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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/18/2021 - Minutes AUGUST 18, 2021-PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION 6:00 PM - Wednesday, August 18, 2021 Zoom Video Conference CALL TO ORDER Commission Chair Shannon Matson called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. ROLL CALL Secretary Bayan called roll. Present: 1. James Alberson 2. Josephine Bayan 3. Mara Fiksdal 4. David Fleetwood 5. Shannon Matson 6. Charles Seil Absent: 1. Sunayana Kannur 2. Kevin Poole 3. Dana Rochex STAFF PRESENT 1. Chip Vincent- CED Administrator 2. Paul Hintz- Principal Planner 3. Katie Buchl-Morales- Senior Planner 4. Angelea Weihs- Associate Planner 5. Angie Mathias-Long Range Planning Manager 6. Vanessa Dolbee- Planning Director 7. Matthew Herrera- Current Planning Manager 8. Patrice Kent- Senior Assistant City Attorney 9. Danielle Marshall-Recording Secretary CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED There were 29 correspondence on Retail Pet Sales received: 1. Kathryn Higa- 08/13/2021 2. Lauren Weidlich-08/14/2021 3. Ashley Trease-08/14/2021 4. Amber Kovach-08/14/2021 5. Elizabeth Rogers- 08/15/2021 6. Victoria Kapetan- 08/16/2021 7. Patti Highland-08/16/2021 8. Marcie Yturraspe-08/16/2021 AUGUST 18, 2021- REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES 9. Carter Farmer-08/17/2021 10. Emily Painter-08/17/2021 11. Rebecca Berry-08/17/2021 12. Savonne Caughey Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council-08/17/2021 13. Sue Albrecht-08/17/2021 14. Dianne Gaylord-08/17/2021 15. Lynn Jarnigan-08/17/2021 16. Camille Walls-08/17/2021 17. Kelly Weatherman-08/18/2021 18. Laura Schutte-08/18/2021 19. Laura Brady-08/18/2021 20. Suz Garcia-08/18/2021 21. Julie Bishop-08/18/2021 22. Linda Beckelman-08/18/2021 23. Brenna Anderst Pasados Safe Heaven-08/18/2021 24. Daniel Gray-08/18/2021 25. Tula Holmes-08/18/2021 26. Kayla Kerr-08/18/2021 27. Justin Kerr-08/18/2021 28. Sabrina Nasalroad-08/18/2021 29. Paula Sardinas-08/18/2021 AUDIENCE COMMENTS No Audience comments on Non-Agenda items. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS No Commissioner comments. ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT Chip welcomed Patrice Kent- Senior Assistant City Attorney. Patrice responded saying she is looking forward to work with the City of Renton and that appreciates the opportunity to work for the City. DOCKET 16 GROUP B PUBLIC HEARING Motion to open the public hearing by Commissioner Alberson, seconded by Commissioner Bayan, all ayes, motion carried. Katie presented D-191: ADUs as Necessary Uses to Religious Institutions DISCUSSIONS COMMISSIONER COMMENTS 1. Commissioner Fleetwood confirmed that a couple of issues already raised have been covered in the presentation but he wanted to clarification of which definition of affordability will be used either State or City of Renton definition. Katie confirmed that this is still under discussion and that either of the two (2) are being considered and this will be included during the deliberations and recommendations. AUGUST 18, 2021- REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES 2. Commissioner Seil thanked Katie for addressing the issues raised from last meeting. Katie in return thanked Patrice and the City Attorney Office for helping her on this. AUDIENCE COMMENTS No Audience comments. Angie presented D194- Retail Pet Sales. Please see attached PowerPoint presentation. AUDIENCE COMMENTS 1. Jill Servais, Renton, refuted comments made by Pet Store representative from last meeting that Puppyland personally and regularly visits their breeders and Staff were very involved in the training and oversight of the breeders, etc. She reported that Puppyland purchases from puppy mills that are guilty of inhumane treatment, etc. She urged Renton to pass human ordinance and to stop condoning this business model. 2. Ashly Dale, Bailing out Benji, strongly encouraged the Commission to ask Puppyland for documentation proving sources and means of transportation of puppies as they have proof that Puppyland is actively importing and selling hundreds of puppy mill puppies to unsuspecting customers. She also asked the Commission to pass the humane Ordinance. 3. Kristi Hartman, expressed gratitude to those who are working so hard to disallow puppy store business and strongly stated that Puppyland should have no place in the community as there is no way they could guarantee health and longevity of breeding program. 4. Cathleen Powell, Renton, shared testimony about her Puppymill survivor dog Lewis who was terrified, had no date of birth, underweight and full of intestinal parasites and it took him several months to gain trust and confidence of people. She strongly encouraged the Commission to pass the humane ordinance in Renton. 5. Elizabeth Oreck, Puppy Mill Initiatives for Bestrfriends Animal Society, strongly urged to enact a strong humane pet sales Ordinance that does not permit dogs and cat sales with no grandfathering for existing pet stores. She also added that this is not just protecting Renton animals but protecting Renton consumers. This is also to ensure that Renton does not support a cruel industry driven by profit. 6. Jessie Friedmann, Renton, encouraged a strong, humane pet sales Ordinance and hoped that Renton leaderships chooses to make decisions based on evidence and not on anecdotes. Findings to consider are as follows: USDA accreditation does not ensure that animals are bred in humane way, dogs from pet stores like Puppyland experience the worst of health and behavioral problems, Puppyland engages in predatory financial practices, etc. 7. Paula Sardinas, Issaquah, former Renton resident, hoped for a more humane pet environment and would love to see regulations imposed in the entire industry. She strongly encouraged the Commission to continue to listen to communities and to both sides of the argument. 8. Albert Sardinas, thanked the City of Renton and the Planning Commission, recommended that the best way for the industry to move forward is to have oversight on the transfer and sales of AUGUST 18, 2021- REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES animals in the community (to allow business operations) instead of bans as this will turn puppy mills to online sales, facebook, etc. 9. Kayla Kerr, Roy, WA, Puppyland testified how pet stores are being demonized as bad actors by other agencies and rescues so they can monopolize the industry. She emphasized that Puppyland does its best to provide safe space for healthy, happy puppy, health certificates on parents, training when the puppy goes home and breeder information with customers. She also invited everyone to visit their stores to see their operations as well as to work with everyone in putting together some regulations that make sense for pet stores and everybody . 10. Justin Kerr, Puppyland owner, clarified that they care about their puppies and they visit their breeders regularly. He also confirmed that they are regulated and inspected. He testified that they received threats and that he hoped that City of Renton would not support groups that encourage this type of behavior. 11. Gina Cari, Renton, animal advocate, urged the Commission not to allow the sell of puppy mill puppies. She believed that the proposed retail pet sale recommendations do not provide real regulations, binding enforcement or repercussions should Puppyland fail to meet these minimum requirements and so she urged Renton residents not to inadvertently support puppy mills. She also challenged Puppyland to post documents and puppy prices documents online. She added that she’s counting on the Commission to pass humane pet sales ordinance versus retail pet sales regulations as this is right, ethical and fixes the problem. 12. Anthony Quintero, Spanaway, testified that he saw on Facebook that Puppyland was a puppy mill, and as an animal lover he went on and looked and he found out that Puppyland owners were very informative and knowledgeable of every dog in the store. He believed that not because a store breeds puppies does not make it a puppy mill. 13. Ira Sacharoff, stressed that there is a store in Renton that sells puppy mill puppies from puppy broker from Iowa that set up dog rescue to cover up their selling puppy mill dogs that are noted for their inhumane and substandard treatment to dogs. He posed two (2) choices for Renton: recommend meaningless legislation that can upset puppy mill or legislation that forces pet stores to dramatically change their business practices. 14. Dawn Coffinberry, Renton, shared her story that she was disabled and wanted to find a dog online, she contacted the store and they provided all information that she needed. She was thankful to Puppyland and urged the Commission to let Puppyland continue helping people like her. 15. Michael Hecht, shared breeders’ perspective that no matter what they do they will always be labelled as a puppy mill, this is difficult on their part because even they passed all inspections and provided all information to customers, they have to constantly defend themselves. He left a note that shutting down the stores that regulate means leaving behind only the unregulated breeders. 16. Sabrina Nasalroad, Puppyland, highlighted that in Puppyland, the puppy is not only a financial commitment but a lifetime commitment. She testified that she was given the opportunity to witness their customers’ puppies grow and customers touchbase with her in a regular basis. AUGUST 18, 2021- REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES She shared that there were customers who personally did not want to share their personal information to avoid bullying for being part of the Puppyland family. 17. Kevin Collins, shared his testimony that they bought a healthy dog from Puppyland two (2) years ago, they were satisfied with the great service of the store and believed that staff were supportive in all questions and concerns they had. 18. Lori Birchdale, encouraged the Commission to do due diligence to look and research the facts about Puppyland. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS 1. Commissioner Alberson asked a direct question to Puppyland whether or not they have ever purchased their dogs from JAKS Puppies or any puppy broker. Justin Kerr admitted they did but they have 100% access with their breeders, these are just holding facilities. Commissioner Alberson wanted to be educated on how long puppies stay at the breeder facility before purchased by pet stores to which Justin Kerr responded it varies but typically it’s 4-5 days to complete the entire process. 2. Commissioner Rochex clarified if the breeder or the pet store provide the information to the broker and Justin Kerr explained that they work with the breeder and the information is passed along to them. 3. Commissioner Alberson wanted to understand why there was no denial and direct rebuttal from Puppyland to their alleged involvement with JAKS Puppies based from the testimonies presented. It was explained that Puppyland visits and inspects the breeder anytime however that breeder reports to JAKS Puppies, the partnership is between Puppyland and the breeder. Paula Sardinas also explained that Puppyland store owners did not interrupt as this would be a disrespect to the Planning Commission and to the advocates of the issue. She further explained that Puppyland owners know the breeders to ensure that no unhealthy puppies come to Washington State and they pass all USDA accreditation. 4. Commissioner Rochex clarified if Puppyland has preferred breeders that they work with and Kayla Kerr of Puppyland confirmed. Angelea presented D196- Height and Setbacks in RMF Zone. DISCUSSIONS COMMISSIONER COMMENTS 1. Commissioner Fiksdal asked for clarification on the wall plate was referring to. Using an illustration, Angelea explained that the wall plate height should be located at the edge of the topmost wall portion. Chip also added that the reason for such measurement is that we intend to promote different roof types in the City. AUDIENCE COMMENTS No Audience Comments. AUGUST 18, 2021- REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Paul presented D199- Residential Accessory Structures. Please see attached PowerPoint presentation. DISCUSSIONS COMMISSIONER COMMENTS No Commissioner Comments. AUDIENCE COMMENTS No Audience Comments. Motion to close the public hearing made by Commissioner Seil, seconded by Commissioner Alberson. All ayes, motion carried. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn made by Commissioner Fleetwood, seconded by Commissioner Seil. All ayes, motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 7:51 PM. Shannon Matson, Commission Chair Josephine Bayan, Commission Secretary Danielle Marshall Recording Secretary