Planning Commission MINS 06-15-2016CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
PLANNING COMMISSION
June 15, 2016 City Hall
6:30 p.m. City Council Chambers
MEETING MINUTES
Commissioners present: Lawson Bronson, Tom Medhurst, Hope Elder, Sarady Long, Tim O'Neil, and
Diana Noble - Gulliford. Commissioners absent: Wayne Carlson and Anthony Murrietta (excused). City
Staff present: Planning Manager Isaac Conlen, Planner Jim Harris, City Traffic Engineer Rick Perez,
Assistant City Attorney Mark Orthmann, and Administrative Assistant Tina Piety. Guest: Federal Way
Public Schools Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Sally D. McLean.
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Bronson called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of May 4, 2016, were approved with the correction that Tom Medhurst was absent and
excused.
AUDIENCE COMMENT
None
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Planning Manager Conlen informed the Commission that the city has hired David VanDeWeghe as our
new Senior Planner. The next Planning Commission meeting will be July 6`h. It will be a second study
session on the proposed amendments to parks open space requirements.
COMMISSION BUSINESS
Public Hearing — Proposed Amendments to the Impact Fee Deferral Program
Planner Harris delivered the staff report. In 2015, the state passed legislation that requires cities to adopt
an impact fee collection deferral system. The deadline for adoption is September 1, 2016. The proposed
amendments are in response to that legislation. The amendments are applicable to school and
transportation impact fees for single - family residences. Policy choices these amendments address include:
what juncture should the impact fees be deferred to; whether to collect a reasonable administrative fee;
and whether to limit the deferral to the first 20 building permits per applicant, or to a greater number.
Currently, the city collects school impact fees at the time the building permit is issued for a new single -
family residence. There is no deferral payment allowed for school impact fees. For transportation impact
fees, the city collects the fee prior to recording for a new subdivision, with a deferral allowed (with
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Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 June 15, 2016
conditions) to no later than the closing sale of each individual home. For existing single- family lots, the
transportation impact fee is paid at the time a building permit is issued for a new single- family residence;
with again, a deferral allowed (with conditions) to no later than the closing sale of each individual home.
The proposed amendments will require payment of both the school and transportation impact fees at the
time a building permit is issued for a new single - family residence. In addition, a deferral would be
allowed for both fees at the final inspection of the building. The proposed amendments will also:
• Allow the term of deferral up to 18 months from the issuance of the building permit.
• The amount of the deferred fee is determined by the fee in effect at time the applicant applies
for a deferral.
• The deferral is limited to first 20 single - family residential permits annually per applicant.
• The applicant must grant and record a lien against the property in favor of the city.
• The city may collect a reasonable administrative fee.
• The city and school district are authorized to institute foreclosure proceedings if impact fees
not paid.
Commissioner Noble - Gulliford asked if the city makes a distinction between attached and detached
single - family residences. Planner Harris replied that the city does make a distinction and the proposed
amendment will not affect attached single - family residences.
Vice -Chair Medhurst asked if it is necessary for the city to go as far as a lien for the payment. Assistant
City Attorney Orthmann replied that a lien is the city's only enforcement tool. The city collects the school
impact fee and sends it to the school district. If for some reason the city decides to not close on a lien, the
school district then as the right to close on that lien.
The meeting was opened for public comment and there was none. Vice -Chair Medhurst moved (seconded
by Commissioner Elder) to recommend adoption of the impact fee deferral system as presented by staff.
There was no further discussion and the motion carried. The public hearing was closed.
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
Commissioner Noble - Gulliford encouraged the city to research who lives in the city and are the impact
fees adequate to address the needs (transportation and parks) of our citizens? Planning Manager Conlen
agreed that it is important that the city review and adjust impact fees as needed. He responded that city will
take this into consideration when addressing the current parks and open space code amendments. He noted
the school district does review and adjust (if needed) their fee on an annual basis. The Parks Department
will be updating the Parks Plan in the near future and will review their impact fees at that time.
Planning Manager Isaac Conlen announced that he has resigned his position and taken a position with the
City of Seattle.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
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