Council Says Yes to YEAS

The Enumclaw City Council voted unanimously on Monday to authorize the Your Enumclaw Area Stadium (YEAS) Committee to proceed in reconstruction of the footfall field at the Expo Center.

According to the YEAS Committee, the goal is to create an all-weather synthetic multi-sports turf surface field that will benefit many local community sporting events, especially since natural turf fields become damaged and unplayable in the fall and winter months -- the most active time of the year for field sport programs.

Community Development Director Erika Shook said at a Council meeting that the city has currently has received two grants for this project: a $300,000 grant from the state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), and a $75,000 grant from King County Youth Sports Facilities. The RCO grant was uncertain, Shook said at the time, and depended on actions by the state Legislature. On Monday, Shook reiterated that the project was recommended for an RCO grant.

The city was looking to work with the school district to take over management of the grants in exchange for leasing the field, Shook had said earlier.

Councilman Jeff Beckwith was concerned about proceeding with the construction without a formal lease agreement in place with the school district. City Administrator Mike Thomas answered that Monday's action would simply represent a formal approval of the project by the city, as the property owner.

Shook elaborated  that approval meant the city was giving consent to proceed with reviewing and issuing permits; fees would likely be waived as the city generally doesn't charge itself permit fees. Prior to any work beginning, however, Thomas said, a construction agreement is still needed between YEAS and the city. This agreement also gives the city the right to mitigate the impacts of construction during Expo Center events, Shook said.

Councilman Richard Elfers asked about the language of the resolution pertaining to this project with identified YEAS as a 'non-profit organization' rather than a 'non-profit corporation' and what implications that may have for liability. City Attorney Mike Reynolds replied that the chosen wording here means that if for some reason YEAS is not able to complete the project, the individuals of the organization could be held liable.

This resolution also held the city harmless from any out of pocket costs; Shook explained this was to protect the city from unanticipated costs rather than those associated with any matching grants such as the King County Youth Sports Facilities Grant -- a concern brought to light by YEAS committee member Jeff Coats.

The YEAS Committee itself has also received a $200,000 NFL Grassroots Grant in support of this renovation project.

Score for Public Works

Public Works Directory Chris Searcy presented good news to Council in that his department was able to meet conditions set forth in a settlement agreement with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) six months ahead of schedule.

The city of Enumclaw was hit by a complaint from UTC staff in February 2009 related to about 550 incidents following a number of inspections beginning in 2008, he said. The complaint stipulated the incidents -- largely related to problems with the city's unprotected steel service lines as well as out-of-date records, maps and various documents --  could have cost the city up to $11 million in penalties.

All conditions in the settlement agreement, which was reached in August 2009, were met by February 15 of this year -- six months ahead of schedule. 

Searcy praised his staff and in particular the work of Ed Hawthorne, the city's natural gas utility manager. "It put us in a position from being rather embarrassed ... to being quite proud of where we're at," Searcy said.

And the cycle starts anew as today, March 29, marks the beginning of the next round of standard inspections, but the department is meeting them with renewed confidence, he said.

The department will continue to update maps, upkeep compliance schedules and get processes in line with federal regulations, Searcy said. It is also looking to improve technology and efficiency as well as removing above ground regulator hazards along State Route 164.

More Time for Library

Beckwith, in delivering the Community Services Committee report that included mention of the current , suggested that perhaps something similar could be put out to the public regarding the .

It would be a better way to gauge community opinion on whether or not they feel annexation into the King County Library System (KCLS) would be the best course of action or if they'd be willing to entertain and pay for a levy lid lift, he said.

"We have the luxury of time now," he said.

Councilmen Sean Krebs and Jim Hogan supported the idea of giving the public more opportunity for input, citing a need for due diligence as well as to clarify any misinformation currently out in the community.

Krebs also pointed out that the council has an outstanding resolution that specifies its desire to continue with annexation. Following Thomas' report that KCLS was not interested in another election in 2011, Krebs suggested that that resolution be discussed at the next council meeting and possibly brought down for the year.

Thomas indicated that city staff could put together a public survey but needed clear direction from council regarding how they wanted to proceed -- to continue with annexation or pull back.

Beckwith said he'd wait to see what happens with the outstanding resolution is brought forth at the next meeting. 

Hogan suggested putting the Library Board, which has been vocal in its disapproval of the initial annexation process, in a more prominent role to better engage the public. Elfers said he was surprised the board never did give council a formal recommendation for how to proceed the last time around.

Thomas said the city would have information available today that both city and KCLS staff had put together regarding the transfer of library employees should the city have moved forward with annexation. At present, Patch couldn't locate that information on the city website. 

In other news:

• Beckwith put for a request for city staff to draw up a budget amendment for review at the next meeting that would fund the Chamber of Commerce $3,000 this year for lease of city property; there did not appear to be opposition. Budget discussions in the past had indicated the city was not going to charge the Chamber for rent in 2011 since they did not receive city funds this year. However, that decision was never put in writing. With this proposed budget amendment, the Chamber would then only be responsible for the $31.35 monthly state excise tax.
• King County Councilman Reagan Dunn addressed the City Council and offered updates from the county including:
  • the county had to cut $60 million from its general fund
  • the county is down to 28 deputies and about 16 deputy prosecutors; there are now about 0.65 officers per 1,000 residents
  • the county has no budget for the King County Fair but both he and County Executive Dow Constantine were committed to finding a solution for the fair