Study Session Update: March 31, 2008

Here is a summary of some of the things discussed at the last study session. Other people would likely find different things interesting, so I encourage everyone to attend and listen. ~ Karen

Planning Department/CTED Grant & Master Development Plan (MDP)/Town Planner: Mayor Transue had Huitt-Zollars (H-Z) attend the meeting for the discussion on these issues. The council was not pleased at having a paid consultant in attendance without their approval. They decided to discuss these issues first so the H-Z team could go home.

Point Ruston had submitted a memo to the town council outlining how they would like to see the council update town codes to expedite their development. H-Z had responded as well. (I’ll try to get copies of all this information and post it) J.J. McCament and Loren Cohen were invited to discuss their viewpoints. The Mayor expressed concern about the selective invitations for input by the council. The Point Ruston memo apparently outlined three options. H-Z agreed with most of the information presented in the memo. Point Ruston would prefer to proceed under a development agreement and site/project specific zoning.

Transue had spoken to CTED about the grant. CTED did not feel there was much flexibility to change the scope. This was a competitive grant and other jurisdictions were ready to use this funding. CTED was not interested in using this grant to review a specific development proposal. The grant was intended to rewrite/update overall land use policy. Point Ruston feels that the MDP was advisory only, but H-Z does not agree.

Transue felt the most expeditious way to proceed was to adopt the same zoning as Tacoma has on the Point Ruston property (their S-6 zone) with any changes the council wanted, along with the map of the development proposal as presented in the EIS as the zoning/comprehensive plan regulations. These changes would supersede the MDP and Ordinance 1002, rather than try to update them as proposed in the grant. Transue had spoken to Cohen, who was agreeable to the concept.

The council expressed frustration with the mayor for making a proposal without providing documentation such as a copy of the Tacoma S-6 zoning. There was discussion about heights and how the remediation would impact the grade from which height is measured. Point Ruston will have an exhibit ready soon that shows the difference in heights between the MDP and the current proposal.

There was some discussion about the proposal for a hotel, which has been submitted to the town. Transue eventually cautioned the council and Point Ruston to keep the dialog at the “10,000 foot level” rather than discuss this specific proposal (there are strict rules about the council discussing quazi-judicial land use proposals outside of a public hearing). Council Member Hedrick asked Point Ruston why they had supported the grant proposal 4 weeks ago, but were now pushing for a developer’s agreement. J.J. said their team had looked at the issue again and now felt their idea was the best way to proceed.

Council Members Hunt and Huson have been working with the City of Tacoma about having Tacoma provide both building and planning services. (Jane passed out something to the council, I’ll try to get a copy) Transue felt that code enforcement and building permits might be easier to contract out than the planning services. Hunt and Huson will put together a packet for Tacoma and/or others that outlines the scope of work they want.

Hunt has put together a spreadsheet showing the building permits issued in 2006 and the first half of 2007. This led to discussion again about getting the building permit information to the assessor immediately so that any improvements could be taxed sooner. The clerk has been working with someone at the assessors office, but Council Member Alberston has heard conflicting information from the assessor. The council felt there should only be one point of contact and does not want the town administration to contact the assessor. It did not appear the mayor was willing to relinquish his authority on this.

Rules of Procedure: The new rules of procedure as proposed by Albertson appear to be agreeable to the council majority. The rules will include public comment on business items. Each person wanting to speak will have to sign in before the meeting and declare if they are for or against each issue. We will have 1 minute for each business item and 2 minutes of general public comment at the end of the meeting. The final version of these rules will be on the agenda for the regular council meeting on April 7th.

Town Attorney: The council now wants to proceed with having a Request for Proposals (RFP) sent out soliciting legal services for the town rather than hire an in-house attorney. The Town’s current contract for legal services expires in 2 months. Transue had pointed out that as mayor, he has sole discretion over town employees. Albertson wants the RFP to say the town is looking for “legal services” rather than “town attorney”. He felt that language would give the council full control over this issue. Transue did not agree and will have the attorney review the RFP, which will be on the agenda April 7th.

LESA Communications: Tom Orr then gave a presentation about what services the Law Enforcement Support Agency (LESA) can provide. The police chief is asking the council to consider having LESA provide full record services. The presentation is available at Ruston Reports.