General Government and Planning Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The General Government & Planning Committee convened on May 9, 2023, at 1:00 PM with P. Worley presiding as the meeting officer. The committee addressed two primary agenda items during the session, focusing on zoning matters and civil rights legislation.

The meeting included both informational and action items, with the committee receiving an informational presentation on Conditional Use Permits and Related ZOTAs in the RSA, while taking formal action to approve the Crown Act. A total of 4 motions and votes were recorded during the proceedings, demonstrating active deliberation on the matters before the committee.

No public comments were heard during this meeting, allowing the committee to focus on the two substantive agenda items. The session concluded with the approval of the Crown Act, marking a significant legislative accomplishment for the committee's work on civil rights protections.

Attendance

All members were present for the meeting held on May 9, 2023.

Present: • P. Worley • K. Plomin • D. Wu • J. Brown • C. Ellinger • S. Lynch • H. LeGris • L. Sheehan • W. Baxter • J. Reynolds

Absent: None

Late: None

The meeting achieved full attendance with all ten members participating.

Votes and Decisions

The committee took four votes during the May 9, 2023 meeting, with all motions passing.

February 14, 2023 GGP Committee Summary J. Brown motioned to approve the February 14, 2023 GGP Committee Summary, seconded by K. Plomin. The motion passed unanimously with 10 ayes and 0 nays. Voting in favor were P. Worley, K. Plomin, D. Wu, J. Brown, C. Ellinger, S. Lynch, H. LeGris, L. Sheehan, W. Baxter, and J. Reynolds.

Vacation Leave Policy Proposal L. Sheehan motioned to approve the Vacation Leave Policy proposal, seconded by W. Baxter. The motion passed unanimously with 10 ayes and 0 nays. All ten committee members voted in favor: P. Worley, K. Plomin, D. Wu, J. Brown, C. Ellinger, S. Lynch, H. LeGris, L. Sheehan, W. Baxter, and J. Reynolds.

Short Term Rental ZOTA J. Brown motioned to approve the Short Term Rental ZOTA (Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment), seconded by L. Sheehan. The motion passed unanimously with 10 ayes and 0 nays. The same ten committee members voted in favor: P. Worley, K. Plomin, D. Wu, J. Brown, C. Ellinger, S. Lynch, H. LeGris, L. Sheehan, W. Baxter, and J. Reynolds.

C.R.O.W.N. Act Ordinance S. Lynch motioned to approve the C.R.O.W.N. Act ordinance 2:30:00. This motion did not receive a recorded second. The motion passed by voice vote, with no formal roll call taken.

All committee members present participated in the voting process, with consistent attendance across all four votes for the first three motions requiring roll call votes.

Conditional Use Permits and Related ZOTAs in the RSA

10:00 Staff presented an informational overview of conditional use permits and zoning ordinance text amendments (ZOTAs) within the Rural Services Area (RSA). The presentation was delivered by K. Plomin and Autumn Goddard, who provided data and analysis on permit approval patterns and the types of land uses being requested in rural areas.

The discussion focused on examining approval rates for conditional use permits in the RSA and identifying trends in the types of uses being proposed. Staff analyzed various categories of conditional use applications and their outcomes, providing insight into how the county processes development requests in rural areas.

The presentation covered zoning ordinance text amendments related to rural development, examining how policy changes have affected land use patterns and permit applications. Staff discussed the relationship between conditional use permits and broader planning goals for the Rural Services Area.

This agenda item served as an informational briefing to help officials understand current development pressures and regulatory patterns in rural areas of the county. The data presented will likely inform future policy discussions and zoning decisions affecting the RSA.

No formal action was taken on this item, as it was presented for informational purposes only. The presentation provided background information that may be referenced in future deliberations on rural development policies and zoning amendments.

Crown Act

2:00:00

The meeting included a presentation and discussion on the C.R.O.W.N. Act ordinance, which aims to prohibit discrimination based on natural hair texture and styles. The agenda item was designated as Item III and involved key presentations from S. Lynch and Tiffany Brown.

The C.R.O.W.N. Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) represents legislation designed to address workplace and educational discrimination against individuals based on their natural hair characteristics and protective hairstyles commonly associated with race.

During the discussion, the speakers presented the framework and objectives of the proposed ordinance. The act would establish legal protections against discrimination targeting natural hair textures, styles, and protective hairstyles in employment, housing, and public accommodations.

The presentation covered the scope of the proposed protections and the legal mechanisms that would be established to enforce anti-discrimination measures related to natural hair. The speakers outlined how the ordinance would complement existing civil rights protections while addressing a specific form of discrimination that has historically affected certain communities.

Following the presentation and discussion period, the Crown Act ordinance was approved by the governing body. This approval represents a step toward implementing formal legal protections against hair-based discrimination within the jurisdiction.

The passage of this ordinance aligns with similar legislation that has been adopted in various states and localities across the United States, reflecting a growing recognition of the need to address discrimination based on natural hair characteristics and culturally significant hairstyles.