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19680611 City Council Minutes39 • INFORMAL HEARING ON OPEN HOUSING -ORDINANCE June 11, 1968 (JR. HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM) Mayor Harrison gave a few remarks regarding open housing and some of the background on the proposed ordinance. He then opened the hearing. A woman in the audience asked if this proposed ordinance would limit an individual's right to his own property. Mr. Holland asked if this would be decided by council, or would it go before the voters? He was answered that this proposed ordinance would go before the City Council for consideration at their next regular meeting on June 18. He added that he felt this needed more publicity and that this was a big decision, and although he thought'..open housing was a very good idea in itself, he believed certain participants of open housing made a fortune on it. He cited Riverside Drive in New York City as an example of fortune makers using open housing as a tool in purchasing apartment houses for bargain prices after the values go down. He added that this should be put before the tax -paying public for a vote to decide whether or not they favored open housing. A woman who stated she had also lived in New York City, and now owned property in both Seattle and in Edmonds, said she had purchased a building in New York City and the few non -white tenants she had were in most cases better tenants than the white people. A gentleman asked if he would have the opportunity to see the wording of the proposed ordinance, and was advised that copies had been in the City Clerk's office for over a week since the last council meeting, and would continue to be there for perusal by the public. Ken Killien asked what in the city charter can refer anything to a vote by the people. He was advised that we do not have a charter -and were governed by RCW for Third Class cities. The council decides in Third Class non -charter cities, whereas action in a First Class city with a charter can be referred to the voter by referendum. However at the descretion of the council, the city can have an advisory ballot such as they used for the -dog leash law. • Eugenia B. Link asked the council if it seemed fair to have an ordinance such as this proposed open -housing one without a vote of the people. She felt the property owners should be allowed to vote on something as important as this. Walter Mac Pherson stated that all -races should have equal opportunity, and therefore he believed that every property owner has the right to dispose of his property whenever and to whomever he wished, and that was not the proviso in this proposed ordinance. Ann Staley asked why the city considered the dog leash law to be so important and yet did not plan to put open housing on the ballot. Harold Brewer asked what was the need for a fair housing ordinance in Edmonds all of a sudden; if there were problems here, we would need one, but if there are no problems in Edmonds, what is the hurry for all this. Another man did not believe that the elected.councilmen would go on record as having been stampeded into something by a few petitioners when the general public who elected the councilmen did not want it. Mayor Harrison asked if anyone wished to comment on the proposed ordinance. Mr. Holland stated that the federal proposed ordinance is a good one in his estimation and that he has no quarrel with races nor religions, but he was against any individual losing his rights, and felt that this proposed ordinance would restrict the individual's rights. Eugenia Link also asked if the council did not think that the property owners' rights were being restricted by this proposed ordinance. Gordon Sanborn asked what happens if a person makes a charge of discrimination. The proposed ordinance reads that a citizen's committee receives the written charge within 30 days and proceeds to investigate the problem. A.gentleman in the audience stated that he wished to take this proposed ordinance out of the hands of the council and put it on the ballot. Another gentleman said that passage of this proposed ordinance would basically prevent racial problems this summer. Reverend Orval Taylor, a proponent of the proposed open housing ordinance, stated that he felt this is the time to pass the ordinance here in Edmonds; that we have to lay the groundwork to help settle the problems between the races; that the press is on for housing for non -white workers at the Everett Boeing plant, and we in this area must face the facts. He added that it was easier to prevent trouble than to solve it after it gets here. Mrs. Miller noted that she felt the pro- posed ordinance is an opportunity to allow all people to live here in Edmonds. There were no further comments from the audience and the hearing was declared closed. INFORMAL HEARING ON PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENTS June 11, 1968 (JR. HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM) Mayor Harrison noted that the City of Edmonds has had a Planned Unit Development ordinance since 1964, and that an amendment would give tighter control by the City. He stated that this evening's hearing was to get the feeling of the people so that the council would have some basis for their action to be taken at the next council meeting on June 18. City Planner Merlin Logan explained the concept of Planned Unit Developments, and illustrated his explanation with drawings which showed the difference between a regular development and a Planned Unit Development of an identical parcel of land. He cited several open space communities in the country and named several which he had visited in Washington state. Mr. Logan then went on to explain the proposed ordinance and the procedure for the developer to follow for the building of a Planned Unit Development in an area; that it would call for more detail to be pre- sented than for a regular plat. Hearing was then opened. • Mayor Harrison stated that following this hearing, he would ask several questions of the audience, in order to get the general feeling on Planned Unit Developments. Councilman Tuson had a question to ask Mr. Logan in regard to the site limit, and he answered that this was a 2 acre minimum. e A gentleman in the audience stated that he was definitely against any Planned Unit Developments in Edmonds. Phil Odell, who said he lived near the Edmonds High School, had several questions on the units in the PUD which were on the illustrations which Mr. Logan had shown the audience. A man who said he had a copy of the proposed ordinance and was against Planned Unit Developments, seemed to have a misconception in his interpretation of the ordinance wording, and this was clarified by the City. Attorney and Mayor Harrison. Warren Henderson noted that open space in a Planned Unit Development is not private space, but that a single family dwelling with a yard does have its own private open space. Bob Robinson asked if the citizens wish to mix multiple units in with single family dwellings in this city. He added what is the illustrated need for Planned Unit Developments at this time, and who is interested in having this sort of thing come about in Edmonds. John McAdam stated that he didn't care what was going on in other communities,.that he is interested in what Edmonds is doing, and he didn't think there was a need for Planned Unit Developments here. Another gentleman said he preferred Planned Unit Developments, and felt they would enhance the surrounding properties. Mr. Kelly.asked how many variances to the Building Code had been issued in 1967. He was against apartments. Jim Krider stated that he was against apartment houses in single family areas and was also not in favor of doing away with a 5 acre minimum for PUD. Paul Weaver stated that he was concerned with the single family houses in a Planned Unit Development being allowed to be built in a 6000 square foot area, when the zoning of the area for other single dwellings not a part of a PUD was 12,000 square feet. No one else had anything new to add to the hearing, and it was therefore closed. Mayor Harrison then asked for a show of hands in the audience in answer to several questions: (1)' How many prefer a PUD without a minimum land requirement? (2 people) O (2) How many prefer a PUD with a minimum acreage of 5 acres? (25 people) (3) How many prefer a PUD with a 20 acre minimum? (70 people) (4) How many prefer no PUD ordinance at all? (3 people) (5) How many prefer prohibiting multi -units in PUD? (16 people) June 18, 1968 ROLL CALL With the Edmonds Arts Festival being held at the Civic Center, the regular meeting of the Edmonds City Council was held at the Seaview Elementary School. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Harve Harrison'with all councilmen present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the meeting of June 4th had been posted and mailed and since there were no corrections or ommissions they stood approved as presented. PUD POWER LINE FROM WALNUT TO MAIN Marvin Smith, who lives on the SW corner of llth and Alder, pointed out the fact to the council that the PUD in putting their high power line from Walnut to Main through the park area were proposing to remove more trees than Mr. Smith felt the council had approv- ed of when permission was given to go through the park with this line. Council had approved taking down only a minimum number of trees necessary for this line and the top- ping of some. Bill Shaw of the PUD was present, and also David James from the PUD en- gineering department. They stated that there would be two poles erected in the park area and that a single yellow band had been put around the trees to be taken out and a double yellow band around those marked for topping. Mr. Smith noted that there were quite a number of trees with the single yellow band showing that there would be many more trees removed than had previously been approved by council action. The Mayor asked that the councilmen take a look at these banded trees and this matter would be considered at their next work meeting to come to some conclusion as to how many trees it was necessary to re- move for this PUD power line. In the meantime they asked the PUD to please hold off on any tree topping or removal. APPROVAL OF FIREWORKS STAND PERMITS A recommendation was received from Fire Chief Cooper that the council grant fireworks stands permits to the following organizations and at the following locations. American Legion Post #66, 620 Edmonds Way and 6th and Dayton. Amaranth #56, 141 Dayton Avenue, and 138 Edmonds Way. Edmonds Jaycees, Parker Plaza, and 9th Avenue and Edmonds Way. Boy's Club, 2005 - 92 Ave. South. Job's Daughters Bethel 50, 1677 Main Street, and Holy Rosary Church, 657 Daley Street. Chief Cooper noted that all applications were accompanied with proper fees, state license and insurance certificates as per city code and that each location had been inspected and found to meet all requirements. It was therefore moved by Councilman Tuson, seconded by Councilman Slye that the six organizations and nine locations be granted permits as requested to operate fireworks stands in the City of Edmonds during the 4th of July celebration. Motion carried unanimously. 8 j AUDITING OF BILLS A motion was made by Councilman Slye, seconded by Councilman Haines that Vouchers #6960 O