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2005, 06-28 Regular Meeting Minutes MINUTES City of Spokane Valley City Council Regular Meeting Tuesday,June 28, 2005 Mayor Wilhite called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., and welcomed everyone to the 69th meeting Attendance: City Staff: Diana Wilhite, Mayor Dave Mercier, City Manager Rich Munson, Deputy Mayor Nina Regor, Deputy City Manager Dick Denenny, Councilmember Cary Driskell, Deputy City Attorney Mike DeVleming, Councilmember Ken Thompson, Finance Director Mike Flanigan, Councilmember Marina Sukup, Community Development Director Steve Taylor, Councilmember Neil Kersten,Public Works Director Gary Schimmels, Councilmember Mike Jackson, Parks and Recreation Director Chris Bainbridge, City Clerk INVOCATION: Councilmember Taylor gave the invocation. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Wilhite led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL City Clerk Bainbridge called roll; all Councilmembers present. APPROVAL OF AGENDA It was moved by Councilmember Schimmels, seconded, and unanimously agreed upon to approve the agenda as presented. INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS AND PRESENTATIONS Mayor Wilhite acknowledged members of Boy Scout Troop#321, attending in partial fulfillment of their Community Merit Badges. COMMITTEE,BOARD, LIAISON SUMMARY REPORTS: Councilmember Schimmels: reported that he attended the Comprehensive Plan meetings last week and heard an excellent presentation, but unfortunately, attendance was low; he encouraged everyone to attend the upcoming July meeting. Deputy Mayor Munson: stated that he attended the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Conference last week and he was re-elected to the Board of Directors; that the Board is examining its role in pushing for legislation to financially assist cities by stopping the issuance of unfunded mandates. Councilmember Flanigan: explained that he attended the recent Public Health District discussion of the Board of County Commissioner's decision to not move forward with a mosquito control district. Councilmember Denenny: said that he also attended the AWC Convention; and he attended a meeting on Thursday regarding the TMDL (total maximum daily load) Use Analysis with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Ecology (DOE), providers, and others and that there is now a link on our website to a discussion of the task force work. Councilmember DeVlemin!: informed everyone about Vera Water and Power's efforts to restore customer power as a result of last week's storm; that he continues work on the 911 Board and last week's storm gave the opportunity to further test the 911 system; and it was found that the overflow of phone calls were incorrectly directed to the Fire Department. MAYOR'S REPORT: Mayor Wilhite reported that she also attended the AWC convention where the issue of unfunded mandates was the main topic; and she also attended a performance of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mayor Wilhite invited public comments for matters not on the agenda. Council Meeting: 06-28-05 Page 1 of 7 Approved by Council: 07-12-05 Clark Hager, 11717 E. Lenora Drive: said he was impressed with the prayer from Councilmember Taylor; and that this week the Supreme Court took away some personal property rights, and he hopes in the future that if that issue comes up before our city, that we stand tall on behalf of the citizens to keep our nation free. Brian Woods, 2009 N Long, Greenacres: regarding the wastewater treatment facility; that Spokane Valley can't fund the facility; that we contract with the County, and the County claims they now have more capacity; but the projected capacity is fake; that King County three times underestimated capacity and is currently engaged in a lawsuit about capacity, and we should learn from their mistakes; builders are giving away our potential rights if these faith estimates are wrong; mentioned the inflationary rates, and policies and costs of extra expenses for 260 parcels; and that the County is taking away the individual's right to subdivide their own property, and he doesn't want the City to do the same thing. Richard Harmon, East Mission, Greenacres: regarding impact fees, he feels Council needs to look at this topic to make sure roads, sewers, parks, and schools get and keep up with growth; that he realizes the School District will be asking for impact fees; that there will likely be some opposition to this but he believes it serves all citizens to examine and implement where and as needed; that impact fees are not an extra tax but a mechanism to bring everything up to par; that everything was working fine before the big development was started,but now we find we are short on schools, sewers, parks, streets, everything; and that developers need to be responsible for their share of infrastructure; and he wants Council to look at this so citizens don't get hurt from this development. Sue Bracken, 18508 E Riverway Avenue: said there should be equal attention to citizens and developers; that she has attended several planning meeting and sees more staff members than members of the public; she suggested perhaps getting some groups to put together one-page sheets on the various aspects of city government so people would know how to interact with city; and that she hopes we will find ways to purchase land for parks, and ask developers to contribute to the cost for that; and that everyone is responsible for making this a good city. James Pollard, 17216 E Baldwin, Greenacres: regarding impact fees; said that he read a letter the City received from the Builder's Association; and also the paper from the Brookings Institution which shows positive impacts of those fees; that that different conclusions could be drawn by looking at either study; and he gave an example of a City in Georgia where those fees worked. Mary Pollard, 17216 E Baldwin Avenue: spoke regarding the noise ordinance not being adequate for construction that occurs in residential neighborhoods; and suggests the currently allowed approved times are not reasonable; and would like to see the stakeholders get together to come up with a reasonable ordinance on times and days for construction, instead of allowing construction to start at 5:30 or 6 a.m.; and suggests there is a need for guidance and enforcement. 1. CONSENT AGENDA Consists of items considered routine which are approved as a group. A Councilmember may remove an item from the Consent Agenda to be considered separately. (Note: Council may entertain a motion to waive reading and approve Consent Agenda.) a. Approval of the Following Vouchers: Voucher List 06-10-2005,vouchers 6957-6996, total amount$57,810.94 b. Approval of Council Study Session Meeting of June 7, 2005 c. Approval of Regular Council Meeting Minutes of June 14, 2005 d. Approval of Payroll of June 15, 2005 of$126,016.94 e. Approval to Increase 2005 Law Enforcement Agreement FTE Count to 101.767 f. Approval of and Authorization of City Manager or Designee to Execute CH2M Hill Contract for Valley Corridor Environmental Study g. Approval 8th Avenue Overlay Project It was moved by Councilmember Flanigan, seconded, and unanimously agreed upon to waive the reading and approve the Consent Agenda. Council Meeting: 06-28-05 Page 2 of 7 Approved by Council: 07-12-05 NEW BUSINESS 2. Second Reading Proposed Helmet Ordinance—Cary Driskell After City Clerk Bainbridge read the ordinance title, it was moved by Councilmember Denenny and seconded by Councilmember Flanigan to approve Ordinance 05-020 with the amendment to Section E defining persons to read "includes those individuals of five years of age and under the age of 16." Deputy City Attorney Driskell explained that there have been no changes since the first reading. Deputy Mayor Munson said there is a problem, although not quantified, as to the number of incidents that result in head traumas, and questions if perhaps the better route would be an aggressive education program, including possible funding of helmets through the Sheriff's Office, and suggests placing that issue on a future study session for further consideration, rather than pass a helmet law. Mayor Wilhite invited public comment. The following spoke in opposition to the helmet ordinance, most of whom stated it is up to the individual (or the parents) to decide whether to wear a helmet 1. Stacey Schelrf, 14216 E Wellesley; mother of Samantha Schelrf 2. Myra Gann, 1119 S Dishman Road 3. Laura Creach, 14102 E Fourth 4. Neil Hanson, 11621 E 34th 5. Karen Hanson, 11621 E 34th The following spoke in favor of the helmet ordinance to protect the public against severe head injury and/or death: 1. Dr. Kim Thornberry, Spokane Health District 2. Margaret Mortz, 3420 S Ridgeview Drive 3. Bill Gothmann, 10010 E 48th Avenue 4. Nancy Hill, 4821 N Sunnyvale 5. Peggy Hodges, Coordinator for Spokane County Traffic Safety Commission, 1026 W Broadway 6. Al Fisher, 13808 E Valleyway Officer Kim Thomas, W. 1100 Mallon, Spokane City Police Officer gave information and history concerning the Spokane City Helmet ordinance; that since the ordinance was passed in August 2004, September and October saw usage rates of 73%; and April and May of this year show 85% usage rate, and that goes along with what the State shows with other municipalities that have these ordinances; and that of the collisions during the year 2003, 57% of those were adults; 2004 collisions had 58% adults; and of the 2005 collisions so far, 50%were adults. John Boyd, 4024 S Forest Meadow Drive: spokane concerning mixing bicycles and vehicle traffic; and stated that he would feel safer riding on a sidewalk than in a bike lane; and suggested making our area more bike-friendly by having more places for bicyclists to lock up their bikes. City Manager Mercier mentioned that Councilmember Denenny's proposed change in the ordinance prompts the need for further language change in order to maintain internal consistency, and suggested Council consider deleting A and C on the bottom of page 3 regarding penalties, and to then renumber the remaining provisions. Mr. Mercier also mentioned that Chief Walker was delayed in returning from out- of-town training,but that Chief Walker had previously testified in support of the educational components and of the need for helmets particularly for kids. Councilmember Denenny suggested adding the friendly amendment to the motion as suggested by Mr. Mercier; Councilmember Flanigan as seconder concurred. Councilmember Denenny said that he feels there is a need to address this for children as an aid to parents in emphasizing the need to wear helmets, and compared this issue to the current use of seatbelts and how it was previously accepted to allow children to stand up in the back of cars. Councilmember Flanigan said his goal is to pass an ordinance for children under 16 and hopes if successful, the children will be a role model for the parents to wear Council Meeting: 06-28-05 Page 3 of 7 Approved by Council: 07-12-05 protective helmets. Councilmember DeVleming feels such an ordinance would not be enforced on a regular basis, that education is critical, but questions passing an ordinance the police won't enforce and the prosecutor's office won't prosecute. Councilmember Taylor thanked everyone for speaking tonight, stated that he feels this law will not help promote the responsibility of parents in raising their children,but he would urge an educational promotion of the importance of wearing a helmet. Deputy Mayor Munson also stated he feels the issue should be one of personal responsibility and that he will vote against the ordinance. Councilmember Schimmels said this is a common sense safety issue and he support the ordinance. Mayor Wilhite added that she would not support the ordinance as she doesn't want children to run and hide if not wearing a helmet, but that she would promote bicycle safety, and would like to assist in providing helmets for those who can't afford them. Roll Call Vote on the motion to approve Ordinance 05-020 with the amendment to Section E defining persons to read "includes those individuals of five years of age and under the age of 16, and deleting A and C on the bottom of page 3 regarding penalties, and to then renumber the remaining provisions." In Favor: Councilmembers Denenny, Flanigan, and Schimmels. Opposed: Mayor Wilhite, Deputy Mayor Munson, and Councilmembers DeVleming and Taylor. Abstentions: None. Motion fails. Mayor Wilhite called for a short recess at 7:20 p.m.; and reconvened the meeting at 7:29 p.m. 3. First Reading Proposed Moratorium Ordinance—Marina Sukup/Cary Driskell After City Clerk Bainbridge read the title, it was moved by Mayor Wilhite and seconded by Councilmember Taylor, to accept the Planning Commission recommendation to deny the request. Community Development Director Sukup gave the background of this issue as noted on her June 28, 2005 Request for Council Action form; and that the requested moratorium is against development of densities of more than one house per acre until interim zoning is adopted. In response to a question from Deputy Mayor Munson, Ms. Sukup explained that if Council agrees to a moratorium, the construction will continue for those who already have permits. Mayor Wilhite invited public comment. The following spoke in favor of granting the moratorium: Gail Sherrodd, 17315 E Montgomery, Greenacres: said that she is not against development; but feels this is being done hastily, and she wants to halt development for a short time while they strategize regarding planning for increased traffic and school impacts, and that they want to take the time to plan a quality City with a quality lifestyle. Nancy Miller, 18124 E Mission: said that they submitted a petition with an additional 174 signatures, and the intent is to allow time to complete a neighborhood plan; and that a transportation draft was included as proof of the neighborhood's progress, and that information was not acknowledged. Brian Woods, N 2009 Long Road: stated reasons for a moratorium are planning, studying and protecting, and he cited several RCWs that provide legal authority for cities to enact a moratorium; that he wants studies for implementation of impact fees for parkland acquisition and parkland and open space; and wants to see collaborative planning and that current residents should not bear the brunt of the cost of development. Jim Pollard, 17216 Baldwin, Greenacres: said the entire north side of the neighborhood is shoreline protection; that the map shows that Greenacres is located over the most desirable part of aquifer; and that not all areas are the same. Diane Johnson, Greenacres: said this would not be a taking; that it is vital not to give away for free all that should be protected; they need adequate time to plan, and urged Council to examine the Supreme Court ruling submitted earlier by Mary Pollard. Sue Bracken, 18508 E Riverway Avenue: said that the GMA requires early citizen participation in drafting the Comprehensive Plan; that the more public participation the better; and the need is justified by the need to pursue further study on impact fees for parks, etc. Council Meeting: 06-28-05 Page 4 of 7 Approved by Council: 07-12-05 Kurt Parker, N 18116 Greenacres Road: said there is a need for a moratorium to prevent nonconforming policies; that Spokane County created a large amount of nonconforming uses without provisions for mitigation bringing harm to many neighborhoods. Mary Pollard, 17216 E Baldwin Avenue: recapped the petition process started more than a year ago; that they realized they needed a re-zone based on what happened in the Ponderosa area; and explained "Principle 3" as stated in her handout. Alice Beattie, 7324 E Montgomery: said there was significant lack of studies for physical and environmental discussion in the Planning Commission decision; and the larger picture of community values was ignored; that they did not receive treatment equal to that of Rotchford Estates and Ponderosa; and those neighborhoods didn't have to pay the fee; that she wants a study for impact fees for parks and open spaces; and that the Planning Commission should answer to the Council and not vice versa. Dick Harmon, 17610 E Mission, Greenacres: spoke of his understanding of the boundaries of the neighborhood and of a difference of those boundaries as shown on the map; of concerns about the initial petition being ignored by City Hall for about three months; that they are trying to keep the neighborhood livable; and that they have legally met the criteria for a temporary moratorium for development based on the need to allow planning and for environmental purposes. Clark Hager, 11717 E Lenora Drive: said he is proud of the hours of care and service Mary Pollard has devoted to the citizens of Spokane Valley; and they have done a remarkable job on this and other issues; he wants to make certain damage is not created in the community; and he recommends granting the moratorium. Those speaking against granting the moratorium included Dave Crosby, not as chair of the Planning Commission, but as President of the Spokane Association of Realtors, 2607 N Bowdish Road, and he urges Council to take the time to determine if an emergency exists; and that housing drives the economy; and if we shut that down, it will move elsewhere. Bill Gothmann, 10014 East Avenue, and member of the Planning Commission; he presented his reasons to deny the petition as per his June 28, 2005 handout, stating there is no threat to the public's health, safety or welfare and therefore no reason to grant a moratorium. Mayor Wilhite invited further public comment; no further comments were offered. During Council discussion, Public Works Director Kersten responded that yes, any development would have to comply with the new stormwater ordinance regarding use of stormwater drywells and the requirement for swales; and also that new regulations would be applicable to new development. Further Council discussion included the Planning Commission addressing the concerns, that there is no emergency, and the previous zone change has provided some relief. Vote on the motion to accept the Planning Commission recommendation to deny the request: In Favor: Unanimous. Opposed:None. Abstentions:None. Motion carried. 4. First Reading Proposed Ordinance,Hearing Examiner—Cary Driskell After City Clerk Bainbridge read the ordinance title, it was moved by Councilmember DeVleming and seconded by Councilmember Taylor, to suspend the rules and approve Ordinance 05-021. Deputy City Attorney Driskell explained that as there are no longer any pending or potential appeals, Council could spend more time if they desired; and added that the draft is unchanged from when first presented. Mayor Wilhite invited public comment. Clark Hager, 11717 E Lenora Drive: spoke about issues and people getting in trouble from moving forward too quickly; and he recommended passing this ordinance in the correct manner. Mayor Wilhite invited further public comment; no further comments were offered. Council Meeting: 06-28-05 Page 5 of 7 Approved by Council: 07-12-05 City Manager Mercier also mentioned that Hearing Examiner Mike Dempsey is present should Council want that additional resource. Councilmember DeVleming stated this ordinance appears to be straightforward and he would like to see the process become available as soon as possible. In response to Council question, Mr. Dempsey said he assisted in drafting the rules along with Attorney Driskell and other attorneys who work in land use area, and that the ordinance is based on Spokane County's ordinance but refined and improved; and not having the rules in place created a few procedural problems with the past hearing; that the ordinance is straight-forward and he also recommends adoption as quickly as possible. Vote by Acclamation: In Favor: Councilmembers Schimmels, Taylor, Flanigan, Denenny and DeVleming. Opposed: Mayor Wilhite and Deputy Mayor Munson. Abstentions: None. Motion carried. 5. First Reading Proposed Ordinance, STV 02-05 Street Vacation—Marina Sukup After City Clerk Bainbridge read the ordinance title, it was moved by Councilmember DeVleming and seconded to advance ordinance for STV 02-05 vacation to a second reading. After Community Development Director Sukup went through the PowerPoint presentation; Mayor Wilhite invited but received no public comment. Vote by Acclamation:In Favor: Unanimous. Opposed: None. Abstentions: None. Motion carried. 6. First Reading Proposed Ordinance, STV 03-05 Street Vacation—Marina Sukup After City Clerk Bainbridge read the ordinance title, it was moved by Deputy Mayor Munson and seconded by Councilmember Flanigan, to advance ordinance for STV 03-05 vacation to a second reading. Community Development Director Sukup went through her PowerPoint presentation, stated that the representative engineer is present, and that the Planning Commission, as usual, held a hearing and recommends approval. [Councilmember DeVleming left the room at 8:39 p.m. and returned at 8:41 p.m.] Mayor Wilhite invited public comment; no comments were offered. Vote by Acclamation: In Favor: Unanimous. Opposed:None. Abstentions:None. Motion carried. 7. Proposed Resolution Stating Intent to Adopt Initiative and Referendum—Cary Driskell It was moved by Councilmember DeVleming and seconded by Councilmember Taylor, to adopt Resolution 05-012. After Deputy City Attorney Driskell explained the powers of initiative and referendum and of the timeline and procedure to enact those powers, Mayor Wilhite invited public comment. Clark Hager, 11717 E Lenora Drive: thanked Council for giving him a few minutes; said that this is what was promised to the citizens previously and which was not given when the community was governed by the County; and he gave the Clerk over 200 signed petitions urging passage of the initiative and referendum process. Dick Behm, 3626 S Ridgeview Drive: thanked Clark Hager for his work on this issue and urged Council passage. Dr. Phillip Rudy, 10720 E Fruithill: gave a brief history of the right of petition under Adams Administration and said he supports this process. It was moved by Deputy Mayor Munson, seconded, and unanimously agreed upon to extend the meeting to 9:10 p.m. Others speaking in favor of the resolution included Bob Blum 12722 East 15th_who supports the process to give citizens additional resources; Tony Lazanis: who said this is a way to force the council to do the right thing with the assistance of the citizens; Margaret Mortz, 3620 S Ridgeview Drive: who said this is a good means of checks and balances and is an increase in citizen freedom; Chuck Hafner, 4710 S Woodruff: said this is another element to aid in making this a good city; Ray Perry, 2020 N Eli, who expressed his hope that the measure be approved unanimously; Mary Pollard, 17216 E Baldwin: who echoed the sentiment that this would be a good check and balance for the City and an aid to help Council Meeting: 06-28-05 Page 6 of 7 Approved by Council: 07-12-05 Councilmembers do their job. Mayor Wilhite invited further public comment; no further comments were offered. Vote by Acclamation: In Favor: Unanimous. Opposed: None. Abstentions: None. Motion carried. It was moved by Deputy Mayor Munson and seconded by Councilmember Flanigan to extend the meeting to 9:30 p.m. Vote by Acclamation: In Favor: Mayor Wilhite, Deputy Mayor Munson, and Councilmembers Schimmels, Taylor, Flanigan, and Denenny. Opposed: Councilmember DeVleming. Abstentions:None. Motion carried. 8.Proposed Resolution Stating Intent to Adopt Referendum—Cary Driskell Mr. Mercier said the passage of the previous item now renders this item moot. 9.Proposed Resolution Authorizing 1.0 FTE Right-of-Way Construction Inspector—Nina Regor Councilmember Taylor said he sees no emergency to move forward on this item tonight and therefore he moved, seconded by Councilmember Denenny, and it was unanimously agreed upon to remove this item tonight and bring the issue back at a future council meeting. ' 10. Motion Consideration: Community Development Block Grant Program Decision — Marina Sukup It was moved by Deputy Mayor Munson, and seconded, to adopt option #1 to defer entitlement status and authorize the City Manager to execute a cooperation agreement with Spokane County to continue participation in the Spokane County consortium. Community Development Director Sukup gave a brief overview of the three options, and added that Mr. Crowley is here should Council have any questions for him. Council briefly discussed and stated a preference for option #1. Mayor Wilhite invited public comment; no comments were offered. Vote by Acclamation: In favor: Unanimous. Opposed: None. Abstentions:None. Motion carried PUBLIC COMMENTS Mayor Wilhite invited public comment; no comments were offered. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS: [no public comment] 11.Animal Control Update—Nancy Hill After Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service (SCRAPS) Director Nancy Hill gave her PowerPoint presentation update, there ensued council discussion and questions concerning the level of service and what it accomplishes, on SCRAPS campaign to have citizens license their pets, and Ms. Hill's comments on the professionalism displayed by members of her staff and of Ms. Hill's and her staff's attempt to make the operation as cost effective as possible. 12. Outside Agencies' Presence at CenterPlace—Mike Jackson In the interest of time, it was Council consensus to defer this item to another meeting. There being no further business, it was moved by Councilmember Flanigan, seconded, and unanimously agreed upon to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m. -:. /t,(xikA..44V.) 4\A),_..6t., Diana Wilhite,Mayor /6,. .ES c _.Christine,Bainbridge, ity Clerk Council Meeting: 06-28-05 Page 7 of 7 Approved by Council:07-12-05 .• inane Valle Y PUBLIC COMMENT SIGN-IN SHEET SPOKANE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: June 28,2005 CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ITEMS fVOT INCLUDED ON TONIGHT'S A ,ENDA. Please include your name and address for the record. Your time will be limited to three (3) minutes. NAME TOPIC OF CONCERN ADDRESS TELEPHONE PLEASE PRINT p , /�l i7�Q�r�e . � 3 -6AO s dim — / t -• Intk.Rg-/P1 � An1a � MIP44-1- .k‘"1 17610C. 11AcSSati1 • Jl,�M e c //, ' 1 /a rr { �.� 44( tit h� �eks S frfv ;g2_ r.5.1 v s �� 4tv c •eV • • ern,1410 KJ r-7' V-421 44 61 Spokane .0...ValleypUBLIC COMMENT SIGN-IN SHEET SPOKANE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING Date: June 28, 2005 Citizen comments on item included on this agenda (see list below). Please include your name. address and telephone number for the record. Your time will be limited to three(3 minutes) NAME TOPIC OF CONCERN ADDRESS TELEPHONE PLEASE PRINT �✓ ccane, VAnSoc re Or '' ri uw\ &1( kf) as a ■ I4. d . . I A IPA Si A1 ,' 1rae.. i 2//1// ,.� 2 dr4 9 NEW BUSINESS AGENDA TOPICS: 2. Second Reading Proposed Helmet Ordinance—Cary Driskell 3. First Reading Proposed Moratorium Ordinance—Marina Sukup/Cary Driskell 4. First Reading Proposed Ordinance, Hearing Examiner—Cary Driskell 5. First.Reading Proposed Ordinance, STV 02-05 Street Vacation—Marina Sukup 6.First Reading Proposed Ordinance,STV 03-05 Street Vacation—Marina Sukup 7. Proposed Resolution Stating Intent to Adopt Initiative and Referendum—Cary Driskell 8. Proposed Resolution Stating Intent to Adopt Referendum—Cary Driskell 9. Proposed Resolution Authorizing 1.0 PTE Right-of-Way Construction Inspector—Nina Regor 10. Motion Consideration:Community Development Block Grant Program Decision—Marina Sukup Cl'11'OF kane S o p Valley PUBLIC COMMENT SIGN-IN SHEET SPOKANE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: June 28,2005 CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT JIY ON TO WHY'S AGEN A. Please include your name and address for the record. Your time will be limited to three(3) minutes. NAME TOPIC OF CONCERN ADDRESS TELEPHONE PLEASE PRINT gLAKI.i■- • j2)- . EININgit S 0 Lora. C%Wan •� GQ. " I 11 Oa 5it 44& �CPe - 73& G[ ` .„.„ 0 720 E n rsA �S�v Spokane .000*.Val iey p UBLIC COMMENT SIGN-IN SHEET SPOKANE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING Date: June 28, 2005 Citizen comments on item-: included on this agenda (see list below). Please include your name,address and telephone number for the record. Your time will be limited to three(3 minutes) NAME / TOPIC OF CONCERN ADDRESS TELEPHONE PLEASE PRINT ,$wp - 3 17 \ I ` v e k b°IA \-A,--- 7 71-\I, < G.Z 6 S �y t -vs- go74 , 03 inring. III • 1 �a ,)-)gA0, 1. -_ J . A /00(0 1 dika, irifie L 61-eet ac "e 0 . : . it . , 1'/l le E. I;Ld&, ? 756 N-1 PAIMPRIE C 'ita p ' s f01uri uwt %.: 9420 ' 1 tc 11,e. r1a I d . �, ' �� .L�MOM l 1 S v i a . J/ / It.) t at.a. ! . , ■ ID I k OC '2 .-407 ItitZliSiMaila ' "' MEE ir—t-2.--71, - riMPRIIIIII_ ,_. 4, /tear a r •6 ^- ,� EWA ' 0 -. 4',1 o yr,A • c°/me/-/ / • kr/ O® -ieli Dn 03S-7S - e/m,p],j,_A___ \., to. .e./ 4 , •vJ _ t o z Co to , Jt77._?3 Y7 NEW RUMNESS AGENDA TOPICS:. " CA • ' .• c\1 AtOc�l ToE4vnti r)/a(DC. MISS(OA( no-ta 2.Second Reading Proposed Helmet Ordinance—Cary Driskell 3.First Reading Proposed Moratorium Ordinance—Marina Sukup/Cary Driskell 4. First Reading Proposed Ordinance, Hearing Examiner—Cary Driskell 5. First Reading Proposed Ordinance,STV 02-05 Street Vacation—Marina Sukup 6. First Reading Proposed Ordinance, STV 03-05 Street Vacation—Marina Sukup 7. Proposed Resolution Stating Intent to Adopt Initiative and Referendum—Cary Driskell 8. Proposed Resolution Stating Intent to Adopt Referendum—Cary Driskell 9.Proposed Resolution Authorizing 1.0 FTE Right-of-Way Construction Inspector—Nina Rcgor 10.Motion Consideration:Community Development Block Grant Program Decision—Marina Sukup • Bicycle Helmets Bill Godunann June 28,2005 In a previous email, I described how vehicle accidents resulted in fatal skull fractures for my great grandfather, age 42, and my father, age 26. Both left widows and children to struggle without them. I note that when the Council considered this issue a few weeks ago, there were concerns • about taking rights away from citizens. I wish to address this issue. If I were the only person in the City, it would make no difference whether I drove on the left side, had junk in my yard, or polluted the air with noise. However, when there is more than one person in a City, a society develops and my actions affect others. As a result, for the good of the whole, we pass ordinances that take away my personal freedoms. Since any such ordinance is a compromise between the freedom of the individual and the good of the whole, I suggest that we ask ourselves four critical questions. Let me ask these questions concerning the helmet ordinance. What is the cost of not adopting the ordinance? 1. More children will lose their dads and moms. 2. More parents will lose their children. 3. Fewer people will use helmets. 4. Our police and fire responders will have to respond to more skull fractures and deaths. 5. Our society will bear a greater financial cost through Social Security survivor • benefits, hospitalization expenses, and rehabilitation expenses. What are the benefits of not adopting the ordinance? 1. Parents can save $20 per child who rides. 2. Parents who ride can save$30 each. 3. Riders will save five or ten seconds of time for each bike ride. What is the cost of adopting the ordinance? 1. Adults will have to pay $30 or more for each helmet. (There are some free helmets available). 2. Parents will have to buy a helmet for$20 or more for each child (although there are free helmets available). 3. Police will have to take their time to cite offenders. 4. Offenders may be fined. What are the benefits of adopting the ordinance? 1. Children's lives will be saved. 2. Adult lives will be spared. 3. Society will have to bear less cost because of fewer injuries. 4. Police and fire responders will have to attend fewer accidents and have to endure less traumatic situations. 5. Children will retain parents; parents will retain their children. 6. The number of those wearing helmets will go up dramatically. For me, it's a slam dunk. The benefits of adopting such an ordinance far outweigh the cost to all of us. Bill C)othmann / f°4111. /64.111/44 - BICYCLE 1-11_I MET LAW *Courts have consistently upheld the right of the individual to decide how to protect his or her own body from injury or death. *Most experienced trauma surgeons believe that a cycle helmet gives only very limited head protection. Studies have shown that they give only marginal prevention of mild head injury and no effect on severe head injury, or death. *Only 8 cities in the whole United States have helmet laws that include adults (excluding WA state which the SKC has been lobbying) *United States Injury fatalities (2004) �LG`1V GD 3,482 drownings G 2Q�5 4,749 pedestrian '10,401-%130 bicycle 1111A Evl 'r GW OFD *Bell Helmet Mfg. Co. is paying the Safe Kids Lobbying group to conduct these advocacy efforts to enact or enforce helmet use legislation in Spokane Valley. *Tlie lobby group uses health-care costs as a reason to impose these laws. But the cost are quite low compared to the approx: $100 billion for obesity $150 billion for smoking $135 billion for alcohol related health care Where do you draw the line, What's next, fines for obesity or smoking?, *Crime is up 3.1% in WA. Spokane is now#1 crime city in the state. T feel we pay law enforcement to protect us from these crimes, not to be put on babysitting duty by spending their time and my tax dollars with illegal bicyclists. *47% of bicyclists killed lived in 4 states; CA,NY ,FL&TX. The lobby group says adults should have to be role models for children. I say children need to learn that there is a difference between being a child and an adult. Adults drive cars, children don't. Adults drink or smoke, do these adults let their children drink.& smoke? T don't have children and I am not responsible for being a role model for other people's children. Education is the key, not legislation. *This lobby group has many multimillion-dollar companies behind them. We should ask them to put their money where their mouth is and instead of putting it on the backs of law enforcement why don't they educate the public with public.service announcements, if they actually care about keeping kids safe. -S. 1 lei rnl rres�a re.� W1 k t � n.L.aole_ Ain avi r City of Spokane Valley City Council, I am against a mandatory helmet law for adults. \\Acu\Nc . \--yA,G\Y-NA AN--■ - 15e . 4?//Cif( t j 1 l . RECEIVED JUN 2 8 2QG v), CITY OF ITY SPOKANE ALLEY Zxt7a. eis -er, `• sve.d • Jizz, 0.-owg /orvi, 4 uff 0) s � F�� o gke, 17 zukee) f si VW) 114.1 11 . . City of Spokane Valley City Council, I am against a mandatory helmet law for adults. 4)7/2 .4110-41111111111 1 C/► .4(Ad ' il/x1f4'`ef' / i ANA" e)04„1 RECEIVED 028 MS CRY o ear City of Spokane Valley City Council, I am against a mandatory helmet law for adults. ,5 /7uca(Ly, gores RECEIVED JUN 2 8 Ci7Y OF CITY CLERK LEY City of Spokane Valley City Council, I am against a mandatory helmet law for children.. co ,c\A,..c. lsouv.,,w\N.,. „fc.,15„.Q_, V. )--• ... .,c,‘I-P...-6-k....._-, tI/- / J if ii �U rte• &ZJJ A . v,L.e f_0,--es / 0, 4 irdialvt" ' .-------... .,..... . ... . \-JiaL-12 DaD 4j _,,,_ ,,, 1-jAa/1..„....t..„,4 0,\., jskelv_ c-k_it., cAtokera [-.,,,:so 774, e-- A-e.(/- .2„), 2._-- RECEIVED JUN 2 8 ". i CITY OF SPOKAM VA) gY CITY CLERK l7 Qskec /5 si y tc) v11i11 ! ll City of Spokane Valley City Council, I am against a mandatory helmet law for children. . /<0/..v>92-/--61A4 4,1.44 a f RECEIVED JUN 2 8 CITY OF ��� ' cm(ciEw ��.s 1 .Q3 *' 10 s; � ��1 9 tite City of Spokane Valley City Council, I am against a mandatory helmet law for children. Ut-Scr‘.. --fackte,. r ScAnt-(46Cj > / , r � ' RECEIVED JO 8 C►N OF SP ?A ' crnr etc 1169/05- 6, Spokane Valley City Council Meeting 6 PM Clark E. Hager, Sr. comments on the Initiative & Referendum process My name is Clark E. Hager, Sr. 11717 E. Lenora Dr. Spokane Valley Thank you for giving me these few minutes to give you MY WORD about THE WORD given to the citizens of the Valley by those, of us, fighting to create our own Valley destiny by creating our own city. We promised those citizens we would fight to keep our money here in the Valley, rather than subsidizing the rest of the County between $10 to $15 million dollars per year more than the value of the services we were getting back from the County, as the Boundary Review studies stated. We promised them greater representation, than we were getting, on the Boards and Commissions that influenced our lives. We promised them they would be able to control their own destiny by getting the right to vote and their basic rights to petition their government through the Initiative and Referendum process - rights • dil:/04 eit4/e ear: frt-c4 • they did not have by being governed by a County that ' was not a HOME RULE CHARTERED County. We have waited, patiently, for this City Council to bring an Initiative and Referendum ordinance up on the agenda, when we sadly discovered that it was not granted to the citizens in the initial batch of ordinances you passed. I, first, brought it to you attention last November, in the hopes you would expeditiously, realize the oversight and pass such an ordinance. • Mayor, as you know, I have these petitions, numbering in excess of 200, to present to you. They all state: I, the undersigned, urge Mayor Wilhite and the City Council to pass the ordinance granting our citizens their basic right to petition our government through the Initiative and Referendum process. I, now, present them to you, on their behalf, hoping this will encourage you and the City Council will pass a strong and complete ordinance, for our citizens' benefit, on both the Initiative and Referendum. Thank You! - Clark E. Hager, Sr. Spokane Valley citizen I know there is a body of thought that says - you elected me as your representative. Now, go away for four years. If you don't like the way I'm doing my job, as your representative, , you can kick my butt out of office when I come up for re-election. I don't subscribe to that philosophy. We are NOT talking about citizen recall tights. They already have those rights guaranteed by th'e State constitution. The citizens are the OWNERS of our city government. It is not incumbent on them to wait 4 years or 48 months, or 208 weeks, or 1461 days for good government. They have every right to expect to be involved in each of the 35,064 minutes their representatives, and the staff, are in office. This insures that their financial and governance is performed in the most efficient, proper and ethical manner for all the citizens' benefit. That's where the :Initiative and Referendum process plays a pivotal and checks & balances role. Clark E. Hager, Sr. Spokane Valley, Wa. Citizen ....6091,04116 toz 8/0 gir • Comments on Greenacres Moratorium Request Bill Gothmann, Planning Commissioner June 28, 2005 I wish to present my reasons for voting to deny the petition. On November 18, 2004, the Commission was Oven the task of making a recommendation to the Council concerning the Greenacres Petition for moratorium. I have attached the original petition given the Commission. I should note that the text of this original petition differs substantially from the text of the June 2 letter to the Council from the North Greenacres Neighborhood Planning Committee Chair. The Commission was given the following instructions from staff, including the Deputy City Attorney: "The Commission must decide if current zoning within the North Greenacres area threatens the public's health, safety, or welfare" The petition stated, "We are petitioning for a temporary moratorium against development of densities of more than one house per acre until interim zoning is adopted." Comments: We just rezoned the area to R3.5. Thus, by our actions, we have already denied the petition. The petition goes on, "We are asking for a zone change that accommodates the recent rights we had under SR-1. Comment: Growth management does not permit SR-1 (suburban residential) zones within an urban area. Thus, we do not have the ability to fully grant the petition. The next paragraph states the neighborhood's intent: "larger lot sizes, gardens, small orchards, animals, and some truck farming." We understand the neighborhood's concerns. i believe that this is an area with special characteristics we need to preserve. They also state that they are"writing a neighborhood plan for adoption into the Comprehensive Plan." Comment: Although the Comp Plan can include the goals and methods by which neighborhoods can develop their plans, it should not include the neighborhood plan, itself. In addition, this is not a"health, safety, or welfare" issue justifying a moratorium. • North Greenacres is "concerned due to the near proximity of the river that our health and safety will be compromised without a moratorium." Comment: I share their concern for the River. However, I believe that this is adequately addressed through the Shorelines Management Act. Furthermore, this is a city- . wide issue for the Council to address—not a local neighborhood issue. They express concern whether"the present waste management facility has the capacity to effectively treat all the additional effluent from both the city and county new developments ... ." Comment: Again, this is a city-wide issue for the Council to address. If there is to be a moratorium on sewer connections, it should be for the whole city, not just for one neighborhood. Their final comment seeks a"resolution for establishing policy" concerning quality of life issues. They specifically mention PUDs. I believe that our recent adoption of new PIJD regulations addresses this issue. In my view there were no threats to the public's health, safety, or welfare that would rise to a level justifying a moratorium for the North Greenacres area. Thus, I had no choice but to vote against the petition. Bill Gothmann ' ' I To the City of Spokane Valley City Council & Planning Dept. We ,the undersigned ,are the resident landowners and primary stakeholders of North Greenacres Community whose boundaries were defined in 1993 as follows: North and West Boundary is the Spokane River and the South Boundary is Mission Avenue and the East Boundary is Barker Road. The Simpson Subdivision in the southeast corner is excluded. The owner occupied plats represents the primary stakeholders who are committed to preserving the traditions, customs and culture and economic stability of our neighborhood. WE ARE PETITIONING FOR A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM AGAINST DEVELOPMENT OF DENSITIES OF MORE THAN ONE HOUSE PER ACRE UNTIL INTERIM ZONING IS ADOPTED. WE ARE ASKING FOR A ZONE CHANGE THAT ACCOMODATES THE RECENT RIGHTS WE HAD UNDER SR-1. We the undersigned agree that this is an old established neighborhood dating back 100 years, sharing a common culture. The keeping of larger lot sizes, gardens, small orchards, animals, and some truck farming characterize the historical foundations of this local area. Approximately 85% of parcels are single family residences occupied by owners. We have a tradition of larger parcels with over 50% of these parcels being larger than 1 acre as pursuant to a study done in 1994 by Spokane County. We are committed to the process of writing a Neighborhood Plan for adoption into the Comprehensive Plan Furthermore, we are concerned due to the near proximity of the river, that our health and safety will be compromised without a moratorium. THE ABILITY TO BRING SEWER PIPE OR PROPOSALS FOR NEW WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES DOES NOT MEET GMA CONCURRENCY. UNLESS THE PRESENT WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY HAS THE CAPACITY TO EFFECTIVELY TREAT ALL THE ADDITIONAL EFFLUENT FROM BOTH CITY AND COUNTY NEW DEVELOPMENTS , IT POSES A PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD. (The danger as posed by the recent accident provokes serious thought. This issue , by overwhelming evidence must be solved.) WE are also seeking adoption of a resolution for establishing policy that mitigates impacts that effect traditions, culture, and customs, economic stability, and quality of life. (i.e. horse keeping and a PUD side by side) Greenacres Moratorium Request Comments lune 28, 2005 First let me begin by saying, should I be bold enough to think you might remember my face from the June 6, council meeting,this is my opportunity to apologize for being politically incorrect. I do admit, it was all I could do to keep from jumping up and yelling,"I Object". Additional information supporting a May 2004 North Greenacres moratorium request had been hand delivered to City Hall six days prior to that meeting. In that information, we reiterated our request for a building moratorium and a petition with 174 signatures. The intention of that petition was, and is to allow us the time needed to complete our neighborhood plan. A portion of that plan, a TRANSPORTATION DRAFT was included as proof of the neighborhood's effort and progress. It was that information I expected to be acknowledged and it was not. In hindsight, it was obvious to me that no council member or support staff, present at that meeting, had reviewed or seen the information. I also thought it possible,that the information had never even been delivered, which leads me to believe a very serious communication problem exists. Whether it's caused by the Neighborhood or by miscommunication within City Hall, it needs to be corrected. The City of Spokane Valley has a planning process for Greenacres that will result in land use densities needed in line with the Growth Management Act. The Neighborhood acknowledges changes are coming. We are a tight knit community. We also have a vision of what those changes should entail. The Comprehensive plan makes reference to Neighborhood/sub-area planning. Because of that acknowledgement, it would seem logical that the Planning Commission and the City Council would embrace and accept, or at the very least, review the Community's efforts before allowing piecemeal development. Piecemeal development of underutilized parcels is undermining the implementation of the overall effort we will soon present to you in the form our North Greenacres Neighborhood Plan. New developments with 40 foot wide streets, curbed with sidewalks will perpetuate existing patterns of development and conflict with the anticipated neighborhood/sub-area plan. We are asking for a temporary, "period of time"delay in further sub-division approval until the Greenacres Neighborhood plan can be adopted. Whether adopted in part or in full, at the very least, we will have a basis on which to move forward. The City of the Spokane Valley has come to fruition with the promise of responsive government for its citizens. North Greenacres Neighborhood would be the first and representative neighborhood of that very promise. As citizens of the new City of Spokane Valley, we are trying desperately to get through to our City Council. Yes, personalities get in the way. Personalities should not interfere with sound planning practices. If you walked into this room tonight with a predisposition to deny the temporary,"period of time"delay for further sub-division approval, please give it further consideration and review all of the information we have submitted. Our vision is fading day by day as a result of lost and tabled requests. Time is of the essence. Once again,the citizens of North Greenacres are asking for a favorable ruling. Thank You, Nancy Miller Greenacres Resident Page 1 of 1 Chris Bainbridge From: Sue Colman Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2005 8:27 AM To: Cary Driskell; Chris Bainbridge Subject: FW: moratorium ordinance on agenda for council June 28, 2005 • Cary, Mary has your name spelled incorrectly and I don't see your name Chris. Thought I would e-mail this to both of you. Sue Sue Gorman Administrative Assistant • City of Spokane 'valley 11707 E. Sprague Avenue Spokane Valrey, WA 99206 (Prone: 509-688-0180 FAX: 509-688-0194 sgolman(cr�.spokanevalley.orq "When a team of dedicated individuals makes a commitment to act as one...the sky's the limit." From: Mary Pollard [mailto:maryp @icehouse.net] Sent: Monday, June 27, 2005 5:54 PM To: Ddenneny @spokanevalley.org; Marina Sukup; Sue Golman; Mike Devleming; Gary Schimmels; cdriscoll @spokanevalley.org; Richard Munson; Diana Wilhite; mflannigan @spokanevalley.org; Steve Taylor Subject: moratorium ordinance on agenda for council June 28, 2005 • Dear Honorable Mayor, Councilmembers, Ms. Sukup, Mr. Driscoll, We have prepared a report regarding a temporary moratorium on building development. I've emailed the report. Ms. Bainbridge is making copies of the two color maps of the aquifer that distinctive show what an important part of the aquifer North Greenacres area is, as well as where the river intersects this same area. The following link is the full report of the Supreme Court ruling that supports municipalities in utilizing temporary moratoria as a planning tool and clearly states this cannot be construed as a "takings" by developers. I also attached an executive summary of Paying for Prosperity of a 35 pg report on how Impact Fees actually are the grease that keeps the economy going. It is a distinctive report since it is a longtitudinal study and measured economic growth while utilizing impact fees. It is by the prestigious Brookings Institute. With all your reading I believe this will be more helpful and you can read the larger work by using its link. http://www.planning.org/amicusbriefs/pdf/tahoesierra.pdf Please consider enacting the moratorium for North Greenacres Neighborhood. Best Wishes, Mary Pollard Chair North Greenacres Neighborhood 6/30/2005 June 28, 2005 Spokane Valley City Council Re: North Greenacres Moratorium Reasons for Moratorium: Planning, Studying, and Protecting RCW 36.70.795 and 36.70A.390 provide for a city to enact a moratorium as a method by which local government may preserve the status quo so that new plans and regulations will not be rendered moot by intervening development. A. Legal Authority for Cities to Enact Moratorium A limited Moratorium does not constitute a "takings." Principles for a Moratorium B. Summary of Issues 1. Spokane Valley's Comprehensive Plan Process 2. Neighborhood Planning to resolve transportation, parks, etc 3. Citizen Involvement in Plans that effect Land Use, Zoning, Ordinances 4. Studies Needed to Adequately Address Infrastructure i. Schools ii. Parks iii. Sewer and Waste Water Treatment Facilities 5. Impact Fees 6. Environmental i. Area Geography ii. Proximity to River iii. Distance to Aquifer iv. Natural Drainageways and Stormwater v. Protection of River and Aquifer' 7. Decisions Cannot Be Arbitrary and Capricious 8. Transportation i. Geographically isolated by river on two sides and freeway on the third. ii. Access to area is usually limited to two roads iii. Barker Bridge and Road will be under construction — Leaving only 1 road — Flora Rd. iv. Neighborhood roads in poor condition — increased danger from development and construction generated traffic. North Greenacres Neighborhood requested this moratorium last August. This development moratorium, reflected by 174 new signatures this June 2005, reiterated the petition of last August 2004. The purpose of this petition was to allow full participation in the development of the city's new Comprehensive Plan and adoption of policies, studies and regulations. We are asking for studies for implementation of impact fees, so they can be enacted by ordinance for parkland acquisition in our area, as well as development of parkland and open space. Time is needed for the City to 1 complete their Park Master Plan. We also request school and transportation impact fees studies be completed. If development continues without capturing this needed revenue the necessary taxes could well force many residents to lose their homes. Spokane Valley Public Works Department has commented that they would like to do an area wide transportation study of the Greenacres area. We need to avoid a piecemeal approach to planning. Projections of cost for new fire equipment, police and the cost of staffing both of these agencies should be part of the impact fee study since projected population has already been determined. We would like to see collaborative planning with Pall stakeholders. We are also concerned about cost to new homeowners but at the same time are committed to ensuring that the neighborhood receive the necessary infrastructure. Environmental Concerns Needing Study for Protection of Citizens The entire north side of this neighborhood is Shoreline Protection and the adjacent uses will impact all the areas within Shoreline Protection designation. We researched the effect of development on the river, and found the following information through the USGS. The ground elevation is 1990. The river's high elevation is 1960 and low elevation is 1950 ft. That equates to a mere 30 to 40 feet of ground filtration between the land surface and level of the aquifer. The map we provided shows that Greenacres is located over the most desirable part of the aquifer, (see maps), the highest level of transmissivity and the highest specific yield of the aquifer. This has led to complacency in protecting our aquifer and river. We have heard many of our concerns overlooked by oversimplification in stating, The entire Valley is over the aquifer." All areas are not the same. We are the deepest part of the aquifer and provide the greatest yield of water. We continue to request that this area be treated with the same concern as you would a wellhead because this area has the highest volume of trasmissivity. (Bolke and Vaccaro, 1981). This part of Greenacres also overlays the river and we have an exchange between the aquifer and the river. From Barker to Sullivan, the river feeds the aquifer. The natural topography of the land slopes downward toward the river throughout this area. You can see Flora becomes a conduit to deposit all of the storm water and road pollutant directly into the river. Historically, storm water was cleaned as it ran through the natural drainageways. These are now being filled in. On Baldwin, drywells are taking their place. Rather than being filtered through a large area of gravel and fines, it will be a point saturation through the bottom of the drywell. This creates an intensely concentrated point of pollutants including pernicious chemicals that do not break down from bacteria. These are man made chemicals. The swale areas have been compacted along with every other inch of the property they prepared for roads and development.This should not happen. Yet, we witnessed rigorous soil compaction of areas where swales are designated. Soil compaction greatly reduces the function of the swale since it will not be able to filter because it is too compacted. This will allow incubation of mosquitoes that carry the West Nile Virus. This needs to be addressed. These all are serious public health 2 hazards. Many older properties that have been fallow fields have lost the oral log of where the drainageways appear and will become problems for future owners. Temporary Moratoria — An effective Planning Tool — not a taking Most cities upon incorporation enact a one year moratorium in order to plan. Business pressures didn't want that to happen and most residents were unaware. We are drafting our first comprehensive plan and it is vital that we don't continue to give away for free all that should have been protected as a future legacy for our children. The city's push to quickly adopt a plan without allowing adequate time for research and planning is a disservice to the staff and citizens of this city. The city cannot continue development under old practices and rules. This compounds the problems and escalates shortsighted practices leading to lack of revenue necessary for the infrastructure. There are important principles that guide the need for a moratorium according to the Supreme Court ruling that is attached. Principle 1: Reasonable Moratoria allow the regulating body the necessary time to study and formulate solutions to significant land use and environmental problems affecting society. The Supreme Court ruled in April 23, 2002 that property owners or developers claims of regulatory "takings" were unfounded. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) authorized a temporary moratorium. The ordinance and resolution banned development for a limited period, these regulations preserved the bulk of the future developmental use of the property. 1. Temporary moratoria are fundamental to the planning process and are traditionally recognized by courts and authorized by state statutes as background principles of state law. Petitioners (Developing Interest) conceded in their opening brief that planning or time out moratoria are validly used by planning agencies to provide "breathing space" and contend only that the "dubbed temporary moratorium", in this case was in fact, a permanent substantive change in regulations. (Petitioners; Brief at 4-5) • 3 Spokane Valley's Comprehensive Planning process is in fact a permanent substantive change in regulation and land use. Temporary moratoria constitute a normal delay in the planning process and . cannot constitute a facial partial or temporary taking. Spokane Valley will not face substantive legal risk since temporary moratoria is an appropriate and effective planning tool. Interim development controls and moratoria are fundamental to a rational, defensible planning process. A Colorado court recognized that a temporary halt on development activity during a period of study is not only reasonable, but also ensures that government acts in a manner that is thoughtful and deliberate, not arbitrary and capricious. Williams v. City of Central, 907P.2d701,706(Colo.Ct. App. 1995) This was upheld by the attached Supreme Court decision. Spokane Valley is writing their first Comprehensive Plan. GMA•requires early and continuous citizen participation. Areas residents that have sought relief through planning measures for their area should not continue to have to pay the cost while catering to development interests. Residents in our area are facing thousands of dollars in fencing improvements, increased taxes and bonds for new schools due to development pressures. Parks are woefully underserved, the City's Park Master Plan is not completed, nor is there money to purchase the necessary parkland to adequately serve the public. An enacting authority must diligently pursue completion of the planning process, including studies, analyses, public participation, and the drafting of legislation. The need for the moratorium is justified by the need to pursue further study of the matter at hand. (i.e. Waste Water Treatment, impact fees, parks plan, SVCP Process) The significance of planning to zoning regulation was fully recognized when the U.S. Department of Commerce issued the Standard State Zoning and Planning enabling Acts in 1926 and 1928. There must be a reasonable standard to avoid tyrannizing property owners. The Comprehensive Plan is the essence of zoning. It is a rational process that protects us from a "Gallup poll" or mob rule. 74 Mich. L. Rev. 799(1976 and Geo-Tech Reclamation Indus v Hamrich, 886 F2d 662(4d' Cir. 1989) 4 Principle 2: The need for temporary planning moratoria is the prevention of nonconforming uses or development inconsistent with the purposes and policies of the planning legislation being formulated. Spokane County created an enormous amount of nonconforming uses without any provision for mitigation bringing harm and upheaval to many neighborhoods and areas. While at a GMA meeting, some of the staff found amusing a description of the likelihood of horses chewing on a neighboring home if there was only a 5 foot setback. Yet, a few weeks later the city drafted an ordinance without ensuring that abutting acreages would be protected with privacy fencing. This was with full knowledge of harm it would potentially bring to many citizens. This has accrued thousands of dollars in expense to protect landowners from potential hazards that could bring lawsuits. North Greenacres Neighborhood wisely asked for a moratorium while petitioning for rezoning, to address the other mitigation measures needed and to take part in the Comprehensive Plan process. North Greenacres Neighborhood is concerned about the river and aquifer, as well as transportation. We asked for time to address these concerns. Unfortunately, there wasn't a timely response. It was truly a case of the stable being shut after the horses were let out. In fact, the Supreme Court describes it exactly in this manner. "Any movement by the governing body of a city to zone would, no doubt, frequently precipitate a race of diligence between property owners, and the adoption later of the zoning ordinance would in many instances be without effect to protect residential communities—like locking the stable after the horse is stolen." Downham v. City Council of Alexandria, 58 F .2d 784, 788 (E.D. Va. 1932) This was written during an age where common sense prevailed. North Greenacres found that by the time the city council signed the rezone ordinance, every development was vested and got under the zoning wire, as well as increased the density of one development from 32 to 55. As stated in Chicago Title and Trust Co. v. /Village of Palatine, 22 III App. 2d 264, .160 N.E. 23 697, 700 (Ill. App. 1959): "It would be utterly illogical to hold that, after a zoning commission had prepared a comprehensive zoning ordinance or an amendment thereto, which was on file and open to public inspection and upon which public hearings had been held, and while the ordinance was under consideration, any person could by merely filing an application compel the municipality to issue a permit which would allow him to establish a use which he either knew or could have known would be forbidden by the proposed ordinance, and by so doing nullify the entire work of the municipality in endeavoring to carry out the purpose for which the zoning law was enacted." 5 Our present draft comprehensive plan and land use map is open for examination and public comment. Just as our rezone caused a run on vesting, we witnessed a developer at one meeting trying to change zoning on his specific properties for his own personal gain. Studies are necessary to keep this process from political pressure of a monied interest. Principle 3: Temporary Planning Moratoria is for facilitation of public debate and input into the legislative process. Without this process regulations will likely fail to protect the full range of community values and to accomplish the intended . goals of the governing body. As stated by the Supreme Court of Minnesota, one of the "persuasive reasons for permitting moratorium ordinances is to derive the benefits of permitting a democratic discussion and participation by citizens and developers in drafting long-range use plans." (A/mquist, 245 N. W. 2d at 826 (emphasis added). Example 1: The city would be addressing a larger planning and environmental concern in insuring regulations for stormwater. Drainageway preservation needs to be studied and enforced. In discussion with City Manager, Dave Mercier, We asked, Who would be responsible if stormwater provisions were inadequate and future homeowners sued neighbors for water backing up on their property?" Who would be responsible?" His response was, "This is a civil matter." This provokes serious questions regarding ensuring public health and safety in the permitting and oversight process of development, including ordinances that place the legal responsibility with those who approve plans and them who design them. Bond money should mandated and held by the city for a number of years. This would allow time for drainage plan to show and ensure that it functions well in adverse, worse case conditions. Damage to properties in worse conditions would have recourse as city policy. Example 2 The harm a minimum five foot setback ordinance creates was not considered in light of all the places it would be used. It did not consider the full range of community concerns and values. In fact, at the set back hearing I attended, objections were treated as if we were foolish children to counter something the wise county had already instituted. Spokane Valley seemed focused on a uniform, one size fit all standard. This assumed there would be a home another five feet from the property line, not livestock. Neighborhoods, such as ours, deserve consideration. The County instituted the 5 foot setback to satisfy a developer who wanted it. The developers and builders are at an advantage since this is what they do on a daily basis. Most residents are busy with their lives and rely on our elected officials to look at both sides of the coin. 6 A development Moratorium in support of a comprehensive land use planning effort is precisely the type of delay associated with the "Process of Governmental decision making" referred to in Agins and was the progenitor of the phrase used in "First English'. "normal delays in the development approval process" are not takings. Unfortunately, the Planning Commission seems to be most distressed about causing development delays and their subsequent costs. . Deliberations and delays imposed on the neighborhood were much more costly due to lack of legal protection. There was a significant lack of studies basic for fiscal and environmental protection in making their decision. Our necessary input in the larger planning process of the Comprehensive Plan and the larger picture of community values was also ignored. The policies and goals adopted at the end of the SVCP process will be moot points if the status quo is not preserved to enable optimal planning, since this neighborhood's geography limits possibilities. (Please note North Greenacres Neighborhood did not receive equal treatment of Ponderosa/Rotchford Estates, nor even the consideration of the $1800 we had to pay. The City Council gave Ponderosa/Rotchford Estates protection without fee.) In Zilber v. Town of Moraga, the court upheld a moratorium for completion of an open space preservation study and rejected the supposition that it was "a taking." 692 F. Supp.1195, 1206 (N.D. Cal. 1988). This certainly supports our request to ascertain the study and ability to have impact fees collected for parks and open spaces. Impact fees cannot be a round figure we take out of thin air, but require a valid study of what can be legally and reasonably collected and an ordinance to collect them. Necessary background data should be gathered, analysis and policies created. (Miller v. Bd.ofPublic Works). Law: Common Law System Distinguishes Itself from the European Civil Law by recognizing that estates in land have present and future interest. (Ashville B. Gulliver, Law of Future Interests at 73 (1959) Supreme Court 14th Amendment Legal Opinion on what Constitutes Property. Rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are equivalent to the rights of life, liberty, and property. These are fundamental rights which can only be taken away by due process of law, and which can only be interfered with, or the enjoyment of which can only be modified, by lawful regulations necessary or proper for the mutual good of all. . . . This right to choose one's calling is an • essential part of that liberty which it is the object of government to protect; and a calling, when chosen, is a man's property right. . . . A law which prohibits a 7 large class of citizens from adopting a lawful employment, or from following a lawful employment previously adopted, does deprive them of liberty as well as property, without due process of law." Slaughter-House Cases, 83 U.S. (16 Wall.) 36, 116, 122 (1873) (Justice Bradley dissenting). Agricultural lifestyle - animal keeping - is lawful employment - it is what we employ our time doing. We researched our zone and came to live here based on that zoning. Non-conforming use should not render our lives useless nor be discarded like a piece of paper. We have a right to transfer the future of what we built to our heirs. Employing our time raising animals or crops, a chosen profession or ad vocation is property. There is a loss of liberty. In order to continue the diverse interests that enrich the lives of the citizens of the Spokane Valley, there should be equal protection under the law. We recognize that we are in transition. Ordinances can be made at any time. The city has demonstrated their abject disregard for the suffering they have caused countless people in this city by not bringing forward protective ordinances. It is all the more distressing since it is an additional financial problem that must be addressed by many of us. Our lives didn't change but we are forced to bear the cost of protecting our immediate property from development by paying for privacy fencing, adding trees for screening, etc. This is not an aesthetic problem this is a serious health and safety issue as it becomes an inviting danger for children to crawl into fenced pastures. Most of us have a fixed budget. Medical costs are rising and continue to squeeze our budgets. The escalating housing market has doubled the value of our properties but our uses have not changed. We are not all engaged in trading up. We came to build our lives here not as a real estate investment. This transition should not turn our lives upside down when it can be prevented by policy and regulation: Waste Water Treatment Facility Spokane Valley is not able to fund the infrastructure of a sewer and a Waste Water Treatment Facility. They contract with the County. Spokane County claims they magically now have more capacity. The projected new plan for a Waste Water Treatment Plant is a faith estimate. Things can still go awry. We are supposed to plan responsibly. King County three times underestimated the cost and capacity of Waste Water Treatment Facilities. There is a 2005 lawsuit currently in progress over who had the most rights to capacity. They actually used a lottery system to decide who was awarded the last 140 permits. Twelve winners used up the remaining capacity— and of course the losers took it up in court. We should learn from others mistakes. 8 At present, builders are encouraged to pay for building the sewer because they believe it saves county dollars. In fact, they are giving away our potential development rights and the ability of those on the 6 year plan to actually be hooked up if their faith estimates are wrong. Spokane County and Spokane Valley have an inherent responsibility to equally represent citizens of all financial means. Average citizens low on the list for sewer service may end up without the ability to hook up, if the promises of a new waste water treatment plant do not materialize in time, and vested development rights are put ahead of those on the "6 year plan." This smacks of a class system that rewards those with money and ignores the average working class. We will also pay the future inflationary rate of hook up and the county fee at a projected inflationary rate of more than $600 than it would cost today. That is a discriminatory policy that is at a cumulative cost of $15,600 of extra expenses for just 260 parcels. This is average taxpayer dollars, not developer speculation dollars. The County is taking away our individual right to be able to subdivide or develop our own property, since we can't privately fund bringing sewer for one property. We can only afford to do this is if we sell out to a developer. County believes that the developer doesn't have to pay prevailing wage and can put in sewer cheaper than the county. This is shortsighted because the lower wage earner typically does not have benefits such as health insurance. These same lower wages the community pays for since they must look for social assistance and utilize our emergency rooms at a high price that we all pay for because by law they must receive medical treatments if they come to a hospital. Is that a savings? This is the case we referred to earlier regarding shortsighted and incorrect WWTP capacity projection. The lawsuit itself doesn't apply but the scenario sounds very plausible if we do not exercise caution about protecting the river and our aquifer. Court of Appeals Division I State of Washington Opinion Information Sheet Docket Number: 53967-1-I Title of Case: Robert A. Funk, et al., Appellants vs. City of Duvall, Washington, et al. Respondents File Date: 02/28/2005 SOURCE OF APPEAL Appeal from Superior Court of King County Docket No: 02-2-27905-8 Judgment or order under review 9 • Date filed: 03/11/2004 Judge signing: Hon. Michael J Fox JUDGES Authored by Mary Kay Becker Concurring: C. Kenneth Grosse Faye Kennedy The treatment plant was expected to last until the end of the century. As it turned out, however, the plant as designed was insufficient to serve the needs of a growing city. Both the number of households and the average use per household were greater than originally anticipated. And as time went on, the City also had to begin dealing with pollution problems caused by the treatment plant's discharge of effluent into the Snoqualmie River. In conclusion, North Greenacres has demonstrated that we legally meet the criteria for a temporary moratorium of development. This temporary moratorium is based on the need for environmental protection, preserving the status quo to allow planning, and that the implementation of community desires to be adopted at the end of the comprehensive planning process can be a reality, not a moot point. The temporary moratorium gives the city time to study impact fees and clarify stormwater and natural drainageway preservation. North Greenacres is unlike other areas over the aquifer as shown on the map. We hope this captures the picture and helps in the decision making process. Please grant a building moratorium for the North Greenacres Neighborhood. Awl weifuL Mary Po rd Chair of North Greenacres Neighborhood 17216 E. Baldwin Ave. Greenacres, WA 99016 maryp @icehouse.net 10 . . 4 ' . . 11730 R.42 E. R.43 E, 117'15' A.44 E. R.45 E. R.46 W. R.6 W. 117'00' R.5 W. • I - - • , • 1 ' • ' I I ... . • Et .:!...,' .). L,P .,i - ,,. • . 1 . .,. , .....___ .:, Dartford • -' ‘- ;, .... , 1,r....: • • 1 . . i.,,::.!.... tab°•, .: . • • ••'.':-/(f• .',:.:,-1... ,a7.--r:i _ . !Id./ :. "'-.:•,,,. 2, 1-:/;:7---° "'•,,:°4".- "- . • • -- o Mead , . •,, •- sr , - 1 ,. . • ,., , ,C.) • 1 II . . ..iiirticdirr11 rrairie '-' ' • . 47'45'— .- \ i Peono Prairie .-•_...• J, 'T . c:°'-.., ••,..,... Fiveinlie Proitie \ 26 (I • N. 1 ' 1 l li .\ Orchard Pralrio . , .• • '''; c.....:) \ I Po'st Falls • i r—II Pleasant Prairie - ,- -"- -•-"- - "' -- ''''-'••:•:."-...2.' " ',- -— •- ----)f .. ... • ......•• •-•.,....Cp . -N1 1 • ---• ' - • cr - 71 . . ,. . . . .• ' 1 .' .... • IT:1 .,.1;,_ .1.:,.. :a.:;..- ' ' - ' i )Perky/flier. - Millwood ,• .. -'' '•,_-,' f ' A 1 47 :/N-11 . •• ; .‘• ". ' ''. ''. ' --. 1. *t.irocinat.ra.:; • .. . ,. , /.:e, .,.. ,....,......._ '40'— ' . •. SPOKAIfF.. .-. " ■ 2 1 .1: \ (,•.,.. _.--1- 0 ' . . !.:11sIlinart .•• • - ( gig T. o Opportunity . tt • " ' •. ./.' -''N. 2 >1 • tr•ke- -.......... • . . 0 , -.:. Eati Spokane \ . 0), . -----/ Libel Iv Kato I • . Menitou Prairie • - •.. 0 1 2 • 3 4 5 MI1.E! .t.. Spokane Alrpon C3 \ .. . : . /.._, \. ' - -Z - -t6.1-, 0 1 2 3 4 5 8 KILOMETERS 9., L_ ) 1 ,1 . . I r ,. . . I 1 1 . r. EXPLANATION r___. ,..___........1 . v: Less then 6 10 to 15 16 to 20 +ct o ISpecific yield,In percent • . CD Figure 31. Areal variations in specific yield of the Spokane aquifer.(From Bolke and Vaccaro,1981.) . • . .c. , ... • ._ -. 11r30. R.42 E. R.43 E. 117'15' R.44 E. R.45 E. R.46 W. R.6 W. 117•0& R.5w. I 1 ' I.,r: I I I I ' i II . . -.. .. , . . , ..., ..,_. ■ r ",, • Dartford -;• •--- -. ,, , ..:. ,„,.,........ ........".. ,./.,...„ •••=,, " ■ ) Newman -I , '' " . • k .• •i (-', -,--------'-'----..,. <, ■,..., I..:.--/' - --... _,--. ("'N' :\ r.ake -, ......,•,K •---- ,,,... •••••.,,, . , , -:,. ',-....... ',., .4""'‘'::-.-"' —. . -... .... -- -„..r Peone Prairie / il 0 - •••• % ---- ‘, ‘.-_-.."- ) ..."' Rathdru u Prairie• i, 47%5'— , 1 \ -..._.‘N, ,____. I ,.'. .,„...,.. .,../\ 1 ! . T. :_:.‘ Fivernilo Prairie (I I ? .•"—li:7:: ->. 26 1\I '-,. .. , \ I •....., ,/ ,„_,,,,• I.."' I N. . -0,,, - , , \ Orchard Prairie •. ..,.. , \ 4 / Poist Fails N, \, -? .--••••-,.../ • 1 --4. -- - -..., Pleasant Prairie ' H ----',.. -. '\ I • -\' L ,,,,c-: I i .'\ • \\ ----...,_ • Trentwood ....,...._- _,<<"----- ,._....7.7.--. - •- = I- I I a'-------i ':.- : ?()1 ----- '' - \- - ; %) r-- , , ..,.....„....„._____,:..,_,_„,_.., _. ,,,, ,! .,.,.,,,.„.,_ ,, y ,......,„,-- , / , .,,„........ . ..,„„,,en.,,,,7,_..s., .\ ...., ,"rkWate l' • _.......- II\ s. \ o) ? I I ...,s .,Zr:' ,,,....i)) ...,....-e. ) „....,/ / ■ ,,,/ C.t I flt.M.Ifit a3 / lo • i' -..., , • 1 a- , • I W 47'40'— ,,': i. SPOKANEN.,:•--..-....! ,. i 7/ t z IX cr. 1 g Ig T. ' ' ,,f,... N\ \ *Dishmait e(*Om,hitt*„,,,___J______ i /I, --- 0 25 I : ' •• ----c„....... ...y. .... ..,.......,......_.......-- ss \--.__-••• ----• •—••••---7, <I E. N. • -0. , ••- . • „:1;' ,k% I Eas Spokane \ .t.-.....,_,,,,/:( Liberry Ladres ' ,, . , , 1 Manitou Prairie ,/, •._,- 0 1 2 3 4 5 MILE'. Spokane Airport (D) I i, i < I la 0 i 2 3 4 5 6 KILOMETERS ni • . I L___ 41'. • I r I I I 5' • EXPLANATION 5 ea Iv ,.______. L____.._1 1_ ,. _..., ,_________. _______...... _. R. al • <0.06 0.05-2 2-6 6-10 10-30 30-50 50-70 a iTransmissivity,in feet squared per second - (7 Figure 29. Areal variations in transmissivity in the Spokane aquifer.(From Bolke and Vaccaro, 1981.) ..., (..) co = „.. --• . • No. 00-1167 IN THE Supreme Court of the United States TAHOE SIERRA PRESERVATION COUNCIL,INC., ETAL., Petitioners, v. TAHOE REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCY,ET AL, Respondents. On Writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit BRIEF OF AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION AND THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION AS AMICI CURIAE IN SUPPORT OF RESPONDENTS Robert H. Freilich* E.Tyson Smith Jason M. Divelbiss Freilich,Meitner&Carlisle 4435 Main Street Kansas City, MO 64111 (816) 561-4414 * Counsel of Record for Amici Curiae . . • - 11730 R.42 E. R.43 E. 11r15' R.44 E. R.45£. R.46 W. R.6 W. 117•01Y Ft,5 W. I 1. 11 . .1 iti4 jiQ @ .4 ., •'-'4, ":5 , • / , .../11 ' Dartford .. r---1 s-... ! .. z -... ...., ."...... ead -••., ..-/ .----\ -/- \ ' ' NOWMICJII '".111 ' Lake i Houser ink: • . \,.....,.,__ .1 Peone Prairie • i., :.lft:‘,•.'...., . s ..,-- il Rathall ill PrairiP T. As , -, :fis,,,,ini. ,rgtalk / W' ' . orchard Prairie i .. ,.. ‘• •,,,''' ' • ?I: \ j 1 1 ; 1 • t Pleasant Prairie • / ". '-...,:-..,•',,,_',:ir. ,. I . : '''"•,..0. . 1\....),.,i ... • ..,; ) 1 • MitIvonrid z 0 i-. iN..,.... 10 j iirOY— -. -'ll ' SPOKAIV, r\,r ;°3'lla sr. r 1 I 1 1: --A— ; , Dishrnan T, t . F • •oppcounev 2S <1N. *II\.',-4 7--.-- —. . /-2N----_. -"'.----- ■ ',1---\\..j ' 1 ' • - Eas Spokane \ 6:3 Liberry Loki I • ••• I . .. a ,•e , 1 ManItou Prairie 1 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 MILE: Spokane Airport 0 i ■ ■ 1 '■ 1" i I) i I i ..Z 1 ). ,C!. '`...„....._...„.." 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 KILOMETERS ■ F.' ' 1. ..?, .6, i• L......___:.,...xe. - I • I I 1 • w EXPLANATION 4 1 . I t I - i-- w Less than 5 10 to 1 5 16 to 20 %I o Pr Specific yield, in percent ro 0 . o 7> Figure 31. Areal variations in specific yield of the Spokane aquifer.(From Bolke and Vaccaro,1981.) o .1 . .1N ... . • 117°30' R.42 E. R.43 E. 117'15 R.44 E. R.45 E. R.46 W. R.6 W. 117'044 R.5 W. I ' .r• - I 1 I . I ,.......,* I . --11 . • . .• • ..., .1., Dartford '.:. AL. .1 .., 's- Newrnan I %Hauser Lake - Lake I • . -- Mead ... I CI 47°45' — - 2t1t11.41,\ 3 ; Poona Prairie . - -- dru i Prairie: -\ - T. t ,,Efiwaag . % ) ,..... ....- r.t. - 4-%14± % ' • 'I ,--7-- 1 L.k. ,..\.,,, Orchard -Takla ,4:"---- -1, , 1 i 9 . i __., Pose Falls - 6 • Pleasant Prairie . . -- - ---..=7 .‘ LI- '- . • -0•-\...,- \R\ ... .‘ '"------..„ ,. i4r d ,..---- a - -,.7.'-'• -411 -irli.' fits- -- -4--> c•-• %'il Tr 7; --- .. ._-_ _ --":-..' -'' 707ta .P , 4.----4--- --1-__ ___ e.,„.404, ...- c,k _ ,-(- ,1 • . - -i.-- - c , \ . ....;_,.2r arkwoul:i.,,„ _Millwood. :-.c. _________ it I ppuolc..4.3 . .•• . s,:i..,%.8 e f; 47•40'— ..i f,.. ,:-. ''''''... •'.. t • :V' / ' t;10 ...- Oisher j: ca •• ,„., _ ,._..,..„.. ..:•_ , , T. a ID OPTfir%.42 tn 0 25 _ i • , .., Ens Spokane V2i"-- .. • . , .,/ Liberty Lake I f .. . . i Manitou Prairie (.4.-." 0 1 2 3 4 5 MILE! o . Spokane Airpon sO) .1,. I 1 . I I- 1 i I Vi I I 41 V 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 KILOMETERS i I I I , . EXPLANATION .-... = \ m 7 17.17,:ij 10 0 Will r-.1 x. <0.05 0.05-2 2-6 6-10 10-30 30-50 50-70 M Transmissivity,in feet squared per second A g '111" Figure 29. Areal variations in transmissivity in the Spokane aquifer.(From Bolke and Vaccaro,1981.) ... t.) c e. /- •-.,. . . No. 00-1167 rvT E Supreme Court of the United States TAHOE SIERRA PRESERVATION COUNCIL,INC.,ETAL., Petitioners, v. TAHOE REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCY, ET AL., Respondents. On Writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit BRIEF OF AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION AND THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION AS AMIC1 CURIAE TN SUPPORT OF RESPONDENTS Robert H.Freilich* E. Tyson Smith Jason M. Divelbiss • Fxtilieh.Lehner&Carlisle 4435 Main Street Kansas City, MO 64111 (816) 561-4414 * Counsel of Record for Amici Curiae • QUESTION PRESENTED Whether the Court of Appeals properly determined that a temporary moratorium on land development does not constitute a taking of property requiring compensation under the Takings Clause of the United States Constitution? • 2 QUESTION PRESENTED Whether the Court of Appeals properly determined that a temporary moratorium on land development does not constitute a taking of property requiring compensation under the Takings Clause of the United States Constitution? • • • 2 • STATEMENT OF THE CASE Amici adopt the statement of the case as set forth by Respondents_ However,the following points are of particular significance to the matters set forth in this brief. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency(TRPA)adopted Ordinance 81-5,prohibiting development in environmentally sensitive areas from August 1981 through August 1983, in order to carry out studies,adopt carrying capacities,and adopt the regional plan required by the Amended Tahoe Regional Compact,Pub,L, No. 96-551, 94 Stat. 233 (1988) (authorizing a thirty-month moratorium), When it became apparent that final adoption of the new plan required additional lime,TRPA adopted Resolution 83-21,extending the two- year moratorium for an additional eight months to April 1984, or a total of thirty-two months—only two months longer than the statutory authorization. On appeal to the Ninth Circuit, the principal question was "whether a temporary planning moratorium,enacted by TRPA to halt development while a new regional land use plan was being devised, effected[a facial]taking of each plaintif s property under the standard set forth in Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council, 505 U.S. 1003, 112 5. Ct. 2886, 120 L. Ed. 2d 798 (1992)." Tahoe-Sierra Preservation Council, Inc. v. Tahoe Reg'l Planning Agency, 216 F.3d 764, 7 (9"n Cir. 2000). Recognizing its critical importance to their taking claim,the Preservation Council petitioned the Ninth Circuit to accept the "conceptual severance" argument when determining the relevant property interest allegedly taken. The Council argued that the property interest to be considered is not the entire fee simple in the • 12 property,but rather the"temporal`slice'of each fee that covers the time span during which Ordinance 81-5 and Resolution 83-21 were in effect." Id. at 774. Recognizing the inconsistency of Petitioners argument with this Court--s well-established precedent, the Ninth Circuit explained: Property interests may have many different dimensions. For example,the dimensions of a property interest may include a physical dimension(which describes the size and shape of the property in question), a functional dimension (which describes the extent to which an owner may use or dispose of the property in question), and a temporal dimension (which describes the duration of the property interest). Id. Citing Penn Central,438 U.S. 104,98 S.Ct.2646,57 L. Ed. 2d 631 (1978)(rejecting"airspace"as spatial severance); and Keystone Bituminous Coal Assn v. DeBenedictis, 480 U.S. 470, 107 S. Ct. 1232,94 L. Ed.2d 472 (1987)(rejection of"spatial"conceptual severance);Andrus v.Allard, 444 U.S. 51, 100 S. Ct. 318, 62 L. Ed. 2d 210 (1979) (rejection of"functional" severance); Agins v. City of Tiburon,447 U.S.255, 100 S.Ct.2138,65 L.Ed.2d 106(1980)(rejection of"temporal"severance),the Ninth Circuit held:"It would make little sense to accept temporal severance and reject spatial or functional severance." Tahoe-Sierra, 216 F.3d at 772-74. To not reject the concept of temporal severance,we would risk converting every temporary planning moratorium into a categorical taking. Such a result would run contrary to the Court:s explanation that it is>relatively rare that government>regulation denies all economically beneficial or productive use of land.: Lucas,505 U.S.at 1015....[T]he relevant property interests in the present case are the whole parcels of property that the plaintiffs own. Id. at 777. The court also held that"given the importance and long-standing use of temporary moratoria, courts should be exceedingly reluctant to adopt rulings that would threaten the survival of this crucial planning mechanism." id. The court concluded that the temporary moratorium adopted by TRPA did not deny all 13 use or value of the property. "Given that the ordinance and resolution banned development for only a limited period,these regulations preserved the bulk of the future developmental use of the property. This future use had a substantial present value." Id. at 781. "This economic reality is precisely what differentiates a permanent ban on development,even if subsequently invalidated,from a temporary one." Id. at 781 n.26. Finally,this case comes to the Court in a posture of a facial taking. As the Court held in Keystone, 480 U.S. 470: Because appellees' taking claim arose in the context of a facial challenge ... the only issue properly before ... this Court, is whether the `mere enactment'of the Surface Mining Act effected a taking... petitioners thus face a uphill battle ... because petitioners have not claimed,at this stage, that the Act makes it commercially impracticable for them to [make a profit]. Id. at 494-95. See also, Yee v. City of Escondido, 503 U.S. 519, 533-34,112 S.Ct. 1522, 118 L.Ed.2d 153 (1992) (citing Keystone). En sum, the Ninth Circuit found that even apart from the Petitioners' assertion of a "temporal severance"theory,the"facial"taking argument of Petitioners must fail because sufficient evidence was presented to show that the property had use and value during the moratorium so as to require an as- applied,ad hoc factual determination under Penn Central,and Petitioners had waived all as-applied takings claims.2 2 The Ninth Circuit did not consider whether the development moratorium effected a compensable taking under Penn Central,438 U.S. 104(1978). The court explained:AlTlhe only question before us is whether the rule set forth in Lucas applies B that is,whether a categorical taking occurred because Ordinance 81-5 and Resolution 83-21 denied the plaintiffs all economically beneficial or productive use of landA Tahoe- Sierra,216 F.3d at 773. The TRPA only appealed the District Courtts finding of a categorical taking under Lucas and the Tahoe-Sierra Preservation Council did not appeal the court finding of no compensable taking under Penn Central. "And even if arguments regarding the Penn Central test were fairly encompassed by the defendants=appeal,the Petitioners have stated explicitly on this appeal that they do not argue that the regulations constitute a taking under the ad hoc balancing approach described in Penn Central." Id 14 SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT 1. Temporary moratoria are fundamental to the planning process and have been traditionally recognized by the courts and authorized by state statutes as background principles of state law. Petitioners concede in their opening brief that"planning"or"time out"moratoria are validly used by planning agencies to provide"breathing space"and contend only that the"dubbed"temporary moratorium in this case was,in fact,a permanent substantive change in the regulations. (Petitioners'Brief at 4-5.) Petitioners'facial taking claim must fail because it expressly recognizes that temporary moratoria do not constitute a taking, the very question certified by this Court; or in the alternative, the grant of certiorari should be dismissed as"improvidently granted." 2. Temporary moratoria constitute a"normal delay" in the planning process,and cannot constitute a facial partial or temporary taking. 3. Both First English Evangelical Lutheran Church v. County of Los Angeles,482 U.S.304, 107 S.Ct.2378,96 L.Ed.2d 250(1 987)and Lucas support the Ninth Circuit's holding that temporary moratoria do not effect a taking. First English limited temporary takings to invalidated permanent restrictions lasting for a temporary period of time—specifically,that once a taking has been found, the period between the time of the taking and the eventual invalidation and rescission of the offending 15 regulation would be a temporary taking. First English,482 U.S.at 321. Lucas is clearly limited to those relatively rare circumstances where all economically viable use and all value is permanently removed due to the regulatory impact of the challenged regulation. Lucas,505 U.S. at 1015,see also Palazzolo v. Rhode Island, 121 S. Ct. 2448, 150 L. Ed. 2d 592 (2001). 4. Apart from"normal delays,"takings analysis requires consideration of the entirety of the property, including temporal,as well as spatial and use elements,Penn Central,438 U.S.at 130,Keystone, 480 U.S.470(1987). The Ninth Circuit properly found that,contrary to the arguments asserted by Petitioners,the takings analysis looks at all components of the fee,Tahoe-Sierra,216 F.3d at 774- 79. Furthermore,reviewing courts should not conceptually sever these interests"into small temporal pieces" any more than they would sever spatial interests (e.g., setbacks)or allowable uses(e.g., traditional zoning restrictions). Id. Rather,courts in a facial taking claim should look at all elements to determine whether,in totality,"all economically viable use"has been permanently removed from the property. Id, see also Lucas, 505 U.S. at 1012. ARGUMENT MORATORIA, REASONABLE IN DURATION, MEANS, AND ENDS, ARE EUNDA17ENTAL TO ACHIEVING PROPER PLANNING AND LAND USE REGULATION ION IN THE UNITED STATES Interim development controls and moratoria are fundamental to a rational, defensible planning process. Prior to Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co., 272 U.S. 365, 47 S. Ct. 114, 71 L. Ed. 303 (1926), courts had recognized the necessity of temporary moratoria of building permit issuance pending planning 16 • studies as a prerequisite to a valid planning and regulatory process. Miller v.lid ofPublic Works,234 P. 381, 195 Cal. 477 (Cal. 1925), cert. den.,273 U.S. 781 (1926).3 Courts since that time have recognized that a temporary halt on development activity during a period of study is not only reasonable,but also ensures that government acts in a manner that is thoughtful and deliberate,not arbitrary and capricious. Williams v. City of Central,907 P.2d 701,706(Colo.Ct.App. 1995). Regulatory agencies across the country have used temporary moratoria and interim development controls as a legitimate means of creating breathing space while necessary background data could be gathered,analyses conducted,and policies assessed. Patrick J. Rohan,ZONING AND LAND USE CONTROLS, §22.01[11 (1998). The reasonableness of a moratorium is measured by both the length of its duration and its relation to the underlying studies supporting change in the regulations. Thus,an enacting authority must diligently pursue completion of the planning process, including studies, analyses, public participation, and the drafting of legislation.Id. at§22.02[2]. The need for the moratorium is justified by the need to pursue further study of the matter at hand. Williams, 907 P.2d at 705. if, however, having established a legitimate need, the government fails to pursue the necessary studies or to work diligently toward resolution of the matter,the 3 The significance of planning to zoning regulation was fully recognized when the U.S.Department of Commerce issued the Standard State Zoning and Planning Enabling Acts in 1926 and 1928,respectively,including the requirement that"Zoning be in accordance with a comprehensive plan."Professor Charles Haar has stated that one of the important aspects of planning was to assure that property owners be protected by meaningful standards. "With the heavy presumption of constitutional validity that attaches to legislation ... and the difficulty in judicially applying a `reasonableness standard,' there is danger that zoning[would]tyrannize individual property owners.'' Charles Haar, In Accordance With a Comprehensive Plan,68 Harv.L.Rev. 1154-58(1955). As the New York Court of Appeals stated in Udell v.Hans, 235 N.13.2d 897,901,21 N.Y.2d 463,288 N.Y.S.2d 888 (1968): "...the comprehensive plan is the essence of zoning. Without it there can be no rational allocation of land use. It is the insurance that the public welfare is served and that zoning does not become nothing more than a Gallup poll@ See also Daniel Mandelker,The Role of the Local Comprehensive Plan in Land Use Regulation,74 MICH.L. Ray.799(1976);and Geo-Tech Reclamation Indus. v. Hamrick,886 F.2d 662(4th Cir. 1989)(land use regulation requires comprehensive planning to avoid Amob rules). 17 substantive validity of the moratorium can be called into question. Id. c f.Almquist v. Town ofMarshan, 245 N.W.2d 819,826,308 Minn.52(Minn. 1976);and State ex rel.SCA Chemical Waste Serv., Inc. v. Konigsberg, 636 S.W.2d 430, 434 (Tenn. 1982). Moratoria have been set aside when the restraint has been determined to be accompanied by studies unreasonable in scope, adopted in bad faith,or otherwise arbitrary or capricious. Mitchell v. Kemp, 575 N.Y.S.2d 337, 176 A.D. 2d 859 (N.Y. App. 1991)(moratoria unconstitutional on due process grounds, where town gave no satisfactory reason for five-year delay in enacting permanent zoning ordinance);Q.C. Const. Co. Inc. v. Gallo, 649 F. Supp. 1331 (D.R.I. 1986),af'd, 836 F.2d 1340 (1st Cir. 1987) (due process violation where city imposed moratorium on sewer hookups but made no effort to study or remedy problem giving rise to moratorium). Where the government enacts a moratorium with the intent of blocking a specific development,with no legitimate,good faith interest in addressing a larger planning or environmental concern, unlawful discrimination may be found. City of Monterey v. Del Monte Dunes, Ltd., 526 U.S. 687, 119 S. Ct. 1624, 143 L. Ed. 2d 882 (1999);see also Williams, 907 P.2d at 705. In this case, the studies undertaken by TRPA during the thirty-two-month moratorium were specifically tied to the development of standards to slow the eutrophication of Lake Tahoe and to meet the charge given TRPA under the Tahoe Regional Planning Compact to address this problem within a thirty- month period. Tahoe-Sierra Preservation Council, 216 F.3d at 781-82 (accepting the district court's finding of fact that"TRPA worked diligently to complete the regional plan as quickly as possible"). Thus, even under an as-applied analysis,the taking claim should fail. Three important principles underlie the need for temporary moratoria. Robert H.Freilich,Interim Development Controls: Essential Tools for Implementing Flexible Planning and Zoning,49 J.URBAN 18 L. 65, 77-80(1971)(cited by the Ninth Circuit below,Tahoe-Sierra,216 F.3d at 777). First,reasonable moratoria allow the regulating body the necessary time to study and formulate solutions to significant land use and environmental problems affecting society. Elizabeth A.Garvin&Martin L.Lehner,Drafting Interim Development Ordinances: Creating Time to Plan,LAND USE LAW AND ZONING DIG.,June 1996,at 3. The range of planning and public policy objectives that may necessitate a moratorium on development include the timing and phasing of development to the provision of adequate public facilities and infrastructure. See Golden v. Ramapo Planning Bd., 285 N.E.2d 291, 334 N.Y.S.2d 138,30 N.Y.2d 359 (N.Y. 1972), app. dismissed, 409 U.S. 1003 (1972) (upholding timed and phased multi-year development controls to assure that adequate public services will be provided in accordance with a long-tam capital improvement plan); Schenck v. City of Hudson Village, 114 F.3d 590 (6th Cir. 1997); Construction IndustryAss;n v. City of Petaluma,522 F.2d 897,909(9th Cir. 1975)(both upholding City • numerical allocation of development permits over multi-year phasing programs based on comprehensive and intensive growth studies and capital improvement analysis);see also Robert H.Freilich,FROM SPRAWL TO SMART GROWTH:SUCCESSFUL LEGAL,PLANNING,AND ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS(I 999);see generally, Timothy J. Dowling Reflections on Urban Sprawl, Smart Growth and the Fifth Amendment, 148 U. PA. L. REV. 873 (2000). Petitioners themselves concede the validity of "a planning or time out moratorium of the kind sometimes used by planning agencies to provide needed breathing space."Petitioners'Brief at 4-5. By this extraordinary admission, Petitioners concede that if this case involved a temporary moratorium, the moratorium would have been valid. Furthermore,Petitioners assert that: "although dubbed temporary it was 19 • actually a substantive regulation rather than a procedural planning device and it made a dramatic change in TRPA's land use plan."See id. at 5. This Court,however,did not accept this case on a challenge to a permanent regulation. The question presented asks,"whether the Court of Appeals properly determined that a temporary moratorium on land development does not constitute a taking of property...." Tahoe-Sierra,2001 WL 69237(U.S.). The case should be dismissed on the basis that certiorari was improvidently granted,or alternatively,the order of the Court of Appeals should be affirmed,since Petitioners concede that a temporary moratorium would be valid and hence not a taking. Temporary moratoria also constitute a valid response to imminent public health and safety threats. Indeed, it was such a concern for the immediate safety of the public that prompted Los Angeles County to enact an interim ordinance prohibiting development within a flood protection area to protect from loss of life, a temporary moratorium that was eventually upheld on remand from this Court even though all use was prohibited during the thirty-month period. First English,482 U.S.304(1987),on remand,210 Cal.App. 3d 1353, 258 Cal.Rptr. 893 (Cal. App. 1989), cert. denied,493 U.S. 1056(1990); see also Cappture Realty Corp. v. Bd of Adjustment, 133 N.J. Super. 216, 336 A.2d 30 (N.J. Super. App. Div. 1975) (upholding a temporary moratorium on construction within designated flood prone areas while flood control studies were completed); Orleans Builders& Developers v. Byrne, 186 N.J. Super.432,453 A.2d 200 (N.J.Super.App.Div. 1982)(upheld eighteen-month moratorium to facilitate environmental protection for the vast area of the New Jersey Pine Barrens). In the case sub judice, the TRPA's thirty-two-month moratorium was for a duration directly tied to the task before it,specifically,to adopt environmental carrying capacities and to develop a new regional plan, Tahoe-Sierra. 216 F.3d at 767-68. 20 In each of these circumstances,government was confronted with a planning,environmental,or public safety threat of considerable magnitude and immediacy. In each case, the government found that a temporary halt on development was necessary to accomplish legitimate planning purposes precedent to the eventual regulation. David Heeter, Interim Zoning Controls:Some Thoughts on Their Uses and Abuses, 2 MGMT. &CONTROL OF GROWTH 409, 411 (S. Scott Ed. 1975). The second principle underlying the need for temporary planning moratoria is the prevention of nonconforming uses or development inconsistent with the purposes and policies of the planning legislation being formulated. When developers expect that a regulating body is studying a particular planning or environmental issue,and,in fact,may adopt regulations to address that issue,there inevitably will be a rush to secure building permits under current regulations. Rohan at §22.01[1]. See also SCA Chemical, 636 S.W.2d at 436-37("SCA Chemical ...was engaged in a race to avoid the more stringent zoning and permit requirements ... contained in the new ordinance"). One of the first courts to address temporary moratoria summed up the problem as follows: [A]ny movement by the governing body of a city to zone would,no doubt, frequently precipitate a race of diligence between property owners,and the adoption later of the zoning ordinance would in many instances be without effect to protect residential communities--like locking the stable after the horse is stolen. Downham v. City Council of Alexandria, 58 F.2d 784, 788 (E.D. Va. 1932).4 Courts have recognized the illogical result that would accrue were regulatory bodies simultaneously authorized to control and limit the private use of land,but prohibited from imposing temporary prohibitions on a In fact,as the Ninth Circuit opinion points out,a race of diligence occurred prior to the adoption of the Tahoe Regional Planning Compact of 1980. Tahoe-Sierra,216 F.3d at 777,n.15. 21 • use during the development of those controls and limitations. As stated in Chicago Title and Trust Co. v. Village of Palatine, 22 III. App. 2d 264, 160 N.E.2d 697, 700(Ill. App. 1959): It would be utterly illogical to hold that, after a zoning commission had prepared a comprehensive zoning ordinance or an amendment thereto, which was on file and open to public inspection and upon which public hearings had been held,and while the ordinance was under consideration, any person could by merely filing an application compel the municipality to issue a permit which would allow him to establish a use which he either knew or could have known would be forbidden by the proposed ordinance, and by so doing nullify the entire work of the municipality in endeavoring to carry out the purpose for which the zoning law was enacted. See Walworth County v. Elkhorn, 27 Wis.2d 30, 133 N.W.2d 257(Wis. 1965);Miller,234 P.at 388 (Cal. 1925). The third principle underlying temporary planning moratoria is the facilitation of public debate and input into the legislative process. Unless the development industry, landowners impacted by development activity, and public interest groups have participated in the planning process, regulations likely will fail to protect the full range of community values and to accomplish the intended goals of the governing body. As stated by the Supreme Court of Minnesota, one of the "persuasive reasons for permitting moratorium • ordinances[is]to derive the benefits of permitting a democratic discussion and participation by citizens and developers in drafting long-range use plans." Almquist,245 N.W.2d at 826(emphasis added). See also Collura v. Town of Arlington, 367 Mass. 881, 329 N.E.2d 733 (Mass. 1975) (noting that "with the adoption of an interim [moratorium a developer] is made aware that a new plan is in the offing and is thus able to participate in the debate over what that new plan should contain"). 22 • H. TEMPORARY MORATORIA CONSTITUTIC NORMAL DELAYS 111 THE DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL PROCESS In First English,this Court expressly recognized the validity of"normal delays"in the development approval process. First English,482 U.S.at 321. Professor Frank Michelman of Harvard Law School,in his review of First English,states:"the First English decision[does]not reach regulatory enactments,even totally restrictive ones,that are expressly designed by their enactors to be temporary...." Frank Michelman, Takings, 88 COLUM. L. REV. 1600, 1621 (1988). The subsequent history of First English confirms Michelman's reasoning. Upon remand of First English, the California Court of Appeals found that the thirty-month moratorium to prevent flooding was not a temporary taking,258 Cal.Rptr.893(1989),and this Court denied certiorari,493 U.S. 1056 (1990). Numerous courts have relied on First English to hold that temporary development moratoria do not amount to a taking of property. Sun Ridge Dev. v. City of Cheyenne,787 P.2d 583(Wyo. 1990);Estate of Scott v. Victoria County,778 S.W.2d 585(Tex.App. 1989); Woodbury Place Partners v. City of Woodbury, 492 N.W.2d 258 (Minn. Ct. App. 1993). The First English "normal delays"holding stems directly from A gins, 447 U.S.255,where it was argued that aborted condemnation proceedings that lasted for a year effected a taking by interfering with the owner's ability to sell or develop the land during the period. The pendency of the condemnation proceedings inAgins had a greater restrictive effect than a temporary moratorium:it prevented the owners from selling as . well as developing the property until the city determined the appropriate use for the property. The cnnctusion that there was no taking in Agins directly supports the finding that there is no taking when the government imposes a temporary moratorium on development. Agins specifically rejected the notion that the public should be held liable for losses caused by delays"during the process of governmental decision making."Id at 23 • 263 n.9. A development moratorium in support of a comprehensive land use planning effort is precisely the type of delay associated with the"process of governmental decision making"referred to in Agins and was the progenitor of the phrase used in First English: "normal delays in the development approval process"are not takings. First English, 482 U.S. at 321. Consistent with this self-evident reading of Agins,a number of lower courts have rejected takings challenges to development moratoria. In Zilber v. Town of Moraga,the Court rejected the claim that a moratorium pending completion of an open space preservation study resulted in a taking, stating that the claim was"akin to one rejected in Agins." 692 F. Supp. 1195, 1206(N.1).Cal. 1988). See also Williams, 907 P.2d at 704 (relying on Agins to reject claim that a development moratorium worked a taking, and observing that "even if the ability to sell or develop... property is restricted during [a] moratorium, the landowner is free to continue with sale or development once the regulation is lifted"). C.f.Kawaoka v. City of Arroyo Grande, 17 F.3d 1227, 1237(9th Cir.),cert. denied,573 U.S.870(1994)(relying on Agins to reject a substantive due process challenge to a development moratorium). It is incumbent upon the governing body of any agency imposing a moratorium to limit its duration to an amount of time that is reasonable and necessary. Rohan at §22.02[2]. As long as the delay is not "extraordinary" in light of the severity and complexity of the problem, the duration of the otherwise valid moratorium will constitute a"normal delay in the development approval process." First English,482 U.S. at 321. The overwhelming weight of decisions by other federal and state courts supports the conclusion that temporary moratoria in effect for reasonable periods of time similar to the duration of the TRPA restriction do not result in a taking. See Santa Fe Village Venture v. City of Albuquerque, 914 F. Supp. 478 (D. I.M. 1995) (thirty-month moratorium associated with effort to create national monument not a taking); 24 Smoke Rise, Inc. v. Washington Suburban Sanitary Comm'n,400 F.Supp. 1369(D.Md. 1975)(five- year moratorium on sewer hookups does not render land"worthless or useless so as to constitute a taking"); Woodbury Place Partners, 492 N.W.2d 258 (Minn. Ct. App. 1992) (two-year moratorium on development pending completion on interstate intersectional location study not a taking); Cappture, 336 A.2d 30(N.J.Super.App.Div. 1975)(four-year moratorium imposed on construction in flood-prone lands not a taking);Friel v. Triangle Oil Co.,76 Md.App.96,543 A.2d 863 (Md.App. 1988)(twenty-four- month interim ordinance not a take);Estate of Scott,778 S.W.2d 585(Tex.App. 1989)(two-year interim ordinance not a taking);Matter of Rubin v. McAlvey, 29 App. Div. 2d 874, 288 N.Y.S.2d 519 (1968) (two-year interim development ordinance valid);First English,258 Cal.Rptr.893(delay of thirty months not unreasonable).5 III. NEITHER THE SUPREME COURT'S REMEDIAL DECISION IN FIRST ENGLISH, NOR ITS DECISION IN LUCAS, INVOLVING PERMANENT CATEGORICAL TAKINGS, UNI)ERMINES, MUCH LESS CONTRADICTS, THE CONCLUSION THAT A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON LAND DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT EFFECT A TAKING The U.S. Supreme Court's decisions in First English,482 U.S.304(1987)and Lucas, 505 U.S. 1003(1992),did not create a new approach that would support the conclusion that a temporary moratorium on development effects a taking.To the contrary,a careful reading of these decisions demonstrates that they confirm the constitutionality of TRPA's moratorium. 5 See Orleans Builders,453 A.2d at 208(observing that"under decisional law in this state as well as in other jurisdictions"moratoria"leading to formulation of a comprehensive system for the area's development which would safeguard its environment"are not compensable),McCutchan Estates Corp. v. Evansville Vanderburgh County Airport Auth.Dist.,580 N.1,.2d 339 and.Ct.App. 1991)(nine-month delay not extraordinary as a matter of law),Dufau v. United States,22 Cl.Ct. 156(Fed.Cl. 1990)(sixteen-month delay not extraordinary as a matter of law). 25 A. First English In First English,this Court granted review solely to address the issue of the appropriate remedyina regulatory takings case.6 Accepting for the sake of argument plaintiffs allegations that the restrictions effected a taking,482 U.S.at 313,the Court addressed the question"whether abandonment[of regulations] by the government[after a judicial order finding a taking]requires payment of compensation for the period of time during which [the] regulations" were in effect. Id. at 318. The Court answered this question in the affirmative, holding that, assuming a government regulation works a taking in the first place, subsequent rescission of the regulation does not foreclose a claim for compensation. "We merely hold that where the govemment:s activities have already worked a taking of all use of property, no subsequent action by the government can relieve it of the duty to provide compensation for the period during which the taking was effective." Id. at 321.' Temporary takings apply to the period of time between application of a permanent restriction and subsequent invalidation,8 not the period during which a temporary measure is applied and is not a taking in the first place. The obvious reach of First English is to compensate for permanent takings that last a 6 The fact that First English involved a temporary moratorium was irrelevant to the holding in the case. The Petitioners:Petition for Certiorari is quite misleading in this regard. First English s only relevance to this case is the dicta regarding>normal delays:. The decision in First English as to the remedy could easily have been made in any of the cases where the court declined to accept jurisdiction by reason of ripeness. (San Diego Gas& Electric v. City of San Diego,450 U.S.621, 101 S.Ct. 1287,67 L.Ed.2d 551 (1981);Agins,447 U.S.255(1980); Williamson County Reg'! Planning Comm'n v. Hamilton Bank,473 U.S. 172,105 S.CL 3108,87 L.Ed.2d 126(1985),and MacDonald, Sommer& Frates v. County of Yolo,477 U.S.340, 106 S.Ct 2561,91 L.Ed.2d 285(1986)). See Thomas E.Roberts,Moratorium And Categorical Regulatory Takings: What First English and Lucas Say and Done Say,31 l avr:t.L.REP. 11037 (Sept,2001). ' See Corn v. City of Lauderdale Lakes,95 F.3d 1066, 1073 n.4(11th Cir. 1996),holding that First English is not applicable to moratoria or other temporary actions;rather,First English is applicable only where the ordinance is indefinite in duration and would expire only if declared unconstitutional or repealed. 26 temporary period of time,i.e.,regulations subsequently rescinded or declared invalid,but not to compensate commonplace temporal regulations such as the TRPA:s thirty-two-month temporary moratorium,which have not been held to be a taking in the fast place. Bozung&Alessi,Recent Developments in Environmental Preservation and the Rights of Property Owners, "Moratoria as Regulatory Takings After First English,"20 URB. LAW. 969, 1014-1030 (1988). Thus,the First English ruling focuses exclusively on the appropriate remedy in a regulatory taking case. The Court in First English did not establish that a restriction temporarily depriving a landowner of the use of property constitutes a taking. Moreover,as the majority made clear, the Court was not addressing "the quite different questions that would arise in the case of normal delays in obtaining building permits, changes in zoning ordinances, variances, and the like." Id. at 321. This reading of First English is confirmed by the California Court of Appeals'resolution of the takings issue on remand. Addressing for the first time the actual merits of the takings claim,the Court of Appeals ruled that the County's interim ordinance did not effect a taking. First English,258 Cal.Rptr.at 906. Emphasizing the fact that the ordinance was temporary by design,the court concluded: As an independent and sufficient grounds for our decision,we further hold [that]the interim ordinance did not constitute a"temporary unconstitutional taking even if we were to assume its restrictions were too broad if permanently imposed on First English. This interim ordinance was by design a temporary measureBin effect a total moratorium on any construction on First Englislxs property while the County conducted a study to determine what uses and what structures, if any,could be permitted on this property consistent with considerations of safety.""We do not read the U.S.Supreme Court's decision in First English as converting moratoriums and other interim land use restrictions into unconstitutional 'temporary 8 The opinion presupposes that"temporary regulatory takings"means"regulatory takings which are ultimately invalidated by the courts." First English,482 U.S.at 310. 27 takings' requiring compensation unless,perhaps, if these interim measures are unreasonable in purpose,duration or scope." Id This Court denied the petition for certiorari filed by the owner in response to this decision. First English, 493 U.S. 1056 (1990). Although the Court=s denial of certiorari is not precedential, it clearly affected the ultimate result in First English. Other courts have read First English similarly,and refused to hold that temporary moratoria effect a temporary taking. Corn, 95 F.3d 1066, 1073 (First English not applicable to temporary moratoria); Dufau, 22 Cl. Ct. 156 (1990) (following First English,and concluding that sixteen-month delay during Clean Water Act section 404 processing is not a taking);Zilber, 692 F. Supp. at 1206. (relying on First English to support conclusion that eighteen-month development moratorium is a"normal delay"that does not result in a taking). For Petitioners to read First English as establishing a new species of"temporary takings"that would support a finding of a taking based on a"temporary"moratorium reflects a fundamental misreading of that decision. B. Lucas In Lucas, this Court found a per se taking where a South Carolina coastal protection law permanently barred a landowner from developing the property and reduced the market value of the property to zero. Lucas,505 U.S. 1003. Nothing in the reasoning in Lucas suggests that the Court's ruling applies to temporary restrictions on development. Indeed,the Court was quite clear in noting that its ruling was likely to apply only in"rare"cases,a statement which contradicts the idea thatLucas could apply to the frequently 28 used moratorium tool. See Williams,907 P.2d at 706("Importantly,the Lucas court specifically noted that categorical temporary takings were expected to be a rare event, occurring only under extraordinary circumstances. 'Stop g•p'or interim zoning moratoria,however,play an important role in land use planning and are commonly employed."). See also Palazzolo, 121 S. Ct. 2448 (confirming that Lucas is only applicable in"relatively rare"circumstances). The Lucas per se rule was held to be applicable only where property is permanently rendered without use and thus valueless in perpetuity.9 Lucas, 505 U.S. at 1012 ("taking was unconditional and permanent"); and 505 U.S. at 1018 ("the relatively rare situation where the government has deprived the owner of all economically beneficial use"). See R. Meltz,D. Merriam and R.Frank, THE TAKINGS ISSUE: CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS ON LAND USE CONTROL AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION, pp. 139-141 (Island Press 1999); D. Mandelker, LAND USE LAW 2.18 (4th ed. 1997); R. Freilich, h.'Garvin & D. Martin, Regulatory Takings: Factoring Partial Deprivation into the Taking Equation, Ch. 8 in TAKINGS(ABA,David Callies,ed. 1996). Justice Scalia,in Lucas, emphasized that the certiorari petition squarely raised the question of whether regulatory prohibitions had rendered Lucas' beachfront land permanently valueless. Lucas, 505 U.S. at 1007; and 505 U.S. at 1020 n.9. See K&K Const., Inc. v. 9 Treating use and value as synonymous for takings analysis is common sense,for if property retains value as determined by the market,by definition it retains economically viable use through sale for market value. See Lucas, 505 U.S.at 1017("What is land but the profits thereof'?"(citation omitted)). 29 Dept. ofNat.Resources,456 Mich. 570,575 N.W.2d 531 (1998)(Lucas applies only where the property owner is permanently deprived of all use and value looking at the property as a whole).10 The draconian prohibitions of the South Carolina Act were described as the "complete extinguishment of his property's value"and a'permanent ban on construction insofar as Lucas'lots were concerned,"Lucas,505 U.S.at 1009(emphasis added),and government has deprived a landowner of all economically beneficial uses. Lucas, 505 U.S. at 1017-1018(emphasis added),and that"all"means"all." Lucas,505 U.S.at 1016 n.7;505 U.S.at 1019 n.8. Justice Scalia refused to entertain the argument(raised by the dissent)that"valueless"meant something less than a complete and total destruction of all use and value or for a period of time less than permanent. Lucas,505 U.S.at 1020 n.9;505 U.S.at 1016 n.7;505 U.S. at 1019 n.8. A similar rule applies in physical appropriation takings cases, Loretto v. Manhattan Teleprompter CATV Corp.: "Our holding today is very narrow. We affirm the traditional rule that a permanent physical occupation of property is a taking ....We do not, however, question the equally substantial authority upholding a state's broad power to impose appropriate restrictions upon an owner's use of his property." 458 U.S. 419, 44 I (1982)(emphasis in original). "All value"as used in Lucas means that the regulation has permanently destroyed all value,both in a physical and temporal sense. Lucas,505 U.S.at 1016 n.7, 1019 n.8. See Woodbury Place Partners,492 N.W.2d at 260-61 (two-year building moratorium not a Lucas per se take despite stipulated lack of all economically viable use for two years). The Woodbury trial court had applied the Lucas per se test. The Court of Appeals reversed, relying on both Lucas and Agins: 1° In Concrete Pipe, this Court, looking at the property as a whole,determined that where only a 59%deprivation • occurred,the plaintiffs attempt to "shoehorn"the challenge into the Lucas per se claim would be rejected.Concrete 30 We interpret the phrase "all economically viable use for two years"as significantly different from "all economically viable use"as applied in Lucas. The two-year deprivation of economic use is qualified by its defined duration. That the Woodbury property's economic viability was delayed,rather than destroyed,is implicitly recognized in the language of the stipulation.. "[Aj11 economically viable use from March 23,1988 to March 23, 1990" recognizes that economic viability exists at the moratorium's expiration. * * * Delaying the sale or development of property during the governmental decision-making process may cause fluctuations in value that, absent extraordinary delay, are incidents of ownership rather than compensable takings. Agins v. Tiburon, 447 U.S. 255, 263 n.9, 100 S. Ct. 2138, 2143 n.9, 65 L.Ed.2d 106(1980). (emphasis supplied). Woodbury Place Partners, 492 N.W. 2d at 261-62. If the regulation is temporary or if any use or any value remains, the Lucas per se rule does not apply. See Palazzolo, 121 S. Ct.2448(rejecting a Lucas claim where small residual value has been left in the property, remanding the case for a Penn Central review). In Penn Central,this Court identified three factors to guide ad hoc factual inquiries: (1)the economic impact of the regulation;(2)the extent to which the regulation interferes with investment-backed expectations; and (3) the character of the government regulation. Penn Central, 438 U.S. at 124; Connolly v. Pension Benefit Guar. Corp.,475 U.S. 211, 225, 106 S.Ct. 1018,89 L.13d.2d 166(1986). In the present case,Petitioners do not argue,and on a facial attack cannot argue,that the moratorium constituted aPenn Central take. Nor could they have succeeded in doing so because the economic impact was minimal due to the temporary nature of the moratorium; Petitioners could have had no investment-backed expectation that it could develop land in an environmentally sensitive area free from reasonable,temporary delays;and the exercise of the TRPA police power to prevent Pipe and Products of California, Inc. v. Construction Laborers Pension Trust for Southern California, 508 U.S.602, 31 • • environmental harm to Lake Tahoe caused by immediate development in sensitive areas is the highest form of governmental action to protect health and safety. Keystone, 480 U.S. at 489-491;Lucas, 505 U.S. at 1023-1024; Trobough v. City of Martinsburg, 120 F.3d 262 (4th Cir. 1997). So far as amici arc aware,no court yet to address the issue has ruled that a temporary moratorium can result in a Lucas-type taking. Indeed,all the decisions are to the contrary. See Kelly v. Tahoe Reg? Planning Agency, 855 P.2d 1027, 1033-34(Nev. 1993),cert. denied,510 U.S. 1041 (1994)(rejecting takings challenge to temporary restrictions which, unlike the restrictions in Lucas,"temporarily limit,rather than forever preclude development in environmentally sensitive areas"); Williams, 907 P.2d at 706 (moratorium on new development in gambling district did not effect a taking under Lucas);Santa Fe Village • Venture, 914 F. Supp. at 483 (citing Lucas and First English, and rejecting claim that thirty-month moratorium resulted in taking). Just four months ago, the Florida Supreme Court in Keshbro v. City of Miami, 2001 WL 776555, (Fla.2001)held that temporary moratorium in the land use and planning arena does,not constitute a Lucas take, citing the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion." 643-644(1993). rl Keshbro did find that a nuisance abatement board order closing a multi-rental facility for illegal drug operation constituted a Lucas taking for the one-year period of the closure,citing State ex rel.Pizza v. Rezcallah,702 N.E.2d 81, 89(Ohio 1998)(finding such closure orders to be in the same footing as"seizures"of property). Keshbro distinguished such closures from temporary moratoria in the"land use and planning arena,where an entirely different set of considerations are implicated from those in the context of nuisance abatement where a landowner is being deprived of a property's dedicated use". Keshbro,Inc. v. City of Miami,2001 WL 776555,6(Fla.2001). These two cases and one Washington intermediate court of appeals case differ from temporary moratoria because they find a taking from the interference with the property owner's ability to lease his existing property,to gain physical access to the land and buildings. Nevertheless these cases are also wrongly decided because they fail to properly analyze Lucas'holding. See Zeman v. City of Minneapolis,552 N.W.2d 548(Minn.bane 1996)where the court held that a temporary revocation of an apartment license to abate nuisances was not subject to the Lucas per se rule because the apartment license was taken,if at all,only temporarily. 552 N.W.2d at 553 n.4. The court held that temporary nuisance closures should be analyzed using Penn Central and concluded that since the ordinance furthered a legitimate state interest in deterring criminal activity,it prevented a public harm and no taking resulted. 552 N.W.2d at 553-555. 32 IV. TAKLNGS ANALYSIS REQUIRES CONSIDERATION OF THE PROPERTY IN ITS ENTIRETY,INCLUDING TIME AS WELL AS SPATIAL AND USE ELEMENTS,AND TRPA'S ACTIONS DID NOT CONSTITUTE EITHER A FACIAL LUCAS PER SE TAKE OR A FACIAL PENN CENTRAL TAKE In Penn Central the Supreme Court explained that: 'Taking'jurisprudence does not divide a single parcel into discrete segments and then attempt to determine whether rights in a particular segment have been entirely abrogated. In deciding whether a particular governmental action has effected a taking, this Court focuses both die character of the action and on the nature and extent of the interference with rights in the parcel as a whole. Penn Central,438 U.S.at 130-31.'a Consistent with Penn Central,the Supreme Court declined to find a categorical take in Andrus,444 U.S.51 (1979). The Court reasoned that"where an owner possesses a full `bundle'ofproperty rights,the destruction of one'strand'of the bundle is not a taking,because the aggregate must be viewed in its end ety." Id.at 65-66.t3 When a moratorium temporarily restricts use of property,the rights in only one particular temporal segment have been restricted, not all rights. When the effect of a moratorium is viewed in the context of an owner's entire property, it is apparent there has been no Lucas- type taking. Petitioners assert that viewing the parcel as a whole was rejected by this Court in First English. They cite to the vigorous dissent of Judge Kozinski on the denial of the motion to rehear the case en bane, where he accuses the majority of having adopted the statement made by Justice Stevens in dissent: 12 The Penn Central formalization for takings analysis has recently been strongly reaffirmed by this Court in Palazzolo,just this past term, 121 S.Ct.2448(U.S.June 28,2001). 13 It is remarkable that at the beginning of the Twenty-First Century the fundamental scientific principle of our time, Einstein's recognition that space and time arc the third and fourth dimensions of physical matter,would not be regarded as a reality by the courts. 33 • "Regulations are three dimensional;they have depth,width and length. . . . Finally,and for purposes of this case, essentially, regulations set forth the duration of the restrictions." First English, 482 U.S. at 331 (Stevens, J., dissenting). Petitioners assert that the majority in First English rejected Justice Stevens' reasoning: "In First English, this Court directly faced the question of whether the length of time made any constitutional difference. The dissent thought it did(482 U.S.at 318). The majority,however,decided it did not(482 U.S. at 321)." Petitioner's Brief at 21. In fact,the First English majority did not reject Justice Stevens' dissent on this point at all—it did not rule on this point or on the"parcel as a whole"theory. It rejected merely the dissent's proposition that the remedy for takings was invalidation, not compensation. On the issue of temporary takings,the Court could not have been more explicit Relying heavily on United States v. Dow,357 U.S. 17,78 S.Ct. 1039, 2 L. Ed. 2d 1109 (1958)(abandonment of condemnation proceedings already constituting a taking) and three cases involving direct condemnation of leasehold interests for shorter periods of time,the Court held: "Where this burden results from governmental action that amounted to a taking, the Just Compensation Clause requires that the government pay the landowner for the value of the use of the land during this period, C.f. United States v. Causby,328 U.S.at 261." First English,482 U.S.at 319. It was not time that was critical to First English but whether the governmental action had already amounted to a taking. The property at issue in the case sub judice retained value and there were a range of uses available,as well as all future • 34 uses available after the thirty-two-month moratorium period. If a regulation is temporary,all reasonable use has not been denied because all future uses remain.14 Finally, there are practical planning and administrative reasons for considering the entire property when determining whether regulatory impact amounts to a taking. Reasonable regulation in pursuit of the public interest will necessarily burden certain pieces of the owner's physical property. However,for courts • to base their taking analysis on just the affected pieces would result in the irrational circumstance of government having to compensate the property owner for the incremental impact of the regulation,regardless of the overall remaining usefulness of the entire parcel. See Keystone,480 U.S. 470. The unworkable application of this reasoning became apparent in Washington,when the state supreme court first held that a greenbelt set-aside that limited the use of only a portion of certain properties amounted to an unconstitutional taking. Allingham v. City of Seattle, 109 Wash.2d 947,948,749 P.2d 160(Wash. 1988),amended by, 757.P.2d 533 (Wash. 1988). Just two years later,recognizing the catastrophic nature of its prior holding, the court reversed itself;recognizing that: IN]either state nor federal law has divided property into smaller segments of an undivided parcel of regulated property to inquire whether pieces of it has been taken .... Rather, we have consistently viewed a parcel of regulated property in its entirety. Federal case law has also specifically refused to focus its inquiry upon a given portion of a regulated property. . . .To the extent Allingham is inconsistent with the foregoing analysis,it is hereby overruled. 14 Property interests under the common law explicitly deal with the length of time that an interest lasts. One of the geniuses of the common law system distinguishing it from its European civil law counterparts was the early recognition that estates in land have present and future interests. See Lewis Sines,Future Interests,Introduction 2-3 (1951)"In Anglo-American law there are two devices by which the owner of property projects his will into the future. They are the trust and the future interest."The latter,for the most part,are alienable,assignable and inheritable,and support standing for actions in executory interests and reversions following life estates and terms ofyears. Ashbel G. Gulliver,LAW OF FUTURE INTERESTS,at 73(1959). 35 Presbytery of 5 auks v. King Count}. 1 l4 Wash.2d 320, 334-35, 787 P,2d 907 (1990)(emphasis in original)(citations omitted), Similarly, the temporal element of property ownership must also be viewed in the entirety. See A rns, 447 U.S. at 258;Andrus,444 U.S.at 65-66. Unless the entire term of ownership is recognized as the appropriate temporal denominator over which to measure the relative impact of the challenged regulation, results as irrational as those recently recognized by the Washington Supreme Court will characterize takings jurisprudence,and accordingly will diminish the traditional rights of state and local governments to regulate land in a reasonable manner. Euclid, 272 U.S. 365 (1926), CONCLUSION • The grant of certiorari should be dismissed as improvidently granted,or in the alternative,the Ninth • Circuit opinion holding that no categorical taking occurred under the Fifth Amendment should be affirmed. .Respectfully submitted, Robert H. FreiliC.h* F. Tyson Smith Jason M. Divelbiss • Freilieh, Leitner Carlisle 4435 Main Street Kansas City, MO 6411 (816) 561-4414 * Counsel of Record for Amici Curiae . November 12, 2001 36