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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-08-2003MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 8, 2003 The regular meeting of the Planning and Community Development Committee was held September 8, 2003 in Conference Room 2. Those members in attendance were as follows: MEMBERS PRESENT: Trish Borden, Sue Singer and Stacey Brothers STAFF PRESENT: Paul Krauss, Bill Mandeville, Joe Welsh, and Laura Philpot ALSO PRESENT: Mayor Pete Lewis The meeting was called to order by Committee Chair Borden at 5:00 p.m. DISCUSSION: 1. 2004-2009 Transportation Improvement Plan Transportation Planner Welsh apologized for not briefing the Committee and he is available for questions. He referred to the TIP booklet and spreadsheet. Items 36-45 were added in response to Council's vision. He explained the need for feasibility studies were indicated. Items 36-42 are listed in the order that the Parks Department wanted. Councilmember Singer asked for update of the Non-Motorized Plan. She is concerned about safety issues in Non-Motorized Plan and need to decrease City's liability. The trail from West Main to Auburn Black Diamond Road and under tracks is moved each year and is never started. Transportation Planner Welsh knows the Committee feels strongly about the Non-Motorized Plan. The Non-Motorized Plan is separate from the TIP and is an updated portion of Transportation Plan in the Comprehensive Plan and is an element of the Comprehensive Plan. Transportation Planner Welsh said that City policies do not give 'teeth' to how to rate projects and used the example of needed traffic signals. Safety issues get pushed ahead of pedestrian projects. Capacity projects do have a non-motorized component such as sidewalks and he gave examples. In response to Councilmember Singer questions, Transportation Planner Welsh said that some cities do not have Non- Motorized Plan on their TIP. Councilmember Borden wondered if the Non-Motorized Plan lends itself to grant funding. Transportation Engineer Philpot spoke about her conversations with the School District and their consultant regarding grant sources for sidewalk routes to schools. Councilmember Singer likes the idea of coordination with the School District. Councilmember Borden suggested an arbitrary amount of 3% for non-motorized projects be included in the TIP budget in the future. The policies should include the 3% revenue stream. Discussion occurred related to improvements on West Main which are considered a priority by many. Planning and Community Development Director Krauss spoke about the State program which advocates sidewalks near schools. Chair Borden referred to the previous sidewalk program which prioritized installing sidewalks around schools and along arterials and areas where there were safety concerns. She inquired where the sidewalks are reflected in the list. Transportation Engineer Philpot spoke about Green River Community College students preparing a map layer showing where sidewalks are, doing field work and will rate need for sidewalks, and then the City will have a place to start the program improvements. Mayor advised that residents on M Street do not want sidewalks, but possibly a path similar to that on 8th Street NE. They claim that sidewalks will reduce size of their yards. He advocates meetings with Public Works and Planning and Community Development Committees and the neighbors to see what they want. PAGE 1 MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 8, 2003 Transportation Engineer Philpot provided information on the sign inventory program because the City must maintain the road signs and there is no line item for this. Councilmember Singer spoke about the cities being constrained by Initiative 747 and the need to show the residents what will be funded and when. Regarding sidewalks, Chair Borden mentioned identifying where sidewalks are needed and Council allocate funds each year. Committee recommended that a priority approach should be used in making future sidewalk improvements, giving priority to those which are related to safety, schools and arterials. A further recommendation was to consider doing a large amount of sidewalk improvements at one time in order to make the projects more attractive to potential bidders. Council would need to make a decision on how to allocate dollars to sidewalk improvements once the City has idea of the need and scope of the problem. Discussion occurred that CDBG funds could be used for capital improvements if an area meets the needs criteria. Councilmember Singer wants Human Services Committee contacted to see what their capital needs are. Chair Borden wondered how the 3% allocation for non-motorized projects would work and how this would be implemented. Transportation Planner Welsh said to make it clear that Non-Motorized Plan is for pedestrian improvements and trails. Councilmember Singer referred to item #41 (Auburn Black Diamond Road) which is driven by safety concerns. She wondered if the Cascade Bicycle Club could help in grant funding. Transportation Engineer Philpot said that letters of support for projects are always welcome. Discussion occurred related to the wetlands on this site and possible need for alternative route if mitigation is too expensive. On item #43, Committee supported requiring some of the Kersey Way Trail to be built or paid for through mitigation of the large private development currently going through the ElS project. On items #44 and #45, Committee believes that these are key to the Non-Motorized Plan and links with downtown, Interurban Trail and the Transit Center. Committee also wondered if there is redevelopment of the Boeing/GSA properties, the possibility of getting developer funds for the C Street Trail if it is listed on the TIP. Recommendations: Proiect # 41 Non Motorized Auburn Black Diamond Road: Move $5,000 of the project budget of $75,000 feasibility study into 2004 to allow City Planning staff to begin the environmental review (extent of wetlands) of the location. Complete the rest of the project in 2005. Proiect # 43 Non Motorized Kersey Way Trail Advance the project schedule to occur in 2004. The $75,000 feasibility study project budget relies on "other" revenues to be accomplished which are as of yet not defined, but which could be Parks, Planning or other City revenue. Proiect # 44 Non Motorized C Street SW (3rd Street SW to 15th Street SW) Advance the project schedule to occur in 2005 and 2006. The $75,000 feasibility study project budget relies on "other" revenues to be accomplished which are as of yet not defined, but which could be Parks, Planning or other City revenue. PAGE 2 MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 8, 2003 Proiect # 45 Non Motorized A Street SE alonq the BNSF rail yard Advance the project schedule to occur in 2005 and 2006. The $190,000 feasibility study project budget relies on "other" revenues to be accomplished which are as of yet not defined, but which could be Parks, Planning or other City revenue. 2. Auburn Way South Road Improvements Planning and Community Development Director Krauss explained that the proposed improvements are outside the TIP process. He referred to his memorandum in the packet. Staff anticipates using approximately $100,000 out of downtown redevelopment funds to do the corridor study and determine where to improve pedestrian crossing, landscape improvements and pedestrian islands. Approximately $50,000 will be used to improve the pedestrian crossing at the corner by the Masonic Temple which is the first phase of the improvements. Chair Borden mentioned that she has seen Public Works staff and heavy equipment in front of the Temple on Auburn Way and heard that a portion of the street is sinking. Planning and Community Development Director Krauss will ask Dennis Dowdy about this and report back. The corner of Auburn Way and Main is quite wide and is sufficient for a landscape median to be installed. He spoke of the need for a pedestrian 'refuge island' at this intersection. The intersection was designed to move as many cars as possible through it. Chair Borden agrees that this corner is very dangerous for pedestrians to cross and there are pedestrian safety issues. The intersection needs to be made more pedestrian friendly for the City's citizens and businesses. Councilmember Singer remembers much discussion of this intersection during the Downtown Plan process. She wonders if the $100,000 will accomplish what is recommended in the Downtown Plan? Planning and Community Development Director Krauss said the study would evaluate the six to seven block area, perform traffic analysis, coordinate with property owners, develop plans and then build as funds are available. Chair Borden supports efforts to improve this intersection area. She wondered about not allowing 'free' right turns at the intersection. Mayor commented that in the past there was not a joint effort of the Committees and property owners to meet and see what can be agreed upon and then do the project. Discussion occurred about features in downtown areas of Kirkland and Issaquah that the Committee members like. Councilmember Singer commented that the Arts Commission is concerned about their funds being used for the gateways program and suggested communication with them is appropriate. The Commission thinks their funds will be used for signage. 3. Neighborhood Planning Planner Mandeville wanted to get the Committee's input about which neighborhood should be next. He pointed out the names and boundaries of several neighborhood candidates. One area is Les Gove that now has significant City investment. Another area is Cedar Lanes which the Police Department is working with to organize neighborhood watch programs. The area churches are attempting to organize residents and get them involved. The Chinook School area has received Neighborhood Matching Grant (NMG) funds and there are public nuisance issues in the area. The Stadium area has issues of crime and poverty and needed street improvements. Planner Mandeville remarked that Councilmember Singer had asked him what was learned in the last NMG process and he listed several things including: more staff time needed, need for better internal coordination between departments, better coordination with Council subcommittees, better use of the PAGE 3 MINUTES OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 8, 2003 internet for e-mail responses, more education of the residents in neighborhood-building process, more reconnaissance, residents are willing to volunteer their time, workshop format works well. Chair Borden wonders since staff has learned so much, is it possible to do more than neighborhood next time? Planner Mandeville said that he is at his supervisar's direction, but he is tasked with updating the housing element of the Comprehensive Plan in addition to grant writing. If the ministry of the Cedar Lanes area is working to organize its residents, will the City's efforts affect their involvement? Chair Borden supports what the ministers are doing and wants to assist them in their efforts. Planner Mandeville said there is the possibility that the ministry may pull out. Councilmember Singer referred to the West Main neighborhood by the rail station. Mayor cautioned about this neighborhood unless staff and Committee have a specific plan in mind. Chair Borden suggested picking a neighborhood for the full neighborhood plan process and then possibly gather background information on Cedar Lanes area. She expressed support for the Les Gave neighborhood plan, spoke about improvements needed on F Street and the vision for that area. Councilmember Singer spoke of the need to be proactive with Latino influx. Chair Borden confirmed that staff will begin the full neighborhood planning process for Les Gave, begin initial planning process and gather demographic information for Cedar Lanes and the Hispanic area. ACTION: 1. Approval of Minutes of August 25, 2003 Meeting The minutes were approved. ADJOURNMENT: With no further items to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m. PCDC\MIN\09A-2003 PAGE 4