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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-25-2002MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MARCH 25, 2002 The regular meeting of the Planning and Community Development Committee was held March 25, 2002 in Conference Room 1. Those members in attendance were as follows: MEMBERS PRESENT: Trish Borden, Sue Singer, and Stacey Brothers STAFF PRESENT: Paul Krauss, David Osaki, Shirley Aird, Bill Mandeville, Daryl Faber, and Patti Zook ALSO PRESENT: Nancy Krause, Auburn Downtown Association The meeting was called to order by Committee Chair Borden at 5:00 p.m. ACTION: 1. Approval of Minutes of March 11, 2002 Meeting The Committee concurred approval of the minutes. DISCUSSION: 1. Island Annexations Planner Aird advised that the Mayor had wanted this item on the agenda prior to the Supreme Court decision. There are four annexations that have been in process for about three years. The original idea was for the Mayor to send a letter and go with the petition method; however, now a resolution must be done. She pointed out the flow chart in the agenda packet. Staff still needs to determine how much work is let~ to be done. She spoke to King County Records and Elections about cost if the City must hold an election. The cost is about $2 per registered voter. Councilmember Brothers wondered if this is on the ballot, must 50 percent plus 1 vote occur for the measure to pass and Planner Aird replied yes, but she is unsure if you have to have a minimum number of voters. The City pays cost. If not challenged the annexation becomes effective. She stressed the need for timing. Councilmember Brothers wondered about the stipulation for opposition. Planner Aird said that registered voters can challenge a resolution. This is based on 10 percent of who voted in the last election. For example, for the Steelhead annexation area, 120 residents voted in the previous State election, so 12 voters could challenge the annexation. Information from Washington State Dept. of Social & Health Services regarding Siting of Secure Community Transition Facilities Planning Director Kranss provided background on this latest legislation. The State has been keeping perpetrators in jail even after their time served. The State could have extended sentences. The State must now provide housing. DSHS is going with one 15 resident facility in King County. The facility is designated as an essential public facility and therefore, cities have little leverage to prevent them. The cities can influence location. I-Ie has met with other Planning Directors and no one wants to be first to have zoning to allow this kind of facility. The State was to have funds to ease facility into the community, but no money is available and no one wants the facility. There is the major concern that facilities will be in communities such as Auburn. They seem to be located primarily in lower income residential areas. The essential siting facility process came out of BNRR issues. Planner Aird is looking to see how to demonstrate that low cost land and low cost housing is not the primary reason to site in an area. DSHS could invoke GMA Hearings Board and try to force in. He spoke of the need to establish criteria to keep away from residential areas, schools, churches, etc. He does not want the State to follow the course of least resistance. He will bring forward proposed amendments to the essential facilities siting process which may include some amendments to the Zoning Code. PAGE 1 MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MARCH 25, 2002 Councilmember Brothers inquired if State can dictate the level of security to be provided. Planning Director Kranss said regarding additional policing, there may be some language in the legislation, but no funds have been provided. Planning Director Krauss spoke about the 'hold harmless' clause to the community if problems arise. Councilmember Brothers wanted to know what kind of security is provided. Planning Director Kranss said it would be a lock down facility and considered to be a transitional facility. Initially there is a high level of security, but as time goes on, imnate gains a certain level of freedom. He may even work during the day and come back at night. However, this is not spelled out in the legislation. Councilmember Brothers wanted Planning Director Krauss to review the BNRR decision related to essential public facilities that was issued a few years ago. Planning Director Krauss remarked that the GMA contains language regarding siting of essential public facilities and that certain facilities are difficult to site, but are of public benefit~need and supercede the community's right to site to deny the use. The railroad was not included as an essential public facility, but GMA Hearings Board said the railroad must be included. BNRR took Auburn's Comprehensive Plan to court and Auburn was ordered to adopt a process and state that railroads are an essential public facility. Councilmember Singer commented that the City needs to prepare a list of halfway houses already located in the City and use this as justification for not needing to provide more such facilities. Planning Director Krauss spoke about looking at separation requirement such as two miles, and not having these types of facilities clustered together. These facilities impact neighborhoods. Chairman Borden believes that other states leave these people in the prison population or put them away longer to begin with. She is concerned about staffturnover at the facility and who provides the supervision. The supervisor will probably be someone in an entry level position. She sees problem with line of sight supervision. Planning Director Krauss remarked that the State can be sued because it cannot manage this population and the community suffers. He wanted the Committee to know what it is up against. State has over rnled jurisdictions before regarding essential public facilities. He is putting together a coalition of cities to be preemptive and prepared to take State to court. Councilmember Brothers is concerned about the number of sexual offenders in the City who are not supervised. Planning Director Krauss remarked that some report in. He has heard that when they are released, some are told by their parole officers to head to Auburn because of its cheap apartments. Chairman Borden wants to use such information to substantiate not allowing the facility. INFORMATION: 1. Neighborhood Matching Grants (NMG) Planner Mandeville presented background on the NMG. He explained Human Services Committee (HSC) recommendations. His memorandum explains status of grants awarded last year. Three projects are in progress and five are completed. Program accomplishments are also listed in the report. The HSC still wants more information the Academy street light project and location/type of vegetation in the Terminal Park Elementary School garden. They also wondered about the local match source for those two projects. The first project for discussion is the Kennedy Street median landscaping. Dave Peace, Planning Commission member, and member of Lakeland Hills Homeowners Association, described the median strip which is currently overgrown with weeds. He showed colored pictures of the area. He has spoken to developers in the area and the Auburn Riverside High School horticulture club about landscaping the strip. He spoke to the City about maintaining the strip and was told that City will mow a couple times per year. The Homeowners Association has contracted to have the strip weed-wacked occasionally. They have received many complaints about the condition of the median strip which is City owned. They are seeking a grant for landscaping and will provide matching funds in cash. The Homeowners Association will maintain the strip. They are not installing a sprinkler system so the plants PagE 2 MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MARCH 25, 2002 must be somewhat drought tolerant. They would like to do the planting in early spring. Neighbors will help water the strip m~d maintain, weed and fertilize. If the Homeowners Association is not allowed to do maintenance now because it is City land, Councilmember Singer asked what regulations need to be changed to allow them to this. She has discussed problems with Parks Director about resolving with Parks and Public Works who maintains City owned property. She was told previously that if there is vegetation growing on the property, it is maintained by Parks Department. Mr. Peace said that their application does not include cost of the permits which are required. The landscaping requires a traffic plan. They also need to get a right of way permit. Councilmember Brothers inquired about liability insurance or hold harmless. Mr. Peace said they understood that since it is City property insurance is not needed. The City talked about vacating the island and then they would have to have insurance. The Homeowners Association maintains the entryway and area along Mill Pond Drive. They also maintain islands owned by the City in cul-de-sacs. Chairman Borden likes the project. She asked Planner Mandeville if he helps groups resolve permit issues. Mr. Peace admitted that they could use help in the permitting process and how to prepare a traffic plan. Planner Mandeville said that he helps as best he can, but he does not have the time. He is unsure what is triggering the traffic plan. Councilmember Singer suggested that the Committee recommend the Mayor look at revising the policy. She also likes the project. DF said that if it is a neighborhood beautification project, the City should not make it difficult for them to accomplish their goals. Chairman Borden also suggested that Mr. Peace check out the list of plants and see if the plants really are drought tolerant and height of the plants because she does not want to have dead plants or impair traffic visibility. Planner Mandeville said the second project for discussion is the Terminal Park peace garden. The school has been used as a model school. The school also has the highest WASL scores in the school district. Shelley Domenowske and Lisa Wilkinson introduced themselves and are on the PTA. Mrs. Domenowske described the peace theme and conflict resolution at the school. The school has strong parent involvement even though them is high student turnover. They have some money from the PTA and school. She described ideas such as a rose garden, or peace garden or resolution pathway. The large area would be planted different each year. She hopes to solicit businesses in south Auburn for financial help with supplies or committee members. Mrs. Domenowske has the backing of the school district for use of the property. Discussion occurred regarding how to rate volunteer hours. Councilmember Brothers asked if they are confident they will have enough volunteers and Mrs. Domenowske said the PTA will help with arranging volunteers. Councilmember Singer believes this is a great area for the NMG. Mrs. Wilkinson said the area can be seen from 12th Street and 8th Street. They want to have something that is colorful and large enough to be seen. Chairman Borden likes the many aspects to the project. Chairman Borden inquired about signage at the garden and if there are funds in the budget for the signage to inform persons visiting the site. Mrs. Domenowske spoke about plaques, or rock plate, or banner, but nothing is final. Councilmember Brothers offered to help with the landscaping for this worthy project. Planner Mandeville mentioned the third project which is the Chinook Elementary School Trail. This trail would be built through a wooded part of the school site by the school's nature club. Planner Mandeville mentioned the fourth project, 32na Street lighting/crime prevention at Auburn Adventist Academy. This is being done in conjunction with PTA at Buena Vista Elementary School in response to an assault. They want to illuminate the street so that people can see what is happening around them. They want to have attractive street lights and pulled examples from the intemet. Public Works Department had PAGE 3 MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MARCH 25, 2002 issues with the lighting such as height, placement, wattage, control panel etc. The purpose is to get the neighborhood involved and resolve problems. They want to get lights installed and discourage crime. Planner Mandeville spoke about getting an assessment to install lights and include in City Transportation Plan with thought that maybe lights will eventually be installed. There does not seem to be a way for the public to request street lights. Councilmember Brothers stressed the primary requirement is to provide light and be affordable. He is reluctant for the Committee or City Council to get into providing decorative lights for particular neighborhoods. The City has an approach to lighting the City that is affordable and efficient. For neighborhood projects, he does not want to provide lighting other than lighting which is approved by the City. He is reluctant to adopt new decorative street lighting policy in order to accommodate this project or another project. He sees potential problem of one neighborhood wanting gas lights and another wanting tiffany style lights. Councilmember Singer stated her agreement with Councilmember Brothers' comments. The City has adopted street light standards. Chairman Borden asked about volunteer hours and matching funds and going back to the original intant of the program. The City is looking for volunteer labor for the grass roots projects, not looking at doing small Public Works projects. She sees this project as looking for a funding source for decorative lights for the neighborhood. The other projects discussed earlier tonight are more tangible regarding their contribution. Planner Mandeville believes the merit of their program is a chance to develop procedure and process for neighborhood to get decorative lighting. Chairman Borden said there are other routes instead of $10,000 for decorative lighting. Councihnembar Brothers suggested that Planner Mandeville review the street lighting policy and take this policy to the Academy. Chairman Borden mentioned that neighborhoods have come for other things such as sidewalks and this was permitted. She wants to see again the written information about the grant program and review the criteria. Councilmember Singer is surprised that there were not more requests from the Terminal Park area. Chairman Borden reiterated that she wants to talk about the matching grant program at a future meeting. There were discussions about the organizing group being a non-profit group. If money is spent on school grounds, the City needs to make sure the funds are not funds that the school district should be paying. If the Academy project is not funded, Councilmember Singer said there is additional $10,000 to spend on projects. She suggested that people be notified of the availability of funds. The City needs to be proactive in disseminating information. If small response is received for $10,000, Planner Mandeville suggested consideration of mini grants. Councilmember Brothers said that both should be looked at. Planner Mandeville wanted to confirm that Committee does not want to fund the Academy project. Councilmember Brothers confirmed this by telling Planner Mandeville to refer them to the City street light standards. Consensus was to review the criteria for neighborhood matching grants at a future meeting. ADJOURNMENT: With no further items to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjoumed at 7:00 pm. Submitted by Patricia Zook, Planning Secretary. Approved by the Planning and Community Development Committee on PCDCW[IN~MIN03 B-2002 PAGE 4