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Home My WebLink AboutITEM III-BCITY OF, * DRAFT tituRN PLANNING &COMMUNITY WASHINGTON DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE April 22, 2008 MINUTES I. CALL TO ORDER - 5:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBERS Chair Lynn Norman called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers located on the first floor of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, WA. Committee members present were: Chair Norman, Member Backus and Member Wagner. Also present were: Director of Planning, Building & Community Cindy Baker, Principal Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain, Environmental Protection Manager Aaron Nix, Principal Planner Jeff Dixon, Transportation Planner Tiffin Goodman, Traffic Manager Laura Philpot, Mayor Pete Lewis and Planning Secretary Kirsten Reynolds. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES April 14, 2008 Member Backus moved to approve the minutes from the April 14, 2008 meeting as submitted, seconded by Member Wagner. Minutes approved unanimously 3-0. III. ACTION Action item B was moved to item A under the Discussion section of the meeting. A. SR 18 Signage Status Report - Government Relations Manager Carolyn Robertson reported Mike Dorfield proposed two signs on SR 18, one eastbound at milepost/marker 3.42 and one westbound at milepost/marker 4.69. The eastbound sign would be co-located with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and say City Center. The budget for materials and installation came to $34,274.84. Mayor Pete Lewis talked about the key C Street location which was requested originally by the ADA and BIA more than 20 years ago. The cost to pay for a replacement sign was discussed; the cost for one golf course sign was $12,000. Director of Public Works Dennis Selle had commented previously these costs were reasonable due to the conditions of installing them. The Committee reviewed a GIS map and agreed on the placement. They stated if the conditions are exactly as reported and the signs look like what was presented at this meeting the Committee wished to move forward with a contract between the City and the State of Washington. Page 1 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes April 22, 2008 Member Backus moved to more forward SR 18 Signage as part of the consent Council agenda; Member Wagner seconded. Minutes approved unanimously 3-0. IV. DISCUSSION A. Ordinance No. 6173 - Traffic Manager Laura Philpot spoke about amending section 10.36.390 of the Auburn City Code related to creating a two hour parking zone on West Main Street and F Street NW. The issue of parking on West Main Street was brought up by businesses located on E Street. The Ordinance spells out a two hour limitation to prevent commuters from taking up parking; it would stop at F Street and allow for all day parking from that point on. The Committee was in support of seeing this move forward. B. Resolution No. 4328 Transportation Improvement Board Grant for West Valley Highway Improvements - Transportation Planner Tiffin Goodman explained the City has received a Transportation Improvement Board grant for designing and constructing the West Valley Highway project. The grant is $3 million and requires a $2 million City match. Public Works Committee already took action for approval. The grant will add center turn pockets, barriers, safety improvements and sidewalks. The $2 million City match is on the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) already. The Committee was in agreement that this should move forward. C. Resolution No. 4340 - Public Works Trust Fund Loan for the M Street NE/Harvey Road & 8th Street NE Improvements - Transportation Planner Tiffin Goodman reported the Trust Fund Loan was received for M Street NE/Harvey Road & 8th Street NE Improvement project. This reconstruction project will remedy the existing poor pavement condition and bring the area up to a modern arterial and truck route standards. At the intersection of M Street and Harvey Road a right turn pocket will be added; two receiving lanes and pavement improvements from 8th to 4th Street. Chair Norman commented she was very interested in finding out what the solution will be for peak hours when traffic stacks up in the left turn lane. There was further discussion regarding the intersection at Harvey and M Street. Ms. Goodman reported the consultant will help get this area designed to the best possible situation. Member Backus asked if there could be additional signage added for the crosswalk located there; staff was discussing removal of this crosswalk as it is a danger. Page 2 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes April 22, 2008 D. Public Development Authority - Planning, Building & Community Director Cindy Baker & City Attorney Dan Heid discussed the advantages and disadvantages to having a Public Development Authority (PDA) in downtown Auburn. Director Baker has staff working to get more information from case studies. Mr. Heid spoke about the history of "public corporations" - they can be created by a City but it becomes a subordinate to the creator. A PDA would be able to do things like administer grant programs, museums, farmers markets and retail uses. The creator can receive assets from the property owner/municipal corporation. The corporation is liable for the activities; it does not jeopardize the City that created it. Limitations to a PDA include real property/assets can not be disposed of by the creator. Separate regulations are required to dispose of property. Public process would be similar to the Cities regulations but the level of liability would remain with the authority / PDA. Mayor Lewis asked for more information on this topic - The City of Kent and Valley Com have PDAs. Mr. Heid talked about the ability of a PDA to operate as a private entity to allow for development to happen; this takes one layer away and allowing for jobs to get completed faster. Mayor Lewis asked for staff from Public Works, Planning and Finance to work on this collectively and bring information back to PCD Committee. The Committee asked to see options on how governance boards function in a PDA. E. Corps Project Design Agreement - Mayor Lewis spoke about the City entering into a design agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers in order to plan, design and eventually construct three Mill Creek improvement projects starting at the base of Peasley Canyon and extending to the city limit near 277th Street NW. The City's contribution is approximately $110,000 to the Corps contribution of $344,000. Mayor Lewis reported the timeframe to get this started is summer 2008. F. 15th Street Culvert Enhancement Project - Mayor Lewis talked about the Tetra Tech Infrastructure Group that completed its initial study of flow through the 15th Street Culvert. They have concluded that replacement of the culvert is not needed at this time. Thus saving millions of dollars. Instead, the culvert needs to be cleaned and enhanced for appropriate fish passage and habitat functions. The City will be entering into a contract with Tetra Tech in order to complete the design and get the project constructed within Tetra Tech's construction group. Project management staff amongst Public Works will not be utilized in this effort due to a significant project back log. Page 3 Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes April 22, 2008 Member Wagner talked about once the water is running the salmon will return again. This project will be started is this summer. Part of the wetlands mitigation fund will help to off set the expense. G. PCDC Status Matrix - Director Baker, Chair Norman and staff spend a significant amount of time revising the matrix. Several points discussed, but were not limited to: - The Committee agreed to move forward with creating a medical hospital zone and combine further information on a Downtown Master Plan. - Community Services section was added to include items involving Human Services and Community Services. - The Committee will be adding prioritized items from the Council Retreat. - Signage for lodging - a request was made for direction from Committee if this should be allowed as a "wayfinding" sign. The Committee was clear this type of signage would only be allowed directly off the freeways for services. There needs to be guidelines and be kept under control. Public Works staff will be notified that lodging signage would be appropriate. ? Mayor Lewis would like to see a discussion about "paid signage" i.e. putting logos on signage for a profit. ? Check list of linear signage around town because it is too difficult to read. V. INFORMATION A. Information - there was no further discussion or information shared. VII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Planning and Community Development Committee, Chair Norman adjourned the meeting at 6:55 p.m. APPROVED THE DAY OF Lynn Norman, Chair Kirsten Reynolds, Secretary Page 4