Notes from Shoreline City Council meeting 5-6-2019

Shoreline City Hall
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Shoreline City Council Meeting 5/6/2019
Notes by Pam Cross

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Hall at 7:00pm.

All councilmembers were present.

Mayor Hall proclaimed May as National Bike Month in the City of Shoreline.

On December 6, 2018, the City of Shoreline received a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community award from the League of American Bicyclists for developing a bicycle network that is safe and convenient for all riders. Kathy Plant and fellow Shoreline bike advocates accepted the proclamation. They created the first Shoreline Bicycle Rodeo in 2017 to teach bike safety to children and their parents.

Report of the City Manager, Debbie Tarry

There was a great turnout for the opening of the Northwest Watercolor Society’s 79th Annual International Open Exhibition. There are 60 paintings selected from 350 entries on display on the third floor of City Hall now through July 11th.

Improvements to the intersection at 160th and Greenwood/Innis Arden are coming. There is an Open House May 8th from 6:00-8:00pm at the Shoreline Community College Dining Room.

2019 Richmond Beach Celebration will be held this weekend with four events. Parking is limited. 

Please go to the website listed for information on a shuttle.

Public Reminder: There will be a public hearing before the Hearing Examiner on Wednesday May 8th at 6:00pm regarding alteration of a subdivision to remove required building setback for one parcel. 

The City was awarded the Salmon Safe Certification presented by Ellen Southard from Salmon Safe. Shoreline’s audit, conducted by a third party, shows that Shoreline is on the cutting edge of cities of any size in taking a holistic approach to its watershed.


Council Reports

Councilmember McGlashan and Deputy Mayor McConnell attended the Seashore Transportation Forum where they received an update on Community Transit’s new Green Swift Route. Now you can get from Shoreline to Mill Creek Town Center with one transfer. The buses run every 10 minutes.

Deputy Mayor McConnell attended the Council of Neighborhoods meeting and commented that the CON members really appreciate the regular visits by Councilmembers. It was announced that May 18th is the Richmond Beach Garage Sale and June 1st is the Ridgecrest Garage Sale.

Mayor Hall, the City Manager, and the Finance Director were invited by the Kenmore City Council to talk about our 10 year Financial Sustainability Plan.

There were no public comments.

The Agenda was adopted unanimously.

The Consent Calendar was approved without discussion by unanimous vote.

ACTION ITEM: Adoption of Resolution No. 434 - Adopting the 2020-2025 Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP)
Staff report by Nytasha Sowers, Transportation Services Manager

The draft 2020-2025 TIP was presented to Council on April 1, 2019. It has since been updated with the verification of funding for the 195th Pedestrian/Bike project.

At the April 1st presentation a councilmember requested consideration of sidewalk improvements at NE 200th adjacent to Cascade K-8 Elementary School. This was rated as mid-range by the Sidewalk Prioritization Plan.

Staff recommends adoption of Resolution No. 434 without this amendment.

There are two motions:

• To accept the TIP without the amendment.
• To amend the TIP to include NE 200th Sidewalk project as an unfunded project. 

Discussion

Councilmember Roberts: Aldercrest campus is the only active school without a sidewalk in front of it. Echo Lake and Parkwood do not have sidewalks that go from the main door all the way to the end of the block.

The City of Lake Forest Park put up a flashing yellow light for the pedestrian crossing on NE 200th. Shoreline should now add this to the TIP to get funding as a Safe Route to School. This would not affect any other sidewalk projects financed by the Sidewalk Prioritization Project, but would recognize that some sidewalks may qualify for alternative funding.

Councilmember Chang asked for clarification: Getting on the TIP list may help get the funding, but it isn’t required. Does it help? Yes it does. Sowers stated that normally they would start at the top of the Prioritization list and go down until they find a location that would be a fit for this funding. But they can also call one out specifically.

Councilmember Scully: We have a ranking system in place that was supposed to reduce this type of jumping on a new complaint. There are problems all over the City and that is why we developed the Prioritization Plan. The more exceptions we make, the more political it gets.

Councilmember McGlashan: There are 33 routes above this on the Prioritization List. Several neighborhoods have the same issue with routes to schools. We should stick with the Prioritization List. TIP and applications for Safe Routes are both reviewed annually.

Mayor Hall: The Sidewalk Prioritization Plan will need to be updated every 5 years or so. But currently it’s interesting that King’s Schools have no sidewalks. Shoreline Christian has none. He sees all the kids walking along shoulders of 195th east of Einstein. It’s a narrow road with one partial guardrail about 2 1/2 feet from the fog line. All of us can find examples of what we consider of higher priority, but we aren’t going through the detailed process that the Sidewalk Plan did. 

Motion: To amend the TIP to include NE 200th Sidewalk project as an unfunded project
Motion to amend fails by a vote of 2 to 5.

Clarification: how does Safe Route to Schools fit into the prioritization program? How do we decide Safe Routes? Staff looks at connectivity, safety, existing sidewalks etc. Staff picks based on how promising they look for getting a grant, so they don’t follow the rank order of the Sidewalk Prioritization Plan. They follow a funding priority list and begin looking at the top of the Prioritization List and working their way down.

Schools can also apply directly for Safe Routes to Schools funding.

Motion: To Approve of Resolution No. 434 as approved by staff.
Motion was approved unanimously.

STUDY ITEM Discussion of Ordinance No. 856 – Amending the Shoreline Master Program (SMP) Pursuant to the Periodic Review Required by the Shoreline Management Act (SMA)
Staff report by Miranda Redinger, AICP, Senior Planner

The City’s current SMP was adopted on August 5, 2013. Prior to that, the City utilized King County’s. Shoreline is required to perform periodic review of its SMP by June 30, 2019.

The purpose and process of the statutorily mandated review was discussed by the Planning Commission on 12/06/2018, 01/17/2019 and 02/21/2019. The City and Ecology held a joint public hearing on 04/04/2019. The Planning Commission made a unanimous recommendation to send to Council with no revisions.

The SMP regulates all land use activities including over-water structures, new buildings and structures, and land development activities such as clearing, grading, or filling.

Proposed revisions fall into two categories:

1. Required by State to incorporate changes in State guidance, and
2. Recommended by City, primarily to integrate changes that were adopted through the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) in 2015. The City is also proposing changes to the Comprehensive Plan as a result of this Periodic Review. 

State Recommended Updates

The January 17, 2019 Planning Commission staff report provides a thorough analysis of each of the recommended options, including summaries of State direction, current SMP language, an analysis, and proposed action.

The items include:

• Revising the cost threshold for substantial development;
• Updating the definition of “Development”;
• Clarifying exceptions to local review;
• Clarifying permit filing procedures;
• Clarifying the scope and process for Periodic Reviews;
• Establishing an optional SMP amendment process;
• Citing RCW and WAC exemptions, rather than listing them in the SMP;
• Repealing the existing wetlands section and replacing with new guidance; and
• Establishing a target for local review of WSDOT projects.

City Recommended Updates - Development Code Regulations

• Remove references to 2006 CAO which was updated in 2015 in Chapter 20.200
• Remove references to environmentally sensitive areas from Chapter 20.230 that will be addressed in 20.240.
• Clarify that existing bulkheads and retaining walls are considered engineered and abated hazards and shall not be classified as geologic hazard areas Chapter 20.230
• SMC Chapter 20.240 SMP Critical Areas Regulations. This new chapter integrates the 2015 CAO, along with subsequent amendments, into the SMP consistent with the SMA’s requirements, removing any regulations that conflict with SMA such as reasonable use exceptions, administrative exemptions, and waivers.
• SMC Chapter 13.12 Floodplain Management. Change floodplain administrator from Public Works Director to Planning and Community Development Director so that all authority is in one department,
• SMC Chapter 20.80 Critical Areas - Remove reference to the SMP Critical Areas Regulations to refer to the new proposed Chapter 20.240.
• Minor amendments for housekeeping and clarification in all chapters 

City Recommended Updates - Comprehensive Plan

• Move SMP from Appendix to Element
• Add Goals and Policies to Introduction for Element
• Revise Table of Contents
• Add 2010 Inventory and Characterization Report, 2012 Cumulative Impacts Analysis and 2019 Cumulative Impacts Analysis Technical Addendum as Supporting Analysis. Documents were referenced rather than included directly within the Comprehensive Plan document. 

Brief summary of Public and Stakeholder Outreach

• Small group meetings with impacted residents, notably homeowners on 27th Avenue NW (otherwise known as Apple Tree Lane);
• Development of a Frequently Asked Questions document and a web page (www.shorelinewa.gov/smpupdate);
• Hosting an Open House prior to the April 4 public hearing;
• Sending the Determination of Nonsignificance and SEPA Checklist to neighboring jurisdictions and tribes; and
• Holding a joint public hearing on April 4, which was also noticed by Ecology. 

The Planning Commission recommends that Council adopt the proposed SMP amendments as set forth in Ordinance No. 856. The Washington Department of Ecology requires or recommends additional revisions to be consistent with the SMA. Staff concurs with the recommendations from the Planning Commission and the Department of Ecology, and recommends that the Council amend the Planning Commission’s recommendation as proposed by the Department of Ecology, amendments both required and recommended, when adopting Ordinance No.856 on June 17, 2019.

Discussion

The “within 200’ of high-water mark” is mostly taken up by railroad tracks. What about implementation? If there is an existing house within 200’, can they rebuild? Yes. Almost all of the houses on that road are grandfathered in for a variety of reasons.

Bulkheads are exempt (not considered substantial development) from the SMP. But you can’t go closer to the water. If it’s in the water SEPA needs to be involved.

There were a couple of housekeeping issues for staff to review and get back to Council.

This will be back as an Action item because Ecology findings came after the Planning Commission recommendations, Council will need to amend this in order to incorporate those items.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:55pm.