HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 2023-09-28 Minutes - Eonomic Development Element / Utilities Element / Capital Facilities ElementAllan Ekberg, Mayor
Department of Community Development - Nora Gierloff, AICP, Director
CITY OF TUKWILA
PLANNING COMMISSION (PC)
MINUTES
Date: September 28, 2023
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Hybrid Meeting - via Microsoft Teams / Public, In -person Attendance, Council Chambers, 6200
Southcenter Blvd, Tukwila, WA 98188
Call to Order
Vice Chair Mann called the meeting to order at 6:36 p.m.
Roll Call
The PC Secretary took roll call.
Present: Vice Chair Sharon Mann, Commissioners Dennis Martinez, Alexandria Teague, Martin Probst, and
Ann Durant
Excused
Absence: Commissioner Louise Strander
Unexcused
Absence: Chair Apneet Sidhu
Staff: Director Nora Gierloff, American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), Department of Community
Development (DCD); Long Range Planning Manager Nancy Eklund, AICP, DCD; Senior Planner Neil
Tabor, AICP, DCD; Economic Development Administrator, Derek Speck, and PC Secretary Wynetta
Bivens
Approval of Minutes
Due to the packet going out early, the 9/28/23 minutes will be adopted at the 10/26/23 PC meeting.
Written General Public Comments
No submittals.
Unfinished Business
None.
New Business
1. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT
Nancy Eklund, Long Range Planning Manager, AICP, DCD, provided an overview. She described the purpose of the
Economic Development (ED) element under GMA and noted that the existing element was adopted in 2015. She
described the relationship between the Economic Development (ED) Strategy being developed by the City, and
the final ED Element. She noted that the element, as with other elements, needs to be consistent with regional
policy guidance from the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) and King County Countywide Planning Policies.
Also, the relevant policies have been added to the element where appropriate. She said the implementation
strategies would be developed by the ED Department and shared with the PC later.
Tukwila City Hall • 6200 Southcenter Boulevard • Tukwila, WA 98188 • 206-433-1800 • Website: TukwilaWA.gov
PC Meeting
9/28/23
Page 2
Derek Speck, Economic Development Administrator, provided background information and walked through issues
and goals relevant to economic development. He noted that the economic development strategy is the result of
engagement sessions conducted in 2022. This year, the strategy was further developed by an advisory committee
and focal groups, and the strategy document will be reviewed by the City Council in November, at which time,
there will be additional opportunities for input.
Staff walked through PC statements regarding retail sales tax; employee tax; Multi Family Tax Exemptions (MFTE)
and how that works; the cost -of -service calls generated by nonprofit development (e.g., senior developments);
flooding on the valley floor and financial risks associated with that possibility. There were questions regarding
the cost service calls for of non-profit development. Mr. Speck noted that the City was going through a Financial
Sustainability exercise and noted that additional policies would emerge from that effort. That would be made
available later in 2024.
Economic Development Element - Walk-through of Text
(9/28/23 PC Packet, Pages 13-28)
PC Discussion, page 9, Policy 3.5
Facilitate connections between employers and education and workforce development
institutions, seeking to increase graduation rates and develop a highly educated and skilled
local workforce. Align and prioritize workforce development efforts with Black, Indigenous,
and other People of Color communities; immigrant and refugees; and other marginalized
communities.'
A commissioner stated that she felt the verbiage in the second sentence (above) focusing on
BIPOC communities was divisive and should be struck. Ms. Eklund stated that such policy
language was reflective of the Countywide Planning Policies equity emphasis.
The question was asked whether the verbiage was suggested or required? Staff stated it was
required to adopt policies that are more equitable in their approach to meeting the needs of
the full community, and to consider how past policies may have disadvantaged certain
populations. Staff noted that the Plan will go through several layers of regional review and
will be evaluated against a checklist of consistency with regional policies.
A commissioner suggested more neutral language ("historically disadvantaged community"),
while another said that the language needs to be clear about the structural racism that
we're trying to address, and that while the language is uncomfortable, there may be growth
in the uncomfortableness, especially if we need to align with regional policy guidance.
The commissioners determined that this policy will come back to the PC for further
discussion.
PC Discussion: Page 13, purpose statement — a question about why the second line was removed.
Staff stated it was for brevity, and some commissioners concurred.
PC Discussions: Page 13, bullet 2, following the word reaction, add the word 'and infrastructure'.
PC Discussion:
PC Discussion:
Page 14, a commissioner asked about Tax Increment Financing (TIF), and Mr. Speck
explained that TIF was recently adopted by the Legislature.
Page 17, first bullet, second sentence, add a colon after the word elsewhere.
PC Discussion: Page 18, Other Challenges: move this comment, or address this in the
1 King County Countywide Planning Policy K_EC-12
Phone: 206-433-1800 • Email: Mayor@TukwilaWA.gov • Website: TukwilaWA.gov
PC Meeting
9/28/23
Page 3
transportation element: "Establish coordinated transit hubs throughout the City
including, but not limited to, the Southcenter area, Tukwila South, Tukwila
International Boulevard, Interurban Avenue South, and the Manufacturing
Industrial Center that efficiently mix modes of travel and stimulate development of
real estate associated with transportation facilities."
PC Discussion: Page 19, top bullet — "Housing costs in the Seattle region have increased
significantly. This has led to some new single family and multi -family housing
investments in Tukwila but as housing prices increase, the risk of residential
displacement increases." A commissioner said that this is inaccurate — she does not
think the lead in of the sentence (Housing costs in the Seattle region...) should
recognize the changes regionally.
PC Discussion: Page 20, Policy 1.2: question about deletion of "high-tech" revise first line to read —
say "advanced technology and manufacturing" instead.
PC Discussion: Page 20, Policy 1.3: confirm if this policy is supposed to be focused on city or
county, or both.
PC Discussion: Page 23, Policy 4.2: Signage — A commissioner sked what this policy was intended
to achieve: Where possible, ease regulations that challenge small businesses. Mr.
Speck addressed the question and said any modifications to help small businesses
would be subject to further scrutiny.
Mr. Speck concluded that the city is working on achieving some of the goals but does not currently have
resources to achieve all of them. Director Gierloff noted that the implementation strategies will not be one for
one (i.e., policy: strategy); there will be items that staff feel can be achieved and they will identify the time period
required.
2. UTILITIES ELEMENT
Ms. Eklund provided an overview. She noted there is a detailed background report that goes with this element,
which is not included in the Comprehensive Plan. The original document was adopted in 2015 and minimal
changes were made, updates, new best practices policy guidance from the King County PSRC, information was
added, and any new directions of city policies. Some of the focus was the changes for government efficiency,
conservation of resources, equity (such as affordability), access to all communities including the historically
underserved, and ecological policies addressing water quality, green stormwater infrastructure, etc. The
implementation strategies are being developed by relevant departments and divisions.
Utilities Element — Walk-through of Text
(9/28/23 PC Packet, Pages 45-60)
PC Discussion: Page 45, keep language, 'The availability and adequacy of utility'
PC Discussion:
Page 47, under environmental sustainability, keep the last sentence that was
stricken, 'and its contributions to human health and vitality' and move it to a
different location.
3. CAPITAL FACILITIES ELEMENT
Ms. Eklund provided an overview. This element also has a background report. It is intended to include an
inventory of capital facilities that are owned by public facilities and public entities, including green infrastructure.
Phone: 206-433-1800 • Email: Mayor@TukwilaWA.gov • Website: TukwilaWA.gov
PC Meeting
9/28/23
Page 4
A forecast of future facilities is required, as well as a six -year plan that shows how capital facilities are going to
meet land use element needs. If the Capital Facilities Element does not provide for the Land Uses identified in the
Comprehensive Plan, then the shortfall needs to be addressed to meet future needs. Most of the changes in the
plan focused on updating old practices, correcting inaccurate information, providing new policies (per regional
guidance and City policies), new activities, adding references to efficiencies completed in the provision of Capital
Facilities, and removing unnecessary administrative information.
Capital Facilities Element - Walk-through of Text
(9/28/23 PC Packet, Pages 81-98)
PC Discussion:
PC Discussion:
PC Discussion:
PC Discussion:
Page 81, Staff need to review first paragraph under "GMA Capital Facilities
Planning ..." section and change "those facilities" back to "the community".
Page 84, 'second paragraph, last three words " and mitigation payments" - staff
should the research it this is still correct (or should this language be moved to
another chapter?)
Page 84, a commissioner requested a clarification regarding the Fire Improvements
Program - is the city still responsible for capital facilities for the RFA — clarify this.
Want clarity that we collect the fees, and they (RFA) are responsible for building
the capital facilities. Staff will address.
Page 90, general policies, policy 1.1— There was a question about where the City's
relationship with the RFA would fall in the list of beneficial capital options — is it a
contracted service (although we have annexed into the RFA); what about sewer
and water districts that have districts from whom the city receives services — are
those contracted services? The Commission asked staff to do some research to
figure out the accurate way to describe these relationships, relative to Policy 1.1.
Staff requested for future element reviews that PC read the information in advance of the meeting and make notes
for questions and items they want to address because there will not be time for walkthroughs.
Director's Report:
Reminder - PC will next meet on October 5th
There is a proposal to change the term expiration date for all Boards and Commissions from the end of
December to the end of March. This will go to the Finance Governance Committee on October 9th
Commissioner Durant was welcomed to PC.
Adjourned:
Submitted by:
Adopted:
8:56 pm
Wynetta Bivens
PC Secretary
10/26/23
Phone: 206-433-1800 • Email: Mayor@TukwilaWA.gov • Website: TukwilaWA.gov