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HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM III-AC~ DRAFT PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE * ~HIG~"OI July 11, 2011 MINUTES I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Lynn Norman called the meeting to order at 5:12 p.m. in Annex Conference Room 2 located on the second floor of One Main Building, 1 East Main Street, Auburn, WA. Committee members present were: Chair Lynn Norman and Member John Partridge. Committee members excused: Vice Chair Nancy Backus Staff members present included: Mayor Pete Lewis, Planning & Development Director Kevin Snyder, Planning Manager Elizabeth Chamberlain, Finance Director Shelley Coleman, City Engineer Dennis Selle, Economic Development Manager Doug Lein, Economic Development Planner Bill Thomas and Planning and Community Development Secretary Tina Kriss. Audience members present: Robert Whale of the Auburn Reporter, Wayne Osborne, and Kathleen Keator of The Auburn Downtown Association. II. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND AGENDA MODIFICATIONS There were no announcements or agenda modifications III. CONSENT AGENDA A. June 27, 2011 Member Partridge moved and Chair Norman seconded to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 2-0 IV. ACTION There were no action items to bring before Committee V. DISCUSSION and INFORMATION A. Ordinance No. 6362 -Budget Amendment No. 3 Finance Director Shelley Coleman provided the staff report for Ordinance No. 6362. The beginning 2011 fund balances are adjusted to reflect the actual 2010 year end balances. Committee and staff discussed the budget amendment. Director Coleman pointed out both Finance and Municipal Services Committees have recommended an interfund transfer from the Cumulative Reserve Fund (#122} to the Golf Course Fund (#437) of $400,000.00 in order to meet the debt service payment obligation. Director Coleman stated the Golf Course fund is not expected to achieve projected revenues Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes July 11, 2011 further depleting the fund. These recommendations will be brought forward in the final budget approval and discussed with Committee. In response to a question by Chair Norman, if a holistic overview is in place for the Golf Course, Director Coleman stated individuals in the field are looking at future revenue projections. Director Coleman emphasized shortfalls are not exclusive to Auburn; Tukwila and other courses are facing similar circumstances. Chair Norman stated revenue shortfalls may be a trend; it would be beneficial to prepare for future revenue shortfalls. B. Economic Development Update Economic Development Manager Doug Lein provided a PowerPoint presentation to update the Committee on the activities of economic development. Manager Lein reviewed the economic development vision, past plans, goals, and efforts. Staff reviewed organization efforts, current status to understand the business community, develop partner relationships, and create a new master business plan. Team goals for 2011 are to establish target markets, business assistance education programming, finish the City economic development website/social media sites, have the marketing plan implemented and complete the business plan. Committee emphasized the importance of not only recruitment as a goal but retention. Manager Lein stated the classes and education programs have been started in an effort to focus on retention. Economic staff will also be available to new business applicants and potential business applicants to assist and inform them. Committee and staff agreed that providing customer service and individual care of current business owners will encourage businesses to stay in within the City and increase retention. C. Comprehensive Downtown Parking Management Plan Planning & Development Director Kevin Snyder reviewed the draft scope of work for the Comprehensive Downtown Parking Management Plan. The goal for the plan is to provide policy direction and practical, operational implementation. Committee stated the draft work plan is thorough with appropriate time frame. Chair Norman stated a complete comprehensive plan for downtown parking has not been done for years. It will take time to make decisions, obtain information, and determine the needs of all stakeholders. Chair Norman thought the timeline was reasonable given the scope of work. Director Snyder stated the plan would be taken in increments of no more than five years. Member Partridge would like parking issues discovered during the process to be resolved immediately if possible to meet the needs of stakeholders. Staff emphasized the need to keep the public informed and identify short and long term goals that staff, Committee, and Council can solve today and into the future. Committee wants to discuss parking time limitations, monitoring, and the management of outreach for the public at a future meeting. Committee agrees the Downtown Urban Center should be the focus of the study from the perspective of the residents, business owners, employees and customers. Page 2 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes July 11, 2011 Downtown parking has been added to the PCDC Matrix to be discussed on an ongoing basis. D. Auburn Way South Visual Preference Survey Planning Manager Elizabeth Chamberlain lead the Committee through a visual preference survey exercise for the streetscape of Auburn Way South. Committee previously directed staff to work on initial policy development as part of the 2011 Annual Comprehensive Plan to set the stage for future sub-area planning efforts to develop the 6 Economic Development Strategy areas for Population and Employment. The starting point would be at Highway 18, the 6t" Street area working down to M Street. A stopping point will be discussed at a future meeting. Committee sees this as a revitalization opportunity for existing businesses and neighborhoods as well as an economic tool. In answering the question by Committee, "is the goal to move traffic or provide safer, usable pedestrian traffic", City Engineer Dennis Selle answered stating more capacity will be required if the City provides enhanced changes to Auburn Way South resulting in growth to economic viability and an increase in pedestrian traffic. Committee provided the following feedback: 1. Auburn Way South -Street Corridor. a. Chair Norman's likes elements of photos 1, 4, and 5. Chair Norman noted the importance of increasing pedestrian usage, improving the pedestrian crossing of Auburn Way South safely, and making it a pedestrian friendly corridor. Chair Norman wants to ensure if a median strip is chosen as part revitalization the City is able to adequately maintain it. b. Member Partridge has a preference for elements in photos 2 and 6 likes the professional look of number 6. 2. Auburn Way South Access/Sidewalk: a. Committee would like to create a pedestrian friendly wider sidewalk where available with a minimum of 7.5 feet and research creating the illusion of larger sidewalks. b. Committee would like to explore public art. Director Snyder explained the sidewalks on Auburn Way have varying setbacks and width due to variations in the meandering right of ways. Committee discussed how to make a walkable community on the corridor, how to cross Auburn Way South safely and enhance the tinier connection of the corridor to enhance the pedestrian relationship. 3. Street Lighting: a. Committee would like similar lighting in the Plaza and Promenade for Auburn Way South with basket and banner options to extend the Main Street theme. Page 3 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes July 11, 2011 4. Public Art: a. Chair Norman is supportive of all types of public art (benches, stand alone pieces and integrated public art). Adding plaques to buildings, sidewalks and benches could be a way to bring forward historic preservation for people, places, and buildings. b. White RiverValley Museum could collaborate on historic elements. c. A theme for the corridor or art could be the White River bed. 5. In order to guide future redevelopment and policy development as part of the 2011 Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendments the Committee would like to see: a. Multi-story structures. b. Housing with shopping and support services in close proximity. c. Multi-family housing. d. Increasing building height. e. Poll signs and monument signs (future discussion to create clear, organized sign elements). f. Buildings located at back of sidewalk and close to the street. g. Individual surface parking lots and possible shared parking (future discussion on benefits and obstacles for shared parking}. E. Director's Report No director's report was presented F. PCDC Status Report No substantial changes were made to the matrix VI. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Planning and Community Development Committee, Chair Norman adjourned the meeting at 7:11 p.m. APPROVED THIS DAY OF Lynn Norman, Chair Tina Kriss, Planning and Development Secretary Page 4