Land Use & Environment Committee

City Hall Meeting Minutes 601 4th Avenue E Olympia, WA 98501 Land Use & Environment Committee Information: 360.753.8244 Thursday, December 15, 2016 5:30 PM Council Chambers 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Hankins called the meeting to order 5:33 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Present: 2 - Chair Julie Hankins and Committee member Clark Gilman Excused: 1 - Committee member Nathaniel Jones OTHERS PRESENT Community Planning and Development: Director Keith Stahley Principal Planner Tim Smith Office Specialist/Minute Recorder Stacey Rodell Public Works: Director Rich Hoey Engineering and Planning Manager Eric Christensen Water Resources Engineer Diane Utter Fire Department: Deputy Chief Greg Wright 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Item 5.B was rescheduled to the next Land Use and Environment Committee (LUEC) meeting. The agenda was approved as amended. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 4.A 16-1368 Approval of November 17, 2016 Land Use & Environment Committee Meeting Minutes The minutes were approved. 5. COMMITTEE BUSINESS 5.A 16-1347 Annual Annexation Report City of Olympia Page 1 Land Use & Environment Meeting Minutes December 15, 2016 Committee Mr. Smith presented the 2016 annual annexation report. He reviewed maps of the following study areas: · Southeast - Yelm Highway (North & South) · Southeast - Hewitt Lake · Northeast - South Bay · Northeast - Friendly Grove · Northwest - Cooper Point Mr. Smith provided information regarding utilities, fire districts, acreage, housing units, estimated population, assessed valuation and owner commitment percentages for each of the study areas. The Community Planning and Development Department does not currently have adequate staffing in 2017 for a large annexation project. These annexation areas represent a starting point for the Committee to discuss the appropriate timing and priorities for a potential annexation. The report was received. 5.B 16-1359 Code Enforcement Status Report The report was postponed. 5.C 16-1314 Recommendation on Ordinance Amending Wastewater Regulations for Side Sewer Ownership Ms. Utter presented information about a proposed ordinance amendment to wastewater regulations for side sewer ownership. Current Olympia Municipal Code (OMC) 13.08.040 states: The property owner is responsible for all costs and expense incidental to the installation, connection and maintenance of a side sewer, including that portion within the city right-of-way or utility easement. The City shall not be liable for any damages or costs incurred by reason of blockage or deterioration of a side sewer, up to and including its connection with the public sewer main. Issues with the current code have been: · Repairs of side sewers in the right-of-way can be: o Difficult to locate o Deep o Below pavement o Near other utilities o Expensive · Frequently results in extended disputes between the City and property owners regarding responsibility. · It is costly both in staff time and in the time that passes from the identification of a needed repair to its completion. City of Olympia Page 2 Land Use & Environment Meeting Minutes December 15, 2016 Committee · Failing side sewers occasionally result in releases of sewage creating potential health risks. · Failing side sewers often result in soil material being introduced into the sewer system and occasionally result in minor sink holes. · Failing side sewers occasionally result in infiltration of groundwater resulting in reduced sewer conveyance and treatment plant capacity. · The use of trenchless technologies (e.g. horizontal boring) increasingly results in conflicts between private franchise utilities and side sewers within the right-of-way. Proposed amendment: · Change the regulations so the City owns and maintains side sewers in the right-of-way with the following conditions: o Only when a cleanout exists or is installed at the right-of-way line. o Property owners will be responsible for removal of blockages. · Change the regulations so the City owns all connections to the sewer main regardless of the existence of a cleanout. Financial impact: · Hard to determine because there are costs and cost savings. · Staff estimates 1-2 repairs per year, based on permits, but it could be higher. · The City will become responsible for about 6% more sewer pipe than it now owns. · Staff recommends $25,000 be added to CFP starting in 2018 to cover repairs. (This is 6% of the current repair budget.) The Committee unanimously approved to recommend City Council adopt the Ordinance amending wastewater regulations for side sewer ownership (OMC 13.08 and EDDS Chapter 7). 6. REPORTS AND UPDATES Mr. Stahley reported some agenda items for 2017 LUEC meetings: · Action Plan implementation · Downtown Strategy recommendations · Infill housing · Design Review update · Sign code update · Update of the West Bay Park Master Plan · Low Impact Development (LID) progress review Mr. Stahley will work with the Committee Chair on a work plan for 2017 after City Council has its retreat in January 2017. Committee member Gilman requested the Planning Commission’s time and expertise be utilized as much as possible. City of Olympia Page 3 Land Use & Environment Meeting Minutes December 15, 2016 Committee 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 6:52 p.m. City of Olympia Page 4