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03-09-10 CSDS Committee MinutesCommunity Services/Development Services Committee Meeting March 9, 2010 Elected Officials Present: Council Member Strom Peterson, Chair Council Member Dave Orvis The committee convened at 6:50 p.m. E. Further discussion with Climate Solutions. Staff Present: Noel Miller, Public Works Director Rob English, City Engineer Jeanie McConnell, Engineering Program Mgr Rob Chave, Planning Manager Scott Snyder, City Attorney Brian McIntosh, Parks & Recreation Director Frances Chapin, Cultural Services Manager (This item was moved to the beginning of the agenda to enable the presenter to meet another appointment) Eileen Quigley, representing Climate Solutions, reviewed her organization's purpose and indicated that the next step for Climate Solutions would be to develop a proposal for the city to formally consider. This would be done if the city believes that there is an interest in pursuing this collaboration. The Committee indicated that they believe the Council is interested; Ms. Quigley indicated that Climate Solutions would proceed to develop a proposal for city consideration. ACTION: The Committee indicated that the city is interested in exploring a potential partnership with Climate Solutions, and that Climate Solutions should proceed to the next step of preparing a formal proposal for further Council consideration. A. Discussion on proposed amendments to Edmonds Community Development Code Title 18. The City Attorney reviewed the proposed amendments to the Title 18 Appeal Provisions and answered questions raised by the Council Members. Council Member Orvis recommended raising the charge from $1.00 per month to $20.00 per month for unlawful utility connections under Section 18.10.030. Council Member Peterson concurred with the recommendation. The Committee also discussed the current penalties provided in Section 18.45.070 for illegal tree cutting. The current fine, established some years back, is $1,000 per day or $500 per tree, with that amount tripling to $3,000 per day and $1,500 per tree for clearing in a critical area or critical area buffer. Given recent discussions with Council regarding the value of trees and the City's experience in the Point Wells Development, staff suggested that the appropriate penalty for illegal clearing be considered when the City Council reviews tree issues on an upcoming agenda. ACTION: The CS/DS committee recommended this item be placed on an upcoming Council meeting for consideration and approval. B. Review of transportation capital project funding options. In 2009, the Transportation Plan identified many different transportation improvement projects over the next 16 years such as Walkway, Bikeway, Concurrency, and Operations and Maintenance projects. The total cost of all these projects was $105M, with a $64M shortfall. Mr. Bertrand Hauss CS/DS Committee Minutes March 9, 2010 Page 2 (Transportation Engineer) discussed the option of increasing Transportation Benefit District (TBD) revenue to fund transportation improvement projects. The initial $20 TBD vehicle license fee was approved by City Council in 2008, but this revenue is only for Operations and Maintenance activities. Any additional TBD revenue (needs voter approval) would help fund transportation projects. He reviewed a chart that indicates potential projects that could be funded with different TBD options ($20, $40, $60, and $80). Mr. Don Fiene, Chair of the Transportation Citizens Advisory Committee, discussed another funding option, consisting of an even split of the REET-2 funding between the Transportation Fund and Parks Fund. Currently, the transfer to Fund 112 only takes place when the REET-2 amount is above $750,000 with the initial $750,000 going to Parks. He also talked about the Olympic View Franchise Fee. ACTION: The CS/DS committee recommended this item be scheduled for discussion during the TBD meeting on 03/23/10. C. Discussion on proposed amendments to Edmonds Community Development Code 18.82 Traffic Impact Fees. A Public Hearing is forthcoming in order to implement the updated Traffic Impact Fee Rates approved with the adoption of the 2009 Transportation Plan. Staff is also proposing changes to Section 18.82.030 regarding the administration and collection of traffic impact fees. Mr. Bertrand Hauss (Transportation Engineer) discussed the change to Section 18.82.030-B (Section 18.82-030- B(1) in the ordinance). This change will create a more consistent procedure and the processing will become more efficient. Mrs. Jeannie McConnell (Engineering Program Manager) explained the change to Section 18.82.30(E) (Section 18.82-030-B in the ordinance).She stated that the proposed code revision will allow the City to collect impact fees based on current rates and would not allow vesting of fees based on rates that are in effect at the time of application. This approach is consistent with Washington court rulings which have repeatedly held that impact fees are not the type of development regulations to which a project applicant would vest. She concluded by saying that the proposed code revision also establishes issuance of a business license as a means of collecting traffic impact fees. The current code doesn't allow for collection of impact fees if a building permit isn't issued. ACTION: The CS/DS committee recommended this item be placed on an upcoming Council meeting for a public hearing and consideration. D. Discussion of a partnership with Westgate Elementary to develop upgraded neighborhood park elements at the school site. Parks Director McIntosh discussed this partnership proposal and the community objectives of safety, playability, and enhancing the local recreation experience that these types of projects bring. In many cases, such as at Westgate Elementary, school grounds help fulfill neighborhood park needs identified in the Parks Comprehensive Plan and this is an excellent way to leverage City and individual school resources to meet common goals. Councilmembers Peterson and Orvis concurred. The $25,000 budgeted in the City's 2009-2010 budget for partnership projects combined with funds raised by the Westgate parents and community will enable an additional matching grant from voter approved School District bonds for Capital Partnerships. The total playground and play area improvements project budget will be approximately $190,000. CS/DS Committee Minutes March 9, 2010 Page 3 ACTION: The CS/DS Committee recommended placing this partnership project on an upcoming City Council Consent agenda authorizing the Mayor to sign an interlocal agreement with Edmonds School District #15 to assist in the renovation of the Westgate Elementary playground. F. Proposed draft sign code amendments to clarify definitions and establish criteria for wall graphic murals or artwork. Cultural Services Manager Frances Chapin and Planning Manager Rob Chave discussed a draft outline of proposed amendments in the sign code to clarify how murals and artwork are handled with the sign code with respect to private entities putting murals on privately owned properties. There are several approaches cities take to regulating murals on private properties and at present the City of Edmonds does this through the sign code. Staff suggested that the definition of non- commercial wall graphic which applies to murals include the term mural or artwork, and that the administrative standards for review be outlined in the sign code so that potential applicants will know what is expected in the permit application process. The proposed amendments provide more detail and clarification to the existing sign code with regard to murals and artwork. One significant change is the addition of language to allow some inclusion of letters and words if part of the artistic intent, which is currently not allowed. Councilmembers Orvis and Peterson agreed that the draft amendments provide clarification and that further discussion should take place at Planning Board. ACTION: The CS/DS Committee recommended that this item be sent to the Planning Board and hold a public hearing at Planning Board. The Committee meeting adjourned at 8:49 p.m.