2010, 03-02 Special Joint Planning Commission Meeting MinutesMINUTES
SPOKANE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING /STUDY SESSION
Spokane Valley City Hall Council Chambers
Spokane Valley, Washington
March 2, 2010
Attendance:
6:00 p.m.
Councilmembers
Staff
Tom Towey, Mayor
Mike Jackson, Acting City Manager
Bill Gothmann, Councilmember
Cary Driskell, Deputy City Attorney
Dean Grafos, Councilmember
Scott Kuhta, Senior Planner
Brenda Grassel, Councilmember
Kathy McClung, Community Development Dir.
Rose Dempsey, Councilmember
Mike Connelly, City Attorney
Bob McCaslin, Councilmember [left at 7:04 p.m.]
Micki Hamois, Associate Planner
Mike Stone, Parks & Recreation Director
Absent: Gary Schimmels, Deputy Mayor
Greg McCormick, Planning Manager
Lori Barlow, Associate Planner
Planning Commissioners
Carolbelle Branch, Public Information Officer
John Carroll, Chair
Deanna Griffith, Administrative Assistant
Marcia Sands, Vice Chair
Chris Bainbridge, City Clerk
Rustin Hall, Planning Commissioner [left at 7:40 p.m.]
Joe Mann, Planning Commissioner
Art Sharpe, Planning Commissioner
Arne Woodard, Planning Commissioner
Absent: Craig Eggleston, Planning Commissioner
Mayor Towey called the meeting to order at approximately 6:05 p.m. and welcomed everyone to the
meeting, and explained that tonight's meeting is an informal meeting. Members of Council and the
Planning Commission introduced themselves; and Rustin Hall said due to another obligation, he will be
leaving tonight's meeting at approximately 7:30 p.m. It was moved by Councilmember Grafos, seconded
and unanimously agreed to excuse Deputy Mayor Schimmels from tonight's meeting.
1. Shoreline Masterplan
Associate Planner Barlow explained that tonight staff and representatives from the Department of
Ecology and from the consultant firm URS will give Council and Planning Commissioners an overview
of the Shoreline Masterplan process and discuss what has been completed so far. Via her PowerPoint
presentation, Ms. Barlow explained the background and requirements associated with adopting this plan,
of the tasks completed including establishing a page on our City's website, of the inventory and analysis
needed, that the timelines have been pushed back two months, and what the next steps are leading up to
council review and acceptance by resolution.
Mr. Pineo of the Department of Ecology expressed his gratitude to City staff for their professional job on
this issue and said they have gone above and beyond the minimums. Mr. Pineo said the Shoreline
Management Act of 1971 is outlined in RCW (Revised Code of Washington) 90.58; and said the
statewide law is that this Act must be locally implemented through a local Shoreline Master Program; he
explained the preferred uses as per state statute RCW 90.58.020, and listed the following items in order of
preference: (1) recognize and protect the state -wide interest over local interest; (2) preserve the natural
character of the shoreline; (3) result in long term benefit over short term benefit; (4) protect the resources
and ecology of the shoreline; (5) increase public access to publicly owned areas of the shorelines; (6)
Council Meeting Minutes: 3 -02 -2010 Page 1 of 2
Approved by Council: 3 -09 -2010
increase recreational opportunities for the public in the shoreline; and (7) provide for any other element as
defined in RCW 90.58.100 deemed appropriate or necessary. By use of his PowerPoint, Mr. Pineo
discussed the SMP (Shoreline Master Program) and said they are designed as local expressions of the
Shoreline Management Act (SMA) as a means to protect and manage local shoreline resources; he
discussed private property rights; which activities require permits; which activities are exempt; and
stressed that all activities and uses in the SMA jurisdiction must be consistent with SMP goals, policies
and use regulations. He further explained that SMPs should be periodically reviewed for revisions, and
that public participation is required throughout the planning process and is crucial to the success; that the
Department of Ecology must formally review and approve the locally adopted SMP, and they too will
have opportunities for public comment, including holding a public hearing. Mr. Pineo added that their
commitment is to keep the process short, sweet and businesslike and said they are always available for
comment; that he appreciates it can be difficult to find time to read the program, but he encouraged
everyone to read through the document; and not to lose sight of the authorizing laws as the authorizing
version is reviewed. [Note for the record: Councilmember McCaslin left the meeting at 7:04 p.m.]
Mr. John Patrouche of URS explained that they were hired as consultants; that they are a large firm, and
one of the top three in the nation. Mr. Patrouche went over the inventory and characterization showing
the City of Spokane Valley shorelines and explaining the shoreline jurisdiction; he reviewed some of the
significant resources such as WRIA 57 Watershed Planning, and the Spokane County Conservation
District; he gave an overview of the Spokane River land use and natural environment, and discussed the
various segments of the River and those associated potential management issues and relative public
comments; and gave the same discussion concerning Shelley Lake and the Gravel Pits. URS Consultant
Noah Herlocker explained about the areas in Spokane Valley via a "Google- earth" movie, which showed
in greater detail some of the vegetation and shoreline conditions of some of the areas just discussed by
Mr. Patrouche. [Note for the record: Planning Commissioner Hall left the meeting at 7:40 p.m.] Mr.
Herlocker also discussed some of the recreational uses and accesses to the shoreline, which he said was a
part of the study, and mentioned there is not a great deal of area left for future shoreline development; but
there is some infill potential and a parcel here and there. Senior Planner Kuhta explained that after the
technical review groups and agencies review this document, it moves to the Planning Commission for a
public hearing; they'll review it and give recommendation to Council for hopeful approval to move
forward. In response to question about notifying the public, Mr. Kuhta said staff has a broad and large
database of citizens to notify, that staff used direct notification to notify the shoreline property owners for
the first open house; that the information is on our website, public notices have been published and press
releases distributed; and he said anyone with comments can send them to Administrative Assistant
Deanna Griffith to get comments into the public record. Mayor Towey thanked everyone for coming
tonight, and for the information and for explaining the process.
City Clerk Bainbridge said for the record, that Mr. McCaslin left the meeting earlier as he was not feeling
well.
2. Information Only — The Amended 2010 Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) and Federal Earmark
Requests for Barker Road were for information only and were not reported on or discussed.
It was moved by Councilmember Gothmann, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn. The meeting
Council Meeting Minutes: 3 -02 -2010 Page 2 of 2
Approved by Council: 3 -09 -2010