Planning & Public Works Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Planning & Public Works Committee met on May 6, 2014, at 1:00 p.m., with Farmer presiding. The committee considered four agenda items during the meeting: a Leaf Collection Review presented by Stinnett, Assistance for Code Enforcement Compliance presented by Gorton and Links, an initiative to amend text on the P-1 Zone for Food Trucks presented by Akers, and a discussion of a Valley & Glendover 3-Way Stop presented by Beard. The committee heard ten public comments during the meeting and took two votes. All four agenda items were deferred, with no items brought to a final decision during this session.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on May 6, 2014:

• Farmer
• Mossotti
• Gorton
• Ellinger
• Kay
• Ford
• Lawless
• Beard
• Clarke
• Henson

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

Approval of April 15, 2014 Meeting Minutes

A motion to approve the minutes from the April 15, 2014 meeting was made by Farmer. The motion passed by voice vote with no abstentions. 5:00

Agenda Modification

A motion to change the agenda order was made by Akers and seconded by Kay. The motion sought to address the text amendment on P-1 zone for food trucks before code enforcement items. The motion passed by voice vote with no abstentions. 53:05

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting included one financial action regarding funding for leaf collection services. An appropriation of $300,000 was approved for vendor-supplied leaf collection services to be funded through the water quality fee.

Public Comment

The meeting included public comments on two primary topics: leaf collection services and food truck zoning regulations, with brief remarks on housing programs.

Leaf Collection Service

Ellinger [0:30:48] asked whether leaf collection is citywide or limited to urban service areas, arguing that the goal of keeping leaves out of storm sewers should justify citywide coverage.

Stennett [0:32:24] suggested exploring 100% outsourcing of leaf collection and recommended that administration issue a Request for Proposal to assess costs and feasibility.

Henson [0:38:14] expressed concern about outdated equipment and the impact of snow on leaf collection, noting that the current system is not sustainable and that scheduling must be more flexible.

Clark [0:42:01] suggested eliminating the practice of responding to individual complaints to maintain schedule integrity and proposed a more flexible, data-driven approach to scheduling.

Gordon [0:47:09] proposed offering incentives to homeowners who use Lenny containers or bags instead of relying on city collection, to reduce demand on the system.

Food Truck Zoning

Lawless [1:04:23] expressed concern that blanket approval of food trucks in P1 zones could negatively impact residential neighbors in tight urban areas, suggesting conditional use requirements for such locations.

Henson [1:22:24] asked whether there are already proximity restrictions to residential zones in the code, noting that current rules may already limit food truck placement.

Kay [1:25:35] suggested making food trucks conditional use in P1 zones adjacent to residential areas, with a buffer distance, to protect neighborhoods.

Housing Programs

Ford [1:45:28] highlighted the complexity and long wait times of the housing rehab program, noting that it takes a year to process applications and that the process is not slow by design.

Wallace [1:47:47] asked whether the current system already includes mechanisms for handling housing violation fines, suggesting that the discussion may be redundant.

Contested Items

The meeting on May 6, 2014 included two items that generated significant disagreement among participants.

Food Truck Placement in P1 Zones

A split vote occurred over regulations governing food truck placement in P1 zones. The central disagreement concerned whether food trucks should be permitted as a blanket accessory use across all P1 zones or whether they should require conditional use permits in areas adjacent to residential zones. Concerns raised during the debate focused on potential neighborhood impact and parking issues associated with food truck operations.

Leaf Collection Program Sustainability

Committee members engaged in a heated discussion regarding the leaf collection program. Participants expressed frustration with the program's current inefficiency, citing multiple operational problems including weather disruptions, outdated equipment, and inadequate public communication. The discussion prompted calls from committee members for major structural changes to the program.

Leaf Collection Review - Stinnett

Stinnett presented findings on the current leaf collection program 6:03. The presentation identified several operational challenges affecting the program's effectiveness.

Key Challenges Identified

The review highlighted the following issues:

• Weather disruptions impacting collection schedules
• Outdated equipment limiting operational efficiency
• Staffing shortages affecting service delivery
• Poor communication with the public regarding collection timelines and procedures

Proposed Solutions

Stinnett presented several alternatives for improving the program:

• Shortening the overall collection period
• Implementing a blended approach that combines city resources with vendor support
• Improving dynamic public communication through GIS mapping and 311 system updates to provide residents with real-time information about collection activities

Outcome

The item was deferred, meaning no final decision was made at this meeting and the matter was postponed for future consideration.

Assistance for Code Enforcement Compliance – Gorton/Links

1:29:26

Hollis presented a review of existing code enforcement processes and identified gaps in assistance programs available to low-income homeowners facing code violations.

Key Findings and Recommendations

The presentation examined current code enforcement procedures and determined that assistance programs for low-income residents were insufficient. Based on this analysis, three main recommendations were proposed:

• Development of a standardized flyer for all code violations to ensure consistent communication with residents
• Implementation of training sessions between social services and code enforcement departments to improve coordination and support
• Establishment of a new assistance program specifically designed to address housing violations

Outcome

This agenda item was deferred, meaning the matter was postponed for further consideration at a future meeting rather than being resolved during this session.

Initiate Text Amendment on the P-1 Zone for Food Trucks – Akers

53:39

A text amendment was proposed to allow food trucks as an accessory use in P-1 zones, subject to site plan approval and compliance with the Code of Ordinances.

Key Speakers

The discussion involved Akers, Lawless, Kay, Henson, and Gordon.

Proposal and Discussion

The amendment would permit food trucks to operate in P-1 zoned areas under specified conditions, requiring site plan approval and adherence to existing ordinance requirements.

Committee Action

Following discussion, the committee agreed to revise the proposed amendment. Rather than a single approach, the committee directed staff to develop three alternative versions for review. Additionally, the committee determined that P-1 zones located near residential areas should be subject to conditional use requirements, providing an additional layer of review and approval for those locations.

Outcome

The item was deferred, allowing time for the revised amendment versions to be prepared and presented for further consideration.

Valley & Glendover 3-Way Stop – Beard

1:48:19

This agenda item addressed the need for a three-way stop at the Valley and Glendover intersections. Beard presented the matter for discussion.

Due to time constraints during the meeting, the item was not fully addressed and was deferred to a later date. The discussion has been scheduled as the first item on the agenda for the next meeting to ensure adequate time for full consideration.

Outcome: Deferred to next meeting