City Council Committee of the Whole

CITY OF DUVALL CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES March 13, 2014 – 5:30 p.m. Duvall Visitor Center – 15619 Main Street NE Mayor Pro Tem Walker called the meeting order at 5:30 p.m. Council present: Dianne Brudnicki, Leroy Collinwood, Scott Thomas, Becky Nixon, Gary Gill, Amy Ockerlander, Jason Walker Staff present: Steve Leniszewski, Carey Hert, Jill Long, Lara Thomas, Boyd Benson, Jodee Schwinn Community Pool Group – Mayor Pro Tem Walker & Council Mayor Pro Tem Walker introduced Jennifer Dotson & Sara Baquero-Garcia who showed a PowerPoint presentation about the progress that is being made in getting a Community Pool for Duvall. They said they understand this is not something that will happen right away, they understand it may be ten years before the pool becomes a reality. They explained that they are in the process of getting their non-profit status and doing a lot of research on the different types of pools and possible partnerships that could be made for this project. One possibility would be a public ownership with a non-profit operating it. One possibility would be working with the Riverview School District similar to what is being done in Snohomish. Jennifer and Sara showed some pictures of possible pool options. There are three main types – indoor, outdoor, and convertible with a roof that would retract during nice weather. They are also looking at the possibility of doing the pool in stages – starting with a temporary roof structure with plans for a fully indoor facility in the future. Their research has shown that the pool needs to be able to cater to more than one type of group. It needs to be able to have multiple uses like lap swimming and recreational. They want to take their time to find out what it would take to make the pool viable and self-sustaining. Thayer Barn Update – Duvall Foundation of the Arts Lin McBride and Elizabeth Hill from Duvall Foundation of the Arts (DFA) handed out a proposed project timeline for the Thayer Barn should they proceed with this projects. They said they have met with Melanie Clark of Wescott Homes who currently owns Thayer Barn. Elizabeth said they are just beginning the process. They’ve spoken with movers about potential costs. She said that one of the obstacles they are facing is that no one wants to give money to the project unless it is on public property. She said they would like the City to get the barn parcel segregated so they can start the process of raising funds for getting it renovated. Elizabeth said she would like to work with the City and the developer to get the parcel created. She said they looked at moving it to a different location but the costs are very high. Council said they would like to know what the cost of the parcel would be and if DFA is planning to work with other non- Committee of the Whole – March 13, 2014 profits. Elizabeth and Lin said they have been talking with other non-profits and they would like to talk to the City and the developer more to be able to get a more detailed plan in place. SDA Design Services Contract for 2013-2015 DOE LID & Retrofit Grant – Boyd Benson City Engineer, Boyd Benson, said that they have received a grant for $120,000 from Department of Ecology. This is a non-matching grant that will cover pre-construction design work for qualified projects. Boyd said that they have identified three design projects this grant will cover. They are Parkwood Estates Stormwater facility, the bio-retention facility which is part of the Cherry Valley Road sidewalk improvement project, and the installation of bio-retention and sidewalk replacement between NE 138th Place to Big Rock Ball Fields. They would like to proceed quickly and get the designs completed by August 2014. Boyd said they will bring the contract with SDA to Council for approval soon. Continued marijuana discussion & direction for work plan – Lara Thomas Planning Manager, Lara Thomas, gave a background of the moratorium the City is currently in. She said the moratorium expires in April and Council needs to give direction to staff whether to go back into moratorium or let it expire. She explained that if we do go back in to moratorium there needs to be a work plan in place. Lara then summarized the recent State Attorney General opinion that was published. It states that cities can ban marijuana sales within their jurisdictions and that local policy can be more restrictive than I502. She also explained that this opinion has not been litigated. Lara also gave an update on Senate Bill 5887 regarding revenue sharing from marijuana sales. At this time it has not been voted on. As it stands right now there would be no revenue sharing for marijuana sales with local jurisdictions. Revenue sharing would have to be added as an amendment to SB5887. Lara said we would still get sales tax as with any business. The Liquor Control Board has said it will issue permits for production of marijuana. Lara said that right now marijuana sales are not allowed through Duvall’s business license code which states businesses must not be in violation of any State or Federal laws. Lara suggests that Council hold a Public Hearing at the next meeting. Council discussed the fact that they need to review all aspects of this issue – possible revenues, potential legal issues, and public health and safety. Lara said most cities are still struggling with this issue. She explained that as far as our zoning code is concerned and with the zoning buffers put in place by the State, there are only about six parcels that could support a marijuana shop inside the City limits. She said that if the proposed park in the Toll Brothers development builds out, that would take away almost all of the six parcels due to the buffers. Council expressed their concerns about no revenue sharing. Duvall would need revenues to help offset potential costs of possible repercussions like higher crime rates and public health and safety. Impact Fee Ordinance – Lara Thomas Planning Manager, Lara Thomas, said that this ordinance is part of the work they are doing to modify the zoning code. There are currently inconsistencies regarding the school impact fees. She said Riverview School District would like them to collect the fees at the building permit phase. Other options for collection times are occupancy or closing (point of sale). Lara said that Public Works would like the school impact fee collected at building permit time to stay consist ant with when all other fees are collected. The Land Use Committee has said they would like flexibility. Council discussed the collection time options. Committee of the Whole – March 13, 2014 Conservation Futures Tax & Watershed Forum Grant (property acquisition) – Lara Thomas Planning Manager, Lara Thomas, said that the funds from the Conservation Futures Tax (CFT) and Watershed Forum grants would be used to purchase just under seven acres near the Duvall Village development. If they receive these grants, the City could offer cash payment for the property instead of impact fee credits. There would be a 50% match on the CFT grant so they would apply the Watershed Forum grant to that 50%. Lara said this is being presented to Council because it is possible there would be a budget impact. Fences – Lara Thomas Planning Manager, Lara Thomas, said that there are height limits for fences including those that are constructed on top of retaining walls/rockeries. During a recent project the Planning Department allowed a variance but it was denied by the Hearing Examiner because it did not meet code. Lara said they understand that most of the remaining developable land in Duvall is on slopes and they are proposing a code amendment to address the limitations by allowing the Planning Department to grant a departure from this code requirement. She also said that they propose to modify language in the code to allow the Planning Department to make administrative decisions like this but the decision would be appealable to the Hearing Examiner. Lara explained that these proposed amendments will go to Planning Commission next, then there will be a Public Hearing, and lastly to Council for approval. CivicPlus hosted City Webpage – Mayor Ibershof Mayor Ibershof said that during the 2014 budget process, he was asked to look at option for a new website. He said that the Ad-hoc IT Committee had a couple presentations from different web vendors and he recommends Civic Plus at this time. Mayor Ibershof said he needs Council direction on where they would like to go from here regarding a new website. Councilmember Ockerlander said that the IT Committee suggests that they go with Civic Plus. She said this is something that cannot wait. There was general consensus that a contract with Civic Plus should be brought forward for approval. Adjournment The Committee of the Whole adjourned at 7:00 p.m. ATTEST: Jason Walker, Mayor Pro Tem Jodi Lee Wycoff, Deputy City Clerk Committee of the Whole – March 13, 2014