HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-10-2000 II.
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CITY OF AUBURN PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MINUTES
JANUARY 10, 2000
I. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 4:38 p.m. Those in attendance were Mayor Booth,
Committee Chairman Rich Wagner, Council/Committee member Fred Poe, and
Council/Committee member Pete Lewis. Staff in attendance were Public Works Director
Christine Engler, Finance Director Diane Supler, City Engineer Dennis Dowdy, Senior
Engineer Dennis Selle, Water Utility Engineer Lara McKinnon, Project Engineer Les
Brattain, and Engineering Aide Pam Miller.
Guests in attendance were Larry Bradbury, Water District No. 111; Mark Utting, Pacific
Groundwater Group (PGG); Tom Mortimer, Water Rights Attorney
CONSENT
GRANT PERMISSION TO ADVERTISE PROJECT NO. C8001, TERRACE DRIVE
ILLUMINATION AND PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY
This project will provide a concrete pedestrian walkway (sidewalk) on the north side of
Terrace Drive from the existing walkway on 15th NW to the existing sidewalk located
approximately 250 feet east of 'W' Street NW. Also, eleven luminaires will be provided
along the lower part of Terrace Drive to complete the streetlight system. There was no
discussion.
It was moved by Poe, seconded by Lewis, that the Committee approve the Consent
Agenda. Motion carried.
ISSUES
RESOLUTION NO. 3152 AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT WITH INCA ENGINEERS FOR
ON-CALL SERVICES RELATED TO ENGINEERING AND SURVEYING
Resolution No. 3152 authorizes the Mayor to sign an annual contract with Inca Engineers,
Inc., for on-call engineering/surveying services for 2000. Funding will be from the
appropriate project budget on a task-by-task basis. There was no discussion.
It was moved by Poe, seconded by Lewis, that the Committee recommend Council adopt
Resolution No. 3152. Motion carried.
INFORMATION OR DISCUSSION
WATER CAPITAL FACILITIES PROJECTS #5, #11, #15
For the purpose of these minutes, this item was discussed after Information/Discussion
Item B.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MINUTES
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JANUARY 10, 2000
In response to a request from the Committee, Water Utility Engineer Lara McKinnon gave a
detailed presentation on the Water Utilities CFP Projects: #5, Future Water Supply
Management; #11, Comprehensive Water Plan Update; and #15, Water Resource
Evaluation and Protection. Water Utility CFP Projects and Financing Plan and Project Detail
as previously presented to the Committee were distributed and briefly reviewed.
McKinnon then distributed a handout outlining three proposed alternatives (paths) for
Auburn Primary Water Rights Strategies. Path 1 would implement a comprehensive
technical study/ESA response strategy; Path 2 is a phased strategy in regard tothe Lake
TappsRVhite River Flow Negotiations; and Path 3 represents no action, should Council
determine that securing primary rights in the current regulatory climate is too costly/difficult
to justify. Each path was discussed in detail.
Council/Committee member Poe asked what the conservation plan would produce and what
would be the outcome of the plan. He expressed concern that rates might be raised so high
that it's prohibitive for people to use water. McKinnon explained that the conservation plan
is a planning process for a conservation element for the water utility. The City has shown
little to no conservation since 1995 when the 1995 Comprehensive Water Plan defined the
first Conservation Plan. An implemented plan must be developed for Department of
Ecology (DOE) approval. A cost benefit analysis is being used during the recommendation
phase, and only those alternatives with a cost that would be less than the cost of new water
for that particular action are being considered. Therefore, it is not expected that a
conservation plan would result in higher rates to the customer.
The question was raised as to how saving water might affect the City's request for water
rights. Water Rights Attorney. Tom Mortimer explained that the City must demonstrate that it
is making a good faith effort in terms of achieving maximum efficiency in using the water
supply we currently have to support the application.
Chair Wagner suggested that the City's rate structure in regard to wholesale customers not
being charged for peaking while single- and multi-family customers are charged should be
re-evaluated. McKinnon stated that we are looking at the wholesale customer's use for a
few years before any changes to the rate structure are made.
Mortimer stated that he recommends Path 2 because the flow negotiations with regard to
Lake Tapps could have such a significant effect on the flow regime of the White River, and
the City's participation in the negotiation process would enable the City to help shape some
of the engineering and flow of water ideas from that group that could be of benefit to the-
city.
Following discussion, McKinnon reviewed the CFP budget for 2000 to 2002, going over the
details of each sub-project included in CFP projects #5, #11, and #15, and comparing the
costs for the three paths. Chair Wagner stated that he concurred with Mortimer that Path 2
makes the most sense, and Council/Committee member Lewis agreed.
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JANUARY 10, 2000
McKinnon stated that although the numerical regional ground water model of the City's
aquifer is complete, the calibration is not, and that there are two steps in getting to a model
that can be used to demonstrate complex scenarios - the static portion and the transient
portion. In order to go all the way through the transient portion, an amendment to the
current contract with Pacific Groundwater Group is needed, in an amount not to exceed
$70,000 and a mid-year budget adjustment in this same amount. In response to a question
from the Committee as to why the work can't be finished for the sum already paid, McKinnon
stated the contract with PGG was negotiated with the idea that some tasks might be difficult
and costs were estimated.
Mark Utting, PGG, reported on the status of the static model, stating that they are in the
calibration phase and making daily progress. He stated the transient model is needed to be
able to look at time-lag effects to see when impacts occur. Mortimer interjected that
dynamic modeling is going to be critical as the City goes through the application process.
He stated that some model runs would also serve as ESA risk protection to the extent that
we will have some basic information concerning different flow regimes and withdrawal
scenarios.
It was the consensus of the Committee that the City should proceed with Path 2 and amend
the PGG contractor for transient model calibration.
B. CAPITAL PROJECT STATUS REPORT
Chair Wagner asked how staff decides what projects are included in the Capital Project
Status Report. Senior Engineer Selle responded that moSt capital and maintenance
projects are included in the report. Pending projects that have received budget approval are
not added to the status report until after a project manager has been assigned and some
level of project management plan (PMP) has been developed. The project is then added to
the status report as an active design project, and then moved to construction status. The
projects showing as 98%-99% complete are included in the report so that the Committee will
know they are not yet closed out. Projects are not removed from the report until the Final
Pay Estimate is processed.
The following projects were briefly discussed:
#1. Scenic Drive Storm/Phase II - Council/Committee member Poe asked how much the
contractor has been paid and why the contractor is still unresponsive. Public Works Director
Engler stated that she did not have the details but COuld get the information out to the
Committee. City Engineer Dowdy stated that he believed the contractor had not yet paid
one of his subcontractors. --
#2. IA2 Green River Pump Station - Engler stated the contractor is working through the
punchlist and there are some items that need to be worked or re-worked. In regard to the
claim submitted by the contractor, she said that the two parties have stipulated that the City
has denied the claim and the next step is non-binding mediation.
#6. Auburn Way South (6th-12th) Sidewalk - Staff is attempting to get punchlist items taken
care of by the contractor's bonding company.
In other discussion, Chair Wagner asked how the Sewer Comp Plan was progressing in
regard to Lea Hill. Dowdy responded that he and Sewer Utility Engineer Jeff Roscoe had
met with Roth Hill today and reviewed their schedule, which appears to merge well with a
schedule developed by Public Works and Planning that details administrative tasks needed.
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JANUARY 10, 2000
He stated that the plan should be at 70%-80% by May, which raised concerns from the
Committee and the Mayor, who anticipated the plan for the Lea Hill area being completed by
March. Dowdy said that he would go back through his information and see if it is possible to
complete the plan by March, and the Mayor stated he would follow up with County Executive
Sims.
Council/Committee member Poe asked that a letter from Way Scarff be placed on the Public
Works Committee agenda for their next meeting.
Chair Wagner stated the Council voted to place impact fees before the voters on
February 29, along with the presidential preference vote, and asked Committee members
and staff for ideas on how to educate the public about the fees. Discussion ensued about
the timing of the election and the fact that if the election was held in September, there would
be more time to educate the public and the issues would be in the voters' pamphlet. It was
the consensus of the Committee that it would be better to delay putting the impact fee
issues before the voters until September. -Mayor Booth will set up a special Council meeting
to review the issue.
Director Engler announced the resignation of Traffic Engineer Steve Mullen, who has
accepted the position of Traffic Engineer with the City of Kent.
V. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Public Works Committee, the meeting
was adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
PM/bd
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