HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 2022-12-08 ITEM 8 - PLANNING COMMISSION BYLAWS - STAFF REPORTCity of Tuk ila
Allan Ekberg, Mayor
Department of Community Development - Nora Gierloff, A1CP, Director
STAFF REPORT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION
Prepared November 28, 2022
REQUEST: Consider amendments to the Tukwila Planning Commission Rules of Procedure (Bylaws) to bring
them into alignment with two recent events pertaining to new training requirements for Tukwila
Boards and Commissions and revisions to Tukwila City Council Rules and Procedures to reflect
the feasibility of conducting remote meetings. Additional changes are also recommended to
clarify the Commission's role and relationships, protocols, and actions.
Amendment Process: Per Article IX of the current adopted Bylaws, amendment of the Rules of
Procedure requires a two thirds vote of the members present at any meeting, provided notice of
such proposed changes has been transmitted to the Commission not less than five (5) days prior
to the meeting.
STAFF: Nora Gierloff, AICP, DCD Director
Nancy Eklund, AICP, Long Range Planning Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Proposed Draft Amendments to the Rules of Procedure — marked up copy
B. Proposed Draft Amendments to the Rules of Procedure — clean copy
C. Rules of Procedure for Planning Commission and Board of Architectural Review, last
updated 2017 (Original)
BACKGROUND
Effective in 2022, the City added an additional training requirement for all advisory body members: Equity Policy
Training. This training requirement aligns with other requirements for training (Open Public Meetings Act,
Public Records Act, and Ethics) in that it is required within 90 days of appointment and within 90 days of
reappointment or every four years, whichever comes first. Equity Policy training was provided to all Boards,
Commissions, and Committees in 2021, therefore only new appointees or those reappointed need to complete
the training for 2022 and going forward.
In reviewing the Planning Commission's Bylaws to include this update, staff identified several other areas where
the language could be improved to be more accurate about the Commission's role, more streamlined by not
including extraneous examples of process and procedures or made clearer by including explanatory descriptions
or definitions.
Explanations for substantive proposed amendments are listed in the comment bubbles to the right of the
revisions in the draft version of the bylaws (Attachment A). Attachment B provides a clean version of the
proposed amendments, and Attachment C provides the existing 2017 Bylaws.
Tukwila City Hall • 6200 5outhcenter Boulevard • Tukwila, WA 98188 • 206-4,.-1800 Website.: TukwilaWA.gov
11
Planning Commission Agenda, 12/8/22
Amendment of Bylaws
11/28/22
Page 2 of 2
In addition, Planning staff is suggesting that the Commission set a policy for itself around remote verses in-
person attendance at meetings. The Tukwila City Council amended its Rules and Procedures (Resolution 2022) in
response to the 2022 Washington State Legislature's adoption of House Bill 1329, which allowed members of a
governing body to participate remotely in a meeting during non -emergency periods. The Council decided to
return to in-person meetings and set an attendance expectation for members. Staff has developed language in
the Bylaws (Article V C. Remote Meetings 2.) based on the Council approach for the Commission to review and
modify if they choose to return to in-person meetings. The City will continue to provide remote access to the
meetings for viewing and participating by the public, applicants, staff and the Commission.
REQUESTED ACTION
Amend the recommended Rules of Procedure (Bylaws) by a two thirds vote of the Commission members
present.
1 2