HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-13-16 YPC MinutesCity of Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) City Hall Council Chambers
Meeting Minutes of January 13, 2016
Call to Order
Vice -Chair Scott Clark called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
Roll Call
YPC Members Present: Vice -Chair Scott Clark, Bill Cook, Al Rose, Ron Anderson,
Patricia Byers
YPC Members Absent: Chairman Dave Fonfara (excused)
Staff Present: Jeff Peters, Supervising Planner; Valerie Smith, Senior
Planner
Others: Sign -in sheet in file
Staff Announcements
None noted.
Election of Chairman and Vice -Chair for the Yakima Plannine Commission
Commissioner Rose commented that he would like to postpone the elections since not all
Commission members are present. Commissioner Cook reminded the others that
Chairman Fonfara had expressed that he would like to step down from the chair.
Discussion ensued regarding expectations of the chairman outside of the regular
Planning Commission meetings.
Commissioner Rose made a motion to nominate Commissioner Cook as Chairman.
Commissioner Cook refused the nomination so the motion failed. Commissioner Rose
then made a motion to nominate Commissioner Clark as chairman. Commissioner Clark
accepted the nomination and Commissioner Anderson seconded the motion. The motion
carried unanimously.
Commissioner Cook made a motion to nominate Commissioner Byers as vice -chair. The
motion was seconded and Commissioner Byers accepted the nomination. The motion
carried unanimously.
Audience Participation
None noted.
Apgroval of Meeting Minutes of Auggst 17 2015 and Au st 26 2015
Commissioner Rose made a motion to approve the minutes of August 17, 2015 and
August 26, 2015 as written. Commissioner Byers seconded the motion and the motion
carried unanimously.
Long Range Comprehensive Planning - ,201.6 Corn rehensive Plan Amendment CPA
Process: Recommendation to Qfty Council to either Open or Forego Opening the Yearl
CPA Process for 2016
Senior Planner Valerie Smith explained that the Planning Division and their consulting
group are still working towards the next steps in the process regarding compliance with
the state law and general improvements for Yakima. Smith went on to announce that
Tuesday February 23rd will be the date of the open house for the Comprehensive Plan
2040 Update process. She added the Commission is invited to attend along with Yakima
County and other agencies. Smith also announced that there will be a City Council study
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session on February 911, at 10:00 a.m. to talk about the Comprehensive Plan Update
process.
Valerie Smith explained that Planning Division staff is suggesting that the Commission
make a recommendation to City Council to forego opening the yearly CPA process for
2016 and 2017 for individual citizen requests. The Commission generally commented
that giving the impression of "cancelling" the process for citizen requests should be
avoided. Commissioner Byers asked where the people and groups opposed to certain
changes have their voice in the process. Smith explained that the Council will still make
the final decision and many public hearings will be held on the Comprehensive Plan
Update in general. She added that the public participation guide that the Planning
Commission helped to draft and was approved by Council will be relied upon for
public outreach methods. Commissioner Byers asked if the yellow land use signs will
still be used to which Smith answered that it's possible that they can be used for large
areas that are being changed. Supervising Planner Jeff Peters explained the process used
in the past for updating the Comprehensive Plan. Discussion ensued regarding the
acceptance of citizen requests instead of formal applications. Commissioner Cook made
a motion that the Yakima Planning Commission recommend to City Council to open a
process that encourages private property owners and land owners to bring forth their
requests to be considered in the comprehensive plan update process. Beginning in
February of 2016 with a deadline of April 30, 2016 individual requests may be
submitted to be concluded in 2017 by action of the City Council; as a result, the
Planning Commission recommends to Council that this process take the place of the
formal annual Comprehensive Plan Amendment process for the years 2016 and 2017.
The motion was seconded and carried unanimously.
Other Business
Commissioner Anderson announced that he and Commissioner Byers have requested to
change their terms on the Commission so that he can complete his term in June of 2016
and Commissioner Byers can continue for another 4 years. Peters clarified that the request
has been made to the Clerk's office but has not been finalized. Commissioner Rose added
that his term ends in June but he is not sure if he will continue after that.
Peters informed the Commission that the Planning Division staff is going through
sections of the Municipal Code and making changes to procedural aspects. He included
that the Commission will have a chance to review the changes in February.
djou n
A motion to adjourn to January 27, 2016 was passed with unanimous vote. This meeting
adjourned at 3:55 p.m.
Chairman
Date
This meeting was filmed by YPAC. Minutes for this meeting submitted by: Lisa Maxey, Department Assistant II
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