Agenda - Vancouver City Council, Monday, February 25, 2008

Disclaimer

The documents that can be accessed through this City Web site are maintained by the City for the convenience of those choosing to view agenda items on the Internet. However, due to the length or nature of certain items, the complete document may not be posted on this Web site. For general questions about the agenda process or for those wishing to view the entire document may do so by contacting the Office of the City Manager at (360) 487-8601. For questions about specific items on an agenda, you may contact the staff person listed at the bottom of each item.

The City of Vancouver is not responsible for the content of any information made available or acquired from or by third parties, including errors by the City in reproducing such information. The City (a) does not make any warranty, express or implied, with respect to the accuracy, completeness, usefulness or adequacy of any information accessed via this Web site; and, (b) is not responsible for any errors or omissions in the information accessed via this Web site or for the results obtained from the use of such information.

4:00-4:30 p.m. Review of 2008 Community Development Block Grant Applications and Committee Recommendations

Staff will provide City Council with a summary of applications received and the recommended funding priorities for the 2008 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The funding recommendations were prioritized by a Grant Review Committee, comprised of five community members and four city staff.

The CDBG program received 22 applications requesting funding. Eleven applications requested project funding with approximately $800,000 available. Eight applications requested public service funding with approximately $200,000 available. Three applications requested planning funds with approximately $20,000 available. There is also a request to set-aside $300,000 to the Transportation Department, which will be used in conjunction with the Neighborhood Consolidated Funding process. An additional set-aside of $150,000 is being requested to continue operating the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program in the Fourth Plain area. (Peggy Sheehan, Community Development Manager, 487-7952 and Martin Greenlee CDBG Program Coordinator 487-7953)

*VMC 17.08 (F) "Building and related permit and plan review fees shall be reviewed periodically to ensure that they accurately reflect the current cost of providing services."

In accordance with the VMC*, the Vancouver Fire Department (VFD) has asked an independent consultant to study Fire Development Review fees and compare them to the current costs of providing plan review and inspection for new construction permits. Based on the findings of the study, the VFD proposes to increase fees to match current costs and in some cases create new fees where service is provided without any cost recovery. Additionally, VFD frequently finds fire code violations during construction which could have been caught during the plan review process. To address this, VFD proposes fund a service improvement that will save the developers from having to make costly field corrections and at the same time, reduce the number of re-inspections for VFD staff. (Jim Crawford, Fire Marshal, 759-4410)

The symbol above will soon appear on every city web page as part of our on-going efforts to provide the information to citizens that they want when they want it and how they want it. The new e-mail subscription service, GovDelivery, will allow individuals to sign up at no charge through the city web site to by notified by e-mail when information on topics of interest to them are updated. People won’t have to look for information; the information will be delivered to them. When citizens sign up for the subscription service they will be able to choose from nearly 200 different topics initially, and add or delete items at any time and control how often they want to receive updates. Subscribers will be able to receive City Council agendas as soon as they are posted on the web site, economic development news, neighborhood updates and newsletters, recreation schedules, CVTV program notes…the possibilities are almost limitless. Staff will provide a brief overview and demonstration of the subscription service and allow City Councilmembers to be the first to subscribe to the service which will go "live" the week of February 25. (Donna Mason, Director, City/County Cable Television, 696-8233, x8042)

This is the place on the agenda where the public is invited to speak to Council on any issue. The person speaking is requested to complete a pre-printed card (provided at the information table in the lobby) with their name/address and agenda item to be addressed. They are also asked to step up to the lectern and give their name and address for the audio record. Citizens testifying are asked to limit testimony to three minutes.

The following items will be passed by a single motion to approve all listed actions and resolutions. There will be no discussion on these items unless requested by Council. If discussion is requested, the item will be moved from the Consent Agenda and considered separately – after the motion has been made and passed to approve the remaining items.

1. St. James (West Minnehaha) Neighborhood Park project, construction acceptance and release of retainage (Staff Report 030-08 --- attached on grey paper.)

St. James (West Minnehaha) Neighborhood Park is a 3.5 Acre Park. Improvements included clearing and grubbing, grading, irrigation, turf seeding, concrete curbs, concrete and asphalt pathways, site furnishings, play equipment, landscaping, and utilities. Integrity Excavation and Construction, Inc. of Battle Ground, Washington has satisfactorily completed the subject improvements in accordance with the plans and specifications.

The original construction contract bid amount was $215,137.88. Field adjustments and contract change orders during construction increased the contract amount 7.9% to $232,330.81. The added cost included bid add alternate 3 to irrigate the inner portion of the park, some additional changes to the irrigation system, miscellaneous asphalt to concrete changes and planting of additional trees. These improvements are being funded by a combination of City REET and Park Impact fees. Maintenance funding for this project has been allocated in the 2007-2008 Budget.

Accept construction as complete in accordance with contract plans and specifications and authorize release of retainage in the amount of $11,012.11 to Integrity Excavation and Construction, Inc. of Battle Ground, Washington, subject to all releases required by State law. (Phil Oaks, Park Construction Supervisor, 619-1125)

The following item(s) are scheduled for public hearing. Persons addressing Council are requested to complete a pre-printed card (provided at the information table in the lobby) with their name/address and agenda item. They are also asked to step up to the lectern and give their name and address for the audio record. Citizens testifying will be asked to limit testimony to three minutes.

4. Continuance of public Hearing -- CPZ 2007-00007 (DQ-LLC, Lieser Road LLC): Comprehensive Plan Map and Zone Change from Low Density Residential (R-4) to Community Commercial (CC) proposed for parcels at 304 North Lieser Road (037910-835) and 321 Baltimore Way (037910-966) (No Staff Report)

At the request of the applicant at the January 28, 2008 City Council meeting, the public hearing was continued to February 25, 2008.

In the interim, the applicant has asked that consideration of this proposal be continued into the fall and addressed as part of the 2008 annual review process.

City Council continue to a date uncertain as part of the 2008 annual review process, the Comprehensive Plan Map and Zone Change request from Low Density Residential (R-4) to Community Commercial (CC) proposed for parcels at 304 North Lieser Road (037910-835) and 321 Baltimore Way (037910-966), CPZ 2007-00007 (DQ-LLC, Lieser Road LLC).

5. Adoption of formal boundaries identified by the City of Vancouver as an Alcohol Impact Area (AIA)

AN ORDINANCE creating an Alcohol Impact Area, as defined under WAC Section 314-12, with specific boundaries in the City of Vancouver, adding a new Chapter designated as VMC 8.50 ALCOHOL IMPACT AREA; adding new Sections designated as VMC 8.50.010, VMC 8.50.020 and VMC 8.50.030; providing for savings, severability and an effective date.

In 1999, the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) adopted a new set of rules that allows cities to develop Alcohol Impact Areas (AIA) as a tool to assist in dealing with problems associated with Chronic Public Inebriation (CPI). WAC § 314-12. An AIA allows a city to ask the Liquor Control Board to prohibit the sales of certain low cost/high alcohol malt beverages and fortified wines within the identified boundaries of the AIA.

In February 2007, the City formed an AIA Task Force made up of representatives from law enforcement, emergency services, social services, retailers, business organizations and neighborhood associations to begin development of an AIA. On June 11, 2007, City Council adopted a resolution confirming support for development of an AIA, the preliminary boundaries and product list. With leadership provided by the local alcohol distributors, the Task Force revised the boundaries and product list and was able to secure 100% voluntary compliance from the retailers. Retailers agreed not to sell the products and/or packages on the list of prohibited products within the City’s defined AIA.

Because the City has achieved 100% voluntary compliance, staff does not currently need to petition the WSLCB for regulatory intervention through creation of a formal AIA recognized and regulated by the WSLCB. Adoption of the AIA ordinance by Council is necessary to finalize the work done by the AIA Task Force and to position the City to move forward with a formal AIA in the future should there no longer be 100% voluntary compliance.

The Vancouver Police Department will monitor retailers’ continued compliance in restricting the sale of banned products. This will be included in the officer’s regular duties so additional costs would be minimal.

Due to an error in publishing, the City Attorney’s Office has advised that the previous AIA ordinance M-3866, adopted by Council on February 4, 2008, is void and cannot go into effect. Because of this failure to publish, the AIA ordinance must go before Council for second reading and public hearing.

Subject to second reading and public hearing, approve the ordinance. (Jan Bader, Program and Policy Development Manager, 735-8870, and Philip Gigler, Assistant City Attorney, 696-8251, x4113)

AN ORDINANCE relating to Comprehensive Plan and Zoning for the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Municipal Code (VMC) Title 20; amending VMC Title 20 and adopting new measures; and providing for an effective date.

The City of Vancouver Planning Commission is recommending revisions to the City’s sign regulations (Chapter 20.150-Defintions and Chapter 20.960-Signs). The update was undertaken because the current code has not been updated for many years. The purpose is not to rewrite the entire sign code, but to make "targeted amendments" to correct errors and inconsistencies and, in some cases, to add new standards regulating signs in the City of Vancouver (such as allowing electronic message centers in certain zone districts). Proposed revisions originated from Council and Planning Commission general direction, stakeholder input and staff review. The process utilized to develop the proposed changes included a stakeholder committee, internal staff review, outreach on the Internet and neighborhood association newsletters, and multiple work sessions with the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission approved the revisions at a November 27, 2007 public hearing. There are no budget impacts anticipated.

Subject to second reading and public hearing, approve the ordinance. (Azam Babar, Senior Planner, Development Review Services, 487-7887, and Brent Boger, Assistant City Attorney, 696-8251, x4117)

AN ORDINANCE requiring helmets be used by all people when operating or riding on bicycles, skateboards, roller blades, roller skates, unicycles and scooters in a public area within the City of Vancouver; providing for savings, severability and an effective date.

The City of Vancouver is currently one of the few jurisdictions in Washington State that does not have an ordinance requiring use of helmets for at least bicycles if not other human powered vehicles. In August 2007, the Clark County Board of Commissioners asked the Clark County Youth Commission to develop a proposal for bicycle helmet regulations. The Youth Commission presented their recommendations to the Board of Commissioners on November 28 and Vancouver City Council on December 3. Staff drafted an ordinance that incorporated many of the recommendations from the Youth Commission, including requiring helmet use for only those under age 18. On January 28 at the second reading and public hearing for the ordinance, Council directed staff to change the ordinance to apply to all ages not just those under 18.

Helmets would be required for any person operating or riding on bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, roller skates, unicycles and/or scooters in a public area within the City of Vancouver. Penalties for violation of the helmet law would be a civil fine not to exceed $50, which gives the Police Department limited discretion in determining the level of the fine. There is also a provision for the court to waive, reduce or suspend the civil penalty if the violator provides proof that they have acquired a helmet. The proposed helmet ordinance would be enforced by the Vancouver Police Department as part of their regular duties.

In 2008, $5,000 is set aside for a public education campaign about the new helmet law and for purchase of additional helmets to be made available to low-income youth. Funds are available in the 2007-2008 general governmental budget.

Subject to second reading and public hearing, approve the ordinance. (Jan Bader, Program and Policy Development Manager, 735-8870, and Philip Gigler, Assistant City Attorney, 696-8251, x4113)

Official website of the
City of Vancouver, Washington

City Manager's Office

Agenda - Vancouver City Council

Monday, February 25, 2008

Quick Links

Official website of the City of Vancouver, Washington

City Manager's Office

Agenda - Vancouver City Council

Monday, February 25, 2008

Quick Links

Official website of the
City of Vancouver, Washington