1339 Griffin Avenue City Hall Council Chambers Enumclaw, Washington May 2, 2016, 7:00 p.m.

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1 City of Enumclaw City 1339 Griffin Avenue City Hall Council Chambers Enumclaw, Washington May 2, 2016, 7:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER AND ATTENDANCE: Mayor Reynolds called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. In attendance were Councilmembers Morgan Irwin, Mike Sando, Jan Molinaro, Juanita Carstens, Hoke Overland, Kimberly Lauk, and Chance LaFleur. Also present were Mayor Liz Reynolds, City Administrator Chris Searcy, City Attorney Mike Reynolds, City Clerk Maureen Burwell, Interim Community Development Director Chris Pasinetti, Information Services Tech Travis Rose, and Planning Commission Chair Dave Hancock. OPENING REMARKS: Mayor welcomed everyone to the Workshop; discussion is on Chapter 7 to 11 of the Comprehensive Plan. She noted that there are larger land use and zoning maps printed out for Council and they are on the dais. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: Pasinetti gave a PowerPoint presentation. He noted that the Planning Commission has reviewed entire Plan; their next meeting will include a Public Hearing. At the close of the Public Hearing, the Planning Commission will make their recommendations to Council. Council will then hold a Public Hearing and deliberate on the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan. Pasinetti gave a short overview of each of the draft chapters for discussion: Chapter 7, Housing: goals and polices supporting housing repair and maintenance, maintains home ownership opportunities for all economic segments, and encourages a diversity of housing stock. Chapter 8, Natural Environment: regarding open space, wetlands and critical areas. Chapter 9, Parks and Recreation: summary of the 2014 Parks and Open Space Plan, which plan includes the inventory, needs analysis, level of service and improvements to meet the GMA requirements. Chapter 10, Economic Development: illustrates Enumclaw s existing economic patterns and potential economic opportunities; a summary of the Enumclaw Strategic Plan for Economic Development Chapter 11, Human Services: goals and policies that encourage funding human service organizations, advocating for new and existing programs, maintaining strong partnerships with the Enumclaw School District, etc. Pasinetti then summarized the process for the Comprehensive Plan; the following provide the framework: GMA Goals & Requirements Regional Vision Countywide Policies Page 1 of 7

2 The public participation plan and schedule was detailed. The comments received to-date are part of the agenda packet. Pasinetti went in to detail on the discussion chapters: Chapter 7, Housing Housing is a required chapter. It has been updated with the current housing growth target. It includes goals and policies for home ownership, affordable units, flexible zoning, maintaining affordable units, etc. The Comp Plan includes statistics on the vacancy rate for rental housing, household composition, cost of housing in Enumclaw, etc. Chapter 8, Natural Environment Natural Environment is not a required chapter. This element has goals and policies for maintaining open space, ecological processes and protecting property. This chapter includes an updated critical areas map set. These are helpful for the public as they designate wetlands and other critical areas. Chapter 9, Parks and Recreation: Parks and Recreation is a required chapter. It is a summary of the adopted 2014 Parks and Open Space Plan. It includes inventory of existing park properties and adopted levels of service. Chapter 10, Economic Development Economic Development is a required chapter. It is a summary of the Strategic Plan for Economic Development , and includes a mission statement, community issues and goal and policies regarding attracting senior communities, promoting employment growth, tourist visits, etc. Chapter 11, Human Services Human Services is not a required chapter. It has been in the Comp Plan since This element includes a mission statement and some minor changes recommended by the Planning Commission. Mayor stated that she has discussed this chapter s goals and policies with the City Administrator and the Department Directors in relation to Council s philosophy of not funding human services during the budget sessions. She noted this is a critical chapter for Council discussion because the Human Services Advisory Board will need a mission and a role if they are to continue to be a Board. She and Pasinetti tried to keep the goals and policies broad with no indication that financial assistance would be forthcoming from the City. She noted that there will be human service requests for funding during budget season. Budget decisions should be supporting goals and policies set forth in the Comp Plan. Pasinetti noted some of the goals and policies in the draft Human Services chapter, some with language revised by the Planning Commission. Maintain a strong relationship with the School District Strengthening approaches to human services Consider funding Consider a task force Pasinetti detailed the tentative schedule of Comprehensive Plan events, all will be held at City Hall in the Council Chambers: Page 2 of 7

3 Open House, Monday, May 16, 6:00 8:00 p.m. (erroneously stated Open House as May 18 during the Workshop) Planning Commission Public Hearing, Thursday, May 26, 7:00 p.m. City Council Public Hearing, Monday, June 27, 7:30 p.m. First Reading of Comp Plan Ordinance, Monday, July 11, 7:30 p.m. (Later in the meeting, it was decided to hold another Comp Plan Workshop Monday, June 6, 7:00 p.m.) Mayor noted that the Open House is valuable for Councilmembers to attend because there is a chance to speak one-on-one to community members. Helping them understand the process as well as listening to their concerns is valuable. Overland stated there have been many comments from Council, although there has not been any voting on line items. He asked Pasinetti if those comments are reflected in the draft Comp Plan. Pasinetti replied that the Planning Commission has been doing their review and he is relying on them to make their edits first. He has not taken anything out of the Plan and noted that much of the Council discussion has been on items that are already part of the Plan. After the Planning Commission gives their recommendation, Council can go line by line if they wish to make edits. Mayor asked that Council make use of the documents they have access to and come prepared to discuss those chapters. Planning Commission Chair Hancock joined in the discussion. Hancock stated the Commission has extensively reviewed the draft Comprehensive Plan. They are not only looking at the Plan based on their personal experience they are also listening to community members by attending the Open House and reading all of the submitted comments. The Commission looked at what sections are required by law and which are not. The Human Services section is not required; however, more than a decade ago the Council decided it was important for the City. They felt it was not their place to change that direction, but to ask questions such as how it impacts the budget or potentially help the City Council make decisions. Hancock stated the Natural Environment section is also not required to be in the Comp Plan, however, it does indicate critical areas which is helpful. Hancock noted that ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) have been discussed by the Commission and a recommendation may be forthcoming for changing City Code to allow for allowing ADUs under the situation where there is a small dwelling unit on a City lot and another small dwelling unit is proposed to be built on the lot. Currently, the Code states that the ADU can be no larger than 40% of the primary dwelling unit. Pasinetti stated the Commission s job is to make the recommendations; it is City Council s job to decide on Code changes. In response to a question from Carstens, Pasinetti stated the ADU conditions will continue with the new property owner when a piece of property is sold that has a primary dwelling unit and an ADU. There is a separate permit process for an ADU which requires a 14 day comment period, and the recording of an affidavit that the owner will either live in the primary dwelling unit or the ADU. Setbacks still apply. Page 3 of 7

4 LaFleur asked if there will be any new changes since they last received the link to the Comp Plan; Pasinetti stated there may be some minor changes based on what the Commissioners hear at the Public Hearing at their May 26 meeting. In response to an inquiry from LaFleur, Pasinetti stated that Council can make changes at any time. Mayor stated that any Councilmember can bring forth their suggestions; full Council will then vote on whether to incorporate that addition, amendment, or deletion into the Comp Plan. The Planning Commission recommends; Council has the ultimate authority to adopt. Carstens stated that she would like to see the public input portion completed before Council makes changes to line items. Irwin concurred. LaFleur stated he would like to wait until the final recommendation comes from the Planning Commission. Pasinetti reiterated that the policies are the most important part of the Comprehensive Plan. Specific Code changes such as what was discussed for ADUs do not have to be changed in the Comp Plan because there is a policy that speaks about ADUs. Likewise, the ideas Overland suggested at a prior meeting, such as the northwest theme for Highway 410, do not have to be specifically addressed because there are many policies in the Comp Plan that support design standards. Mayor encouraged Council to stay at the 30,000 foot level for the policies; the details come later. Carstens noted that a letter was received by Council regarding concern about a potential new housing development on Florence Street at property that is currently for sale. Mayor noted she received the same letter and did some research on this piece of property, which is two parcels, and the nearby Takoba development. Both are zoned R-2. Takoba has 8.92 acres with 25 dwellings; the two parcels for sale are 7 acres combined. Pasinetti said no application has been received so he does not know how many dwellings will ultimately be on the two parcels. It is difficult to tell how many homes will be allowed with the current zoning because there are storm drainage requirements, the configuration of cul-de-sacs and other variables. Overland stated that the homes in Takoba probably have the highest assessed valuation in the City. He questioned whether Council, Planning Commission or City Administration would want to purposely do something that impacts that high assessed valuation. He asserted that high quality dwellings need to be encouraged. Pasinetti stated that, in R-2 zoning, the minimum lot size is 8,400 square feet; the maximum is 18,000. Irwin noted, for a point of reference, the smallest lot size in the Meadows Park housing development is 9,000 square feet; the largest is 15,000. Pasinetti relayed that all residential lots have the same minimum setbacks, regardless of zoning: 20 foot front yard; 9 foot side yard; and 25 foot back yard. Discussion continued on the letter regarding the property currently for sale on Florence Street, the Takoba housing development and zoning issues; a summary of the viewpoints: LaFleur property owners have the right to develop within the zoning conditions; the City of Puyallup recently was the recipient of a lawsuit because of spot zoning. Page 4 of 7

5 Irwin R-2 zoning usually has 10,000 square foot lots, which is just shy of a 1/4 acre, good size lots. On seven acres, this would be approximately 30 homes. This is similar to the lots in many parts of town. He reminded everyone that Council has to comply with the PSRC s Vision He asserted that Enumclaw needs to have high-end, mid-range and entry level homes. Mayor the difference in acreage between Takoba and the property for sale is quite small, less than two acres. They are zoned the same. If a developer meets the requirements set forth in the Code and policies, they can build what the market will bear. Sando the concern in the letter appears to be the character of the community; with impact fees, the development can pay for improvements to the connecting streets and the new development would be consistent with the neighborhoods. Council is here to set policy and they need to communicate with their constituents why those policies and requirements are set. Searcy the subdivisions that Overland refers to that have larger lots and custom built homes are those that are built by the long-time landowners. Takoba was developed by the landowner Perry Dahlquist and Meadow Park was done by the Van Beek family. They were able to choose the way they wanted the homes built. The only way that Council can influence building is by zoning. Carstens asserted that the public needs to understand that there are property rights and City Council cannot restrict an individual s right to develop property within the zoning conditions. It is not City Council s fault. Overland acknowledged the need to hit all categories of housing. The median family income in Enumclaw is one of the lowest in King County. He noted that it takes all economic classes to make a City viable. He asserted that people in a development such as a gated community may offset others that don t have as many resources. Pasinetti described the process for subdividing property: Submission of an application Notice of application posting at site and mailing to homes within 300 feet radius Environmental review Hearing Examiner - Open Record Public Hearing City Council determination Extensive discussion on the Human Services element ensued; a summary of individual Councilmembers, the Mayor s, Pasinetti s, Hancock s and M. Reynolds comments: Carstens the chapter is not required, so her opinion is that it should not be part of the Comprehensive Plan. There is an overlap of services in the area and she doesn t see the need for this element. She doesn t want to entirely remove human services from the Plan, however, does not want to bind this Council or future Councils. She noted that many service groups work within the community and provide services. When Council did not fund Plateau Outreach Ministries two years ago, Rotary picked up that support. The Rainier Foothills Wellness Foundation received a grant to help with drug awareness, etc. This community s organizations and churches are very generous. She asserted that the City does not need to be involved in funding human services. One exception for her is the Senior Center as they are the ones who built this community. Page 5 of 7

6 Sando would not cut the chapter out entirely; the community and Council wish to build a community that provides for needs of the citizens. He doesn t want the Plan to compel Council to spend money, however, doesn t want it to exclude that possibility. The decision is Council s. He is more passionate about assisting poor people than in putting resources in helping profitable businesses become more profitable. Mayor occasionally there are grants available for the Senior Center or something else human services related and, as part of the criteria, whether or not human services are reflected in the Comprehensive Plan is noted. She does not want to jeopardize opportunities of grant funding if this element is removed. When considering the Plan, her intention is not to tie this Council and future Councils to expending financial resources, but to assert that human services are important to our community. The Human Services Advisory Board has asked her what their tasks are to be if the funding of human services is removed from the budget. She does not want there to be no purpose for a group of people who are willing to serve. It is Council s decision to have the HSAB or not. Her view is that there are people that need the services and all members of the community are part of the fabric of the City. Pasinetti the Planning Commission looked specifically at the Human Services chapter and did not want to tie Council s hands regarding funding. The language has been amended somewhat so that specific items, such as task forces, are not required but they are not precluded. He reiterated it is always good as part of a grant application to say that the Comp Plan supports the various purposes of those grants. LaFleur asked that Administration inquire as to whether references to the Comp Plan were made in the recent grant for the Senior Center electrical work. He stated he hasn t read all the way through chapter 11, however, it seems that the HSAB does work reviewing the applications for funding and then the Council either changes and eliminates the funding repeating the work already done by the HSAB. Overland asserted that the City cannot meet all the social needs of all the people. The City and Council are there for protection of the citizens and to take care of streets, police and basic needs. He believes there does need to be editing to this chapter. Irwin referred to the opening paragraph of chapter 11 (read by Carstens): Human services are an essential part of the fabric of a community. The City of Enumclaw is no exception. The dedication and commitment of the city is shown by creation of a Human Services Advisory Board (HSAB) that makes recommendations based on their knowledge of community needs and their desire to create a better way of life. He stated that it is his belief that most individuals in the community would agree with the portion of the opening statement that was read. The part where there is dissention is the next portion, which he read: The provided funding for this chapter, which will serve as a guide to assist the HSAB in identifying human services needs and directing services to make them complete and accessible. Together with the HSAB, the community, elected officials and human service providers, must make a commitment; a community commitment, a financial commitment, and most importantly a time commitment to achieve these goals. He stated his wish to wait for the citizens to give their comments and then the Council can take a hard look at this chapter in a few weeks. He also noted that the City does fund Page 6 of 7

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