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2007, 09-18 Study Session MinutesPresent: Councilmembers: Diana Wilhite, Mayor Steve Taylor, Deputy Mayor Dick Denenny, Councilmember Mike DeVleming, Councilmember Bill Gothmann, Councilmember Rich Munson, Councilmember Gary Schimmels, Councilmember MINUTES CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION Tuesday, September 18, 2007 Mayor Wilhite called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., and welcomed everyone to the meeting. Staff: Dave Mercier, City Manager Mike Connelly, City Attorney Greg McCormick, Planning Manager Morgan Koudelka, Senior Administrative Analyst Scott Kuhta, Senior Planner Rick VanLeuven, Police Chief Ken Thompson, Finance Director Mike Jackson, Parks & Rec Director Neil Kersten, Public Works Director Steve Worley, Senior Engineer Carolbelle Branch, Public Information Officer Joe O'Brien, IT Specialist Chris Bainbridge, City Clerk Employee Introductions: Finance Director Thompson introduced Accountant /Budget Analyst Raba Nimri, and our second IT Specialist Joe O'Brien. Parks and Recreation Director Jackson introduced his department's new Administrative Assistant Michelle Simpson; Senior Engineer Worley introduced Engineer Tech Peter Fisch; and Planning Manager McCormick introduced Development Services Engineer Tech Ryan Brodwater. Council welcomed and greeted the new employees. 1. Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Update — Morgan Koudelka, Aurora Crooks Senior Administrative Analyst Koudelka explained that the Commute Trip Reduction Efficiency Act adopted in 2006, has been updated to require local jurisdictions that have at least one CTR- affected work site, to prepare the CTR Plans, and as such the City of Spokane Valley is required to prepare a draft CTR Plan. He further explained that the CTR Plan is a collection of City- adopted goals, policies and marketing strategies about how the City will work over the next four years to reduce driving -alone trips and vehicle miles traveled. Mr. Koudelka then introduced Aurora Crooks, Spokane County Transportation Demand Manager who gave a summary of the CTR plan and the plan's goals and dates for achieving those goals, and added that the Washington State Department of Transportation is responsible for the Plan's final approval, and the County will be the lead entity for the Plan's implementation. Councilmember Munson mentioned an apparent discrepancy between the Recommended Strategies to Achieve Goals, specifically "Park and Ride Lots" and the "Example Commute Trip Reduction & Growth Management Planning Policies" under Zoning, which discusses discouraging the development of major stand -alone park and ride facilities. Ms. Crooks thanked Councilmember Munson for that information and said she will research that further, to which Mr. Koudelka added that the terminology is somewhat confusing and needs to be stated clearly. 2. Department Budget Highlights — Morgan Koudelka Mr. Koudelka explained that the purpose of this agenda item is to present each department's budget's highlights. He mentioned the Executive and Legislative Support budget goals as included on the budget document pages 34 and 35, and then Mr. Koudelka introduced Police Chief VanLeuven. Chief Meeting Minutes: 09 -18 -07 Page 1 of 4 Approved by Council: 09 -25 -07 VanLeuven explained the public safety highlights which include enhancing the security of the police precinct building. Brief discussion ensued regarding Sheriff Office command staff briefings incorporating the five -year strategic plan, including mention that Chief VanLeuven and Mr. Mercier will be attending those County meetings to represent the City's interest. Mr. Koudelka explained the highlights of the Operations and Administrative Services, followed by Mr. Thompson's explanation of budget pages 39 through 41 which cover insurance, State Auditor's annual audit suggestions; and participation in the preparation of the Americans with Disabilities Act improvement plan. Mr. Jackson hit the Parks and Recreation highlights and added that Council will soon be receiving an update from ORB on the pool construction of optional items. Councilmember Gothmann suggested the idea of creating an umbrella Senior organization or expanding the present Senior organization to include all seniors in the Valley and not just those in CenterPlace; to which Mr. Mercier replied that it is his hope Council will have further discussion on that topic as Council and staff could later try to inventory who might be potential sources within the community who might want to take up that mantle. Terrace View Park and park security was also mentioned, and Mr. Jackson said funds have been included for additional lighting in that area, as well as removing bushes and shrubbery on the west side of Valley Mission pool to further enhance security. In response to Council question about the status of the former Senior Center, Mr. Jackson mentioned that he and Mr. Worley have contracted with a firm which recently lost their engineer, thus delaying information on this topic; and that once staff has had opportunity for further research, it is anticipated a report will be brought forward to Council soon. Mr. Jackson also mentioned there is a fundraiser this weekend at Balfour Park for that group to raise funds for their water spray park; that they might have an architect who is willing to donate their services, and after research, staff determined that we could accept donated services; and that staff continues to follow up on that topic. Planning Manager McCormick went over the slides explaining the highlights of Community Development, and mentioned the pilot program for over - the - counter permits, and said staff continues to work on a procedures manual. Public Works Director Kersten highlighted the public works goals, and explained that stormwater issues have not been completed as we currently only have one employee working on that; and also mentioned that they are working on a system to drain the liquids taken during the vactoring process prior to taking the material to the landfill, thus saving the cost of disposing the water. Finance Director Thompson went over slide 14 and mentioned that the correct terminology is "civic building replacement fund," rather than reserve fund. Mr. Koudelka completed the presentation by explaining that 2008 will be exciting as the City completes its first five years, and looks forward to many future accomplishments. Mayor Wilhite called for a recess at 7:00 p.m., and reconvened the meeting at 7:10 p.m. 3. Uniform Development Code (UDC) Discussion — Greg McCormick City Attorney Connelly brought Council's attention to the red -line version of Ordinance 07 -015, which has minor changes since the first reading, and suggested Council examine the ordinance prior to the second reading; and said that there will likely be other minor edits depending on any chances Council may wish to make. Mr. Connelly mentioned that the materials Council received tonight are not the complete titles, but merely those title pages which have been changed since the last iteration; and that while there are numerous technical or scrivener's changes, there are only three substantive changes: (1) section 19.30.030, page 5, letter "e ". Mr. Connelly said his notes indicate that was to remain in and mentioned that without "e" there is no "teeth" to that section and we will have little basis to deny any request for raising density; (2) Title 22, section 22.20.020, the appropriate number should be 10 and not 25 peak hour trips. When asked for the rationale for this number, Mr. Connelly said he will have a written answer to council tomorrow morning; and (3) section 22.150.060 and 070, page 46, that this is the technical changed proposed by the public works department per Henry Allen's September 11 Meeting Minutes: 09 -18 -07 Page 2 of 4 Approved by Council: 09 -25 -07 memorandum on Stormwater; and in particular, that the maximum depth of water in a swale for treatment shall be six inches. Council again asked for rationale for those changes and Mr. Connelly said he will supply that as soon as possible. Mr. McCormick explained that his Memorandum of September 18 deals with zoning issues as a result of the September 11 public hearing, and includes issues concerning showrooms; trade and vocational schools, and exercise facilities. Mr. McCormick said that trade and vocational schools are currently permitted in the Garden Office zone so no change is needed; that staff recommends adding exercise facility /gym athletic club as a permitted use in the Neighborhood Commercial zone; and recommends adding showrooms to the matrix as a permitted use in the mixed use center, corridor mixed use, office, community commercial, regional commercial, and light industrial zones. Mr. McCormick also mentioned that Senior Planner Kuhta added a change to the showroom definition in an attempt to more specifically define those uses that would fall in that category. Mr. Kuhta mentioned there currently exists a definition for "music stores" and that music stores are permitted as an accessory use in garden office, but that he is not certain how to classify piano sales and would like Council comments on that topic. Discussion ensued regarding large musical instruments, to allow those "showrooms" as a conditioned use in office, or by special conditions, or as an ancillary or secondary use; that staff wants to make sure any member of staff would know where to look in the code to find these types of showrooms, and not merely stop with the "music store" definition, and to ensure all the counter people interpret the terms the same. Mayor Wilhite suggested changing the designation of the corridor in question in order to allow for these piano showrooms. Council concurred with staff to add the showroom definition. The subject moved to exercise clubs in neighborhood commercial districts; and the mention that there seems to be a trend for small athletic clubs or exercise facilities locating in neighborhood type centers. After discussion on this topic, including how to prevent such clubs from expanding, it was council consensus o add the showroom definition and schedule of permitted uses, and allow exercise clubs in neighborhood commercial districts. 19.30.030: Site Specific Zoning Map Amendments Discussion was held concerning whether "e" should be left in or deleted, and Council mentioned that they remembered that item as being deleted. [e. Property is adjacent and contiguous to property of the same zoning classification requested prior to the application.] Mr. McCormick mentioned that the area must be contiguous or it would not meet the criteria for a rezone. Attorney Connelly said we have the category low density residential in the comprehensive plan and don't have specific guidelines to differentiate between R1, 2, or 3 in that low density residential, and when there is an application for a zone change, the Hearing Examiner has no criteria upon which to base a denial. Some Councilmembers felt the "e" item should be deleted, and others felt it should remain; there was Council discussion on what each perceived was the direction previously taken on this issue; and Deputy Mayor Taylor suggested striking that item. There was ultimate Council consensus to leave "e" in and to allow corner touches and that adjacent and contiguous includes property across the street; and to add property of the same or higher zoning classification. Ordinance 05 -003: Greenacres area -wide rezone Discussion concerning the previous area -wide rezone resulted in differing opinions of what was the intent of that rezone; whether that action was construed or perceived as temporary; would a different action reverse that decision or be perceived as Council going "back on its word;" that many changes have taken place since the adoption of the City's Comprehensive Plan; the difference in the actual number of homes between a UR 3.5 and a UR -7* zone; the number of opportunities for public comment on this issue; the number of areas in Greenacres that are R3; and that Finding #7 connected with ordinance 05 -003 and item "e" discussed above in site specific zoning are connected. Meeting Minutes: 09 -18 -07 Page 3 of 4 Approved by Council: 09 -25 -07 Councilmember Munson suggested the shaded area go back to the 10,000 square foot with the exception of things already gone through the re -zone process. Councilmembers Schimmels and Gothmann agreed. Mayor Wilhite, Deputy Mayor Taylor, and Councilmembers DeVleming and Denenny disagreed; and thus the area does not revert back to the 10,000 square foot lots. Councilmember Munson thanked Council for the opportunity to re- discuss this issue. Other topics discussed included the Pinecroft Business Park and that several of those issues brought up from Mr. Miller will be addressed in the future. Mr. McCormick stated that we need to ensure we have enough land zoned for those uses; and said he feels we have done a good job of providing industrial land; that perhaps we need to preserve the areas like those around Mirabeau for higher -end type uses; and that storage probably should not be in the mix in that area. Attorney Connelly said he will bring back the final version of the ordinance with the changes; and that to reiterate, Council wants to see a rationale for the change suggested by Inga Note and by Henry Allen. 4. Advance Agenda Mayor Wilhite mentioned planning a joint meeting with Council and the Planning Commission concerning the city center, and asked Council to look at their calendars, particularly to see if November 1 would work. Mr. Mercier said that they are also trying to schedule a presentation from Michael Freedman, and have tentatively set October 2 as the date; and Mr. Kuhta mentioned such meeting could last two to three hours depending on the number of questions. ' Mr. Mercier said that October 30 or November 1, or some other date later in November are all possibilities, but that November 2 would not work as a meeting date as that is the date of the employee recognition dinner. Possible dates mentioned for such a meeting with Mr. Freedman included October 30, November 1, or November 20. In discussing possible retreat dates, it was determined that February 2 conflicts with Olympia AWC Legislative dates, and Council agreed to schedule the winter retreat on Saturday January 12. Other items placed on the advance agenda's tentative list included a graffiti ordinance, assumption of private roads policy, and an animal ordinance to address animal sales and veterinarian involvement in the licensing process. 5. Information Only Items: Animal control update; and CIP Organizational model. These items were not discussed. 6. Council Check —in Deputy Mayor Taylor mentioned the National League of Cities Steering Committee meets September 27 through 29 at CenterPlace, and said he also needs volunteer van drivers. 7. City Manager Comments. Mr. Mercier had no further comments. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m. ATTEST: h"ristine Bainbridge, City Clerk Meeting Minutes: 09 -18 -07 Approved by Council: 09 -25 -07 Diana Wilhite, Mayor Page 4 of 4 HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND AVAILABILITY IN THE NORTHWEST Second Quarter, 2007 Bill Gothmann, 9 -17.07 Metropolitan Area Affordability Availability Index Rank Index Rank Pocatello, ID 142.9 1 63.7 1 Great Falls, MT 139.6 2 58.2 2 Spokane, WA 139.3 3 56.8 3 Salem, OR 113.1 4 39.5 4 Corvallis, OR 110.3 5 37.6 5 Olympia, WA 104.0 6 28.3 8 Boise City - Nampa, ID 100.8 7 29.6 6 Portland - Vancouver Beaverton, OR -WA 97.0 8 25.0 11 Bremerton- Silverdale, WA 96.7 9 27.3 9 Bellingham, WA 96.0 10 29.2 7 Tacoma, WA AAA 95.2 11 23.4 12 Eugene - Springfield, OR 93.7 12 26.6 10 Mount Vernon - Anacortes, WA 89.9 13 22.1 13 Medford, OR 86.3 14 20.5 15 Seattle - Bellevue- Everett, WA AAA 83.8 15 21.1 14 Bend, OR 83.3 16 20.0 16 Notes: 1. AAA Indicate Metropolitan Divisions. All others are Metropolitan Statistical Areas. 2. Affordability is a measure of median income compared to median house payments. 3. Availability is the share of homes available for the median income Sources: Availability: National Association of Homebuiiders, www.nahb.org, as of 9 -17 -2007 Affordability: Computed using NAHB data on median income and median price at an interest rate of 6.4%