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HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM III-A DRAFT PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE July 13, 2009 MINUTES I.CALL TO ORDER A. ROLL CALL Chair Lynn Norman 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: Chair Lynn Norman, Vice Chair Nancy Backus and Member Rich Wagner. Staff members present included: Mayor Pete Lewis, Director Cindy Baker, Assistant Director Kevin Snyder, Principal Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain, Principal Planner Jeff Dixon, Senior Planner Chris Andersen, Environmental Protection Manager Kelly McLain Aardal, Environmental Planner Jennifer Shih, Finance Director Shelley Coleman, City Attorney Dan Heid, City Engineer Dennis Selle, Transportation Planner Joe Welsh, Transportation Planner Tiffin Goodman, M&O Operations Manager Randy Baileyand Planning Secretary Renee Tobias. Audience members present included: Gary Yao, Wayne Osborne, Robert Whale, Nicole Petrino-Salter, Suse Hauck, and Domique Gomez of Cascadia Consulting Group. B. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Norman announced that she would be leaving the meeting at approximately 6:30 p.m. Vice Chair Nancy Backus would assume leadership of the meeting at that time. Discussion of Item G, Light Commercial Zoning District – Multi-Family Moratorium, would be heard after Item C. II.CONSENT AGENDA A. Meeting Minutes – June 22, 2009 B. Meeting Minutes – June 30, 2009 C. Meeting Minutes – July 8, 2009 Vice Chair Backus moved and Member Wagner seconded to approve the consent agenda as presented. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 3-0 III.ACTION There were no items for Committee’s consideration. Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes July 13, 2009 IV. DISCUSSION A. Greenhouse Gas Inventory (Carbon Footprint Project) City of Auburn joined ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and agreed to conduct a baseline greenhouse gas emissions inventory covering both municipal operations and community emissions. The conduct of the inventory will also assist the City as it pursues federal and state grant funding opportunities. After interviewing three consultants on the MRSC’s consultant roster, City staff selected Cascadia Consulting Group, Inc. (Cascadia) to conduct the City’s greenhouse gas emissions inventory. City staff from different departments held a project scoping meeting with Cascadia on June 15, 2009, and the greenhouse gas inventory is currently underway. Following the project scoping meeting, Cascadia proposed a methodology and data collection strategy for conducting the City’s baseline greenhouse gas inventory. The City and Cascadia will adhere to accepted protocols and standards to conduct the greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and will follow the Local Government Operations Protocol. The basic methodology, data collection steps, and next steps were reviewed and discussed with the Committee by Cascadia Consultant Dóminique Gomez. The municipal greenhouse gas inventory will include City building energy use (electricity and natural gas), City fleet vehicles mileage and gas usage, energy use from streetlights, traffic signals, and water pump stations, solid waste from City facilities (and from street sweepers), employee transportation (commuting and business travel) and refrigerants associated with the city fleet. A sample of the data collected for City fleet vehicles and building electricity usage was distributed. For the community greenhouse gas inventory, data collection will include residential and commercial energy use (electricity and natural gas), vehicle miles traveled on roads within the City’s boundaries and residential, commercial, and industrial solid waste. Committee asked about the Fire Department data included in the sample report; since this department has been replaced by the Valley Regional Fire Authority (VRFA); would it skew the numbers? Staff noted that this data was from 2007 when Fire was still a part of the City and that some VRFA vehicles still use fuel at the City’s M&O station. Consultant and staff will review this data before it goes into the final inventory. In response to Committee’s question, Ms. Gómez stated that one of the ways to deal with the population growth is to set some of the reduction goals based on per employee or per capita and attempt to shrink that number. As Auburn grows, the City will be able to show a per employee or per capital reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The goal is to complete all data collection efforts by mid-July 2009. The inventories, reduction goals, and climate action recommendations are scheduled for completion by the end of September 2009. Cascadia and City staff will provide another update on progress at the Committee meeting on August 24, 2009. Page 2 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes July 13, 2009 B. Comprehensive Transportation Plan Update Transportation Planner Tiffin Goodman reported that the Public Works Committee and the Transportation, Transit and Trails Advisory Committee have been working on the Comprehensive Transportation Plan update for approximately eighteen months and anticipate adopting the Plan by the end of 2009 with the regular Comprehensive Transportation Plan Amendments. The plan update is focused on the Lea Hill and West Hill annexation areas; other areas were updated three years ago. The Plan will update the pedestrian walkways, bicycle paths and lanes, transit maps, policies and roadway projects covering all modes and chapters. At the previous meeting, the Committee discussed issues and challenges for looking beyond the 20 year planning period to correspond with Puget Sound Regional Council’s (PSRC) Vision 2040. Staff responded that they started the modeling effort in 2007 and it takes two years to complete. If the City were to wait until Destination 2030 is updated next year, it would put the plan out a minimum of 2 more years. The further out, the less accurate the model becomes. This is also consistent with what other jurisdictions are doing in the region. Staff reviewed maps that note current and future bike routes and trails, which will be included in the Plan. For the bicycle map, the Committee noted that West Valley Highway from 15th Street NW to Main Street should be designated as a bicycle facility. In the current Plan, the City does not have a list of sidewalk projects and it is a challenge, from an implementation perspective, to fund sidewalk projects. By identifying priority projects in the plan, it will be easier to program and seek grants for these projects. Staff focused on arterials, collectors, and areas near schools that had significant gaps for pedestrians when selecting the proposed project areas. During the neighborhood meetings for the Lea Hill and West Hill annexation areas, discussion occurred about trails and paths. Committee asked about citizen comments regarding sidewalks. Staff responded a lot of the corridors identified were based on these public comments. For West Hill, comments were about the collector th streets, such as 46 and 51st. Citizens on Lea Hill indicated a need to address arterial roads. Mayor Lewis stated it might be good timing to start an informational campaign informing them of the Local Improvement District (LID) process and the match that the City has done in the past for sidewalks. C. Lea Hill Transportation Issues Dennis Selle, City Engineer, and Joe Welsh, Transportation Planner, distributed a Lea Hill Transportation Issues briefing paper to the Committee. The key issue discussed between the Committee and staff was the long queue of traffic that impacts both access to adjacent properties and general traffic circulation in the vicinity of Green River Community College. These queues occur repeatedly during the morning just prior to the start of each sequence of college class sessions. There are two primary reasons for the queuing of the public street system. The most significant reason is due to the inability of vehicles to enter and move through the college campus at a rate that would prevent queuing on the public street system. Also, some additional capacity to the public street system is needed. Approximately th two-thirds of the south-bound traffic on 124 Avenue is going to the College (920 a.m. peak hour trips) which cannot be readily accommodated with a single lane. Page 3 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes July 13, 2009 Staff presented short term solution options that could be implemented relatively quickly, medium term options that could be implemented within a 1-2 year time period and long term options. It was noted that the City has not approached the College with these options. Staff plans to work with the College to implement the identified short term options and to also address longer term options including a Master Plan to improve the pedestrian access, traffic circulation and parking improvements on the campus. This would compliment the efforts made by the City on the adjacent public street system. Since the College is a public agency, the City may be able to assist in their efforts. Chair Norman excused herself from the meeting at approximately 6:30 p.m. Staff will review Item G with Chair Norman at a later date. G. Light Commercial (C-1) Zoning District – Multi-Family Moratorium Assistant Direct Kevin Snyder distributed a background information sheet on this moratorium. At the July 8, 2009 meeting, the Committee directed staff to follow a prioritized work schedule for completion of the Code Update Project. Tier 1 priorities for the Code Update included addressing the moratorium on Conditional Use Permits for multifamily residential development in the C-1 Light Commercial District. Committee reviewed and discussed the seven options staff presented to address the land use issues underlying moratorium. Staff noted that all of the options could be applied city-wide or to certain geographic areas. Committee concurred on combining Options 4 and 5 to address resolution of the current moratorium on a citywide basis. Staff will review this decision with Chair Norman. Staff will evaluate the potential effects of the Committee’s proposed approach to amending the zoning code, including the potential for a resultant increase in the number of existing non-conforming land uses, and bring the analysis and draft language to the Public Works Committee on July 20, 2009 or August 3, 2009 and to the PCD Committee for action on July 27, 2009. D. Ordinance No. 6246 – 2009/2010 Budget Amendment Finance Director Coleman briefed the Committee on this ordinance. This mid-year budget amendment’s main focus is to adjust beginning fund balances to actual and budget any grant funds that the Council accepted during the course of the year. The amendment also includes budget adjustments that reduce revenues as a result of the economic downturn and expenditures as a result of union concessions, unaffiliated reductions and the reduction in workforce. E. Resolution No. 4502 – Local Revitalization Financing Finance Director briefed the Committee on this resolution. Resolution No. 4502 designates a revitalization area in the City and authorizes the Mayor to apply with the State Department of Revenue for Local Revitalization Financing. =Local revitalization financing is a reallocation of property and sales and use tax imposed by the State and participating taxing districts and local governments. It is not a tax increase to the identified revitalization area. Under Second Substitute Senate Bill 5045, the City of Auburn has been identified as a demonstration project and eligible to receive $250,000 per year for a period of 25 years from the State in order to finance public infrastructure that promotes community and economic development. Page 4 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes July 13, 2009 In response to Committee’s question, Director Coleman responded that Initiative 1033 focuses mostly on property taxes or fund balances in the general fund. It refers to if the City is accumulating fund balances and moves the funds over to the capital projects fund or to the accumulative reserve instead of assigning it. For the monies discussed with Council in connection with the demonstration project, the State is guaranteeing up to $250,000 provided the City spends $250,000 on debt service and debt has been issued. Director Coleman explained that this is why the recommendation has come forward to use real estate excise tax because it is a capital revenue stream that does not go into the general fund. It is a general tax but it is restricted for capital only. The City must apply before September 1, 2009. The City will hold a public hearing on July 20, 2009 as required by this legislation, prior to the adoption of this resolution. A successful application and project are anticipated and the City should have a reply within 60 days. F. Federal Emergency Management Agency/National Marine Fisheries Service Floodplain Moratorium Status Environmental Protection Manager McLain Aardal briefed the Committee on the status of the moratorium and federal regulatory efforts. On September 22, 2008, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) completed their formal consultation with FEMA regarding the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This consultation (Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act) was required following a 2004 court ruling inNWF v. FEMA. The consultation found that the NFIP, as administered, is harmful to Puget Sound Chinook, Chum, Steelhead, and Southern Resident Killer Whales (orcas). These species are all protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. The decision listed 7 elements that FEMA is required to implement to protect endangered salmon and orcas. One of the seven elements is new restrictions on development within floodplains. Staff distributed copies of the 2009 King County Buildable Lands Working Map and Preliminary FEMA Flood Zone map. Staff reviewed the information, and answered Committee’s questions on how the City’s current regulations meet the minimum requirements specified in the NMFS decision. Committee provided policy direction and guidance to staff for future review of a model ordinance from the federal agencies. Environmental Protection Manager McLain Aardal reported that the valley cities have made a concerted effort to discuss urban concerns with FEMA and NMFS. Ms. Aardal stated that flood plain habitat in the upper watershed should be protected in King and Pierce counties, but the flood plain in the valley cities are not always adjacent to a river. Environmental Protection Manager McLain Aardal will be compiling all comments from City Councilmembers and will provide the Council with a summary of those comments in early August 2009. Page 5 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes July 13, 2009 V.INFORMATION A. Director’s Official Decisions and Report There was no report. B. PCDC Status Matrix There were no changes to the matrix. C. Information Loading Zones in Downtown Within downtown Auburn, there are eight (8) commercial loading zones with seven (7) signed and described in city code or by ordinance. One commercial loading zone adjacent to City Hall on Division Street is described in city code but not currently signed. Limitations to consider when looking at loading zones within downtown are the vacation of alleys for redevelopment, narrow right-of-way combined with on-street parking, and full block redevelopment where loading zones will need to be incorporated into the development or on-street. Committee reviewed the map showing the commercial loading zones’ location. There are several ways to address commercial loading zones within a downtown. Communal commercial loading zones, timed commercial loading zones, a permit system, adding a requirement to the Downtown Urban Center Design Standards that loading zones shall be incorporated into new projects and locations approved by the City (similar to what is already required for the Auburn Junction project). Committee will provide comments to staff for further development. VI.ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Planning and Community Development Committee, Chair Norman adjourned the meeting at 7:52 p.m. APPROVED THIS ________ DAY OF JULY 2009. Lynn Norman, Chair Renee S. Tobias, Planning Secretary Page 6