HomeMy WebLinkAbout081015CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING COMMISSION JOINT WORKSHOP
OF AUGUST 10, 2015
CALL TO ORDER
The Port Townsend City Council and Planning Commission met in a joint workshop
on Monday, August 10, 2015, in Council Chambers at 540 Water Street. Mayor King
called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
City Councilmembers present at roll call were Pamela Adams, Robert Gray, David
King, Kris Nelson, Catharine Robinson, Michelle Sandoval, and Deborah Stinson.
Planning Commissioners present at roll call were Kirit Bhansali, Nan Evans, Douglas
Frick, Rick Jahnke, Monica Mick -Hager, Dwight Nicholson, and Jack Range.
Staff members present were Planning Director Lance Bailey, Planning
Manager/Senior Planner Judy Surber, City Attorney Steve Gross, Public Works
Director Ken Clow, and Deputy Clerk Amber Long.
OLD BUSINESS
Summary of Public Input on the 2016 GMA Periodic Update
Planning Manager/Senior Planner Judy Surber gave an overview of
public participation outreach efforts and explained how the summary tables were
developed. Written comments can still be submitted until Council adopts the work
program. She requested that the Councilmembers and Commissioners consider
whether Table 1 is an accurate summary of the community's priorities.
City Attorney Steve Gross suggested that the Councilmembers and Commissioners
view the Comprehensive Plan update process in terms of land use
policies/development regulations, as the purpose of the Plan is to comply with the
Growth Management Act.
Discussion began with the Planning Commission providing some clarification for
City Council about the status of the Commission's assessment. The Commission
and Council discussed the challenges of incorporating public input and addressing
the five key issues given staffing and time limitations. Staff explained that, apart
from the mandated updates which must be addressed now because of changes to
City Council/Planning Commission Joint Workshop August 10, 2015 Page 1 of 3
state law, there is nothing being discussed that could not be addressed later in an
annual update. Due to time constraints, staff suggested that the focus be on setting
up for future updates in subsequent years.
Extensive discussion occurred about the best approach to incorporate public input
into the Comprehensive Plan update process. Staff answered questions from
Council and the Planning Commission about what staff is looking for from them
and clarified that the workshop should focus on Table 1 ("Summary of Input on
Priorities").
Topics of discussion included:
- Problems with making the Plan update overly ambitious or prescribing a particular
solution to a problem
- Interconnectedness of the key issues
- Whether to single out one key issue that the update should focus on
- Code audit
- Using broad statements in the Plan to keep options open
- Comprehensive Plan update process as a way for the community to be heard and
involved
- Changes in the community since 1996 and likelihood of further changes that
cannot be predicted
Mr. Gross cautioned the group to make sure that any changes to policy do
not overwrite existing goals and policies.
Although no consensus was reached, Mayor King summarized the discussion as
follows:
(1) general reluctance to pick one issue from Table 1;
(2) interest in a generalized policy statement that acknowledges the passage of
time and issues arising in the community since the 1996 plan; and
(3) desire to look at ways in which the 1996 plan is not working as well as it should.
Preparation of the Work Program for the 2016 GMA Periodic Update to the
Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations
Planning Director Lance Bailey discussed the time and work constraints on staff to
complete the mandatory updates by June 2016 and gave an overview of the draft
preliminary scope of work matrix. A brief discussion on the matter followed. There
was a suggestion that #7 ("A consistent population projection must be used
throughout the Plan... ) could be deleted, as it is a repeat of #1. It was observed
that there is limited mention of climate change issues in the document. Staff
clarified that this list is based on a Department of Commerce checklist, which is not
specific to the needs of Port Townsend. Staff is determining how much of the critical
areas consultant's recommendations can be addressed in the periodic update.
Staff responded to a question about the term "housekeeping" used in the draft.
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Public Participation Program for the 2016 GMA Periodic Update - Status and
Next Steps
City Council and the Planning Commission discussed whether a Town Meeting
is an effective way to present information to the public. It was suggested
that the release of the draft plan for public review and comment, currently set for
spring/summer 2016, could be a good time for another Town Meeting. Mr. Bailey
discussed the staffing and time involvement required by the first Town Meeting and
the similar requirements for a second Town Meeting. It was suggested that there
needs to be a way, such as a Town Meeting, to communicate to citizens that we
heard them and that their input efforts were worth the time it took. Staff stated that
the public input received during this process will be used to inform other decisions
in the future; it will not be used only for the Comprehensive Plan update.
The Planning Commission will tentatively be presenting its work plan to City Council
in September or October.
There was general agreement that another Town Meeting should not be done right
away and that Table 4 ("Suggestions best implemented by our partners") should be
sent to the other entities listed.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:36 p.m.
Attest:
Joanna Sanders, CMC
City Clerk
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