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2019-03-13 Planning Board MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS PLANNING BOARD MINUTES March 13, 2019 Chair Cheung called the meeting of the Edmonds Planning Board to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, Public Safety Complex, 250 — 5' Avenue North. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT Matthew Cheung, Chair Daniel Robles, Vice Chair Alicia Crank Phil Lovell Nathan Monroe Carreen Nordling Rubenkonig BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT Todd Cloutier (excused) Mike Rosen (excused) READING/APPROVAL OF MINUTES STAFF PRESENT Brad Shipley, Associate Planner Phil Williams, Public Works Director Carrie Hite, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director Shannon Burley, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Deputy Director Jerrie Bevington, Video Recorder Karin Noyes, Recorder BOARD MEMBER RUBENKONIG MOVED THAT THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 27, 2019 BE APPROVED AS AMENDED. VICE CHAIR ROBLES SECONDED THE MOTION, WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. ANNOUNCEMENT OF AGENDA The agenda was accepted as presented. AUDIENCE COMMENTS There were no audience comments. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR REPORT TO PLANNING BOARD Chair Cheung referred the Board to the Development Services Director's Report that was provided in the packet. Board Member Lovell commented that he is not sure the public has a clear understanding that permits purchased via the Sound Transit Parking Permit Program can only be used in the parking lot directly east of the Sounder Station. This is the only parking lot that Sound Transit owns. CITY SUSTAINABILITY ACTIVITIES UPDATE Mr. Shipley advised that, consistent with Mayor and City Council direction, City staff has been performing sustainability activities in broad and numerous ways over the last few years. The purpose of this presentation is to highlight some of these activities for the Board's information. Development Services Mr. Shipley highlighted the following Development Services activities: • The Comprehensive Plan, including the Sustainability Element, was updated and a Climate Action Plan was adopted. These two long-range planning documents provide guidance for most of the City's policies. • The City launched a solar program in 2011. Also in 2011, the City collaborated with the Edmonds Community Solar Cooperative to install solar panels on the Frances Anderson Center Roof. Since 2012, the City has issued over 100 permits for solar installations, generating a total of 641 kilowatt (kW) hours or enough power for 55 homes each year. Edmonds received the SolSmart Bronze Designation for its promotion of solar energy use. Board Member Lovell advised that he has a solar installation on his home and just received notice from the manufacturer that a flaw was discovered in the system's inverter. He has been asked to shut down his system until the inverter can be replaced. He has placed his name on a waiting list to get the work done by the manufacturer. He agreed to send the notification he received to City staff for their information. He shared details about the program he participated in when installing solar on his home and commented that solar is a very important element of the City's sustainability strategy. The City should pay careful attention to this issue not only for City systems but for systems installed on residential homes. The payback is tremendous. • The City has set up a Green Resources Room in the Development Services Department where customers can view displays of "green" building elements, environmentally -friendly techniques, etc. The room is used frequently. • Development Services staff have prepared a variety of low -impact development handouts that provide standard details and respond to frequently -asked questions. These handouts are available at the front counter, as well as in the Green Resources Room. • The City encourages participation in the EnviroStars Green Business Program. A growing number of Edmonds businesses are being recognized by this regional program that acknowledges businesses that implement environmentally -friendly techniques. • The City had a year -long partnership with Western Washington University's Office of Sustainability and the Association of Washington Cities. Several projects were undertaken as part of this successful program, including the 41 Avenue Cultural Corridor, Edmonds Marsh restoration, Wastewater Treatment Plant education, Edmonds Cemetery mapping, sea level rise, and a walkability assessment. The City of Edmonds was chosen as the first Washington city to participate in the program. • The Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) was updated to better protect wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat, frequently - flooded areas, and geologically -hazardous areas. • The Shoreline Management Program (SMP) was amended to meet state requirements and address local needs for healthy multi -purpose shorelines. • Floodplain mapping was done in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The mapping provides information to the public on plans and practices to reduce flood impacts. • A community -driven Highway 99 Subarea Plan and code were adopted with the goal of providing more opportunities for transit -oriented and mixed -use development. The design standards were improved to enhance pedestrian safety and mobility, and street improvements for multi -modal projects were identified. In addition, electric vehicle charging stations are now required with any new development. • The Complete Streets Ordinance was adopted in 2011 and requires City departments to plan, design and construct streets with appropriate accommodations for pedestrians of all ages and abilities, as well as for bicycles and transit. Planning Board Minutes March 13, 2019 Page 2 • The Building Code was updated to reduce flood impacts and address energy efficiency, fire safety and building resiliency. • Work continues on the Urban Forest Management Plan, which focuses on the management of trees and tree care for a healthy urban forest. The revised draft should be available for public hearings and eventual adoption in early 2019. • The Development Services Department provides support to the Historic Preservation Commission and the Edmonds Register of Historic Places. The goal is to preserve existing buildings that have historic character and provide a benefit to the City. • The Development Services Department also provides support to the Tree Board. Not only does the Tree Board work to plant new trees in the City, it also works to educate citizens on how to maintain trees and good practices. They have established a website and produced several handouts. • The Development Services Department provides support to the Climate Protection Committee that continues its public education and awareness outreach, as well as activities related to the Climate Goals Project. The committee also provided support for citywide programs, such as the recent plastic bag ban. Public Works Mr. Williams highlighted the following Public Works activities: • The City has about 200 vehicles in its fleet and most are standard automobiles, police cars and work trucks. These standard vehicles are in a class where there are more energy -efficient options, and the City is doing what it can to convert these vehicles over time. Between 2012 and 2013, the City converted 15 police patrol cars and one street department crew truck to bi-fuel propane, which is a cleaner fuel that provides both carbon and cost saving benefits. In addition, they have found the vehicles run smoother. The initial conversion cost was about $114,000 and it only took 22 months to recoup the cost. Chair Cheung asked about the cost savings of propane versus fuel. Mr. Williams explained that the City entered into a contract with a fuel supplier, with the city paying for the conversions and the supplier providing and filling the propane tank. The price of the propane is based off the Seattle rack price and is a guaranteed savings of about $1.25 per gallon. However, after deducting the 7% BTU loss when going from gasoline to propane, the net savings is around $1.10 per gallon. He emphasized that propane emissions are much lower than gasoline emissions, as well. He concluded that the conversion program has worked out so well that the City extended it to 20 more work trucks. There is now a total of 36 propane vehicles, ranging from large trucks to small cars. By 2012, the City already had 5 hybrid and 2 electric cars. Since that time, it has added 2 more electric cars and now has a total of 9 hybrid/electric vehicles, and 38% of the City's fleet is now using alternative fuel (electric/propane). The Wastewater Treatment Plan is the single biggest source of energy consumption for the City at this time. Using the Energy Services Company (ESCO) model, which guarantees savings for a set period of time, the City has been able to do a number of energy -saving projects. If the savings do not provide an acceptable return on investment, the Department of Enterprise will supplement the savings via a grant. These projects have resulted in a 22% reduction in electricity usage over time. In addition, the implementation of Scada Live Power Usage allows the Wastewater Treatment Plant staff to monitor energy usage in real time. The facility is manned about 18 hours each day, and there are 6 hours at night when it is not. The Scada Live Power system allows staff to set up the equipment to run automatically and turn elements that consume a lot of power on and off as needed. He summarized that the City tries to use the ESCO model and grant funding sources to replace systems that are at the end of their useful life with new technology and techniques that are not only good practice, but energy efficient, as well. This is a great way for Planning Board Minutes March 13, 2019 Page 3 municipalities to replace aging infrastructure with more energy -wise alternatives. In total, energy use at the Wastewater Treatment Plan was reduced by 37% between 2012 and 2017. • The City also utilizes the ESCO model and grant funding to do energy -saving projects in its other facilities, starting with interior and exterior lighting, a new boiler at Yost Pool and a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system at the Senior Center. If an ESCO contractor is used, then the cost savings are guaranteed by the contractor. On every project done in the City between 2012 and 2017, the cost savings were greater than those projected by the contractor. In total, the projects resulted in a 63% reduction in energy consumption, and the City used grant money to fund the projects. • Compost collection at City Hall reduced City Hall garbage volume by 33%. • The City eliminated the use of bleach as a regular cleaning solution, and all of the new paint that is purchased is now sourced as zero volatile organic compounds (VOC). • Lighting in park bollards was replaced with LED options, and 7 new variable frequency drives (VFDs) for HVACs were installed at the Library and Public Safety Buildings. In addition, the old control system was upgraded with a newer continuous direct digital control system that allows the citywide HVAC system to be recommissioned to be more efficient. • The City's lead custodian, Sarah Brinkley, achieved her Sustainable Community Steward Certificate from Western Washington Extension and Dan Housler and Larry Lafave achieved their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Paint Restoration Certification in 2018. • For years the City has disposed of the biosolid residue from the Wastewater Treatment Plant by incinerating it at 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit, which is an energy -intensive process. The intent is to replace this 30-year-old system with a pyrolysis system, which heats organic material, such as biomass, in the absence of oxygen. Because no oxygen is present, the material does not combust but the chemical compounds that make up the matter thermally decompose into a charcoal called biochar. Since biochar can be used as a soil amendment, this process obviates the need to dispose of biosolids. It is anticipated that the new system would reduce operating costs by about $700,000 a year and the equipment needs to be replaced anyway. Board Member Rubenkonig commended Ms. Brinkley for completing the Sustainable Community Stewart Program. She said she is also an alumnus of the program, as well as the Energy Management Program at Edmonds Community College. She asked where the ideas that have been executed by the Public Works Department came from. Specifically, she asked if many came from the staff. Mr. Williams answered that a lot of ideas were generated by the staff, particularly the low - hanging fruit such as keeping lights off whenever possible and turning machinery off at night when its not in use. However, a lot came from considering more energy efficient alternatives when replacing existing equipment that is near the end of its life. He said he is happy with staff s effort, and they are enthusiastic about all of the environmental programs that have been initiated so far. He can definitely see that progress is being made. Board Member Rubenkonig asked if the City has a "Green Team" and Mr. Williams answered that they did have a committee at one time, but it was not a long-term thing. Board Member Crank asked what the City uses in place of bleach, which was discontinued. Mr. Williams said he does not know the exact products, but they are considered less aggressive and caustic and the potential hydrogen (pH) level is better balanced so they do not create problems when discharging into the Waste Water Treatment Plant. Parks. Recreation and Cultural Services Ms. Hite highlighted the following activities: • The City has implemented an aggressive pesticide and herbicide reduction program that integrates Best Management Practices (BMPs). The department's continued Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach is phasing out the use of synthetic herbicides, such as Roundup, wherever possible and replacing it with the organic herbicide Avenger, which is an active citrus oil. Planning Board Minutes March 13, 2019 Page 4 Chair Cheung asked if the City also explored the use of vinegar and salt as an alternative to Roundup. Ms. Hite answered affirmatively but said they haven't had much success with the alternative. • In keeping with the requirements of the Tree City USA Certification, the department works with the Tree Board and volunteers to plants three trees for every tree that is removed, and more than 300 trees were planted in 2018. Over the past year, the City worked on more than 2.2 acres of parkland to remove invasive species and plant hardier plants that help with stormwater runoff and erosion and improve habitat in parks. Most of this work took place in Yost Park and at the Edmonds Marsh. A lot of work has also been done at Hutt park via the Adopt -a -Park and Adopt -a -Plot programs. The department works hand -in -hand with EarthCorps Puget Sound Stewards to manage a volunteer program in Edmonds, leading volunteer stewardship events at Hutt Park, Yost Park, Edmonds Marsh and some areas along the waterfront. The department also works with the Student Conservation Corps to remove invasive species during the summer months. Not only does this program help the parks, but it also grows new stewards for the future. • The Parks Department removes nearly 300 pounds of dog waste every week during the summer. In addition, park working groups host volunteer cleanup events throughout the summer, many of which are open to the public to participate in. • The Parks Department continues efforts to reduce the use of combustible fuel by replacing power tools that use gasoline with tools that run on battery power for small jobs such as pruning. They are also considering options for converting some vehicles to propane. The City has a robust environmental education program via the Discovery Program. During the spring of 2018, more than 4,000 school -aged children participated in K-6 education classes learning how to take care of the Sound. In addition, more than 7,300 visitors of all ages came through the Olympic Beach Visitor Station, where staff and volunteers in the Discovery Program provide information and talks on conserving the Puget Sound ecosystem. Discovery Program staff also coordinate the annual Watershed Fun Fair, which focuses on preserving watershed health. Nearly 200 people attended the event in 2018. The Discovery Program staff led an October Rain Garden Tour and information sessions that allowed Edmonds residents to explore the process of designing, building and maintaining a raingarden. • As part of the Waterfront Redevelopment Project, the creosote pier will be removed and a new beach habitat will be introduced. This is the last creosote pier along the Edmonds waterfront. • The City Council has set money aside for daylighting Willow Creek, and the Parks Department is working in conjunction with the Public Works Department to get the design done and to procure funding to move the project forward. The project will allow stormwater to filter out into the Sound and allow salmon to rear their yearlings in the marsh by creating better habitat. • The Parks Department is currently working on a low -impact development design for Civic Park, and a schematic design will be presented to the City Council soon. It is anticipated that construction will start in 2020. • The Parks Department is working with the City Council to acquire parkland for a community garden. Board Member Lovell suggested that the PowerPoint presentation should be made available to the public via the City's website. Board Member Monroe asked if asked are policies in place to make the City's projects as environmentally friendly as possible. Mr. Williams said that is always the goal, but it is difficult when it comes to projects that involve asphalt, which requires a heat application. Both the contractor and the asphalt provider are interested in saving money, but they haven't Planning Board Minutes March 13, 2019 Page 5 stumbled upon any acceptable alternatives yet. He said the City tries to function as energy efficient as possible. For example, employees are encouraged to share transportation to work sites so that fewer vehicle trips are needed. Board Member Monroe asked if the City has a policy for requiring recycled materials for road bases. Mr. Williams said they try to maximize the use of recycled materials as much as possible. However, requiring that materials be recycled can add a significant cost to a road project and the City typically leaves it up to the contractor to determine the methods used for the project. He said that most of the asphalt will go to a demolition waste site where it will likely be recycled and reused in another project. Mr. Williams shared details of the Dayton Street Project and Board Member Monroe asked if the City has considered low - impact development improvements for utility lines as part of the project. Mr. Williams said the City's intent is to bring all of the utilities up to current BMPs, but they will only be putting new sewer lines in the first section of improvements. The stormwater system will be realigned as part of the project, as well, but the City does not have the resources to underground the power or replace sidewalks. He pointed out that 95% of the project funding comes from the utility fund. Mr. Williams announced that the City is in the process of hiring a new concrete crew to add sidewalks throughout the City and improve the American's with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramps. However, this crew will not be doing large sidewalk projects. Vice Chair Robles asked if the City has considered replacing water lines with Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) or Polyethylene (PEX) materials or if they will continue to use the standard copper material. Mr. Williams responded that, at one time, the City used these materials but the pipes became brittle and experienced failure. They generally use copper pipes now. Board Member Rubenkonig asked if the City has considered using a lighter color of asphalt for the streets so they do not become heat banks. Mr. Williams said he does not know that anyone has come up with a lighter colored asphalt, but there are a lot of different treatment options available to restore failing asphalt and many of them are lighter in color. If this option becomes an affective choice for rejuvenating asphalt, the City will definitely consider it. Board Member Rubenkonig asked if the City has considered the idea of placing clam shells on the roofs of City structures to reflect the heat back out. She advised that this option has been used successfully elsewhere. Mr. Williams agreed to research the option further. PROPOSED CHANGES TO EDMONDS CITY CODE (ECC) 5.32 AND 50.05.060 (PARK RULES AND DOG RULES) Ms. Hite advised that the park rules have not been updated for more than 8 years, and staff is recommending some changes that are intended to assist the City in operating parks for the safety of all. She reviewed the proposed amendments as follows: • ECC 5.32.045 — Smoking and Vaping in Public Parks Prohibited. Recently, the Snohomish County Health Department asked the City to consider prohibiting smoking and vaping in all of its parks. Right not, it is signed as such, but it is not codified, and this makes it difficult for staff to enforce. She agreed to take the issue to the City's elected officials to see if they are interested. Board Member Lovell asked if it is legal to prohibit smoking in all parks. Ms. Hite answered affirmatively and explained that may cities in the State have taken this approach and Washington State Law backs them up because it relates to the health and safety of all to enjoy the parks. Washington State Parks has also implemented this prohibition. She acknowledged that Edmonds does not have enough resources to make this the highest priority, but if the prohibition is codified, park crews will have greater ability to enforce it. Board Member Robles said he thought that vaping was a vast improvement over smoking. He asked if it would be possible to prohibit smoking but provide a small area of the park for people who want to vape. Ms. Hite agreed that is an option. However, according to the Snohomish County Health District, vaping is still dangerous for people to breath in. Planning Board Minutes March 13, 2019 Page 6 ECC 5.32.010 — Park Closing Hours. Currently, the park closing hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., but this is problematic because it gets dark much earlier in the winter months and they don't want people in the parks after dark. Most of the parks are not lit, and it is sometimes difficult to get people to leave when it is dark. To address this concern, staff is recommending this section be amended to say that `All parks shall be closed from sunset to sunrise each and every day unless otherwise posted by the City Park and Recreation Department. " Using this approach, parks would close in the evenings around 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in the winter and people would not be allowed to loiter in them after dark. Staff believes this approach will be easier to enforce. Vice Chair Robles asked if there are places for young people to socialize in the evenings. For example, the library could be left open for extended hours or perhaps a portion of a park could remain open for this purpose. Ms. Hite pointed out that most of the downtown plaza areas are open when the businesses are open and they are attractive gathering places for youth. She suggested that the concept be revisited when Civic Park is redeveloped and lights are added to the playfields for evening games. In general, the issue is primarily a concern at waterfront and neighborhood parks. Vice Chair Robles said he would like to see more places for people to get together to socialize after dark. There are so many things keeping people inside, and the social fabric can break down if there is no sense of community. • ECC 5.32.030 — Motor Vehicles Prohibited from City Parks. This section would be amended to clarify that motor vehicles, including Segways, are not allowed in any of the parks. Currently, the City allows Segways along the waterfront walkway without any issues, and they would like to continue to allow this use. However, staff does not think it is appropriate to allow them on trails in other City parks. Chair Cheung voiced concern that the proposed language would not apply to Solowheels, which are similar to Segways, but only have one wheel. He also asked if motorized skateboards would be prohibited. Board Member Monroe asked about the intent behind prohibiting motor vehicles, and Ms. Hite said the idea is to limit vehicular and pedestrian conflicts. While foot -powered skateboards are allowed in the parks, once a motor is added they become problematic from a safety standpoint. She emphasized that the proposed amendment is not intended to prohibit recreational pursuits. It is intended to protect the safety of the citizens who use the park, particularly children. • ECC 5.32.040 — Drinking Intoxicants in Public Parks Prohibited. Currently, the City prohibits alcoholic beverages in parks. However, in practice, the City does allow alcohol to be served when someone rents a shelter or the plaza room. In order to make this practice consistent with code, staff is proposing that the code be changed to allow alcohol as authorized by a Special Event Permit. • ECC 5.32.050 — Horses and Similar Animals. This section would be amended to permit horses and similar animals in parks if they are utilized for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) purposes. In addition, the City plans to uses goats as a sustainable approach for removing invasive blackberries in parks. • ECC 5.32.100 — Fishing Pier Regulations. This proposed amendment clarifies that the prohibition of animals on the Fishing Pier would not apply to service animals. Currently, the exemption only applies to seeing eye dogs. She pointed out that people use service animals to address a variety of disabilities, and the intent is to not discriminate if the animal is used for ADA purposes. For example, as proposed, comfort animals would be allowed. The amendment would also prohibit wheeled vehicles upon the fishing pier. Chair Cheung commented that the prohibition should not apply to motorized wheelchairs, and Ms. Hite agreed to alter the language to make this clear. Chair Cheung suggested it should also not apply to carts that people use to transport their fishing gear out onto the pier. Board Member Rubenkonig suggested that there are more appropriate terms than "handicapped" when referring to people who are disabled. ECC 5.32.106 — Feeding Wildlife on City Beaches Prohibited. This amendment would add a new section that prohibits feeding wildlife on City beaches, which is consistent with Washington State Law and Washington State Park rules. Planning Board Minutes March 13, 2019 Page 7 Board Member Monroe asked if people are allowed to fish from the beach now. Ms. Hite answered no. She explained that people are allowed to walk across the beach with their spear fishing gear, and they are permitted to fish beyond the tidal zone. • ECC 5.32.060 — Dogs on Public Grounds. The current code is complicated and difficult to enforce. It requires someone with a dog who wants to follow the rules to consult the City code to determine where they can walk their dog. Staff is recommending that the code be changed to allow dogs on leashes in all parks with the exception of playfields, beaches and school grounds. Beaches are considered sanctuaries, and staff is concerned that dogs in these areas could create conflicts with wildlife. Staff is also proposing that dogs be prohibited from playfields where children often play. Currently, the Edmonds School District does not allow dogs on their properties, but it is exploring its policy and will work with the City if they choose to make this policy change, as well. She reminded the Board that the City has partnerships with the school district that allows the playfields to be used by the general public for park purposes after school hours. Ms. Hite advised that, currently, the Port of Edmonds allows dogs on its portion of the waterfront walkway, but the City does not. The City's current code allows dogs on leashes in certain areas of some parks, and signs are in place to point these areas out, but it is hard for people to clearly understand where they are and are not allowed. It is also difficult for staff to understand and enforce the rules. In her discussions with animal control and parks maintenance staff, it appears that the current rules were put in place because people were not picking up after their pets. As part of this policy change, the Parks Department will install waste stations at all of the parks and encourage dog owners to pick up after their pets. Board Member Rubenkonig asked if staff is recommending that the amendment to ECC 5.32.060 be an interim ordinance. Ms. Hite said she is proposing adoption of the amendment as a permanent ordinance, recognizing that it can be revisited at some point in the future if problems arise. Board Member Rubenkonig summarized that the proposed change would give people more opportunities to walk their dogs in places that are more accessible, and it may relieve some of the pressure from the dog park. Ms. Hite emphasized that the dog park is different in that dogs are not required to be on a leash. The proposed change would require that all dogs be on leashes when visiting the other City parks. Chair Cheung asked if cats are also allowed in City parks. Ms. Hite pointed out that the current code does not disallow cats in parks, and neither would the proposed amendment. Board Member Monroe asked how the City would spread the word if the ordinance is passed and dogs are allowed in all parks. Ms. Hite reminded the Board that the City Council must hold a public hearing before taking action on the proposed amendment, which means the public will have an opportunity to provide feedback. If the ordinance is adopted, staff will do a public education campaign to inform the public of the change. Vice Chair Robles asked if the proposed amendment is consistent with most other cities in the region, and Ms. Hite answered yes, most allow dogs in their parks on leashes. Ms. Hite advised that she would update the proposed amendments based on the Board's feedback and present them to the City Council in May for a study session and public hearing. PARKS DEPARTMENT UPDATE Ms. Hite and Ms. Burley provided the Parks Department update, specifically noting the following: • Civic Field Design Development. This project is still in process, and the goal is to complete the design work in 2019 and go out to bid on the project in February or March of 2020. It is anticipated that construction will start in 2020, as well, depending on funding. They have procured about $9 million of the $12 million estimated cost for the project, and they are pursuing additional funding from the State, Snohomish County, Real Estate Excise Tax Planning Board Minutes March 13, 2019 Page 8 (REET), park impact fees and potential bonding. The staff and consultant continue to work with a variety of stakeholders to create schematic designs and an update will be provided to the City Council on April 2°d • Fishing Pier. Staff is still working to resolve issues with the contractor, but the pier is open, safe and busy. They have not been able to address concerns related to the center joint with the contractor, and they are now considering options for addressing the problem in house. Edmonds Marsh. Daylighting Willow Creek is a high priority project this year and the City Council has set aside some funding for this purpose. The schematic designs were just completed and they are currently working to secure funding for final design. The creek needs to be daylighted through the Unocal property, which has not yet been deemed clean. Once it is cleaned, it will be transferred to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). WSDOT is supportive of the project, but cannot commit until the property transfer is finished. Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) has also been informed of the project and Sound Transit actually installed a culvert under the railroad tracks as part of its project. Board Member Lovell recalled that BNSF used money it received from Sound Transit for allowing access over the tracks to install the culvert. Ms. Hite said the culvert will be utilized as part of the daylighting project, but it currently has a cement barrier that will need to be removed as the project moves forward. Seaview Playground Replacement. The Capital Improvement Plan identifies funding to replace the playground at Seaview Park, which is about 18 years old. Led by Council Member Nelson, the City Council adopted an additional $200,000 to apply towards ADA upgrades in playgrounds, and some of this funding will be used at Seaview Park to install the City's first inclusive play area. There are already a large number of inclusive features in many of the City's playgrounds, but all of the fall surfaces use engineered wood fiber that is challenging for kids in mobility devices. The funding will be used to provide alternative fall surface materials and pay hyper attention to the inclusiveness of parks for all children. The Parks Department conducted an extensive public process and received participation from nearly 900 people. A recommendation will be presented to the City Council next week, along with a request to go out to bid for the project. The goal is to complete the new playground by summer. • Outdoor Fitness Zones. The City was awarded a grant from the Verdant Health Commission and will be installing a fitness center at Mathay Ballinger Park in 2019 and at Civic Park in 2020 as part of the redevelopment project. Mathay Ballinger is located in the area identified as the highest health risk in Edmonds, and the Department has requested grant funding to provide free drop in fitness events on Saturday and provide orientation on how to use the equipment properly. Board Member Crank asked if the City would incur any additional liability issues associated with the fitness equipment. Ms. Hite said the fitness zones would be similar to playgrounds. The insurance authority has advised that the City should be fine as long as the equipment is internationally certified and maintained on a regular schedule. The City is also covered by the State's Immunity Law. If someone gets hurt and the City has been diligent with maintenance, it will not be held liable. • City Park Storage Building. The replacement shed has been installed and staff is now completing its internal components. It is much larger than the building that burnt down, and the project was less costly than originally estimated. • Community Garden. The Parks Department is working to acquire property for a community garden. • Waterfront Redevelopment and Walkway Completion. It is anticipated that this project will go out to bid in April, with construction to start in mid -April or the beginning of May. All of the in -water work must be done within the fish window, which falls between mid -July and early October. The intent is to run the project on a parallel path with the new Waterfront Center, and staff has been in constant communication with the Senior Center to make sure they are on the same timeline. Planning Board Minutes March 13, 2019 Page 9 Board Member Crank observed that at the last City Council meeting, there was a discussion about how to raise the remaining funds needed for the Waterfront Center Project. She asked what would happen to the Waterfront Redevelopment and Walkway Project if the Waterfront Center Project is postponed for lack of funding. Ms. Hite answered that the redevelopment project would have to be postponed or modified because the current plan is based on the parking lot being reconfigured and the building footprint being altered. Board Member Monroe asked about the engineer's estimated for the Waterfront Redevelopment Project, and Ms. Hite answered that the total cost for all three elements of the project is about $3.2 million. • Edmonds Youth Commission. The City Council adopted an ordinance last June to establish a Youth Commission, which is now seated for the first year. The Parks Department has hired a part-time coordinator to work with the Commission, and their top two work items this year include preventing gun violence in schools and mental health awareness for youth. • Student Conservation Association. The City has collaborated with the Student Conservation Association to bring a youth work/education program to the City to help in the parks over the summer. This successful program will continue in 2019. • Willow Creek Fish Hatchery. The department has completed its first year of partnership with Sound Salmon Solutions to operate the fish hatchery, and the transition went smoothly. • Urban Forest Management Plan. The Parks Department is working with the Development Services Department to complete the Urban Forest Management Plan in 2019. Staff is working on the final edits and will present them to the City Council for final adoption soon. The City Council has set aside funding to hire a part-time arborist (10 hours a week) to help jumpstart the plan's goals. • Cemetery Mapping. The department is continuing its working on the cemetery mapping project, but there have been some technical problems that need to be addressed. It is now possible for someone to search for plots and locate them on a map, but not all names are available as they are still trying to sync the website. Board Member Rubenkonig asked if it is possible for families to add additional information, and Ms. Hite answered no. Arts Commission Programs. Plans are underway for the Best Book Poster Contest for third graders and soon the halls of the Frances Anderson Center will exhibit the selected posters. Staff has also been working with the steering committee for the Write on the Sound Conference in October, and the On -the -Fence temporary public art project continues to provide changing visual interest in town. One main accomplishment in 2018 was the City of Edmonds being selected as the first Certified Creative District for the new State program. The Cultural Services and Economic Development staff worked together to lead the public process, develop the work plan, etc. They are currently working to form an advisory committee for the Creative District to move some of the goals forward. Gateway Sign. Last fall, the Parks Department conducted a community process to consider new sign options for the 5' Avenue S and SR-104 Gateway Sign. In addition to input from a committee of 9 members, public feedback was solicited via open houses and online surveys. Three new options, as well as the existing sign, were presented to the public at an open house on February 271. In addition to the three designs prepared by Clayton Moss, an additional design was presented by Mack Benek as a 51 option. An online survey invited the public to respond to the five options, but it closes on March 141 Board Member Monroe asked how the City came up with the five options that were presented at the open house. Ms. Hite explained that the citizen committee originally presented two design options to the City Council in July of 2018, but there was quite a bit of negative public sentiment and a desire to replicate the old sign. The City Council decided to step back, expand the committee, and solicit more public input. Since that time, the committee has met 4 times and there have been 3 public open houses. The result of this public process was three new designs by Mr. Moss and a new design proposed by Mr. Benek. The existing sign design was also listed as an option in the recent Planning Board Minutes March 13, 2019 Page 10 online survey. After the on-line survey closes on March 14", the committee will reconvene and discuss the results and comments. The designs might also be tweaked based on public feedback before they are presented to the City Council with a recommendation from the committee. Board Member Monroe questioned the fairness of allowing another artist to submit a design for consideration given that the consulting artist was hired following a request for proposals. Ms. Hite clarified that a request for proposals was not required for procurement of design. Because it is a small contract, the project was not subject to the bid laws. The City did not bid the job and hire Mr. Moss specifically for this job. Mr. Moss has worked with the City on a variety of other sign projects. Again, Board Member Monroe questioned the fairness of allowing one person to throw out a design for consideration when others in the community were not afforded this same opportunity. Board Member Monroe asked if citizens were able to vote for their preferred design more than once, and Ms. Hite said the voting was limited to once from any given device. Board Member Monroe summarized that the survey should not be considered scientific. Ms. Hite agreed. She emphasized that the designs would all go back to the committee for a discussion about comment and themes that came out during the survey. Some tweaks will likely be made to the designs before they are presented to the City Council. To clarify further, Ms. Hite explained that Mr. Benek's intent was to refurbish and update the existing sign, but not replicate it. As the public process moved forward, it became apparent that the public did not really support an exact replica of the existing sign. The City Council made the decision to include all five options in the survey, including the existing sign and the design submitted by Mr. Benek. Board Member Rubenkonig recalled the water feature that was previously located at the intersection of 41 Avenue and Main Street that was destroyed by a vehicular accident. The water feature was eventually replaced with a gazebo and people fell in love with what was intended to be a temporary wooden structure. When it came time to engage artists to design a new water feature, they were limited in their ability to express original designs because of public sentiment in support of the gazebo. She shared this example to illustrate how issues of this type can become political. Ms. Hite expressed her belief that the process will result in a wonderful sign for the entrance into Edmonds that is reflective of community sentiment. • Recreation. The adult sports season is in full swing. Over the past two seasons, there were 15 teams in the 3-on-3 basketball league, 23 women's volleyball teams, 26 coed volleyball teams and 165 pickleball teams. This year 40 new pickleball teams have signed up, and spring softball is right around the corner. The City recently hosted a Daddy -Daughter Dance at the Senior Center that was well attended. The Department is in the process of hiring Rangers to help with educational programs and patrol beaches again this summer, and they are gearing up for the summer season with registration starting March 15t REVIEW OF EXTENDED AGENDA Chair Cheung reminded the Board of their retreat on March 27' from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. He invited the Board Members to forward the items they would like to discuss at the retreat to Ms. Cunningham so that a list can be prepared prior to the retreat. At the retreat, the Board will review the list and identify the items they want to discuss. Board Member Crank said she supports the concept of an open forum for the retreat, but she is concerned that the discussions be moderated so they do not go too long. There needs to be some level of structure to make sure everyone is respectful of the time and space. PLANNING BOARD CHAIR COMMENTS Chair Cheung advised that he and Vice Chair Robles will present a Planning Board update to the City Council on March 26'. Planning Board Minutes March 13, 2019 Page 11 PLANNING BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS Board Member Lovell reported on his attendance at the February 20t' Economic Development Commission meeting. Each of the subgroups are getting organized and starting to develop ideas specifically applicable to increasing economic activity within the City. The intent is to present a list of recommended strategies to the City Council. He will attend their next meeting on March 20t' as the Board's liaison. Vice Chair Robles referred to comments on social media related to garbage collection in Edmonds during the recent winter storm. Many people voiced concern that the garbage company's performance was abysmal, as garbage in some areas was not collected for an entire month. He felt this was unacceptable and should be addressed by the City. Board Member Rubenkonig reported on her attendance at the Puget Sound Regional Council's (PSRC) open house on March 121 related to the Vision 2050 Plan. She said she would have preferred that the PSRC had made a presentation and allowed time for questions and answers. A lot of very dense information was provided on display boards, and attendees were asked to respond to three options as to how the Vision 2050 Plan should be crafted. Mr. Shipley agreed that it would have been helpful if the PSRC had provided a presentation. He explained that it was the first of 5 or 6 workshops the PSRC will hold throughout the region. Most people in attendance were planners or elected officials who had more background information. Board Member Crank announced that Paine Field is now open for commercial flights. Anecdotally, Snohomish County staff is trying to monitor traffic patterns and complaints about noise from the existing flight plans. She advised that the next Airport Commission meeting will be on April 251 at 6 p.m. ADJOURNMENT The Board meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m Planning Board Minutes March 13, 2019 Page 12