HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-11-2004
PLANNING & COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 11, 2004
MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Sue Singer called the meeting to order at 5:00 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: Member Lynn
Norman and Councilmember Bill Peloza for Nancy Backus. Also present
were Planning and Community Development Director Paul Krauss,
Community Development Administrator David Osaki, Economic
Development Planner AI Hicks, Senior Planner Jeff Dixon, Building
Manager Jim Tinner, City Engineer Dennis Selle, Utilities Engineer Duane
Huskey, Planner Bill Mandeville, Parks Development Manager Dan
Scamporlina, and Planning Secretary Patricia look.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Minutes of the September 27, 2004 Meeting
Councilmember Norman made a motion, seconded by Councilmember
Peloza, to approve the minutes; Chair Singer concurred.
III. ACTION
A. Ordinance No. 5878 - Tree Board Membership
Parks Development Manager Dan Scamporlina said the ordinance
changes the number of board members from three to five.
Councilmember Norman made a motion, seconded by Councilmember
Peloza, to approve the minutes; Chair Singer concurred.
B. Ordinance No. 5874 - International Building Code
Planning and Community Development Director Krauss introduced Jim
Tinner, Building Division Manager and provided a background on the IBC.
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Planning & Community Development Committee Minutes October 11, 2004
Building Manager Tinner provided information on the IBC which became
effective July 1,2004. The ordinance is to enact the IBC codes so that
the City is in compliance with State law in the area of building, fire and
related codes. The ordinance also adopts by reference the new State
Building Codes. .
Councilmember Norman made a motion, seconded by Councilmember
Peloza, to recommend approval; Chair Singer concurred.
C. Resolution No. 3773 - Building Permit Fees
Building Manager Tinner explained that fees for mechanical and plumbing
permit fees weren't include in the fee structure the last time it was
amended. There is also a fee now proposed for temporary certificates of
occupancy. The City receives numerous requests from people wanting to
occupy prior to the final certificate of occupancy. Most cities charge for
fire code permit fees and fire alarm fees and these are now also included.
The fees charged for fire permits do not tie into the actual amount of work
performed by the Fire Marshall's office.
Chair Singer wondered if an inflationary factor is built into permit costs.
Building Manager Tinner said that fees are adjusted for inflation each year
based upon the Seattle Consumer Price Index. Fèes are rounded down
to the nearest whole dollar.
Councilmember Norman made a motion, seconded by Councilmember
Peloza, to recommend approval; Chair Singer concurred.
D. Resolution No. 3722 - 2005 CDBG Budget (see E below)
E. Resolution No. 3775 - Consolidated Plan
Planner Mandeville presented the staff reports for both of these agenda
items. Human Services Committee recommended awarding $25,000 to
HomeSight; however, staff recommends not awarding the award because
the benefits do not justify the costs. More benefits are achieved by
allocating the funds to the City's housing repair program. Also, the
repayment of HomeSight loans go into a County-wide fund and would not
necessarily return to Auburn. Economic Development Planner Hicks said
that the Human Services Committee had mixed feelings about HomeSight
because they liked the idea of home ownership. There was concern
about their application and the way the repayment is structured.
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Planning & Community Development Committee Minutes October 11, 2004
Committee consensus was to move the HomeSight allocation to the City's
housing repair funds. Planner Mandeville said a closer look needs to be
taken at whether the ultimate intent of the program is to prevent
homelessness or to stabilize and enhance housing stock. Depending on
the ìntent, different types of home repair requests might be made.
Chair Singer commented that when doing the neighborhood planning
projects, they hear about the low percentage of home ownership: She
hopes the City can work on encouraging home ownership, perhaps by
providing an informational or educational program for them.
Councilmember Norman would like to keep on the table for discussion
information about how to make housing repairs more effective.
Information received was that the same people come back each year
because more problems are experienced with their housing. Planning
and Community Development Director Krauss said a significant amount of
housing repairs funds go to mobile homes. A successful applicant cannot
receive another grant for five years.
Councilmember Norman asked why St. Stephens Housing Association
wasn't funded. Economic Development Planner Hicks advised that the
HSC went through a very deliberative process and felt that the programs
currently funded are very essential programs. There was no reason not to
continue funding these service agencies. There was very little money left
over to fund other programs. For instance, Auburn Youth Resources
funding was brought back to previous years' level. Funding provides
essential services that are an integral part of the needs of the community.
HSC took a pragmatic approach.
Planning and Community Development Director Krauss says the City
needs the most bang for the buck and provide positive changes. Each
year the decisions on funding recommendations are tough for the HSC
because they know they can't respond to all requests. Councilmember
Peloza supports the increased funding to the housing repair program.
Kathleen Southwick, Executive Director of the Crisis Clinic, was invited to
speak. The Clinic has a $2.4 million total budget. They raise $200,000
for operations primarily through requests to corporations and foundations.
They also appeal to individuals. Chair Singer advised that several human
service organizations are not fully funded in the amount they requested.
Mayor asked Ms. Southwick if all the cities that receive Crisis Line service
pay into the fund for the services? Ms. Southwick said since this is a
telephone service, they don't know where the caller is calling from. She
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Planning & Community Development Committee Minutes October 11, 2004
stressed they are not turning callers away. Seventeen (17) out of 39 cities
pay into the King County fund. Ms. Southwick spoke of difficulties in
receiving funding from cities which don't have a way similar to Auburn's
for getting this type of funding into their budget process. They have asked
for funding from other cities. ..
Councilmember Peloza believes that the Crisis Line hasn't put the
squeeze on other cities who haven't provided funding support. They
should be able to put pressure on cities that don't fund the service. Ms.
Southwick says they try to pursue all avenues. They are coming to
Auburn because they know that Auburn has human services funding.
Mayor stated that Auburn is a city that allocates a net amount of its
general fund each year to human services. They are willing to work with
other cities to fund the Crisis Line. He is willing to write to other mayors
who aren't funding the Crisis Line.
Councilmember Norman made a motion, seconded by Councilmember
Peloza, to recommend approval. Chair Singer concurred.
F. Surplus Item
Councilmember Norman made a motion, seconded by Councilmember
Peloza, to recommend approval. Chair Singer concurred.
IV. DISCUSSION
A. Smart Codes
Planning and Community Development Director Krauss provided a
background on staff coming up with ways to resolve issues without
breaking the code and gave several examples. This topic was pending
the switch from the UBC to IBC which became effective July 1, 2004. Jim
Tinner, Building Division Manager, says that current codes will work if staff
is properly trained.
Councilmember Peloza congratulated staff on their 'can do' attitude.
B. Critical Areas Ordinance
In response to Chair Singer's inquiry, Community Development
Administrator Osaki said that the CAO covers the same topics as King
County's ordinance, but the standards are different. Senior Planner Dixon
said the City's CAO was independently developed and is unrelated to King
County's.
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Planning & Community Development Committee Minutes October 11,2004
I -
Senior Planner Dixon explained the definition of how a slope is measured,
how to calculate the grade for slope over span of 25 feet. The City hired a
consultant with experience in other jurisdictions. In response to
Councilmember Norman's inquiry, Senior Planner Dixon explained that
the same exemptions listed under the land clearing ordinance are the-
same exemptions listed in the CAO. This is an attempt to make the CAO
regulations consistent with the City's existing regulations.
Discussion will continue at the next Committee meeting.
C. Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment #5 - Utility Service
Provision
Chair Singer expressed concern that what the City is proposing is going to
put private property owners between a rock and a hard place. In
interpreting the proposed amendment, she thought the City was not
allowing any more development on Lea Hill because we are not able to
annex on Lea Hill due to the prohibitive cost of fire service.
City Engineer Selle spoke about the cumbersome process with King
County. Mayor advised that he has pushed for the proposed revision. If
property is developed in the City's Potential Annexation Area (PM), they
must build to Auburn's standards or the City will not allow utility services.
Other cities are doing this and have been doing this for years. By
providing services to property outside the PM, Auburn is doing what most
cities don't do; most cities won't provide services outside their city limits.
Chair Singer thought that Council was told they had to provide services in
the City's PM if water and sewer services are available. Mayor spoke
about the City's reasons for saying yes in the past. The current policy
allows the City to provide water and/or sewer services outside the City's
limits. Mayor said that any new development in the PM should be
developed to Auburn's standards.
Councilmember Norman supports the change and wishes it was
developed one year ago. Chair Singer requested a map of property being
developed on Lea Hill in order to get an idea of the amount of property
affected by the proposal. Community Development Administrator Osaki
will check with his King County contacts to see if a map is available.
Committee consensus was a comment that 'until such time as King
County requires development within the annexation area to meet City of
Auburn standards'.
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Planning & Community Development Committee Minutes October 11, 2004
D. Emergency Radio Project
Chair Singer mentioned this was touched on briefly at the last meeting.
Pauf Nelson, It Plays In Peoria Productions (SPLAB!), expressed
confidence with the proposal. He spoke about the possibility of being
granted an FM license.
Mayor said that from the City's view, in the event of an emergency of
regional significance, there is no way to get information to Auburn
residents. Chair Singer stressed the goal of the entire City being covered.
She spoke about the need to send out marketing information.
Mayor said the agreement is that the City will pay for the transmitter and
the parties will work together to make sure the entire City is covered.
Transmitters could be placed on City-owned facilities. Committee asked
to know the exact number of transmitters ~nd the exact cost.
V. INFORMATION
A. Update on 15th Street NW Median Project
Parks Development Manager Dan Scamporlina said that Robert Lee has
compiled 80% of the plan and specifications and is moving forward. The
Committee asked about color and life expectancy of the paving materials
because they want to ensure that the material lasts.
B. Clock Tower
Councilmember Norman mentioned that the location of the large planter
at the corner of Main and Auburn Avenue is the site under discussion for
placement of the clock. The clock will face Main Street and be a two face
clock so it is visible on Main Street and A Street. Nelson's Jewelry is
willing to pay for clock and is asking the City to install the clock. They will
maintain the clock so long as they are around. Nelson's wants the face of
the clock to say Nelson's Jewelry. Similar clocks in Seattle have a
sponsor on the face of the clock. The Committee expressed support.
Mayor said this matter should be forwarded to the Municipal Services
Committee.
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Planning & Community Development Committee Minutes October 11, 2004
VI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Planning and
Community Development Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 7:00
p.m.
rfa
APPROVED THE 26 . DAY OF Ocf~r 2004.
.~~~
.sue Singer, Chair /
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patricia Zook, Secretary
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