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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/20/1990 Adjourned Meeting 2 6; • JUNE 20,• 1990 CITY OF YAKIMA', WASHINGTON ADJOURNED MEETING The City Council met in session on this date at 6:30 P.M. in the Train Depot conference .room with the Planning Division staff to review pending' Planning and Growth Management issues. Mayor Pat Berndt presiding,, .Council members. _Clarence Barnett, Lynn ' Buchanan, George :Pechtel,' Pecht'el, Skip • Semon, and.' Bernard Sims present. ' Cdtffiunity and Economic' Development Director Rice, Planning Manager Skone, Supervising Associate Planner `Davenpo'rt,'°'Associate Planner Lehman, Associate Planner Elsden,' City Manager 'Zais, Assistant City Manager Stouder, City Attorney Vanek and Deputy City Clerk Lovell also present. Planning Manager Skone presented a summary of Critical Strategic Issues pertaining to the Planning Department. Development of community relations with citizens, the business community and other --constituent —groups is a priority of the Department. Director'Rice and Planning Manager Skone regularly attend meetings with several associations in the community. In response to questions from Council member Sims, Director Rice stated that staff members are available to meet with new business interests and assist them with the City application process. If staff cannot -- provide - all- the requested - information,, re.f'erral' are then made to local agencies such as the Chamber'of Commerce'and YCDA. Planning Manager Skone stated that the annexation program has been positive, but it needs to be moving faster. The Planning staff is doing their best to foster a better relationship between the public and City Hall. Following questions from Council member Sims, Associate Planner Elsden explained that information is available to citizens explaining the specific benefits they would derive from annexation. A current example of the GDMS map was shown to the Council by Planning Manager Skone. Data entry is nearly complete, and maps and other computer generated information will be available in the near future. Council member Sims asked about mapping of vacant lots, and was advised by Associate Planner Davenport that the new system will be able to track vacant land by zoning districts. Planning Manager Skone summarized the strengths of the Planning Department to be experience, initiative and credibility. The ' major weakness the Department faces is a lack of fiscal and personnel resources. The staff is currently operating at 2/3 of the 1974 manpower level. City Manager Zais commented that the level of experience of current staff members is what gives them an edge. Council member Pechtel stated that the volume of the workload combined with the reduced staff has resulted in lengthy delays for developers. Council member Sims suggested the option of hiring temporary additional staff during peak periods to avoid delays, but Director Rice cautioned that personnel not currently • -1- JUNE 20, 1990 2i 7- ADJOURNED MEETING • working in the field cannot keep up with current knowledge and may lose certification. • Council member Barnett commented that a recent Chamber of Commerce survey indicates •the City and County Planning Departments are considered to be the main stumbling blocks local development. Council' Pechtel did not .agree' with, the assessment, but concurred that. developers are subject to a negative financial impact each time a new question is raised or, a requirement is added to an application. (Council member. Barnett absent after 8:00'P.M.) • Planning Manager Skone explained that every Planning Department must have both current planning and long range comprehensive planning occurring—The City of Yakima is. currently in the process of setting development standards that will establish specific requirements for new construction in .the City..,.Adoption of development standards is the first step that needs to be completed for the Growth Management Act. The Planning staff has been working on this project for. the past two years and it will be brought to the Council for approval upon completion. Council member:Pechtsl 'asked ,staff members if they develop policy based on what they ,think the Council would like to see. Council member .Sims mentioned- that - comments by the Council have become policy far •too- often. Council_ member Semon feels the staff should make sure the Council really wants a policy change in general and not make a change for a single specific item. Planning Manager Skone stated that it is very important that requests for consultant proposals for the Metropolitan Plan be • issued as soon as__possible. It _ is imperative that the City begin formulating a plan to comply with State mandated directives of the Growth Management Act. Planning Manager Skone assured the Council that the current Urban Area Zoning. Ordinance (UAZO): is working well, and is in fact, used as a model of cooperative planning throughout the State. Assistant City Manager Stouder stated that our UAZO is far ahead of current Growth Management legislation. Many municipalities are not moving forward'on the program since they feel it is going to be held up in the legal system. Those cities that have developed their own plans have been more successful than those that have followed federal plans. I/ Planning Manager Skone briefly explained the three levels of. review.provided in the UAZO: Class I means the use is permitted and only requires necessary permits; Class II means the use is generally permitted, but does require neighborhood notification, and can be upgraded by the Building Official; Class III use is • generally not compatible in the area, but can be allowed following review. In reply to questions from Council member Sims, Planning Manager Skone explained that schools and hospitals are historically subject to special review since they are generally located in residential zones. • -2- 2 8 , JUNE 20, 1990 ADJOURNED MEETING : t_ _ J ' • Planning Manager Skone discussed the Assignments:Pending List that is provided to the 'Council on a regular basis. Council member Semon.suggested:•the Council .should receive the•,same material that is ..:prepared for , staff, and not •require J additional special . reports. A summary, of the Assignments Pending . L'ist'.indicated that several elements, including the Fairgrounds Neighborhood .Plan, the Shorelines Plan, the Mobile Home Study, the 1990 Census, and Day Care Study are not being developed now ,due to time constraints and a staffing shortage in the Planning Department. . In conclusion, Mayor: Berndt asked for comments' from - the Council. Council member Pechtel felt that this was another good meeting with City: staff . -, City._Manage.r;:Zais. stated that .there has been a positive feeling from staff following 'p'revious meetings. Staff members feel the Council is taking: the time to •find .out what makes • the City work, and every department appreciates the 'interest that has been shown and_the.direction they have been given.. The meeting was,adj.ourned at 9:15 P.M. READ AND CERTIFIED , ACCURATE ,BY :_ j ( Feli7 . . . . . 4.UNCIL : R , ; DATE • _. . . ' j - 0 - UN - L M %I'BER _ DATE ATTEST: l jc � >)4 i4 ckmc `> -1 • CITY.. CLERK - ' -. MAYOR Minutes prepared.by.Deputy .City Clerk Lovell. • . ■ , 1 -3--