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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 27, 2009RENTON CITY COUNCIL Regular Meeting April 27, 2009 Monday, 7 p.m. MINUTES Council Chambers Renton City Hall CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL OF COUNCILMEMBERS CITY STAFF IN ATTENDANCE PROCLAMATION National Crime Victims' Rights Week - April 26 to May 2, 2009 APPEAL Planning & Development Committee Appeal: Ram Short Plat Variance, Varma & Ram, V-08-123 Mayor Law called the meeting of the Renton City Council to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. RANDY CORMAN, Council President; GREG TAYLOR; RICH ZWICKER; TERRI BRIERE; KING PARKER; DON PERSSON; MARCIE PALMER. DENIS LAW, Mayor; JAY COVINGTON, Chief Administrative Officer; LAWRENCE J. WARREN, City Attorney; BONNIE WALTON, City Clerk; ALEX PIETSCH, Commumty and Economic Development Administrator; GREGG ZIMMERMAN, Public Works Administrator; MARTY WINE, Assistant CAO; DEPUTY CHIEF MARK PETERSON, Fire Department; COMMANDER CHARLES KARLEWICZ, Police Department. A proclamation by Mayor Law was read declaring April 26 to May 2, 2009 to be "National Crime Victims' Rights Week" in the City of Renton and encouraging all citizens to join in this special observance. MOVED BY TAYLOR, SECONDED BY BRIERE, COUNCIL CONCUR IN THE PROCLAMATION. CARRIED. Police Commander Charles Karlewicz accepted the proclamation. Planning and Development Committee Chair Parker presented a report regarding the Ram Short Plat Variance appeal. The Committee heard the appeal on 4/23/2009. Pursuant to RMC 4-8-110F, the Committee's decision and recommendation is limited to the record, which consists of, but is not limited to the Hearing Examiner's Report, the Notice of Appeal, and the submissions and presentation made by the parties. The subject property is a plat located on 3619 Queen Ave. NE, Renton, WA. In an earlier proceeding, the applicants Kursal Varma and Kajal Ram were granted approval for a six (6) lot short plat on the property, subject to specific conditions. One of those conditions was to remove the existing house on the subject property in order to meet the necessary setback requirements. Months thereafter, the applicants applied for two variances on the subject property: 1) from the landscaping requirements, and 2) from the minimum setback standards. The purpose of the two variances was to enable the applicants to retain the existing house as part of the six lot subdivision. After reviewing the request City staff denied both variances, finding that it failed to meet the four requisite criteria set forth in RMC 4-9-250B5. The appellants appealed this decision to the Hearing Examiner. After a public hearing was held on 2/10/2009, the Hearing Examiner issued his decision on 2/24/2009, affirming the denial of the variance, and finding that the applicants failed to meet their burden to show that the City's decision was arbitrary and capricious or made in error. The appellants filed a timely appeal of the Hearing Examiner's Decision, and accordingly, appeared before the Planning and Development Committee to present their case. Having considered the comments made by and on behalf of the appellants, and having reviewed the files and evidence in this matter, the Committee makes the following recommendations to the City Council: April 27, 2009 Renton City Council Minutes Page 121 AUDIENCE COMMENT Citizen Comment: McOmber • Townhall Meeting Event in Renton Highlands & 2009 Budget CONSENT AGENDA Council Meeting Minutes of 4/20/2009 Police: Memorandum of Understanding, Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant City Clerk: Quarterly Contract List, 1/1/2009 to 3/31/2009 Annexation: Shamrock, NE 10th St & Jericho PI NE Fire: 2009 Storm Event, WA State Military Department Grant Lease: Addendum #2, AirO Inc, LAG-03-002 Utility: City 196 Zone Water Reservoir Evaluation, RW Beck 1. That the City Council finds that the Hearing Examiner did not make any error of fact or law in affirming the denial of the variance. 2. That the City Council adopt all the Findings and Conclusions set forth in the Hearing Examiner's Report dated 2/24/2009. 3. That the City Council affirms the decision made by the Hearing Examiner to deny the variance. Councilmember Parker explained that the City has development standards that need to be adhered to, and what the appellants were proposing would not work. He emphasized that City officials and staff are sensitive to citizen requests, however, decisions that are made must meet City regulations and be in the best interests for the community. MOVED BY PARKER, SECONDED BY BRIERE, COUNCIL CONCUR IN THE COMMITTEE REPORT. CARRIED. Howard McOmber (Renton) suggested that the City perform the following two proposals as an effort to increase communications with the public: 1) conduct a townhall meeting event in the Renton Highlands to allow citizens an opportunity to express concerns and opinions with City officials, and 2) publish a paper outlining the recent measures that the City has taken as an effort to minimize costs and operate within a reduced budget without raising taxes. Items listed on the consent agenda are adopted by one motion which follows the listing. Approval of Council Meeting minutes of 4/20/2009. Council concur. Administrative, Judicial, and Legal Services Department recommended approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with 19 participating jurisdictions, which outlines their responsibilities related to the 2009 Recovery Act: Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program. Council concur. City Clerk submitted quarterly contract list for period of 1/1/2009 through 3/31/2009 and expiration report for agreements expiring 4/1/2009 to 9/30/2009. Information. Community and Economic Development Department recommended a public hearing be set on 5/18/2009 to consider the proposed Shamrock Annexation and R-4 zoning of approximately 124 acres located generally south of NE 10th St. and east of Jericho PL NE. Council concur. Fire and Emergency Services Department recommended approval of an agreement with the Washington State Military Department for a public assistance grant to receive up to 75 percent of the eligible non-insurance covered damages sustained by the City during the January 2009 storm event. Estimated eligible expenses are in excess of $4.8 million. Council concur. Transportation Systems Division recommended approval of an addendum to airport lease LAG-03-002, with AirO, Inc, to defer rent payments and late fees to 8/15/2009 in exchange for a significant penalty and collateral. Refer to Transportation (Aviation) Committee. Utility Systems Division recommended approval of a contract in the amount of $69,043.35 with R.W. Beck for consultant services for evaluation of a site for a future City 196 zone water reservoir in the Black River quarry area. Council concur. April 27, 2009 Renton City Council Minutes Page 122 Utility: Water Audit & Cost/Benefit Analysis, RW Beck UNFINISHED BUSINESS Utilities Committee Utility: Release of Easement Request, Certified Land Services Corporation Finance Committee Lease: Park & Ride Garage Agreement, City Center Parking Garage, King County RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES ORDINANCE #5456 Annexation: Mackay, 148th Ave SE&NE 26th St NEW BUSINESS Development Services: Decorative Awnings Regulations Public Safety: Gang Issues and Strategies ADJOURNMENT Utility Systems recommended approval of a contract in the amount of $46,629 with R.W. Beck to perform a water audit and cost/benefit analysis for the City's evaluation of membership with the Cascade Water Alliance. Council concur. MOVED BY CORMAN, SECONDED BY PALMER, COUNCIL APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. CARRIED. Utilities Committee Chair Zwicker presented a report recommending concurrence in the staff recommendation to grant a Release of Easement for portions of the area covered by the utilities easement recorded under King County Recording No. 9203030201 upon property obtained by Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) as part of the Stage 2 1-405 work. In addition, a partial release of the same easement shall be granted for portions across tax parcel 7221400270, which shall not impair the rights needed by the City of Renton's Surface Water Utility for future storm drainage facilities. The Committee also recommended that the compensation amount of $500 shall be set and placed in the appropriate utility funds. The Committee further recommended that the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to execute the necessary release of easement documents upon approval by the City Attorney. MOVED BY ZWICKER, SECONDED BY PARKER, COUNCIL CONCUR IN THE COMMITTEE REPORT. CARRIED. Finance Committee Chair Persson presented a report recommending concurrence in the staff recommendation to approve Amendment Two to LAG- 04-003 with King County for parking spaces at the Renton City Center Parking Garage to extend the lease term to 12/31/2009, and continue the pricing terms of the first lease amendment. The Committee further recommended that the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to sign the addendum. MOVED BY PERSSON, SECONDED BY CORMAN, COUNCIL CONCUR IN THE COMMITTEE REPORT. CARRIED. The following ordinance was presented for second and final reading and adoption: An ordinance was read annexing approximately 7.4 acres of property generally located west of 148th Ave. SE, south of NE 26th St, east of Lyons Ave. NE, and north of SE 102nd St.; Mackay Annexation. MOVED BY PARKER, SECONDED BY BRIERE, COUNCIL ADOPT THE ORDINANCE AS READ. ROLL CALL. ALL AYES. CARRIED. Council President Corman requested information regarding regulations for having decorative awnings on business buildings in downtown Renton. Mayor Law responded that the Administration will review the matter and provide the information as soon as possible. Stating that that the Washington State Chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates' briefing on gang issues and strategies was extremely informative, it was MOVED BY TAYLOR, SECONDED BY PALMER, COUNCIL REFER THE ISSUE OF GANG ISSUES AND STRATEGIES TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE FOR A BRIEFING. CARRIED. MOVED BY PERSSON, SECONDED BY TAYLOR, COUNCIL ADJOURN. CARRIED. Time: 7:17 p.m. q>* Bonnie I Walton, CMC, City Clerk Jason Seth, Recorder April 27, 2009 RENTON CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETING CALENDAR Office of the City Clerk COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETINGS SCHEDULED AT CITY COUNCIL MEETING April 27, 2009 COMMITTEE/CHAIRMAN DATE/TIME AGENDA COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (Corman) MON, 5/4 5:30 p.m. Fire and Emergency Services Transport Analysis; Emerging Issues in Commumty and Economic Development *7th Floor Conferencing Center* COMMUNITY SERVICES (Briere) FINANCE (Persson) MON, 5/4 Vouchers; 5:00 p.m. Emerging Issues in Revenue Streams PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT (Parker) PUBLIC SAFETY (Taylor) MON, 5/4 4:00 p.m. Radio Communication Concerns; Regional Fire Authority (briefing only) TRANSPORTATION (AVIATION) (Palmer) UTILITIES (Zwicker) NOTE: Committee of the Whole meetings are held in the Council Chambers unless otherwise noted. All other committee meetings are held in the Council Conference Room unless otherwise noted.