HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-23-2004
PLANNING & COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE
August 23, 2004
MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order AT 5:00 PM in the City Council Chambers by Chair
Sue Singer. Committee members present were Member Nancy Backus and Member
Lynne Norman. Also present were Director of Planning Paul Krauss, Parks and
Recreation Director Daryl Faber, Community Development Manager David Osaki,
Traffic Engineer Laura Philpot, Property and Facilities Administrator Lynn Rued,
Planner Bill Mandeville, Economic Development Planner AI Hicks, and Assistant
Planning Secretary Carolyn Brown.
ALSO PRESENT: Guest present is Mark Hancock, for Sister Cities
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chair Singer discussed the correction to the minutes of July 26, 2004. The Committee
discussed the correction of minutes.
Councilmember Backus moved to accept the minutes of the July 26 meeting as
corrected and seconded by Councilmember Norman. The minutes of the August 9,
2004 meeting were approved as read.
III. ACTION
A. Call for Public Hearing for Consolidated Plan. Councilmember Norman moved to
approve and a second by Councilmember Backus. Chair Singer concurred.
At this time Mayor Lewis introduced the new Economic Development Manager Holly
Ryan.
IV. DISCUSSION
A. Non-motorized Plan.
Chair Singer stated she is very interested in the time line for the non-motorized plan and
how A Street SE and R Street SE will be affected. Traffic Engineer Philpot said the R
Street SE plan will include bike paths. Currently there is only enough width along R
Page 1
Plannina and Community Development Committee
Auaust 23 , 2004
Street SE to have parking on the west side with no parking on the east side. Chair
Singer asked if the street will be widened. Traffic Engineer Philpot answered no. There
will be $75,000 in the budget for a feasibility study of R Street SE and Auburn Black
Diamond Road. Also, will widen shoulders and resurface roadway. This will be a
temporary nx to the shoulders of Auburn Black Diamond Road. Next year- the City will
redo the roadway along R Street to the city limits/RR tracks. Committee discussed how
the streets will connect once the M Street crossing is done.
The Committee discussed where the City is regarding a Green River Trail. Traffic
Engineer Philpot said the City will know better next year after the study. Chair Singer
said it appears the City is concentrating more on Auburn Black Diamond Road rather
then R Street. Traffic Engineer Philpot said one of the R Street connections staff is
looking at is to Game Farm Park, as there is enough width.
Chair Singer asked if the A Street trail will be on the RR side. Traffic Engineer Philpot
said actually the project has been moved further out in the future. The obstacles along
the A Street SE are businesses and the RR spur line along the likely trail route. Mayor
Lewis added that there is no place to landscape. The Committee discussed a plan for a
loop around Auburn which is probably a 20 year idea.
Chair Singer asked about a possible trail along West Valley Highway. Traffic Engineer
Philpot said that will be considered next year because of wetland issu~s. Chair Singer
said there has been significant progress as what has happened in the last few years.
Traffic Engineer Philpot said a sidewalk inventory has been done. There is $100,000 in
budget this year for sidewalk improvements. The Committee then discussed how the
money could be allocated as there is a lot of needs in local streets.
B. Auburn's Sisters Cities Plan
Mark Hancock gave an overview of Auburn's Sister City Plan. He said that AI Hicks,
Economic Development Planner, is the City representative for Sister Cities. Sister Cities
International is the umbrella group. The group was started for a variety of reasons, such
as friends, businesses, a link with another city. Trying to sustain the relationship is the
hard part. Overtime, the Lions Club is the organization that has sustained the Sister
Cities connection with the City in Japan. 24 people from the City of Auburn went on a
trip to Japan in 1998. It would be nice to see the City of Auburn add a link on their
website to the city in Japan.
At this time the group is still working on a development with a City in Italy. Auburn also
has a Fiji relationship and is hoping Rotary will be become the sponsoring organization.
There has also been a town in Ireland and one in Australia.
Mr. Hancock mentioned that funding is tough to come by but there are local grants and
national grants that can be accessed for funding for sister cities. There is a need for
subcommittees, sponsors and oversight committees. Mark Hancock and
Councilmember Backus will meet later to discuss possible contacts.
Page 2
Plannina and Community Development Committee
Auaust 23 , 2004
C. Design for the Artwork for the new Public Safety Building
Parks and Recreation Director Faber displayed how the integration of artwork into the
design will be done before the building is completed. There is usually a '50's or '60's
look when neon is used. This artwork will be using sub lighting, rather then· neon. It will
appear like neon, but not as bright. This particular work will be along the M~ssey: front
design of the building (the part that goes up) and will be on both side of the building
sign. Internally in the building, will be the same type of artwork down the hal.lway. Both
the architect and artist are cooperating in the design.
D. Front Yard Parking in Residential Zones.
David Osaki, Community Development Administrator stated that occasionally code
enforcement receives complaints regarding front yard parking. There is nothing in the
code that really addresses the surfacing requirements of additional cars and what is
excessive such as, trailers, RV's, etc. Planning Director Krauss added that parking in
the front yard does not look good and often is related to other problems. David Osaki
asked if the Committee is still interested in pursing the issues of front yard parking.
After some discussion Councilmember Backus said she liked the percentages that
SeaTac used for their ordinance. Mayor Lewis asked if this is the direction that the city
wants to go.
Chair Singer would like staff to come back with an ordinance similar toHthe one the City
of SeaTac has developed.
E. Parks Plan Update
Parks and Recreation Director Faber highlighted areas of the plan which is still a work in
progress. Chapter 1 is an overview; Chapter 2 projection of population and shows that
71% of population is using parks, and 90% is rated high. The recreation guide is widely
used and Chapter 2 also shows income levels, topo, and history. Later chapters will
have GIS maps and aerials, hand drawings, etc. Chapter 3 is the needs assessment
and areas of need. Demands for field needs are being met for baseball, etc., but there
is alack of soccer fields and indoor gym usage. Part of the plan goals are trails,
community facility and maintain existing parks system. Chapter 4 is the balance of the
program and addresses property acquisition. . Parks and Recreation Director Faber
discussed impact fees, especially for smaller developments. Chair Singer gave a little
background on history of impact fees for parks. The City Council did not decide on a
standard fee. Parks and Recreation Director Faber wanted to match the CFP with a
need and probably looking at every home and multi family. Discussed the ways of
developing impact fees to keep housing costs down. Councilmember Backus asked if
impact fees were for new parks or maintenance for older parks. Parks and Recreation
Director Faber answered that they are not for maintenance, but could be used to
improve a facility or add a building. Discussed trails and would there to y,. mile of trails
per 1000 population.
Page 3
Plannina and Community Development Committee
August23 .2004
Chapter 6 will be arts and the plan has never had an arts component. As there needs to
have policy, maintenance and funding of artwork. Discussion of funding to maintain the
artwork. The arts budget has two parts. Discussion of maintenance. Chapter 7 covers
open spac&; Parks and Recreation Director Faber said the City has great dividers -
freeways and the river. Chapter 8 covers trails. There is the Mill Creek corridor and the
Auburn Environmental Park and there will be a lot of funding opportunities. For
instance, the Roegner trail is a work in progress and hope to loop thru the_ Kersey III
project. ParKs and Recreation Director Faber will have the other 3 chapters done in the
next three weeks and will get those to the PCD members.
Chair Singer has interviewed candidates for the Community Center project. Mayor
Lewis is looking at an opportunity for the entire community.
F. Budget for Parks and Recreation Department
Parks and Recreation Director Faber informed the Committee that the blue pages within
in the budget show any changes from the previous year. There are some new items
such a few new vehicles, recreation marketing budget, policy changes more flexible in
pricing, and he added if the Committee had any comments to send them to him
electronically.
G. Fair Housing per Consolidated Plan
Planner Bill Mandeville presented an overview and Federal interpretations. One section
of Consolidated Plan is on fair housing. Section 9.64 is the fair housing ordinance which
no longer exists. Planner Mandeville noted that HUD wants the City to do a strategy to
address fair housing issues. The City of Kent is doing an analysis also to meet this
requirement and willing to jointly split the cost. Kent is getting proposals now. Chair
Singer said this is the cheapest way to get this done. The Committee agreed that the
City go ahead and team with Kent.
The Committee held a discussion about the issues in Terminal Park area.
Chair Singer put A Street zoning back on the agenda for the second meeting in
September.
H. Zoning Code - Wireless Communication Facilities
Community Development Manager David Osaki spoke to the Committee about a facility
that was over 130 feet tall. A draft amendment was prepared. Community
Development Manager Osaki asked if the code amendment should be processed since
the original need for the amendment no longer exists. Chair Singer said the work has
been done, staff could go forward and process.
Page 4
Plannina and Community Development Committee
Auaust 23 ,2004
V. INFORMATION
Councilmember Singer indicated that there are so many items presently going on that a
status matrix similar to one the Public Works Committee uses, should be developed.
VI. OLD BUSINESS
Plaza Discussion
The Committee discussed issues related to the plaza. The Parks and Recreation
Department is to proceed with the landscaping plan. The City is to set a bid on just
replacing the brick pavers with new pavers and return the bid to the Committee for
. review.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Planning and Community
Development Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
-#).
APPROVED THE 4- '$ DAY OF ~ØYYI ~ 2004.
,~~'
or Sue Singer, C~
(5 ?Jvo {"-
Patricia Zook, Secretary
Page 5