Leavenworth City Council meets with planning commission, makes committee appointments, and revises its rules

LEAVENWORTH – The City Council discussed planning commission priorities, winter parking fines, committee appointments, and more at its meeting on Jan. 23. 

The City Council and Planning Commission joined at the start of the meeting to rank the priorities for the 2024 Planning Commission Docket. The City Council voted to make inclusionary zoning for affordable housing the number one priority, followed by the consideration of condominiums or unit lot subdivisions for residential zoning districts, parking, and then a comprehensive plan for Urban Growth Area (UGA) expansion.

The docket includes nearly fifteen Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulation projects that are reviewed by the Planning Commission every year. The City Council and Planning Commission discussed confusion of expectations surrounding projects such as condominiums in residential areas or evaluating triplexes as distinct land uses, which may translate to public misunderstanding. The meeting considered options for public education and engagement.

“I think it will go a long way if we get ahead of it and engage the community and let them know what we're considering and what our intention is behind it. I think that will help avoid some misunderstandings and potential backlash,” said Janessa Ruckle from the Planning Commission.

The City Council approved another amendment to winter parking regulations regarding infraction fees. The previous fee was $25, the City Council voted unanimously to increase the fee to $100 per violation. 

“I’d like to see it more than $100,” said Council Member Sharon Waters.

The amendment was proposed by Mayor Carl Florea and City Administrator Matthew Selby, with recommendations from Chelan County Sheriff Liaison Officer, who suggested an amount as high as $200, according to Selby.

The ordinance had been previously amended in Dec. 2023 to change the parking restriction hours in residential neighborhoods to begin at midnight rather than 3 a.m. to account for snow removal operations.

In City Council housekeeping, the Mayor’s committee assignments were confirmed. New member Rhona Baron will be on the Parking Advisory Committee and Solid Waste Council. Shane Thayer and Travis McMaster will both be on the Upper Valley Park and Recreation Service Area (PRSA). McMaster will also be on the Festhalle Oversight Committee, Osborn Library Feasibility ad-hoc committee and volunteered for the vacant position on the Leavenworth Area Promotions Committee (LAP) during the meeting.

Mayor Pro-Tempore assignments were also confirmed for the Economic Development and Finance Committees. Travis McMaster, Clint Strand, and Anne Hessburg will serve on the Economic Development Committee. Zeke Reister, Shane Thayer, and Rhona Baron will serve on the Finance Committee.

The City Council also approved the proposed revisions to Council rules. However, Waters voted against the proposed changes, and McMaster abstained. Notable revisions included Zoom formatting, public participation requirements, and attendance regulations.

The decision to switch from meeting to webinar formatting for Zoom attendees was confirmed as a result of a disruptive intrusion, or Zoom bombing, that occurred at the beginning of the meeting. Webinar formatting allows the host to have more control over audience participation in order to have less disruption during large meetings.

Under the resolution, members of the public who would like to comment must provide their first and last names for the record and turn their cameras on unless it is not possible to do so. For comments made during public hearings, the text was revised to clarify that commenters must state their name and address prior to taking the podium, not during or after. 

Waters expressed concern about public misrepresentation over not requiring the address of people making public comments during a meeting. Mayor Florea said he stopped requiring this after receiving feedback during his first election. Currently, an address is only required during comments at public hearings.

“People outside city limits didn't feel like they were given the same opportunity to talk and their comments taken seriously. That’s the perception,” said Mayor Florea.

For attendance, Council members are expected to attend all meetings unless excused by the City Council. Per ordinance 1678-2023 and RCW 35A.12.060, a member must forfeit their office if they fail to attend three consecutive meetings in a calendar year without being excused from City Council. An earlier draft of the rules indicated that members couldn’t attend via Zoom more than three times per calendar year, which was removed after Council Member Hessburg reasoned against it.

“I don't want to have personal health or family issues be something that reduces our Council members in some sort of way, rather than being able to use that Zoom option as something that will be inclusive,” said Hessburg.

Other members of the City Council were in agreement. The resolution still requires members to use their cameras if they do attend via Zoom. 

The next City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 13.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media