CCMIN12152020 - Laserfiche WebLink

Ayes: Councilmembers Arkin, Testa, Mayor Brown Noes: Councilmember Narum Abstained: Councilmember Balch Absent: None Councilmember Testa praised the applicant for immediately offering to meet to discuss her concerns following her appeal of the Planning Commission's decision. She stated her appreciation for the applicant's quick revisionary work. Councilmember Testa stated her concerns for the City's upcoming affordable housing needs and not capturing all available fees. She cited City Attorney Sodergren's statement it is legally defensible to retain the Affordable Housing Fees. She moved to approve staff's Option 2 (following historical precedent) to balance the need for fees with providing a substantial fee reduction for the applicant. In response to Mayor Brown's inquiry, Councilmember Testa confirmed her viewpoint takes into consideration the applicant building an on-site unit for the facility manager. She noted there is a unit in the current property so this project does not add anything additional in this area and the unit is not available to the community at large. Councilmember Narum stated she will not support this motion because the applicant is providing a unit for a manager whose salary likely would not allow them to rent a nearby apartment. She added, although this unit is not designated as Below Market Rate housing, it is in reality. She expressed her support for Option 5 and stated the precedents from 1997 and 2002 are too old to apply to the current fee situation. Mayor Brown stated she would not support Option 2 either because about $500,000 is too high of a fee for just three employees. She noted the large gaps between Options 3-5 and Options 1-2, stating she would set the fees between them. Councilmember Arkin expressed having mixed feelings for understanding the rationale between Option 2 and Option 5. She echoed Mayor Brown's regret there is not an option between these two. MOTION: It was m/s by Testa/Arkin to reduce the Affordable Housing Fees for Public Storage to 23.4%. Motion failed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmember Testa Noes: Councilmembers Arkin, Narum, Mayor Brown Abstained: Councilmember Balch Absent: None Councilmember Testa suggested a compromise between Options 2 and 5 in the neighborhood of $200,000. Councilmember Narum called for the rationale behind setting the number. She reiterated her belief the manager's unit is a BMR even if it is not officially designated as such. Councilmember Testa stated it does not need to be tied to the number of employees. Councilmember Narum stated her preference is for the applicant to pay 80% of Option 5 since they were providing the manager's unit. She stated her belief it would not pass so moved in favor of Option 5. Mayor Brown seconded the motion calling it respectful government with a project so large in physical space yet with so few employees. Councilmember Narum added if businesses flee, the Council is not servicing the residents. Councilmember Arkin stated her desire to see the fees be higher than 3.2%, although still greatly reduced from the full amount. Councilmember Narum withdrew her motion. City Council Minutes Page 14 of 17 December 15, 2020