Minutes - 06/25/2003Spokane Valley Planning Commission
Approved Minutes
Council Chambers- City Hall 11707 E. Sprague Ave.
June 25, 2003
1. CALL TO ORDER
Rill Gothmann, Planning Commission Chair, called the meeting to order at 6:30
p.m.
I1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Commission and audience recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Ill. ROLL CALL
Fred Beaulac - Present Bill Gothmann - Present
Bob Blum - Excused Absence Ian Robertson - Present
David Crosby - Present John G. Carroll - Present
Gail Kogle - Present
IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Ian Robertson moved that the agenda be approved aspresented David Crosby
seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
_ . V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Fred Beaulac moved that the minutes of the June 11, 2003 Planning
Commission meeting be approved as presented Ian Robertson seconded the
motion. Motion passed unanimously.
VI. COMMISSION REPOR'T'S
Bill Gothmann:
- Distributed maps to the Commission that he offered to print for them at the last
meeting. I?ach Commissioner received a total of 21 maps, including general
maps of the Spokane Valley, maps of the County's Comprehensive Plan, and
maps of the Capital Facilities Plan.
Ian Robertson:
- Handed out copies of a Power Point overview for his proposed Spokane Valley
solid waste cleanup and disposal program called "Fresh Fall Cleanup" He
understands it might be too soon to begin this program in the Fall of 2003, but
would like some more time during an upcoming Planning Commission meeting
to discuss it in greater detail.
Fred Beaulac:
- Reported on a recent City Council study session where the subject of the Light
Rail was presented. There is to be a road trip to Portland, Oregon, on either July
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24 or July 31. Fred asked staff to confirm the date and notify Commissioners so
those who are interested and have the time can participate.
V11. ADMINISTRATIVE R.FPORT
Greg McCormick:
- Amiounced that the Jouit Planning Session with the City of Spokane and
Spokane County will be held on Thursday, July 17, 2003 at 11:30 a.m. This
meeting is typically held in the Spokane County offices. Spokane Valley
Planning Commissioners will be receiving a formal letter of invitation from
Spokane County sometime next week.
VIII. COMMISSION BUSINESS
OLD BUSINESS:
Planning Commission Rules of Procedure
A memo was distributed to the Planning Commission %Nith regard to its present
Rules of Procedure. Greg McCormick and Stan McNutt spoke with a
representative from the Washington Cities Insurance Authority (WCIA) regarding
recording of Planning Commission meetings, specifically workshops and study
sessions. It was recommended that not all of the workshops and study sessions be
recorded, only those that address an issue specific topic such as the Code
Enforcement issue being addressed currently by the Commission. The f'ollolwing
was a stail'recommended change to Subsection 10 - Paragraph 12, based on that
advice from WCIA:
Proceedings of all ~etat s; public hearings and-Swdy-sessions shall be
recorded and retained. Proceedings of all study sessions or workshops that
address issues that will be reviewed by the Planning Commission in a_aublic
hearing may be recorded at the discretion of the Secretary of the Commission in
consultation with the Chair. Other meetings may also be recorded at the
discretion of the Secretary of the Commission in consultation with the Chair.
There was a discussion regarding the recommendation. Gail Kogel moved to
approve the recommended change to Subsection 10 - Paragraph 12 of the City
of Spokane Valley.Planning Commission Roles and Procedures. Ian Robertson
seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
Gail Kogle asked if Commission members could be teleconferenced into a
meeting if they must be out of town. Greg McCormick and Cary Uriskell agreed
to look into the teleconferencing issue, including whether or not a Commission
member is considered part of a voting quorum if attending a meeting over the
phone.
Publicizing Planning Commission Regular Meetings
In order to enhance public participation, Bill Cothmann recommended that the
Planning Commission have its regular meetings announced in the Spokesman-
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Review's Community Calendar; and also that Planning Commission meetings be
put on the agenda and announced at Spokane Valley City Council meetings.
NEW BUSINESS:
Public Hearing: Proposed Code Amendment - Zoning Code Compliance
Bill Gothmann, Planning Commission Chair, declared the public hearing open on
June 25, 2003 at 7:08 p.m. for the following issue:
An Ordinance of the City of Spokane Valley, Washington, amending Chapter
14.406 of the City of Spokane Valley Municipal Code Relating to Zoning Code
Compliance.
Greg McCormick explained to the Commission that the adopted County Code has
been studied at great length by the staff of'the City of Spokane Valley. Many of
the proposed amendments have been designed especially to abate Code violations.
Cary Driskell explained that the proposed amendments to the Code would
simplify the process of handling Code violations, as well as provide improved
mechanisms for.
Following discussion, the Planning Commission the following additions,
corrections, and recommendations:
14.406.010 - Statement of Policy
Fifth sentence, change the word "tailored" to the word "governed". At the end of
the paragraph, add a statement regarding the primary responsibility of' the Director
of Community Development to enforce these policies.
14.406.015 - Definitions
Section B.2: Change the "or" in the first sentence to "of".
14.406.025 - Declaration of public nuisance - misdemeanor
Section B.2: Third sentence, change the parenthetical phrase to read "(seven
consecutive days)
14.406.030 - Enforcement, authority and administration
Section F: At the end of this paragraph, add the sentence, "Tor purposes of this
clause, substantial injustice cannot be based exclusively on financial hardship
14.406.035 - Guidelines for departmental responses to complaints
Section A.2: Add the phrase "or environmental damage or contamination" to the
end of this paragraph.
14.406.050- initial investigation
Section A: Second sentence: strike out the phrase "of the potential", so sentence
reads, "Low risk case complaints should be acknowledged by sending a letter to
the person(s) responsible.for the code violation or alleged code violation".
14.406.060 - Procedures when probable violation is identified
Section 17: Strike the phrase "within a short period of time" and replace it with
"within seventy-two (72) hours".
Section F: Strike the "working" from the phrase "within two (2) weEking days.
14.406.560 - Cost recovery
Section A: First sentence shall read: In addition to the other remedies available
under this chapter, upon issuance of a notice and order or sto.0 work order the
Director shall charge the costs of pursuing code compliance and abatement
incurred to correct a code violation to the person responsible far a code violation
to the extent these costs exceed the amount of the civil penalty paid. "
The Chair declared a short recess at 8:00 p.m. Public Hearing reconvened at 8:15
p.m.
The Hearing was open for public testimony and evidence on the pending matter.
First Tcstimonv: John Baldwin, University S.C.O.P.E.:
Mr. Baldwin appeared at the Public Hearing in person to testify in favor of the
Junk Car Ordinance. Since this was not the topic of the Public Hearing, Mr.
Baldwin stated that he agrees with the draft of the Code Ordinance amendments.
Mr. Baldwin also spoke in favor of Ian Robertson's solid waste clean up proposal,
1 but stated that the City should not repeat cleanup at the same places every six
months.
Second Testimony: Deanna Hormann, 1319 W. Shamrock Street, Spokane
Valley, WA 99037:
Ms. i-tormann states that her neighborhood has been in existence since
approximately 1978, platted as one acre tracts. Spokane County recognized them
as such following the original Growth Management Hearings, but subsequently
designated the neighborhood as urban. She and her neighbors fear backyard
inspections. The neighborhood is requesting a review of the rezoning, and
minimal changes to their current life style. She spoke for her family, and her
neighbors Dick Waite, ;Ian Ryan, Rick Sherman, and Mark & Sharon Howard.
Greg McCormick confirmed that the City of Spokane Valley intends to follow
through on County regulations with regard to large animals. There is a past
provision for non-conformance, and if the Hormanns and their neighbors have had
large animals in the past, they will most likely be able to continue to have them
now and in the future
There being no further public testimony or discussion on public testimony already
given, the Public Hearing was closed at 8:36 p.m.
There was further discussion by the Commissioners.
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