Medical Lake shoreline plan revisited

MEDICAL LAKE – Industrial development and multifamily housing wouldn’t be allowed on certain lakeshores in Medical Lake under a proposal that would be the first update of the community’s shoreline master plan in 41 years.

The Medical Lake City Council had its first reading of the new shoreline master plan ordinance Tuesday night.

Planner Glenn Scholten told the council the plan updates the last plan conducted in 1967 by Spokane County.

It updates the language and eliminates industrial or multifamily uses of the land along the waterfront. Scholten said that the plan also preserves private property rights.

A planner who has been working three days a week with the city’s planning commission to finish the shoreline project, Scholten previously presented the updated plan to council at Sept. 16 public hearing.

The city has jurisdiction over the shorelines of Medical Lake, West Medical Lake and a public ramp at Silver Lake.

“All our zoning around Medical Lake is all R-1, single-family residence,” said Doug Ross, the city administrator.

In other business Tuesday, the council agreed to hire Scholten as a full-time planner starting Nov. 1

For a long time, the city has been relying on Ross as planning director or contracting out the work. He also serves as the public works director and parks and recreation director. The city has also contracted planning work to a private planning company.

“There’s plenty of work to keep him busy,” Ross said.

Scholten’s workload has grown to fill a full-time position and he can start other projects in the city, such as establishing impact fees.

“I’ve been bugging Doug for almost two years now for impact fees,” said Councilmember Howard Jorgenson.

Councilmember John Paikuli asked Ross if there is enough money in the budget for another full-time employee. Ross said there would be some line item surpluses in this year’s budget to make up the difference and the position would have a place in the budget for next year. Scholten will make an annual salary of about $43,000 next year.

Ross said the city should be interviewing candidates for its new police chief in two weeks.

Of seven applicants, the city whittled it down to three and one of those was eliminated. The two eligible candidates will go through an interview with eight people, including city staff and a member of the community.

The city will also conduct interviews for a new court administrator next week.

Ross said 15 to 17 people applied for the position vacated by Katrin Smith in August.