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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Economic and Community Development Committee - 09/12/2016 (2)Unless otherwise noted, the Economic & Community Development Committee meets at 5 p.m. on the second Monday of each month in Kent City Hall, Council Chambers East, 220 4th Ave S, Kent, 98032. For additional information please contact Julie Pulliam at 253-856-5702. Any person requiring a disability accommodation should contact the City Clerk’s Office at 253-856-5725 in advance. For TDD relay service call Washington Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-833-6388. Economic & Community Development Committee Agenda Councilmembers: Jim Berrios, Tina Budell, Bill Boyce, Chair September 12, 2016 5:00 p.m. Item Description Action Speaker(s) Time Page 1. Call to Order Bill Boyce 1 min 2. Roll Call Bill Boyce 1 min 3. Changes to the Agenda Bill Boyce 1 min 4. Approval of August 8, 2016 Minutes YES Bill Boyce 1 min 1 5. Proactive Code Enforcement NO Matt Gilbert 5 min 5 Information Only 6. Regional Economic Strategy NO Josh Brown Exec Dir. 40 min Information Only Puget Sound Regional Council 7. Housing Accessibility NO Marina Hanson 5 min 7 Information Only Ben Wolters 8. Sound Transit Update NO Hayley Bonsteel 5 min Information Only 8. ShoWare Update NO Ben Wolters 5 min Information Only 9. Economic Development Update NO Bill Ellis 5 min Information Only ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES August 8, 2016 Committee Members Committee Chair Bill Boyce, Tina Budell, Jim Berrios 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Changes to the Agenda 4. Approval of Minutes Committee Member Berrios MOVED and Committee Member Budell SECONDED a Motion to Approve the Minutes of July 11, 2016. Motion PASSED 3-0. 5. Outdoor Storage Code Amendment Charlene Anderson presented the motion for outdoor storage. This was presented to the Land Use and Planning Board on July 25, 2016 as a public hearing they recommended approval of an amendment to the zoning code definition of outside storage. Multiple sections in the Kent City Code refer to outdoor storage but this term is not defined in the code. Outside storage definition has been problematic of code enforcement actions that refer to code sections that refer to outdoor storage. This motion recommends section 15.02.315 entitled outside storage include the term outdoor or to provide clarity, MOTION: Budell moved to recommend to the full City Council approval of an amendment to section 15.02.315 of the Kent City Code, entitled “Outside storage” to include the term “Outdoor or” to provide clarity that outdoor storage and outside storage have the same meaning, as recommended by the Land Use and Planning Board. Berrios seconded the motion. Motion Passed 3-0. 6. Sanitary Sewer Code Amendment Shawn Gilbertson spoke on the proposed Sanitary Sewer Code Chapter 7.04. Sanitary Sewer Code Summary  Defines Utility  Defines System Components  States Permitting Requirements  Lists Prohibited Discharges  Lists Rate Structure (N/A for this effort)  Escribes enforcement provisions Discharge from FOG (Fats, Oils, Grease) Generating Facilities Grease Traps and Interceptors – How it works  Flow Inlet  Solids Basket w/Filter Screen captures food particles  Flow hits integral ramp directing grease and entrained air upwards, assisting the grease and water separation  Surface load capacity = 200kg  Water and fine food particles exit the unit 1 ECDC Minutes August 8, 2016 2  Outlet baffle prevents grease from entering the waste system Lack of Cleaning and Maintenance Sanitary Sewer Overflows and Backups Fats, Oils, and Grease can clog sewer pipes and lead to messy and expensive sewer backups. Why update the Sewer Code?  Reflect advances in technology  Keep up with State and County regulations and standards  Enforcement strategy currently offers little flexibility Proposed Sanitary Sewer Code Changes  Updated definitions o FOG generating facilities o FOG removal devices  Specifically states when FOG control is required and what type  Updated list of prohibited discharge parameters  Enhance enforcement strategy Information Only 7. Sound Transit Update There are two issues working with Sound Transit on, the garage at the Sounder Station and the other is Link Light Rail.  Garage – Sound Transit is still negotiating with the consultant who will take much of August to finalize then they will be going to their capital committee to approve a contract for the garage. Kent and Auburn are discussing potential plans for outreach and likely will begin briefings this fall related to the garage and the steps they are taking.  Light Rail – The City has responded to Sound Transits way to track issues. We have sent comments on their primary submittal, they have responded to those comments and now ask us to do now is say agree or disagree to their responses to the comments. The City does agree with most of the comments responses there are some that the City has disagreed and need further discussion. There has been a lot of discussion on the street scape in the Midway area around the station. Sound Transit thanked the City of all the work that was done on the topic and the ideas that has been brought to them. Next is the term sheet discussion which is the City’s chance to solidify the agreements that we have made on the various issues in a non-binding way. This will lead to the development agreement which will come before the City Council in a Public Hearing. At this time, we are coordinating with other Cities on how to streamline the process Information Only 8. ShoWare Update Tim Higgins General Manager of ShoWare presented capital projects:  Sports lights/LED installation is completed the cost $ of 148,000 project with a $40,000 rebate from PSE.  Digital Menu Boards are installed the cost $56,000 project.  New water heater for the Zamboni the cost is approximately $80,000 project. 2 ECDC Minutes August 8, 2016 3  ¼ ton motor for curtain hangers approximately $25,000 project.  Transformer at $25,000.  New carpet in the club lounge and office space total cost is approximately $175,000.  Polishing of the concourse floors approximate cost of $20,000  Parking lot LED lights at $32,000 we will get a rebate on this project.  Trash Cans when we purchased originally it was $38,000 currently it is $60,000 to replace the garbage cans. The City has a $300,000 a year fund for capital and maintenance for ShoWare. There is also a SMG loan available at $500,000. Information Only 9. Economic Development Update  Kurt Hanson opened with MacCrina Bakery on 99th Ave. S. and brought samples for the Committee. One of the companies who have taken advantage of the made in back sold in front strategy out of the Economic Development Plan. The company employees 174 employees, on a 24 hour shift.  Bill Ellis updated the Committee on Puget Sound Regional Council present on the Regional Economic Plan will be scheduled for the September ECD meeting. The Economic Development Plan is approaching the second year and presented the progress of the actions. We should start to see a lot of progress in workforce development soon. Other project to bring to the Committees attention to; internal gateways, specific is the lighting project on Meeker St. at the 167 underpass. Donations are still coming in and total so far is $21,500. A contract is in the works with KPG to work with WSDOT to design an acceptable public art project for under the 167 overpass which would incorporate lighting of an artistic nature. Adjournment Chair Boyce adjourned the meeting at 6:04 p.m. __ ___________________________________ Submitted by Julie Pulliam Economic & Community Development Committee 3 4 ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Ben Wolters, Director Phone: 253-856-5454 Fax: 253-856-6454 220 Fourth Avenue S. Kent, WA 98032-5895 September 7, 2016 TO: Chair Bill Boyce and Economic and Community Development Committee FROM: Matt Gilbert, Current Planning Manager RE: Pro-active Code Enforcement For September 12, 2016 Meeting SUMMARY: As discussed at a May 2016 City Council workshop, staffing increases and Lean improvements in the Code Enforcement section have created additional capacity that will allow us to begin proactive enforcement. Staff has considered options for where to focus, what issues to focus on, how to approach violators, and how to integrate proactive work with the regular demand for reactive enforcement. Based on the council’s strategic goals, results from the 2016 Resident Survey and consultation with staff in Police NRT and the Neighborhoods program, staff has concluded that targeting specific issues in limited areas on the West Hill will be a valuable and positive way to begin this effort. In considering where to begin, staff found that problem areas fell into three main categories: those where code violations and crime are connected, neighborhoods where a little clean-up could go a long way towards improving quality of life, and finally, run-down commercial areas. Each of these is represented on the West Hill. Specifically, the area known as 27th Place, the Yorkshire neighborhood, the Salt Air Hills neighborhood and the commercial strip along Pacific Highway all present opportunities where code enforcement can make a meaningful difference. In order to reach more neighborhoods, it is important that proactive enforcement focus on high-impact issues. In the 2016 Resident Survey, seven types of violations were identified as ‘big problems’ in Kent. These included junk vehicles, accumulations of trash or litter, graffiti, garbage or junk in yards, tall weeds or grass, abandoned buildings and semi-trucks/RVs parked in neighborhoods. This list represents meaningful issues to Kent residents, and it should be the focus of Code Enforcement’s proactive efforts. In order to minimize the number of needed contacts and to eliminate any element of surprise enforcement, Code Enforcement plans to reach out to affected owners and MOTION: None Required - Information Only 5 residents with educational material and a schedule for enforcement before we begin. Mailings, social media and outreach through the neighborhood program contacts will also be useful. Proactive enforcement will likely begin in early October 2016. Found violations will be addressed at a pace that integrates with demand for normal, reactive enforcement. If this effort is successful, we expect that the next Resident Survey will show that more people report that the targeted violations are not a problem in their neighborhood. Staff will be at the September 12th meeting to discuss this further and answer any questions from the committee Budget Impact: None Exhibits: None 6 ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Ben Wolters, Director Phone: 253-856-5454 Fax: 253-856-6454 220 Fourth Avenue S. Kent, WA 98032-5895 Date: September 7, 2016 TO: Chair Bill Boyce and Economic & Community Development Committee FROM: Kurt Hanson, Deputy Director RE: Housing Accessibility Discussion Topics For Meeting of September 12, 2016 SUMMARY: Washington State laws governing residential tenancies are detailed in RCW 59.18, the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act. All tenancies in Washington State cities are governed by this Act, while tenants within the City of Seattle have additional protections under Seattle Municipal Codes. The continuing trends of low vacancy rates and increasing rent costs across the Puget Sound region are making it very difficult for low-income families to find and maintain housing in Kent and our neighboring cities. While ideally balanced tenant protections would be enacted at the State level, there are several strategies that can be weighed and considered by the City Council that may reduce the barriers low-income residents face finding adequate housing to rent. Possible Strategies:  Adopt laws prohibiting housing discrimination based on source of income, similar to the cities of Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond and Seattle. These protections ensure families who pay rent with a housing subsidy or other legal sources of supplemental income can more easily secure a safe and healthy home. Many individuals and families face outright or unintentional discrimination by landlords unwilling to rent to people who depend on government subsidies, such as o Housing Choice (Section 8) voucher holders, o Seniors relying on Social Security Income o Veterans utilizing housing subsidies, or o People with disabilities who receive government income. MOTION: None Required - Information Only. 7 2  Expand tenant protections similar to the City of Seattle related to rent increases so tenants are entitled to 60 days prior written notice for an increase of 10% or more in a 12-month period. Because rent control is illegal in Washington State, landlords can raise the rent as much as they see fit as long as they comply with the appropriate notice period. A landlord cannot change any aspect of a lease during the fixed-term period except by mutual agreement, meaning that rent is fixed during the lease term. In month-to-month tenancies, however, landlords only have to provide 30 days written notice to change a term of tenancy, including a rent increase. An integral factor critical to your discussion is that state law allows a landlord to evict a tenant without cause with a 20-day written notice.  Enact a proactive rental inspection program. Cities such as Tukwila, Pasco, Seattle, Lakewood and Bellingham have programs in place. The city of Tukwila instituted a rental licensing and inspection program in 2011 and city officials report less tenant-initiated complaints since the program was enacted. Rental Housing Inspection Programs are designed to protect the public health, safety and welfare of tenants by encouraging proper maintenance of residential housing. Programs are designed to identify and require correction of substandard housing conditions, and to prevent conditions of deterioration and blight that could adversely impact the quality of life for residents. Municipalities can use this tool intelligently to target rental properties that might be particularly susceptible to substandard conditions and maintenance within the state’s limitations that prevent inspections from occurring more than once every three years. EXHIBITS: None BUDGET IMPACTS: NA (Not Applicable) P:\Planning\ECDC\2016\Pckt Documents\9-12-16\ECDC_memo 9-12-16 HousingAccessibilityDiscussion.doc CC: Ben Wolters, Economic & Community Development Director Merina Hanson, Interim Co-Director Parks, Recreation and Community Services Matt Gilbert, AICP, Current Planning Manager 8