HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Planning and Economic Development Committee - 01/19/1993 (3) CITY OF 0\,L1!2
CITY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES
799CIZ JANUARY 19, 1993 4: 00 PM
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT PLANNING STAFF
Leona Orr, chair Lin Ball
Jim Bennett Sharon Clamp
Jon Johnson James Harris
Margaret Porter
Laura Yeats-Quilici
OTHER CITY STAFF Fred Satterstrom
Alice Shobe
Norm Angelo
Mary Berg
Tom Brubaker
Laurie Evezich
Gary Gill
Bob Hutchinson
Alana McIalwain
Tony McCarthy
Larry Webb
GROWTH MANAGEMENT UPDATE (L. YEATS OUILICI)
Planner Laura Yeats Quilici informed the Committee of Countywide
Planning Policy FW-2 which requires that several interim actions be
taken by King County jurisdictions until Comprehensive Plans are
updated. The policy addresses minimum residential densities,
accessory units, and manufactured homes on individual lots.
Several alternatives will be discussed at the Committee's
February 2, 1993 meeting.
SECTION 8 HOUSING DISCRIMINATION (A. SHOBEI
As a follow up to the December 1, 1992 meeting where three citizens
spoke to the Committee regarding discrimination against Section 8
voucher and certificate holders in the City of Kent, Planner Alice
Shobe reported on the ordinances adopted by King County and the
Cities of Seattle and Bellevue which prohibit Section 8
discrimination. She also presented information from the State of
Massachusetts which prohibits public subsidy discrimination state-
wide.
Chair Orr requested staff research answers to the questions raised
and report back to the Committee in the future.
CITY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES
JANUARY 19, 1993
PAGE 2
HOMELESS UPDATE (A. SHOBE)
Planner Alice Shobe reported that the Emergency Cold Weather
Shelter Program run by Catholic Community Services (CCS) ran out of
money the first of December 1992 . An additional $1, 000 allocated
to the program in December lasted three days. As a result of an
editorial published by the Valley Daily News regarding the homeless
situation, money was sent to CCS by citizens; however, these funds
ran out by Christmas and the Kent Police Department ran the program
for the remainder of December.
A task force of City staff and local churches was formed the first
of January to develop a community response program in anticipation
of a potential crisis situation which may occur as a result of the
continuing cold weather. Staff will keep the Committee informed of
the progress of this group.
SHORT PLAT PROCEDURES (J. HARRIS)
Planning Director Harris presented a revision of the short
subdivision regulations which addresses notification of the public,
public response, and the appeal process. Further discussion on
this revision will be held at the February 2, 1993 meeting.
PERMIT CENTER (CHAMBER OF COMMERCE)
Kent Chamber of Commerce spokesman Steve Burpee reported that the
Chamber recommends the Planning Committee forward to the Council a
recommendation to adopt in full the proposal from the Mayor's
Advisory Committee on the Permit Process, including the plan for
implementation of the needed reorganization. They feel these
changes are needed to protect the economic health of the community.
Mr. Burpee stressed that whatever plan is implemented, the Chamber
does not feel safety should be compromised. The Chamber also has
requested to the Mayor that a committee be appointed to select the
personnel involved in the new process.
Linda Martinez, speaking as an ordinary citizen, feels that a
speeded up process managed by a political arm of our city does not
have much to do with political accountability. The Mayor's Task
Force plan is very accountable to a small group within the city;
however, it is not aimed at the entire city. she is concerned that
this process will be outside the authority of city officials who
are mandated with this responsibility. Regulations exist to
protect all citizens. This process focuses on small, high volume
items without considering how they fit in with larger developments.
CITY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES
JANUARY 19, 1993
PAGE 3
Ms. Martinez noted that the department heads proposal comes closer
to looking at the whole system. There needs to be one intake
place, but the City does not need two processes for essentially the
same type of things. The recommendation that the project manager
come from outside all the disciplines having anything to do with
protecting public welfare and ensuring that the intents of the
codes are enforced is the key element in the permit process which
the Mayor's Task Force is missing. The people who are mandated to
do this need to be part of the process to see that the future of
the City is protected and that development is directed by order of
ordinances adopted by the City Council rather than by order of City
Administration. Ms. Martinez would like to see the Committee take
a step to bring some cooperation as suggested by the department
heads rather than to simply start all over again.
Chair Orr requested the departments heads present their final
proposal at the February 2 meeting so the Committee may decide
which proposal to recommend to the full Council.
Chair Orr stated her personal concerns as follows:
1. The safety issue.
2 . There is room for improvement in customer service.
3 . Reasonable timelines need to be set due to decreased staff
levels.
4. Predictability and consistency need to be addressed on code
interpretation issues.
ADDED ITEM
Planning Commission Chair Linda Martinez reported that the Planning
Commission will hold a public hearing on the wetlands issue on
February 22, 1993 . The ordinance will go the full Council in March
or April.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 5:26 p.m.
930119.PC