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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Economic and Community Development Committee - 08/14/2017Economic and Community Development Committee Minutes August L4,2017 Kent, Washington Approval on 9/LL/L7 Date: August 14,2017Time: 5;00 p.m,Place: Centennial North and South Attending: Bill Boyce, Jim Berrios, Tina Budell, Charlene Anderson, Matt Gilbert, Brennan Taylor, Bill Ellis, Julie Pulliam Agenda: 1. Call to Order 5:02 p.m. 2. Roll Call 3. Chanoes to the Aoenda Item 7 is information only. 4. Approval of Minutes Council Member Jim Berrios MOVED and Chair Bill Boyce Seconded a MOTION to approve the minutes of July LO,2OI7. Motion PASSED 2-O. 5. Hiqhland Prooertv Surplus Resolution Bill Ellis presented on the Highland Property which was acquired for the construction of Veterans Drive. This resolution asks for surplus of the property in order to give staff the authority to market it. Since June 20th a notice process commenced through a posting in the Kent Reporter, mai.ling the neighboring communities and two community forums on June 22nd and July 13th. The feedback from the notice process showed most participants voiced the concern of residential development properties on the land, however once reassured that the developments would test out commercial developments there was interest taken into what could be placed there. The participants expressed concerns for traffic, specifically around illegal U-turns being made and site feasibility/views. The community participants however, were interested in smaller venues such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. Adam Long presented to council a new state law effective July 23'd that affects public properties with restrictive covenants, The new law stems from a case in Snohomish County concerning a parcel that was dedicated to the city for playground purposes, The city eventually removed that covenant for playground purposes to be used as something else. From this case the new law requires that public entities hold an additional public hearing if they are going to remove a restrictive covenant. This relates to the Highland Property, which has been exchanged through several government agencies, and therefore may have some restrictive covenants, which could affect the surplus, Adam explains that there is roughly 50 years of background material to go through in order to determine if there are any covenants that restrict the purpose like what took place in Snohomish County. Adam did reassure the council that they do not foresee any covenants for purpose, however do foresee some for environmental, as the property was once used as a landfill. Legal will continue to do their due diligence on the matter and would report back to council if an additional hearing would be required for this surplus. Page 1 of 7 Economic and Community Development Committee Minutes August L4,20L7 Kent, Washington Approval on 9/tL/L7 Council Chair Boyce announced that he would like to hold a public hearing regardless, aside from new legislature so that there is transparency in this process with the community. Motion: Recommend council to adopt the resolution declaring that Kent Highline Property Surplus to the city's needs in authorizing the mayor to take an appropriate action to market the property for sale or lease in one or more phases. Jim Berrios moved, Tina Budell seconded, and the motion passed 3-O 6. EnvironmentalConsultantsAmendments Brennan Taylor presented to the committee two amendments to each environmental consulting contracts, Theresa Duseke and Raedeke. These amendments will extend through the end of 2077. The consultants assist city staff with environmental review of permits, code enforcement with environmentally sensitive areas as well as assist with code interpretations to provide the best available science. The amendments to the contracts are due to a busy permitting year with environmental regulations as well as to align the contract with the calendar year. The current contract dates run from November 1"t through October 31't. Mr. Taylor explained that the contract started in 2015 and was extended throughout 2016 and 2017, reflecting a full three years. Motion: Recommend to approve the 2O17 fourth amendment for Raedeke Associations Inc., this amendment will extend the expiration date to December 3\ 2OI7 and increase the financial expenditures by g4O,OOO subject to terms acceptable to the Economic and Community Development Director and the City Attorney. Tina Budell moved, Jim Berrios seconded, and the motion passed 3-O Motion: Recommend to approve the 2O17 third amendment to Theresa Dueseke Consulting, this amendment will extend the expiration date to December 31-,2Ol7 and increase the financial expenditures by $23,OOO subject to terms acceptable to the Economic and Community Development Director and the City Attorney. Tina Budell moved, Jim Berrios seconded, and the motion passed 3-O 7. Final Plat Ordinance-Information Onlv Gilbert explained to council that a public hearing is required prior to the legislation being able to move forward for the change of code, The hearing is scheduled for August 28th, 2OL7 before the Land Use and Planning Board. Page 2 of 7 Economic and Community Development Committee Minutes August L4,201-7 Kent, Washington Approval on 9/LLlL7 The change is consisted with an allowance passed by the legislature signed by the Governor effective in July 2017 which allows for streamlining of the process for a final plat approval before it records. The council affirms that the conditions of approval have been met, which are field verified by staff through a lengthy process. Through this process, if all conditions are checked off then it is immediately passed by the council and the builder can then record the plat. This process has been unpopular because it adds time at the end of a project, and must fit into expiration timelines that plats have. The legislature has acted to allow cities to create flexibility and make the final step an administrative step, instead of a legislative step, This change would not change the public process, zoning, criteria or standards. The change would only allow the council process at the end of projects to be an administrative one instead, A public hearing will take place with the options of changing the process into an administrative one, or could require some variations to include the mayors signature, based on hearing feedback. Gilbert explains that this change could save both City staff and developer time, Gilbert also confirmed with council that through the current process they are not granted permission to make changes when presented before recording, they simply sign off that all of the mandatory tasks assigned through the Hearing Examiner have been completed, Gilbert will return with the outcome from the Land Use and Planning Board Public Hearing and any code changes made back to the Economic and Community Development Committee before it is sent on to Council, 8. Sound Transit Uodate Charlene Anderson presented staff topics of discussion that have been happening between them, Sound Transit and other state agencies. Some topics are repeated topics, however staff would like to use this committee forum to offer feedback and opinions on these topics. There are 10 topics of discussion: 1. Kent/Des Moines Station Concept: Staff has discussed relocating utility poles along 30th, Staff is concerned that high transmission lines would interfere with transit oriented development opportunities in the area. Staff asked Sound Transit and they were willing to consider several options in order to move the transmission line farther East, closer to I-5, so that they are out of the service area. Sound Transit has to relocate a few lines in order to accommodate the Light Rail guideway, but do not have to change all of them. This cost was determined to be 9700,000,00, and was determined to be one that the City would not pursue as a general consensus. Anderson explains that this determination has been one that was made strictly on costs. Committee member Berrios would like staff to consider the long term effects of not relocating the transmission lines. Page 3 of 7 Economic and Community Development Committee Minutes August L4,2Ot7 Kent, Washington Approval on 9/LL/L7 2. Sound Transit will provide restrooms in the fare paid zone, and will be monitored, 3. Regional Detention facility: City staff is looking into at how detention facilities will impact future development. You are unable to build on top of vaults, if city staff would like all of this area to be open to development; staff has looked to a regional detention facility as an option, Sound Transit needs to construct a facility to gather the storm water runoff from the roads that they are creating,234th (east and west), 236th and 238th, All of these roads will be newly constructed by Sound Transit and the run off from these roads will need to be collected. Sound Transit would originate the detention facilities, and as development comes in future owners could detain their water, making a regional detention center. 4. Lighting: Staff is having the discussion of how to make the lighting consistent along the 236th roadway which includes City of Kent, City of Des Moines and finally Highline College, There was a workshop in early august that posed the questions of what will be consistent with the street, Some ideas were, landscaping pallets, signage and their requirements and lighting standards. City of Des Moines suggested changing the colors of the pole the signs are on, with the same style. There has also been talk of an inter-local agreement between Kent and Des Moines. Kent would purchase the replacement standards and do the maintenance for Des Moines, with cost sharing, 5. High capacity transit code: This code was mimicked for Kent from City of SeaTac, this relates the standard of retail or commercial services on the ground floor of the garage, Nationally retail is generally overbuilt for these services located in transit garages and are typically unsuccessful. City staff and Sound Transit are looking into other ways to activate this ground floor to meet the standards. Some ongoing ideas have been: seating areas to include food trucks or other carts. Sound transit has been considering additional layout designs and color schemes, Sound Transit will be giving feedback based on several workshops to voice the community's needs, Sound Transit gave feedback on how the Angle Lake station has had issues maintain retail on their newly created first floor. At Angle Lake their first floor has been vacant for one year. Some issues have been the isolation of the retail shop, only being one store, There is also the issue that stations are used for commuters who are not stopping to spend money, they are simply on their way home, The Committee members would like Sound Transit to consider replacing the first floor retail with additional parking. They would like Sound transit to consider the cost of the retail itself and estimating that difference between a retail store and more parking. 6. Open space and landscaping: There is a code requirement to have enough open space and landscaping around the area. Sound Transit has brought an area north of 238th St to meet the standards for seating (one seat ior every 40-50 square feet). Page 4 of 7 Economic and Community Development Committee Minutes August L4,2OL7 Kent, Washington Approval on 9/IUL7 7. Demolition and fencing: Sound Transit will be acquiring properties, and have made offers on the first five, As soon as Sound Transit acquires the property they must also secure it. City staff has brought the idea of not only securing the property but demolishing the current structure so that it will not attract unwanted persons. The areas would still have fencing around it, but would not have boarded up home,8. Permitting process: staff has estimated that for this design project a new permit type will need to be created to accommodate for each proposal. Charlene describes master planning permit to help conserve both Sound Transit and City resources. 9. Utilities: Kent staff brought together both wet and dry utility companies because the roads in the midway area will be concrete roads. Staff is seeking to ensure that each utility company can accommodate the growth that is projected for the area, to avoid having to tear up the roadways after construction. Dry utilities will often require private property easements to accommodate their utilities, City staff would like there to be no easements in order to save the TOD area. l0.Station Design theme: When Sound Transit comes to a new city they spend a significant amount of time talking to the community in order to study the character and wants, Kent has an architecture and art theme incorporated into the city code, which states that the City Council will decide the theme. Sound transit has been working with a community researcher through independent research, workshops and stakeholder groups to hear what is important to the community. The importance of the environment, international community connections and education has been the focus thus far based on research. Sound Transit will bring back recommendations to the committee and incorporate them into the RFP to go before council. Danielle Butsick presented an update on the Sounder Access project in downtown Kent. The purpose of this project is to improve all modes of access to the sounder station in downtown Kent. The project has involved a lot of stakeholder coordination which has been delayed over the last month due to the costs of the projects under Sound Transit. A possibility has been presented to extend the funding higher for the garage projects and the access improvement. The project is in the later stages of Site alternatives analysis, which reflects that one of the sites will have more flexibility for the site orientation and garage set up, Sound Transit will present to council on B-15- 20L7 about costs for each alternative and how they relate to the budget. 9. Code Enforcement Uodate Gilbert presents an update on code statistics and volume from 2OL4 to 2017 which shows a high to normal volume compared to 2074 and previous. Gilbert explains that in the summer Code Enforcement averages 20 new cases per week, throughout varies complaints throughout the city. The city makes contact with each of the complaints through numerous inspection and photo documentation. Since 2015 Code Enforcement has engaged with the City's law department through staff Victoria Robben to make documents legally defensible. This helps to get the documents to the right parties and Page 5 of 7 Economic and Community Development Committee Minutes August L4,20L7 Kent, Washington Approval on 9/Lt/t7 businesses. The Law Department handled 427 separate code enforcement documents in 2016 and is projected to handle 357 separate documents for 2017. Pro-active enforcement has taken place with three neighborhoods in the West Hill that were selected based on community surveys, the police department and Toni Azzola with neighborhoods through the city for hot spot areas, This enforcement was successful and resulted in 100 properties cited through post cards to promote voluntary compliance. Through these 100 properties trash, junk vehicles and tall weeds were among the most popular issues, From this process only one property went through to becoming a fine. Gilbert The next pro-active enforcement project took place in North Park beginning in February 2OI7. This effort resulted in 1B properties being cited, but no properties resulted in fines being issued. As the summer ends Gilbert will begin to look into the next locations for proactive Enforcement and bring back recommendations to the committee as things get closer. Gilbert also gives an update on the Rental Housing Inspection Program, the public/ outreach portion of this project is being completed by Future Wise and Living Well Kent, These parties are responsible for community outreach, legislation and target areas to carry out the project, There was a hiccup between these parties in the City, and the first big round table event happened at Birch Creek on July 27th. There will be two more that will be publicized and shared with the council and the community, At the July 27rh meeting Future Wise and Living Well Kent received a turnout of 100 people. They offered food, childcare and translators in order to give people the opportunity to attend. Based on the feedback from these community round tables both parties will combine the collective feedback and help to create legislation, a draft is expected in September and will be presented to the committee for their feedback. The main themes around Code issues have been mold, maintenance and dirty carpets (cleanliness) of the apartments that are not getting done before new tenants move in. In early 2017 council passed legislation related to source of income discrimination. The first case came in July 2OI7 and included a housing advocacy group who worked to place a an individual in housing, and it successfully did through the Section B program which covered all of the rent less $125, The apartment said that they have a requirement of income showing 2.5 times the rent in the bank as a credit system for payment. They asked for 2,5 times $125 and the individual was denied on their application. The City found that this was not a violation due to accepting Section B but still have an income requirement. Gilbert explained an idea for a new Citation process for violators that have been fined more than once, and no changes have been made to the properties, This idea forwards these cases to the Police Department as criminal matters, These cases would be prioritized by Police, some being attended to immediately and some not, due to the criminal documentation and investigation to establish cause for a criminal process. This process takes away from Police and attorney time, Due to this time constraint a recommendation was made to allow officers to write tickets similar to traffic or litter tickets, A dozen other communities in Washington have that process, and Gilbert is investigating the feasibility of this new process. Page 6 of 7 Economic and Community Development Committee Minutes August L4,2Ot7 Kent, Washington Approval on 9/Lt/L7 Gilbert provided updates on the Childress Property on g8th Ave which was the first property that the City went after during the dangerous building abatement ordinance, The process has moved slowly due to it being the first time the city has taken on a project like this. The City's rules come from state law which protects property owners before the city is able to take action in demolishing a property. The City deemed this property to be officially dangerous, and now must file through Superior court with King County. A draft brief has been made and is in process to be filed. Gilbert hopes to demolish this building by the end of the year, The demolition of the building would be paid for upfront by the City with a lien placed on the property so that when it does sell that money would be in first position to be returned. Through the feedback received with the Childress property Code Enforcement will attempt to duplicate efforts with the Command Labor building which has also been deemed dangerous. The 7-eleven property on Central Ave and James is also a property that has been let go by the owners. Three weeks ago there was a meeting to include the law department, code enforcement and the Deputy Director, and since there has been movement on the junk vehicles. The Department of Ecology has deemed this property to not be fit for a gas station, and the tanks must be removed. Meeting Adjourned 6:52 p.m J ( nistrative Assistant III conomic and Community Development PageT of7