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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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