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PLANNING & COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE
April 9, 2007
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 Lynn Norman, Member Backus and Member Wagner. Also present were
Planning, Building and Community Director Michael Davolio, Community Development
Administrator David Osaki, Senior Planner AI Hicks, Human Services Planner Michael Hursh,
Police Chief Jim Kelly, Assistant Police Chief Larry Miller, Parks, Arts and Recreation Director
Daryl Faber, Museum Director Patricia Cosgrove, Parks, Arts and Recreation Cultural Arts
Manager Laurie Rose, Traffic Engineer Laura Philpot, Project Engineer Robert Lee,
Transportation Planner/Grants Manager Tiffin Goodman Economic Development Manager
Dave Baron, Mayor Pete Lewis and Planning Secretary Kirsten Reynolds.
Audience Members included: Debbie Luce, Gordy Nishimoto, and Judy Roland
DISCUSSION (moved to top of agenda by Chair Norman)
Police Chief Kelly and Assistant Police Chief Miller discussed Auburn's jail needs and
planning process for a new facility. The Chief reported that Auburn will reach full capacity
by 2010; full capacity is approximately 150 individuals in a facility. Currently there are 43
individuals in Auburn and 60 at the Yakima location. The new facility will be located in Auburn
and function as a multi-use facility, encompassing: 100-150 jail beds, probation, firing range
and Courts. PCD asked to be updated continually on the process of building amulti-use
facility.
Member Wagner stated that he would not be in support of another jail study, but made a
recommendation to hire an architect. The PCD Committee was in agreement that hiring an
architect should be the next direction to take. More updates to come to the Committee at a
later meeting.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
March 26, 2007
Member Wagner made a comment from the March 26t" agenda regarding insurance
and L & I coverage for volunteers. He would like to better understand the City's
guidelines for future projects (this was not a correction to the past minutes).
Correction #1 from Member Backus -from the Downtown Sidewalk Design discussion
on March 26th Members of the Committee had asked for a drawing with the varying
widths. Correction #2 from Member Backus -the CDBG program discussion should
also state that Members of the Committee asked for information on what's taken place
since the neighborhood meetings.
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes
April 9, 2007
Member Backus moved to approve the minutes from the March 26, 2007 meeting
as revised, seconded by Member Wagner.
Minutes approved unanimously 3-0.
III. ACTION
A. Resolution No. 4173 -Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER)
Senior Planner AI Hicks and Human Services Planner Michael Hursh discussed the
evaluation process for the City's management of CDBG funds. Michael Hursh noted
that the One-Stop Center Planning Grant and Neighborhood Planning Grant were
accidentally omitted from the draft copy; however, they will both be placed in the final
draft in the amount of $50,000 for the One-Stop Center Planning Grant and $7,500 for
the Neighborhood Planning Grant for completion of S.E. Main Street neighborhood
planning.
Discussion took place regarding money being carried forward for the before and after
school programs in the amount of $2,500. Another topic of discussion was the absence
of results based accountability. AI Hicks commented that this will be applied to grants
awarded in 2007; the 2006 evaluation report is what is under discussion at this point in
time.
Copies of the Neighborhood Plan will be distributed to all PCD Committee members
ensuring that approved revitalization efforts in the CAPER are being addressed.
Member Backus moved to forward Res. No. 4173 on to full Council for approval;
seconded by Member Wagner.
Motion was approved unanimously 3-0.
B. Resolution No. 4171 -Application for Designation as a Preserve America Community
AND
C. Resolution No. 4172 -White River Valley Historical Society Extended Lease
Agreement
Museum Director Patricia Cosgrove introduced Museum Board Members present at the
meeting including President Gordy Nishimoto, Judy Roland and Larry Miller, last year's
President.
Patricia Cosgrove gave a PowerPoint presentation encompassing the following topics:
1) Suggestion to Council to apply for the Preserve America Community grant;
2) Proposal to extend the Historical Society lease agreement for the Mary Olson Farm;
and,
3) Present the Committee with the long range plan, as done ever five years.
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The Preserve America grant application was outlined for the Committee.
This federal program requires the City to meet the following three criteria:
1) The City should have recently supported a historic preservation project
promoting tourism and involving a public private partnership;
2) Council must adopt a resolution indicating its commitment; and,
3) Promote discovery of heritage though historic sites.
Applying will require a 1-1 cash match grant. The grants range from $20,000 -
$100,000. The application is due February 2008. Next steps are to make this
resolution and for the Mayor to sign the application.
The PCD Committee indicated that this information should also go through the
Finance Committee
The next item addressed was the lease of the Olson Farm to the Historical Society.
The current lease expires at the end of July. The proposal is to extend the lease for
another five years.
The reason for the five year lease agreement was because that is what has always
been done in practice; it can be changed for a longer time period. Since the City
owns the property there is no risk in extending the lease longer than five years.
The Committee showed interest in making this alonger-term lease, possibly 20
years. Chair Norman asked for time to review the lease via a-mail and to pass it
along to Council
Member Backus moved to forward Resolution No. 4171 to full Council;
seconded by Member Wagner.
Motion was approved unanimously 3-0.
Member Backus moved to forward Resolution No. 4172 with issues to be
addressed as discussed to full Council; seconded by Member Wagner.
Motion was approved unanimously 3-0.
IV. DISCUSSION
A. Parks Long Range Plan 2007-2011
Museum Director Patricia Cosgrove presented another PowerPoint presentation on the
Long Range Plan. There are three chapters that include general administration, the
work to go on at the Farm, and the work to go on at the Museum. Sub-chapters include:
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Planning and Community Develoament Committee Minutes
April 9, 2007
financial health, maintain the facility, human resources, strategic planning, inventories
and marketing. Under work to go on at the Museum were developing more educational
services and preservation products. The last chapter is work to go on at the Farm
including developing on-site educational programs with the School District and public
relations.
A sincere thank you was addressed to the Council for all the support given for
preserving the historic the Farm and the Museum. Chair Norman also showed
appreciation for all the dedicated staff and board thaf have served the city.
Discussion took place regarding their 501(c)(3) status and whether or not it hinders or
helps the Society? Patricia Cosgrove stated there is actually a benefit as it allows the
museum to play both sides of being anon-profit organization and a governmental
agency.
B. West Valley Hwy. Pedestrian Trail (moved forward on the agenda by Chair Norman)
Traffic Engineer Laura Philpot and Project Engineer Robert Lee discussed the trail area
next to Peasley Cannon connecting to 15th Street S.W. Staff proposed giving funding
back to the State because at this time there are many other projects being pursued.
Originally, there was hope to partner with other cities to construct the trail. The
Committee concurred; staff will write the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) a
letter to close the funding out.
C. Les Gove Community Center
Daryl Faber presented on the Community Campus project. There is $100,000 to move
forward and take action on this project. The objective is to act first on the park property,
then work with a third party for additional property acquisition. The plan is to have pre-
design discussions with the Council sub-committees within the next month. Daryl is
requesting qualifications from firms, emphasizing the need for an architect that values
unique design.
Discussion took place regarding key points the Committee would like to see
implemented in the design. This gathering place needs to be a comfortable facility for
large and small groups and have excellent acoustics to accommodate both. It needs to
be multi-functional. The Committee would like for the designer of the Puyallup Senior
Center to be contacted because of the excellent design implemented in that project.
Next steps are to get acquisition knowledge and details for review. The funding slide
was not yet updated from the Retreat so this needs to be done as well.
D. Traffic Calming Improvements in S.E. Main Street Neighborhood
Transportation Planner Tiffin Goodman gave an update on the S.E. Main Street
Neighborhood traffic calming project. A traffic calming proposal was developed
based on input from community meetings and technical analysis. At the most recent
neighborhood meeting, two groups met in an informal setting to discuss neighborhood
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes
April 9, 2007
traffic concerns and potential traffic calming options. Public Works staff drafted a
proposal after the meetings and sent a ballot out to the target community in November
2006. The majority of residents on 2"d Street SE, E Street SE, F Street SE, G Street
SE, J Street SE, K Street SE, and L Street SE were in support of the proposal; H and I
streets had 50% support.
The improvements proposed to the neighborhood were:
1) Install traffic circles and remove stop signs at specified intersections, and
2) Install speed cushions mid-block between East Main Street and 2"d Street S.E.
and between 2"d Street S.E. and 4th Street S.E. at specified streets and alleys.
A concern from the Committee addressed the need for more education on utilization
of traffic circles. Ms. Goodman responded that the circles would be signed, so drivers
know how to drive correctly. Tiffin Goodman stated the residents may lose some on-
street parking due to placement of the speed cushions and this could be viewed as a
negative. The Committee stated it would like to start projects slowly to have sufficient
time to obtain feedback from the community. Ms. Goodman stated the entire project
could be designed at one time, but the traffic circles and speed cushions could be
installed on F Street as the first project site. After a trial period lasting a few weeks,
traffic calming devices could be installed on the remaining streets if the neighborhood
continues to support the project. Implementation should start this summer or fall. Staff
will follow up with the Committee at a later date for next steps.
E. Theater Plan
Cultural Arts Manager Laurie Rose, Parks, Arts & Recreation Director Daryl Faber and
Auburn Downtown Association President Debbie Luce lead a discussion regarding
what's been happening with the theater business plan development. Steve Wright,
retained by the City to .write a business use plan for the theater, held a community group
discussion to brainstorm ideas for programs and use of the theater. There was good
attendance; people came up with several great ideas. The community, Council, Mayor
and the downtown community have all been involved throughout this process. Staff has
six more weeks before the deliverable draft of Steve Wright's outcomes are completed.
The outcomes will be provided to the Committee when completed. The purposed
theater results based on community input will be completed in June. Councilman Rich
Wagner asked about parking issues and requested no smoking inside or outside the
facility.
F. Valley Cities Consistency Letter
Senior Planner AI Hicks talked about the Consolidated Plan and housing needs/
strategies for federal funds to house special needs populations. Valley Cities has
requested a letter from the City that would indicate that its plans to build 24 new
permanent housing units to serve homeless single adults and veterans with mentally
ill and/or co-occurring (mental health and chemical dependency) disorders is consistent
with the Consolidated Plan. This is a new construction project and project residents will
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes
April 9, 2007
earn 30% or below the area median income. VCCC will provide intensive, long-term
supportive services to residents. The project will be located adjacent to VCCC's
corporate office and service facility at 915 and 920 26th Northeast.
AI Hicks asked PCD Members for further direction to how they feel this request should
play out. Planning Director Davolio stated that Valley Cities also asked for a zoning
letter from the department; they were disappointed that the zoning letter was not more
supportive.
Staff and. the Committee discussed the consistency of this request with the current
Consolidated Plan. The Committee was in agreement that the Plan does not seem to
target substance abuse populations, nor is it consistent with other City plans. The
question was asked what evidence the Valley Cities would need to demonstrate to run
this type of facility. Staff replied that the City wouldn't require anything because they
are not funding the project. The Committee expressed the need for more information
and asked Senior Planner AI Hicks to invite the Valley Cities group to the next PCD
meeting to answer questions the Committee may have.
Audience member Sue Singer spoke to the Committee regarding an existing grass-
roots community focus around homelessness concerns.
The Committee agreed there are two separate issues needing to be addressed:
1) Changing the Consolidated Plan and
2) Addressing homelessness and causes there of.
G. Public Art
Chair Norman talked about enhancing a public art rotation program. The Committee
took a trip to the City of Puyallup and liked their art program. The pieces were not just
out in the open but also incorporated in the building structures (a mandatory .5 percent
of the total cost of construction). Puyallup has a rotating art program which included 30
pieces of art located throughout the city. At the end of the series the public is allowed to
vote on their favorite piece. The winner gets their piece purchased by the City.
Park staff Daryl Faber and Laurie Rose discussed the City of Kent's art implementation
program. Daryl commented on a few of the upcoming projects and how they could work
more art into the development of them. The Committee agreed to consider a new
proposal to include more public art.
Some questions that need to be answered are what works for the artists and for the
City? What are the priorities with new design plans and economic development? The
Committee would like to see Parks staff bring more information on this topic with
examples and percentages from other cities at a later date.
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes
April 9, 2007
V. INFORMATION
A. Chair Norman would like to see the City hire someone to implement a Green Zone Plan.
B. Matrix
• Electronic message board signs - put a report to PCD on May 14
• Include mention in code amendment update bed and breakfasts;
• Review survey results -July
• Overall code amendment update -July 1
• Transportation for after school events -June
• Complete streets -August. To Public Works committee first.
The PCD Committee moved to Executive Session at 7:18 p.m.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Planning and Community Development
Committee, Chair Norman adjourned the meeting at 8:37 p.m.
APPROVED THE r, ~ DAY OF h~~lC<`~
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