City Planning Commission

JOINT PLANNING / COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2024 HELD VIA ZOOM & IN PERSON AT CITY HALL Planning Commission Members Present: Joe Mann, Tom Sahlberg, Jim Baumker, Dg Garcia, Charlie Jencks, Dale Robbins, Phil Folyer in person. Adjunct Member(s) Present: Gene Heuschel in person. Community Engagement Members Present: Robin Bekkedahl, Bill Norman, Cynthia Gamboni, Arlene Fisher Maurer, Mark Saba in person. Staff Present: Lisa Key, Amy Mullerleile, Lance Mueller, David Goehner and Kathy Cummings Call to Order: Meeting was called to order at 4:01 p.m. Commissioner Mann asked that we stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll Call: A quorum of members was present. Absences: Director Key stated that Planning Commissioner Mullenix had requested to be excused from this meeting as he would be unable to attend. Robin Bekkedahl, Chairperson of the Community Engagement Commission, requested that Aaron Asmus and Summer Darrow, Community Engagement Commission members, be excused due to other obligations. However, Summer Darrow arrived at the meeting at 4:25 p.m. Workshop: Director Key provided context for the preparation of the draft public engagement plan. It is a working draft that outlines strategies for how the city will engage with the public throughout the comprehensive planning process. She also explained how both the Planning and the Community Engagement Commissions will have significant rolls in gathering feedback from the community and integrating it into the comprehensive plan update. Associate Planner, Lance Mueller, presented the draft plan and discussed its purpose and the desired outcomes. The plan includes outreach strategies to engage various stakeholders, including residents, vulnerable populations, and external agencies. The aim is to reach every resident, with special efforts to include underrepresented groups. Some outreach and engagement methods mentioned were the city’s website, social media, community events, posters, meetings, and collaborations with local organizations. Youth involvement was also suggested possibly through schools or a youth commission. Discussion of how to measure the success of public participation and engagement efforts were had. This included tracking participation levels and ensuring that feedback is representing the entire community. The Planning and the Community Engagement Commissions provided input on the draft engagement plan, discussing the inclusion of various populations, the need for clear communication strategies, and the involvement of commission members in outreach efforts. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Page 1|2 August 7th, 2024 Based on the feedback, revisions to the public engagement plan will be made, and the updated plan will be presented to the Planning Commission and City Council for adoption as a draft, with the understanding that it will continue to evolve. Also discussed was the need for a logo, slogan and other branding elements to make the plan recognizable and memorable. A subcommittee was formed to work on this. The volunteers were Summer Darrow, Tom Sahlberg, Arlene Fisher Maurer, Joe Mann, Robin Bekkedahl and Cynthia Gamboni. Adjournment of Community Engagement Commission: At 5:30 p.m. Chairperson Robin Bekkedahl motioned to adjourn, seconded by committee member, Mark Saba. Citizen Comments: None Commissioner Comments & Reports: None Planning Commission General Business: The Planning Commission meeting was called back to order at 5:32 p.m. Review of Agenda & Approval of Minutes: Commissioner Jencks motioned to approve the meeting minutes from July 10, 2024, seconded by Commissioner Sahlberg. The motion carried unanimously. Ratification of Findings, Conclusions & Recommendations: Commissioner Sahlberg motioned to ratify the proposed Lighting Code Amendments, seconded by Commissioner Folyer. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Folyer motioned to ratify the proposed amendment for Fueling Stations as an Accessory Use, seconded by Commissioner Dobbins. The motion passed unanimously. Secretary’s Report: Director Lisa Key would like to have any revisions to the draft public engagement plan from this meeting be submitted so that the plan can be revised and forwarded to city council in September for adoption. It will be adopted as only a draft, as it will be a living document. In September a workshop is planned to address changes that need to be made to the emergency housing amendments established in 2021. These changes need to be made so that the city will not have to perform a land capacity analysis specific to emergency shelters. Commissioner Jencks inquired on whether Frontera has made application for a building permit yet and Director Key stated that they have not but that the city is anticipating the SEPA checklist to be submitted for the 21st Amendment to Binding Site Plan 96-50 first so that traffic concurrency can be addressed. There have been several reviews and revisions requested of the trip generation and distribution letter that is required to accompany the SEPA checklist. Adjournment: Commissioner Jencks motioned to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Garcia. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 5:44 p.m. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Page 2|2 August 7th, 2024