05-11-10 CSDS Commitee MinutesCommunity Service/Development Services Committee Meeting
May 11, 2010
Elected Officials Present:
Council Member Strom Peterson
Council Member Adrienne Fraley-Monillas
Council Member D.J. Wilson
Council President Steven Bernheim
The committee convened at 6:00 p.m.
Staff Present:
John Westfall, Fire Marshall
Leonard Yarberry, Building Official
Leif Bjorback, Assistant Building Official
Rob Chave, Planning Manager
Stephen Clifton, Community Srvcs. Director
Gina Coccia, Associate Planner
Brian McIntosh, Parks & Recreation Director
This was a combined committee meeting of the Community/Development Services and
Public Safety Committees to review adoption of the 2009 International Codes, items A
and B. The codes include the Building and Fire codes adopted and amended in the
ECDC.
A. Title 19.25 revisions (adopting updated International Fire Code) and Title 19.65
Marina Code.
B. Title 19 revisions (adopting the updated International Codes and State
amendments).
Fire Marshal Westfall provided a brief introduction and noted that the State is on a 3 year
code adoption cycle, which is the reason for the current code adoption/amendments.
Building Official Yarberry added that State Building Code Act mandates the enforcement
of the codes and that the new 2009 codes are effective statewide on July 1st. The local
adoption allows the city to amend the codes so that they will work in a consistent manner
with the other municipal code sections, and importantly the administration, appeal and
enforcement provisions.
Yarberry provided an overview of the proposed adoptive language, which included
editorial changes to reduce and simplify. The majority of the new ordinance would be
the same as the current code. Two proposed changes to section 105.2 related to work
exempt from permit were discussed in detail. The first related to the exemption of
retaining walls under 4 foot in height. Council member Wilson expressed reservation
about how this would be applied and asked for some additional information to be
presented at full Council. The second change related to the exemption of door and
window replacement and re -siding of homes. Yarberry noted that there are particular
problems associated with water penetration, safety glazing and emergency egress that
the exemption makes difficult to address. Council member Wilson asked that a narrative
be prepared for full Council consideration of the issues.
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Fire Marshal Westfall presented the proposed adoptive language for the Fire Code and
the Marina Code. Westfall noted changes in the 2009 Fire code related to emergency
responder radio coverage, new fire alarm requirements and requirements for installation
of CO monitors. Particular amendments to the City ordinance include a restriction on
above ground fuel storage tanks in residential zones to 1000 gals, and 500 gal restriction
for LPG storage.
Westfall presented proposed changes to the Marina Code in title 19.65, which included a
requirement for slip numbering and pier identification to assist in emergency response.
Also he noted that there were some changes related to spill reporting requirements.
Council member Wilson asked if these requirements could be compared to the
stormwater discharge regulations to ensure consistency. Westfall acknowledged that
this could be brought back to full Council.
C. Tree City; tree ordinance; review of Planning Board recommendations on
Streetscape Plan.
Steve Bernheim was present for this item, and introduced the ordinance that would
establish a `tree board' to study ideas for Edmonds, such as obtaining "Tree City USA"
status and sponsoring an Arbor Day event. Steve believed that the proposed ordinance
was a good first step, without committing to too much in terms of time and resources
while doing further exploration and research. Stephen Clifton noted that the City would
need to be careful before committing additional staff resources, understanding that
additional regulations and programs all have associated costs. Rob Chave and Brian
McIntosh both noted that supporting boards and commissions can be a challenge,
especially if the group is too large and the terms or conditions of service are too
restrictive. Steve agreed, saying that the intent was to initiate the discussion, and a tree
board could help. After discussion, all agreed that staff should meet with the principal
citizens spearheading the effort to develop a solid proposal for the Committee and full
Council to consider. Brian also mentioned that staff was working on a review and update
of the Street Tree Plan, focusing on what is working and where minor modifications
might be needed. This will proceed through the Planning Board and Council approval
process.
ACTION: Staff will meet with the program proponents to refine the proposal, and bring
back to the Committee for discussion and potential action next month (June).
D. Discussion on Conditional Use Permits for home occupations.
Gina Coccia briefly explained the City's process for approving home occupations, and
that there is essentially a two -tiered system where customers or employees coming to a
residence mainly triggers an expensive Hearing Examiner hearing and review. Staff's
experience has been that certain types of home occupations, such as music teachers,
generate very little neighborhood concern, but have to undergo the expensive Hearing
Examiner process. Other cities surveyed seem to have more streamlined rules, and on
review, it seems to staff that it should be possible to more clearly codify conditions that
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would make home occupations compatible with a neighborhood while enabling them to
be more easily permitted. After discussion, the Committee agreed that the issue should
be studied by the Planning Board with the idea of `keeping it simple.' Chair Peterson
pointed out that supporting home occupations made sense from a community
sustainability standpoint.
ACTION: Referred the issue to the Planning Board for study and a recommendation to
the City Council.
E. Cascade Land Conservancy/ Neighborhood Projects.
Rob Chave explained that this subject was mentioned briefly during the Council's
quarterly update on the activities of the Cascade Land Conservancy (CLC), which has
an agreement with the city as part of its participation in the Cascade Agenda Leadership
Cities Program. As part of that program, CLC has committed to contributing 25 hours of
time to a project in Edmonds. After discussing this with CLC, Rob noted that there was
agreement that CLC had the expertise and ability to assist in a neighborhood planning
process for the two neighborhood commercial centers — Five Corners and Westgate.
CLC has experience in visioning, public process, and community design, and could
assist in developing a public process that could serve as a `template' that could be used
in similar planning in other neighborhoods in the city. Stephen Clifton mentioned that this
was a priority for the Economic Development Commission. Evan Pierce, of the Land Use
Subcommittee of the Economic Development Commission, was present and noted that
the Land Use Subcommittee was supportive of the idea, and felt very strongly that the
City needed to move forward on planning for the neighborhood commercial areas as
soon as possible. He also said that the EDC would like to be involved and help with the
project; Rob stated that the Planning Board would also be included. He also suggested
that he had been in contact with someone at the University of Washington who thought
that they could also participate. Rob's thought was that a team approach could be put
together to push the planning effort forward. If the Committee thought the idea had merit,
staff would work with CLC and the EDC to further develop a scope of work and plan to
present to the Council.
ACTION: The Committee supported the idea of a team approach, and agreed that the
idea should be developed further and presented to Council when ready.
F. Community gardens; planting; gardening in planting strips.
Rob Chave and Brian McIntosh noted that staff had initiated this discussion because of
the apparent interest by individuals and groups (such as the Edmonds Floretum Garden
Club) in community gardens and gardening in planting strips (in rights -of -way). Seattle
has encouraged these activities, and staff provided some information on the P-Patch
and planting strip programs that are active there. Rob noted that the city's zoning codes
don't really address community gardens, and the code should be updated to clarify
where and how that activity should be allowed. The first community garden being
developed by the Floretum Garden Club is on a church property, and is not within the
city limits. However, it is likely that churches or other sites in Edmonds could be of
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interest in the future. The City does allow gardening -type activity in rights -of -way, so long
as it doesn't create a hazard or sight obstruction. A difference between Seattle's and
Edmonds' regulations appears to be that while Seattle also requires a permit for
gardening in the right-of-way, the permit is `free' and doesn't cost a home owner
anything. During discussion, it was agreed that the Planning Board should evaluate the
zoning issue and develop a recommendation to Council, while Engineering could advise
Council of any appropriate changes related to planting strips if it community interest
increases.
ACTION: Referred the issues surrounding zoning for community gardens to the
Planning Board for further study and recommendation to Council.
The Committee meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m.
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