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HomeMy WebLinkAboutUAC Joint Meeting Minutes 09102024PaRTANGELES WASH I N G T O N, U_ S. UTILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND PLANNING COMMISSION JOINT MEETING Hybrid Meeting Port Angeles, WA 98362 September 10, 2024 3:00 p.m. A. Call to Order Mayor Kate Dexter called the meeting to order at 3:05 pm. C. Roll Call UAC Assigned Councilmembers Present: Mayor Kate Dexter, Councilmember Amy Miller, and Councilmember Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin (Arrived at 3:01) UAC Members Present: Robert Kajfasz and Richard French UAC Members Absent: Chair Mattias Jarvegren, Laura Dodd and Terry Nishimoto Planning Commission Members Present: Commissioner Colin Young, Commissioner Holden Fleming, Commission Danny Steiger, and Commissioner Anna Schorr Planning Commission Members Absent: Commissioner Ben Stanley and Commissioner Marolee Smith Staff Present: Public Works and Utilities Director Mike Healy, Power Resources Manager Gregg King, City Engineer Jonathan Boehme, Deputy Director of Community Services Shannen Cartmel, Planning Supervisor Ben Braudrick, Media Services Technician Mandy Young, Public Works and Management Assistant Jessica Toth, and Assistant City Attorney Christopher Cowgill ll. Public Comment The public is invited to provide written comments via e-mail prior to the meeting, call -in and via WebEx. John Ralston, City of Port Angeles resident, spoke about the vacant and blighted properties. He has been asking the Planning Commission and City Council to define vacant and blighted properties. Before decisions are made, he hopes notice and descriptions are given to define these properties. lll. Late Items There were no late items. IV. Committee and Commission Roles and Responsibilities Planning Supervisor Ben Braudrick gave a presentation on the roles and responsibilities of both the Utility Advisory Committee and the Planning Commission. He explained that having a joint meeting between the UAC and the PC has been unprecedented in the past. To set the stage for this meeting, a quick overview was presented regarding purpose, membership, duties and the recent actions taken by both the UAC and PC. Mayor Dexter asked if there were questions or comments. January 14, 2025 Port Angeles UAC Meeting Page 7 Councilmember Schromen-Wawrin commented that City Council has been working on updating the municipal code specifically the section that pertains to advisory committees. The overall goal is to make a set of uniform rules for all committees with committee specific rules and the possible elimination of by- laws. Discussion followed V. Possible intersection between the Committee and Commission Mayor Dexter asked if anyone would like to spur the discussion on how the UAC and the Planning Commission intersect in ways that could benefit policy development on a council level and the framework as that is the fundamental goal. Discussion followed to include multiple ideas on how both groups intersect. One main important role of these advisory committees is to be a touch point for the community to come and interact with the process This makes it easier for the community to comment and engage. The framework for these advisory committees should be focused on serving the public. The zoning and housing issues are a focal point for the Planning Commission which has a huge impact on utility infrastructure. The UAC and staff are looking at utility infrastructure to determine what changes need to be made. Having these joint meetings is one way to efficiently combine that together and bring better understanding of what each committee is focused on and how they affect each other with planning directing utility infrastructure. The planning goes first, and the utility follows the planning. Director Healy commented that when the Planning Commission does suggest adjusting zoning they should do so knowing that utility adjustments will need to be addressed in a future CFP. The projects will not happen overnight but it should not be a deterrent from recommending the best move for the City and it's priorities such as housing. Commissioner Young commented that considering where we want to upzone and where there is capacity is more beneficial instead of upzoning in an area where infrastructure upgrades are needed but scheduled five years from when development can occur. It would benefit all to find the low hanging fruit. Mayor Dexter commented that maybe going forward if either committee is going to have a presentation on a topic that benefits both groups, we can inform the other, so that everyone is better informed. Councilmember Schromen-Wawrin commented that the City as a whole should have a lot more housing units per block if we want to maintain the infrastructure that each block contains. Behind the scenes we are not able to maintain the infrastructure that we have because we're not at the density level that we need to have a thriving city. IX. Vacant and Blighted Properties — Voluntarily Disconnecting Utility Services Members and Commissioners discussed how to possibly define vacant and blighted properties as they relate to utilities. The base rate of the utility bill is the cost of bringing the utility service to the property. Allowing residents to voluntarily disconnect utilities burdens the remaining rate payers of the city. If the property is unoccupied, a consumption rate will not be charged, but the base rate should still be charged. This could also be a financial incentive to rent or sell unoccupied properties. It was recommended that vacant and blighted properties be analyzed as separate properties such as vacant, unoccupied, and underdeveloped. It was also suggested that commercial properties be subject to this proposed policy change. Discussion continued regarding what the penalty will be if a rate payer refuses to pay the base rate when not occupying the property since the penalty for non-payment is to shut off utilities. It was discussed that the bill would continue to accrue until payment was made; utility services would not be restored until full payment was made. January 14, 2025 Port Angeles UAC Meeting Page 8 Councilmember Schromen-Wawrin moved to recommend adoption of an ordinance to not allow voluntarily turning off utilities on utility -connected properties. Councilmember Miller and Commissioner Young seconded the motion. After continued discussion on the motion Commissioner Fleming called for a vote on the motion Mayor Dexter requested a roll call vote. Those in favor of the motion, said aye. Those opposed, said no. The ayes had it, and the motion carried 9-0. Councilmember Schromen-Wawrin asked for an update on the comprehensive plan progress. He explained that we update this plan every 6 years and this is a really important opportunity to address the future of the City. Planning Supervisor Ben Braudrick gave a brief update on the land use map component and discussed the comprehensive plan process. A paper survey was sent out to all residents with their utility bill. The survey was available online as well. Next steps include a Planning Commission meeting on September 25'h and leading up to that will be a storefront studio and workshops to further engage the public. The invitation to attend was extended to all in attendance of the meeting. Mayor Dexter asked that staff send an email to verify who will attend so if a quorum is present, the meetings are Noticed. Vt. Next Meeting Date: October 8, 2024 VIL Adjournment: 4:44 p.m. V Mayor Kate Dexteressica Toth, ublic Works Management Assistant January 14, 2025 Port Angeles UAC Meeting Page 9