HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-12-2002CITY OF AUBURN PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MINUTES NOVEMBER 12, 2002
I CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 4:33 p.m. Those in attendance were Mayor Lewis,
Committee Chairman Rich Wagner, Council/Committee member Fred Poe, and
Council/Committee member Gene Cerino. Public Works Department staff in attendance
were Acting Public Works Director Dennis Dowdy, Assistant City Engineer Dennis Selle,
Assistant City Engineer/Utilities Duane Huskey, Traffic Engineer Michael Fuess, Senior
Project Engineer Ingrid Gaub, Project Engineer Scott Nutter, Assistant Project Engineer
Brian Coleman, and Administrative Services Supervisor Pam Miller. Finance Department
staff in attendance was Shelley Coleman.
There were no guests in attendance.
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 October 28, 2002, as
submitted. Motion carried.
B. RIGHT-OF-WAY USE PERMIT 47-02, AUBURN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
FOR THE SANTA PARADE
It was moved by Councilmember Poe, seconded by Councilmember Cerino, that the
Committee approve Right-of-Way Use Permit 47-02. Motion carried.
C. INITIATION OF PROJECT NO. C217A, D STREET SE STORM IMPROVEMENTS
It was moved by Councilmember Poe, seconded by Councilmember Cedno, that the
Committee approve initiation of Project No. C217A. Motion carried.
D. FINAL PaY ESTIMATE NO. 3 TO CONTRACT NO. 02-02 WITH DAVID L. SACK
CONSTRUCTION CO. INC., AND ACCEPT CONSTRUCTION OF SMALL WORKS
PROJECT NO. C1011, PUMP STATION BACKFLOW PREVENTION
It was moved by Councilmember Poe, seconded by Councilmember Cerino, that the
Committee recommend Council approve Final Pay Estimate No. 3 and accept
construction of Small Works Project No. C1011. Motion carried.
III. ISSUES
A. RESOLUTION NO. 3543 AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A TURNOUT
CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF TACOMA WATER DIVISION
Assistant City Engineer/Utilities Huskey told the Committee that a revised agreement will
be going forward to Council for approval. He distributed copies of the revised
agreement, along with a memo outlining the revisions, none of which are detrimental to
Auburn. The revised agreement has been approved by City Attorney Dan Held.
It was moved by Councilmember Poe, seconded by Councilmember Cerino, that the
Committee recommend Council adopt Resolution No. 3543. Motion carried.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITI'EE MINUTES November 12, 2002
Page 2 of 3
IV. INFORMATION OR DISCUSSION
a. OUTSIDE-OF-AREA SURCHARGES
Finance Director Coleman presented a proposal to raise the outside-of-area surcharges
for water and sewer services provided by the City to areas located outside of the Auburn
City limits but within the County. She gave a brief history of the surcharge, which was
lowered in the mid-80s from 50% to 37%, and has remained at that rate to this date.
She briefly reviewed the additional costs to the City to provide these services outside of
the City limits, which include the need for County inspections, the rising costs of County
fees and services, increased vehicle maintenance and staff costs due to the distance
City staff must travel to maintain the utilities, etc.
Following discussion, Councilmember Poe asked for an accurate accounting of how
much revenue would be generated and what the actual impact to the City is to provide
these services. Chairman Wagner asked that staff explore the potential cost of having
such an analysis performed by a consulting firm.
Councilmember Poe also commented on the City's street light inventory.
B. POTENTIAL REDUCTIONS iN GENERAL FUND AND 102 FUND EXPENSES
Finance Director Coleman stated that this topic would be discussed at the Council
budget workshop slated for Wednesday, November 13. She said that all departments
have been asked to look at ways to cut expenses to the General Fund due to reduction
in revenue and projected revenue growth versus estimated expenditures for 2003. City
wide, the reduction target is approximately $1.2 million, with the Public Works
Department's target being $138,000.
Acting Public Works Director Dowdy handed out a list of potential ways that the Public
Works Department could reduce expenses to the General Fund. The following
strategies were discussed.
Transfer of street sweeping costs to the Storm Drainage and/or Solid Waste Utility,
which would rasuit in a savings to the General Fund of $207,300 per year. The
Committee considered the issue and suggested possible alternatives for consideration.
The Mayor suggested that perhaps the budget reductions could be considered in two
tiers, with Tier One being those reductions we're certain of, and Tier Two being potential
reductions to consider.
Another strategy was to extend the life of City vehicles by one year, which would result
in a potential annual savings of $78,948. The Police Department would generate the
bulk of the savings. Concern was raised over the potential impact of this strategy on the
Police Department and whether their vehicle life could possibly be extended without loss
of services.
Lengthy discussion was held on the need to reduce the Arterial Street Fund by $395,000
due to the revenue lost from the potential passage of Initiative 776, which would
eliminate the $15 local tax from license tab fees. Finance Director Coleman stated that
there will likely be a court case filed against the initiative, due to issues such as the
initiative addressing more than one topic, Sound Transit bonds already being sold (bond
covenants), and having the entire State vote on a tax that had been approved by a
regional vote. If the initiative goes to court, the City will continue to collect taxes as
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MINUTES November 12, 2002
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authorized by current legislation until a court decision is made. The Finance Director
and Mayor agreed to leave the budget as currently written. A budget amendment will be
submitted at a later date, if required.
The strategy for reducing the Arterial Street Fund by $395,000 is to keep all the
proposed projects in the budget, but defer action on certain projects that are budgeted,
in their entirety, in the Arterial Street Fund until such time as a court decision is handed
down. Staff were particularly looking for policy guidance on projects slated to carry over
to or commence in January of 2003. The Committee reviewed and discussed the list of
projects, and came to the following consensus:
C222A (S 277th Street, AWN to Green River Bridge) - defer predesign
C207A (A St NW, Phase 1) - go forward with predesign
C213A (Transportation Plan Update) - no change to status (is required by law and is a
condition of grant funding)
TIP 14 (41st St SE/A St SE Capacity Improvement) - proceed with design at this time
TiP 17 (I St NE-40th to 52nd) -go forward with design work and prepare new projects to
mitigate I Street completion (enables City to provide information to developers and to
position the City for grant funding)
TIP 20 (M St SE-37th to 29th) - go forward with predesign and feasibility study
TIP 32 (Sidewalk Improvement Program) - defer
TIP 35 (Pedestrian Crossing Program) - defer until an alternative source of funds can be
identified
TIP 36 (Street Asset Management Program) - defer
C. CAPITAL PROJECT STATUS REPORT
The Capital Project Status Report was discussed.
V. OTHER DISCUSSION
Chairman Wagner stated that he would not be able to attend the Committee meeting
November 25, 2002. It was the consensus of the Committee to cancel the meeting
scheduled for November 25, 2002, and gave their approval for staff to go direct to Council
with the award of Project No. C1003, Bonney Lake Emergency Intertie (barring any unusual
circumstances) and any other routine items of business that may arise.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Public Works Committee, the meeting
was adjourned at 6:41 p.m,
Submitted by Pam Miller, Administrative Services Supervisor.
Approved by the Public Works Committee on ~/'~/~¢~/~)~'..~¢</~
File: 17 (17.2)