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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-22-2002 MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMI 1 I~E APRIL 22, 200? The regular meeting of the Planning and Community Development Committee was held April 22, 2002 in Conference Room 1. Those members in attendance were as follows: MEMBERS PRESENT: Trish Bordan, Suc Singer, and Stacey Brothers STAFF PRESENT: Paul Kranss, Brian Petty, David Osaki, Michael Faess, Joe Welsh, and Patti Zook ALSO PRESENT: Mayor Lewis The meeting was called to order by Committee Chair Borden at 5:00 p.m. ACTION: I. Approval of Minutes of April g, 2002 Meeting Councilmember Singer made a motion, seconded by Counciimember Brothers to approve the minutes. Chairman Borden concurred. 2. Resolution 3459 - Donation of Umpire Equipment to King County Umpire Association Recreation Manager Petty presented the smffreport. Councilm~nber Singer made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Brothers to approve the resolution. Chairman Borden concurred. 3. Resolution 3453 - Senior Lifetime Fimess Program Recreation Manager Petty presented the staffreport. Councilmember Singer made a motion, seconded by Counciimember Brothers to approve the resolution. Chairman Borden concurred. DISCUSSION: 1. Non-Motorized Transportation Plan (NMP) Planning Director Krauss presented background on the Plan which was started about seven or eight years ago. Staffand the Committee felt s~rongly about the Plan. Grant money was received to prepare the Plan. The process has been protracted and difficult. The consultant became fi'us~tated and left. The Plan was finished, reviewed by Council Committees and approved, but never printed. The Plan did not originally receive the support of the transportation staff and recommended improvements were not carried forward through the funding process. New ~nmsportafiun staff is on board and are more receptive to the Plan's vision and understand the need to move people. The Committee wanted the Plan hack on the table: The Plan has been designated as a project of significance and needs to move forward. The Plan was used to justify the pedestrian bridge over the tracks at the Sounder Station. The pedesUian tunnel under the Wacks near the high school, and purchasing Wail right of way behind Wayland Arms. Councilmember Brothers asked if the Public Works Committee reviewed the Plan and Planning Director Krauss said that Transpor'mtion Planner Welsh is present and will present ideas on how to fold the Plan into the Transportation Plan. Transportation Planner Welsh advised the Transportation Plan is undergoing an update and will include the non motorized component. Pedestrian projects will also be included. Steffhas worked on preliminary components of update to the Transportation Plan which includes the non-motorized section being rolled into Transportation Plan. This will involve Public Works and Planning Departments and Committee review. Thc Plan has a large equestrian section but original version did not have much emphasis on pedestrians. He told of the need to strengthen emphasis on pedesUian and fie in with future plans. He spoke about bike improvements as part of road improvements and gave examples. Terminal Park neighborhood meetings have shown what residents want in terms of pedestrian amenities, bike lanes, PAGE 1 MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE APRIL 22~ 200? connections end road improvements. He spoke of the need to be careful in designating roads for bike lanes because of safety issues, end of the need for pedestrian movement on the fringes of town. He talked about the need to look at specific locations for needs such as additional bike lene markings. It is difficult to get an accurate count of the number of pedestrians, and the pedestrian number is much lower compared to the number of vehiclas. The City needs to look are areas of high pedestrian movement end see where the dangers are, identify places for enhancement, end ways to deal with the issues. Some of the issues have yet to be identified. Planning Director Kranss cautioned that road improvements have been bodgeted for over the years, but not these non-motorized projects. Padest~ien facilities are included with the roads, but often are the first to be deleted in lrying to manage the budget. The non-motorized element of the TIP should come before the Planning end Community Development Committee. Councilmember Singer was on the Public Works Committee last year and they are thinking about roads, not other projects. She spoke oftbe need to advocate for other projects. Councilmember Brothers inquired about meaningful level of funding for five years of the non-motorized plen. Trensportatinn Planner Welsh spoke of the need to prioritize projects and then explain the costs. There is no consistency in funding costs. Planning Director Krauss commented that introduction ofbikas from the Interurbaa Trail into downtown could be high volume connection on the weekends. When grant money is available, the City oftentimes does not have the required matching funds so a standing funding level for l~aiis is desirable. Counciimember Brothers is supportive of the non motorized plen concept and wondered how best to incorporate into the TIP. He encouraged staff'to find funding sources and grants. It is important to have bike lanes in proximity to schools. Conncilmember Singer mentioned that an issue with the Public Works Committee last year was bike lenas. TranspoCtation Planner Welsh spoke about connectivity of sidewalks especially around parks end schools. There needs to be a logical approach to prioritization. A pedestrian over crossing is extremely expensive end often under utilized when built. The cost is not too bad when tied into a structure such as the parking garage. Planning Director K~anss mentioned there are many concepts to explore such as the idea of 'refuge' islands in roads. The islands cen incorporate fencing too which forces pedestrians to be more conscientious. He suggesting scheduling time to talked about the projects. Chairmen Borden requested a list of projects and their estimated cost.. Transportation Planner Welsh dis~buted a copy of the six year TIP which describes tho projects, timelines and cost. Non-motorized projects are included. Non-motorized project are moved out because the City is trying to move cars and adjust the budget. Eleven non-motorizad projects are listed. He suggested taking concerns to the Public Works Committee. Planning Director Krauss mentioned that City has had en emphasis on moving the vehicles of non-residents through the City rather than making City streets and trails hospitable to its residents. He spoke about sidewalks by schoois. State program encouraged sidewalks, but State end County did not went to pay for sidewalks end the City must pay. Transportation Planner Welsh spoke about crosswalk improvements end how to deal with them. There is an opportunity to add bike lenes on the larger arterials. He explained the markings of bike lenas. Lengthy discussion occurred regarding City's neglect in improving and/or installing sidewalks over the years. Chairman Borden commented that there was a sidewalk program in the past. Some neighbors complained about the LID costs. The program was shelved. She likes the concept in the NMP related to schools and other amenities. She likes the emphasis on pedestrian access and bike access. She would like to look at a · PAGE 2 MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE APRIL 22, 200z new sidewalk program and spoke about the need for data in order to accomplish this goal. Counciimember Brothers said that a study was done years ago and the City did rehabilitation of sidewaiks, but the program lost direction and he would like to see the program return. Transportation Planner Welsh mentioned that the City is under an obligation from the insurance provider to identify and provide sidewalks. There is a question of manageability of how much can be done and which projects should be first. A field survey can be done to determine where sidewalks are missing or where sidewalks need to be repaired. In response to questions from Chairman Borden, he said that the survey will require someone to go out and physically identify the areas needing improvement. This will minimize the City's liability. There is money in the TIP for the study. Councilmember Brothers believes the study is a good idea. Areas without sidewalks should rate high on the priority list. Repairing sidewalks may require study and shared responsibility in particular situations. The sidewalks may require LIDs for particular sections. The time to do this is now. Chairman Borden asked why not prioritize the schools first. Transportation Planner Welsh said that school principals can identify areas where sidewalks are needed, walking routes and where deficient. Counciimember Singer suggested working with the elementary school PTAs and/or the principals to identify the unsafe/non- sidewalk route in the City. Planning Di~ctor Krauss advised that the Planning and Parks Department have been doing the planning on the NMP for years. If a project manager is not designated in Public Works Department, the project does not get done. Transportation Planner Welsh clarified the need to identify and prioritize the TIP, establish a real budget line item for it either annually or mid-year, or cover it in a specific program in the budget, assign a project number if it is a capital project and a project manager who will take the budget allotted and act on it by supervising its design and constntctiun. Chairman Borden inquired about new development in Pierce County. Planning Director Kranss advised that a better job has been done in Pierce County. There is a sophisticated trail in Lakeland South which hooks into existing flails. There are also internal connections too. As the Comprehensive Plan update process occurs for Transportation chapter, Transportation Planner Welsh suggested providing information about what the City expects arterials to do such as provide bike lanes. Chairman Borden said the NMP was put away for four years, and spoke of the need to sure that as areas develop the Plan is not forgotten. She spoke of the need for connectivity to adjacent areas. Planning Director Kranss advised that staff and the Committee must figure out ways to convey their desires to the Public Works Committee and the need to work with PCDC to shape projects for this year. He talked about putting together policies and suggestions to prioritize the initial list of projects. With the upcoming budget cycle, think about getting right of way where needed. Councilmember Brothers stressed the need to make Public Works Committee aware of the prioritizes and concerns. With no further items to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 6:20 p.m. Submitted by Pulricia Zook, Planning Secretary. Approved by the Planning and Community Development Committee on ~-/~ ~04B-2002 PAGE 3