
Discussion Suggestions
Public Safety Concerns (Agenda Item #7)
> GPS to track popular stolen cars, with ARPA funds to refund purchases.
ARPA funding for businesses with broken windows.
Work with Metro and Sound Transit for additional security at the end of the
line, paid for by Sound Transit.
> Contact King County officials for help with resolutions to address Federal Way
Issues Ordinance.
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EXHIBIT A
Human Services (Agenda Item #8)
Discuss Human Services funding allocation for better balance.
Presentation of all funders and additional funding for Human Services.
Possibly get a grant writer for Human Services.
Explore if the City wants to be a service provider.
Downtown Economic Development (Agenda Item # 11)
Establish a City delegation to approach and negotiate with developers.
Review, and maybe update, zoning for downtown... such as TC3.
Establish a vision for the future of downtown.
> Reach out to developers such as Point Ruston, and use them as a model.
Tech -hub Update (Agenda Item # 12)
> Parking garage with a hotel opportunity and retail.
> Ownership of the Sound Transit property.
Parking Lot
Proposition 1 tax increase to increase officers.
> Council presentation on public markets.
> Add nightlife so people want to live and stay.
> We need more accurate data on homelessness issues.
> Discuss McNeil Island as a rehabilitation center for the homeless.
> Develop Faith Centered property.
> New goal: Redevelop the downtown area with the Sound Transit property.
> Negotiate with Sound Transit regarding jobs at OMF.
> We are the only metro area locally that does not have a cemetery.
> Have a study session on retreat topics.
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