Minutes - 05/28/2003Spokane Valley Planning Commission
Approved Minutes
Council Chambers- City flail 11707 1". Sprague Ave.
May 28, 2003
i. CALL TO ORDER
Bill Gothmann, Planning Commission Chair, called the meeting to order at 630
pm
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
It had been decided at the May 14, 2003 Planning Commission meeting that the
Pledge of Allegiance would not be recited at meetings. Therefore, this agenda
item was shipped.
111. ROLL CALL
Fred Beaulac - Present
Bob Blum - Present
David Crosby - Present
Gail Kogle - Absent
Bill Gothmann - Present
Ian Robertson - Present
John G. Carroll - Present
IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Bill Gotlunann announced that one item of New Business, Public `Yorks TIP,
would be placed on the agenda ahead of Old Business. The agenda was
unanimously approved as amended.
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The Commission reviewed and unanimously approved the May 14, 2003, minutes
as presented.
VI. CONIMISSiON REPORTS
- Bill Gothmann handed out a copy of Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, 75'x'
Edition, page 46, regarding General Consent. This handout clarified the fact
that only the chair can assume general (unanimous) consent until someone
objects.
- Bill Gothmann provided a written and oral summary of his visit to the Spokane
Planning Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m. on May 28, 2003. There is a joint
Spokane County - City of Spokane Planning Commission meeting to be held on
July 19, possibly at the County Health building. Spokane Valley Planning
Commissioners were encouraged to attend.
-Bill Gothmann said he had a discussion with Mayor DeVleming, who affirmed
that the Plannine Commission is heading in the right direction.
VIi. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
- Greg McCormick reminded the Commission that a corrected version of the
minutes from the first Planning Commission meeting on May 1, 2003 has been
distributed.
- Greg McCormick announced that the Washington Cities Insurance Authority
(WC1A) is working to schedule a joint training session with the City Council
and Planning Commission sometime in the near ftiture. The WCIA has
openings during the last week in July, the first week in August and the second
week in September. Greg wanted to get some possible training dates from
Commission members so that the Clerk of Court can work with WCIA and the
City Council to make the final arrangements. Commission members noted that
July 29 and August 4 were both good dates for training sessions. It is unknown
at this time whether the training session will be considered a special meeting, a
substitute for a regular meeting, or simply a training session. City Attorney,
Cary Driskell, will research this issue and report back to the Planning
Commission. The Coni nission agreed to remain flexible on this point.
- Greg McCormick reported that a Junk Car Ordinance, based on information
from earlier discussions at the City Council, was drafted and presented to the
City Council for formal action on May 27, 2003. No supporters of the
ordinance were present, but there were a number of classic car hobbyists present
who had a problem with some of the recommended restrictions. After a long
and lively debate, the ordinance was tabled until staff could get some additional
input from affected groups on the issue. The Community Development staff is
working to come up with options on a staff level and is putting together a small
- committee to discuss major issues. The City's Zoning Code would need to be
changed to accommodate the new ordinance. Cary Driskell explained that the
Zoning Code changes and the Junk Car Ordinance would need to be approved at
the same time to avoid confusion and inadvertent infractions.
VLii. COMMISSION BUSINESS
NEW BUShNESS: Dick Thiel, City Engineer, was introduced to the Planning
Commission. Mr. Thiel handed out an overview of the six-year Trnisportation
Improvement Program ('I"IP), a detailed drat} of construction timelines, and a City
map. The TIP is being presented to the Commission for information purposes
only. It will be presented for approval to the City Council at a Public Hearing on
June 10, 2003. After adoption by the City Council in June, the TIP goes to State,
Regional and Federal Governmental agencies for formalization and funding
purposes. The Planning Commission discussed the TIP in detail, and thanked Mr.
Thiel for his presentation.
OLD BUSENESS:
A. Draft 5.16.03 of the City of Spokane Valley Planning Commission Rules
of Procedure was distributed to the Commission, along with a copy of Bill
Gothmann's comments. After a discussion, the following changes were
proposed:
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Section 8.4 - Meetings: The language will be changed to read: "The
recommended order of business is as follows:"
Section 16.B - Appearance of Fairness: A new paragraph was added by
Cary Driskell after the last review to relate to ex parte communications with
proponents or opponents about a proposal involved in a pending proceeding.
Section 17 - New Section - Mandatory Review of Rules: it was moved and
seconded that a new paragraph be added, requiring a mandatory review of the
Rules of Procedure at the one-year anniversary, and every two years
thereafter. Motion passed unanimously.
It was moved and seconded that the City of Spokane Valley Planning
Commission Rules of Procedure be recommended to the City Council as
amended. Motion passed unanimously.
Cary Driskell will work with Greg McCormick to revise the Rules. The City
Council will review them in June.
B. Kim Lyonnais, Current Planning Manager, handed out a proposed monthly
report to the Commission. This report is in the development stage, and will
evolve as improvements are made to the data gathering system. In its early
stages, the monthly report will be a tool with which to track Planning and
Building trends and to help determine staffing needs. Kim asked the
Commission for any suggestions they may have regarding the report, and also
invited them to stop by and visit the permit processing area at their
convenience.
C. Greg McCormick and Scott Kuhta shared a Code Enforcement slide show
with the Planning Conuuission. Code Enforcement is an important area of
City Planning. As many Commission members discovered at the City Council
meeting the night before, passing codes can be a difficult process if
approached aggressively and without visible public support. At present, the
Spokane Valley has only one Cade Enforcement Officer and several hundred
complaints to investigate.
Public health, safety and welfare drive the development of City Ordinances
and code enforcement. The three mabi complaints the City is presently
receiving are related to junk vehicles, solid waste and trash, and general
nuisance. Community Development is looking to the City Council for
direction, resources and support and would like the Council to adopt and fund
an aggressive Solid Waste Cleanup program and an aggressive Junk Vehicle
Ordinance. As was stated earlier in the meeting, the Junk Vehicle Ordinance
was tabled at the last City Council meeting. Planners are presently working to
develop proactive solutions for Solid Waste Management. This plan will call
for extensive community participation, and many Commission members had
ideas for volunteer groups and agencies to assist. Meanwhile, aggressive code
enforcement will begin with zoning code violations and illegal businesses.
M PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
X. FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
Nothing.
\i. ADJOURNAIIENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m. The next
meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2003.
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