Pierce County Council Meeting

Pierce County Council Meeting

August 1, 2017

Seven members were present at the meeting. The meeting started at 3:06.

Agenda was approved. 7-0. Item three on the consent agenda was moved to resolutions section 2017-79 because one of the appointees is present. The amended consent agenda passed unanimously 7-0.

There were two ordinances and four resolutions besides the consent agenda. There were no messages or proclamations.

Appointments

Proposal No. R2017-79, Appointments - Pierce County Veterans Advisory

Board

This board focuses on services for local indigentveterans. There are 7 members, majority of who must be from a national recognized veterans service association. Terms are staggered and are 4 years. The executive has appointed these 4 individuals.

Ms. Luna expressed her gratitude for being appointed. Her day job is with the South Sound Military Partnerships. She is already well acquainted with veterans services in the area. Her spouse is also veteran. She will look forward to using her background as TV broadcaster. Chair Richardson said there were 40 people interviewed for these positions and to look for a future resolution that expands the board to 11 members. The appointment was approved 7-0.

1.Proposal No. R2017-66, District No. 1 – In District Special Council Meeting

Council must conduct one meeting in each district each year and that these meetings are set by resolution. This District 1 meeting will be held on Thursday, August 31st 6:00pm.

2.Proposal No. R2017-75, Creating Committees to Prepare For and Against

Arguments for Charter Amendment No. 46 (Procedures for Filling Vacancies in

Nonpartisan Offices)

On July 18th, the Council placed the proposed amendments on the November ballot. Statue provides that the local jurisdictionsmust appoint not more than 3 members to committees to create theFor and Against language for the voter’spamphlet. The committee members must be residents and registered voters for the previous year, must have access to email, and must agree to working collaboratively. The nonpartisan offices in Pierce County are Sherriff, Auditor and Assessor/Treasurer. Deadline for appointing the committees is Friday August 4th.

Two names were added by amendment to fill the “For” Committee by voice vote.

Sheri Botwinkletestified that she would like to serve on the Against committee. An oral amendment to add her name passed by voice vote.Proposal was adopted as amended 7-0

3.Proposal No. R2017-77, Creating Committees to Prepare For and Against

Arguments for Charter Amendment No. 47 (Setting Limit on Terms for

Councilmembers to Three Consecutive 4-Year Terms)

On July 25th, the Council placed this proposal on the November ballot. Per statute the Council must create committees to write the voter pamphlet statements.

After an amendment to insert two names to the For Committee and two names to the Against Committee was introduced, two additional citizens asked to be appointed to the Against committee. By statute only 3 people can be on the committee. Chair Richardson pointed out that the committee members can consult with anyone in the development of the voter’s pamphlet wording. Council Member Pam Roach was a vocal proponent of having a balance number of people on the committees.

Citizen Ken Paulson who was named in the amendment to the Against committee, plus the two other citizens testified repeatedly that those who were present should be given preference, that Sheri Botwinkle one of the citizens is a well know advocate against term limits and that all three would be happy to serve.

There was a long procedural and emotional back and forth trying to decide who should be appointed to the committee.In the end the amendment passed as written and the proposal passed 6-1 (Council member D Roach voting no) with the original 4people confirmed for the committees. No additional names were added to the committees.

4. Proposal No. R2017-78, Creating Committees to Prepare For and Against

Arguments for Charter Amendment No. 48 (Nonpartisan Prosecutor)

A motion to postponeindefinitely passedunanimously.

VIII. Ordinances

1.Proposal No. 2017-28s, Low Impact Development

This proposal concerns surface water management and requiresthat LID be the preferred development method. The proposal modifies 7 different sections of statute. On June 19, the proposal was recommended by the Community Development committee. Anamendment passed unanimously that would change the current rules of having the planning department determine waivers for sidewalks, to a process that would have sidewalk development plans approved during the Community Plan update process.

Chris Wilky and Sophia Resler from Puget Sound Keeper Alliance testified in support of both the amendment regarding sidewalks and the entire LID proposal. They reminded the Council that these code changes were required by the Clean Air Act to be enacted by 2015 and therefore this propose is behind schedule. None the less they said that the proposal is a good start.

The LID proposal was approved 6-1 with Council Member McCune voting no.

2. Proposal No. 2017-36, Charter Amendment - Nonpartisan Prosecutor

A motion to postponedindefinitely passed unanimously.

XI. Citizen Forum:

Ken Paulson testified that he is concerned about wasting money on large buses that carry little or no passengers. When he talked to the Pierce Transit board, their analysis showed it would save money, but the explanation on why it was not feasiblewas not unsatisfactory.

Meeting evaluation: Questions on the Observer sheet regarding standards were positive. The meeting startedat 3:06 and adjourned 4:36pm.

8/1/17 ADM