The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About042815 Final Minutes - Capital Facilities WorkgroupCOMPREHENSIVE PLAN CAPITAL FACILITIES & UTILITIES WORKGROUP MINUTES DATE: April 28, 2015 START TIME: 1:02 p.m. LOCATION: City Hall, Conference Room 3 Members Present: Katherine Baril (Broadband/wireless), Lisa Enarson (1996 update), Cindy Jayne (Vulnerability/Adaptability), David King (City Council), Kent Kovalenko (DM Disposal), Julie McCulloch (1996 update), Dwight Nicholson (Planning Commission) Staff Present: Judy Surber (Planning Manager), David Peterson (Public Works), Samantha Trone (Public Works), Amber Long (Deputy Clerk) Topic Recommendation/Action Follow-up ff needed Welcome & Introductions Comprehensive Plan Overview Judy Surber discussed the Comprehensive Plan update process and the role of the five workgroups. She described the four fundamental concepts of the Comprehensive Plan: maintaining small town character, achieving better balance between jobs & housing, accommodating the City's share of county -wide growth, and providing public facilities & services within the City's financial resources. She noted that the scope of work includes "state -mandated" revisions and, resources allowing, optional amendments selected locally. The workgroups need to identify any additional optional themes. Changing Circumstances & Emerging Trends Ms. Surber Ms. Surber reviewed trends data detailed in the meeting materials and explained will check to that the data was taken from a longer memorandum. see if the longer memo addresses changesin precipitation amounts. Revised 5/12/15 Topic Recommendation/Action Follow-up (if needed) Optional Amendment Themes It was suggested that the jobs/housing balance Ms. Surber discussed the preliminary optional amendment themes: planning for is important to all age groups, not only youth transition and community resilience, revisiting the mixed-use center designations, and young families. policies & capital improvements that support families & youth, and reviewing Howard Street zoning. Ms. Surber stated that the end result may be a hybrid of various themes. Two themes suggested by the prior workgroups are: (1) jobs/housing balance, and (2) code audit (reduction and simplification). Why Are We Here? Ms. Surber reviewed the overall goals of the economic development workgroup and solicited input from the group members. Forming a Scope of Work — Group Exercise During discussion, members made suggestions It was asked Members expressed the following concerns and observations: including: whether the City could - Climate change and sea -level rise - Population projections should be monitored serve as a - Changes in precipitation and consequent stormwater impacts over time lender to fund - Howard Street project: effect of extending water & sewer north of Discovery, and - Be open to energy innovation — other options solar panels on zoning regulations/building restrictions stormwater management limitations for power besides fossil fuels (e.g., electric, homes and it - Assumption that energy availability will decrease in future may not be accurate fusion, solar) was (pessimistic view of innovation) - Flexible planning strategies for natural determined - Solar panels & water tubes are economical, but there can be barriers to using them disasters and future economic downturn that this was a (e.g., having to get approval of Historical Preservation Committee to install) - Keep facilities and planning as flexible as question for - Little incentive for water conversation within city possible the City - Mixed-use centers need a much higher residential density around them to be - Use of graywater for irrigation Attorney. successful - Leave mixed-use center zoning as is unless - Issues with mixed-use centers: people are now shopping smarter and spending less there is a reason to change zoning - Affordable housing —1996 plan assumed that ADUs would provide affordable regulations housing, but they are often uses as private guest houses not long-term rentals - Comp. Plan should address maritime/marine - Substandard housing is an issue (need for weatherization, foundation work, etc.) trades—what does it mean to be a marine - Affordable housing is not located where there are jobs, transit, and shopping heritage community? - Retirees are a strength for the City (volunteerism & promotion of arts community) - Howard Street should be an action item - What the City cannot supply (natural gas, broadband, etc.) may be limiting under the broader Jobs -Housing theme. Revised 5/12/15 Topic Recommendation/Action Follow-up (if needed) innovation and business development - City should be more assertive in support of - Difficult to permit tiny homes affordable housing (i.e., enforcement of - Waste management —capacity of landfill in Roosevelt is not an issue, however illegal tourist accommodations) energy cost to transport PT's garbage may become an issue - Encourage businesses that provide high- - Future improvements may be driven by new regulations rather than population intellect, high -wage jobs (e.g., maritime) growth (e.g., stormwater outfalls and sludge disposal) - Broadband is now essentially a utility and - PT business park is only turnkey location for small businesses in PT should be a City service - City has no funds to fix and maintain streets - Focus on providing higher wage jobs more - How to deal with bad streets in an equitable way so as not to cause striation among than providing affordable housing communities. It was noted that soils conditions vary widely and thus stormwater - Update to reflect PUD as electricity service management costs are variable. provider - Diminishing support from State and Federal governments will increase the - Identify and address vulnerabilities in interdependency of junior taxing districts within the same community. In order to essential capital facilities (e.g., wastewater leverage existing local resources, secure scarce Federal and State resources, and treatment facility, main waterline pursue innovative solutions to local problems, collaboration will become more of a (earthquake/tsunami protection) necessity. - Local 20/20 supplied proposed update language from City of Olympia regarding Ms. Surber explained that due to slowed population growth, staff envisioned an sea -level rise abbreviated inventory update. Members indicated that was a reasonable approach. - Encourage small-scale development Ms. Surber summarized that members seemed to prioritize Resilience and Jobs- - Revisit home occupation and parking codes Housing balance (Support of youth and Howard Street being including in "Jobs for more flexibility Housing Balance") with mixed-use ranking as a low priority. There was general - Revisit impact fees - higher tax rate for consensus. Should be added as an optional theme? Members agreed and noted the second homes and/or large houses benefits to all ages. - Encourage collaboration with Mill, WSF, County and junior taxing districts - Coordinate on Glen Cove to support business growth (revenue share) - Lease renewal with Mill presents opportunity to address future maintenance and costs of water pipeline - City needs to make sure that codes are enforces in a just and fair manner, so that Revised 5/12/15 Topic Recommendation/Action Follow-up (if needed) there are no grounds for complaints about favoritism among developers - Consider LIDS for street improvements - Variable price structure for individual lot sizes - Offsets for rain gardens, solar panels, etc. - Set money aside in capital funds for informations stems Public Comment: None Next Steps: Judy Surber stated that she will work with the Planning Commission members who attended each workgroup session to digest and distill the information. After a Town Meeting to obtain more theme suggestions and input from the public, Planning Commission will make a recommendation on the Scope of Work to City Council. Next Meeting: To be determined Adjourn: The meeting ended at 3:10 p.m. Revised 5/12/15