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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-10-26 PC APPROVED SIGNED MINUTESMeeting Minutes Spokane Valley Planning Commission Centerplace Regional Event Center October 26, 2023 1. Planning Commission Chairman Gramath called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was held in person and via ZOOM meetings. IT. The Commissioners and staff stood for the Pledge Of Allegiance. M. Administrative Assistant Marianne Lemons took attendance, and the following members and staff were present: Susan Delucchi Tony Beattie, Senior Deputy City Attorney Val Dimitrov Chaz Bates, Planning Manager Karl Gramarth Chad Knodel, IT Manager Walt Haneke Jerremy Clark, Senior Engineer Bob McKinley Marianne Lemons, Administrative Assistant Nancy Miller Daniel Wilson IV. AGENDA: Chapman Gramath moved, and it was seconded to amend the agenda by removing "ROW Permit" from CTA-2023-0003. There was no discussion. The vote on the motion was seven in favor, zero against, and the motion passed. V. MINUTES: Commissioner Delucchi moved, and it was seconded, to approve the October 12, 2023, minutes as presented There was no discussion. The vote on the motion was seven in favor, zero against, and the motion passed V1. COMMISSION REPORTS: Commissioner Haneke commented that he does not agree with the proposed change that was discussed at the October 26, 2023 meeting to reduce the number of required Planning Commission meetings from twelve to nine meetings per year. He suggested that a possible solution would be a minimum of eleven meetings with a stipulation that there arc not two consecutive months without a meeting. Commissioner Delucchi stated that she attended the Planning Commission training course through the Department of Commerce. She found it very helpful and informative. Commissioner Wilson reported that the Spokane County Sheriffs Office Regional Training Center opened on October 1 P, 2023 and he was invited to tour the facility. He reported that it is an extremely modem training facility that will be a true asset for training police officers. He also stated that he attended a City Hall meeting sponsored by Spokane County Treasurer Michael Baumgartner, Senator Mike Padden, and Deputy Treasurer Mike V olz where they presented a lot of information regarding taxes and answered a lot of frequently asked questions. Commissioner Wilson commented that public platform meetings that allow input and participation from the public 10-26-2023 Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 of3 are an important role in the governmental process and serve to maintain good relations between local government and the public. VII. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: Planning Manager Chaz Bates stated that the public hearing regarding the number of required Planning Commission meetings will be held at the November 9`t', 2023 meeting. VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment offered. IX. COMMISSION BUSINESS: a. Public Hearing: Clearview Triangle Regulations Update The public hearing was opened at 6:12 p.m. Senior Engineer Jerremy Clark gave a staff report. He stated that CTA-2023-0003 is a city -initiated code text amendment. At the study session on September 28, 2023, staff presented proposed amendments to Chapter 21.130 of the Spokane Valley Municipal Code (SVMC) and to SVMC 22.70.030. Mr. Clark explained that staff found that additional amendments to Chapter 21.130 SVMC were needed so the proposed amendments to Chapter 21.130 SVMC were withdrawn from the code text amendment application. As a result, CTA-2023-0003 was limited to the amendments to SVMC 22.70.030. Mr. Clark explained that the proposed amendments to SVMC 22.070.030 clarify that clear -view triangle regulations apply to alleyways. While there is text in SVMC 22.70.030 that includes a reference to an alley, Table 22.70-1 and Figure 22.70-1 with specific sight distance regulations do not. The proposed amendment clarifies that alleys are subject to clear -view triangle regulations. The amendment also adds an exemption to the clear -view triangle regulations for parked vehicles provided they are legally parked and operable. A revision to Figure 22.70-1 to clarify the measurement limits and remove the stop bar was also included in the amendment. Commissioner Haneke asked why the stop bar was removed. Mr. Clark answered that the wording and the protocol for measuring a clear -view triangle does not consider where the stop bar is located. The clear -view triangle is measured from the traveled way of the intersecting roadway, but it was being measured incorrectly from the stop bar and was removed. Commissioner Dimitrov asked if any intersection in Spokane Valley will be in non-compliance with this change if it is passed. Mr. Clark answered that he is not aware of any that won't be compliant. Commissioner Haneke asked why parked cars were exempted in the code. Mr. Clark answered that parked vehicles are not a fixed item on the roadway therefore, clear -view triangle regulations do not apply to parked cars. If there is a site -distance issue, there would be a need for "no parking" regulations. Commissioner Haneke commented that there should be "no parking" signs in all clear - view triangles for the required site distance. 10-26-2023 Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 of 3 The public hearing was closed 6:28 p.m Commissioner McKinley moved and it was seconded to recommend approval to City Council of CIA-2023-0003 as submitted. Commissioner Haneke asked for additional language to be sent to the City Council for consideration regarding adding "no parking" signs within the clear -view triangle site distance area. The Commission decided not to forward the proposed language. The vote on the motion was seven in favor, zero against, and the motion passed X. GOOD OF THE ORDER: There was nothing offered for the good of the order. XI. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Haneke moved, and it was seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 6: 42 p.m. The vole on the motion was seven in favor, zero against, and the motion passed. Karl Gramath, Chairman Date Signed -;��n Marianne Lemons, Secretary 10/26/23 Planning Commission Report (Dan Wilson) On October 10 the Spokane County Sheriffs Office Regional Training Center officially opened for business. The first of its kind here in the Northwest. The new facility will be used to effectively train deputies in a variety of skills needed for law enforcement. Back in August I was invited by Sheriff Knowles and Chief Ellis to tour the facility while it was still under construction. The new facility was built using Federal, State, and County funds with a lion's share of the money coming from Fairchild Airforce base which co -owns the facility. The Training Center includes a large indoor shooting range with activated targets and a filly equipped Armory. It also has state of the art 360-degree life size digital screens with real time simulation for honing communication and de-escalation skills and mock-ups to practice split-second reactions to deadly threats. There's a helicopter fuselage mounted on a 50' tower for ariel surveillance and repelling maneuvers without actually having to fly. It'll be used to train for all kinds of scenarios and weather conditions. The site also has several rooms with removable wall panels and doors that can be configured in a variety of ways for swat teams to practice hostage rescue missions while instructors monitor and critique from live video feed and from a network of elevated platforms. New recruits are already using the facility and we'll no longer need to send our deputies to locations outside the Spokane area for training. which long term, will reduce costs and save tax payers a lot of money. It also means better trained police officers on the street. The need for a modem training facility like this has been talked about for yews .... SO... It's encouraging to finally see it become a reality. On October 17, I attended a townhall meeting sponsored by Spokane County 'treasurer Michael Baumgartner, Senator Mike Padden, and Deputy Treasurer Mike Volz, held here at Center Place, Mr. Baumgartner opened the meeting by summarizing some of the highlights from 2022: Where in excess of $760 million in taxes were collected. Over the last couple of years, the Treasurer's Office managed & invested $1.6 Billion in revenue, earning back more than $82 million on those investments. During the hour and half meeting, citizens were given an opportunity to comment and ask questions. A lot of good information was presented and a lot of questions were answered such m (1) why do taxes keep going up. (2) And there were comments regarding senior citizens on fixed incomes as well as younger first-time homeowners who say they're being priced out of their homes due to increased property taxes. (3) And why can't the current tax assistance threshold of $40,000 in income be readjusted to match cost of living increases? No easy answers, but according to the Treasurer's office "most of the increases we're seeing can be attributed to a rise in spending at the State level". Town hall meetings and public platforms such as this ... allowing input and participation from the public plays an important role in our governmental processes .... And .... Serves to maintain good relations between local government and the public.