SHORELINE — If public comment regarding the city’s Comprehensive Plan update were a play, Act 2 commenced at the City Council’s Jan. 18 workshop meeting.
And as in any good play, drama was a key component.
Public comment was accepted in continuation of the Jan. 10 public hearing which was adjourned due to disruptions. Before commencing, however, the validity of the public hearing was questioned.
Brian Derdowski, a public affairs consultant with Public Interest Associates and a former King County Council member, said a hearing cannot be replaced with a public workshop.
“There was no public notice,” Derdowski said. “You need to formally schedule a public hearing and accept today’s comments as good of the order.”
City attorney Ian Sievers said that the Council was not in error, since the assumption was that the public hearing is a continuation of last week’s hearing.
“If there is some confusion, sorry, but we did call those people who signed up last week,” Sievers said. “Beyond that, others can comment as well.”
Council member Maggie Fimia said since there was enough confusion, the Council should, “Err on the side of caution.”
Fimia said testimony taken Monday should be recorded and people allowed to comment at the Jan. 24 meeting as well. The Council is scheduled to deliberate on the Comprehensive Plan at the Jan. 31 meeting.
LaNita Wacker told the Council she had considered the city’s Comprehensive Plan from the viewpoint of a philosopher and thought that some areas in the plan needed to be refined, such as air quality, trees, pervious surfaces, reforestation and affordable housing.
Resident Ken Cottingham said the transportation segment of the plan lacks planning for years ahead.
“We have a master plan for transportation,” Cottingham said. “But the problem is that the past is documented very well, as is the present, but there is no future in the plan.”
Guy Olivera said zoning and development changes to the Comprehensive Plan weaken public participation regarding land issues.
“We need to have access to all parts of the process,” Olivera said. “The process exists for our benefit.”
Derdowski requested that the Council create a committee to meet with Public Interest Associates in order to improve the city’s Comprehensive Plan, saying the review by the Planning Commission was incomplete.
“We will give you point and counterpoint,” Derdowski said.
Business owner and Shoreline Chamber of Commerce vice-president Cindy Ryu said, “I hope you look at Derdowski’s recommendations.”
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