TipSheet: This week’s Council Committees

As part of our ongoing attempt to keep readers up to date with all that is going on at City Hall, we will now be offering weekly tip sheets for City Council committees. As usual, we will be offering highlights of the meetings, with links to the entire agenda.

Planning and Neighborhoods Committee

Monday, June 15. Agenda here.

3. Consider and develop recommendations related to an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 changing regulations for secondary dwellings (also known as accessory dwelling units).

Monitor’s take: At their meeting last week, the committee took public comment on this issue, but held off on making a decision. We expect more committee discussion on this issue this time around. For context, we’ve covered ADUs plenty in the past.

4. Consider and develop recommendations on a resolution affirming Approach 2.5 of CodeNEXT, relating to the degree to which the existing code will be amended.

Monitor’s take: When the old Council recommended the 2.5 approach to the CodeNEXT rewrite, they included a stipulation that said that decision and the amount the code should be rewritten would be reevaluated at a later date. That time is here.

5. Consider and develop recommendations on short-term rental regulations and enforcement.

Monitor’s take: Since establishing rules for short term rentals, the city has had some trouble enforcing them. According to a press release, this resolution directs the city manager to look into those issues. We are unclear how this differs from the action taken after an audit of the ordinance last year, but we’ll check it out.

6. Consider and develop recommendations for the Density Bonus Program.

Monitor’s take: Though, again, there is no backup indicating what this item is, we presume it has something to do with Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo’s push to require on-site affordable housing in the Downtown Density Bonus Program.

Public Utilities Committee

Wednesday, June 17. Agenda here.

3. Consider and develop recommendations on an ordinance amending City Code Chapters 15-2 and 15-9 relating to the drainage charge.

Monitor’s take: In May, Council sent the new drainage fee structure back to committee for review.

4. Staff briefing, invited testimony, and policy discussion to consider a resolution on stopping the addition of fluoridation to treated water.

Monitor’s take: Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.