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Home My WebLink About04/06/2022 - Minutes APRIL 6, 2022-PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION 6:00 PM - Wednesday, April 6, 2022 Zoom Video Conference CALL TO ORDER Commission Chair Mara Fiksdal called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. ROLL CALL Margarette called roll. Present: 1. Mara Fiksdal 2. David Fleetwood 3. Sunayana Kannur 4. Kevin Poole 5. Charles Seil Absent: 1. Josephine Bayan 2. Shannon Matson 3. Dana Rochex STAFF PRESENT 1. Chip Vincent- CED Administrator 2. Angie Mathias-Long Range Planning Manager 3. Vanessa Dolbee- Planning Director 4. Patrice Kent- City Attorney- Senior Assistant City Attorney 5. Margarette-Recording Secretary CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED There were 15 correspondence on Retail Pet Sales received: 1. Gina Cari-04/04/2022 2. Rick Hall-04/05/2022 3. J. Wesley Fisher- 04/05/2022 4. Lean Sanders-04/05/2022 5. Natalie Heard- 04/05/2022 6. Alysha Perisho- 04/05/2022 7. Lori Dale- 04/05/2022 8. Marla Katz-04/05/2022 9. Elizabeth Rogers-04/06/2022 10. Ira Sacharoff-04/06/2022 11. Emily Lewis-04/06/2022 APRIL 6, 2022- PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES 12. Anna Wellman-04/06/2022 13. Shawnee Snyder-04/06/2022 14. Carson Rasmussen-04/06/2022 15. Lisa Di Lauro- 04/06/2022 1 email on Pre-application for Parcel #623059131 1. Nicola Robinson- 04/05/2022 AUDIENCE COMMENTS 1. Enoch Mafeo, raised his concern on reclassification of his property at 400 Shattuck Avenue South which is currently under commercial zone. Angie advised him to directly address his concern by emailing planningcustomerservice@rentonwa.gov COMMISSIONER COMMENTS No Commissioner comments. ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT Chip announced that today is the first day together at work for all CED Staff and the first day the permit counter opened since March 24, 2020. Chip also reported that they had the 1st Annual Council Retreat last Thursday and Friday and that some of the priorities for the Council directly relate to the work that the Planning Commission does: zoning issues on comprehensive plan update, changes on how we accommodate all growth, affordable housing, economic development strategy for the City, enhancement of downtown, renovation of pavilion, etc. DOCKET 16 GROUP E DELIBERATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Angie presented D207A- Administrative Code Interpretations. Please see presentations slides attached. DISCUSSION COMMISSIONER COMMENTS No Commissioner comments. AUDIENCE COMMENTS No audience comments. Katie presented D207B- Administrative Code Interpretations. DISCUSSION COMMISSIONER COMMENTS No Commissioner comments. AUDIENCE COMMENTS No audience comments. APRIL 6, 2022- PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Motion to accept staff recommendation made by Commissioner Seil, seconded by Commissioner Poole. All ayes, motion carried. D194-RETAIL PET SALES BRIEFING Angie presented D194-Retail Pet Sales. Please see presentation slides attached. DISCUSSION COMMISSIONER COMMENTS 1. Commissioner Seil asked clarification how we came up with July 2023. Angie explained that this was based on the forecast starting May 2022 deliberations and recommendations at the Planning Commission as well as discussions at the Planning and Development Committee to the City Council, publication of the Ordinance and 1 year as a timeframe to switch in business model and to comply with the new regulations. 2. Commissioner Fleetwood asked based on the correspondence received from the public why we are not doing what Olympia and others are doing which is following known case law that has survived in court and seems to be adopted in across the country with modifications on the locality. Angie explained that the biggest issue is that Olympia adopted their regulation prior to the State and it is a different regulatory environment which we are operating and if we adopt something similar to that it will not be as effective. She also added that we agree with the concern of allowing dogs from puppy mills to be sold and it is worthy objective to eliminate those sales and that as drafted it would accomplish that. Commissioner Fleetwood made a follow-up question if we have reached out to other Cities to see how they are handling the new rules that were passed last year and if there is a consistent approach. Chip responded saying that the City is in its own pace and is trying to be comprehensive in its approach. He also mentioned that he does not know any City that is doing it this way. Patrice said she agreed that we are not in lock step with the template provided by Bailing out Benji and that we have taken a great deal of efforts to address items wholistically. 3. Commissioner Poole made a comment that all of the City’s careful planning to avoid litigation now seem to be meaningless as result of all letters that were received. Patrice assured that the City Attorney’s Office is confident that it can defend the Ordinance. 4. Commissioner Fleetwood expressed that he was impressed of the comprehensive definition of puppy mill and that he was curious which of these is considered a go or no go from any operations in the City. AUDIENCE COMMENTS 1. Gina Cari, Renton expressed that the new version of the Ordinance does not come close to meeting her concerns and he could not support this “inhumane” Ordinance as it still allows sale of puppy mill puppies and predatory loans and does not provide any enforceable process or consequences. She hoped that a humane Ordinance shall be passed by July 4, 2022. APRIL 6, 2022- PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES 2. Ashly Dale, expressed that proposed language is what was expected yet was shocked to see that after a year of deliberation, existing puppy store is still allowed to continue operations. She said that with the new language proposed their organization cannot support this new Ordinance. 3. Cathleen Powell, Renton expressed that the issue can be addressed not by a humane Ordinance but by education not to target a store but doing the right thing for animals that are left behind to suffer in puppy mills. She urged to consider a different type of humane Ordinance. 4. Jill Servais expressed her concern about delaying the Ordinance to put in place keeping pet store open for 15 months as this enables them to expand in other location as well as the oversight of paperwork of selling of dogs. 5. DI Morgan, expressed that she could not understand how the actual compliance works if there is no designated City inspector to look at situation and go to Puppyland or any store as well as on how the 1,000$ limit was decided. 6. Mindy Patterson, advocate of animal owners and business nationwide, believed that definition of puppy mill as presented included points that are in violation of the Animal Welfare Law and she respectfully requested the Commission to reject the Ordinance in its entirety. 7. Albert Sardinas, expressed appreciation for the City’s continued effort and hard work to tackle the issue of puppy mill puppies and he reminded that they have submitted language multiple times showcasing State laws that can easily be addressed in civil court when issues arise as well as sourcing guidelines adopted by other States. He also urged the City to dig pass the propaganda. 8. Phone caller (complete unidentified), Renton expressed his disapproval on puppy store operating in the City and asked the City Council to totally ban this. 9. Justin Kerr, Puppyland owner, encouraged everyone to set up a meeting with him and his wife so they could show people how they operate, he urged everyone not to believe in propaganda and for the City to come up with practical, applicable and verifiable regulations and to not move forward with this Ordinance. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS 1. Commissioner Fleetwood reminded everyone that the Commission is representing the Community and not the City, they just review agenda handed to them by CED. 2. Commissioner Poole added that the presentors for tonight were City Staff, not a member of the Planning Commission. APRIL 6, 2022- PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn made by Commissioner Seil, seconded by Commissioner Poole. All ayes, motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 7:23 PM. Mara Fiksdal, Commission Chair Josephine Bayan, Commission Secretary Margarette Bravo Recording Secretary