Planning Policy Commission · Tuesday, May 23, 2023 · City Council Digest

2. PUBLIC COMMENTS

Recommendation on Amendments to Title 18 Diversity of Housing Types, (A)

25 min · Christen Leeson, Senior Planner Public Hearing Order: Commission Recommendation · packet pp.3–8

Topics: HousingLand UseEquity

Open packet at p.3 ↗

Staff report:

The Planning Policy Commission (PPC) will hold a public hearing on the following proposed amendments to Title 18, Land Use Code.

4. REGULAR BUSINESS

Adoption of Virtual Attendance Policy and Rules & Regulations, (A)

50 min · Tisha Gieser, City Clerk Stephen Padua, Long Range Planning Manager · packet pp.9–20

▶ Watch from 23:12 Open packet at p.9 ↗

Staff report:

City Clerk's Office 130 E. Sunset Way | P.O. Box 1307 Issaquah, WA 98027 425-837-3000 issaquahwa.gov

Open Government Training

Discussion · 20 min · Tisha Gieser, City Clerk

▶ Watch from 31:41

5. REPORTS

Council Update

Stephen Padua, Long Range Planning Manager

6. OTHER BUSINESS / ANNOUNCEMENTS

Upcoming Schedule

packet pp.21–22

Open packet at p.21 ↗

Staff report:

Planning Policy Commission 2023 Schedule (subject to change) 2022 1/12/23 1/19/23 1/26/23 (Special Meeting) Title 18 – Final Draft Introduction Public Hearing: Title 18 – Final Draft Public Hearing: Title 18 – Final Draft  Part 1 – General Provisions  Part 5 – Specified Use Standards

2065 segments .txt ↗

0:04 ↗ perfect there we go so good evening I

0:07 ↗ would like to call to order the May 23rd

0:09 ↗ special meeting of the planet planning

0:11 ↗ policy commission at 6 32 pm

0:14 ↗ tonight's meeting is a hybrid meeting

0:16 ↗ the planning policy commission is in

0:18 ↗ person but staff are members of the

0:20 ↗ public may be attending virtually or in

0:22 ↗ person

0:24 ↗ so Stephen do we have a quorum tonight

0:28 ↗ Vice chair yes you do

0:36 ↗ yes we have one person in the room

0:38 ↗ signed up for public comment okay great

0:41 ↗ um so comments at tonight's meeting may

0:43 ↗ be made in person or virtually for all

0:46 ↗ who would like to speak during public

0:47 ↗ comments speak clearly and pause

0:49 ↗ frequently state your name each time

0:51 ↗ before speaking if you are attending

0:54 ↗ virtually by computer or by phone and

0:56 ↗ would like to speak during public

0:57 ↗ comments in addition to what I just

0:59 ↗ mentioned please meet your microphone

1:00 ↗ when not speaking and if you're having

1:03 ↗ technical issues try joining the meeting

1:05 ↗ using a different device such as a

1:06 ↗ smartphone or a tablet or use the call

1:09 ↗ in information in the meeting invite to

1:10 ↗ call into the meeting

1:12 ↗ so public comments are an important part

1:14 ↗ of the public process we take them

1:16 ↗ seriously and we Factor them into the

1:18 ↗ decisions that we make comments may be

1:21 ↗ general or related to the topics we're

1:22 ↗ discussing tonight they'll also have a

1:25 ↗ public hearing later on and please note

1:27 ↗ that comments are limited to five

1:28 ↗ minutes

1:29 ↗ and so I welcome council member hunt

1:34 ↗ um

1:36 ↗ thank you good evening my name is

1:38 ↗ Victoria hunt I live at 352 Wilderness

1:41 ↗ Peak Drive Northwest in Issaquah and I

1:45 ↗ am currently serving on the Issaquah

1:47 ↗ city council I have served on the city

1:49 ↗ council since 2018 but before until the

1:52 ↗ very day that I started serving on

1:54 ↗ Council before that I served on the

1:55 ↗ planning policy commission and I know

1:58 ↗ firsthand how much work you all put into

2:01 ↗ this and how important it is to our

2:04 ↗ process and to the city so I really am

2:08 ↗ here tonight to thank you all for the

2:10 ↗ hours you take out of your busy life to

2:12 ↗ do this volunteer work and to help us at

2:16 ↗ the city council make the best possible

2:18 ↗ decisions for the benefit of the entire

2:19 ↗ community

2:21 ↗ um on the city council I also am the

2:24 ↗ chair of the Planning Development and

2:25 ↗ environment committee and so we are the

2:28 ↗ committee that oftentimes does receive

2:30 ↗ those recommendations in the first step

2:32 ↗ of our process for things like the title

2:35 ↗ 18 Municipal Code updates which was a

2:39 ↗ very big lift that you all helped with

2:41 ↗ tremendously and we are all very

2:43 ↗ grateful for those inputs that helped us

2:45 ↗ get that project across the Finish Line

2:48 ↗ lands that plane that was a very big

2:51 ↗ lift lots of community input and lots of

2:53 ↗ input from you that was invaluable to

2:55 ↗ our process

2:58 ↗ um

2:59 ↗ I also wanted to be sure to thank you

3:03 ↗ all because I know that there were many

3:05 ↗ meetings and many different deep dives

3:07 ↗ into topics that will continue into the

3:10 ↗ future and many of the topics that you

3:12 ↗ take the public comments on we use that

3:16 ↗ we do watch your meetings we look at

3:18 ↗ your meeting notes and we be sure to

3:21 ↗ factor all of that into our decisions

3:22 ↗ it's extremely important and we thank

3:26 ↗ you so much and for decades to come I

3:30 ↗ think that especially with things like

3:31 ↗ Title 18

3:33 ↗ you will have a real impact so thank you

3:36 ↗ so much and we are all available city

3:39 ↗ council members are all available

3:41 ↗ um if you have questions for us or if

3:43 ↗ you want to know how we are using your

3:45 ↗ input we have our phone numbers and

3:48 ↗ emails on the city website we would love

3:51 ↗ to hear from you directly if that's

3:52 ↗ helpful and again thank you so much

4:00 ↗ speak on all of our behalfs and I say we

4:02 ↗ appreciate the thanks and the Kudos and

4:04 ↗ to you all as well knowing that

4:07 ↗ a lot of work went in from staff and

4:09 ↗ from Council and everybody I'm on Title

4:11 ↗ 18 over the last year and a half or so

4:13 ↗ is there anyone signed up to speak

4:15 ↗ virtually

4:17 ↗ no one else has signed up to speak

4:19 ↗ okay

4:21 ↗ um so we will move on then um to our

4:23 ↗ public hearing

4:25 ↗ um so tonight we are holding a public

4:26 ↗ hearing regarding proposed amendments to

4:29 ↗ Aid in increasing diversity of housing

4:31 ↗ in Issaquah

4:32 ↗ so the public hearing we've all I think

4:34 ↗ sat through one of these but it'll work

4:36 ↗ as follows so staff will first make a

4:38 ↗ presentation

4:40 ↗ um PPC will ask Claire any clarifying

4:42 ↗ questions I'll then open the comment

4:45 ↗ period

4:46 ↗ and I will close the public hearing and

4:48 ↗ then we will deliberate and so with that

4:51 ↗ I will go ahead and open the public

4:52 ↗ hearing at 6 36 PM so Kristen go ahead

5:18 ↗ all right thank you for your patience

5:19 ↗ always takes me a minute to get that set

5:21 ↗ up it doesn't matter how many times I've

5:23 ↗ done it

5:25 ↗ so

5:26 ↗ um before I start

5:28 ↗ I do want to add on to council members

5:31 ↗ Hunt's discussion that they read the

5:33 ↗ minutes and that they watch they really

5:35 ↗ do they either watch or forever every

5:39 ↗ time that we take one of our topics to

5:41 ↗ the city council and to the Planning

5:44 ↗ Development environment committee we

5:46 ↗ include the agenda all of the

5:48 ↗ attachments the links to the videos so

5:50 ↗ that they can watch those and the

5:52 ↗ minutes so plus all the public comments

5:54 ↗ that they get that we get so they really

5:56 ↗ do pay attention to all of that so thank

5:59 ↗ you to them

6:00 ↗ um moving on we are here for a public

6:02 ↗ hearing

6:03 ↗ so tonight we are talking about doesn't

6:07 ↗ want to move

6:09 ↗ here we go

6:11 ↗ tonight we are holding a public hearing

6:13 ↗ um and we are going to take public

6:14 ↗ comment regarding the proposed

6:16 ↗ amendments believe it or not to Title 18

6:19 ↗ um regarding housing diversity so as you

6:21 ↗ recall this is part of implementing our

6:24 ↗ housing strategy here's our housing

6:26 ↗ Continuum and where we invest our money

6:29 ↗ and our time regarding housing and We

6:32 ↗ Are Tonight focusing on the housing

6:34 ↗ action work plan specifically market

6:37 ↗ rate rental and ownership housing

6:40 ↗ we're focusing on strategy eight

6:42 ↗ diversity of housing which says to

6:44 ↗ incorporate code Provisions to increase

6:46 ↗ the potential diversity of housing types

6:48 ↗ built in the city

6:51 ↗ we talked about this last time three

6:54 ↗ different types of housing that we

6:55 ↗ looked at are Cod chousing Courtyard

6:57 ↗ housing which we've changed from

6:59 ↗ apartments and micro units also you'll

7:03 ↗ find out soon known as single room

7:04 ↗ occupancies

7:06 ↗ okay

7:07 ↗ so the immediate issues as you recall

7:09 ↗ from our previous discussion there are

7:11 ↗ many issues that that factor into

7:15 ↗ getting these here and making these

7:17 ↗ happen so you know it's cost of land

7:19 ↗ cost of construction parking height

7:20 ↗ density all these things need to be

7:23 ↗ taken into consideration but the first

7:24 ↗ step because we'd like to wait on the

7:26 ↗ parking strategy to be done first so we

7:28 ↗ can look at it comprehensively the first

7:30 ↗ step that we're going to take is to

7:32 ↗ include definitions because we have no

7:34 ↗ definitions these also are not included

7:37 ↗ as permitted uses in our permitted uses

7:38 ↗ table so we'd like to take that first

7:40 ↗ step and get that done

7:43 ↗ so the first one starting with

7:44 ↗ definitions is Cottage housing so this

7:47 ↗ is what you saw last time and it was a

7:49 ↗ little long and you all commented on it

7:51 ↗ Cottage Housing Development is detached

7:53 ↗ single family housing in a cluster of 4

7:55 ↗ to 12 units around a centralized

7:57 ↗ Courtyard and then we listed all these

7:59 ↗ different things right

8:01 ↗ and you all asked us to one please be

8:04 ↗ more specific regarding the size of the

8:06 ↗ units

8:07 ↗ you asked if we need to mention

8:09 ↗ condominium because it talks about how

8:11 ↗ it might be set on a condominium setting

8:12 ↗ and if you'll recall that was units on

8:16 ↗ detached units it could be on

8:18 ↗ unsubdivided lands so that people are

8:19 ↗ buying the building and not the land

8:21 ↗ below it that's commonly owned and

8:23 ↗ that's why it was mentioned that way and

8:25 ↗ then we also removed some of the excess

8:27 ↗ language just to shorten it add a little

8:30 ↗ brevity so size of units we looked at

8:33 ↗ five different cities and their maximums

8:35 ↗ ranged anywhere from 1200 square feet to

8:38 ↗ 1700 square feet so and there were no

8:41 ↗ minimums mentioned in any of these and

8:43 ↗ one of the things that you asked about

8:45 ↗ what are their minimum size units

8:47 ↗ they're not we found in the building

8:48 ↗ code the international building code it

8:50 ↗ talks about the minimum size of a

8:53 ↗ bedroom which is 60 square feet but

8:55 ↗ there's nothing about unit itself

8:57 ↗ so we didn't put a minimum in here

8:59 ↗ because you have to assume that the

9:01 ↗ market too is going to drive nobody's

9:03 ↗ going to buy a 16 it just won't work if

9:05 ↗ your bedroom has to be 60 square it's

9:07 ↗ not going to work so we didn't include

9:09 ↗ that but we are proposing 1700 square

9:11 ↗ feet as a minimum

9:13 ↗ do we need to mention condominium no we

9:15 ↗ don't how they develop it is kind of up

9:18 ↗ to them but we can also address it if we

9:19 ↗ want to be more specific Kirkland

9:21 ↗ doesn't care you know if you look at

9:23 ↗ their code it can be done either way it

9:25 ↗ can be done as a condominium or it can

9:26 ↗ be subdivided

9:27 ↗ we can talk about when the standards

9:29 ↗ come which way we want to see if there's

9:31 ↗ a way that we want to see that happen or

9:32 ↗ leave it up to developer and then as I

9:35 ↗ said we removed excess language

9:38 ↗ so here's what we changed it to Cottage

9:40 ↗ Housing Development beans detached

9:42 ↗ single-family housing oh well

9:44 ↗ in a cluster of four to twelve dwelling

9:46 ↗ units around a central open space

9:48 ↗ providing residences for households that

9:50 ↗ are no larger than 1700 square feet in

9:52 ↗ size units may share use of common

9:55 ↗ facilities such as a party room Tool

9:57 ↗ Shed Garden Orchard Workshop or parking

9:59 ↗ areas and I should note that in the memo

10:02 ↗ that I sent you I still included the

10:04 ↗ word condominium so just I took it out

10:05 ↗ of this one we're not using that it's

10:08 ↗ not here okay

10:10 ↗ all right I'm going to move on is that

10:13 ↗ okay if I move on to the next one

10:14 ↗ commissioner Bader Professor Bader okay

10:17 ↗ and we can do questions at the end

10:20 ↗ Courtyard Apartments this is what we

10:22 ↗ started with last week

10:23 ↗ Courtyard Apartments or Courtyard

10:25 ↗ housing is the development of several

10:27 ↗ attached dwelling units arranged around

10:28 ↗ a central Courtyard or lawn area which

10:31 ↗ all unions have access to developments

10:32 ↗ are typically one to three stories

10:35 ↗ you asked us to please change Apartments

10:37 ↗ to housing so it is now we are now

10:39 ↗ calling it Cottage housing and not

10:40 ↗ College Department Cottage Apartments

10:43 ↗ our City attorney if this was all run by

10:46 ↗ our city attorneys and they asked us to

10:47 ↗ provide more specificity on the number

10:49 ↗ of units and they also asked us to

10:51 ↗ provide more specificity regarding the

10:53 ↗ number of Walls surrounding a courtyard

10:56 ↗ it's a better Define what we have a

10:58 ↗ definition of Courtyard but they wanted

10:59 ↗ a definition of how many walls surround

11:01 ↗ a courtyard

11:01 ↗ and when we looked it was two to three

11:05 ↗ so it is now we're proposing Courtyard

11:08 ↗ means a development of six or more

11:10 ↗ attached dwelling units located in one

11:12 ↗ or more buildings

11:14 ↗ arranged on two or three sides around

11:17 ↗ the central Courtyard and Lawn area

11:18 ↗ which all units have access to

11:21 ↗ they're typically one to three stories

11:23 ↗ okay she also asked our City attorney

11:25 ↗ asked if the buildings had to be in if

11:27 ↗ all the units had to be in one building

11:28 ↗ or if they could be detached and the

11:30 ↗ more I looked there were some that were

11:31 ↗ detached so but they were just all still

11:32 ↗ made a courtyard

11:35 ↗ around the courtyard

11:37 ↗ micro units they are Apartments this is

11:40 ↗ this is a really long one and you all

11:43 ↗ thankfully asked us to cut this

11:45 ↗ so I'm just gonna not read the whole

11:47 ↗ thing and say that we did but I will

11:50 ↗ talk about it you asked why is the

11:52 ↗ minimum 125 square feet

11:55 ↗ as it was it was 125 to 400 square feet

11:58 ↗ reference size uh please reference the

12:00 ↗ unit size to the building or applicable

12:02 ↗ code can we use single room occupancy as

12:05 ↗ part of the definition and stop

12:06 ↗ definition after community space so as I

12:09 ↗ mentioned we did that we're also

12:11 ↗ included single room occupancy as part

12:13 ↗ of the definition

12:14 ↗ and as I mentioned a minute ago in here

12:17 ↗ the sizes range from a minimum of 125 to

12:20 ↗ a maximum of 500 so we went sort of

12:24 ↗ towards the top and just set a maximum

12:25 ↗ of 400 square feet

12:27 ↗ for that and as I mentioned the

12:30 ↗ international building code just talks

12:31 ↗ about bedroom size and not unit size so

12:33 ↗ there was nothing for us to refer to

12:34 ↗ there so we can't really refer to that

12:36 ↗ which is why the size is listed here

12:39 ↗ so our proposal is to say micro units or

12:42 ↗ single room occupancies means apartments

12:44 ↗ that are no more than 400 square feet

12:46 ↗ they may include private bathroom and

12:48 ↗ kitchen spaces or have access to Shared

12:51 ↗ kitchens bathrooms and community space

12:55 ↗ the last amendment that we're proposing

12:57 ↗ has not changed for me the last time you

12:59 ↗ saw it we are including Courtyard

13:01 ↗ housing Cottage housing and micro units

13:04 ↗ and I do need to put a little slash

13:05 ↗ there and say single room occupancies

13:07 ↗ Courtyard Apartments or Courtyard

13:10 ↗ housing we're proposing in mfh MF sub

13:14 ↗ multi-family High multi-family High East

13:16 ↗ Sunset multi-family medium multi-family

13:20 ↗ medium old town and mixed juice

13:23 ↗ residential

13:24 ↗ and then housing Cottage housing we are

13:28 ↗ proposing for

13:29 ↗ multi-family high and MF hes

13:32 ↗ multi-family medium and MF MOA t

13:36 ↗ and then micro units in mixed use

13:38 ↗ residential

13:39 ↗ mixed-use centralized Aqua in the urban

13:42 ↗ core

13:45 ↗ so our recommended motion would be to

13:47 ↗ recommend approval of the proposed

13:48 ↗ amendments to Title 18 adding

13:50 ↗ definitions for cottage housing

13:51 ↗ Courtyard housing and micro units and

13:53 ↗ adding these three uses to 184020

13:56 ↗ permitted uses table

13:59 ↗ the next steps would be that this is

14:01 ↗ would go to the Planning Development

14:03 ↗ environment committee on June 6th for a

14:06 ↗ recommendation from them to City Council

14:08 ↗ on June 26th for action

14:16 ↗ perfect thank you thank you um so we'll

14:18 ↗ open up for questions that is asked

14:19 ↗ since we're in a public hearing if you

14:21 ↗ just raise your hand and I'll call on

14:22 ↗ you I promise I will call on you

14:24 ↗ um just to kind of keep us nice and

14:26 ↗ orderly here so any clarifying questions

14:29 ↗ um oh no never mind

14:34 ↗ commissioner million

14:36 ↗ thank you uh and thanks for responding

14:39 ↗ to our comments uh so constructively I

14:43 ↗ have a two-part question about same

14:45 ↗ topic last time we met we talked about

14:48 ↗ thesis definitions and that the other

14:50 ↗ half of the work is setting standards

14:52 ↗ and uh you know what might a standard be

14:55 ↗ you know I'm thinking do front doors

14:58 ↗ need to be facing the courtyard you know

15:00 ↗ or something like that fences things

15:04 ↗ like that and and what would happen if

15:07 ↗ we added these to a permitted use but we

15:10 ↗ didn't have a standard set yet how would

15:12 ↗ a building permit application or

15:14 ↗ whatever application would apply at this

15:16 ↗ time be waiting for standards

15:21 ↗ so as I mentioned last time with micro

15:24 ↗ units and Courtyard housing those are

15:27 ↗ technically allowed currently in our

15:29 ↗ code

15:30 ↗ so those would not be hard to apply

15:32 ↗ standards to we want to make it easier

15:34 ↗ for these things to happen so they could

15:35 ↗ happen now under current standards it

15:37 ↗ just wouldn't be as easy as when we go

15:39 ↗ back and hopefully adjust things to make

15:41 ↗ it more doable yeah

15:44 ↗ the court the cottage housing though

15:47 ↗ that one is more difficult I would have

15:50 ↗ to check probably with

15:53 ↗ I'm not sure but I would need to check

15:55 ↗ on that one and see how that would work

15:57 ↗ exactly our definition provides

16:00 ↗ some description of how it goes and that

16:02 ↗ it has a shared Courtyard and it has a

16:05 ↗ shared facility and it has shared

16:07 ↗ parking

16:09 ↗ on site so that is some description but

16:12 ↗ uh I'd have to check Stephen do you have

16:14 ↗ any thoughts on that one

16:23 ↗ so if we adopt the definitions and the

16:27 ↗ changes to the use table when would that

16:29 ↗ come into effect and is there any reason

16:31 ↗ to

16:33 ↗ go through this formal adoption but hold

16:36 ↗ until we have standards

16:39 ↗ it would go into effect five days after

16:41 ↗ Council adoption

16:44 ↗ and

16:45 ↗ yes

16:47 ↗ yeah it still takes a while to develop

16:49 ↗ so somebody would have to come in find

16:51 ↗ land it's not something that's going to

16:53 ↗ happen right away but this way if they

16:55 ↗ were more ready when they do

17:03 ↗ any other questions

17:05 ↗ commissioner Kennedy

17:07 ↗ not a question I have a really really

17:09 ↗ tiny little nitpick on the very very

17:10 ↗ first definition it used two numbers one

17:14 ↗ was spelled as a word and one was used

17:15 ↗ as a number it would make me either both

17:17 ↗ words or both numbers

17:18 ↗ I I have a consistency thing

17:46 ↗ appreciated though

17:57 ↗ I have a quick clarifying question as I

18:00 ↗ listened to last time rounds meeting I

18:02 ↗ thought I understood this but now I

18:03 ↗ think I don't so the

18:06 ↗ um

18:07 ↗ Courtyard and the micro units are

18:10 ↗ currently allowed under code they're

18:12 ↗ just not called out specifically and the

18:14 ↗ cottage housing is not

18:16 ↗ or it is but there's not

18:19 ↗ the micro units and Courtyards are

18:21 ↗ allowed we just don't say where

18:23 ↗ so this group is clearer for developers

18:27 ↗ who come in yeah because you know they

18:28 ↗ might come in and ask a current planner

18:30 ↗ can I put this in you know

18:34 ↗ mixed UCI we go I don't know

18:36 ↗ so this makes it clear for developers

18:38 ↗ incorrect uh Cottage units are not

18:47 ↗ okay yeah just a clarifying question uh

18:49 ↗ the micro units are they present in

18:51 ↗ Issaquah now

18:53 ↗ they are not okay yes thank you and I

18:55 ↗ think it meant I mentioned last time

18:57 ↗ yeah I think so yeah yeah the developers

18:59 ↗ had asked but they didn't think they

19:01 ↗ were allowed so now it'll it'll give

19:03 ↗ them a little bit more of a route to be

19:06 ↗ able to actually do that with more

19:08 ↗ definition now correct sure

19:17 ↗ uh bacteria Bader one additional

19:19 ↗ question with the micro units are those

19:20 ↗ different than like Studios

19:24 ↗ they are Studios because Studios you're

19:27 ↗ always going to have a kitchen in the

19:28 ↗ unit

19:29 ↗ and micro units you don't necessarily

19:31 ↗ have to have that and Studios can be up

19:34 ↗ to you know 800 square feet this

19:36 ↗ actually limits the maximum size yeah

19:38 ↗ our studios are not limited in their

19:40 ↗ size so it could be a

19:42 ↗ small Studio but it could be yes it

19:45 ↗ would just be 500 square 400 square feet

19:47 ↗ or less

19:53 ↗ any other questions

19:56 ↗ okay hearing none

19:59 ↗ um I will open the floor now to pull the

20:02 ↗ comment

20:03 ↗ um

20:04 ↗ if we have anyone signed up

20:07 ↗ even has anyone sign up to speak uh very

20:10 ↗ sure we don't have anybody attending

20:11 ↗ virtually and we don't have anybody in

20:13 ↗ the room that would like to speak

20:16 ↗ okay so given that there are no public

20:18 ↗ comments

20:19 ↗ um I will close the public hearing at 6

20:22 ↗ 52.

20:24 ↗ um okay so now it is time to deliberate

20:28 ↗ um so there is a proposed motion I don't

20:30 ↗ think we need to formally make that

20:31 ↗ motion if that's right

20:34 ↗ um to adopt the definitions

20:36 ↗ um as written as we were just presented

20:38 ↗ to us

20:38 ↗ [Music]

20:39 ↗ um

20:40 ↗ I opened the floor for a little version

20:47 ↗ uh I appreciate the adjustments that

20:49 ↗ were made given our prior conversation

20:51 ↗ and I feel confident about the way that

20:54 ↗ these were presented today and therefore

20:56 ↗ I would be in favor of recommending this

20:58 ↗ to the council

21:04 ↗ but yeah I I second the thanks and also

21:07 ↗ appreciate that that

21:10 ↗ say the micro units were allowed but the

21:13 ↗ clarification of the appropriate zones

21:16 ↗ to allow them is is really a a great

21:20 ↗ addition

21:22 ↗ to that use because they will be much

21:26 ↗ more appreciated and especially since in

21:29 ↗ the future we want to talk about those

21:30 ↗ zones and whether parking is available

21:32 ↗ or not and that'll help in the

21:34 ↗ affordability of developing those not

21:36 ↗ based on the housing type as I'm looking

21:38 ↗ forward to talking about that about

21:40 ↗ where it is but I really appreciate

21:42 ↗ showing on the use table where the these

21:45 ↗ types are allowed thank you

21:51 ↗ yeah this is my favorite I agree I think

21:54 ↗ um it sounds like it's just kind of

21:55 ↗ making that knowledge of what these are

21:57 ↗ where they're allowed that much clear

21:59 ↗ and so again not having been in the last

22:02 ↗ conversation but listening to it it

22:03 ↗ feels like all of the

22:05 ↗ um comments were taken into account in

22:07 ↗ the updated definition so agree with the

22:09 ↗ support of them

22:14 ↗ I just want to add an agreement with

22:17 ↗ these changes and the key thing is that

22:20 ↗ this provides more options for

22:23 ↗ affordable housing and I think this is a

22:26 ↗ good thing the end of the day thank you

22:37 ↗ your voice is heard good perfect okay so

22:40 ↗ let's do a quick show of hands I think

22:41 ↗ we're all in consensus but

22:44 ↗ good with the definitions as presented

22:47 ↗ and changes to the permitted use table

22:48 ↗ perfect

22:50 ↗ all right I think we're we're good on

22:52 ↗ that

22:58 ↗ right

23:00 ↗ okay I think that was easy I was nervous

23:02 ↗ about like having to run the public

23:04 ↗ hearing but if they can all be like that

23:06 ↗ then

23:07 ↗ perfect

23:09 ↗ um okay so we will move right along then

23:11 ↗ um

23:12 ↗ to our regular business

23:14 ↗ um so the first item under regular

23:16 ↗ business is the adoption of a virtual

23:18 ↗ attendance policy and rules and

23:20 ↗ regulations

23:22 ↗ um so Stephen

23:23 ↗ um Padua our long-range planning manager

23:25 ↗ and Tisha stasha here uh she is on the

23:28 ↗ way so we're going to do this a little

23:29 ↗ backwards I'll start with

23:31 ↗ um the general changes that were added

23:34 ↗ to the rules and regulations and then

23:35 ↗ went to show arrives we'll start talking

23:36 ↗ specifically about the the virtual

23:40 ↗ policy that she's presenting on tonight

23:42 ↗ and then we'll go to a vote to a

23:45 ↗ adopt the rules and regulations

23:47 ↗ okay so famous last words about the

23:49 ↗ public hearing being easy because this

23:51 ↗ will probably be

23:53 ↗ maybe not so much but give me Grace

23:56 ↗ um okay so Stephen I'll let you take it

23:57 ↗ away

24:00 ↗ okay can everybody see the screen so um

24:03 ↗ if everybody I don't know if everybody

24:04 ↗ was able to review the rules and

24:06 ↗ regulations I provided a red line

24:08 ↗ version so you could see where all the

24:10 ↗ edits were the biggest changes that were

24:12 ↗ made to the rules and regulations is

24:14 ↗ first when we adopted Title 18 we

24:17 ↗ removed the commission's responsibility

24:20 ↗ for Sight Zone site-specific rezones and

24:24 ↗ so we removed all mention of

24:25 ↗ quasi-judicial process from the rules

24:27 ↗ and regulations and so

24:30 ↗ that was added throughout so references

24:34 ↗ removed the process were removed from

24:36 ↗ the public hearing steps in terms of

24:38 ↗ like how the commission conducts its

24:40 ↗ public hearings

24:41 ↗ when public comment is presented during

24:44 ↗ public hearings and so forth so are

24:46 ↗ there any questions around any of those

24:48 ↗ edits

24:49 ↗ okay the other biggest other big

24:52 ↗ question is specifically around the

24:55 ↗ virtual attendance policy and

24:58 ↗ unfortunately Tisha has the presentation

25:00 ↗ for that one so when she gets here we'll

25:02 ↗ talk about that but are there any

25:04 ↗ specific questions in terms of the

25:06 ↗ language that you might have saw in the

25:08 ↗ draft or

25:10 ↗ um in the presentation material that

25:12 ↗ Tisha had provided as part of tonight's

25:14 ↗ materials

25:19 ↗ thank you uh and and pardon me if I

25:21 ↗ missed it but one of the questions I had

25:23 ↗ in my mind was about and I'm really

25:26 ↗ excited about maintaining the virtual

25:28 ↗ hybrid format especially for public

25:31 ↗ comment but I was also developing a

25:34 ↗ concern about how we have people from

25:37 ↗ the public identify themselves

25:39 ↗ especially when we have it open to a

25:42 ↗ virtual and so I just wanted a little

25:43 ↗ more information about how we manage

25:46 ↗ going forward that rule that you state

25:49 ↗ your name and your association with the

25:51 ↗ city

25:52 ↗ um we are we're kind of loose about that

25:54 ↗ and I thought having it open to anyone

25:57 ↗ chiming in from a remote location we

26:00 ↗ might need to have a stricter rule so

26:05 ↗ the state regulation around public

26:07 ↗ comment and people

26:09 ↗ providing information about who they are

26:11 ↗ where they're from we can have a very

26:14 ↗ strict policy around it but when it

26:16 ↗ comes to the state regulation around it

26:18 ↗ it's not really specific saying we

26:20 ↗ actually need to have them present that

26:22 ↗ information particularly for commission

26:23 ↗ meetings for city council the rules are

26:26 ↗ a little bit different but for a

26:27 ↗ Planning Commission the rules aren't as

26:30 ↗ strict and so it really is at the

26:32 ↗ commission's discretion on whether or

26:35 ↗ not they want to be strict with that

26:36 ↗ policy or that type of policy when it

26:38 ↗ comes to public comment for our meetings

26:40 ↗ and so I don't know if you want to

26:41 ↗ discuss that tonight in terms of do we

26:44 ↗ want to have a strict policy in making

26:46 ↗ sure

26:47 ↗ someone provides their name and and

26:49 ↗ where they're from or is it primarily an

26:52 ↗ optional item we would still present

26:54 ↗ please pick your name and location or

26:57 ↗ where you're from as part of public

26:59 ↗ comment but not necessarily make it a

27:00 ↗ requirement

27:05 ↗ so the ones that I've seen people say

27:07 ↗ their name and their address and I've

27:09 ↗ always seen them they're all in Issaquah

27:11 ↗ is there a rule they need to be in

27:13 ↗ Issaquah to be able to make public

27:14 ↗ comment or just they have to State their

27:16 ↗ address and it's so that's okay no the

27:19 ↗ rules yeah the rules in specific same

27:22 ↗ you can only be from Issaquah to speak

27:24 ↗ at the public it's primarily just

27:27 ↗ identifying yourself the name and

27:28 ↗ address exactly okay

27:32 ↗ uh and I've seen this argued from a

27:36 ↗ couple of points of view people don't

27:37 ↗ like seeing what their home address is

27:38 ↗ for privacy concerns and and I can I can

27:41 ↗ appreciate that I totally support that

27:42 ↗ and what is more meaningful to me

27:46 ↗ is what is your relation to the city you

27:50 ↗ know you might live in Bellevue but you

27:52 ↗ have a job here as an executive director

27:54 ↗ of an organization that's materially

27:56 ↗ associated with the subject matter that

27:58 ↗ we're talking about now that I say that

28:00 ↗ though if we're not making any

28:03 ↗ quasi-judicial

28:05 ↗ decisions where we have interested

28:08 ↗ parties if that's really no longer on

28:11 ↗ the table

28:13 ↗ maybe it's not as big of a concern but

28:15 ↗ you know I'm not able to really wrap my

28:16 ↗ head around what all the decisions we

28:19 ↗ may make

28:20 ↗ could be materially people who could be

28:24 ↗ speaking who have material benefit and I

28:26 ↗ want to know if they do when they're

28:28 ↗ addressing me

28:29 ↗ that's the nature of my interest and and

28:32 ↗ like I said we we can always ask people

28:35 ↗ giving public comment to provide certain

28:37 ↗ information about their relationship

28:38 ↗ with the city it's typically where where

28:42 ↗ you're from what's your and and maybe a

28:45 ↗ general statement around your

28:46 ↗ relationship with the city but it's not

28:48 ↗ consistent across the board for all the

28:50 ↗ boards of commissions in terms of like

28:51 ↗ what they're asking public commentaries

28:53 ↗ to provide for information

29:00 ↗ I totally agree with commissioner

29:03 ↗ Milligan I would like to see yet forego

29:05 ↗ the address I could see people not

29:07 ↗ wanting to give that but I would love

29:08 ↗ name and just your affiliation with the

29:10 ↗ city

29:11 ↗ whatever that is and actually I think

29:14 ↗ I'd prefer that because I think people

29:15 ↗ will be more comfortable and that's

29:16 ↗ really more important than what your

29:17 ↗ address is because

29:19 ↗ just wanted to sit here and do a little

29:21 ↗ Google search together so I know what

29:23 ↗ that affiliation is

29:25 ↗ one one thing I would add is a general

29:29 ↗ statement of what's your relationship to

29:30 ↗ the city not everybody really

29:32 ↗ understands what that means

29:34 ↗ and so you'll get actually a really wide

29:37 ↗ variety of responses to that of whether

29:39 ↗ I'm a resident or

29:41 ↗ I live nearby or I'm related to someone

29:46 ↗ in Issaquah like it they you'll get a

29:49 ↗ pretty with a broad statement like that

29:51 ↗ you'll get pretty broad responses and so

29:54 ↗ that's kind of why sometimes uh public

29:57 ↗ comments you'll ask for more specific

29:59 ↗ information like your address because

30:00 ↗ that's very specific

30:07 ↗ should we say state your name and your

30:11 ↗ relationship to the matter before us

30:13 ↗ or the matters before the commission

30:17 ↗ because there is a reason why they're

30:18 ↗ here

30:19 ↗ they're here because of some matter

30:22 ↗ before it so they should know the answer

30:23 ↗ to that question or they wouldn't be

30:24 ↗ here

30:25 ↗ for the matter they're going to speak to

30:28 ↗ them I guess it also comes down to I

30:30 ↗ mean is the intent to have people who

30:32 ↗ have an affiliation whether they live

30:34 ↗ here work here or something like that so

30:37 ↗ I think

30:38 ↗ asking you know the specific address but

30:40 ↗ like you know what area do you live in

30:42 ↗ the city if not you know your

30:44 ↗ association with with with the city

30:48 ↗ um because I think that

30:49 ↗ has a lot more weight than just somebody

30:51 ↗ who cares about it has nothing to do

30:53 ↗ with this so there could be a topic up

30:55 ↗ here and that it means nothing to them

30:57 ↗ because they lived somewhere else and

30:58 ↗ they like to to talk

31:00 ↗ um so it's I think transparency and

31:03 ↗ openness of of what that connection is

31:06 ↗ is important

31:07 ↗ um it sounds like we don't exclude any

31:09 ↗ of that but I think it's also a good

31:10 ↗ piece of information for us to

31:12 ↗ understand

31:13 ↗ is it relevant or not

31:17 ↗ petition

31:21 ↗ yeah and I think the the question about

31:24 ↗ their address could be a little bit

31:26 ↗ limited because it may keep

31:28 ↗ um public from comment and because they

31:31 ↗ may not want to divulge their address so

31:33 ↗ we should probably look into that to see

31:35 ↗ what other question we could ask them

31:38 ↗ like what neighborhood or

31:40 ↗ um that that they're from

31:43 ↗ I also think you can usually like infer

31:45 ↗ based on their comments

31:48 ↗ um you know what their relationship to

31:49 ↗ the subject matter is I wouldn't want to

31:51 ↗ be so intimidating for people to think

31:53 ↗ about like who do I have to you know

31:55 ↗ meet a certain requirement to comment

31:57 ↗ that kind of then prohibits or kind of

32:00 ↗ scares people away from commenting um

32:02 ↗ but maybe that's something we can just

32:03 ↗ add to the

32:04 ↗ script right about saying you know

32:06 ↗ introduce yourself State like your

32:08 ↗ relationship to the city or whatever the

32:09 ↗ term is and then it's kind of up to

32:11 ↗ people to interpret what that means and

32:15 ↗ on that note Stephen if you wouldn't

32:17 ↗ mind scrolling to section 7D I think it

32:20 ↗ is

32:22 ↗ uh number two uh

32:28 ↗ keep going a little further

32:30 ↗ a little further a little further

32:32 ↗ section right here public participation

32:33 ↗ yeah and then number two below there oh

32:36 ↗ I see there you go got it so yeah as

32:38 ↗ it's stated in here it says Commerce

32:40 ↗ must State their name in relationship to

32:42 ↗ City example uh resident business owner

32:44 ↗ property owner

32:46 ↗ Etc and then they're encouraged but not

32:48 ↗ required to provide their address

32:50 ↗ so that's how it's currently written

32:51 ↗ which seems kind of where we're going I

32:53 ↗ think or anything yeah it's kind of

32:56 ↗ the idea

32:57 ↗ um so I'm I'm pretty content with

33:01 ↗ how it's shown there I think it's uh you

33:03 ↗ know kind of protects their privacy by

33:05 ↗ not forcing them to reveal an address

33:07 ↗ but also give some context as to what

33:10 ↗ they're speaking to or why they're here

33:12 ↗ so by hopefully providing their relation

33:15 ↗ to the city

33:17 ↗ and now that tisha's here should we

33:18 ↗ pause this to this discussion and hear

33:20 ↗ the presentation and then we can

33:21 ↗ continue after or is are you still

33:24 ↗ getting set up

33:26 ↗ okay so as we can continue the

33:28 ↗ conversation and then once Tisha is

33:30 ↗ fully set up then then we can transition

33:32 ↗ to her presentation about that virtual

33:35 ↗ policy are there so what I'm hearing is

33:37 ↗ the language that's currently in the

33:39 ↗ drafts it would would satisfy a lot of

33:41 ↗ the comments that we're hearing tonight

33:42 ↗ is there

33:45 ↗ uh thank you Jesse for finding that and

33:47 ↗ I think it just is upon us to follow

33:51 ↗ through and enforce it because it does

33:52 ↗ say must

33:54 ↗ State the relationship

33:56 ↗ and so we just need to do a little

33:58 ↗ better job of incur of getting that part

34:01 ↗ done

34:04 ↗ okay are there any other sections that

34:06 ↗ the Commissioners would like to take a

34:07 ↗ look at tonight when the draft

34:11 ↗ again not much really changed from

34:12 ↗ before with the exception of removing

34:14 ↗ quasi-judicial process and then adding

34:17 ↗ in the virtual policy that tissue will

34:19 ↗ be discussing tonight

34:22 ↗ should we raise hold questions about the

34:24 ↗ virtual policy until after the

34:26 ↗ presentation uh yes because she might

34:28 ↗ answer some of your questions about the

34:29 ↗ virtual policy with her presentation

34:32 ↗ um are you

34:34 ↗ okay so I am going to stop sharing

34:37 ↗ and I am gonna allow

34:39 ↗ [Music]

34:41 ↗ tissue to share

34:51 ↗ no need

34:53 ↗ okay now I turn it over to tisho who's

34:56 ↗ the city clerk and she's going to be

34:59 ↗ presenting on the virtual policy tonight

35:01 ↗ hi everyone thank you thank you for it

35:03 ↗ sounds like filling some time there

35:05 ↗ between your last agenda item in this

35:07 ↗ one so

35:08 ↗ um as Steven said my name is Tisha

35:10 ↗ Geezer City Clerk and I met most of you

35:12 ↗ last year around this time when I

35:13 ↗ provided open government training and we

35:15 ↗ have a new commissioner so welcome

35:18 ↗ um so yes tonight I'm here to talk to

35:20 ↗ you about two two things and the first

35:22 ↗ is the virtual attendance policy and let

35:24 ↗ me pull up my PowerPoint I have just a

35:26 ↗ few slides

35:28 ↗ um and Stephen did you

35:30 ↗ um did you cover did you start talking

35:31 ↗ through some of the other changes you

35:34 ↗ did to the title 18 okay

35:36 ↗ all right so I will just focus on the

35:39 ↗ the virtual attendance element

35:43 ↗ um so uh during covid-19 that the city

35:46 ↗ has 13 boards and commissions and during

35:48 ↗ uh covid we moved all of them to all

35:50 ↗ virtual meetings and we were able to do

35:52 ↗ that because the governor issued a

35:53 ↗ proclamation sort of prohibiting

35:55 ↗ in-person meetings so that Proclamation

35:57 ↗ was terminated in June of last year and

36:00 ↗ in July and September we phased back all

36:02 ↗ the boards and commissions and initially

36:04 ↗ the mayor's Direction was boarding

36:07 ↗ Commissioners in seats in rooms and uh

36:10 ↗ continuing to allow virtual attendance

36:12 ↗ for members of the public so that

36:14 ↗ because we we found that I'm not sure

36:17 ↗ that you would say that our volume of

36:20 ↗ comments increased during covid but

36:22 ↗ people definitely seem to be interested

36:24 ↗ in participating virtually in the

36:26 ↗ convenience and so we wanted to continue

36:28 ↗ that but we did hear some feedback from

36:31 ↗ boarding commission members that they

36:33 ↗ had a desire to be able to attend

36:35 ↗ virtually in some occasions and so the

36:37 ↗ mayor asked me to draft a policy that I

36:40 ↗ have been taking around to the boards

36:42 ↗ over the last year

36:44 ↗ and because your commission has been so

36:47 ↗ busy with some other vital work

36:50 ↗ you're one of the last commissions to

36:51 ↗ consider this policy

36:53 ↗ um but the the mayor um the mayor's

36:55 ↗ Direction was to continue to emphasize

36:57 ↗ in-person attendance

36:59 ↗ um I think uh from her perspective it's

37:02 ↗ really valuable when people come into

37:03 ↗ the meeting room and I know you and I

37:06 ↗ would be interested Stephen are you have

37:07 ↗ you noticed a uh between virtual and

37:12 ↗ in-person public comment what would you

37:14 ↗ say the commission's seeing I would say

37:17 ↗ the Commission in the last couple years

37:19 ↗ has seen a lot more virtual public

37:20 ↗ comment than in person you still have

37:24 ↗ some of the regulars that like to be in

37:26 ↗ person versus virtual but it also is is

37:30 ↗ sometimes shift depending on

37:32 ↗ availability but this has kind of opened

37:33 ↗ the door to allow a lot of the regular

37:36 ↗ attendees to attend even when there's

37:39 ↗ personal uh scheduling conflicts so

37:43 ↗ and that and that's

37:44 ↗ seeing pretty consistently at the City

37:46 ↗ Council meetings I'm seeing about 50 50

37:49 ↗ with public that's just I haven't

37:51 ↗ calculated that officially but that's

37:53 ↗ just um just my observation so the mayor

37:56 ↗ is really wanting to make sure that when

37:58 ↗ people come out to the meeting room that

38:00 ↗ they have some people to look at and

38:02 ↗ that there is um in and you'll see if

38:04 ↗ you've looked through the proposed

38:06 ↗ policy it is that a quorum of the

38:08 ↗ commission so four Commissioners would

38:10 ↗ be required to be in person and so the

38:12 ↗ city is still wanting to encourage that

38:15 ↗ um also not not just the you know being

38:20 ↗ in person for members of the public but

38:21 ↗ also I think there's

38:23 ↗ um connection you can have before the

38:25 ↗ meeting during breaks there's just

38:27 ↗ something that being in person can give

38:29 ↗ you with each other that is difficult to

38:31 ↗ achieve and so the proposed policy does

38:33 ↗ continue to emphasize attending in

38:35 ↗ person but allows sort of requesting

38:38 ↗ permission to attend virtually if a

38:39 ↗ quorum of the commission can be in

38:41 ↗ person so it'd be sort of an assumption

38:42 ↗ for each meeting that you would be

38:44 ↗ attending in person but if you to

38:46 ↗ we're on a business trip or you had an

38:49 ↗ ill child and wanted to be from home you

38:51 ↗ would reach out to the staff to sort of

38:54 ↗ request virtual attendance all of your

38:56 ↗ meetings have a virtual element all of

38:58 ↗ your regular meetings so we don't have

39:00 ↗ to worry about setting up you know

39:02 ↗ additional equipment and I understand

39:03 ↗ over the last year you've been using

39:05 ↗ certain Commissioners have been using

39:07 ↗ that virtual option which is great

39:10 ↗ um so tonight is a discussion about sort

39:12 ↗ of the norms for the commission

39:14 ↗ um so the policy talks a little bit

39:15 ↗ about just making sure there's a good

39:17 ↗ audio connection encourages

39:19 ↗ um having the video on if you're

39:21 ↗ participating at home

39:23 ↗ um it also emphasizes that if you are

39:25 ↗ unwell

39:26 ↗ um please request an excused absence if

39:28 ↗ you're on vacation with your family

39:29 ↗ please request an excused absence this

39:32 ↗ virtual element isn't meant to

39:34 ↗ um you know require you at every at

39:37 ↗ every meeting

39:38 ↗ and then there are some other minor

39:40 ↗ changes through the rules to just

39:42 ↗ formalize the fact that we're committing

39:44 ↗ to having that virtual component for all

39:46 ↗ regular meetings some special meetings

39:48 ↗ like for example if you do any kind of

39:49 ↗ tour or a kind of a social Gathering we

39:52 ↗ probably would not extend the virtual

39:54 ↗ element to those but um certainly your

39:57 ↗ regular meetings and then clarifies that

39:58 ↗ staff in the public may also attend

40:00 ↗ virtually and then I unders it sounds

40:02 ↗ like Stephen talked to you a little bit

40:04 ↗ about some of the changes we wanted to

40:06 ↗ make to the rules to conform them to the

40:09 ↗ title 18 updates and the shift of the

40:11 ↗ code pertaining to PPC into Title II of

40:16 ↗ the municipal code

40:18 ↗ and so

40:20 ↗ um the options tonight and just before

40:22 ↗ we we get to the options just a um a

40:24 ↗ comment so we have 13 boards and

40:26 ↗ commissions and the um I have uh

40:29 ↗ assisted six of the commissions in

40:31 ↗ talking through this policy three of

40:34 ↗ them adopted uh pretty much the version

40:36 ↗ that's before you tonight and then

40:38 ↗ um we have had two of our commissions

40:40 ↗ who have uh the equity commission and

40:43 ↗ Human Services Commission who've wanted

40:45 ↗ to have fewer restrictions on attending

40:47 ↗ virtually and make that more open-ended

40:50 ↗ and our environmental board

40:53 ↗ and park board made some slight changes

40:56 ↗ to encourage but not require the Quorum

40:59 ↗ be in person so

41:01 ↗ um the boards are making some changes

41:03 ↗ and I'm here to talk to you about those

41:04 ↗ tonight here are your thoughts about

41:06 ↗ what you're interested in if you're

41:07 ↗ interested in the policy as proposed

41:09 ↗ there is a motion

41:11 ↗ um to adopt the Amendments and that is

41:14 ↗ all I have on this topic

41:18 ↗ thanks to Sharon so I think before we

41:20 ↗ start discussion we need emotion um the

41:23 ↗ motion can

41:25 ↗ questions questions first okay

41:29 ↗ like I said new aggressively

41:32 ↗ um okay so questions

41:35 ↗ that commission requests so I mean I

41:37 ↗ everything's very logical thank you um

41:40 ↗ the idea of encouraging precipitation

41:43 ↗ particip participation

41:46 ↗ um in person is great I think it's also

41:48 ↗ important that the meetings happen so

41:51 ↗ um the only questions I have around the

41:53 ↗ as you mentioned the Quorum I mean

41:55 ↗ encourage

41:57 ↗ the quorum to be here but if it's not

42:00 ↗ you would be a shame to lose momentum of

42:03 ↗ an organization

42:04 ↗ if you still have people who could do it

42:06 ↗ but they are virtual so that was one

42:08 ↗ thing so my question is

42:11 ↗ the learnings from the discussions with

42:13 ↗ the other ones of why they adopted or or

42:16 ↗ had that change and what their their

42:20 ↗ thoughts are intent or on that that may

42:22 ↗ help influence the discussion here

42:25 ↗ yeah and that is a good point and

42:27 ↗ actually you'll notice the policy and

42:28 ↗ this was motivated by the Planning

42:30 ↗ Commission that was operating with a

42:31 ↗ real skeleton crew for a while you know

42:33 ↗ some of um so if if there are two or

42:36 ↗ more vacancies on the commission then

42:38 ↗ that requirement that a quorum B in

42:40 ↗ person would go away because you're

42:42 ↗ right if we're if we have to

42:45 ↗ um two vacancies it could be it could be

42:47 ↗ difficult to get a quorum I think um the

42:50 ↗ conversations with the other boards have

42:51 ↗ been less around that so one of the

42:53 ↗ things all most of our boards and

42:54 ↗ commissions have are alternate members

42:56 ↗ and so that gives us you know usually

42:59 ↗ it's two to three members but that

43:01 ↗ really help help ensure that we are

43:03 ↗ always able to obtain that Quorum so

43:05 ↗ that has been a little less I'd say with

43:07 ↗ the other boards and commissions the

43:09 ↗ discussion around requiring the Quorum

43:11 ↗ some of them have had concerns over the

43:13 ↗ administrative burden of that and just

43:15 ↗ not wanting it to become too cumbersome

43:17 ↗ but also I think more so there have been

43:21 ↗ some members of those boards that um you

43:24 ↗ know like the flexibility of attending

43:26 ↗ virtually and and want to be able to

43:28 ↗ continue to do that and

43:30 ↗ um just advocated for that

43:35 ↗ I can't really

43:36 ↗ thank you and uh and thanks for that

43:38 ↗ question commissioner cross uh the if we

43:40 ↗ do not have a quorum of people a

43:43 ↗ Commissioners in person

43:45 ↗ remind me is the meeting canceled or are

43:48 ↗ we just unable to take actions what's

43:50 ↗ the outcome

43:52 ↗ Tech

43:53 ↗ um for the clerk's office would

43:55 ↗ recommend that the meeting just not

43:57 ↗ occur so technically you um

44:01 ↗ there was an informational item but Eve

44:04 ↗ I the the meeting isn't really happening

44:06 ↗ if there's not there need to be four of

44:09 ↗ you for there to be a planning policy

44:11 ↗ commission if there are three of you it

44:12 ↗ isn't a planning policy commission it's

44:14 ↗ three people

44:16 ↗ um and so

44:17 ↗ uh we would we would recommend to staff

44:20 ↗ that nothing occur if there's not a

44:22 ↗ quorum

44:25 ↗ and remind me what's the notice

44:27 ↗ um that we're supposed to give

44:29 ↗ that we're not coming to a meeting

44:31 ↗ whether it's in person or an excused

44:33 ↗ absence

44:35 ↗ please we recommend five days but we

44:37 ↗ stay in the rules that we understand

44:39 ↗ emergencies happen and so if it needs to

44:42 ↗ be more last minute we understand

44:55 ↗ yes please

44:57 ↗ I'll move

44:58 ↗ I moved to amend the planning policy

45:00 ↗ commission rules and regulations by

45:02 ↗ adopting amendments throughout to

45:04 ↗ correct the Issaquah Municipal Code

45:06 ↗ references and to adopt amendments to

45:09 ↗ article 4 section 1 regular meetings

45:11 ↗ section 7 participation and add a new

45:15 ↗ section 6 virtual attendance as proposed

45:24 ↗ when the separate discussion

45:30 ↗ I like the Amendments I would be

45:32 ↗ inclined to stick to it the way it's

45:34 ↗ been drafted I'm really glad you brought

45:36 ↗ up with the other commissions have done

45:38 ↗ because that was my first question is

45:39 ↗ what all have they done

45:42 ↗ um

45:43 ↗ I think having a quorum in person I mean

45:46 ↗ I think you need I think we need to be

45:47 ↗ here as much as possible

45:49 ↗ and I get their desire for flexibility I

45:53 ↗ love flexibility is great

45:55 ↗ um but it's a whole business I think

45:57 ↗ it's it's really important that we

45:59 ↗ encourage

46:00 ↗ at least that we be here as much as

46:02 ↗ possible

46:03 ↗ and have the keep those exceptions for

46:07 ↗ business travel illness you know

46:09 ↗ vacations things come up for sure but

46:12 ↗ you know if it's just I don't feel like

46:14 ↗ coming down here this evening I'd rather

46:17 ↗ do it from my Den

46:20 ↗ that we should we should be here

46:27 ↗ this may be a clarifying question but I

46:30 ↗ guess for for the Commissioners who've

46:32 ↗ been here before

46:34 ↗ um I joined so it was join what was the

46:37 ↗ um I guess percentage of individuals

46:40 ↗ come into the actual Commission in

46:43 ↗ person to have that Quorum per se

46:48 ↗ did we have any issues where we were

46:50 ↗ less than

46:52 ↗ um four people

46:54 ↗ I think I'll be at Cove it happened of

46:57 ↗ course I would say in the last couple

46:59 ↗ years we've only had a few instances

47:01 ↗ where we came close to not having our

47:02 ↗ Quorum but I would say you know part of

47:06 ↗ staff's job is checking to see what the

47:10 ↗ attendance is going to be have have a

47:11 ↗ good idea if we're going to be even

47:12 ↗ close to not meeting a quorum the

47:15 ↗ closest we've ever been was only at a

47:17 ↗ point where we only had four members

47:18 ↗ yeah and so we were checking every day

47:20 ↗ hey are you coming here are you coming

47:23 ↗ um and we really never got to a point

47:25 ↗ where we had to cancel meeting because

47:26 ↗ we didn't have a quorum I I think with

47:29 ↗ that because it's it's based on the

47:32 ↗ individuals that are in these seats and

47:36 ↗ we have a culture of showing up

47:38 ↗ basically and if we if we can't show up

47:42 ↗ of course we would talk with with the

47:44 ↗ city staff to let them know I think that

47:47 ↗ flexibility will still be good in the

47:50 ↗ sense of um the point that our

47:52 ↗ commissioner just made to be able to

47:55 ↗ ensure that the meetings continue to

47:57 ↗ move forward in the event that you don't

48:00 ↗ have four people in in person I'm for

48:05 ↗ everyone being here in person but we

48:08 ↗ also have to make sure the business

48:09 ↗ continues to to move forward as well

48:15 ↗ yeah as a as a commissioner who has

48:17 ↗ taken advantage of the virtual

48:19 ↗ attendance options both by necessity

48:21 ↗ being pregnant and having to to attend

48:24 ↗ virtually

48:26 ↗ um to you know having to have kids at

48:28 ↗ home and just manage that I really

48:30 ↗ appreciate the virtual option

48:33 ↗ um I also really enjoy the in-person

48:35 ↗ setting and so I'm more on the line of

48:37 ↗ like listening because my my concern and

48:39 ↗ this is maybe not warranted is that

48:43 ↗ um you know if you have the sniffles

48:44 ↗ right where you're not so sick that you

48:47 ↗ can't participate I would rather

48:50 ↗ um you know as a mom to now small babies

48:52 ↗ I would rather you attend virtually than

48:54 ↗ say oh you know what I can't you know I

48:57 ↗ have to be there in person and so I'm

48:59 ↗ going to come in with my sniffles right

49:01 ↗ um and so just for those sorts of

49:03 ↗ situations I'd like to have the

49:04 ↗ flexibility for us to attend virtually

49:08 ↗ um without worrying about you know am I

49:10 ↗ gonna jeopardize the meeting and things

49:13 ↗ like that because I would hate for

49:14 ↗ somebody to like feel like I'm not sure

49:15 ↗ if I should attend this right but I'm

49:18 ↗ going to because I don't want to mess

49:19 ↗ things up

49:21 ↗ um so for that reason I think that that

49:23 ↗ kind of like encouraged but not require

49:25 ↗ the Quorum

49:26 ↗ um language might be

49:28 ↗ um what I'm more in favor of

49:34 ↗ Australia

49:35 ↗ I'll argue that point just I want to

49:39 ↗ Second commissioner Kennedy's assertion

49:42 ↗ that how important it is to be in person

49:44 ↗ at a quorum and the reason that I'm the

49:49 ↗ way that I got there was when we were

49:51 ↗ all virtual we were all in the same room

49:55 ↗ and I felt that the dynamic of the board

49:58 ↗ was really very productive

50:00 ↗ and when we're here on the diocese I

50:02 ↗ feel it's very productive when there's

50:04 ↗ one person or maybe two on the screen or

50:08 ↗ on the camera I personally don't feel

50:11 ↗ their presence as much I don't

50:14 ↗ um it's

50:15 ↗ um it's my fault of course I could but

50:18 ↗ I'm just saying honestly it's very hard

50:21 ↗ to incorporate that into the dynamic of

50:23 ↗ the group

50:24 ↗ working together and I think that's

50:26 ↗ that's one of the reasons why I enjoy

50:28 ↗ commission so much is this

50:31 ↗ the the persuasiveness of having us

50:35 ↗ together and really listening and

50:37 ↗ hearing and and engaging with one

50:39 ↗ another and understanding what one

50:40 ↗ another is saying

50:42 ↗ um I would

50:44 ↗ I was inclined and I think I still am to

50:48 ↗ have a quorum of have a quorum present

50:51 ↗ they're still as long as we have enough

50:55 ↗ commissioners

50:56 ↗ and so what What's the total number of

50:58 ↗ this body it's nine no it's

51:02 ↗ I'm sorry what is it and what's the

51:04 ↗ quorum

51:05 ↗ so they're uh there are seven regular

51:08 ↗ members and two alternate members right

51:11 ↗ now we have you have one vacancy so you

51:13 ↗ have a total of eight and you would need

51:16 ↗ four four bodies and seats under the

51:18 ↗ policy I would think the the critical

51:21 ↗ thing to do is make sure we have all our

51:22 ↗ seats filled so that if you have the

51:24 ↗ sniffles you don't have to come but I do

51:26 ↗ think that the um corpsman person is

51:28 ↗ important to me

51:31 ↗ so I think we agree on The Guiding

51:33 ↗ principles of number one being in person

51:34 ↗ because all good things happen I mean

51:36 ↗ it's great two is you don't want to miss

51:39 ↗ work like you don't want to have to not

51:41 ↗ have a meeting which then

51:43 ↗ it opens my next I have a question is

51:46 ↗ let's let's forget covid like a lot of

51:49 ↗ us want to and go like the two years

51:51 ↗ before covet how many meetings got

51:53 ↗ canceled because there was not a quorum

51:55 ↗ did it happen ever meaning is this even

51:57 ↗ a

51:58 ↗ a big issue like

52:00 ↗ if it hasn't if it never happened in the

52:02 ↗ last a couple years leading up to Quorum

52:03 ↗ then I think I feel very confident to

52:05 ↗ say have it in person because we could

52:07 ↗ probably manage to that but if that was

52:08 ↗ an issue then you know it would

52:11 ↗ pre-covered I wasn't involved with the

52:13 ↗ commission I heard that maybe one

52:15 ↗ meeting was canceled before that but I'm

52:17 ↗ not sure of the exact date

52:20 ↗ um so it you know consistently the the

52:22 ↗ commission has always had done a good

52:23 ↗ job of getting a quorum for its meetings

52:25 ↗ so I mean so then I agree if we want to

52:29 ↗ like drive drive it to have people here

52:31 ↗ and we find let me ask if we find that

52:34 ↗ all of a sudden oh my gosh there's going

52:36 ↗ to be a meeting that's not going to be

52:37 ↗ made because people can only do it

52:39 ↗ virtually because this can this be

52:41 ↗ changed again and then say there's a

52:43 ↗ discrete at the discretion of the chair

52:45 ↗ they can allow the next meeting or

52:47 ↗ something along those lines

52:49 ↗ yes and I mean this is all an exercise

52:52 ↗ right in trying to kind of figure out I

52:54 ↗ think every commission I've spoken to

52:56 ↗ it's kind of like

52:57 ↗ um

52:58 ↗ trying to figure out what the new normal

53:00 ↗ is and what everyone's comfortable with

53:01 ↗ and so I do expect

53:03 ↗ that there will need to be some changes

53:06 ↗ your point is a good point if we're

53:08 ↗ finding that Quorum can't be achieved

53:10 ↗ but there are Commissioners who are

53:12 ↗ readily available virtually I think we

53:14 ↗ would want to make a change because that

53:16 ↗ doesn't serve the city well or you well

53:19 ↗ you're setting aside your time

53:21 ↗ um

53:22 ↗ so so that's something that either could

53:24 ↗ be

53:25 ↗ um adjusted tonight or certainly these

53:28 ↗ rules can be adopted by the commission

53:30 ↗ and amended by the commission at any

53:32 ↗ time with just some advance notice in

53:34 ↗ the agenda so and and I do expect we'll

53:36 ↗ be making further tweaks this is kind of

53:38 ↗ a first first try

53:45 ↗ um on first read when I got this in the

53:47 ↗ packet I felt I was in full support of

53:49 ↗ the the draft or the motion I still do I

53:52 ↗ think that the the way it's worded and

53:55 ↗ how I read it the virtual option allows

53:58 ↗ for flexibility in certain circumstances

54:01 ↗ but it still encourages and the

54:03 ↗ preferences still to be in person and

54:06 ↗ you know right now we're discussing the

54:07 ↗ idea of the in-person Quorum which I

54:09 ↗ think it does present however it does

54:11 ↗ say an exception can be made if there's

54:13 ↗ going to be absences that would

54:15 ↗ eliminate the Quorum then we could turn

54:17 ↗ to our virtual attendees to make up for

54:21 ↗ that am I understanding that correctly

54:24 ↗ well I and I'm you're making me want to

54:28 ↗ read it again because maybe that the

54:30 ↗ intention was if there's two or more

54:32 ↗ vacancies on the commission then this

54:34 ↗ the Quorum would be that's sort of

54:35 ↗ waived like we we're gonna take you

54:37 ↗ however we can get you to make sure we

54:39 ↗ can convene the meetings but

54:41 ↗ um

54:42 ↗ and I you know the word language could

54:45 ↗ be maybe be stronger but the

54:48 ↗ um

54:48 ↗ my intention was that if if you are like

54:52 ↗ in your situation now where you only

54:53 ↗ have one vacancy if you couldn't have a

54:55 ↗ quorum in person then it it would be a

54:58 ↗ little questionable to persist with the

55:00 ↗ meeting with the virtual I mean I don't

55:03 ↗ um I would need to talk to our City

55:05 ↗ attorney about how risky that would be

55:07 ↗ but it's not certainly not something we

55:09 ↗ would want to do on a regular basis we'd

55:10 ↗ want to amend the rules and so if there

55:12 ↗ is concern about that now we we could

55:14 ↗ make a change to soften

55:17 ↗ um it to encourage rather than require

55:18 ↗ the Quorum in person

55:21 ↗ and some of the other commissions have

55:22 ↗ chosen to do that

55:25 ↗ yeah and thanks for highlighting Stephen

55:26 ↗ that's yeah that's right on the screen

55:28 ↗ right now that except that specific

55:30 ↗ exception language

55:32 ↗ um for where a quorum might be

55:37 ↗ yeah I I still feel the same way I feel

55:39 ↗ like the softer language that just

55:41 ↗ allows for that possibility I think

55:43 ↗ we're all committed to being here

55:45 ↗ um in person again as someone who has

55:47 ↗ attended virtually I've had both a

55:48 ↗ horrible experience where none of the

55:50 ↗ audio worked and I had to watch you all

55:51 ↗ on YouTube and try to follow along

55:53 ↗ um which might be why you didn't sense

55:55 ↗ my presence

55:57 ↗ um because I was about 35 seconds behind

55:59 ↗ all of you um but I've also felt like I

56:02 ↗ was like there and commenting

56:05 ↗ um in meetings I think there's only been

56:06 ↗ like three or so that I've attended

56:08 ↗ virtually but it hasn't been a negative

56:10 ↗ experience for me as a virtual

56:12 ↗ participant and so again I think we want

56:15 ↗ to put forward that the preference is

56:17 ↗ for in person

56:19 ↗ um but I think just having that

56:20 ↗ flexibility

56:21 ↗ um you know if because I I think none of

56:24 ↗ us would want a meeting to be canceled

56:25 ↗ but again my preference is that if you

56:27 ↗ don't you know I'm again the germaphobe

56:30 ↗ with the mask still on seven years later

56:33 ↗ um you know if you're like oh I'm not

56:35 ↗ sure I wouldn't want people to have the

56:37 ↗ ability to just you know stay home and

56:39 ↗ still be able to join and contribute and

56:41 ↗ I think that that flexibility allows for

56:44 ↗ that

56:45 ↗ still gonna argue that point yeah for

56:48 ↗ sure and I'm the same as well to have

56:50 ↗ that flexibility we have a culture of

56:52 ↗ showing up

56:54 ↗ um we're in a new age where technology

56:56 ↗ is here we could use technology there

56:59 ↗ may be some technical issues but that's

57:02 ↗ because we're not using it enough at the

57:04 ↗ end of the day

57:05 ↗ um the key thing is is that I've exceed

57:08 ↗ these saved faces for almost a year now

57:11 ↗ in person so I don't think that that's

57:13 ↗ really going to change at the end of the

57:15 ↗ day so why Institute a restriction

57:19 ↗ that's not needed because we're already

57:22 ↗ here

57:24 ↗ thank you

57:28 ↗ and I'm wondering Kisha if you have like

57:30 ↗ the language that the Commissioners who

57:32 ↗ have commissions who have softened it

57:33 ↗ used

57:36 ↗ yes I'm not sure I'm going to be able

57:38 ↗ I'm not sure how quickly I can I can do

57:41 ↗ this but I can talk through the

57:44 ↗ um

57:46 ↗ so I if you if you want the precise

57:48 ↗ wording I would either need a few

57:50 ↗ minutes or we can bring this back but

57:52 ↗ essentially it would be

57:54 ↗ we sort of took out the um

57:58 ↗ let's see they them they may request

58:00 ↗ permission softened that and then remove

58:03 ↗ one basically

58:06 ↗ um

58:06 ↗ here under sorry section I'm looking at

58:09 ↗ my screen let me share it with you so

58:10 ↗ you can see it

58:12 ↗ um

58:17 ↗ so okay so here's the section six

58:19 ↗ virtual attendance make that a little

58:22 ↗ bit bigger so we would essentially

58:26 ↗ kind of strike out request permission

58:29 ↗ we'd soften this sentence here

58:31 ↗ um

58:32 ↗ and then

58:35 ↗ remove one and then kind of true it up

58:38 ↗ so that it reads in a streamlined way we

58:42 ↗ take out the exception language and

58:45 ↗ one

58:47 ↗ and do a little bit of a

58:49 ↗ little bit of reformatting and a little

58:52 ↗ bit of wordsmithing to just make it flow

58:55 ↗ so that is one option we have I think

58:58 ↗ we've had two two commissions kind of go

59:01 ↗ this way where it's still an Anchorage

59:04 ↗ on the in person but

59:06 ↗ um not have formal permission that needs

59:09 ↗ to be granted

59:11 ↗ um and not requiring but encouraging a

59:14 ↗ quorum which is what I'm hearing so um I

59:17 ↗ would we'd probably also want to put a

59:19 ↗ phrase in here and I I can I can mock

59:22 ↗ this up either now

59:24 ↗ um

59:25 ↗ or bring it back with those changes

59:50 ↗ and can I can make a motion Amendment

59:54 ↗ um so I propose an amendment

59:57 ↗ um to the motion where we

1:00:00 ↗ um

1:00:01 ↗ I think

1:00:02 ↗ this one got me well worded

1:00:04 ↗ um

1:00:06 ↗ I think formal permission I still think

1:00:08 ↗ like a notification and like okay

1:00:09 ↗ process right is yeah so I'm removing

1:00:12 ↗ kind of formal permission

1:00:15 ↗ um

1:00:18 ↗ and I think it's the language that's in

1:00:20 ↗ number one is okay but taking out the

1:00:22 ↗ requirement of the two or more vacancies

1:00:24 ↗ so that that can apply to any Commission

1:00:30 ↗ so really the only changes are

1:00:31 ↗ notification instead of Express kind of

1:00:34 ↗ formal permission

1:00:36 ↗ and an exception can be made to the

1:00:39 ↗ requirement for an in-person quorum

1:00:42 ↗ if that's not possible at a certain

1:00:44 ↗ meeting

1:00:47 ↗ in a second

1:00:49 ↗ and second I like those changes

1:00:54 ↗ and now we'll discuss that Amendment

1:00:57 ↗ thank you all for bearing with me and my

1:00:59 ↗ clunkiness of this

1:01:06 ↗ well my my initial comments about in

1:01:08 ↗ person I mean goes we all seem to be on

1:01:10 ↗ the same page we're all on the same page

1:01:12 ↗ encouraging in person to be here in

1:01:15 ↗ person but we also agree that

1:01:17 ↗ flexibility is good I mean we've all

1:01:18 ↗ lived through covid we've dealt with the

1:01:20 ↗ zoom meetings

1:01:21 ↗ it's and I totally agree I don't want

1:01:24 ↗ someone coming if they've got a cold

1:01:26 ↗ just because they feel they have to be

1:01:28 ↗ here

1:01:28 ↗ I agree I would prefer they stay home

1:01:31 ↗ and not give me whatever it is they have

1:01:33 ↗ um

1:01:34 ↗ so ICS is all on the same page it might

1:01:37 ↗ just be very minor tweaks to

1:01:41 ↗ you know the option not needing the

1:01:43 ↗ permission

1:01:44 ↗ I think we can we can tweak that pretty

1:01:46 ↗ easily

1:01:47 ↗ um

1:01:48 ↗ but that's where I I'm still in the same

1:01:50 ↗ stance of let's be here in person let's

1:01:52 ↗ have Quorum in person

1:01:54 ↗ but I still wanted that that flexibility

1:01:57 ↗ when we need it so

1:01:59 ↗ that's why I like your interchanges

1:02:05 ↗ see what being in person does for you

1:02:09 ↗ I'm being persuaded if I understand

1:02:12 ↗ correctly that the first section A would

1:02:15 ↗ be changing from required to get

1:02:19 ↗ permission but you still have you have

1:02:22 ↗ to give notice

1:02:23 ↗ in that the number one would end after

1:02:28 ↗ um

1:02:29 ↗ if they're unable an exception may be

1:02:32 ↗ made to this requirement if they're

1:02:34 ↗ unable to make a quorum

1:02:36 ↗ something like that

1:02:38 ↗ does give some discretion for those

1:02:41 ↗ reasons and gives us flexibility

1:02:44 ↗ but if we start having no shows though

1:02:48 ↗ I'm going to go back to my old

1:02:51 ↗ yeah

1:02:53 ↗ yeah but if we I think if we see that

1:02:56 ↗ there's no shows and we can amend it

1:02:57 ↗ again and then and solve that problem

1:03:02 ↗ yeah and I'm solely speaking as like a

1:03:04 ↗ germaphobe here not as somebody who

1:03:06 ↗ wants to like say I sit on enough Zoom

1:03:08 ↗ meetings all day that this is like a

1:03:09 ↗ welcome you know thing to come and talk

1:03:11 ↗ with you all in person so yeah the

1:03:13 ↗ intention behind this is that to just

1:03:16 ↗ hang out at home and like you know eat

1:03:17 ↗ dinner in front of the computer while

1:03:19 ↗ we're on these meetings it's to you know

1:03:21 ↗ when we need to be home

1:03:24 ↗ um be able to be home um but still have

1:03:26 ↗ the meeting continue

1:03:30 ↗ uh there there are um words in here that

1:03:33 ↗ talk about when you are virtual that you

1:03:35 ↗ have to be giving your full attention

1:03:36 ↗ and so there are um there are

1:03:38 ↗ expectations behind it yeah so they're

1:03:40 ↗ very good

1:03:49 ↗ uh I guess one other note now that we've

1:03:52 ↗ made these

1:03:54 ↗ uh adjustments is number three A3 would

1:03:57 ↗ also likely need to be modified just

1:04:00 ↗ wording wise uh it also kind of reflects

1:04:04 ↗ the idea of permissions and

1:04:07 ↗ um and so it might just need some

1:04:09 ↗ wordsmithing on on that front

1:04:22 ↗ I'm sorry I'm reading actually I'm glad

1:04:25 ↗ you brought that up because now reading

1:04:26 ↗ through it again given our understanding

1:04:28 ↗ of

1:04:30 ↗ you know the fact that we all just zoom

1:04:31 ↗ into these meetings nowadays anyway and

1:04:33 ↗ no no equipment needs to be set up can't

1:04:35 ↗ be just strike number three

1:04:42 ↗ and I'll just speak up and add that when

1:04:43 ↗ we've made this similar change for the

1:04:45 ↗ other boards we've we've kind of removed

1:04:47 ↗ the anything referring to request

1:04:49 ↗ permission and just said notice advanced

1:04:51 ↗ notice will be provided and then

1:04:55 ↗ um

1:04:57 ↗ made a statement encouraging a quorum in

1:05:00 ↗ attendance but not mandating it so I I

1:05:03 ↗ would recommend I I it's not perfectly

1:05:05 ↗ marked up right now so I'll um kind of

1:05:08 ↗ defer to your comfort level with this

1:05:10 ↗ proposed amendment I think I have a

1:05:12 ↗ strong I think I understand clearly what

1:05:15 ↗ the amendment which has not yet been

1:05:16 ↗ voted on but what it intends to achieve

1:05:21 ↗ okay

1:05:23 ↗ any other discussion on that

1:05:26 ↗ next session we vote on the amendment

1:05:28 ↗ first or the English Okay so let's vote

1:05:30 ↗ on the amendment

1:05:32 ↗ um which is to um

1:05:35 ↗ no longer require permission but provide

1:05:39 ↗ advance notice

1:05:40 ↗ um ever need to attend virtually

1:05:43 ↗ um and still

1:05:45 ↗ um desire to have an in-person Quorum

1:05:48 ↗ um but

1:05:49 ↗ um to have the exception made if

1:05:53 ↗ we're not able to get there so that the

1:05:55 ↗ meeting can continue

1:05:57 ↗ so all in favor of that Amendment

1:06:05 ↗ so I think we're unanimous um on that

1:06:07 ↗ then

1:06:08 ↗ so that passes

1:06:14 ↗ okay and so then we have the original

1:06:15 ↗ motion which is to adopt as

1:06:18 ↗ um presented and proposed in here

1:06:21 ↗ um

1:06:22 ↗ anyone in favor

1:06:39 ↗ this is hard

1:06:41 ↗ um

1:06:42 ↗ so any more discussion on the main

1:06:44 ↗ motion

1:06:49 ↗ and so for my own sake because I'm like

1:06:52 ↗ lost in the bureaucracy now

1:06:55 ↗ okay and we're not Contra motion as

1:06:57 ↗ amended okay got it okay

1:07:01 ↗ so erase like go behind the scenes edit

1:07:04 ↗ that part out and

1:07:06 ↗ um we're now going to vote on the motion

1:07:08 ↗ as amended and so all of those in favor

1:07:11 ↗ of the motion as amended uh show of

1:07:14 ↗ hands

1:07:15 ↗ okay great and we're unanimous on that

1:07:17 ↗ as well so that motion as amended passes

1:07:22 ↗ you all

1:07:25 ↗ good

1:07:29 ↗ yeah thank you I think I'm up next too

1:07:32 ↗ Stephen yeah okay move on to the open

1:07:34 ↗ government training great thank you so

1:07:36 ↗ I'll make those changes and I'll

1:07:38 ↗ circulate those rules for Signature and

1:07:40 ↗ update the um the website thank you

1:07:43 ↗ um so my next item again I know I was

1:07:45 ↗ here and presented to most of you

1:07:46 ↗ commissioner cross is is the the new

1:07:49 ↗ audience for the next content I have

1:07:51 ↗ which is our annual open government

1:07:52 ↗ training so I'll try and move through

1:07:55 ↗ this pretty brief quickly and if you

1:07:57 ↗ have any questions

1:07:59 ↗ um let me know so let me

1:08:01 ↗ oh not start my video let me share my

1:08:04 ↗ other PowerPoint here

1:08:07 ↗ all right

1:08:09 ↗ okay so every um every every year we

1:08:12 ↗ train new Commissioners and we aim to

1:08:14 ↗ also provide some uh sort of refresher

1:08:18 ↗ training to all our boarding

1:08:19 ↗ Commissioners on the states to open

1:08:21 ↗ meetings laws the open public meetings

1:08:24 ↗ Act and the public records act and this

1:08:26 ↗ is required of elected officials and

1:08:27 ↗ members of open public meetings act

1:08:30 ↗ compliant boards which include the

1:08:33 ↗ city's advisory boards like the Planning

1:08:35 ↗ Commission to make sure that you're

1:08:38 ↗ familiar familiar with these state laws

1:08:40 ↗ of course we as staff are helping

1:08:42 ↗ helping you and the commissioner remain

1:08:44 ↗ compliant all the time but there are

1:08:46 ↗ some some things I'll be covering

1:08:47 ↗ tonight that relate to your personal

1:08:49 ↗ responsibility so

1:08:52 ↗ um

1:08:53 ↗ I just talked through this so we we want

1:08:55 ↗ to reduce Risk by giving you some

1:08:57 ↗ education around these laws and we

1:08:59 ↗ certainly want to decrease any

1:09:00 ↗ violations the city has a wonderful

1:09:02 ↗ track record and we hope to continue it

1:09:04 ↗ in these areas

1:09:06 ↗ so the first uh well I'll go over is the

1:09:09 ↗ open public meetings act and this is

1:09:11 ↗ really aimed at ensuring public access

1:09:13 ↗ to your decision making as you're

1:09:15 ↗ representing our community and so it

1:09:17 ↗ means that any meeting you have needs to

1:09:19 ↗ be noticed in advance we publish an

1:09:21 ↗ agenda it's posted outside it's posted

1:09:24 ↗ on our website the door needs to be open

1:09:26 ↗ the password to the WebEx virtual

1:09:29 ↗ meeting is posted so anyone can get in

1:09:32 ↗ there's no barriers

1:09:34 ↗ um so that we can just maximize

1:09:36 ↗ transparency

1:09:39 ↗ um all uh all these boards like yours

1:09:43 ↗ have regular meetings and you have twice

1:09:45 ↗ twice monthly meetings you meet probably

1:09:47 ↗ the most frequently of any of our

1:09:49 ↗ advisory boards

1:09:50 ↗ um but you also may have some special

1:09:53 ↗ meetings uh for example if a quorum of

1:09:56 ↗ you aren't available for a meeting in

1:09:58 ↗ July you know we might schedule I

1:10:00 ↗ believe tonight's a special meeting

1:10:01 ↗ actually because it's a different date

1:10:03 ↗ or time so anytime you're meeting

1:10:04 ↗ outside of that regular every other

1:10:06 ↗ Thursday schedule it's considered a

1:10:08 ↗ special meeting under the state law and

1:10:10 ↗ the one thing to know about that is we

1:10:13 ↗ are you are restricted to only

1:10:15 ↗ discussing and taking action on items on

1:10:17 ↗ that agenda for any special meeting so

1:10:20 ↗ you can't bring up new items of business

1:10:22 ↗ where that is a possibility at your

1:10:25 ↗ regular meeting so that is why we want

1:10:27 ↗ you to know that we have I think the

1:10:28 ↗ idea is because you're meeting at a

1:10:30 ↗ different time the public may be less

1:10:31 ↗ aware of your meeting and so you have to

1:10:34 ↗ kind of have that discipline to stick to

1:10:36 ↗ the special meeting agenda so we we are

1:10:38 ↗ aware of that and we take care to be

1:10:40 ↗ thorough in your special meeting agendas

1:10:44 ↗ um so I I went over this previously but

1:10:46 ↗ um we always provide an agenda in

1:10:50 ↗ advance for your benefit and for the

1:10:52 ↗ Publix benefit

1:10:53 ↗ public comment is not required at every

1:10:56 ↗ meeting but we have it as a standing

1:10:58 ↗ item on your agenda and then you of

1:11:00 ↗ course also have public hearings pretty

1:11:01 ↗ frequently

1:11:03 ↗ there are some limited uh reasons under

1:11:06 ↗ which you can have a closed meeting

1:11:07 ↗ where the public is excluded those are

1:11:09 ↗ called executive sessions but there's a

1:11:11 ↗ really narrow list of topics for which

1:11:15 ↗ you can go into a closed session and

1:11:16 ↗ they most often occur at our city

1:11:18 ↗ council so if they're discussing

1:11:19 ↗ collective bargaining litigation the

1:11:22 ↗ sale of property so they're pretty

1:11:23 ↗ unlikely to occur here but I want to

1:11:26 ↗ just make you aware that there it could

1:11:28 ↗ happen and we would have an attorney

1:11:31 ↗ present if you are needing to go into

1:11:33 ↗ one of those closed sessions

1:11:37 ↗ um so something to to think about here

1:11:40 ↗ and I guess the main point under talking

1:11:43 ↗ about the open public meetings Act is to

1:11:45 ↗ think of times when you there's sort of

1:11:47 ↗ two situations we want you thinking

1:11:49 ↗ about one is four of you

1:11:52 ↗ um physically or virtually being present

1:11:55 ↗ at one event or at one place

1:11:57 ↗ um so stay there with like the highlands

1:11:59 ↗ Council was hosting an event on like

1:12:00 ↗ growth in Issaquah or something and you

1:12:02 ↗ know you guys had some interest in

1:12:04 ↗ attending we would really want to avoid

1:12:06 ↗ having four of you attend because

1:12:07 ↗ technically that could be considered a

1:12:10 ↗ meeting of the commission especially if

1:12:12 ↗ there were topics pertaining to the

1:12:13 ↗ commission's work being discussed so if

1:12:16 ↗ something like that comes up and I'm not

1:12:18 ↗ sure um you know how how common that is

1:12:20 ↗ for your commission I know some of our

1:12:21 ↗ commissions have a lot of local and

1:12:23 ↗ Regional groups that they like to

1:12:26 ↗ participate with we really encourage

1:12:27 ↗ that you pick a few people to be

1:12:29 ↗ spokespeople and report back to the

1:12:32 ↗ commission at large and if you do happen

1:12:34 ↗ to find three of your Commissioners at

1:12:36 ↗ an event like that don't cluster

1:12:38 ↗ together and talk about the commission's

1:12:40 ↗ work because it could be perceived as a

1:12:42 ↗ as a meeting of the commission which

1:12:44 ↗ would put us out of compliance with this

1:12:46 ↗ state law so that's one situation to be

1:12:49 ↗ aware of

1:12:50 ↗ um

1:12:50 ↗ social Gatherings are okay just don't

1:12:52 ↗ talk about the commission's work

1:12:56 ↗ the second situation that I want to

1:12:59 ↗ remind you about to to avoid is what's

1:13:01 ↗ called a Serial meeting I think this one

1:13:03 ↗ is fairly easy to fall into so this is

1:13:06 ↗ when you're sharing the perspectives of

1:13:08 ↗ each other with multiple Commissioners

1:13:09 ↗ so if you debrief with one commissioner

1:13:11 ↗ after a meeting or before a meeting and

1:13:13 ↗ then one of those Commissioners shares

1:13:15 ↗ your discussion with the third

1:13:16 ↗ commissioner and they share it with the

1:13:18 ↗ fourth commissioner you kind of had like

1:13:20 ↗ a string of discussion culminating in

1:13:22 ↗ the perspectives of four of you being

1:13:24 ↗ talked about outside of a meeting again

1:13:26 ↗ not not what we want under this state

1:13:28 ↗ law and so just if if you wanted debrief

1:13:30 ↗ or chat in advance with one of your

1:13:32 ↗ Commissioners just keep it to one or two

1:13:34 ↗ and try to avoid sharing

1:13:37 ↗ um sharing other perspectives this also

1:13:39 ↗ can really easily happen by email and

1:13:41 ↗ forwarding of emails or sharing opinions

1:13:43 ↗ by email so we just encourage you to uh

1:13:46 ↗ to avoid that especially with multiple

1:13:49 ↗ Commissioners

1:13:50 ↗ um

1:13:51 ↗ it's helpful if you have information

1:13:53 ↗ that you want to disseminate that you

1:13:55 ↗ share it with Stephen and he can as a

1:13:57 ↗ neutral party disperse it and

1:14:01 ↗ just keep keep email minimal keep keep

1:14:03 ↗ it minimal and try and avoid replyalls

1:14:06 ↗ or really sharing an opinion we want to

1:14:08 ↗ hear your opinions at these meetings and

1:14:11 ↗ want them to be minimal in being

1:14:13 ↗ formally shared outside of the meetings

1:14:17 ↗ um I think I've pretty much covered the

1:14:19 ↗ points there if you have any questions

1:14:20 ↗ about this let me know

1:14:22 ↗ if not I'll move on to the the second

1:14:25 ↗ um

1:14:26 ↗ well there are some there are some

1:14:27 ↗ penalties

1:14:29 ↗ um and and the commissions action can be

1:14:30 ↗ jeopardized but again we're we're

1:14:32 ↗ working hard at all your regularly

1:14:33 ↗ scheduled meetings to ensure compliance

1:14:35 ↗ so if you keep those two situations in

1:14:37 ↗ mind that I highlighted

1:14:39 ↗ um work we're good uh so the second

1:14:41 ↗ state law is the public records act and

1:14:43 ↗ so the city has some pretty onerous

1:14:45 ↗ obligations to provide records to anyone

1:14:47 ↗ in the world who asks at any time and

1:14:49 ↗ they fill out a form on our website and

1:14:51 ↗ uh at this point we do not uh there are

1:14:55 ↗ really no charges for providing these

1:14:57 ↗ records and there is a chance as a

1:14:58 ↗ commissioner you you could be asked for

1:15:00 ↗ records either pertaining to a

1:15:02 ↗ particular per one of you or pertaining

1:15:05 ↗ to a project that you've heard so we

1:15:08 ↗ could be asked for all communication or

1:15:10 ↗ correspondence around a particular

1:15:11 ↗ project and might need to reach out to

1:15:13 ↗ you and so I want to go over a couple

1:15:15 ↗ things for you to be mindful of by and

1:15:19 ↗ large most of your content that you're

1:15:21 ↗ reviewing is coming from us through the

1:15:24 ↗ city through your agendas and through

1:15:25 ↗ City email

1:15:27 ↗ um so we have all those records but if

1:15:29 ↗ you're taking notes or producing any

1:15:30 ↗ kind of document outside of our systems

1:15:33 ↗ please be organized with them if you are

1:15:36 ↗ a note taker under our records

1:15:39 ↗ obligations notes are not something we

1:15:42 ↗ have are required to keep for any length

1:15:44 ↗ of time so once they've served their

1:15:46 ↗ purpose to you you are okay to get rid

1:15:48 ↗ of them and actually that's a healthy

1:15:49 ↗ thing to do because if we do get a

1:15:52 ↗ request you can't then get rid of them

1:15:54 ↗ you have to you have to give us what

1:15:57 ↗ you've got so um you know some kind of

1:15:59 ↗ healthy

1:16:00 ↗ um

1:16:01 ↗ cleaning up of your notes digitally or

1:16:03 ↗ by paper is a healthy thing but if you

1:16:05 ↗ want to just keep them that's fine just

1:16:07 ↗ know where they're at so if we ask you

1:16:09 ↗ you can provide them to us email is

1:16:11 ↗ another another one so I'm guessing a

1:16:14 ↗ few of you may have a dedicated email

1:16:15 ↗ for your commission

1:16:18 ↗ Communications that's not a requirement

1:16:20 ↗ but again if you are possibly emailing

1:16:23 ↗ with someone a member of the public

1:16:26 ↗ another commissioner where a city staff

1:16:28 ↗ person isn't cc'd on that email but we

1:16:30 ↗ don't have that record so we would ask

1:16:33 ↗ you if we got a records request if you

1:16:34 ↗ had any responsive emails and we would

1:16:36 ↗ need you to provide them for us and so

1:16:38 ↗ in some cases a commissioner is more

1:16:40 ↗ comfortable just having a separate email

1:16:42 ↗ account so they just know it's real

1:16:43 ↗ clean and they know where everything is

1:16:45 ↗ just also you know having a folder or

1:16:47 ↗ just kind of having awareness of what

1:16:50 ↗ you have I guess is the important thing

1:16:52 ↗ so those are the two points notes in

1:16:55 ↗ email

1:16:56 ↗ um and and hopefully and hopefully we

1:16:59 ↗ won't have to bother you with the public

1:17:00 ↗ records request but that's that's the

1:17:02 ↗ main point there if you have questions

1:17:04 ↗ about any content you have or want to

1:17:06 ↗ follow up

1:17:07 ↗ um please reach out to me my contact

1:17:11 ↗ information is on the next slide

1:17:13 ↗ um commissioner Krause you should have

1:17:15 ↗ gotten a link to our code of ethics I'm

1:17:16 ↗ guessing the other Commissioners have

1:17:18 ↗ already completed this but we do have an

1:17:19 ↗ Ethics form the URL is on the screen

1:17:22 ↗ here

1:17:23 ↗ um and uh when able we'd appreciate you

1:17:26 ↗ looking through the code of ethics and

1:17:28 ↗ there's a little acknowledgment that you

1:17:30 ↗ make and it covers some of the topics

1:17:31 ↗ that I am speaking to tonight and it

1:17:34 ↗ goes into a little more detail on a few

1:17:35 ↗ other things

1:17:38 ↗ with that you can reach me at clerks at

1:17:40 ↗ issaquah.gov anytime you have questions

1:17:43 ↗ or also direct them to Stephen and and

1:17:46 ↗ thank you for listening again

1:17:51 ↗ any questions

1:18:00 ↗ okay so that

1:18:02 ↗ um concludes in our regular business

1:18:04 ↗ um for today so we'll move on to reports

1:18:08 ↗ um and versus city council update so I'd

1:18:11 ↗ like to ask uh Stephen

1:18:13 ↗ um if there are any updates I have a few

1:18:16 ↗ for you tonight so as many as you know

1:18:19 ↗ uh city council adopted the title 18

1:18:22 ↗ update on May 1st uh the new virtual

1:18:25 ↗ version will be online starting June 1st

1:18:27 ↗ and so once that's available I'll send

1:18:28 ↗ that out to all the Commissioners what's

1:18:30 ↗ changing with the formatting online is

1:18:32 ↗ we're adding uh direct link preferences

1:18:34 ↗ in the code something that wasn't

1:18:36 ↗ available before so that when a

1:18:38 ↗ definition comes up or a reference to

1:18:40 ↗ another section of code you the link

1:18:43 ↗ will actually be right there in the code

1:18:44 ↗ itself so you're not having to Now look

1:18:47 ↗ up that other section Define where the

1:18:49 ↗ definition is or where that reference is

1:18:52 ↗ you'll be able to directly link it from

1:18:54 ↗ whatever section you're reading in the

1:18:55 ↗ code which is going to be huge help for

1:18:57 ↗ all of us who use the code fairly

1:18:59 ↗ regularly but also for a huge help for

1:19:02 ↗ people just trying to understand what

1:19:03 ↗ our code is trying to say

1:19:05 ↗ the other biggest change that's coming

1:19:07 ↗ with that is the

1:19:11 ↗ navigation of the code will be much more

1:19:13 ↗ easier before it was kind of it was

1:19:15 ↗ almost like an online pdf version where

1:19:17 ↗ you just had to look through now there's

1:19:20 ↗ actually going to be a navigation table

1:19:21 ↗ as you're looking through that'll help

1:19:23 ↗ you look at what section you're in what

1:19:25 ↗ other sections are nearby

1:19:27 ↗ being able to easily navigate to the

1:19:30 ↗ other sections without having to just

1:19:31 ↗ scroll down you can go to the navigation

1:19:33 ↗ table so the navigation of the code will

1:19:35 ↗ be significantly easier as well

1:19:38 ↗ that's it for that update

1:19:40 ↗ uh next week There's the title 18

1:19:43 ↗ celebration party I'm hoping you all can

1:19:45 ↗ attend let me know if you're not able to

1:19:48 ↗ attend that'll just help us keep track

1:19:50 ↗ of quorums for all the boards of

1:19:51 ↗ commissions

1:19:52 ↗ we're planning

1:19:54 ↗ um an exciting event for all of you food

1:19:57 ↗ will be provided and drinks but also

1:20:00 ↗ just a general thank you for everyone

1:20:01 ↗ that's been involved in this entire

1:20:03 ↗ process just because for how large this

1:20:06 ↗ project has been we want to make sure

1:20:08 ↗ everybody is recognized in in every

1:20:11 ↗ level of effort that went into this

1:20:13 ↗ update to our land use code

1:20:17 ↗ the last update that I have for you is

1:20:19 ↗ that we have the June tour so all your

1:20:21 ↗ regular meetings in June are canceled

1:20:23 ↗ and instead we have the tours scheduled

1:20:26 ↗ with small groups of you so we can take

1:20:29 ↗ a look at some upcoming policy

1:20:31 ↗ discussions we'll be having specifically

1:20:33 ↗ around housing we'll be talking some

1:20:35 ↗ transportation in some of these tours as

1:20:37 ↗ it relates to housing and answering your

1:20:39 ↗ questions around that but it's really

1:20:40 ↗ going to be focused on the housing

1:20:42 ↗ discussions that'll be upcoming as part

1:20:43 ↗ of the comprehensive Plan update there

1:20:45 ↗ will be some code updates that will

1:20:47 ↗ result from some of these discussions

1:20:49 ↗ but it really is focused on a lot of the

1:20:51 ↗ goals and policies embedded in the

1:20:53 ↗ comprehensive plan

1:20:55 ↗ and lastly

1:20:59 ↗ uh July of all your July meetings

1:21:02 ↗ that'll actually be kicking off many of

1:21:03 ↗ those policy discussions we'll be having

1:21:05 ↗ on policy following the tours in June

1:21:07 ↗ that's it for staff report

1:21:11 ↗ you know

1:21:12 ↗ um

1:21:13 ↗ any other

1:21:18 ↗ you all um for the grace you gave me as

1:21:21 ↗ I tried to navigate that

1:21:23 ↗ um with their being no further business

1:21:26 ↗ before the commission I adjourn today's

1:21:29 ↗ meeting at 7 53 pm

1:21:32 ↗ thank you all

Approved minutes

Extracted from the next meeting's packet, where this meeting's minutes were approved as a consent-calendar attachment.

Open PDF

Attendance

Council / Members (7)

Vice-Chair Bader

Commissioners Esemuede

Kennedy

Krass (Alt)

Milligan

Patterson Absence: Chair Voiss (Excused)

Commissioner Altimore (Excused)

Staff (1)

Tisha Gieser, City Clerk Christen Leeson, Senior Planner Stephen Padua, Long Range Planning Manager 2