City Manager’s Weekly Report
for week ending October 11, 2019
Planning Commission Public Involvement Plan. Holly Keeton, the Community Development Director, will be proposing a 2019-2020 Work Plan and draft Public Involvement Plan at the next Planning Commission Meeting. There will also be city staff present at community events currently scheduled in upcoming months to clarify the land use process with the community. A special meeting to hold a public hearing on October 24, 2019, will not include a town hall meeting, in order to not confuse the Economic Development Element and the Future Land Use updates. The October 24 meeting will explore the Economic Development Element. At this meeting, Holly and the Planning Commission will also discuss the work plan and outline future outreach. In light of the outreach schedule, Holly expects that the remainder of the 2019 docket will be completed as early in 2020 as possible. Subsequently, the Planning Commission will schedule a town hall meeting to discuss the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) update and related rezone (the details related to the map). At this time, staff anticipates that the FLUM amendments and its related rezone will begin discussion as part of the 2019 docket and continue into early 2020.
Ultrafine Particulates Study Update – September. The release of the final report is anticipated in December. This study update states “…that it [the ultrafine particulates study] provides information on the spatial distribution of ambient air quality impacts, but does not provide a precise way to assign exposure estimates to specific locations or populations.” In other words, the study provides interesting data about the distribution of ultrafine particulates, but will lead to further research about location and impact of contamination. See the attached slide deck.
Current Ultrafine Particulates Study
Trees and Ultrafine Particulates. Information from a number of reputable sources (nature.com, Access Science, NY Health Dept.) have publications that provide details on the benefits of trees to reduce particulate matter and to purify the air. Trees remove ultra-fine particulate matter as they take in the matter and absorb it. Net environmental benefits of trees is undeniable, even when considering the volatile organic gases that trees do emit. The presence of trees provides significant health benefits, including the reduction of these particulates that make their way into the blood stream and negatively impact our hearts, lungs and brains.
Sources:
- United State Dept. of Agriculture, https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/news/release/urban-trees-clean-air
- Access Science, https://www.accessscience.com/content/urban-tree-leaves-remove-fine-particulate-air-pollution/BR0116141
- Nature.com, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-03360-1
StART Noise Working Group Agenda for October 14. See attached. These issues should reappear as part of the next StART large group meeting. Earnest Thompson, Eric Zimmerman and I serve on the noise working group and on the larger StART group. Earnest Thompson serves on the legislative policy working group as well.
StART Group Agenda – October 14th
Coffee with a Cop. On Saturday, October 19th, from 9:30-11:30 A.M., the Normandy Park Police Department will be hosting Coffee with a Cop at Empire Coffee at the Normandy Park Town Center. Be there to ask questions and meet your police officers! NPPD will also have pink patches available for a $10 donation. (The pink NPPD patches seem to be a hot item!!) All proceeds from sale of the patches are going to the American Cancer Society. Hope to see you there!
Disaster Skills Training. October 23, 6:30-8:00 P.M., at Normandy Park City Hall. Featuring information about family communication planning, hazards assessments, emergency kits, alternate routes, neighborhood readiness, city partnerships, and pet preparedness.
Disaster Stills Training Flyer
– Mark E. Hoppen, City Manager
City of Normandy Park
801 SW 174th Street
Normandy Park, WA 98166
(206) 248-8246 (Direct Phone)
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