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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Planning and Economic Development Committee - 10/01/1991 (3) CITY OF �J� CITY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES October 1, 1991 4 :45 PM Committee Members Present Jon Johnson, Chair Leona Orr Judy Woods, Council President for Christie Houser Planning Staff Other City Staff Lauri Anderson Tony McCarthy Sharon Clamp James Harris Margaret Porter Other Guests Linda Van Nest GROWTH MANAGEMENT UPDATE (L. Anderson) Lauri Anderson reported that the mid-level managers group has completed its work. A list of tasks has been prepared indicating which department will take lead responsibility and which departments will be involved. A timeline has also been established. The information was sent to the Growth Management Committee, and after their review it will be sent to the Mayor and then to the City Council. Councilmember Orr added it should be on the agenda of the next Growth Management Committee meeting. Ms. Anderson also reported that the Wetlands Citizen Advisory Committee had their last meeting. The committee reached consensus on many broad issues but there were many dissenting opinions on specifics. A brief summary of the committee's work is being prepared for the Mayor. Representatives from the development community were present on the committee as well as a representative from the Audubon Society, Greg Wingard from the Environmental Task Force, and a person who lives and works in the agricultural lands, among others. After the Mayor reviews the report, staff will prepare the package for a Planning Commission hearing in November. An introductory meeting with the Council, the Mayor, and Administration will be schedule for mid-October to discuss the public participation program. As a public service, TCI Cable has volunteered the use of a camera crew. Other City departments have also been contacted for their input. CITY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 1, 1991 PAGE 2 Ms. Anderson explained as part of the work program for growth management we are conducting a land use inventory. It is important, when projecting how a comprehensive plan should be put together, to know what is out there. The information we currently have is out of date. In terms of acreage, the inventory is approximately one-half complete. The inventory will allow us to calculate square footages for various uses, and will determine the amount of vacant land and underdeveloped land we have. This information will provide a good understanding of capacity. The City is working with King County and all the other cities to determine how much building capacity exists because that is the foundation for the urban growth boundary. Some of this involves policy decision in terms of what land could realistically be developed to a higher density. SATELLITE MUSEUM IN KENT (L. Anderson) Lauri Anderson reported that she and Helen Wickstrom of the Parks Department inspected the log cabin at Park Orchard Elementary School which the White River Valley Historical Society is proposing to move and use as a satellite historical museum in Kent. The cabin is approximately 20 x 40 feet and has a 10.5 foot overhang over the front door. There are two doors and many windows around the perimeter of the cabin. The windows are not glassed in; they are covered with wooden shutters. There is a shake roof and the interior ceiling is open. There is no interior insulation, the walls are unfinished, and the cabin has a solid wood floor. The cabin was built in 1976 by parents and teachers at Park Orchard. Ms. Anderson learned from the principal of Park Orchard that the playground expansion project is in a preliminary stage, and he does not have a timeline for removing the cabin. Robbins Moving Company, who moves portable classrooms for the school district, estimated the cost to move the cabin would be $13 ,700. The cabin is currently sitting on a concrete foundation; therefore, a new foundation would need to be constructed. Ms. Anderson noted other work needed on the cabin would be weatherproofing, security, insulation, electricity, plumbing for bathrooms, and handicapped access. The cabin is too large for the park on 1st Avenue and Titus Street. Helen Wickstrom suggested the Naden Street park, which is next to one of the proposed sites for the justice center. There is a large grassed lot at 4th Avenue and Willis which is owned by the City; however, there is no parking. The Burlington Green by the gazebo would require reconstruction of irrigation and tree removal. Ms. Anderson stated the size of the cabin might be a problem for locating it on the Municipal parking lot. CITY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 1, 1991 PAGE 3 Council President Woods stated we might consider a public fund raiser to pay for the project. Planning Director Harris wondered if some kind of grant would be available. Council President Woods suggested talking to Patrice Thorell, Parks Department Cultural Superintendent, because the new hotel/motel tax dollars will generate some possibilities. She commented there is strength in proposals that include education. Mr. Harris commented the cost to move the cabin is the tip of the iceberg. Plumbing and electrical work likely will cost thousand of dollars. Mr. Harris also commented that this could be a community involvement project. Ms. Anderson thought the parent/teacher organization that built the cabin might be interested in following the future of the cabin. Council President Woods agreed and added a nice plaque stating when and why it was constructed and donated would be nice. Linda Van Nest commented that the labor to install the electrical on the Neeley Mansion was donated by the electrical union. She also commented that the Chamber of Commerce tourism committee may support the project. Councilmember Orr stated it would be a good idea to find out what support there is for the project and identify a site. Senior Planner Anderson will work with Helen Wickstrom and Nancy Woo on the sites. Ms. Anderson will talk to Patrice Thorell about how the project could be funded by hotel/motel tax funds which go to capitol projects. Ms. Van Nest spoke with Grace Hiranaka, who is on the museum board and the Kent Arts Commission. She is very enthusiastic and might help solicit support from the Arts Commission. Jill Leovy of the Seattle Times contacted Linda Van Nest and there will be a brief in Wednesday's paper about the idea. SUBURBAN CITIES STAFFING (J. Johnson) Council President Woods explained why she pulled this item from the Council agenda. She was unsure where the support for this item would come from and was concerned that the support might go down. She suggested this item be put on hold until Suburban Cities' new board of directors takes over. Ms. Woods also suggested we try to find some grant money that could get us into the process, and when we approach staffing and funding at the same time, cities might be in a better position to respond positively. ADDED ITEMS Councilmember Orr asked when the Planning Commission will be looking at the sign ordinance for sandwich board signs on private CITY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 1, 1991 PAGE 4 property. Planning Director responded it is scheduled for a workshop on January 13, 1992 . Council President Woods would like to solicit more on-going executive summaries of what is going on in particular areas of Planning Commission. She indicated she receives multiple copies of most of the major issues Planning Commission is hearing and would prefer to receive information at the end of the issue when it's timely. Planning Director Harris agreed to send councilmembers a copy of the Planning Department Meeting Schedule which is published each Friday so that councilmembers will be aware of when various issues are scheduled to be heard. Ms. Woods went on to say that we are going to try to minimize the paper output and try to be more selective. Councilmembers do not need copies of every letter that went out to every person who was involved in a particular activity. She also suggested circulating any information that is not time sensitive. Councilmember Orr indicated they see some information two to three times, for example, they receive Planning Commission minutes then when the issue comes to Council, they receive the same information in the packet. It was suggested that councilmembers receive updates and progress reports, then receive full information on an issue when it finally comes to the Council. Ms. Orr and Woods indicated they do not need all the documentation from the Board of Adjustment and only need to see the decision. Ms. Woods indicated Board of Adjustment information is the type of thing that could be placed in a reading file in the new Council office. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 5: 35 p.m. PC1001.MIN