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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-23-2000MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE OCTOBER 23, 2000 The regular meeting of the Planning and Community Development Committee was held October 23, 2000 in the Council Work Area. Those members in attendance were as follows: MEMBERS PRESENT: Trish Borden, Fred Poe and Sue Singer STAFF PRESENT: Paul Krauss, David Osaki, Dick Deal, Susan Sagawa OTHERS PRESENT: Mayor Booth The meeting was called to order by Committee Chair Borden at 6:30 p.m. ACTION ITEMS: 1. Ordinance 5444 - Fee Support for Brave Parks and Recreation Director Dick Deal introduced Susan Sagawa, the City's Cultural Program Manager. Sagawa indicated that staff had worked with the King County Offi, ce of Cultural Resources and other agencies to call on artists to participate in a performing arts network. This network would allow for the booking of Iow cost production performances at greatly reduced fees. As part of the Auburn Arts Commission BRAVO! Series, the City of Auburn negotiated a contract with three artists through this booking network to perform at the Aubum Performing Arts Center at a reduced cost. The artist's total fee was $5,400. $5,000 of this total will be provided by a grant through the King County Arts Commission. The total fee would have been $9,000 without the booking company/network. Councilmember Singer moved and Councilmember Poe seconded a motion to recommend approval of the contract. Motion passed. 2. Resolution 3275 - Agreement for Artwork Susan Sagawa provided the Planning and Community Development Committee with an update on several art projects currently outstanding. Specifically, artwork has started on a project associated with the remodel of the Senior Center. Completion of this project is anticipated in spring 2001. The Sundial project at Les Gove Park is proceeding.' Partial funding has been provided by local service organizations, especially the Soroptimist Club. The Sundial project involves a huge picnic table in the park that will include recognition of those contributing service organizations. Councilmember Singer requested that the Sundial project retain its original title of "Millennium Sundial". She mentioned the project is sponsored by Soroptimist International of Auburn to celebrate the new millennium. The Sundial piece will be fabricated at the end of the year but won't be installed until 2001 because of the current on-going park improvements. The sundial is being developed in close conjunction with a University of Washington Astronomy professor to ensure its accurate placement. Information about how the sundial works will be integrated into the artwork. The cost of the project is estimated at $15,000. The kids banner project along "J" Street is proceeding, The intent of this project is to develop series of banners along "J" street that will be developed by children. Alternate banners will have words on them (signage elements). In two weeks the artist will be starting the first workshop with fourth grade students. The banners will be fabricated by the end of the year but will not be put up until spdng 2001 pending completion of the street improvements. MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE OCTOBER 23, 2000 Sagawa discussed a model of the sculpture to be located at the "J" Street entry to Les Gove Park. The artwork will be a bronze sculpture of a woman in a welcoming position. It is intended to help serve as an "entryway" into the park. The artist is renowned for this type of artwork theme. The cost of the project is $30,000. Resolution 3275 authorizes the Mayor to sign an agreement with artist Phillip Levine for this project. Moved and seconded to recommend approval of Resolution 3275. Passed unanimously. DISCUSSION ITEMS: 1. Senior Center Parks Director Deal informed the Planning and Community Development Committee that the bids for the senior center remodel project have been issued. Parks Director Deal indicated to the PCDC that he would like to bring the bids to the City Council for approval at its second meeting in November to keep the project on schedule as much as possible. To expedite PCDC review, bid information would be faxed to PCDC members. Parks Director Deal indicated that the senior center involves $2 million in City funding. This consists of $1milllion from the general fund and $1 million from the REIT. $450,000 in CDBG funds have also been allocated to the project and a capital campaign has been on-going. $135,000 has been raised so far through the capital campaign. The goal is $200,000. Fundraisers are still planned. Chairperson Borden asked whether it was correct that the senior center will have a room capable of seating 300 people. Parks Director Deal responded yes. There will also be commercial grade kitchen equipment in the facility that will allow more people to be served better during functions and events. Borden mentioned that she inquired since than larger facility may offer more rental income potential. Liquor policies were discussed. Current City policy is not to allow liquor at City facilities. Parks Director Deal said he would do additional research on how other cities address allowing liquor at rental events in publicly owned facilities. Parks Director Deal returned to the subject of the senior center bid. The bidding is for a base bid only for the building. Landscaping, parking and storm drain work were bid as three alternates. There's a $180,000 contingency budget for the project. The City has ninety days after bid opening to pick up other items as alternates. This will be decided after the bids are open and it is determined how much of the budget is still available. 2. 2000 Comprehensive Plan Amendments Principal Planner Osaki noted that the City Council public hearings on the Comprehensive Plan amendments have been broken up into two dates: Nov 6, and November 20. Map amendments CPM #1 through #9 (all privately-initiated application) and map amendments (CPM) # 17-19 in the West Main Street area in the vicinity of "D" and "G" Streets NW/SW will be considered November 6, 2000. The balance of the proposed amendments will be considered November 20, 2000. The policy and text amendments proposed for consideration this year were summarized. P/T #1 "Nei.qhborhood Commercial" Plan Map Desi.qnation Text Principal Planner Osaki noted that the intent of this amendment was to eliminate references to the neighborhood commercial text in the comprehensive plan given that CPM #11 proposed 2 MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE OCTOBER 23, 2000 elimination of the "Neighborhood Commercial" plan map designation. However, the Planning Commission recommended against eliminating the plan map designation and, consequently, against this text amendment. The PCDC recommended that staff review the landscaping and buffering requirements of the C-1 zone and that staff recommend amendments next year that would provide better protection for adjacent uses, particularly residential if these "Neighborhood Commercial" areas were zoned C-1. The Comprehensive Plan map amendment (CPM #11), eliminating the "Neighborhood Commercial" plan designation, would then be reconsidered during next year's cycle. P/T #2 Auburn School District Capital Facility Plan (CFP) 1999-00 throuqh 2005-06 and PFF #3 Kent School District No. 415; Years 2000-2001 to 2005-2006. Principal Planner Osaki indicated that both the Auburn School District and the Kent School District's have submitted updated capital facilities plans for adoption i.nto the City's comprehensive plan. Information contained in the School District CFP serves as the basis for the City's collection of school impact fees on behalf of the school district. Councilmember Borden asked staff to bring back information about the per unit amount for the City's present collection of school impact fees. PFF ~ Transportation Element Amendments. Staff indicated that these amendments reflect two matters. First, the Public Works Department has prepared amendments to the Transportation Element. Amendments generally include: updating tables to reflect the actual level of service (LOS) information for each signalized intersection and corridor, and converting updated LOS to the Highway Capacity Manual 1997 methodology so that the updated LOS more accurately reflects current traffic conditions. This also makes the City's measurement tool more responsive to over-saturated intersection conditions and makes the City's measurement tool more consistent with what other cities and engineering firms use. Additionally, revisions are proposed to respond to certain requirements of House Bill 1487 adopted by the Washington State legislature in 1998. Among other items, HB 1487 requires local communities to amend their comprehensive plans to include an inventory of State Highway facilities, clarify that local concurrency requirements do not apply to Highways of Statewide Significance (HSS, which is SR 18 and SR 167 in Auburn), and clarify that the level of service for HSS are to be set by the State and not local governments. Principal Planner Osaki mentioned that WSDOT has been reviewing the proposed amendments and has indicated that additional information should be included. Thus, staff will be proposing additional amendments to the Transportation Element. Councilmember Singer mentioned existing Transportation Element Policy TR-13 (B.1) that has language regarding access to existing areas. The word "substantially" in the policy made it (the policy) nebulous. It was suggested that Planning staff talk to Public Works traffic staff to determine whether alternative language could be developed to make this policy clearer. PFF #5 Master Plan for the Olson Farm. The City of Auburn and White River Valley Museum have provided the Master Plan for the Olson Farm dated February 2000. The Master Plan recommendations call primarily for the rehabilitation of the site's historic buildings and the additions of discrete new improvements for visitor access and use. Osaki indicated that P/T ~6 and PFF#7 are the Comprehensive Water Plan and Comprehensive Storm Drainage Plan respectively. Staff indicated that both of these documents are subject to a November 7, 2000 Planning Commission public hearing. Councilmember Poe indicated that given the proposed Comprehensive Drainage Plan's length, Councilmembers Borden and Singer focus might first focus on the Executive Summary. Staff was asked to provide Councilmembers Borden and Singer with the Executive Summary. MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE OCTOBER 23, 2000 P/T#8 Public Works Department Comprehensive Plan Text Amendments. Principal Planner Osaki indicated that P/T #8 were Public Works Department proposed text amendments to Chapter 3 Land Use; Chapter 5 Capital Facilities; Chapter 9 The Environment; Chapter 13 Development in Unincorporated Areas and Annexation; and Chapter 15 Implementation. These proposed amendments address consistency with the adoption of new utility plans, clarify or revise policies, and include other minor updates. PFF #9 was to be an amendment to the Capital Facilities Plan (CFP) but these will likely be addressed sometime next year. The GMA allows amendments to CFP's in conjunction with budget amendments to occur outside of the required annual amendment cycle. PFF #10 Historic Preservation Element Amendment. The proposal is to amend the Chapter 10, Historic Preservation Element, to include policy support for historical documentation of historic resources subject to demolition or substantial modification. The PCDC discussed the process for deliberating on the proposed amendments and concurred that it would make recommendations after the public hearing on those amendments that where consensus could not be easily reached. The PCDC also discussed certain map amendments. Discussion primarily focused on CPM #7 (Auburn Properties,~ and CPM #8 (Nicholson Development). The PCDC also discussed CPM #20 in the vicinity of 12"' Street SE and Auburn Way South. Discussion of non-conforming uses occurred. For CPM #20, the PCDC also requested that each Councilmember receive a zoning map with land uses labeled. Councilmember Singer indicated that the text in Chapter 15 makes reference to concurrency management system to be in place by 1995, the need for a PUD ordinance (which has since been adopted) and an energy management plan. This text is outdated and should be updated. Also, an economic development plan is identified as Iow priority in this Chapter and should now be elevated. The PCDC also requested staff to develop a matrix identifying the proposed amendments, staff recommendation and planning commission recommendation. 3. Request for Homeless Services in City Parks Parks Director Dick Deal indicated that a group has been providing services to homeless individuals in City Park. This group has been giving food to homeless people three times a week in the City Park kitchen building. They are interested in pursuing a long-term agreement with the City to perform this activity. According to Parks Director Deal, this group has not come to the park board yet but, if it does and depending upon. the park board's decision, the matter may come before the City Council. This was an informational announcement at this time. INFORMATION ITEMS: 1. Borden Chemical Company Land Planning Director Krauss indicated that he was asked to follow up on a matter at an ADA meeting relative to an economic development project in the City of Kent. Under this project, King County will apply to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for a short term Community Development Interim Loan to help the City of Kent get the MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE OCTOBER 23, 2000 financing needed to acquire and, clean up and sell acquire the Borden Chemical property in its downtown. This basically involves borrowing against unexpended Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The justification for the use of the CDBG funds is that the proposed City of Kent mixed use project will have a retail component that will hire Iow-moderate-income households and meeting HUD guidelines and eligibility requirements. The implication for Auburn is that there may be a basis to apply this concept to the retail component of the parking garage by pledging its payment through future CDBG funds. A jurisdiction can borrow up to five times its annual CDBG allocation. Staff will be exploring this further. 2. Brannon Park Lighting Parks and Recreation Director Dick Deal indicated that the City received four bids for lighting at Brannon Park. The high bid was approximately $211,000 and the Iow bid was $142,000. However, the Iow bid had to be rejected since it did not address an addendum to the bid package~ All of the remaining bids exceeded the project budget. Parks Director Deal indicated it was his intent to reject all bids and rebid the project. 3. AWC Lawsuit/New Shorelines Requlations - Unfunded Mandate Lawsuit Planning Director Krauss indicated that the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) is looking at bringing lawsuit forward addressing in response to adoption of the shoreline master program , rules. There are two problems with the rules. First, the regulations themselves are structured in a way to make a jurisdiction cross-wise with the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The rules allow a jurisdiction to proceed along one of two "paths". Path B, which is more restrictive from a regulatory standpoint, still offers no ESA protection since it does not yet have concurrence from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Track A, which is less restrictive, is generally non-ESA responsive. The second problem is that the regulations are fairly expensive to develop and adopt. Although discussed, there was no funding provided by the State legislature to assist jurisdictions in preparing and adopting new shoreline master programs. This is in direct violation of the unfunded mandate statute. In discussing this with the Public Works Committee the general feeling was that the City would sign on to the lawsuit and give a modest amount of monetary support if other communities join in as well. It was also mentioned that the City of Seattle is prepared to file suite against Initiative 722 should it pass and is looking for support form other jurisdictions. UPDATES: 1. Downtown Parking Funding Planning Director Krauss mentioned that he and Finance Director Diane Supler recently met with Hugh Spitzer, the City's bond counsel. To meet State law, Mr. Spitzer informed staff that the City cannot buy parking stalls and then simply sell them to developers. The City can, however, bring together a LID and use municipal bond financing. To do this, there would be a need to amend the zoning code to give credit to those developments that participate in the Local .Improvement District. 5 MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE OCTOBER 23, 2000 In relation to the parking garage, Planning Director Krauss added that the Sound Transit Finance Committee met last week and received the parking garage bids. Although Sound Transit staff indicated that there was no need for the City to be at the Finance Committee meeting, there was evidently a desire on'the part of the Finance Committee to economize. The City's participation in the garage was not communicated correctly and the Finance Committee recommendation to the full board is to remove the top floor of the parking garage. The City has send a letter to the full board expressing its concerns. Planning Director Krauss noted that basically, if the Community Development Block Grant funding can help finance the retail component of the parking garage, and if there is a LID for parking, the City's direct financial commitment to the parking garage could be minimal. The City would, though, have to participate in the LID for parking for the retail component of the parking garage. YMCA/Community Center Planning Director Krauss mentioned that the City held its first discussion with the YMCA regarding a joint venture for a YMCA/Community Center. The total project cost is estimated at $7.5 million. There was discussion about construction and a fee structure if the City participated. There was also discussion that if Auburn would be contributing financially to the project, it (the project) needs to operate like a de facto city community center. The next City meeting with the YMCA is scheduled for October 30, 2000. The YMCA will go to its board November 8, 2000 to discuss this some more. Even with the City contribution the YMCA is still $1.5 million short. That shortfall would likely need to be raised by a fund raising campaign. Councilmember Singer asked Dick Deal what the Parks Board thinks about this proposal. Parks Director Deal indicated that there was not enough information availab, le to the Parks Board at the time the issue was discussed. The Parks Board is used to community centers owned and operated by cities. Parks Director Deal wanted to provide more information to the Parks Board, especially as YMCA's tend to be driven more by membership fees. Councilmember Singer asked if the community center effort in the 1980's was based on "fees". Mayor Booth indicated no, that it was to be an "open" community center. The PCD Committee discussed fee structure some more and how other community centers are fee based. One of the main messages the City will need to communicate is that "free" community centers do not exist anymore. Chairperson Borden indicated that she supports a public process that would allow the City to provide more information to the public, but was not sure how it can be done.quickly. Parks Director Deal was asked to find out information from community centers such as Renton, Tukwila and Norpoint about services and what the public has access to without paying. Mayor Booth stated that there needs to be consideration of the basic decision of whether the City can afford this. The PCDC discussed meeting space availability at a community center facility. Parks Director Deal stated that in doing this we should look at existing facilities. For example, the remodeled senior center will have meeting space available. As for a citizen opinion survey relative to the community center, it was mentioned that a statistically valid survey would require an outside firm. The firm could help the City design the survey, including the questions to be asked. Councilmember Singer suggested that the City have a public meeting or series of meetings to gauge public opinion. MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE OCTOBER 23, 2000 3. Public Safety Building Planning Director Krauss circulated the contract proposal for the public safety building study to the PCD. ADJOURNMENT With no further items to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m. PCDC\MIN\10B-2000 7