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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-28-2003WASH I NGTON CITY OF AUBURN PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE August 28, 2003 MINUTES III. I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. Those in attendance were Mayor Lewis, Chairman Rich Wagner, Council/Committee member Gene Cerino, and Councilmember Nancy Backus, substituting for Council/Committee member Fred Poe, whose absence was excused. Staff in attendance were Public Works Director Dennis Dowdy, City Engineer/Assistant Director Dennis Selle, Assistant City Engineer Ingrid Gaub, Utilities Engineer Duane Huskey, Traffic Engineer Laura Philpot, and Administrative Services Supervisor Pam Miller. Guest in attendance was Bill Peloza. II. CONSENT AGENDA A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Councilmember Cerino, seconded by Councilmember Backus, that the Committee approve the Public Works Committee minutes for August 11, 2003, as submitted. Motion carried. ISSUES RESOLUTION NO. 3638 AUTHORIZING AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH KING COUNTY TO OBLIGATE COUNTY FUNDING FOR CITY PROJECT NO. C307A, INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM (ITS) IMPROVEMENTS Traffic Engineer PhilPot used a map to explain how the current interconnect system works, with signals within zones being interconnected to each other. With the Intelligent Traffic System (ITS), all of the signals in all of the current zones would be interconnected into one large zone. The system would relay information to a small traffic management center located at the City's Maintenance and Operations facility, where staff would have software that would allow them to make real time signal timing changes, which would have a very positive impact on event traffic, such as the concerts at the White River Amphitheater. Cameras would be located on Auburn Way South enabling staff to watch the traffic and make real time changes. The County has agreed to contribute $500,000 in funding for this project: $50,000 for design and $450,000 for construction. The County would like the City to include video cameras on South 277th Street. The agreement with the County is written such that if funding allows, the cameras on South 277th will be incorporated into the system. King County has assured the City that they will participate in the scoping of the project, and the City will not proceed spend the County's money if the County does not agree with the phasing. The City will continue to seek additional grant funding for the project. It was moved by Councilmember Cerino, seconded by Councilmember Backus, that the Committee recommend Council adopt Resolution No. 3638. Motion carried. Public Works Committee Minutes Auqust 28, 2003 IV. DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION A. UPDATE ON WELLS Public Works Director Dowdy distributed copies of a recent mailing sent to Auburn Water Utility customers in the Hidden Valley Acres community, requesting a voluntary reduction in water use by those residents living on 47th Street SE who are served by the City's Braunwood well, which is experiencing a decrease in water level. Utilities Engineer Huskey distributed copies of spreadsheets, charts and graphs illustrating the City's Historical Water Production, and reviewed the data for the Committee. In response to a question from Chairman Wagner, Huskey responded that Coal Creek Springs is down about 700,000 gallons per day this year, prompting the City to put Well 4, which is normally the back up for Coal Creek Springs, into the primary position, with Coal Creek Springs as the backup for Well 4. Huskey reported on the status of Well 5, which serves the Lakeland area and is currently off-line due to Iow pumping water levels in the well. When staff performed a test pump on the well, the water level went down quickly when they started pumping. They will perform another test on the well in September. A portion of the area normally served by Well 5 is currently being served by the City of Bonney Lake via an emergency intertie, with the City being charged a retail rate by Bonney Lake. Huskey reported that a letter had been received from the City's IA2 partners, Water District No. 111 and Covington Water District. According to the "Take or Pay" agreement, the partners must notify the City by September 1 to change their take amounts. Their letter is requesting that the notification be delayed until October 1. Mayor Lewis reported on a public meeting held on August 20, 2003, regarding the private wells in the vicinity of 53rd Street SE that had gone dry. Allegations had been made by owners of the dry wells that the problems they were experiencing were due to the Icon Materials mining operation, which is located on property owned by M.A. Segale. The property is situated near the intersection of Oravetz Road and R Street SE. In addition to the Mayor, City staff, and area residents, representatives from the State Department of Ecology (DOE) and M.A. Segale were in attendance. At the meeting, a DOE representative stated that they had inspected the site and did not see anything to indicate that the mining operations were the only major cause of the well problems. They further stated that should the residents bring forward a lawsuit, the laws that may have protected them are now gone, and the suit would be difficult to prove in court. The DOE representative also talked about the offer made by Segale and Icon. Although DOE stated that ICOn probably could not be found liable for the wells going dry, Icon and Segale have offered to pay $13,000 per well to enable residents to drill deeper wells or purchase water until such time as their wells recover. Public Works Director Dowdy mentioned a letter that Mayor Lewis and City of Bonney Lake Mayor Young sent to the King and Pierce County Executives about the Iow water levels in City- owned and privately-owned wells in Auburn and Kent. The letter prompted a discussion between the King County Executive and the Department of Ecology on whether a State-wide or local (South King/North Pierce County) emergency should be proclaimed. A proclamation of emergency could benefit the City in a number of ways. It could make funds available to the cities affected by water shortages, or speed up the permit process for the Lakehaven Utility District's OASIS project. Their OASIS project would allow cities such as Auburn to pump water into the aquifer in the winter and spring when the City's water demands are Iow, and draw from the aquifer in summer as water is needed. The status of the OASIS project was briefly discussed. Page 2 Public Works Committee Minutes August 28, 2003 B. TACOMA PIPELINE 5 UPDATE Construction Manager Larry Dahl distributed copies of the most recent schedule for the construction taking place in Auburn on the Tacoma Second Supply Pipeline. The City of Tacoma's contractor, Robison Construction Inc. (RCI), will be constructing 2.7 miles of pipeline within the City limits. They will be crossing 8 City streets, which will require 3 open cuts, 1 crossing that was installed many years ago due to easement restrictions, and 4 bores. The construction moves around a great deal from one location to the next due to restrictions placed on the construction because of high groundwater, and time restrictions from Emerald Downs and the Auburn Golf Course. Dahl reviewed some of the issues related to the construction project, and reported on a recent meeting held to address the impact that the construction on Auburn Way North will have on auto row and, more specifically, on properties owned by Tito Roempke. City of Tacoma staff have been keeping Auburn staff informed, and Auburn has specific staff assigned to monitor issues such as restoration of right-of-way and noise caused by the construction. The project schedule calls for work over two construction seasons. If they maintain this year's schedule, they will have less than 2,000 feet of pipe to install next spring. C. 12TM AND K STREET NE NEIGHBORHOOD PETITION FOR 4-WAY STOP Traffic Engineer Philpot reported that she had received a petition from residents living in the vicinity of 12th and K Streets NE, requesting installation of stop signs on K Street NE, at 12~h Street, which would make this a 4-way stop intersection, since stop signs currently exist on 12th Street. Traffic staff evaluated the issue, and discovered an overgrown bush that was creating a sight distance hazard. The issue was referred to Code Enforcement, and within one day, the property owner had trimmed the bushes to eliminate the hazard. After a discussion of needs and warrants, the Committee recommended that the intersection be converted to a 4-way stop control. D. CAPITAL PROJECT STATUS REPORT #5, Lakeland Hills Way/East Valley Highway Signal; and #6, Oravetz Road Slope Repair - Assistant City Engineer Gaub stated that staff have met with Auburn School District representatives due to the potential impacts these projects may have to Ilalko Elementary School and Auburn Riverside High School. The slope repair work will require road closures; however, the closures will be limited to school hours. The signal work will require some traffic control at times, such as placement of the poles and installation of the loops. At these those times, lane closures will be necessary. Both projects are being coordinated with the schools. #7, West Valley Highway Reconstruction - A question was raised regarding the October finish date, since the bids won't be opened until September 3. Gaub stated that since Council had recently authorized the Mayor to award the bid, the project can be awarded and contract documents sent out within a few days of the bid opening, allowing for the pre-construction meeting to be held the week of September 8, and a Notice to Proceed issued as soon as the contract documents have been exeCuted by the City. #12, 41st St SEto A St SE Capacity Improvement - In response to a question from Chair Wagner, Gaub responded that staff are still working on negotiating with BNSF for getting ROW approval to surplus the railroad right-of-way for 41s' Street, and on getting an appraisal for the property completed. Page 3 Public Works Committee Minutes August 28, 2003 Utilities Engineer Huskey stated that over a three-year period, the Storm Utility may have over- collected approximately $200,000 in Storm SDCs, which includes the $80,000 appealed by the YMCA. After studying the applicable Auburn City Code and past practice, it was determined that the over-collection was a result of misinterpretation of the code, and that a change in practice is required, rather than a change to the Code. Refund checks will be issued to those accounts that were overcharged. It was noted that Council/Committee member Fred Poe will not be able to attend the Public Works Committee meeting on September 8, and that Councilmember Nancy Backus will substitute for him. Staff anticipates bringing the Department's 2004 Preliminary Budget to the Committee at that time. V. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Public Works Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m. DRD/pm Submitted by Administrative Services Supervisor Pam Miller. Approved by the Public Works Committee on ~ ~ ,~ ~ o ~ File: 17 (17.2) REF. H:\PWCAgendaMinutes\082803Minutes Page 4