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.
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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.
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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)
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