Bothell, Washington Planning Commission Meetings, 6 Sep 2023

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From YouTube: Bothell Planning Commission Meeting - September 6, 2023

Description

0:00:05 - Call to Order
0:04:10 - Public Comments
0:10:20 - Approval of Minutes: July 5, 2023
0:11:25 - Study Session: 2023 Sidewalk Outreach & Prioritization Update
0:43:00 - Study Session: 2024 Imagine Bothell Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update: Summer Engagement and Guiding Principles
1:17:00 - Reports from Staff
1:17:05 - Reports from Members

A

All right welcome everyone, I call the September 6 2023 Planning Commission meeting to order. The main purposes of tonight's meeting are study sessions on an update on the 2023 sidewalk Outreach and on the 2024, imagine Bothell, comprehensive, Plan, Summer engagement and guiding principles.

A

Before we move on to the agenda items I'd like to acknowledge our hybrid meeting format, the city of Bothell is providing the option to attend this meeting, either in person or remotely via Zoom for those who are participating via Zoom. The chat and question functions are not available to ensure compliance with the open public meetings. Act.

A

We have a public comment agenda item at the beginning of the meeting. This time is for comments on issues not on tonight's agenda. Please limit these comments to three minutes: I'm, not sure we'll be using the lights tonight.

A

So I will give you a heads up when you've got about 15 seconds to go. If the lights are not working tonight, and please note, the city of Bothell does not tolerate verbal harassment. Please remember this during your comments. Public comment and hearing testimony will be allowed both in person and Via Zoom. Those wishing to comment via Zoom were asked to submit an online form by 3 pm today. People wishing to submit written comments were also asked to submit those comments by 3 pm and we did receive one before that time. Email was it now.

A

It was encouraged as well and will be acknowledged. Those in attendance may also make comments and have been asked to indicate their desire to comment on the sign-in sheets at the door as you enter the Imagine Bothell notice, the city website and tonight's agenda all provided information to the public for providing comments. A video of this meeting will be streamed, live as well as recorded and available for later viewing on the city's YouTube channel.

A

A call-in number was provided on the meeting agenda for members of the public who wish to call in by phone to listen, live to the meeting for our phone and callers during staff. Presentations staff will make every effort to specify which materials they are referencing so that everyone may follow along at this point, we'll take a moment to acknowledge the attendance of the Commissioners commissioner Jones here, commissioner westerbeck here, commissioner kurd here. Commissioner, Robson is absent and excused King. Commissioner Anders is absent.

A

She indicated she may not be able to make it so we'll call her absent and excused as well and commissioner augustafin.

B

A

In addition, we have uh Steve markawa, Deputy, Public, Works, director and uh senior Capital project, engineer, Rita, Hugh attending also a senior planner Kirsten mandt and Community engagement, specialist Sarah Frost.

A

So, lastly, before we begin I'd like to reiterate some meeting guidelines for all meeting attendees, please speak clearly and pause, frequently I Stumble over that and state your name each time before speaking, please mute your microphone when not speaking, if you are also streaming the live, video feed, please turn off the sound as there is a delay before we begin. I would like to remind commenters that, while you may speak to whatever top topic you choose, we ask that if you are a council candidate, you not use this time to speak to your own campaign.

A

Each person is solely responsible for their own comments, but speaking about your campaign could be a violation of campaign laws which the public disclosure commission would determine for Commissioners at specific breaks in the presentation, I'll be calling our members who wish to speak or ask a question. If you want to speak, please indicate this by raising your hand, I will call on you as I, see you. This will avoid the problem of having two people speaking at the same time.

A

Identify yourself before you ask a question: make a motion or second emotion or participate in debate. Please mute your microphone when not speaking with that we'll launch into the agenda and the first item on the agenda is public comment. The city has accepted visitor comment in writing, as well as accepted sign up sheets for those who wish to speak at tonight's meeting. Written's comments submitted to the self staff no later than 3 pm today, we're forwarded to all Commissioners and are part of the record.

A

This is for items not on today's agenda and as indicated, we did receive a comment before that 3 pm, which were circulated to the commissioners so um who's going to manage that uh Sarah you're gonna, yes, yes, okay, Okay, so up to the podium.

A

The rules we've used and have been long established, provide for three minutes, so we will have three minutes and after that we will determinate.

A

There is provision in the rules. Government.

A

Requested additional one you may request it, but I will not uh agree to that request. Three minutes.

A

It is a long-established practice of this commission that three minutes are allowed for each public commenter.

A

Thank you. I will seek advice on that after this meeting, but at this point, I will continue to follow our long-established practice of three minutes per commenter and I've been pretty consistent with that for the entire time I've been chair and for the entire time I've been a member.

A

I do and I have the bylaws right here. So thank you. Thank you.

C

I live in Westfield, my name is Mark Swanson I've lived on Westfield for 32 years, I attended every Council, Planning Commission, except one since the end of March, on the definition of an Engaged resident I've sent 25 Communications with over 30 science related links to both the Planning Commission, as well as the city council, foreign I've, seen two dozen or more heartfelt testimonies and public comments about long-term Bothell resonance begging. You begging the council, please have compassion and it's fallen on. Deaf ears hasn't changed anything out of all the comments.

C

I've submitted I've yet to see. Have one question from Bothell City Council and this body.

C

There's a Facebook page that made false statements about me.

C

And I was banned from it when I came in to defend myself. That Facebook page is known as bow pop for short I was permanently banned.

C

False statements were made and I wasn't able to defend myself. I wonder why.

C

Thanks for this band, I now realize, as well as watching people prostate themselves in front of this body as well as the city council. I now realize I've got to change tactics.

C

So I am I'd like to thank Carrie westerbeck for helping guide me through this malaise.

C

Mr westerbeck in an interview published by incremental development, was described as having an army aligned with a self-described urbanist conviction who are these people, who are the members of bo-pop bothellights for people-oriented places, Amanda Dodd, Sarah, Gustafson, mayor Mason, Thompson Carson, kurd Rami, al-kabra, Kevin Kiernan, which may explain your decision tonight. Kevin.

C

And Jenny aldricks.

C

I am asking for their voluntary recusal from a comprehensive Plan update and any consideration of lot P, because I believe they're compromised 30 seconds with conflict. Thank you. Countdown Kevin, the the downtown, affordable housing overlay, I believe is efficient, is deficient in process, but we will see as well as all the commensurate overlays. This body is responsible for.

C

I believe that's what happens here is a violation. Thank you. That's of the fairness, Doctrine. Thank you. I. Can't, please conclude your statement. I can't prove it, but I suspect there's been a violation of the law. Mr Swanson thank.

A

You I find there is I, will.

C

Be making criminal charges filing criminal charges against this body and city council. Thank you.

A

Are there any other individuals who would like to speak during the public comment period.

A

Three minutes is our rule. You may speak for three minutes if you'd like.

A

No, you cannot.

A

Better have legal staff dust off their books. Thank you for that advice. Any other public comment. Anyone on Zoom.

A

All right, thank you that will conclude the public comment. Portion of our meeting uh next item on the agenda is the approval of the July 5th minutes. We do have the July 5th minutes in our packet.

A

Is there a motion to approve those minutes.

D

Chair this is Karsten kurd I move to approve the meeting minutes from July 5th.

A

We don't excuse me, we have a motion before us to approve the July 5th minutes. Is there a second.

B

Hi Sarah Gustafson here seconded it's.

A

Been moved and seconded that we approve the July 5th minutes any discussion around those minutes.

A

Seeing none all in favor of approving the minutes.

E

Because I was absent: oh.

A

Okay, so we have uh five in favor one abstained. uh The minutes are approved. Yes minutes say you were absent: four I'm! Sorry! Yes, we have our quorum, All, Right, Moving On. The next item on our agenda is a study session on the 2023 sidewalk Outreach and prioritization update.

F

Good evening um I'd like to introduce you Rita who um she's actually our supervising engineer she got promoted recently.

F

Sarita has been with us for a while and she's, been running our sidewalk program and Ada program, she's, the one who put together a transition plan for Ada, and she also put together the safe Street and sidewalk task force. That collected people from Individual schools and basically came up with a tiered program, ranking our sidewalks so she's here tonight to talk to you about Outreach and prioritization of our gaps in our sidewalk, which will feed into our comprehensive plan.

G

Planning commissioner tahu and tonight I'm going to present to you the 2023 cyber Outreach and prioritization update this sidewall prioritization is part of the process for developing a multi-modal level of service policies for the comprehensive plans. So the intent is to perform sidewalk Gap analysis and also develop a project list that can be fed into the 20-year Transportation project list of the comprehensive plan.

G

So as for tonight's agenda, I will start with an overview of cyborg program and background information and I will also share. The public. Outreach and feedback received from public I will go over the scoring criteria scoring Matrix and data analysis for prioritization or sidewalk segments and also I will provide an example of a high rank segment list and talk about what's to come.

G

Asphaltanize there is no action required for planning, commissioner and but I do appreciate your comments, feedbacks and also uh get the headline for from you uh on the scoring criteria and the Matrix that I'm going to present.

G

So here is a quick overview of the Cyber program city of also actually developed a sidewalk or establish your cyborg program to address the pedestrian safety, as well as to ensure all The Pedestrian facility are following the American with a disability at the Ada.

G

The cyborg program has a lot of responsibilities, including reviewing sidewalk and covering conditions, ranking and prioritizing sidewalks and corporates, creating project lists and monitoring and updating Ada transition plan seeking grant funding opportunities and, lastly, constructing sidewalks and curb Reds for the background information here is a quick summary in 2015 we began to inventory sidewalks and corporates, and in 2016 we established a scoring Matrix to rank and prioritize uh sidewalk and cobram projects, as well as develop a city-wide sidewall prioritization list.

G

In late 2016, the voter approved safe Street, sidewalk Levy, which is a nine-year levy, runs from 2017 through 2025..

G

In 2017, we formed a safe School Workwell task force to review School needs and develop a safe school work routes. Project list in 2022 staff gave a presentation to council about the several programs, the Cyber prioritization and next steps, which include revisiting our scoring criteria. Conducting public Outreach to get feedback from public and also freshening of the scoring criteria as needed.

G

So, to review and update our scoring criteria scoring Matrix early this year we hired a consultant to launch an online survey from April 24th through May 15. All together we received 430 responses and most of the respondents live in Bothell and 25 percent of them work impossible. In addition to the online surveys, we also conducted one-on-one interviews with nine Representatives or organization and neighborhoods in Boston.

G

So in terms of the public, Outreach and findings, there were three key questions we asked public.

G

So the first question was: what type of areas does the city should prioritize cyborg, Improvement and found this graph you uh we can tell that more than 80 percent of the respondent said that Apostles should prioritize sidewalks near local school, public transit, Recreation facilities, Public Service buildings, downtown area shopping, Business Center, as well as the area the facility actually serve disabled people over senior and also approximately 50 percent of respondents feel that fossils should take a manufacture, housing community as top of priority.

G

The second question we asked public was what barriers actually preventing the respondents for walking or using a wheelchair in Bothell, and so this graph showed that the top area by a large margin of North, Side world or incomplete sidewalk network is at 78.8 percent. This actually reflects what was her during the interview with representatives of the communities.

G

The third question was about how the respondents failed about city of Boston's sidewalk system, so approximately 50 percent of respondents say that city of also is walkable, but approximately 25 percent of respondents disagree or strongly disagree. That Bothell is a walkable City.

G

For demographic comparison, these two graphs give you an idea how the survey participation compared to the 2022 Basel population and the result of racial demographic skewer slightly from the overall Basel population. This could be due to a couple of reasons. For instance, not all the respondents answer the question or signal respondents selected uh preferred not to say.

G

For the one-on-one interview, here's what was her during the conversation interviews, sidewalk with spot for Zoom such as planters or protective bike lens, will definitely increase potassium safety. A good sidewall network is important for Basel Community, as well as for economic development. Removing barrier will encourage people to walk or use wheelchair in Boston. There are not enough crossword to cross a busy Street terminal work. Life for multi-line Street should be longer in order to accommodate older population or people with disabilities.

G

Providing adequate lighting will create a comforting, neighborhood Ambience, as well as encourage more nighttime Mobility. Lastly,.

G

Walkability is preferred, but not always available when choosing a place to live shop or work, moving on to the scoring criteria uh with limited resources and a long list of missing sidewalk segment to address the city of also has to have a way, a tool to score and prioritize all the missing sidewalk segment. Therefore, cyborg program actually developed a scoring Matrix, which consists of nine criteria in four categories, so the first criteria is three conditions. It is a Criterion help differentiate. The street has Cyborg on the opposite side of the street or not.

G

The second criteria is three classification: it's a Criterion to determine which three serve more people with Mobility need, because when we provide improvements, we would like to make sure that the improvements are going to benefit more population, more people Collision data. uh This is a very important safety major to determine which strain needs cyber improvements.

G

uh Other criterias are proximity related, so we are looking at school transit services, Public, Services, Commercial, Business, Center, Park uh parks and trails, as well as manufacture, housing, communities.

G

This tables show the scoring Matrix uh 2023 version and 2015 version, and it includes all the criteria. Employees systems- that we have followed to determine a project score.

G

We may send adjustment to the current scoring Matrix the 2015 version.

G

The adjustments were based on the public input and also the review of other agencies uh criteria and also the internal review and discussion. So the key adjustment we made to release the current scoring Matrix are the 2023 uh criteria. Weights are more evenly balanced and the proximity criteria now allow partial points in 2015 versions. They were either all or nothing and the transit stops. Now it's its own criteria in 2015 version, it was lumped into the public service criteria.

G

Commercial and Recreation facilities are two separate criteria and they were also part of the public service criteria in 2015 version.

G

Severity, frequency and type of nearby Collision now have been factored into the Collision criteria, also minor tricks to Street classification criteria.

G

So before we can score and prioritize the project we have to, we have to determine where the missing sidewall segments are and so cyborg program, actually utilize, City's pavement payment data in the geographic information system, GIS GIS, to determine to locate the missions that I was segment and all together we identify about 2, 000, missing sidewalks segments, and this map show an area with missing and existing sidewalks in public right away for data processing.

G

We definitely utilize GIS, not just identify or locate the missing sidewall segments, but also score and prioritize all the missing side or segment using the scoring criteria scoring Matrix. We developed- and this map here this graph here, showing a joiner area with different type of the three three classifications, three conditions and also with variety of accident data.

G

So when we prioritize the projects, we definitely consider all these criteria.

G

So this is an example of the missing sidewall segments in breadth in relation to schools and also their buffer areas. So, basically, the closer missing side was segment is to a school, the darker Blue Area, the higher its score.

G

This is another example of the gis analysis, so missing, sidewall in relation to where the public transit services and their buffer area, okay, prioritization. In order to develop a project list that can be fed into the 20-year Transportation project list of the comprehensive plan, we would use a two-step prioritization approach. The first step is to use the gis to locate, to identify the missing sideward segment and then score and prioritize only miss inside one. Second, one, this, uh the Second Step, involves engineering justification.

G

So basically, our engineer will review each hiring segment and determine what improvements are adequate and how the new connections will improve access between destination. Our goal is not just being a sidewalks. We want to make sure that we consider connectivity. We want to ensure the connectivity is provided.

G

So this is a prioritization map. This map actually showing the 30 top ranked segments in relation to the manufacture, housing communities in Boston, and so as you can see, that the hiring project our segments are broadly spread in the city and in my opinion they are actually accurately distributed.

G

What's to come, the scoring criteria scoring Matrix I just presented will be discussed with Council on October 17th. The goal is to use the scoring criteria scoring matches to develop a prioritization project list which can be incorporated into the 20-year Transportation project list of the comprehensive plan.

G

This is my last slide. So again, there is no action anticipated, but I do appreciate your comments, suggestions and also get head, not for you uh on the scoring criteria scoring Matrix. Thank you.

A

Thank you for your presentation. Miss you um Commissioners, perhaps put up the criteria that we can look at and there's anything else. Folks would want to see uh comments, questions.

A

Mr Jones I.

E

Just want to thank you, this fantastic analysis, fantastic presentation as well, so um on just great work. um I have more of a curiosity question. So, when I look at the attachment 3, where you have the weighted scores for it, I assume these are the top. You know the top high prioritized um areas. How do you think this list would have looked different using the previous criteria and and and and as you reflect on that?

E

um What are the benefits from using this new criteria?.

G

You know that's a very good question before this meeting. We actually render analysis based on different scenarios, including you know, including the all scoring uh systems scoring criteria and the results showed that the top 30 projects, the top uh the top 30 projects, are still uh within the top 20. Under every scenario.

E

That's that's good right. You were probably happy to see that, because it's another confirmation that these are the top priority projects so well. Thank.

G

You and I thank you, but I think I saved wrong, so the top 20 projects are still raising the top 30s. On the every scenario. Sorry, like I, did reverse.

A

Others, commissioner, kurd yeah.

D

um Thank you for this presentation. um I'm noticing that, with these scoring criteria, yes, um a lot of them are following the feedback that we've already been hearing from community members. Over the last year we hear people talking about access to parks and access to bus stops, and so I see that clearly prioritized here, which is great to draw those lines between the feedback that people are giving us and what we're going to do about it.

D

One of the questions I have so manufactured housing communities, there's quite a number throughout Bothell and I'm wondering if that's been used as a sort of a proxy for um areas that are different, different demographics or different incomes, and is that because you you don't have um or Census Data isn't close enough or why? Why did you choose manufactured.

G

Housing yeah at this time we utilize the information we have in our GIS system. Okay,.

D

Yeah great and then my other question about these scoring criteria.

D

um There are a number of sidewalks that were constructed a long time ago before Ada and before we knew how steep ramp should be or whether there should be ramps and so I'm wondering about some areas of bottles, especially in downtown. There are some deficient existing sidewalks, and this is only for scoring new sidewalks. Is that correct.

G

Wonderful question, so our plan is to use these scoring criteria for uh Missing sidewalk and also for the existing sidewalk, basically for the repair purpose, the sidewalk repair. So we would actually utilize this scoring entry scoring system for not only site missing sidewalks, and we will also use it for corporate prioritization.

D

See that brings up another question, which is you have an inventory of the areas that do have curbs and sidewalks or curb ramps, not curbs. um Is there a quality of the sidewalk or you know downtown, there's some root damage sidewalk? Is that noted in your GIS database.

G

Yes, we are working on it. Yes, that's.

D

A lot wow, that's a lot of sidewalks to track yeah.

G

Exactly so far, we have completed about 50 percent of inventory. Okay, so we plan to complete this task by the end of November. Okay,.

D

So the inventory Does, it include areas that are just curved to there aren't sidewalks, but there is curbs.

G

We have done a variety of inventory, so missing sidewalk, existing sidewalk and prints and in the future we will probably looking at the driveway as well. Okay,.

D

Yeah great one of the um things that I've noticed in neighboring jurisdictions and also you know, feedback that we get a lot about tire wear particles is that um uh we can control tire wear particles where there are curbs, because the curbs will block them from running out and so um I know. Several other jurisdictions are trying to conduct surveys of just curbs to curb and gutter in addition to their sidewalks yeah, because that can possibly play into surface water issues as well.

D

Yes, so that's just sort of an interesting connection that I'm making here between quality of sidewalks and accessibility and storm water protection.

G

Yes, definitely yeah, so typical.

G

Typing is not only about the curve plan. We have to look at the you know the uh the facility, the utility in close proximity. So, like you say, sometimes we have to upgrade the storm water. You know like catch basin.

D

Great, thank you so much so.

F

To me, this is all part of the educational process, so your question is really great because it talks about missing gaps versus maintenance and in the funding World. Those are two very different things. It's amazingly easier to get new money for new facilities and harder to get maintenance money.

F

So Rita's system will be used in multiple ways to help us prioritize, but how they get done might be different. So our operations, maintenance operations I think they said today they did a thousand feet of sidewalk replacement this year, so they're the ones that typically address the condition and the program itself is trying to fill in the gaps.

D

Thanks for that, clarification,.

A

Other questions I've got a few thoughts, uh quick question. This may be more for Sarah, oh and she snuck away. I was wondering how that response matched other City surveys. He said 400 and something is that kind of average. Is that a lot is that a little yeah.

F

I thought it was actually pretty good. uh Kirsten I think you guys had a little bit more for the overall comp plan.

F

A

It feels like it's kind of an average, maybe I'll try that again. I was wondering about response to the survey and they received 400 and whatever.

G

A

413 responses, how that fit with other City surveys is that an average response rate.

H

From my limited knowledge that seems about right: okay, we had about 500 some on the middle housing survey, so.

A

Okay and- and that was uh there- was a lot of interest in that item. So um yeah that sounds good. um You know kind of leveraging off Carson's comment. um Multi-Family housing seems like something you may want to consider. uh Not so much I mean there is a parking issue in those they often are charged for their parking space.

A

There's a push for more walkability around multi-family I, don't know if you've looked at and and almost by their nature, they are where there are developed sidewalks anyway, but as they're pushing a little further on the edges. Is that something you look at.

F

So, like density is a criteria.

A

F

A

Just just a thought you know, I look at all the and all the downtown apartments are near reasonable, sidewalks setting aside that maintenance issue. But but uh you know those are folks who I think do do more walking and something to consider so.

A

I, have it and the other thought I have is connectivity. um You know where there are segments. Do you look at connecting those segments? Sometimes you can get more bang for your buck, particularly where you've got different sides of the streets. A crosswalk might give you a lot of connectivity um for relatively low cost.

F

So what Rita was saying about the engineers Engineers job? This will identify the most important segment or the highest priority segment, and we purposely segment and not project. So as an example, let's say you, you pick a street and there's a sidewalk on one side, but it's very high ranking project to do it.

F

On the other side, for whatever reason, we may not just build a sidewalk along the entire path thousand feet of sidewalk on the south side to duplicate the other side we may put in a crosswalk, that's safe, so that somebody may have to cross the street and cross back again, but that's a 75 000 project and not a month, one million dollar project. So now we have 925 000 to look at the next segment.

F

So that's the two-step process that Rita is looking at, so we're trying to identify segments now and once you folks are comfortable in the council, we will start actually looking at segments and trying to identify what that segment will cost for connectivity purposes. All.

A

Right, thank you, so other comments, anything specific to the criteria, since that's kind of what they're looking for a head nod on whether we are comfortable with with them, as laid out comments.

A

Going once well I I, think from that you know we have talked about this I think it does reflect some of the concepts that the commission has been interested in. So thank you for the work you've done on this and um I think we all agree. It's good work and look forward to seeing it implemented.

F

G

We can take a look here: okay,.

I

Commissioner, just out of curiosity, commissioner, back here um you said I the public works or the city finished about a thousand linear feet in 2023 for sidewalks. Is that pretty typical for for most years or is it very a lot depending on where our money is coming from and how much we have for capital projects and things.

F

So we had our very first quarterly engineering meeting we're trying to get our operations. Our development review, our Capital people Transportation all together to kind of mix a little bit so I, don't know. Okay, I can find out no worries, um they do really good work, so I can find out and we can come back.

I

Yeah chat with them every now and then but I haven't seen him building sidewalks, but I love. These I'd love to hear it so I.

F

Think it's even harder because they don't get to do one stretch. I'm.

I

Sure they're making it yeah at a time every year, 50 feet there and yeah missing piece well, thank you appreciate it and.

A

And mentioned them building sidewalks, which triggered to me a lot of sidewalks are built uh as part of requirements with developments, you're tracking that as well.

G

uh Pop we didn't, we I think the community service development actually track it, but uh the capital group does not track it.

F

It will wind up in your inventory, as a check has completed, though.

G

Oh correct, yes,.

F

Okay, so every time she updates- okay, yes,.

G

The information yes Steve is right, only information would be uh would be fed into the GIS, so the these sections, uh completed by the private developer, should be in the system all right.

A

Yeah I traveled on 15 relatively often and there's a reasonable sized uh development going in with a lot of sidewalk that'll come with it as required. So and that's one that has a lot of discontinuous segments, so I think it'll be nice for no one's in.

A

Other comments all right. Well, thank you again for your presentation. It was very informative and the commission is very interested in walkability, so uh we appreciate hearing this. Thank you.

A

Foreign all right. The next item on our agenda is a study session on the 2024. Imagine Bothell comprehensive plan periodic update summer engagement and guiding principles, and we look forward to participating in that.

A

And we have presenting to us tonight: Community engagement, specialist, Sarah, Frost and Senior planner, Kirsten Matt. So take it away.

J

Go ahead and share my screen here.

J

We go all right so tonight we're going to be doing a quick wrap up of the summer engagement activities, work that we did, which was pretty fun actually for us to do and get out there in the community.

J

So Sarah is going to be helping me present that and then we're going to talk about some upcoming engagement opportunities throughout the rest of this year and the beginning of next year and then I'm going to be just doing a quick sort of intro of the background of what we've talked about so far with guiding principles, the feedback we heard over the summer and how that all kind of filtered into the the draft work that we have now and so again, no action tonight, um just the discussion getting some feedback so as we're continually revising these and different iterations we're you know getting new feedback as as we're going through the process and like I, have every time I'm.

J

Just wanting to remind everyone of kind of the timeline we're at some things are getting a little bit pushed back, but we're still generally on this same timeline like it says at the top. We're really trying to at least starting to affirm The Guiding principles and get those firmed up. Summarizing of Summer engagement, uh the drafting of the elements themselves and the goals and policies is beginning to start. This fall, which is very exciting and then we've just started our Eis scoping.

J

That scoping period is open currently and it will be through the 27th, and that is posted up in multiple different places and that's uh prepping us for the preliminary draft Eis.

J

So again, just an overview we'll be talking about summer engagement, upcoming activities I'll be going through the draft guiding principles and some of the next steps there and then I have a fall and winter meeting schedule for Planning, Commission and Council. That includes all the topics, you'll kind of know, what to expect over the next few months and I'm going to pass it on over to community engagement, specialist Sarah, Frost, hello,.

H

So we had a lot of fun this summer we attended the four events, I think um and we've got some more planned for this fall. So that's pretty exciting. We were grateful to Parks and Recreation to have us to provide a space for us to have a table at the art night, two of the cultural nights and those were all part of the summer nights, um fun event, Friday Night series, and then we also tabled specifically about climate on August 12th at sustainabania. So at each of those events we were just present and available.

H

We had information, we had resources and we had some really good conversations with the community.

H

We asked at many of these events what people thought makes brothel special. It came up I Believe by commissioner Jones, about um how to make our Bothell comprehensive plan more about Bothell like what sets what makes buffalo different than Kenmore different than Kirkland different than all these other local cities that are doing the same project, and we heard some really cool things from folks. I know that Graphics coming through a little small on the screen, but it is printed in your packet as well.

H

um Our intern Shirley did a great job with these Graphics they're so fun and also communicate exactly what happened so um the the priorities that kept coming up for the community about what makes it special were the community itself and community events, natural environment, Parks, Trails, accessibility and walkability, and then also tons of people called out local businesses or like organizations that they loved.

H

We also asked about cultural and historic landmarks, meaning you know. If you had a favorite place or space in Bothell, what was it? Where is it? What type of place is it again? People called out Parks local businesses, cultural and education institutes, historic structures. There was a lot of fun feedback there. We got to have lots of um like conversations about people's memories at certain places or oh yeah. My family and I are at the dog park every week.

H

You know those types of things which is really fun to hear it's fun, to hear that people love our city as much as we do.

H

At sustain a Mania, specifically, we talked about climate and what priorities uh folks from the community wanted to see. So, when we're looking at the the purpose and the intent of the climate element, you know what are our goals and they mentioned tree canopy and preservation of trees, making sure that that wildlife habitat is being preserved as much as possible, um compensating for extreme weather events and making sure we're prepared for how to deal with those air quality displacement. All of those things.

H

People here really want to see the natural environment and love being in it, and that was very clear.

H

Biggest takeaways were that we want to integrate that if that feedback from all those conversations and the boards that we had written on and the maps that we had people pin things on into the guiding principles and really what that end goal for this for the people of Bothell what they want to see that end goal reflecting so that ties into the visioning and the blueprint The Guiding principles, so that we can make sure that what people told us is being reflected in the plan itself.

H

So that's that's a that's that and apparently I am stuttering. So here we go upcoming. Engagement, so welcoming week is something the City of Buffalo is doing and that's being headed up by our diversity, equity and inclusion. Coordinator Gabby.

H

um We are participating from the comp plan in two different places, we'll be out front um before the council meeting on the 12th and then we'll also be partnering with the King County library system, the Buffalo downtown library for their civic Saturday event, we'll just be there available to talk and they're basically going to be presenting for the most part, but we will be contributing some information and resources for the comp plan as well, and then the big event is our open house. So the save the date October 26th.

H

We are hosting a for a day or a lifetime tour and we're going to talk about all the different elements of the plan. We'll have staff from many different departments. We are still working out some of the most of the details, but we're hoping to host it at Skyview middle school in their Commons it'll, be open from 5 to 8, 8 30ish and we hope people come by for that. Come talk to staff. Come participate, provide feedback, learn about the different elements, there's going to be activities and Raffles, and it's just gonna.

H

It's gonna be really fun like. How do we make the comp plan fun come to that um we'll also be tabling at trick or treat on Main Street um we're going to be all decked out and fun stuff for that, and then stay tuned for early 2024 for an additional open house that will look a little different than the October one, we'll be focusing on different things, but um still a really good opportunity to engage.

J

Foreign, thank you so I'm going to be talking a little bit today about guiding principles. So what we've?

J

The discussions we've had in the past I believe that was uh back in April and May for this body and for city council, some of the feedback we heard based on staff recommendations, as well as what we heard from the community and how that was kind of integrated into this early rough draft, as well as some of the feedback from our working group sessions that we've been having and that's a comprehensive plan working group that our consultant team put together with constituents from all over the city representing a fairly wide and diverse group of folks, and we meet with them every two months and we are also having a session with them specifically on Guiding principles next week as well, so they will be reviewing that and our human services coordinator and our Dei coordinator Gabby, will also be reviewing those as well.

J

So some of the feedback that we heard from Planning, Commission and Council on the existing statement. Just as a reminder, I won't go through all these in detail. I did have also a list in the memo I'm.

J

A big Focus we heard from both bodies was climate in the environment as being something that needed to be put a little bit more front and center, a little more explicitly called out again a call to figure out what are some of the really unique things about Bothell that we should make sure are included a call for condensing and reducing the text to make sort of a pithier document.

J

That's a little more kind of front and center and really fulfilling the the need for a vision, updating language to make sure that we're using you know more up-to-date in modern language, highlighting equity and inclusivity within the document highlighting the connection to our higher institutional bodies that we have in the city that are really special at UW Bothell and Cascadia College. The interconnected interconnectedness I can't talk right now between the city and our local jurisdictions, as well as the two counties and the fact that we are within this Regional planning area as well.

J

An increased focus on multimodal Transit, which will highlight some of the work that our transportation team is working on. We are also hearing about the importance of neighborhood scale when it comes to community planning and development, and some of that walkability that we know people love and want to see more of economic stability.

J

We've been hearing a lot about that, particularly with the urban three work that has been contracted by the city again, some of that again strengthening that intergovernmental coordination and cooperation and the importance of that and then just in general, making sure we're really careful about word choice. That's being really intentional about word, choice and making sure that we review all of that through a few different lenses.

J

So, as I was reviewing the existing principles, which is again kind of a lengthy list, it was, it became evident to me that an easy way of starting to think about how they are currently and how they might be interrelated and opportunities for combining and condensing and reorganizing. These six themes seem to really stick out to me, both with the existing principles as well as some of the feedback. We heard from Planning Commission and Council and the community, so the sixth that I've kind of come to right now.

J

That was one of the items I'd like to get some feedback on are community and cultural strength and resilience, climbed in the environment, Equity connectivity, balance and economic vitality, and it was through these six themes. I was I, worked to try and take all of the feedback. We've been hearing over the last few months and come up with some options.

J

uh One of the first things I worked on and I'm just going to go through kind of the background on some of these, and then we can go back and do some sort of section by section if that would make some sense.

J

um The longer and shorter I decided to do a longer and a shorter version of all of these things. One because acknowledging what is dipped there in a spin there and not wanting to lose the content that is valuable, so doing a lighter touch and then also following some best practices for really condensing and getting down to a much more sort of pithy and kind of Punchy response.

J

So the first portion of that, for me, was that sort of introductory visioning statement prior to the statements on the left is that sort of longer version a little bit more similar to The Format. It is now I mean that's again kind of from the original 1991 vision and then on. The right is a much more shortened down version kind of more clearly highlighting the six themes.

J

That kind of seem to come out for me and then kind of on that same token, I, I've, condensed them down and revised them and added I think one or two uh to create 10 principles. These are the longer versions and then I have some shorter versions as well. So getting a feel for what do you think about some of the shorter versions?

J

Maybe there's a mixture of both if there's certain bits of language that are maybe missed in the shorter ones that you want to see uh so spending some time kind of thinking through that?

J

And then the last piece was the 19th statement um in chatting with staff. We really felt like it wasn't a principle and unto itself, but more of like a conclusory statement, sort of wrapping everything up, so we I put together kind of again two versions of that. This is the one that's there currently and then a slightly revised version as again sort of that conclusory statement to the principles and the visioning statement, and then, as promised, trying to put together at least a very early version of something that's a little more visual easy to follow.

J

I wanted to find a way to show where the principles kind of stood in terms of those six values and then connecting the shorter version. This is the shorter version of everything just because that's what I could fit on a single page um so connecting that visioning statement and those values to The Guiding principles and making those connections really clear and concise and how they kind of work together as one overall visioning document.

J

So with that I was going to kind of open it up and we can bounce around from page to page. I also have the documents up in word, so I could take notes in real time. If that's something you'd like as well.

A

All right well, thank you. Thank you, your presentation and thank you for listening and clearly incorporating what you've heard. So with that. uh Where would you like to start.

J

um I guess I would just take if you want to start from the beginning. We can go to the uh introductory statement that might be an easy place to start. Okay,.

A

We also have that on page 51 of the packet, if that's easier, to see questions comments, discussion, commissioner Gustafson hi.

B

Sarah Gustafson here this is really exciting: senior Planet I love how you described it as a crosswalk from one version of the statements to the other and I don't want to start with the end, but that ending statement was very moving, so yeah I've, starting from the beginning, I, like the alternate shorter version, I, think that.

B

Allows us to focus more on the special things.

A

Commissioner, westerbeck.

I

uh I would concur I, read all these today um and really both in the guiding principles and I'm now jumping ahead, as well as the um the individual numbered items, the shorter one I thought was better because it's more likely to be read and and digested and I think you captured really well the essence of each one- and uh you know like they almost always feel like concise- is better with with something like this there's a lot in each sentence, but I mean um to use your word they're pithy.

I

There's a lot a lot in there, so um I tend to prefer the shorter I think you capture what we needed to.

A

Other comments Mission occurred.

D

um I liked the longer version I think that um maybe just I like how it flows and when I was just reading through it. It seemed like each.

D

um The six uh points are still in there, but they were kind of embedded in a little bit of context and I really like that. I think if we go with the alternate or shorter version that that pithiness lends itself to like visual um people who process information visually, and so they they people that are like me, uh look at it and they um they can pull out those six things in this shorter statement. Whereas for me it's just like a wall of text, and so maybe this could be more visual.

D

You were trying to get to that sort of visual look and we we had looked at some previous or alternate kind of documents that could be explored and so um I think. If you're looking at a document, the top one I really I like a lot, because it gives some context, I wouldn't say no to the shorter version, just because people are more likely to read and it has the same information but um yeah. That's just my alternate perspective.

J

Yeah and the next step would kind of be. We do have a graphic designer as a subconsultant, that's working on some iconography. For us. We need to kind of get them on board to say, hey, we've sort of have this start on a more visual document. Help me because I'm not a graphic designer with some of that those components and we might get feedback from them too about.

J

Maybe we could. We can do this if there's even less text or something like that, so any feedback too, if there are even shorter ones, that you think could be more concise. There is also room for additional revision if we want to go further in a more visual format, and that might be tricky just based on how much text there is, um but again, because I'm, not a graphic designer that was. This is sort of just a first blush, so kind of I kind of thinking about how it could look.

J

So that's definitely something we can explore more too cool.

D

Yeah I think I can't really remember. If um we had given a lot of feedback I think we were like yeah that the visual stuff looks great, but I don't know if we if the city has gone with One, Direction or the other still kind of developing, still figuring stuff out, but.

J

I think, regardless it's going to be more graphic than it is now, it's just a matter of on the limitations to the size of a page and what text we want to put up on there as I was developing. This I was starting to try and add some more photographs, but it started to get a little bit difficult to to read. I'm sure I wanted to avoid some of uh potential issues with it being difficult to read so.

D

A

Okay, yeah I I generally do I'm in kind to Shorter. That said, the the original one is not that long. So I, don't think that's problematic and bullets do help separate things out. So um I don't know. Maybe uh compromise, or you know you did say, you're working on a layout, so yeah.

J

We had started to talk a little bit about putting some things in bulleted form, but it didn't have a chance to to do a full version before tonight. So that's definitely an option. We can explore.

A

And this is going to be part of a larger document, so there'll be plenty of words Elsewhere for those who want a lot of words, so brevity is good, but also readability, so it kind of striking that balance yeah.

J

And if there's elements that you think could be taken from the vision but not removed entirely from the plan, like perhaps they'd, be more appropriate within a goal for an element or a policy for an element. That's certainly something we could do as well, so that content is being retained, but maybe it would fit better in a different place.

J

A

E

So I really like um the grouping according to the six themes and I thought that your approach was pretty good in terms of using those themes that you've heard come out from the majority of folks to sort of organize the document. um Apologies of these questions I should know the answers to. But um how long is this plan for.

J

This will be for the next 10 years, so the planning window is a 20-year window, but we appear, the periodic update, happens. Every 10.

E

Years so So the plan is for 10 years, so it is assumed that this plan gets us to that milestone in 10 years and then there'll be another plan. So it's okay to have some statements in here then that um emphasize what might be seen as shorter term.

E

It's more of a question because and I'm asking the question, because when you think about language, some of these include statements such as prioritizing new projects and programs in that would imply that there's a time frame to that prioritization. So it might not be the same prioritization in the future and I. Just wonder if that's intentional or not.

H

J

E

Was sort of one question.

J

I think the intent there probably is that we would always be looking at how to prioritize our projects on an ongoing basis, um but that's certainly something we can take a look at and see if that makes sense to have that language. That way, or maybe there's something that's more of a longer term way of speaking to that, that would make sense, I'm.

E

I am for once mixed on whether short the brevity version or the longer version is better.

E

It's hard actually for me to to picture it because of I know why you did it this way and I appreciate it this way, but I also like seeing well here's what it would look like in final form without all of the commentary, and things like that, so I'm wondering will you still so there are many more feedback sessions, for this will be a draft of some form that you're going to take to all of these Outreach events and get feedback on. So the final version could look quite different from this right.

J

It's possible for sure we'll be taking this to Council next week and I'll be looking at it with our working group next Thursday and then it will also be featured at the open house in October as well, for folks to comment on and read so.

E

You can test out the language and the wording in those various forums.

J

E

That's probably good with a larger group of people as well yeah.

E

um The last sort of comment thought that I had is, and again it gets back to something you said about the intentionality of language, the issue about cultural resources, um so certainly preservation of cultural resources has um has has been a controversial Topic in several communities um over the last five or so years. Right um and the way it's written in the brevity version is uh significant cultural resources. The teleholistic story of the city are preserved to honor bothell's history and provide a perspective for the future.

E

Do we feel that those who that our cultural resources currently tell a holistic story and the reason I ask the question- is because it talks about preserving? What's there in terms of resources, it doesn't necessarily talk about identifying additional resources or creating additional artifacts that represent our cultural history um before certain elements of civilization. You know western civilization, civilization, Etc, so I. Just wonder if there's another way to phrase that.

J

Yeah- and that was one I'm wanting to workshop with our historic preservation- consultant- that's working on the telling bothells full story project, so that will be one that I kind of knew is going to need to be massage and workshop and thought about with a lot of intention, especially since we are planning on having the historic preservation element, be a cultural resources element in order to kind of reflect.

J

Some of that and the value of that so definitely noted for sure, and that is one I already kind of flagged that we needed to talk through a little bit more. That's.

E

Great I appreciate it and I thought of it because of the work that you're.

F

E

Tell that that larger story about the city of waterfall, so thank you.

A

Even it changes small, as you know, cultural resources to tell a story of the city are identified and preserved leaves room for it to grow.

A

A

I'm sure, as we see this will continue to comment, it's something that you think about, and yes.

J

A

I think, as I mentioned.

J

In the a b, written comment is definitely more than welcome, especially when workshopping language that can be kind of tricky, so yeah.

A

Okay, to move to your next.

J

All right, so, if we're done on comments on this- and we can always go back if commissioner westerbeck has more- he wants to mention I'll get into just some of the next steps of what to expect moving forward. Like I mentioned uh we're presenting to the Council on the 12th. uh The next bullet is a typo. E14 has obviously already happened. uh The working group session is next Thursday, so that's the 14th of September, not of August, like I mentioned there'll, be public review at the open house on October 26th.

J

Some of the goals at open house are really like Sarah mentioned really getting in on those priorities for the community on a topical basis which will help us when we're developing all of the elements as we're reviewing those drafts internally, as well as the visioning and guiding principles component, and then we'll also have some educational material as well for overall sort of comp plan 101.

J

What is this, why is it important and valuable and then, as I mentioned, we'll be continuing to revise based on all of that feedback and working with our consultant team and then, as promised, our upcoming meeting schedule. uh I decided. That would be valuable for me to make sure I had everything timed properly, so we could get a touch on all the topics before the end of the year.

J

So, as I mentioned on next Tuesday we'll be having this discussion with city council and bringing some of the feedback we heard tonight to council on the 20th. That's going to be a really big one, we'll be talking about land use, housing and economic development.

J

This will include a discussion about the growth targets, particularly in the context of our new affordability requirements with HB 1220, so we'll be getting a little bit technical that night um and then we'll also be showing you the current, the first iteration of our future land use alternatives, so that will be a good session. The fourth will be coming back here to talk about climate, which we have before back in June, but coming back to that uh as well.

J

In October natural environment parks and shorelines, some of the goals of these meetings um as sort of a prepare, yourselves I suppose as we're really again trying to get at these priorities. That's kind of the key thing is: what is the end result that we're hoping to get at when it comes to these elements? What are the key priorities when it comes to parks, recreation and open space?

J

What are some of the key priorities when it comes to climate, which again, we've talked about, but also the natural environment, and that will really help us as a reviewing and developing the drafts to make sure that we're integrating those priorities into the goals and policies on October 17th we'll be taking the land, use, housing and economic development, discussion to city council and again trying to get at those priorities, particularly when it comes to Economic, Development and housing.

J

Land use is going to be a little more specific again to the growth targets and projections that were required to meet under GMA and talking through some of the options for accommodating that and then on. The first we'll be coming back again to talk about sub areas. The main focus will be uh the Red Barn. What we're currently is the Red Barn Country Village sub-area.

J

That's the one that we're doing a major effort for this go around and we'll have done some engagement work with the community by then so hoping to give some feedback on that and establish some priorities for that sub area, which is a currently a uh it's, not quite a county-wide center. Yet it's a candidate countywide Center, just the Snohomish County portion.

J

So that's part of the reason that we're doing some early visioning and some analysis of that we're also going to be coming to talk about the cultural resources element prior previously known as the historic preservation element. I will hopefully have met with the landmark preservation board by that time and gotten some feedback from them and you'll get to meet our uh I'm hoping he's available for that meeting.

J

Our historic preservation consultant um Adam, also Brooke, and then we'll also be talking about the Urban Design element that night and then later on, into November, taking the climate, natural environment parks and shorelines discussion to City Council on the 14th.

J

The 21st will be having that same discussion on sub areas, cultural resources and Urban Design, with Council again bringing feedback from this body to the council and then December Planning Commission on the 6th, we're going to be talking about Capital facilities, Human, Services and utilities, and also providing a wrap up on how the open house went in October and then mirroring that discussion with City Council on the 12th, and you know nice little break for the holidays after the 12th and then in early 2024.

J

Things to expect are going to be public drafts sometime in late February and then we'll be holding a the open house, probably in March. Given that timing and we're also aiming to have a draft of the Eis out in January I, believe it's mid-January mid to late January.

J

And that's it so, as I mentioned, if you have any other written feedback, please feel free to email me and we'll be taking that all in and collecting it and reviewing it so and commissioner westerbeck I, don't know if you had any additional comments on The Guiding principles. I wanted to make sure.

I

Nope, just I got my comments earlier, so I'm. Fine, thank you for asking.

A

So any other comments or questions from the commission, commissioner Jones.

E

I have one last question and that's about the feedback, so you went to a number of events got a lot of feedback which is awesome. Were you able to capture um self-reported demographics and I mean um demographics related to race, gender income levels Etc so there? So we don't really know how representative the information is. Right, correct,.

H

Yeah it was, it was very open-ended, very public, very some of the people even said. Well, I don't live here and we were like. That's okay, give us your feedback you're here hanging out with us anyway, you know so so no we didn't.

H

um We do collect some of that information on the engagement portal, so when people are providing feedback there, which often mirrored what we did in person or will be doing in person, we do ask those questions there um on some things, like the transportation survey, has that as an optional self-reporting, um which is open until the end of the month by the way, um and then some of the activities request some stuff, but we did not collect it in person it would. It was challenging to do get.

E

Well and do well well I suspected that and confirmed it, and it's not at all a critique in terms of the way you went about collecting that type of feedback, because it's so important to get that feedback. But I was impressed with the prior presentation um and the way they went and conducted interviews at specific areas um with populations that you might not see at some of these public events and I know that would be difficult to do, but it it was impressive with what they had done very much.

A

Other questions or comments, commissioner Gustafson.

B

Hi Sarah Gustafson here, if there's enough time and if other Commissioners are interested I, would love for us to take a closer look at some of the poster boards that we saw the photos of and maybe put them on, the screen. I'd love to see what was on that big idea for Bothell I.

I

Was super curious too yeah.

H

We are going to be I, think working in some of those photos to part of the reporting back. um I can just like flip through photos right now. I don't have it in a presentable I. Don't I, don't have that presentable at the moment, but I can definitely work on that for next time, get get better photos like change the lighting, so you can actually read it all things like that um yeah we could put. We could.

J

Do that we could put together some kind of a packet that has all of the photos that we have yeah available to have a short discussion. Maybe at the beginning of the next.

H

Meeting yeah like unfinished business I can bring those up.

J

For the next meeting.

H

J

I might be better, so they're yeah laid.

I

Out for you and yeah I was studying those really hard too.

H

Well, we could set them up chronologically that way. The question we asked.

H

A

I think that'd be very useful. We are very interested in hearing what you're hearing from the community to help inform us.

J

A

Other comments or questions.

A

Seeing none I guess, that's this item for us and it looks to be a quick meeting. So we'll conclude this study session there do we have any reports from staff this evening, I.

J

Don't think so.

B

A

Members Mr Gustav I.

B

Have Sarah Gustafson here I have a bit of information to share, but it's mostly a question.

B

There are folks in my neighborhood who are interested in implementing traffic calming measures, so we went to the city website and there is a actual set of steps for requesting traffic calming measures in neighborhoods, and my question is: is this still enforce? Can anyone submit it or is it advisable to wait for a different process.

F

Certainly go ahead and submit it we're kind of on a Hiatus because of covid, and we had a. We lost the technician so we're challenged on Staffing, but I would go ahead and submit it. If you guys have concerns because there is funding there in our staff workload, kind of goes up and down and on a lower when it comes down a little bit. Those are some of the things we can pick up and work on.

B

Great thank you. I wanted to clarify. It doesn't sound like this needs to fit in the same prioritization Matrix as Street improvements. It is somewhat different and can be handled separately. It's what I'm hearing it.

F

Probably crosses over right.

B

F

Mean when we do a comp plan we're going to have some safety things identified, I'm, assuming if there are incidents in the road you're talking about it, would show up in our safety plan. Okay traffic calming is a program all by itself, and typically it's on local roads, not necessarily collectors or arterials yeah. That's by definition where it started.

B

Okay, straight.

F

Yeah I would, if you have opportunity I, would submit because right.

B

A

Other reports from members I guess I'd like to recognize that the two items work together really well. The sidewalk issue really goes to some of the ideas we identified as important in the comp plan. So uh yeah.

J

And you'll see on the boards, when we put that together that report sidewalks came up a lot. Yeah yeah.

A

That's great, thank you. Any other reports from members don't think we have anything out of this meeting to report the council. So with that there being no further business, is there a motion to adjourn.

I

Eme I moved to adjourn Planning Commission. Second.

A

B

There a second commissioner Gustafson here, I second that motion. Thank you.

A

I lost my there. uh It's been seconded all in favor of adjourning hi all right, so uh the September 6 meeting the Planning Commission, is adjourned at 7 22 this evening. Thank you all for your participation in that and thank you to the staff for a very informative meeting. We look forward to seeing you September 20th.

J