HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-25-2005
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CITY OF AUBURN
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
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April 25, 2005
WASHINGTON
MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Rich Wagner called the meeting to order at 3:30 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 Bill Peloza, and Member Roger
Thordarson. Also present during the meeting were: Mayor Peter B. Lewis, Public Works Director
Dennis Dowdy, City Engineer/Assistant Director Dennis Selle, Assistant City Engineer Ingrid Gaub,
Senior Project Engineer Bill Helbig, Utilities Engineer Duane Huskey, Traffic Engineer Laura
Philpot, Transportation Planner Joe Welsh, Traffic Operations Engineer Ryan Johnstone, Project
Engineer Jennifer Dvorak, Project Engineer Scott Nutter, and Administrative Services Supervisor
Pam Miller.
II. CONSENT AGENDA
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
It was moved by Member Thordarson, seconded by Member Peloza, that the Committee
approve the Public Works Committee minutes for April 11 , 2005, as submitted. Motion carried.
B. RIGHT-OF-WAY USE PERMIT 05-9, AUBURN SCHOOL DISTRICT, FOR HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATIONS
It was moved by Member Thordarson, seconded by Member Peloza, that the Committee
approve Right-of-Way Use Permit 05-9. Motion carried.
C. RIGHT-OF-WAY USE PERMIT 05-10, RUSH FORTH CONSTRUCTION FOR PROJECT ACE
City Engineer Selle stated that since SEPA has not yet been submitted for Phase 2 of Project
Ace, staff is recommending that Right-of-Way Use Permit 05-10 be applicable to Phase 1 only,
which is the parking garage. This would affect changes to the conditions, as follows: Delete
condition #7 in its entirety, and the last sentence of Condition #13, since they are not applicable
to Phase 1. Member Thordarson questioned the inclusion of the Fourth of July Parade in the
first sentence of condition #13, since the parade is not usually held on Main Street, and it was
decided that the language should be changed to "Fourth of July activities."
It was moved by Member Thordarson, seconded by Member Peloza, that the Committee
approve Right-of-Way Use Permit 05-10 for Phase 1 only, with the deletion of Condition #7, the
deletion of the last sentence of Condition #13, and revision of the language in the first sentence
of Condition #13 to reflect Fourth of July activities. Motion carried.
D. LAKELAND HILLS WAY AND 62ND STREET SE ALL-WAY STOP CONTROL
It was moved by Member Thordarson, seconded by Member Peloza, that the Committee
recommend Council approve all-way stop control at Lakeland Hills Way and 62nd Street SE.
Motion carried.
Public Works Committee Minutes
April 25. 2005
E. LAKE LAND HILLS WAY AND 69TH STREET SE ALL-WAY STOP CONTROL
It was moved by Member Thordarson, seconded by Member Peloza that the Committee
recommend Council approve all-way stop control at Lakeland Hills Way and 69th Street SE.
Motion carried.
F. PERMISSION TO ADVERTISE PROJECT NO. C1014, AUBURN WAY SOUTH SAFETY
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
In response to a question from Chairman Wagner, Project Engineer Dvorak stated the City is
incorporating the signal work in the project that will be advertised with some modifications to
account for the lack of the easement from U-Haui while the legal issues with U-Haul are being
resolved. There is the potential that Les Schwab may ask the City to return a portion of their
funds if the easement is not received; however, most of the work to allow for the fourth leg is
being completed with the project.
It was moved by Member Thordarson, seconded by Member Peloza, that the Committee
recommend Council grant permission to advertise Project No. C1014, Auburn Way South
Safety Improvement Project. Motion carried.
G. FINAL PAY ESTIMATE NO.2 TO SMALL WORKS CONTRACT 04-21 WITH PETERSON
BROTHERS, INC., AND ACCEPT CONSTRUCTION OF PROJECT NO. C420A, TERRACE
DRIVE GUARDRAIL IMPROVEMENTS
This item was an agenda modification.
It was moved by Member Thordarson, seconded by Member Peloza, that the Committee
recommend Council approve Final Pay Estimate NO.2 to Small Works Contract 04-21 and
accept construction of Project No. C420A, Terrace Drive Guardrail Improvements. Motion
carried.
III. ISSUES
NONE
IV. DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION
A. PIONEER ELEMENTARY WALKWAY IMPROVEMENTS
Project Engineer Nutter presented a vicinity map to the Committee to show the locations of the
asphalt walkways along F Street SE and 25th Street SE and indicated that the trail will be
separated from the road with an incremental raised curb between the trail and vehicle parking
areas. It was explained that the curb will be similar to the curb on ath Street NE. Engineer
Nutter stated that 4-way stops are planned at two locations on F Street SE (25th Street SE and
27th Street SE) to allow for safe crossings of F Street SE. Traffic Engineer Philpot pointed out
that the 4-way stops will not likely meet warrants, so permission will be required from the
Committee and Council for their installation.
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Public Works Committee Minutes
April 25. 2005
The walkway will eliminate all buses to Pioneer Elementary School except for the kindergarten
buses and buses for special needs and activities. He stated that the City is donating staff labor,
and has a grant of approximately $70,000, through the School District, for completion of the
improvements.
B. ORDINANCE NO. 5909, C CURBING AT LEFT TURN OUT OF BIGFOOT JAVA ONTO 14TH
STREET NW
Following discussion, it was the consensus of the Committee to leave the curbing in the current
configuration, and that the business be made aware that the City does have the authority to
close the left turn in the future should issues arise.
C. PARKING RESTRICTIONS FOR 3900 BLOCK OF WEST VALLEY HIGHWAY
Transportation Planner Welsh reported to the Committee that he had investigated a complaint
from a citizen about the restricted sight distance out of driveways from a development on West
Valley Highway, just south of 3th Street NW. The citizen stated that big trucks are parking on
the east side of West Valley Highway in the area of this development. Mr. Welsh reviewed the
results of a sight distance study of the area. It was noted that West Valley Highway goes
through Kent, Auburn, and King County, and that the speed limits in the three jurisdictions are
not consistent.
Following discussion, it was the consensus of the Committee that staff should present an
Ordinance to the Committee and City Council that revises Auburn City Code to prohibit trucks
from parking on either side of West Valley Highway in the area identified by the sight distance
study, and that staff should coordinate with the City of Kent and King County to adjust the
speed limits on West Valley Highway downward and to be consistent between the three
jurisdictions.
D. CAPITAL PROJECT STATUS REPORT
The following projects were briefly discussed:
#10- C326A. C Street SW Improvements - Contract B: In response to a question from
Chairman Wagner about fill located at the project site, Senior Engineer Helbig reported that it
belongs to King County for bedding and backfill for the County's sewer project on 15th Street
SW, and that King County has been instructed to move them. Engineer Helbig also reported
that the signal pole at Safeway's entrance is up, the controller is in the final phases of testing,
and that power from PSE will be required before the signal can be operational.
#22 - C315A. Downtown Liahtina Analvsis: Member Peloza asked how the City plans to
develop an LID, which is identified as the next phase of the project. Assistant City Engineer
Gaub stated that the City will work with the Business Improvement Area for any new lights that
may be added to the downtown area. She updated Member Peloza on the status of the project,
stating that Committee members had previously walked the downtown area and given their
input to staff on where they felt lighting needed to be improved. Staff has identified additional
upgrades of existing lights and additional new light locations on existing poles based on this
input. The issue will come before the Committee in the near future. Member Thordarson noted
that there are six spotlights in the alley between the Masonic Hall and Ristorante Auguri that are
not turned on. Mayor Lewis asked staff to investigate, as part of the Downtown Lighting
Analysis, why the lights are not being used.
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Public Works Committee Minutes
April 25. 2005
#23 - C411 A. Academy Drive Geotech Study: Staff has met with WSDOT geotechnical staff to
discuss the type of work they do on their failure areas, and staff is currently looking into two
options and will formulate cost estimates. Director Dowdy briefly reviewed the two methods
outlined by WSDOT.
#24 SR-164 Corridor Study: The last public workshop being held by WSDOT is scheduled for
this Wednesday at Chinook Elementary School. Director Dowdy gave a brief explanation of the
methods used at the public workshops to gain input from the public, and stated that the next
Corridor Study meeting will be held in May.
#27 - C205A, Kersey Way/Oravetz Road Traffic Sianal: Engineer Helbig confirmed that design
is at 90%, and that staff are reviewing previously-developed documents. Traffic Engineer
Philpot stated that the City can adjust detection on the signal to mitigate for the short left turn
lane that serves Icon Materials, whose trips are primarily during non-peak times.
#36 - C502C. Thin OverLay: Member Thordarson explained to Member Peloza that the thin
overlay will consist of 1 y,. inches of Class "G" on the center of the roadway where the traffic is,
and then taper to % of an inch at the edge of the roadway.
#37 - C502D, M Street Reconstruction: Traffic Engineer Philpot stated that the project is still
on track and staff are working on the design of the project so that it will be ready to go upon
receipt of Federal Funding. However, there are potential issues with storm water that also need
to be addressed.
V. OTHER DISCUSSION
The following discussion took place prior to Discussion and Information Item D.
Traffic Engineer Philpot reviewed new pedestrian detection technology that could potentially be
used for the mid-block crosswalk planned for 3rd Street SE in front of the Post Office. The current
plan for the mid-block crosswalk at the Post Office calls for installation of poles on both sides of the
street, with an illuminated sign and continuously flashing lights hanging from spanwire.
Engineer Philpot stated that the vendor used by the City for video detection had met with her on
Friday to review a new product that consists of an infrared detector that is located on a pole, and
can detect the body heat of a person to determine if the person is walking by or waiting to cross the
street. If the system detects that the person is waiting to cross the street, it will activate the lights
and sign, causing them to flash/illuminate. This technology has successfully been used in Europe,
and is currently being used, and well received, at test sites in California.
The vendor has asked Auburn to be their Washington test site, and would provide the system to
the City free of charge. If the City likes the system, they may keep it; if the City does not like the
system, the vendor will remove it. In either case, there are no costs to the City. In response to a
question from the Committee, Engineer Philpot said that if the City likes the system and wants to
purchase equipment for more sites, it would cost approximately $2,000 per camera, provided there
is already power at the site. It was the consensus of the Committee to use the mid-block crossing
on 3rd Street SE at the Post Office as a test site for the new technology.
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April 25. 2005
Recent legislation that was passed in regard to using video technology to ticket drivers who run red
lights was discussed. Traffic Engineer Philpot reported that Traffic Section staff have met with the
Police Department to talk about potential locations for the cameras. She stated that traffic data is
being used to determine the locations, and that the IS Department is also involved in the project by
reviewing different available technologies. Engineer Philpot said that one system reviewed by staff
requires loops in the ground, and that we would want to ensure that the loops would not interfere
with the City's signal loops.
Member Peloza stated that he had received an inquiry from a citizen regarding west bound traffic
on ath Street NE getting backed up at Auburn Way North, and asked if it would be possible divide
the existing shared through/right turn lane into a dedicated right-turn lane and through lane. Traffic
Engineer Philpot stated that there is not enough room with the current configuration. Shifting the
left lane for additional space to accommodate a dedicated right turn lane may cause difficulties for
drivers on Auburn Way North trying to negotiate an east-bound turn onto ath Street NE because of
the way ath Street angles to the right. Options for the intersection are constrained due to the
location of the marina and the Pioneer Cemetery, and shifting the left turn lane alignment could
cost up to $40,000 but would need to be reviewed for feasibility.
The following discussion took place after Discussion and Information Item D.
Member Thordarson commented that the breakup of 6th Street SE, between Auburn Way South
and A Street SE, is accelerating. Traffic Engineer Philpot reported that this street was discussed
as a candidate for this year's Arterial Street Preservation project, but that the Auburn-Black
Diamond Road was a higher priority. It is hoped that work on 6th Street SE can be done next year,
and in the meantime, City Street crews will continue to patch the street. There is also the potential
that a portion of the roadway would be rebuilt by the developer of a project at the corner of A and
6th Streets SE in the process of building his required utilities and half-street improvements.
Chairman Wagner asked if the latest Ordinance adopted by Council requires gravel haulers to
either mitigate their damage or not use the road. The Mayor asked that a meeting be set up to
review the ordinance and the potential for mitigation for the repairs needed on Auburn-Black
Diamond Road.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Public Works Committee, the meeting was
adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
Submitted by Pam Miller, Administrative Services Supervisor.
Approved by the Public Works Committee on .1 ',-,--,,^ I ,;;La oS ,
:0 )
File: 17 (17.2)
REF. H:IPWCAgendaMinutesl042505Minutes
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