HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-14-2002CITY Of AUBURN PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MINUTES October 14, 2002
I CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m. Those in attendance were Committee
Chairman Rich Wagner, Council/Committee member Fred Poe, and Council/Committee
member Gene Cerino. Staff in attendance were Public Works Director Christine Engler, City
Engineer Dennis Dowdy, Assistant City Engineer Dennis Selle, Assistant City
Engineer/Utilities Duane Huskey, Senior Project Engineer Ingdd Gaub, Special Projects
Engineer Jack Locke, Traffic Engineer Michael Fuess, City Attorney Dan Heid, Finance
Director Shelley Coleman, and Administrative Services Supervisor Para Miller.
Guests in attendance were Jennifer Boyes, Glenn Boyes, Patty Albert; Bdan Winslow and
Spiro Xenos, The Boeing Company.
II. CONSENT
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
It was moved by Councilmember Poe, seconded by Councilmember Cerino, that the
Committee approve the Public Works Committee minutes for September 23, 2002, as
submitted. Motion carded.
B. RIGHT-OF-WAY USE PERMIT 45-02, JENNIFER BOYES, USE OF SIDEWALK ON
SOUTH SIDE OF ROTTLES FOR ESPRESSO BAR
The Committee discussed Right-of-Way Use Permit 45-02, which is a request from
Jennifer Boyes to use the sidewalk on the south side of Rottles for an espresso bar.
They also received comments from Ms. Boyes and her architect, Patty Albert. Following
discussion, the Committee expressed their desire to have, prior to making a decision
regarding the permit, more details concerning the type of structure being proposed,
specific conditions of use, and conditions under which the permit could be terminated.
It was moved by Councilmember Poe, seconded by Councilmember Cerino, that the
Committee table Right-of-Way Use Permit 45-02. Motion carried.
C. AMENDMENT #1 TO CONSULTANT AGREEMENT NO. AG-C-039 TASK ORDER # A-
PE-PR548-001 WITH PENTEC ENVIRONMENTAL FOR WORK RELATED TO THE B
STREET NW IMPROVEMENTS - WETLAND MITIGATION
It was moved by Councilmember Poe, seconded by Councilmember Cedno, that the
Committee recommend Council approve Amendment #1 to Consultant Agreement No.
AG-C-039, Task Order A-PE-PR548-001. Motion carried.
D. PERMISSION TO ADVERTISE PROJECT NO. C203A, AUBURN STATION RETAIL
Special Projects Engineer Locke described the bid process that would be followed, two
pending leases, and projected budget.
It was moved by Councilmember Poe, seconded by Councilmember Cerino, that the
Committee recommend Council grant permission to advertise Project No. C203A.
Motion carried.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MINUTES October 14, 2002
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E. APPROVE CHANGE ORDER #1 FOR CONTRACT NO. 02-02 WITH DAVID L SACK
CONSTRUCTION, FOR PROJECT NO. C1011, PUMP STATION BACKFLOW
PREVENTION & REDUNDANT ALARM FLOATS
It was moved by Councilmember Poe, seconded by Councilmember Cerino, that the
Committee recommend Council approve Change Order #1 to Contract No. 02-02.
Motion carried.
F. APPROVE FINAL PAY ESTIMATE #1 FOR CONTRACT NO. 02-09 WITH S&B INC.,
AND ACCEPT CONSTRUCTION OF PROJECT NO. C1002, COAL CREEK SPRINGS
CHLORINATION UPGRADE - PHASE 1
A revised budget status sheet was distributed to the Committee.
It was moved by Councilmember Poe, seconded by Councilmember Cerino, that the
Committee recommend Council approve Final Pay Estimate #1 for Contract No. 02-09,
and accept construction of Project No. C1002. Motion carried.
II1. ISSUES
A. RESOLUTION NO. 3536 CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON STREET VACATION
NO. V-03-02, SUBMITTED BY RAINIER COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT (WALGREEN
DRUG STORE), FOR VACATION OF A PORTION OF ALLEYWAY BETWEEN 15TM ST
NE AND 14TM ST NE OFF HARVEY RD
It was moved by Councilmember Poe, seconded by Councilmember Cerino, that the
Committee recommend Council adopt Resolution No. 3536. Motion carded.
B. RESOLUTION NO. 3534, REVISED WATER SYSTEM INTERTIE AGREEMENT NO.
3A WITH THE CITY OF ALGONA (IA3)
Assistant City Engineer/Utilities Huskey explained that the revisions to IA3 do not pose
any conflicts with the City's IA2 agreement with Covington Water District and Water
District No. 111. He distributed an updated copy of Exhibit E, Project Schedule, stating
that the revisions to the agreement will allow for revised project costs and payment
schedule.
It was moved by Councilmember Poe, seconded by Councilmember Cerino, that the
Committee recommend Council adopt Resolution No. 3534. Motion carried.
IV. INFORMATION OR DISCUSSION
A. DRAFT ORDINANCE TO AMEND AUBURN CITY CODE SECTIONS 12.64.010 AND
12.64.020 RELATED TO PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS
For the purpose of these minutes, this item was discussed after Information/Discussion
Item B.
City Engineer Dowdy distributed copies of a read-ahead memo he had sent to the
Committee regarding the proposed code changes. Current code restricts a property
owner's obligation to construct the half-street to building permits only. The proposed
code changes would broaden the types of land use changes that would invoke the half-
street requirement. The code change would also obligate enterprise funds to make the
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MINUTES October 14, 2002
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improvements. Dowdy gave several examples where improvements have not been
made due to current code requirements. Staff also proposed that the City's street delay
agreement be revised to require renewal of the agreement if the improvement is not
performed within the agreement term or an LID has not been formed. This revision
would not require an amendment to Auburn City Code. It was the consensus of the
Committee that staff continue to work on this issue, ensuring that it is not unfair or
arbitrary.
B. UTILITY TAX RATES
For the purpose of these minutes, this item was discussed pdor to Information/
Discussion Item A.
Finance Director Coleman distributed a spreadsheet illustrating potential revenue in the
amount of $695,433 that could be generated by raising the City's utility taxes, along with
a draft ordinance amending City Code to reflect the change in the utility tax rates. Staff
is proposing that water, sewer, and storm tax rates be raised from 4.5% to 6%, and that
the refuse tax be raised from 2% to 6%. It was pointed out by Councilmember Poe that
the public will not experience an increase in their rates at this time, since taxes are
currently included within the existing rates, and any increase in taxes will affect the utility
enterprise fund balances when the taxes are transferred to the general fund. Any
increase in taxes would not be felt by a utility customer unless the individual utility rates
were raised.
It was moved by Councilmember Poe, seconded by Councilmember Cedno, that water,
sewer, storm, and refuse tax rates be increased to 6%, but actual billing amounts not be
changed until such time as cost of service and rate analyses are conducted again.
Motion carried.
The Committee asked that attention be given to ways to better control City water rate
pass through at potentially exorbitant levels by landlords to multi-family tenants. City
Attorney Dan Held reported that he has already begun looking at the issue.
C. WATER SUPPLY STRATEGY
Director Engler distributed two exhibits from the 2001 Comprehensive Water System
Plan, using the exhibits to illustrate that the City is going to need an increment in water
supply to meet peak demands sometime after 2020. She stated that under direction of
the Mayor, she has set up separate meetings with Tacoma Public Utilities and with the
General Manager of the Lakehaven Utility District to discuss with them the availability of
future water supply to meet Aubum's needs after approximately 20 years. In discussing
vadous approaches that might be taken, it was the consensus of the Committee that
staff should solicit offers before making any specific concessions in regard to this issue.
D. FACILITY EXTENSION (FAC) FEE STRUCTURE
Assistant City Engineer Selle presented a possible change in the fee structure for public
facility extensions. He reviewed the City's existing fee structure, wherein the applicant
pays a non-reimbursable initial application fee, followed by a deposit once a detailed
scope has been determined. The City charges actual accrued costs against the deposit
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MINUTES October 14, 2002
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amount, which often results in requiring additional payments from the applicant or the
City issuing a refund to the applicant. This system is burdensome in that it requires
detailed tracking and applicants do not know, in advance, what the costs of their facility
extension will be.
The proposed fee structure would still require a non-reimbursable initial application fee,
followed by a set fee once a detailed scope has been determined. Historic costs would
be used to determine what these fees should be based on, for instance, the length and
size of a water line being constructed. The proposed system would require less staff
time and would let applicants know what their costs will be at the time the scope is
determined.
Because some jurisdictions combine other permits, such as grading, drainage and
construction, in with their facility extension fees, the rate structures from the other
jurisdictions were difficult to compare with Auburn's. It was suggested by Selle that the
various permits be discussed at future meetings, followed by comparisons for typical
projects of certain size. The Committee concurred with this approach.
E. CAPITAL PROJECT STATUS REPORT
Councilmember Poe commented that he was pleased to see paving at the west end of
South 277th Street, and access issues dudng construction of the King County project at
the west end of the roadway were discussed.
In response to a question from Councilmember Cedno, Traffic Engineer Fuess stated
that the Mayor had asked staff for concepts and a presentation to the Mayor on
alternatives, including one-way and three-lane street sections for Main Street in
downtown Auburn.
Director Engler reported that the Metro bus hub that was recently relocated to A Street
SW, adjacent to the Transit Center, will remain at that location, potentially until February,
to avoid conflict with construction of the pedestrian bridge at the Transit Center.
V. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Public Works Committee, the meeting
was adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
Submitted by Pam Miller, Administrative Services Supervisor.
Approved by the Public Works Committee on (~~
File: 17 (17.2)
REF. H:\PWCAgendaMinutes\101402Minutes