May 11 City Council Meeting

Kenmore Community Rowing Club (KCRC) Annual Report 

Presented by Jennifer Gordon, Public Works Director, and Casey Burt, Board Chair of KCRC.  Presenters discussed the growth of KCRC to 197 unique rowers in 2025, including 63 Kenmore residents. Last year, KCRC invested heavily in new equipment last year; after $145k in donations and grants and $127k in program revenue, they ended with a net operating income of $27k.  Kenmorerowing.org for more information on events, and there is a learn-to-row event on June 6. 

CM Culver asked for context about us taking over the Kenmore Quad. City Manager Killgore clarified that the City was approached looking for a new fiscal sponsor for the Kenmore Quad; they had a grant and either needed to be sponsored by a non-profit or government agency to accept the funds. The City entered into a two-year contract with the Quad, and the volunteers will still run it. CM Culver wants it to come in front of the council at the end of the two year period before it’s renewed.

Draft STEP Regulations

Debbie Bent requested feedback on the draft code for STEP Housing regulations to move forward to public hearing (tentatively scheduled for first meeting in June). Staff made changes to the previous draft to comply with State legislation, and it has been reviewed by the City Attorney. Debbie recommended adding clarity on the process for developments over 100 units to include Type 2 processing.  The Type 1 permit decision has no ability to appeal; Type 2 can be appealed to the hearings examiner for Kenmore. 

CM Culver offered "clarifications and corrections”.  He believes that there was no consensus on the STEP committee in terms of recommendations and only three members of STEP responded to the follow-up email where they tried to reach consensus. He said that he has heard that the community wants events, but he thinks that they should be with Council and Hank Heron and he can “pull espresso shots.” He strongly opposes Good Neighbor Agreements (GNAs).

CM Marshall asked for clarifications on the City’s ability to impose requirements.  Staff and the City Attorney clarified that developments are done through administrative approval and do not come to Council, and that we can only require developments of a certain size to be located near transit if done for all residential developments.  Similarly, Council can only require GNA’s if they’re required for all similar housing developments, and that the current draft states that they are not required (just recommended).  

CM Loutsis asked for clarity on GNA requirements for city-owned land or financial contribution from the city.  The City Attorney said that there is a carveout for city-owned property or investments and that a GNA could be required in these cases. 

DM Sasson is not interested in pursuing even a voluntary GNA because it implies criminality when people are in need. It’s distasteful, immoral and cruel.  

Mayor Herbig said one of the issues we ran into with PSH was parking requirements and asked for an update. He is not a fan of GNAs; housing is housing, regardless of who is living there, and that we wouldn’t make someone in a condo up the street jump through all the hoops that were proposed. Debbie clarified that the parking requirements for other residential developments would apply to STEP.  Mayor Herbig asked if multi-family development goes through the Type 2 process at a certain size.  Debbie said that it’s not distinguished by number of units, but it goes more through than a building permit; usually it goes through a binding site-plan to create or approve the lots.

CM Marshall cited several studies regarding the high percentage (70%) of people experiencing homelessness who have substance abuse issues, and the increasing rates of homelessness combined with increased spending on PSH and decreased spending on shelters. He questions whether PSH is doing what it should.  Quoting Professor Josephine Ensign, we need to at some point come from the high hard ground of science, and get down into the thick of things.  We are going to give people housing and get them in there first but there’s every reason to support accountability so we don’t have more danger to people from themselves, so that we don’t have more deaths, and we don’t have danger to the community.

CM O’Cain reminded us that the purpose and intent of public hearings is to get feedback about what’s being brought forward and she’d like to hear from the community about how they feel. She can see how we might not need GNAs, but feels it’s important to hear from the community. 

Motions & Consensus 

CM O’Cain moved to support Debbie’s amendment to clarify the process and allow Type 2 processing for buildings over 100 units. CM Adman seconded.  CM Culver moved to amend to include developments of 100 units. CM Culver’s motion died for lack of a second.  CM O’Cain’s motion passed 6-2 with CM Marshall and Mayor Herbig opposed. 

The City Attorney said that she would work with Debbie to capture the language of when the expedited permit would apply, so that it would be consistent with the recent legislation. The clarification that will come back is that if STEP is allowed a Type 2 process what the distinction is. 

CM Culver moved to strike short subdivision and variances from expedited permit processing (18.77.060).  The motion was set aside and not reintroduced. 

CM Culver moved to strike Good Neighbor Agreements.  DM Sasson seconded. 

CM Marshall said that we had recommendations for GNA’s from our planning commission, and where he would like more strength on these, Staff has presented what we’re legally able to do.  He feels GNAs are essential; our neighbors, people we love, need more help than they’re getting. Where that help fails, we deserve, and they deserve to have some accountability, to help them more.

CM Loutsis reminded us that the language regarding GNAs in the draft code is that they are recommended, not required. There was a comment about this from the planning commission; it’s a recommendation or suggestion of something a developer could explore to create a more positive relationship with neighbors.  It’s not required and it’s not binding. 

CM O’Cain wants housing developers to have the tools that they need to create good relationships with the community when they come in, and she’d like to hear from the community on this.  She reiterated that the GNA is optional, and it’s a tool that the developers can use to ensure a welcoming environment. 

DM Sasson said that she thinks this vote is premature and she’d like to take it after the public hearing.

CM Culver said that the feedback from the committee member directly is that we don’t trust GNAs.  Developers consider them a burden and a hindrance and don’t want them. 

Motion carried 4-3 with CM O’Cain, CM Loutsis and CM Marshall opposed. 

CM Culver moved to strike the requirements certification for emergency housing and shelters (18.77.070).  Debbie clarified that this section was part of the recent state legislation that passed. Motion died due to lack of a second. 

City Manager Reports

Farmers market starts June 3

Last call for neighborhood retail survey 

Councilmember Reports

DM Sasson said that NHUSA is hosting a virtual learning event for affordable housing week, and there will be an in-person event at City Hall.