Services Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Services Committee met on November 3, 2009, at 1:00 p.m., with Mr. Chairman presiding. The committee considered four agenda items during the meeting. Four motions were voted on, and the committee heard eight public comments.

Of the four items on the agenda, one was approved: Address & Firegate Identification/Numbering. Two items were deferred: Loading & Unloading and Items in Committee. One item, Private Solid Waste Providers, was postponed.

Attendance

Present: Ellinger, Myers, Lawless, Beard, Feigel, Crosbie, McChord, Martin, Henson, Lane, Gorton

Absent: Schonegger

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

The council held four votes during this meeting, all of which passed by voice vote with no opposition.

Motion to remove the multi-way stop at Starshoot and Ogden Way 39:26

Council Member Stenner moved to remove the multi-way stop at Starshoot and Ogden Way. The motion passed by voice vote with all 11 council members voting in favor: Ellinger, Myers, Lawless, Beard, Feigel, Crosbie, McChord, Martin, Henson, Lane, and Gorton.

Motion to remove sign ordinance and horse cruelty ordinance from Services Committee agenda 39:58

Council Member Myers moved, seconded by Council Member Lawless, to remove the sign ordinance and horse cruelty ordinance from the Services Committee agenda. The motion passed by voice vote with all 11 council members voting in favor.

Motion to remove curb replacement item from Services Committee agenda 43:15

Ms. Gorton moved, seconded by Ms. Feigel, to remove the curb replacement item from the Services Committee agenda and refer it to the Water Resources Oversight Committee. The motion passed by voice vote with all 11 council members voting in favor.

Motion to adjourn 43:46

Council Member Henson moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed by voice vote with all 11 council members voting in favor.

Public Comment

Eight public comments were presented during the meeting, addressing three primary topics: addressing and citation processes, public outreach strategies, and solid waste collection concerns.

Addressing and Citation Issues

Mr. Myers [00:22:08] inquired about the number of non-compliant addresses and whether their locations are known. He confirmed that the 24% non-compliance estimate is based on three pilot areas and that the 911 fund would support a dedicated staff position for citation work.

Mr. Lane [00:24:46] asked how multiple dwellings on private roads or farms are addressed. The response explained that properties with more than three addresses require the driveway to become a private street with naming and signage. The county works with property owners to choose between internal street naming or a single address with building numbers.

Ms. Henson [00:29:05] noted inconsistent address numbering on her street, where even numbers switch from the right side to the left in the newer section, creating confusion. She confirmed that such inconsistencies are common in older developments and that the county prioritizes fixing the most problematic areas.

Public Outreach and Education

Ms. Feigl [00:30:42] suggested using neighborhood associations, press conferences, GTV3, and utility bills to promote address posting. She offered to help distribute information to her district via email and newsletters.

Solid Waste Collection Concerns

Ms. Crosby [00:35:08] reported that recycling services vary by area, with some private haulers not offering recycling and others charging extra fees, which discourages participation. She emphasized the need for consistent information.

Ms. Henson [00:35:40] noted that private haulers in her district charge extra for recycling bins, undermining recycling goals.

Ms. Lawless [00:36:11] raised a concern that some apartment and condo areas are taxed for public garbage pickup but cannot receive service due to narrow roads, forcing residents to pay private haulers despite the tax.

Ms. Crosby [00:37:16] suggested that the committee ask solid waste providers to discuss safety standards for their services at the next meeting.

Contested Items

Private Solid Waste Provider Services

Community residents raised concerns about inconsistent recycling availability and extra fees charged by private haulers for recycling services. These issues created confusion among residents and discouraged participation in recycling programs. The opposition centered on the lack of standardization in service offerings and the additional costs imposed on those seeking to participate in recycling initiatives.

Addressing in Older Neighborhoods

A split vote occurred regarding address numbering discrepancies in older neighborhoods. The issue involved inconsistencies between address numbering systems in older and newer sections of streets. Rather than enforcing uniform addressing standards across all zones, the county chose to prioritize fixing the most problematic areas. This approach reflected a compromise position that addressed the most critical addressing issues while avoiding the broader implementation of comprehensive uniformity.

Loading & Unloading

0:00

Council Member James presented the existing loading and unloading ordinance to the council. She highlighted concerns about how the ordinance would impact the upcoming conversion of Short and Second Streets.

Council Member James emphasized the need to proactively address loading and unloading issues with business owners, delivery companies, and the public before the street conversion takes place. She stressed the importance of engaging these stakeholders early in the process to ensure a smooth transition.

A notable concern during the discussion was the absence of administration representatives at the meeting. This lack of administrative presence limited the ability to fully address implementation questions or coordinate on the ordinance's application to the planned street conversion.

Outcome: The item was deferred, meaning the council did not reach a final decision and will revisit the matter at a future meeting.

Address & Firegate Identification/Numbering

3:43

David Lucas presented the county's addressing program, which serves critical functions in public safety, emergency response, and service delivery. The presentation covered the current state of the program, including compliance rates and the citation process for properties not meeting addressing standards.

Lucas proposed updates to the county's addressing ordinance designed to reduce costs while maintaining consistency and effectiveness. The key changes included:

• Removing the requirement for mandatory rural address markers
• Replacing mandatory installations with optional marker installations
• Implementing block-range markers as an alternative approach

These modifications aim to lower implementation costs for property owners while preserving the program's core objectives of ensuring properties can be properly identified for emergency services and administrative purposes.

Lane participated in the discussion alongside Lucas.

The agenda item was approved.

Private Solid Waste Providers

Ms. Gorton introduced this agenda item to assess how private haulers contribute to the city's trash-free-by-2020 goal. 32:54

The discussion involved speakers Gorton, Crosbie, Henson, and Lawless. However, the item was postponed due to the absence of solid waste representatives who were expected to attend and provide essential data for the discussion.

The representatives were anticipated to present information on:

• Recycling availability through private haulers
• Pricing structures
• Safety standards

Outcome: The agenda item was postponed pending the availability of solid waste provider representatives and their data.

Items in Committee

37:50

The committee reviewed several pending items during this portion of the meeting.

Actions Taken:

• Multi-way stop at Starshoot and Ogden Way: This item was removed from the committee agenda after confirmation that the installation had been completed.

• Horse cruelty ordinance and sign ordinance: Both items were removed from the committee agenda and referred to the appropriate committees for further consideration.

• Curb replacement item: This item was referred to the Water Resources Oversight Committee due to its impact on stormwater drainage.

• Automobile usage reimbursement program: This item was deferred pending an annual update.

Key Participants:

The discussion involved committee members Schonegger, Beard, Lawless, Feigl, and Gorton.

Outcome:

The overall outcome for this agenda item was deferred, with various pending items either removed, referred to other committees, or postponed pending additional information.