09/26/90MIN[tiES
CITY OF YEIM REG[JLAR COUNCIL INEETING
WIDNESDAY, SEPIQ76ER 26, 1990, 7:30 PM, YELM CITY HALL
The regular meeting was called to order by Mayor Sanders at 7:30 PM. All
present joined in the flag salute. Councilmembers present: Kathy Wolf,
Amos Lawton, Martha Parsons and Rick Kolilis. Arnold Drogseth was out of
country. Staff: Gene Borges, Shelly Badger, Glenn Dunnam and Daisy
Lawton. Visitors: Bill Lynn, William Fisher, Winston Bontrager, Kelly
Paxton and John Minato (all representing Venture Partners), Elene Newby,
Robert Eggert, Ann Clifton (Thurston County Assessor), Dana Mower and
Dennis T. Su (both representing Thurston Highland & Associates), Paul
Steadman, Lisa Hills, Pat & Jake Purvis, Michael Welter (Director,
Thurston County Parks & Recreation), Earlyse Swift and Gary Burk (both of
TOGETHER) and Sandy Mackie (Owens, Davies & Mackie).
Rick Kolilis moved to approve the evening's agenda, second by Martha
Parsons. Motion carried.
The minutes of September 12, 1990 were approved on a motion by Kathy
Wolf, second by Amos Lawton. Motion carried.
Martha Parsons moved to approve payroll for the month of September, 1990,
second by Rick Kolilis. Motion carried.
Earlyse Swift, TOGETHER staff and Gary Burk, Citizen Activist/Secretary,
,~
were present to discuss the Action Plan for Community Mobilization"
drafted by 'I'OC~THER!, Thurston Communities for Drug Free Youth. They
highlighted the nine goals of TOGE'ri-~R! which carry out the programs
mission statement; "Thurston area citizens working together to develop
proactive prevention efforts to ensure drug-free communities for youth".
Ms. Swift inforn~ed the Council that Yelm has been successful in receiving
an additional $400.00 grant from TOGETHER! to purchase DARE program
supplies. They commended the work of the Ye]m DARE program and the Yelm
Community School system in working towards the goals of the TOGETHER!
program.
Ann Clifton was on hand to present the Council with a request from the
Thurston G~unty Assessor's & Sheriff's Offices to install an on-line
computer terminal in Yelm City Hall to be used to access public
informiation. Council directed staff to write to Thurston County stating
approval of the project.
Thurston Highlands & Associates vs. Venture Partners annexation
petitions: Mayor Sanders introduced Sandy Mackie, Owens, Davies &
Mackie, hired as legal counsel by the City of Yelm to consult Yelm on the
annexation issue, who explained that until a 75~ annexation petition has
been filed with the city, names of property owners can be added or
deleted from one or more petitions. Stressed was the fact that cities
have the authority and ability to set conditions on the annexation
requests that best meet the interest of the city and its citizens.
Mr. Mackie explained that it was solely up to the city whether or not to
entertain a second notice of intent to commence annexation proceedings
from Venture Partners for the property between Yelm's present city limits
and the property owned by Thurston Highlands & Associates. A letter of
intent was received from Thurston Highlands & Associates on June 13, 1990
and accepted by Ye1m City Council on July 11, 1990 that involves the samie
properties as Venture Partners "proposed" petition would.
Mayor Sanders introduced Dana Mower, Barghausen Consulting Engineers,
Inc. and Dennis Su, Kramer, Chin & Mayo, Inc. (both representing Thurston
Highlands & Associates) to give a overview of work done to date by
Thurston Highlands & Associates in regards to the annexation request.
Dana Mower provided the Council with an aerial map and the following
overview
1. Reviewed aerial photographs showing present site characteristics:
a. Site already cleared.
b. Access considerations due to unique location between Hwy. 507
and 510 to disperse traffic around Yelm.
c. Relative proximity to the downtown area oC Yelm and Fort Lewis.
2. Existing zoning: ~'
a. The site is an unmapped use in Thurston County with current, one ..~~
house per five acre density.
b. The 5-acre lot design would most likely result in one access road
to project.
c. Each site would incorporate a septic system and separate well.
d. 5-acre density would virtually guarantee urban sprawl by forcing
low density growth to occur over a very large area with little con-
tribution to infrastructure.
3. Presented topographic survey information:
a. Site represents topographic relief variety.
b. Site lends itself well to a championship 18-hole golf course
(used as buffer to Fort Lewis).
c. Some natural wetlands on site.
4. House Bill 2929 (Growth Management Act):
a. Requires for planning of growth for the next 20 years (feels
Yelm should require minimum 15o greater land area than necessary).
b. Growth Management Act requires planning for future growth and
placing this growth within cities with sufficient infrastructure to
accommodate growth.
c. Plan requires that little or no growth occur outside city bound-
aries.
5. Thurston Highlands & Associates have filed the following documents
with Yelm:
a. Letter of intent to commence annexation proceedings filed on June
13, 1990, accepted by City Council on July 11, 1990.
b. Environmental checklist submitted to city staff on 9-19-90.
c. Thurston Highlands has contemplated annexing entire 1800-acre
parcel from its conception in June with input from Yelm (includes
area proposed for annexation by Venture Partners).
6. City Sewer System:
a. Project would help defer cost of City sewage treatment plant and
facilities
b. STEP system would be required on project to minimize environ-
mental impacts and sewage treatment requirements.
c. Only project this size, 1200+ acres, is feasible to consider
new additional sewer treatment plant.
7. City Water System:
a. Project would incorporate extension of city lines in order to
obtain service which would help disburse the city water system costs.
b. Additional well sites could be placed on the property which would
increase city water capacity.
c. Preliminary findings that the site has deeper and better water
system.
8. Project and annexation will have the following benefits to City:
a. Long-term assistance to the school district
b. Construction of championship golf course.
c. Construction of a wide range of housing including middle and
upper Pod housing types consisting mainly of single-family res-
idential homes.
d. A planned community would be allowed in accordance with City of
YeLn criteria at reasonable urban densities which would allow for the
payments of and fair contribution for infrastructure construction.
e. A planned community would eliminate urban sprawl in this area
(reference Puget Sound Vision 2020, Puget Sound Council of Govern-
ments--Small Towns).
9. Benefits to City for preparing a single annexation petition:
a. Would result in a strong position from the city to the Boundary
Review Board.
b. Significantly easier to process environmental review of entire
1800 acre site.
c. In accordance with planning objectives of HB2929 (Growth Manage-
ment Act).
d. Would allow city to address annexation issues one time rather
than multiple times.
'`~~ B~i~ Lynn representing Venture Partners spoke in regards to the city
~' s~~~, tting two annexation requests rather than one, first submit the
,, ~~•:~.
Venture Partners request (approximately 600 acres, referred to as the
Dragt Property Owners), then submit the Thurston Highland & Associates
parcel for annexation. He had the following comments in favor of
separate annexation submittals;
1. Single annexation request combining the two areas is too large and
Thurston County Boundary Review Board will deny it.
2. Yelm's Sphere of Influence line established in 1985 runs through a
portion of Thurston Highlands and includes all of the Venture Partners
proposed area.
3. Asked if economical to annex the two areas together.
4. Requested that the city allow the property owners to decide which
annexation petition to. sign.
5. From discussions with Thurston County Planning staff, there is a
feeling that the Venture Partners request has a good chance of approval
for annexation and the Thurston Highlands request does not.
Question from Patty Lally, President, Yelm Chamber of Commerce: What
type of development is Venture Partners proposing? Concern with lack of
information presented to-the Yelm Community on their project.
Bill Fisher, Venture Partners responded with the following:
1. Plan for homes ranging from $90,000-200,000. Intend to assist with
roads, school system, utilities, etc. to develop the property.
2. Due to recent growth management legislation, Venture Partners would
like to secure land within a city urban growth boundary and annex as soon
as possible.
3. He stressed concern that a large single annexation would cause delay
and/or dismissal of the annexation by the Boundary Review Board, due to
recent discussions with Thurston County Planning staff.
Dana Mower, representing Thurston Highland & Associates commented that in
recent discussions (9-21 & 9-2b) with Thurston County Planning staff they
assured him that no official decisions have been made by the department
and they have no basis at this time to make a determination on a single
or multiple annexation request.
He also commented that Thurston Highlands & Associates owns the property
(1200 acres) and tYiat if the City decided on separate annexation requests
to the Boundary Review Board, they would be second in line and have to
wait.
At 8:45 PM, Mayor Sanders called a recess.
Council reconvened at 9:05 PM.
Sandy Mackie, Owens, Davies & Mackie, informed the City Council of the
guidelines used by the Boundary Review Board regarding annexations. The
BRB uses the following as criteria in determining an annexation request:
1. Is the boundary a logical one for the city?
2. Is it consistent with comprehensive plans?
3. Is the community able to serve the area?
Using these guidelines the Boundary Review Board can:
1. Approve the annexation with the original boundaries.
2. Deny the request in its entirety.
3. Modify and change the boundaries and approve a portion of the
original annexation request. This would come back to Yelm for Yelm's
consideration and approval.
Comments by Yelm City Council:
1. Kathy Wolf - Thurston Highlands & Associates submitted their request
first to the City and own the property proposed for development. A1s~,
~~
Yelm's sphere of influence was established in 1985 with a provision gat 'd
it be reviewed and revised every five years, this process has been
delayed due to Yelm's involvement in the Yelm/Thurston County Joint Plan.
2. Martha Parsons - If city requires a single annexation petition
(Thurston Highland property and Venture Partners together), will Venture
Partners a~ntinue their plans for development? Response by Bill Fisher:
Plan to continue with development but prefer separate petitions due to
their feeling that Thurston County would accept a smaller annexation
request and deny a larger one.
Gene Borges, Yelm City Administrator had the following conrnents:
1. Staff recommendation is to require a single annexation request or
allow the two requests mandating that they be run through the process
concurrently.
2. Stated the Yelm Planning Committee recommendation (September 18,
1990):
"Motion by Knight, seconded Schlosser that committee recommend
to Yelm City Council that Thurston Highlands, Venture Partners/
Dragt and Steadman join together as one annexation." Unanimous.
Kathy Wolf moved to schedule a workshop to further discuss the issue,
prior to making a decision, on Monday, October 1, 1990, 6:00 PM, second
by Martha Parsons. Motion carried.
Michael Welter, Director, Thurston County Parks & Recreation, was present
to discuss Proposition #21, (The Real Estate Environmental Endowment,
commonly referred to as TREE) which will be on the November 6, 1990
ballot. The TREE plan advances an open space, parks, trails and
environmentally sensitive area acquisition program significantly beyond
any existing preservation program. It has been designed to secure the
preservation of those additional open spaces that are vitally important
to a neighborhood as well as those lands cherished by the entire region.
The Washington State Legislature authorized (1990) county governments to
enact up to a to real estate excise tax for the acquisition of land and
water that has environmental value for existing and future generations.
Proposition #21, proposed by the Thurston County Board of Commissioners
would assess a 3/4 of to real estate excise tax on the sale of
residential and commercial property. The tax would sunset in 10 years.
The funds would be distributed amongst the following programs:
1. The Saving the Rural Environment Program
2. The Greening of the Cities Program
3. The StewardsYiip Program
4. The Regional Acquisition Program
5. The Urban Growth Management Program
6. The Arri3inistration Program
Yelm would have access to the funds through the Greening of the Cities
Program, The Urban Growth Management Program (once an urban growth
boundary has been approved around the City of Ye]m) and possibly the
Regional Acquisition Program if Yelm meets the following criteria:
1. A comprehensive parks and open space plan has been adopted by the
legislative authority of the jurisdiction.
2. A local citizens advisory committee exists to review projects and
provide for citizen input (Yelm Parks Advisory Committee).
3. The TREE Plan is adopted by the legislative authority of the
jurisdiction.
The Yelm Parks Advisory Committee has voiced their support of Proposition
#21, TREE.
At 10:04 the Regular Meeting was closed for the Public Hearing on the
annexation of the Cochrane Park property to the City of Yelm. No
comments from the public.
At 10:05 PM, the Regular Meeting was reopened. Kathy Wolf moved to
approve Ordinance #3F35, annexincJ the Coc-hr~.rne P~~rrk property into Lhe C.i.ty
of Ye]m, second by Martha Parsons. Motion carried.
Rick Kolilis moved to authorize Mayor Sanders to sign the agreement with
I~n~ercity Transit participating in the maintenance and operation of the
AMTRAK Depo ($147.00), second by Kathy Wolf. Motion carried.
A letter was received from Barbara Christensen requesting that a
crosswalk be considered in the vicinity of the Northwest Deli Mart. Due
to recent and past accidents, Yelm City Council directed staff to write a
letter to District #3, Department of Transportation requesting they
consider placing a crosswalk at an area between Longmire and Cullens and
another at 103rd, also to consider a reduction in speed limit through
Yelm.
North Wind Woodworks: A letter dated September 19, 1990 was received
from North Wind Woodworks requesting that the Yelm City Council grant
them an extension to operate their non-complying woodworking business at
108 Yelm Ave. W. until December 15, 1990. Since the business use does
not comply with uses permitted in Yelm's commercial zone, the Council
agreed to not allow an extension and gave direction to Yelm's city
attorney to take action to insure compliance.
Resolution No. 213 authorizing the City of Yelm to charge a deposit to
development project proponents for actual costs borne by Yelm was
approved on a motion by Rick Kolilis, second by Kathy Wolf, subject to
city attorney final review. Motion carried.
Kathy Wolf moved to approve Ordinance No. 387, Yelm's Binding Site Plan
Ordinance, second by Martha Parsons. Motion carried. (Based on the Yelm
Planning Committee's September 18, 1990 recommendation for adoption).
At 10:25 PM, Kathy Wolf moved to continue the meeting to Monday, October
1, 1990, 7:00 PM, Yelm City Hall, to discuss agenda item #6, Thurston
Highlands & Associates vs. Venture Partners annexation petition requests,
second by Martha Parsons. Motion carried. All other items on the agenda
not discussed will be tabled to the Regular Meeting of October 10, 1990.
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CODTPIlVL)ED MEETING OF SEP'III~ER 26, 1990
continued to
MCJ~IDAY, OC'iC~ER 1, 1990, 7:00 PM, YEIM CITY HULL
**NOTE: The workshop scheduled for 6:00 PM was cancelled.
The meeting reconvened at 7:03 PM. Councilmembers present: Kathy Wolf,
Amos Lawton, Arnold Drogseth, Martha Parsons and Rick Kolilis. Staff:
Gene Borges and Shelly Badger. Visitors: Pat S Jake Purvis, Paul &
Carole Steadman, Dennis T. Su, Lils Willuweit and Sandy Mackie, Owens,
Davies & Mackie.
After discussion on the Thurston Highlands vs. Venture Partners
annexation petition requests, Kathy Wolf moved to entertain a single
annexation petition, consistent with the Yelm Planning Corrcriittee's
recommendation (September 18, 1990), second by Martha Parsons. Motion
carried.
Mr. Mackie informed the Council that an amended "letter of intent" could
be submitted to the Council by Thurston Highlands & Associates to include
any additional properties that wish to join in the annexation request.
With no further action needed by the Yelm City Council at this time,
Martha Parsons moved to adjourn the meeting, second by Kathy Wolf.
Meeting adjourned at 7:12 PM.
ATTEST:
P ,~~, ~
Shelly A. Badger
City Clerk
~tA-t.~
Robert A. Sanders
Mayor
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