City Council

City Hall City of Olympia 601 4th Avenue E Olympia, WA 98501 Information: 360-753-8447 Meeting Minutes City Council Tuesday, January 8, 2013 7:00 PM Council Chambers 1. ROLL CALL Present: 6- Mayor Stephen H. Buxbaum, Mayor Pro Tem Nathaniel Jones, Councilmember Julie Hankins, Councilmember Steve Langer, Councilmember Jeannine Roe and Councilmember Karen Rogers Excused: 1 - Councilmember Jim Cooper 1.A ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Buxbaum noted the Council held a Study Session at 5:30 this evening regarding downtown computer modeling and visualization. He indicated no decisions were made at the meeting. 1.B APPROVAL OF AGENDA Councilmember Langer moved, seconded by Councilmember Hankins, to approve the agenda. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 6- Mayor Buxbaum, Mayor Pro Tem Jones, Councilmember Hankins, Councilmember Langer, Councilmember Roe and Councilmember Rogers Excused: 1 - Councilmember Cooper 2. SPECIAL RECOGNITION - None 3. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION Ms. Laurel Smith, 1025 Bethel Ave SE, spoke in support of allowing homeless people to camp in front of City Hall. Mr. Kelly Wood provided feedback regarding the timeline for submission of comments about the draft Shoreline Master Program and asked for a longer time period to allow citizens to review the document and submit comments. Ms. Kanako Wynkoop spoke in opposition to the ordinance to ban camping on City property and encouraged the City to provide public restrooms. Ms. Beth Kelly said if the ban regarding camping on City property is passed, homeless people will be forced into the woods. City of Olympia Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes January 8, 2013 Ms. Anna Bean showed a poster signed by 100 students in opposition to the ordinance to ban camping on City property. Ms. Connie Phegley spoke in opposition to the ordinance to ban camping on City property. She asked the City to tap into volunteers in the community who want to help come up with a solution to homelessness. Mr. Alex Daye spoke in opposition to the ordinance to ban camping on City property. Mr. Christopher Mounts discussed a petition he conducted online regarding the passage of the sit/lie law and read comments from the website where the petition was posted. He said he sent an email to the City Council with this information. Ms. Meg Martin spoke against the proposed ordinance to ban camping on City property. Ms. Cassie Burke asked where people will go if they can't sleep on City property and what can the community do to convince the Council to help vulnerable people. Mr. Gary Ball asked for 30 days for review of the draft Shoreline Master Program. Ms. Angela White also asked for 30 days to review the draft Shoreline Master Program. Mr. Henry Govert, 1717 5th Ave SW, discussed the budget and the amount of tax he pays to the City of Olympia. He asked the City to spend tax dollars carefully. Mr. Jo Robinhood said if the camping ban on City property passes, the homeless people will have nowhere to go. He encouraged the City to provide public restrooms. Ms. Elizabeth Egan echoed earlier sentiments that the enhancements to the sit/lie ordinance should be rescinded. She also supported not passing the camping ban on City property. Mr. Phil Owen, 1320 8th Ave SE, acknowledged downtown concerns but said the camping ban ordinance is not the right approach to solving the issues. Ms. Mary Abramson, 7833 Vireo Ct SE, said she had nothing to add but supported all the other speakers' comments. Mr. Brian McCracken, 1320 5th Ave SW, asked for more time and money from the City to address the needs of homeless people. Ms. Tamara Johnson said Olympia has a lot of great organizations to help homeless people, but the community needs to come together to create solutions. Mr. Dan Griffith, 4236 Muirfield Lane, said there are a lot of reasons people choose not to utilize homeless shelters, but everyone needs to feel safe. City of Olympia Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes January 8, 2013 Ms. Janet Jordan, 6702 Garrett Ct NE, asked the Council not to ban camping on City property. She spoke in support of public restrooms and an active police presence downtown. Mr. Rob Richards, 702 4th Ave E, read a statement from 30 businesses downtown in opposition to the camping ban on City property. Ms. Emmeline Mead spoke against the camping ban on City property and asked the Council to open City Hall doors and allow homeless people to sleep indoors on cold nights. Mr. Sam Gray asked why this type of ordinance keeps coming up, even after the people have clearly given their opinion on the topic. He asked the Council to rescind the sit/lie ordinance and not pass the camping ban on City property. Mr. Ben Clugal, 3605 Overhulse Rd, asked that the sit/lie ordinance be rescinded and for the Council to listen to what the public is saying. Ms. Elissa Goss, 1211 Bing St NW, asked how to pass an ordinance to hold community roundtables and delegate resources until the homeless issue is solved. She asked the Council not to pass the camping ban on City property ordinance. COUNCIL RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMUNICATION Mayor Buxbaum discussed the Shoreline Master Program timeline for holding a public hearing and receiving public comment. City Manager Steve Hall noted a public hearing is scheduled for January 22. Mr. Hall recommended that the public hearing be held January 22 and the comment period be extended an additional two weeks. Following Councilmember discussion, the Council agreed to hold the public hearing on January 22, extend public comment until 5:00 p.m. on February 5, and schedule Council deliberation on February 12. Mayor Pro Tem Jones thanked people for speaking tonight and said he will wait to respond until after the presentation about the ordinance later on the agenda. Councilmember Rogers thanked several people for comments made. Councilmember Langer thanked speakers for testimony about homelessness and said he agrees it is a community effort and looks forward to everyone working together. Councilmember Roe thanked speakers for testimony tonight and suggested involving The Evergreen State College in helping to provide shelter for people with nowhere to go. Mayor Buxbaum thanked speakers for comments and discussed challenges on determining the right path forward. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR City of Olympia Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes January 8, 2013 4.A 13-0004 Approval of December 18, 2012 City Council Meeting Minutes The minutes were adopted. 4.B 12-0792 Approval of 2013 Lease at The Olympia Center with Senior Services for South Sound The contract was adopted. 4.C 12-0854 Approval of Hearings Examiner Appointment The recommendation was adopted. 4.D 13-0030 Approval to Submit National Endowment of Arts (NEA) Grant for the Artesian Well Site The decision was adopted. SECOND READINGS 4.E 12-0814 Ordinance Amending OMC Chapter 3.16 Regarding Contracts The ordinance was adopted on second reading. Approval of the Consent Agenda Councilmember Roe moved, seconded by Councilmember Langer, to adopt the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 6- Mayor Buxbaum, Mayor Pro Tem Jones, Councilmember Hankins, Councilmember Langer, Councilmember Roe and Councilmember Rogers Excused: 1 - Councilmember Cooper FIRST READINGS - None 5. PUBLIC HEARING - None 6. OTHER BUSINESS 6.A 12-0863 Ordinance Concerning the Use of City-Owned Property City Manager Steve Hall reported most shelters in Olympia are at about 80% capacity. He noted efforts of various organizations working with the Salvation Army to increase its shelter utilization and reported efforts underway to increase youth shelters. He also reported on activities related to camping at City Hall since its doors have been opened, in City of Olympia Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes January 8, 2013 particular since October, 2012. He explained the effective date of the proposed ordinance to ban camping on City property would be February 8 if passed. Council Discussion: - Various government locations where camping is currently prohibited, including City parks, The Evergreen State College, Thurston County Courthouse and the Capitol Campus. - Display of a map showing City properties where camping would be prohibited. - Alternative locations where people may be able to go if unable to camp on City properties. - Give the referral on public restrooms from the Land Use Committee back to the full Council. Options next week could include short- and long-term options. - Evaluation of impacts of the sidewalk ordinance, alcohol impact area, camping ban on City properties, downtown user survey, and the Downtown Ambassador Program in a year. The Council directed staff to schedule discussion on next week's agenda with options, both short- and long-term, for allocating $35,000 in social service funding to reach certain goals, such as a low barrier shelter or public restrooms. Councilmember Langer moved, seconded by Councilmember Roe, to adopt on second reading an ordinance prohibiting camping on City-owned property. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 6- Mayor Buxbaum, Mayor Pro Tem Jones, Councilmember Hankins, Councilmember Langer, Councilmember Roe and Councilmember Rogers Excused: 1 - Councilmember Cooper 6.B 13-0017 Parking and Business Improvement Area (PBIA) 2013 Budget Code Enforcement Officer Brian Wilson introduced members of the Parking and Business Improvement Area (PBIA) Board, and Board Chair Ken Adney gave an overview of what the PBIA organization does. He highlighted 2012 accomplishments and discussed the budget and goals for 2013. Council Discussion: - Thanks to the PBIA Board for its work to support a welcoming downtown. - Thanks for supporting the Downtown Ambassador Program. Councilmember Roe moved, seconded by Councilmember Langer, to approve the 2013 PBIA budget as recommended by the PBIA Advisory Committee. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 6- Mayor Buxbaum, Mayor Pro Tem Jones, Councilmember Hankins, Councilmember Langer, Councilmember Roe and Councilmember Rogers Excused: 1 - Councilmember Cooper 6.C 12-0765 Ordinance Amending Olympia Municipal Code Regarding City of Olympia Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes January 8, 2013 Agriculture Uses and Standards Associate Planner Jennifer Kenny gave a brief presentation of the ordinance and noted clarification language in it. She reported setbacks would be consistent with accessory dwellings as noted in the current code. Another area where there wasn't full Planning Commission consensus was the permit fee for a fence over 6 feet, which would be $90. Council Discussion: - Several citizens have asked for a 5-foot setback. - The City Council may not have authority to eliminate the permit requirement without going to the International Building Code Council; however the permit fee could be eliminated. - No special provisions have been made regarding animal waste issues. - Number of chickens versus number of ducks. - Grant an exemption for the permit fee, expand the zones to include commercial and industrial areas, and establish a consistent 5-foot setback on all sides of the property. - Request a waiver, if necessary, from the International Building Code Council to waive the permit requirement for 8-foot fences when they are for deer or agricultural use. - Fences intended for agriculture or deer barriers would still be 6 feet high and the additional 2 feet would be spaced at approximately every 4 inches. The permit exemption would not apply to applications for a solid 8-foot fence. - Consider a 10-foot setback in front yards. - Thanks to the Planning Commission for giving priority in the workload to this topic and thanks to others for work in shepherding this ordinance through the process. The Council directed staff to revise the ordinance to include: - waiving the permit fee; - going through the process, if necessary, to ask the International Building Code Council to waive the permit requirement for 8-foot agriculture fences; - expanding the zones to include industrial and commercial areas; and - establishing 5-foot setbacks on all sides of the property. The ordinance will come back to the Council for first reading on the January 22 Consent Calendar. 6.D 13-0034 Oral Report: Council Retreat Agenda City Manager Steve Hall announced the Council Retreat will begin at noon on Friday, January 11, at the LOTT Board Room and will go until 5:00 p.m. The retreat will resume at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 12. Council Discussion: - Suggest adding more than a half hour from 4:30 - 5:00 for Council assignments and include a discussion on roles. Consider bumping Dr. Pumphrey's time to allow for more discussion. - Support for expanding a discussion of roles before Committee assignments. - Dinner could begin at 6:00 p.m. instead of 5:30 p.m. to allow time for a conversation about roles. - Clarification regarding Councilmembers reporting on experiences with committee assignments. Mayor Buxbaum asked Councilmembers to complete pre-retreat work and get it to Mary Nolan for compilation in advance of the retreat, if possible. The Council City of Olympia Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes January 8, 2013 agreed to revise the dinner time from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. and to add "Discussion of Roles" to the topics on Friday afternoon. 7. CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMUNICATION 8. REPORTS AND REFERRALS 8.A COUNCIL INTERGOVERNMENTAL/COMMITTEE REPORTS AND REFERRALS Councilmember Langer reported highlights from the Emergency Management Services (EMS) meeting he attended. Mayor Buxbaum reported highlights from the Community Renewal Area (CRA) meeting he attended and noted upcoming meetings. He indicated the alley naming project is moving forward and suggested coordinating efforts with the Timberland Regional Library . He said he would like to see a press release on the topic and include a recognition ceremony when the signs go up. The Council agreed with the suggestions. Mayor Buxbaum reported a significant high tide is projected for January 14 and noted outstanding work by Public Works and other City staff during the last king tide . 8.B CITY MANAGER'S REPORT AND REFERRALS Mr. Hall asked for a referral to the Finance Committee at the January 10 meeting to report numbers on the LED Street Lights Conversion Project and confirm direction for the project. The Council agreed to the referral. 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 10:18 p.m. City of Olympia Page 7