HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-15-14 YPC MinutesCity of Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) City Hall Council Chambers
Meeting Minutes of January 15, 2014
Call to Order
Chairman Dave Fonfara called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
Roll Call
YPC Members Present:
YPC Members Absent:
Staff Present:
Others:
Staff Announcements
Chairman Dave Fonfara, Vice -Chair Scott Clark, Al Rose,
Ben Shoval, Bill Cook, Paul Stelzer
Jeff Peters, Supervising Planner; Steve Osguthorpe,
Community Development Director
Mark Kunkler, Bob Whitney, Anna Marie Default, Mike
Davison, Carmen Mendez, James Wilson, Lieutenant Nolan
Wentz, Patricia Byers
Jeff Peters announced that some special meeting dates will need to be set later in the
agenda. He also announced that the Planning Department Manager will be at the
meeting at a later time.
Audience Participation
No audience participation noted.
Study Session- Continue Discussion on Text Amendment to YMC 15 Marijuana
Staff members answered questions from the commission.
Mark Kunkler commented on the memorandum dated January 10, 2014.
The commission asked questions to Lieutenant Nolan Wentz from the Yakima Police
Department.
Paul Tabayoyon shared his opinion that it would be unfair to future business to ban
marijuana.
Paul Stelzer brought up the hurdle of banks not giving financing, which results in
customers having to pay in cash.
James Wilson expressed his views on marijuana and how he wants it to be harder to
get.
Patricia Byers, a mental health therapist, talked about marijuana being a major gateway
drug for her patients.
Ralph Call talked about federal law and mentioned that Yakima would be on good legal
grounds if they chose not to legalize marijuana, which is illegal on the federal level.
Jeff Peters gave the commission options of actions to take at this point in time.
Bill Cook made a motion to approve recommendation A from the October 2
memorandum: maintain status quo, but with the addition of the lineation of the
wording "production, processing, and sale of recreational marijuana." Scott Clark
seconded this motion. Motion carried by a vote of 4 to 1.
Bill Cook made a motion to modify section 15 by the removal of the word "only" in the
findings of fact. Scott Clark motioned the second. The motion carried by a vote of 4 to 1.
Study Session- Follow-up to the Bill cards & Digital Signs Worksho
Steve Osguthorpe read an email from a citizen who requested for it to be read.
Staff made the recommendation to receive public input before continuing the
discussion.
Ralph Call from the BCNA announced that the board will be talking about the issue and
sending the commission their recommendation. Ralph talked about the need to change
the perception of the citizens who think that they can't create change. He also expressed
his opinion of the negative aspects of the clutter of billboards and signs.
Anna Marie Default brought up that these worn down signs can attract more graffiti to
the area.
Mike Davison said he strongly supports the banning of billboards. He explained how he
doesn't think billboards are as important as they used to be. Mike also mentioned that
digital signs are becoming cheaper but they are still a distraction.
Ben Shoval made a motion to address only digital signs at the January 22 meeting. Paul
Stelzer seconded this motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Other Business
The commission and staff discussed the schedule of upcoming meetings.
Adjourn
A motion to adjourn to January 22, 2014 was passed with unanimous vote. This meeting
adjourned at 5:20 p.m.
Chairman Dave Fonfara Date
This meeting was filmed by YPAC. Minutes for this meeting submitted by: Lisa Maxey, Temporary D.A. II.
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