HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-07-1992PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MINUTES Decdmber 7, 1992
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. Those in attendance
were Committee Chairman Rich Wagner, Councilmember Pat Burns, and
Councilmember Mike Weekley. Also in attendance were Public Works
Director Frank A. Currie, Assistant Public Works Director Alice
I. Conrad, City Attorney Steve Shelton, Hospital representatives
Michael Gherardini and John Keegan, Gas Company representatives
Gary Novelson and Tom Yates, and Auburn Downtown Association
representatives Greg Vine, Bill Morchin and Darrell Majors.
ISSUES
A. RESOLUTION NO. 2341 TO EXECUTE A RELEASE OF UTILITY
EASEMENT TO ELIMINATE THE CITY'S EASEMENT AS
ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE NO. 3516 LOCATED BETWEEN NORTH
DIVISION STREET AND 'A' STREET N.E. BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD
STREETS N.E. WITHIN THE CITY OF AUBURN
Steve Shelton and Frank Currie gave an explanation of
the easement history, and introduced the
representatives from the Hospital and Gas Company.
Hospital representatives Mike Gherardini and John
Keegan expressed their agreement with the opinion of
the City Attorney, and stated that it is the position
of the Hospital that the gas line serves gas customers
and should be relocated by the Gas Company.
Gas Company representatives Gary Novelson and Tom Yates
explained that they are not opposed to the expansion
program proposed by the Hospital, but questioned that
the Gas Company should be forced to absorb the costs
for the Hospital proposal. A map was provided to show
gas line locations, and the Hospital expansion project
phases were explained.
After discussion of the relocation costs and possible
options for line relocation, Councilman Burns expressed
his disappointment that the two parties had not been
able to come to a mutual conclusion. The Committee
recommended to the Council that the subject easement be
released with the addition of a 'hold harmless' clause
to protect the City should the conflict continue
between the two parties. This recommendation will be
considered by the Council during their regular December
7, 1992 meeting.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MINUTES December 7, 1992
Page 2
CONSENT
A. UTILITY BILL ADJUSTMENT TO ACCOUNT NO. 3.61.1590 IN THE
AMOUNT OF TWO THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED FORTY-SEVEN DOLLARS
AND FOUR CENTS ($2,147.04)
The Committee approved the utility adjustment, and
recommended approval to the Council at the December 7,
1992 meeting.
DISCUSSION
A. ADA/CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LETTER - DOWNTOWN PARKING
CONCERNS
Frank Currie described the four requested changes as
presented in the letter of November 9, 1992, and shared
the City's perspective on a number of parking options.
The City staff does not clearly see a parking need in
the downtown area and would be reluctant to support
major parking changes without a professional study and
evaluation. Frank expressed a concern that a hasty
decision may only cause more difficulty in the future.
Bill Morchin, representing the Downtown Association,
described the work that has been done by the downtown
merchants in a effort to better understand their needs.
The merchants feel they may be losing customers who are
angry when they are ticketed for parking. The goal of
the Parking Committee is to maximize the downtown
business potential, and the requested changes would
make a noticeable improvement.
Councilman Weekley asked about costs to the City should
the requested changes be approved. He was assured that
the actual costs would probably be minimal.
Mr. Morchin felt a compromise position would be to
simply adjust the parking lot time limits from 2-hour
parking to 3-hour parking and increase the fines to
$5.00.
The Committee directed the Public Works Director to
have the appropriate ordinances prepared to be
presented to the Municipal Services Committee, and be
placed on the agenda for January 4, 1993.
The Committee also discussed the second request from
Mr. Morchin to limit the right -turn lane onto Auburn
Way South for travelers going west on Main Street to
allow for additional on -street parking spaces, and
concluded that the few gained parking stalls would not
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MINUTES December 7, 1992
Page 3
be worth the difficulty to either move all of the
travel lanes to the south or limit the holding area for
the right -turn lane.
There being no further business to come before the Committee, the
meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
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REF. H:\ENGINEER\E92\E92-2116