HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-11-2004
CITY OF AUBURN
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
October 11, 2004
MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Rich Wagner called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. in Conference Room #3, located
on the second floor of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, Washington. Committee
members present were: Chairman Rich Wagner, Member Gene Cerino, and Member Roger
Thordarson. Also present during the meeting 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, Traffic Operations Engineer Ryan Johnstone,
Senior Project Engineer Bill Helbig, Project Engineer Robert Lee, IS Administrator Lorrie Rempher,
and Secretary Lorna Dahlke.
II. CONSENT AGENDA
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
It was moved by Member Cerino, seconded by Member Thordarson, that the Committee
approve the Public Works Committee minutes for September 27,2004, as submitted.
Motion carried.
B. CONSULTANT AGREEMENT NO. AG-C-237 WITH HNTB CORP. FOR WORK RELATED TO
PROJECT NO. C307 A, ITS IMPROVEMENTS
Chair Wagner asked about the other grant funding of $692,000 that would be required in future
years. Traffic Engineer Philpot stated that the additional funding is the estimated funds
required to match the remainder of the federal funds that have been earmarked for the project
but have not been released to the City yet. The current available funding for the project is
expected to complete the installation of the ITS system for the 27ih Street corridor, the Auburn
Way South corridor, and the construction of the proposed permanent traffic management
center at M & O. Engineer Philpot stated that the design of the project will include the
development of a conceptual plan for the citywide ITS system, which is expected to allow for
additions to the system as funding is received.
After discussion about taping an informational video of a working ITS system site, the
Committee expressed a preference for a field trip to one of the municipalities in the area that
has an ITS system to see how it is working, and to interview the workers controlling the system.
Staff will work to organize the field trip.
Staff inquired if the Committee desires to have a short program on Channel 21 explaining the
concept. IS Administrator Rempher said that staff could develop a short program, including
pictures with text, for viewing on the city website. After discussion the Committee decided that
a website with photos and text on the concept would be preferable to Channel 21 as citizens
could go there anytime.
It was moved by Member Cerino, seconded by Member Thordarson, that the Committee
recommend Council approve Consultant Agreement AG-C-237 with HNTB Corp. for work
related to Project No. C307 A, ITS Improvements. Motion carried
Public Works Committee Minutes
October 11. 2004
C. CONSULTANT AGREEMENT NO. AG-C-245 WITH ZIPPER ZEMAN ASSOCIATES, INC. FOR
WORK RELATED TO PROJECT NO. C411A, ACADEMY DRIVE GEOTECHNICAL STUDY
The Committee held lengthy discussion of the need for the geotechnical study, potential
findings, and possible alternatives for repairing Academy Drive. Member Cerino stated that the
entire slope could slough off, not just the roadway, which could require massive work to
stabilize the hillside. Chair Wagner stated that if the study finds that a multi-million dollar
project is required to stabilize the roadway, the City would not be in a position to fund it. He
also voiced concern that if Academy Drive is re-opened to public traffic, it will weaken the need,
support, and funding for the proposed link road from SR 164 to the valley, which would alleviate
some of the traffic congestion on the plateau area.
Director Dowdy stated that for the City to determine the extent of work required to re-open the
roadway in any capacity, the information from the geotech study is required. The geotech study
will provide information of what would need to be done to establish the foundation for the new
roadbed and allow us to estimate the cost to stabilize and reopen the roadway.
Engineer Helbig stated that the scope of the study includes test pits and borings along the
sections that show significant sliding and potential slope failures, however staff can review the
scope for the study to determine if we can reduce the scope and cost while obtaining a reliable
Geotech study.
The Committee deferred action on this item and requested staff return after reviewing the
scope of work to determine if cost savings can be obtained for the Committee to review and
reconsider.
III. ISSUES
A. RESOLUTION NO. 3774 MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH GSA RELATED TO
PROJECT NO. C326A, 'C' STREET SW IMPROVEMENTS
Chair Wagner was concerned about the accuracy of the legal description of the easement
being granted to the City from GSA. Staff assured him of the accuracy and that the City would
receive an easement of approximately 25 feet in width, a total of approximately 3 acres of land.
It was moved by Member Cerino, seconded by Member Thordarson, that the Committee
recommend Council adopt Resolution No. 3774. Motion carried.
IV. DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION
A. WATER RATES
Utilities Engineer Huskey presented the proposed water rate structure, based on increasing the
rates 4% a year over the next 3 years, as requested by the Committee at a previous meeting.
Engineer Huskey stated he used the average consumption levels from 2002 and 2003 for the
estimated consumption for 2004 and the next three years, and applied a 4% increase in rates
each year for the next 3 years to forecast the total revenues for the utility, with some additional
conservative growth in the number of single family residential customers.
Engineer Huskey froze the municipal rate per CCF until 2007 to keep them in line with other
non-single family rates. Irrigation customers were set at the same rates as the highest single
family block rate to encourage conservation.
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Public Works Committee Minutes
October 11. 2004
Discussion regarding the take or pay agreement with Covington Water District and Water
District 111 was delayed for a future meeting.
After discussion, the Committee consensus was in agreement with the rate structure and
proposed rate increases as presented. Engineer Huskey will bring an ordinance with the
proposed water rates back to Committee for action, as well as an ordinance for storm rate
increases that were discussed early this year.
B. UPDATE ON 3RD RUNWAY HAULING
Director Dowdy informed the Committee about the significant increase in dump truck traffic on
City streets for sand and gravel hauling due to the impact of construction of the third runway at
Sea Tac Airport. Additional truck traffic has occurred on A Street SE, which roadway is not in
condition to support trucks, as well as creating an increase in traffic at times when lIalko
Elementary and Riverside High School are startin~. Director Dowdy proposed to inform
businesses that trucks would be required to use 8 Street to access SR167. The Committee
was in support of this action.
Director Dowdy also updated the Committee on conditions of Black Diamond Road, which is
also experiencing increased truck traffic, approximately 500 dump trucks a day, and the need
for the businesses impacting the roads, as well as the Port of Seattle, to do road repairs to
maintain the road during the winter months. If the road repairs aren't done, the City may need
to lower the tonnage limits or the speed limits to 15 mph to ensure the road will be safe for
traffic. Member Cerino stated that large size chunks of concrete were also coming out of the
King County portion of the road. Director Dowdy said that the contract with the Port requires
TTI to do mitigation that the City requires to keep the road safe, and stated TTI had implied that
they would request bids for shoulder work to include 4" of Gravel and 4" of Class E Asphalt to
stabilize the shoulders, and some overlay to make a smoother transition between the concrete
slabs to get through the winter. The Committee agreed with the suggested actions.
Director Dowdy suggested that, by using the experience of the 3rd runway and the impact on
City roads, we could reexamine the truck routes currently designated, the road standards and
conditions, and also take into consideration the completion of construction of the 27th Street
corridor and the SR18 overpass improvements. Staff would then return to the Committee to
recommend any changes in designated Truck Routes. The Committee agreed with the
suggestion.
C. CAPITAL PROJECT STATUS REPORT
The following items were briefly discussed:
Item 12. C1014. Auburn Way South Safety Improvements: The Committee asked if the traffic
plan calls for one lane to be open during construction. Engineer Gaub stated that one lane of
traffic would be open at all times and two lanes would be open at peak traffic hours.
Item 23. C307 A. City Wide ITS Improvements: When asked about the fiber optics route being
investigated through downtown, Engineer Philpot stated that staff is working to define the route
of the fiber optic cables to connect the proposed ITS on Auburn Way South and 277th Street to
the Traffic Management Center at M & O.
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Public Works Committee Minutes
October 11. 2004
Item 16. C1006. 3rd St. SE/Cross St Improvement Project: Member Cerino stated that he has
received a number of complaints from people saying they were having difficulty making left
turns onto Division Street exiting east off the SR18 overpass. Engineer Philpot said there is
limited capacity at the A Street SE/Cross Street intersection, which backs traffic up onto the
bridge, but staff would investigate to see if the left turn arrow could be timed for a longer phase,
and stated that planned improvements at 3rd and A Street SE are expected to alleviate some of
the congestion.
Item 1 O. 402A. 2004 Pavement Preservation - Arterial: Engineer Gaub stated that Auburn
Avenue from 3rd Street NE to 4th Street NE was closed for pavement repair and overlay work,
but is expected to reopen by the end of the week. Reconstruction of the road between 4th
Street NE to 5th Street NE was continuing.
Director Dowdy updated the Committee on the storm drainage issue, water running across the
sidewalk, at a few residences on Mill Pond Loop. The City crew had investigated and the
problem is caused by the drainage pipe being crushed. The pipe is within the City right-of-way,
and is expected to be replaced before freezing weather occurs.
V.ADJOURNMENT
Thére being no further business to come before the Public Works Committee, the meeting was
adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
DRD/ld
Submitted by Lorna Dahlke, Secretary.
Approved by the Public Works Committee on 0 ~ ;¿ 5) .?. 0 0 Lj_
File: 17 (17.2)
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