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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-09-2000CITY OF AUBURN PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 9, 2000 I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 4:35 p.m. Those in attendance were Mayor Booth, Committee Chairman Rich Wagner, Council/Committee member Fred Poe, and Councilmember Sue Singer, substituting for Council/Committee member Pete Lewis, whose absence was excused. Staff in attendance were City Engineer Dennis Dowdy, Finance Director Diane Supler, Planning Director Paul Krauss, Assistant City Engineer Dennis Selle, Traffic Engineer Cass Brotherton, Project Engineer Scott Nutter, Project Engineer Evelyn Choe, and Administrative Services Supervisor Pam Miller. Guest in attendance was Tom Mortimer, Water Rights Attorney. II. CONSENT A. FINAL PAY ESTIMATE #1 TO CONTRACT 00-09 WITH ICON MATERIALS, INC., AND ACCEPT CONSTRUCTION OF PROJECT NO. C8064, KERSEY WAY REHABILITATION This project provided for the restoration of the asphalt concrete pavement of Kersey Way from the intersection of Oravetz Road to the junction of 53rd Street SE, created a left-turn lane at the intersection of Oravetz Road and Kersey Way, and improved storm drainage along the read. The final pay estimate is in the amount of $287,729.92. A project contingency of $211,553.80 remains in the 102 fund. There was no discussion. It was moved by Poe, seconded by Singer, that the Committee recommend Council approve Final Pay Estimate No. 1 and accept construction of Project No. C8064, Kersey WaY Rehabilitation. Motion carried. III. ISSUES A. RESOLUTION NO. 3268, INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH KING COUNTY RELATING TO S 277TM STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT Resolution No. 3268 authorizes the Mayor and City Clerk to execute an interlocal agreement between the City and King County for the South 277th Street Project. The agreement defines the City's authority and responsibility for acquisition of right-of-way and associated property, restates the City's lead agency status, specifies the County as lead agency for Phase II improvements, and provides for interagency management and cooperation between the County and the City. Project Engineer Nutter stated that the agreement in the Committee packet was not the latest version, since the County had made changes to it earlier that day. It is anticipated that the final version of the agreement will be included in the Council agenda packet. The Committee asked that the agreement include the revision date in the page footers. It was moved by Poe, seconded by Singer, that the Committee recommend Council adopt Resolution No. 3268, pending review of final changes by the County. Motion carried. B. RESOLUTION NO. 3269, ELECTING AUBURN'S REPRESENTATIVES TO SERVE ON THE REGIONAL WATER ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH KING COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MINUTES Page 2 of 5 OCTOBER 9, 2000 Resolution No. 3269 authorizes nomination of City staff members to represent the City at the regular monthly and annual meetings of the Regional Water Association of South King County. The City is a member of the Association and is entitled to nominate representatives for one Director and two Alternate positions. It is proposed that the City Engineer be nominated for the Director position, with the Public Works Director nominated as the First Alternate, and the Water Utility Engineer nominated as the Second Alternate. There was no discussion. It was moved by Poe, seconded by Singer, that the Committee recommend Council adopt Resolution No. 3269. Motion carried. IV. INFORMATION OR DISCUSSION Prior to the scheduled Information/Discussion agenda, Chair Wagner asked to discuss the upcoming meeting with the City's IA2 partners, scheduled for Wednesday, October 11,5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. He stated that Water Rights Attorney Tom Moritmer will lead the discussion, with the focus on the City's water rights applications and interactions with Puget Sound Energy. Following the discussion, Mortimer will speak to the points addressed in a confidential letter to the Committee from Larry Bradbury of Water District No. 111. Mortimer gave an update on communications he has had with Puget Sound Energy and the Department of Ecology in recent months. Chair Wagner asked who would be in attendance at the meeting to represent the City's Water Comprehensive Plan, should it be discussed. City Engineer Dowdy responded that we could consider having Consulting Engineers Lara McKinnon and Don Wright in attendance, if available. However, it may be advisable to limit the agenda to focus on the two significant issues to be discussed by Attorney Mortimer. Chair Wagner then brought up a fourth issue that could come up at the meeting, rates and how the expenditure for water rights could affect them. He stated that he could not endorse the Water Comprehensive Plan until he sees what it does to the rates. Council/Committee member Poe concurred, stating they should be looked at together. City Engineer Dowdy stated that next year's budget is supported by the current rates, which were adopted in October of 1999. Finance Director Supler stated that department Capital Facilities Plans (CFPs) are currently being submitted to her. Once they are assembled, she will meet with the Mayor, and they will then be presented to the Council. She expressed concern that there may be more projects than the City can reasonably bond, not in terms of bonding capacity, but in terms of what the City has the ability to pay. City Engineer Dowdy stated that the purpose of the plan is to set forth projects for the next twenty years, without compromising the budget process. He stated that a project's inclusion in the plan does not guarantee the project is going to be accomplished within any specific time, but that in formulating the CFP, staff will consider those projects that are most urgent and within the utility's financial capacity. Chair Wagner stated he would like that fact stated in the plan. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MINUTES Page 3 of 5 OCTOBER 9, 2000 Following further discussion by Mortimer regarding the City's water rights application and when the primary rights for Wells 6 and 7 may be needed, the impact of pending legislation on utility rates was discussed. A. POSTING FOR SKATEBOARDS ON TERRACE DRIVE For the purpose of these minutes, this item was discussed after Information/Discussion Item F. At a previous meeting, the Committee had inquired about the possibility of having signs posted on Terrace Drive prohibiting skateboards. Finance Director Supler stated that she had discussed the issue with the Washington Cities Insurance Authority, who recommended the City not post signs. Reasons for the WCIA recommendation were discussed, and it was the consensus of the Committee that signs should be not be posted on Terrace Drive. PROPOSED LEASE OF GOEDECKE NORTH PROPERTY TO KING COUNTY FOR WETLAND MITIGATION FOR S 277TM PHASE 3 City Engineer Dowdy gave background on an interlocal agreement that was entered into between the City and King County in 1996 to transfer state grant funds from County for the east end of their project to the City for Auburn's portion of the corridor. The transfer occurred when the County's project was put on hold due to issues related to the ElS on their portion. The transferred funds were used to get Auburn's ElS started for the grade separation project. Project Engineer Nutter further explained that the County's environmental document was based on use of the Goedecke site for mitigation, and they currently have a need for approximately 4 acres. Nutter reviewed a map showing the Goedecke site and areas currently in use for wetland mitigation. Two sites remain available on the property, one consisting of approximately 2.2 acres, the other of 4 acres. Nutter reported that the County is asking for the City's concurrence so that they can start looking at the 4-acre site for design options. A condition for the City's concurrence would be that the County would have to agree to get a current appraisal of the value before the City would enter into an Agreement. The Committee did not object to the County's request, however they asked staff to prepare a summary of how much money the sanitary sewer utility has collected to date for the Goedecke site. Finance Director Supler indicated that this would require considerable archive research to develop. C. S 277TM STREET BUDGET Project Engineer Nutter distributed a spreadsheet showing costs for the South 277th Street project. In response to a question from Chair Wagner regarding project costs, Nutter explained that the budget was developed to allow adequate contingent for both Auburn and Kent. Should the lead for the project be transferred to the City of Kent, Auburn would complete property acquisition and design requirements prior to such transfer; however, there could still be right-of-way and acquisition issues for up to a year after the transfer. The contingency would cover these costs. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MINUTES Page 4 of 5 OCTOBER 9, 2000 The Mayor asked how much money the City would have to pay back, if property acquisition was completed, but the project was not constructed. Nutter responded the interlocal agreements with the Port of Seattle and King County require the City to complete right-of- way and design, so thbse requirements would be fulfilled. However, if the project is not built within ten years, federal funds totaling approximately $4 million would have to be paid back. D. S 277TM VS 3RD STREET SW CASH FLOW Project Engineer Nutter distributed a spreadsheet illustrating cash flow for the South 277th Street and the 3rd Street SW projects. The spreadsheet showed how the two projects together line up in terms of funds floated by the City, and gives Finance the opportunity to make decisions on how to expend the City's share to the best advantage. Finance Director Supler proposed that a year-end budget adjustment be done to move the REET money committed to the South 277th Street project to 2000. It was noted the City's participation in the two projects totals $2.6 million. In negotiations, the City of Kent has asked Auburn to initiate condemnation for the balance of the properties along the corridor and for Puget Sound Energy and the railroad. Discussions are currently ongoing with the City's right-of-way consultant and the City Attorney, which may lead to additional condemnation requests coming before the Committee and Council. E. LIGHTING IN DOWNTOWN AUBURN Due to Council/Committee member Lewis' absence, this item was deferred until the next meeting. F. STATUS REPORT AND FINANCING OPTIONS: SOUND TRANSIT GARAGE For the purpose of these minutes, this item was discussed after the IA2 meeting discussion. Planning Director Krauss stated that Sound Transit wants to have a contract signed so that construction of the parking garage can begin early next year, with completion by the end of the year. Therefore, he is bringing this item to the Council Committees because a decision is needed by the end of November/early December. Bids were recently opened for a design build contract, and it appears that City components can be included at numbers consistent with the offer the City made to Sound Transit in April. Krauss distributed a cash flow spreadsheet, reporting that the City has been approached by several businesses wanting retail space. He also reviewed a list of other possible retail space tenants as developed by a commercial broker. Lengthy discussion was held on the possible uses of the parking garage, including selling spaces versus preserving spaces for public use, using the ground floor for retail space versus parking spaces, planned development in the area adjacent to the parking garage and station, current commuter rail and station use, and possible creation of a parking utility supported by user fees. Further research into these issues will be done prior to Council being asked to make any policy decisions regarding the parking garage. G. OTHER DISCUSSION Prior to moving to the Capital Project Status Report, Wagner asked for discussion on prioritization of signals. At their last meeting, Committee members were asked to prioritize PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MINUTES Page 5 of 5 OCTOBER 9, 2000 three signals for grant funding consideration. The consensus was: #1 - Lakeland Hills Way and East Valley Highway; #2 - Auburn Way S. and 'F' Street SE; and #3 - Kersey Way and Oravetz. After the recent failure of the signal at 41st and 'A' Streets SE, Chair Wagner felt that perhaps the signal at Kersey Way and Oravetz should be made a higher priority. Traffic Engineer Brotherton stated that all three signals are on the TIP, but not in the budget, and that all three will be submitted for grant funding in 2001. In addition, a proposed development in the area of Kersey Way could be required to contribute toward a signal at the Kersey/Oravetz location. The Committee expressed the need for improved notification of signal failures. Brotherton responded that this is an issue the Traffic Section is working on. H. CAPITAL PROJECT STATUS REPORT There was no discussion. V. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Public Works Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 6:25 p.m. PM/bd REF. H:\ENGINEER\E00\E00-1162 (E:\MINUTES\00PW10-1)