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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-06-22 Community Affairs and Parks MinutesCity Of Tukwila • Community Affairs and Parks Committee COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND PARKS COMMITTEE - Meeting Minutes June 22, 2015 — 5:30 p.m. — Hazelnut Conference Room PRESENT Councilmembers: Verna Seal, Chair; Dennis Robertson, Allan Ekberg Staff: David Cline,Rachel Turpin, Rachel Bianchi, Nora Gierloff, Jack Pace, Jerry Hight, Mike Villa, Laurel Humphrey CALL TO ORDER: Committee Chair Seal called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. I. PRESENTATIONS II. BUSINESS AGENDA A. Contract for Structural Plan Review Staff is seeking Council approval of a contract with Reid Middleton, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $350,000.00 for structural plan review services. Staff does not currently have the capacity to review structural engineering calculations or plans, so Reid is currently contracted to provide these services. The existing contract, limited at $20,000.00, is approaching its limit. The City is experiencing an increase in construction activity, including large -scale actual and proposed projects, and thus fees collected for plan review have increased as well. Revenues from these fees offset the cost of the outside review services. The Committee recommended that be clearly stated in the material going before the full Council. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO JULY 6, 2015 REGULAR MEETING. B. Discussion Regarding Illegal Marijuana Grow Operations Pursuant to direction given at the June 8, 2014 Committee meeting, staff is preparing a draft ordinance to replace the moratorium prohibiting medical marijuana collective gardens and dispensaries set to expire in October. The draft ordinance will amend the code to align with the forthcoming changes in state law. In addition, it bans collective gardens, requires the growing of medical marijuana to be in compliance with state regulations, allows recreational processing, producing and retail in the Tukwila South Overlay where the underlying zoning is Heavy Industrial or Tukwila Valley South, and establishes civil penalties for violations. Staff is seeking Committee input into these penalties, as they can be higher than the penalties for other code violations. The proposed ordinance is expected to be ready for more detailed Committtee review on July 13. Following discussion, the Committee recommended inserting monetary penalties triple the current level for code violations, and to explore additional penalties for violations in proximity to schools and parks. Additionally, the Committee expressed support for the draft ordinance moving directly to the Committee of the Whole following the Planning Commission's review. Councilmember Robertson spoke to ongoing community concerns about illegal grow houses in neighborhoods and would like the City to combat illegal activities using every tool available with a well coordinated effort involving the departments involved. Staff spoke to lessons learned over the last few months and feel cross - department communication is now strengthened. However, it is not Community Affairs & Parks Committee Minutes June 22, 2015 - Page 2 always practical to report back to residents on marijuana - related complaints due to issues of privacy or in cases when the activity is legal under City and State law. Chief Villa encouraged the Committee members to share with residents that the best practice for reporting suspected illegal activity is to call 911. Incidents will be handled by Police or by Code Enforcement as appropriate. The Committee suggested communication to the public on the changes in the State law. INFORMATION ONLY. III. MISCELLANEOUS Committee Chair Seal requested that the next Committee meeting include a review of the work plan. Meeting adjourned at 6:33 p.m Next meeting: Monday, July13, 2015 Committee Chair Approval Minutes by LH