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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Planning and Economic Development Committee - 05/14/2012ECDC Minutes May 14, 2012 Page 1 of 3 ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES May 14, 2012 Committee Members Committee Chair Jamie Perry, Deborah Ranniger, Bill Boyce. Perry called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 1. Approval of Minutes Councilmember Ranniger Moved and Councilmember Boyce Seconded a Motion to approve the April 9, 2012 Minutes. Motion PASSED 3-0. 2. Neighbors of West Hill Council - Resolution Program Coordinator Toni Azzola stated that the original West Hill Neighborhood Council dissolved and a new neighborhood council (a community of 1200 homes) was created. She introduced Neighbors of West Hill Council representatives: Chair Sandra Glover, Co-Chair Vivian Bruns, North Advocate Charlotte Dalbec, and West Advocate Don Bowers. Bruns stated that their diverse community appreciates the services Kent provides that will continue to assist their community in dealing with safety, traffic and beautification issues. Councilmember Ranniger Moved and Councilmember Boyce Seconded a Motion to recommend Council adopt the proposed resolution which repeals Resolution 1781 and recognizes the Neighbors of West Hill Council Neighborhood Council, supports its community building efforts, and confers all opportunities offered by the City’s Neighborhood Program. Motion PASSED 3-0. 3. Downtown Strategic Action Plan (DSAP) Update - Resolution Planner/GIS Coordinator Gloria Gould-Wessen stated that Economic and Community Development (ECD) staff identified the DSAP update as a priority in their 2012 work program and this update is based on Council’s strategic goal to create urban centers. Gould-Wessen stated that through the process of updating the DSAP: (1)Staff will review what Kent has achieved and will update recommended strategic actions to reflect potential new directions, (2) Staff will expand the DSAP to function more like Kent’s Comprehensive Plan to include Chapters such as Transportation, Land Use, Economic Development, Parks & Open Space, and Utilities, (3) Staff will complete a Planned Action Ordinance (PAO) based on the DSAP update and will include an environmental analysis that will facilitate the permitting process and new development in downtown. The update effort will reach out to the community and will include stakeholders to hear what is going right and what is missing in downtown. Gould-Wessen stated that other city departments will be engaged to participate in this update. It is staff’s belief that this update will facilitate new development and ensure that downtown will continue to have the successes like we see happening today. Gould-Wessen stated that the resolution is a necessary first step to initiate the DSAP update. Kent has established a procedure for amending the Comprehensive ECDC Minutes May 14, 2012 Page 2 of 3 Plan outside the annual updates and that procedure reflects the State’s RCWs. To declare this action as an emergency means this issue is of community-wide significance that promotes public health, safety and general welfare whereby the DSAP meets those criteria. Once the resolution goes to the Full Council and is approved, staff will notify the State Department of Commerce that we are moving forward with the update. Staff will report back to this Committee. Councilmember Boyce Moved and Councilmember Ranniger Seconded a Motion to move forward a resolution to Kent City Council that declares an emergency to pursue an amendment to the Kent Comprehensive Plan to revise the City of Kent Downtown Strategic Action Plan. Motion PASSED 3-0. 4. PUBLIC HEARING: Medical Marijuana Ordinance Planner Katie Graves stated that the intent of this hearing is to discuss zoning options for medical marijuana collective gardens. The Public Safety Committee stated at their April 10th meeting that the Economic and Community Development Committee (ECDC) should consider this issue at their next meeting and recommended that the ECDC recommend an ordinance to City Council to ban collective gardens. Graves stated that City Council did not pass Ordinance 4025 in January. Graves submitted five exhibits for the record: (1) Email dated May 10 from David Hallin supporting collective gardens specifically Herbal Choice. (2) Email dated May 12 from Eric Munson, a prevention specialist and drug and alcohol counselor, opposing collective gardens. (3) An article published by Huff Post Politics an internet newspaper and written by Tamar Todd a staff attorney for the Drug Policy Alliance supporting medical marijuana collective gardens. (4) A letter from John Worthington supporting collective gardens and opposing a ban. (5) A 3-page excerpt submitted at the hearing citing RCW’s that govern collective gardens. Councilmember Ranniger moved and Councilmember Boyce seconded a Motion to accept the five exhibits into the record. Motion PASSED 3-0. Councilmember Perry declared the Public Hearing Open. The following people spoke in SUPPORT of medical cannabis collective gardens in Kent opposing the ordinance that would ban collective gardens: Philip Dowdy, 1608 E. Republican St. #303, Seattle, WA 98112; Ezra Eickmeyer, Statewide Lobbyist for Safe Access Alliance, 4930 Center Rd, Chimacum, WA 98325; John Worthington, 4500 SE 2nd Place, Renton, WA 98059; Kari Boiter, 4224 S 216th Place, Kent, WA 98032; Steve Sarich, representative for Cannacare; Toni Mills, 25000 180th Ave SE, Kent, WA 98042; Jane Coffron, 25657 29th Ave S, Kent, WA 98032; Jennifer LaDoux, 9721 S 248th St., Kent, WA 98030; David Hallin, 31678 Military Rd. S, Federal Way, WA 98001; John McArthur, 11018 SE 218th St., Kent, WA 98031; Laura Ellison, 600 Ellingson Rd., Apt I-3, Auburn, WA 98047; Steven Schneider, 5510 S 144th St., Tukwila, WA 98168; Matthew Zaborac, c/o Downtown Emergency Services Center (D.E.S.C.), PO Box 67145, 511 Third Ave, Seattle, WA 98104; Koli Bolden, 27400 132nd Ave SE, Apt #G-205, Kent, WA 98042; Pam Larsen, 20615 SE 148th, Kent, WA 98042; Charles Lambert, 925 E. Maple St, Kent, WA 98030; Greta Carter, 452 University Way #67, Seattle, WA 98101; Michael Ranetta, 2007 S 232nd St., Des Moines, WA 98198; Neal Schanbeck, 93 Byrd Drive, WA; Colomba Tsang, 21628 43rd Pl S, Kent, WA 98032 - submitted two binders of information on how medical marijuana is used to treat numerous medical diseases/illnesses; Michael Enos, 11805 SE 255th St., Kent, WA ECDC Minutes May 14, 2012 Page 3 of 3 98030; Don Skakie, 4313 SE 2nd Place, New Castle, WA 98059; Robby Shaver, 25032 Lake Fenwick Rd, Kent, WA 98032; Steve Manzanares, 22816 126th Ave SE, Kent, WA 98031; Jonathan Blake, 22702 90th Way S, Kent, WA 98031; Jared Allaway, (Sensible Washington), 35810 16th Ave S #F303, Federal Way, WA 98003; John Tocher, (Sensible Washington), 13521 SE 161st Place, Renton, WA 98058; Douglas Hyatt, Attorney, 119 1st Avenue S, Suite 16, Seattle, WA 98104; Katherin Ranzoni, 830 Stetson Avenue, Kent, WA 98031; Heinz Strakeljohn, 13228 SE 231st St., Kent, WA 98042 The following people spoke in OPPOSITION to medical cannabis collective gardens in Kent supporting the ordinance to ban collective gardens: Randy Beaulien, 710 Marion St, Kent, WA 98030; Derek Franklin, Washington Association for Substance Abuse & Violence Prevention (WASAVP) supported a continued moratorium. Seeing no further speakers, Councilmember Ranniger Moved and Councilmember Boyce Seconded a Motion to Close the Public Hearing. Motion PASSED 3-0. Councilmember Boyce Moved and Councilmember Ranniger Seconded a Motion to recommend adoption of the medical cannabis collective garden ordinance and to forward on to City Council. Motion PASSED 2-1 with Perry Opposed. Councilmember Perry announced that this issue will be heard before the full Council on June 5th. Adjournment Committee Chair Perry adjourned the meeting at 7:30 p.m. _______________________________________ Pamela Mottram, Secretary Economic & Community Development Committee P:\Planning\ECDC\2012\Minutes\05-14-12_Min.doc