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HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM III-BA UBURN WASHINGTON DRAFT PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE October 13, 2008 MINUTES CALL TO ORDER - 5:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBERS Chair Lynn Norman called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m. in the Council Chambers located on the first floor of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, WA. Committee members present were: Chair Lynn Norman, Vice-Chair Nancy Backus and Member Rich Wagner. Staff members present included: Mayor Peter Lewis, Planning Director, Cindy Baker, Parks, Arts & Recreation Director Daryl Faber, Assistant Director Planning Kevin Snyder, Economic Development Planner Al Hicks, City Attorney Dan Heid, Human Services Manager Michael Hursh, and Assistant Planning Secretary Carolyn Brown. Audience Members included: Jim Kleinbeck, Robert Whale, Bud Schorr, Judy Schorr, Wayne Osborne Assistant Director Planning, Building and Community was Kevin Snyder was introduced. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Member Backus moved to approve the minutes from the September 22, 2008 meeting as submitted, seconded by Member Wagner. Chair Norman concurred. Minutes approved unanimously 3-0. III. ACTION A. Resolution No. 4407 Human Services Manager Michael Hursh presented the request to adopt the southend A Regional Coalition of Housing (ARCH) interlocal agreement. This item was moved up to go first on the agenda. Draft interlocal Mr. Hursh stated the City Council has wanted to establish an entity to serve as a basis to discuss housing issues especially affordable housing issues. Nothing to take the power of the City and not a financial agreement. Mr. Hursh stated the resolution is similar to an agreement used by 15 cities on the eastside of the county, but Auburn would like to do something a little different in the south end of the county. The ARCH for the south end includes the cities of Auburn, Algona, Enumclaw Federal Way and Pacific which have met to discuss and would like to manage and reclaim some of the properties to help residents with affordable housing. HUD has released $3.9 billion for Community Revitalization Act. The State of Washington received $28 million and has not yet determined how to disperse the funds. The south end group will be a coalition of 5 cities coming together as one group to discuss with the state various problems. Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes October 13, 2008 Member Wagner asked Mr. Hursh if the ARCH was measured after the east side ARCH agreement. Mr. Hursh said it was. Discussed the power of the executive board and taking on debt. Discussed how eastside is not taking on the task of being an owner of properties. Discussed dues and how assessment will have to come back to the City Council. Member Wagner would like the City to have Risk Management take a close look at the liability issue and come back to the PCDC with some answers. Discussed other issues of liability, alternative member selection and how that is designated. There are other minor changes in wording that will be corrected. Member Backus moved to forward Resolution No. 4407 to City Council, Member Wagner seconded, with the expectation of answers within the next month. Chair Norman concurred. Motion was approved 3-0. B. Resolution No. 4403 Parks, Arts & Recreation Director Daryl Faber presented the information on a resolution for acceptance of a "4Culture" grant in the amount of $17,000. Member Backus moved to forward Resolution No. 4403 on to full Council for approval; seconded by Member Wagner. Chair Norman concurred. Motion was approved unanimously 3-0. C. Resolution No. 4404 Parks, Arts & Recreation Director Daryl Faber presented the information on a resolution regarding the dedication and naming of the new Lakeland Hills park as "Dorothy Bothell Park". The naming of the new park was reviewed by the Parks Board and their recommendation was that the park be named after Dorothy Bothell. Member Backus moved to forward Resolution No. 4403 on to full Council for approval; seconded by Member Wagner. Chair Norman concurred. Motion was approved unanimously 3-0. D Resolution No. 4406 Parks, Arts & Recreation Director Daryl Faber provided a resolution to move forward the contract agreement with Virginia Paquette (Community Center public artist) to full City Council. The Committee members discussed the budgeted amount. The City Council directed the amount to be $85,000. Chair Norman wanted to note that the City is appreciative of the artist working with the City and adjusting as needed. Member Backus moved to forward Resolution No. 4403 on to full Council for approval; seconded by Member Wagner. Chair Norman concurred. Motion was approved unanimously 3-0. Page 2 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes October 13, 2008 IV DISCUSSION A. Theater Plan Report from Bud Schorr of Barnett Schorr Architects on the proposal for the Auburn Avenue Theatre. Mr. Schorr presented a pre-design study, a concept and what was possible and apply the cost to what was selected. Initially the partners worked with staff to find what was desired by the City. Mr. Schorr distributed an overview. Discussed the possibilities of the theater as a place to meet. Discussed the changes in the interior of the theater. Discussed the budget as of February, 2008. Prices today could be a little lower, but materials are still high. The City could explore the possibility of using the site for conferencing. The building could be eligible for government grants for a historical building. Also culture grants could be applied for use in updating the sound system. The Committee discussed the possibility of purchasing the building next door or a portion of it for stage amenities. B. Multi-Family Tax Abatement Economic Development Planner Al Hicks led the discussion concerning changes in the Washington State Statute permitting a property tax exemption for multi-family housing in urban centers. Mr. Hicks noted that in 2007 the legislature rewrote the ordinance. The ordinance emphasizes affordable housing rather then redevelopment. Mr. Hicks said at the direction of the Planning & Community Development Committee, staff contacted the City of Charleston, because they were believed to utilize different income criteria for different neighborhoods Charleston was found to use the same criteria as other cities using federal funds. Mr. Hicks provided a matrix from the City of Charleston showing the programs implemented by the City and the income requirements. If non-federal funding is involved, the funding entity can establish its own standards. Mr. Hicks stated he will do more research on the program. The Members discussed the matrix that was included in the packet. Also, discussed to have affordable housing that will be an asset to the community. Mayor Lewis stated that the City needs to start drafting an ordinance. City Attorney Dan Heid said the City will have to comply with state requirements Mayor Lewis would like to see staff bring an eight year ordinance to City Council right away and then have the City Council work on a 12 year ordinance. The Planning and Community Development Committee agreed they would like to see a model ordinance right away. C. Code Update Project. Assistant Planning Director Kevin Snyder presented a report from planning staff on Code Update Project. Mr. Snyder said this project is a priority for the City Council and underlying with 3 key goals. 1.) Easier readability and more user friendly, 2.) More visually oriented and more graphics, 3.) Increased coordination between different sections of the zoning code. Another goal is to develop internal between staff and external consistency, such as with state and regional agencies. Mr. Snyder added the thought is to always keep one person as point of contact through the entire process of an application or permit. With customer service and code as the main focus. Page 3 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes October 13, 2008 Mr. Snyder added another goal is revitalize the content of the code and to get away from vague terms and processes. The goal is to be more efficient and there will be significant modifications to the content. Planning is working with Public Works and with the Design Standards. The City has contracted with BHC Consultants to help with this project and there will be a staff member in house 2 days a week. Also the City will engage in the formation of a community advisory group of about 34. Mr. Snyder stated the group would like to have the first community meeting around the end of October and probably during the day. Staff will be calling people to poll the date and time. Discussed having a half day time frame. Mr. Snyder said staff will work on an agenda and will be working on a weekly basis. He will bring product back to the committee and the advisory group. Another goal is for staff to hold public workshops in early December and January and would like to bring to the City Council by mid March. The Members would like to see the code not be open to interpretation, but yet give the Director the ability to make decisions .. Ms. Baker added staff is going to address the variance process. Staff will look at the intent and what the code is meant to state. A. Fenster Park Update Parks, Arts & Recreation Director Daryl Faber provided pictures showing the work being done along the Green River. The levee along the water is gone and has been replaced with woody debris for salmon habitat. Volunteers are coming to the site to plant riparian and aquatic plants. The end result will be a passive park with a walk to view salmon, and picnic tables. To the north there will eventually be a bridge to the Green River trail (8th NE), and south and east to the Green River Bridge. IV. INFORMATION A. Director's Official Decisions and Report • Birding Tower. Ms. Baker said the birding tower went out to bid October 7, but the City did not receive any qualified bids. Staff will make some adjustments and give applicants longer to respond. The plan is for completion is year B. PCDC Status Matrix • Chair Norman noted there have been a few updates and the matrix will be adjusted during the agenda meeting. C. Information None. V. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Planning and Community Development Committee, Chair Norman adjourned the meeting at 6:54 p.m. APPROVED THIS DAY OF Page 4 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes October 13, 2008 Lynn Norman, Chair Carolyn Brown, Assistant Planning Secretary Page 5