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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-26-1999MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE APRIL 26, 1999 The regular meeting of the Planning and Community Development Committee was held April 26, 1999 in the Council Work Area. Those members in attendance were as follows: MEMBERS PRESENT: Trish Borden, Sue Singer, and Pete Lewis STAFF PRESENT: Paul Krauss, Bob Sokol, Diane Supler, Dick Deal, and Patti Zook ALSO PRESENT: Mayor Booth; Bob Frazier, Emerald Downs Racetrack; Cheryl Sallee, Sr. Center; Laura Hofferman, Miller Hull Architects The meeting was called to order by Committee Chair Borden at 6:30 p.m. PUBLIC HEARING: 1. WSC0016-98 - James Jones Chairman Borden opened the public hearing. Principal Planner Sokol'presented the staff report and distributed a revised agenda bill. He pointed out the changes made in the agenda bill. He reviewed the Findings of Fact contained in the report. He provided information on the temporary cul-de-sac. Staff recommends approval. Councilmember Lewis wanted to confirm that the road will be a cul-de-sac. Principal Planner Sokol confirmed that 118th Avenue SE will be constructed to the south property line ending in a temporary cul- de-sac. Chairman Borden asked how people buying homes will know that the road will eventually be a through street. Principal Planner Sokol explained that a temporary turn around will be in place. Councilmember Singer remarked that usually it is obvious that the road will be continued. Planning Director Krauss advised that in some other communities a barricade is placed at the end of the road with a sign indicating eventual extension plus notices are put into the title for adjoining parcels. The City can only ask King County to notify people that it will be a though street. It could be a provision of granting water that a condition be placed on the face of plat addressing this issue. Councilmember Lewis reminded Principal Planner Sokol that he wants to see a map of the entire annexation area. In reviewing the site plan, he saw potential problems with the plat because of the wetlands. Principal Planner Sokol agreed that there will be difficulties in developing the site because of the wetlands and also the area contains the headlands of Olson Canyon. There was no public comment; therefore, the public hearing was closed. Councilmember Lewis made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Singer, to recommend approval. Chairman Borden concurred. ACTION ITEM: 1. Amend Ordinance #4689 - Emerald Downs Racetrack Planning Director Krauss provided information on the kinds of previous special events held at the track, including car sales. Such activities did not warrant interference from the City, however, staff wants to legitimize/regulate these events. Recently the City received a request to allow a circus as a one time event at the track. Staffbelieves such an activity is an allowable use because it will not have any off-site impacts. Staff wants to amend the ordinance which approved the track to allow the City to approve various temporary events. PAGE 1 MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE APRIL 26~ 1999 Councilmember Lewis voiced that he did not have a problem with the proposed amendment. He recommended approval. Councilmember Singer wondered if it is worth staff's time and effort to get involved in approving the temporary events. Planning Director Krauss believes it is worth the nominal time and effort because it gives the City tools to review the request. If an event could be a potential problem, staffhas a process in place to deal with the issue. Mr. Frazier, representative for the Track, said that they would like to conduct as many temporary events as possible. He was unaware that car sales, etc., should have a temporary use permit. The events will mesh with the community. Chairman Borden wanted to know what distinguishes these events versus the motorcycle races. Planning Director Krauss advised there is a distinction because Council expressed concern about the posSible noise from the cycle races. If there are no adverse comments on the motorcycle racing in the future, then this approval could also be done administratively. Chairman Borden remarked that the Track is a very nice facility and should be utilized. She does not have a problem with the request and believes that the cycle races will prove to be okay as well. Councilmember Lewis made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Singer to recommend approval. Chairman Borden concurred. DISCUSSION ITEMS: 1. · Year 2000 Budget Goals Finance Director Supler distributed the revised goals to the Committee. She spoke briefly about the major projects including the 3rd Street ramp, library, Senior Center, and Endangered Species Act. She indicated going through the retreat proc. ess and reviewing the goal setting. The City should also consider a biennial budget process in the future. She mentioned the performance measures. She asked if the Committee wants a retreat to redo the goals, or stay with the goals into the year 2000, and then look at biannual budget in 2001. Councilmember Lewis informed Finance Director Supler that he wants to retain the present goals. Councilmember Singer remarked that some of the goals may be more long term than others. Finance Director Supler advised that many of the goals are multi-year goals. For goals related to the PCDC, Chairman Borden said the Committee should have discussions on the status of the goals. For the year 2000 budget, the City should push to have goals weighted more heavily or pushed harder so that the City is moving toward its goals. Finance Director Supler asked Chairman Borden if the Committee wanted to discuss this topic next month. The first of July is the start of the next budget process. Chairman Borden wants to reflect on where the City is, and if the City is moving far enough along. Councilmember Lewis concurred that he is thinking the same thing and wants to evaluate where the City is. He does not believe a retreat is necessary. Chairman Borden commented that there may be goals that staff might like to work on, but that staff might need some input from the Committee. Finance Director Supler advised that she met with the Public Works Committee. She stressed that staff is adaptable to the needs of the Council. She asked the Committee to review the handout and forward comments to her. PAGE 2 MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE APRIL 26, 1999 Continental Village and Valley Manor Planning Director Krauss provided background information on this. Both apartments are privately owned and located on F Street SE and south of Terminal Park. Both complexes suffer from numerous code violations in addition to other problems. Their rents are approximately $450 to $550 per month. He mentioned some of the types of deterioration at the complexes. About 10 to 12 of the units are completely uninhabitable. Both complexes are a significant blight, however, the surrounding properties are not that bad. The complexes receive a large number of police and fire calls. The residents are suffering from the conditions at the complexes. The residents are angry and have organized with the Tenants Union. The City has inspected the complexes, but enforcement efforts are not apparently designed to work with an uncooperative landlord. Planning Director Krauss advised that the complexes are owned by a very elderly lady and her son manages the complexes. The son has not made upgrades or even basic maintenance. King County Housing Authority has mandated repairs, but the repairs were not done correctly. Any repair work that is done is not done properly or well. He mentioned electric problems and mold problems in the apartments. A number of the units may be overcrowded. King County has also done some inspections. Planning Director Krauss remarked that the City, King County, and the State all have inspection responsibilities. There are judgments against the landlords for failure to fix the complexes. There are legitimate concerns that if the buildings are condemned, then several hundred people could become homeless. The City and King County have been approached by the tenants and have received written requests from the residents to inspect. The Fire Department has also inspected the complexes. Staffhas met with King County agencies to develop a strategy to deal with the many issues. Planning Director Krauss advised that staff is working on a strategy for the City and County to invest money in the property, but definitely not with the current owners as managers. Staff and the County have met with the owner and her son and laid out the strategy. The City and County could come up with money to undertake repairs so long as the owner was able to obtain permanent financing and match the repair fund. The property owners have a balloon payment coming up next year. We are proposing ownership to stay as long as they sign a contract to hire a private management firm. The management firm would collect rents and make repairs. The owners would have no ability to interfere. The City's money and King County's money would be CDBG funds. He spoke about a 'zero' interest loan to the owners. The dispersal of money for the contractors would be through the management company so that the owners would not have access to the funds. The owners would be the mortgage holders. This idea is very tentative because the lenders have to line up. If structured in such a way with government funds coming, the strategy is less volatile. If this fails, the situation of the residents will probably deteriorate very rapidly. The owner will not likely be able to get refinancing on his own. Planning Director Krauss wanted the Committee to know about the situation because the Council may have to reappropriate CDBG funds. The City has CDBG funds which need to be spent. He reviewed some of the conditions attached to utilizing the CDBG funds. He spoke with Parks & Recreation Director Deal about buying playground equipment for Terminal Park. Staff is also considering the senior center because the funds must be committed now. Staff will know in the next 30-40 days exactly what is happening with the complexes. Staff are trying to come up with creative ways to resolve these issues. Councilmember Lewis spoke regarding the zero down loan which is hard to engineer because there are certain laws relating to how it is funded. He stressed the difficulty of keeping the money out of the property owners' hands. Planning Director Krauss is not sure that the Maddens, the property owners, understand the seriousness of the situation. He stressed that a plan has to be structured so that the owner signs the check over to the management company who will disperse. Councilmember Lewis advised that the plan would be structured PAGE 3 MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE APRIL 26, 1999 like debt owed, with the funds wire transferred, so the property owners never have access. Planning Director Krauss said another.option is to see if King County wants another housing project, but this idea is unappealing because it takes the complexes offthe City's tax rolls. A discussion occurred on the best case scenario, funding involved, funds involved in refinance, and the retum of expended funds to the City. Chairman Borden asked what happens to the residents if the buildings are renovated, and could the rents be raised. Planning Director Krauss said that the rents could be raised over time, however there will be limitations for several years. King County has stated that the owners must roll back the recent rent increase. The owner would be obligation to do relocation which the City would monitor. He presented a possible scenario for this. Councilmember Lewis affirmed that the City must do something otherwise the buildings will continue to deteriorate and families could become homeless. A discussion occurred of the King County rental rehabilitation program and how it might apply to this situation. Conversion of Existing Library to Senior Center Parks & Recreation Director Deal used an overhead to show the layout of Les Gove Park and pointed out the location of the new library, the existing museum, existing library, existing senior center and future community center. He pointed out the YMCA and ACAP Day Care. He spoke with the YMCA Director regarding a trail connection because the agencies. The setting should be more of a "campus" setting. He gave a brief history of the bond issue for the community center and the failure of the bond. Miller-Hull Architects were asked to do an analysis of the existing library and if it could work as a senior center. Project Architect Hofferman described the building which is in fairly good shape and generally meets code. Th~ flat portion of the roof .may need some repairs because of standing water and this portion of the roof would be sloped to ease the drainage problem. She reviewed site issues and the need to create a relationship between the buildings and to open the building to the park. She mentioned improvements to the mm around by the north entrance for buses. They recommend that the canopy in front be demolished and replaced with a new canopy. She pointed out areas of expanded parking and they will discuss with the City how to lay out. There is a proposal to add onto the existing museum. Chairman Borden wondered about a distinct sidewalk through the area. Parks & Recreation Director Deal said they are looking at improved signage throughout the area. Chairman Borden expressed concern about people crossing the parking lots. Parks & Recreation Director Deal said they are also looking at connectivity of the buildings. Many seniors use Dart and Access bus systems. They are also reviewing lighted trails. Project Architect Hofferman then showed an overhead of the first floor plan and spoke about the feasibility study conducted in 1997. Parks & Recreation Director Deal likes the flexibility of having the partitions between the conference rooms in order to make rooms any size needed for a total of three meeting rooms for 300 people. Project Architect Hofferman pointed out the floor/ceiling glazed windows with doors to outdoor patios. She mentioned the heights of the ceilings in the different meeting rooms. A major feature of the facility is the commercial kitchen with laundry facilities and coolers. She then pointed out the art classroom; heath room; television room, game room, and the staff conference meeting room. Project Architect Hofferman then showed a colored drawing which depicted the building's elevation and pointed out the different features of the building. She described the kinds of building materials to be used. Chairman Borden asked if the building is surrounded on three sides by parking and no landscaping. Using the overhead, Project Architect Hofferman pointed out the parking areas and where there will be an opportunity for landscaping. They have not brought in a landscape architect yet. Councilmember Lewis PAGE 4 MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE APRIL 26, 1999 suggested that staff get the garden club involved to avoid hurt feelings that they were not involved in the project. Parks & Recreation Director Deal agreed to contact them. Councilmember Singer asked how the senior center will coordinate with the new library. Project Architect Hofferman explained the roof pattern and colors will be similar and both buildings will have entry canopies. Councilmember Singer suggested that the brick and color schemes also be similar. Councilmember Lewis agreed that there should be a common thread throughout the buildings. Parks & Recreation Director Deal advised that the buildings are of different brick now, but will be tied together with sidewalks, lighting, and landscaping. He understood the need to look at the buildings globally. Councilmember Lewis stressed the need to have features of the buildings in common that could be repeated in the different buildings. A decision on this needs to be made now while changes can still be made. Project Architect Hofferman advised that paint colors, etc., have not been selected and decisions are yet to be made, but they will look at the patterns and colors to see what can be made consistent between the buildings. Councilmember Singer wondered if the Council had voted on the senior center. Parks & Recreation Director Deal responded that cost estimating is going on now; they are not proceeding yet to construction drawings. They are trying to get an idea of what the building would look like. Technical staff have reviewed the building's structure, plumbing, electrical and HVAC to see if the proposal is possible. The cost is estimated to be 80 percent of what it would cost new. The Council will need to make decisions about how to proceed. He distributed a booklet entitled, Auburn Senior Center Renovation, April 8, 1999. Parks & Recreation Director Deal then showed an' overhead of the senior center renovation schematic design with cost information. It would be called a senior center, however it would provide services to other portions of the community because the rooms could be rented out for activities. Chairman Borden asked abt~ut the City's yearly income on rentals. Parks & Recreation Director Deal reminded the Committee of the recent adjustment on rental fees and another adjustment will be made. The rental fees is approximately $45,000 for the year, but it is not broken down for only the senior center. Councilmember Lewis believes this is a good figure to have in the future. With the anticipated larger rental space, it might be a good sales pitch for the senior center to Council and the community. Parks & Recreation Director Deal advised that the City's rental fees are still lower than rental fees in adjacent communities. The recent fee increase was considered incremental and they will be raised again. Parks & Recreation Director Deal remarked that the building is being designed so it can be used for emergency services and the building will be seismically safe and have a generator. FEMA might provide funds for building upgrades because of this. Planning Director Krauss spoke of the ability to utilize CDBG funds for the senior center. Councilmember Lewis likes the concept of the senior center very much. He commended staff on the good job. INFORMATION ITEM: 1. Article from Regional Agenda, Metropolitan King County Council No discussion on this item. With no further items to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m. PCDC~VlIN~4B-99 PAGE 5