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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-24-2001MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 24, 2001 The regular meeting of the Planning and Community Development Committee was held September 24, 2001 in the Council Work Area. Those members in attendance were as follows: MEMBERS PRESENT: Trish Borden, Sue Singer, and Fred Poe STAFF PRESENT: Zook Paul Krauss, JeffDixon, Mitzi McMahon, Shelley Coleman, Cheryl Sallee, and Patti ALSO PRESENT: Mayor Booth The meeting was called to order by Committee Chair Borden at 6:30 p.m. ACTION: 1. Ordinance 5589 - Contract with School's Out Consortium/YWCA Senior Center Supervisor Sallee presented the staff report and briefly described the program and funding. Councilmember Singer made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Poe to recommend approval. Chairman Borden concurred. 2. Planning Deparanent Budget Planning Director Krauss distributed summary sheets and said funds pass through for human services, and other inter-government agencies such as PSRC, SCA and King County historic preservation. They propose to continue the neighborhood grant program and the neighborhood revitalization effort. The domestic violence advocate position was recently approved. Finance Department determines figures for deparUnent's share of insurance costs. They propose to continue to fund downtown revitalization efforts. He spoke about the program improvements. The public safety building study has fimds left and he spoke of the project's status. The fire station study is being completed. Funds are set aside for gateways. Staffis talking with Randy Young about finishing the Lea Hill Study begun by Michael Hildt. Finance Director Coleman said that the Mayor has budgeted additional money for the downtown funds. Councilmember Singer asked about funding for the neighborhood program grant and Planning Director Krauss said this program is staffed in house. Councilmember Poe wanted clarification of where funds come l~om for human services funding. Planning Director Krauss mentioned some of the human services agencies. The Human Services Committee has akeady made their recommendations which will come before City Council. He described what is meant by program improvements. He then reviewed the 2001 accomplishments. 3. Parks & Recreation Department Budget Senior Center Supervisor Sallee reviewed the accomplishment sheet and spoke about Department's diversity. She spoke about the program improvements. Councilmember Singer wondered if replacement of mower would come out of equipment rental and Finance Director Coleman said that the Parks' mowers are not contained in equipment rental. ~ Councilmember Singer asked if the irrigation man hours are reduced where do the hours go. Senior Center Supervisor Sallee said staff is playing catch up. She spoke about the program improvements. Counciimember Poe requested a presentation on the system because he is concerned about the system being too complicated. Mayor said that Dick Deal with get representatives from companies to do presentation. Chairman Borden asked Finance Director Coleman for summary sheets on fund 98 and 328. PAGE 1 MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 24, 2001 DISCUSSION: 1. Marketing Gateway Study Status Planner McMahon distributed an overview of status on this project. Planning Director Krauss provided a background on the project and talked about gateways as physical sUnactures and part of total package that looks at marketing the City. Planner McMahon commented that lots of cities are doing gateways and she spoke with cities and is learning from other cities. Renton had a good example of an RFP and lessons learned. The consultant list did not have anyone with marketing/design experience. Councilmember Singer asked about the timeline and Planner McMahun said the RFP is being drafted and RFP will be done in a couple phases. The marketing component will be developed and then tie into gateways at the end. Chairman Borden asked about the budget for this and Planning Director Krauss commented that funds were accumulated over last few years. Chairman Borden asked about the cost of a consultant and Planner McMahon said that other cities are using the hotel/motel tax monies for this. Planning Director Krauss advised that someone will have to joint venture with another. Chairman Borden asked who will receive the RFP. Planner McMahun was found a website that lists firms that have experience. Some cities are secretive about their consultants. She is attempting to fred out which consultants were used by other cities. Staffalso wants to see the frans' client lists. Counciimember Poe wants to ensure that the ADA, Chamber and economic development manager are involved in this. Planning Director Krauss remarked that Al Hicks has been involved and staffwill include the ADA and Chamber on the interview team. The expanded work program speaks about talking with other organizations. Planner McMahon added that the other RFPs spoke about meeting with stakeholders and she will f'md out when other cities involved the public. Counciimember Poe wants everyone to buy into the proposal. 2. Sensitive Areas Ordinance - draft Planner Dixon provided background and a brief update on the status of development of the SAO ordinance. The City hired Huckell/Weinmann as the consultant and staffhas been working with them over the last year. He described what is meant by 'sensitive areas' and gave examples and said what will be regulated. He explained the difference between acquifer recharge area and well head protection in response to questions from Counciimember Singer. The ordinance would be a single framework of regulations to manage resources which is similar to regulations used in other jurisdictions and is generally accepted. He explained the purpose is to implement requirements from Federal laws and state regulations and local regulations. The intent is to improve the development review process, implement Federal regulations for endangered species, and state requirements from the GMA. The GMA said that cities are to develop stand alone regulations and reduce reliance on the SEPA process to manage and these must include best available science. The regulations will provide clear procedures to applicants about coordination, greater predictability and certainty, identify functions and values of areas to be protected, reduces the City's exposure to liability regarding the ESA, and provides more consistent protection of resources and more consistency between projects. Planner Dixon advised that with these regulations staff is not trying to create another permit layer, but build this review into existing permitting. The process also seeks to codify what is now done. There will be some strengthening to incorporate ESA response and best available science. The Planning Commission has been reviewing draft sections and a worksession is tomorrow night on the last sections of the ordinance. Then there will be about two months of putting together the components so they are and clearly understandable. When Planning Commission is comfortable with the ordinance, an open house will be PAGE 2 MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 24, 2001 scheduled and summaries will be available. Public input will be obtained prior to the public hearing. City Council could be acting on the SAO ordinance early next year. In response to question fxom Councilmember Singer, Planner Dixon said that review is conducted in advance of another permit, not as a separate stand alone permit. The process will work with the existing process. Councilmember Singer was concerned about applicants being deluged with paperwork and Planning Director Krauss explained the normal SEPA process and then gave a couple examples. Planner Dixon said the idea is if a property contains more than one sensitive area, regulations on what you need to do can be found in one section of the ordinance. Staff is also looking at vegetative resources and how to address including issues of what to protect. Chairman Borden asked if the SAO will streamline the SEPA process. Planner Dixon envisions the SAO will expedite the existing SEPA process, by avoiding conditions to SEPA which could be covered by code. He used an example of a project that proposes to impact wetlands with SEPA conditions attached relating to monitoring, bonding, etc., and these elements would be incorporated in the regulations and not duplicated as SEPA conditions. The applicant would know conditions beforehand. Flexibility is being built into the ordinance because of constraints, these include reasonable use provisions, and variance provisions. 3. Senior Center Dedication Update Senior Center Supervisor Sallee provided an update. With no further items to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m. PCDCWII~09B-2001 PAGE 3