HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-25-2005
CITY OF AUBURN
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
July 25, 2005
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, Project Engineer Jennifer Dvorak, Cultural Arts Manager Lori Patrick, Sewer Utility
Engineer Jeff Roscoe, Transportation Planner/Grants Manager Tiffin Goodman, and Acting
Department Secretary Megan Robel.
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 July 11, 2005. Motion carried.
III. ISSUES
NONE
IV. DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION
A. PUBLIC ART PROPOSAL AT THE CORNER OF F STREET SE AND AUBURN WAY SOUTH
AS PART OF THE C1014 AUBURN WAY SOUTH SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
Cultural Arts Manager Lori Patrick and Project Engineer Jennifer Dvorak presented a public art
proposal for the Auburn Way South and F Street intersection. This proposal was chosen from
designs submitted by 10 artists. The proposal includes a curved stainless steel sign with cut-
through lettering and water swirls. The sign will appear to float and be surrounded by various
colorful and river-related plantings. The stainless steel material will have a shimmering effect
reminiscent of water.
The Committee Members raised several concerns about the proposal, including the driver's
ability to determine which way to go, the visibility of the lettering, ease of maintenance, and
lighting. The Committee was assured that there would be standard way-finding signage in place
ahead of, at, and after the intersection. Different options for increasing the visibility of the
lettering were discussed for the artist to consider, which included putting a backing on the sign
to create contrast, and using darker background landscaping to create the contrast. The
Committee thought a blue background for the water would look best. The sign will be coated
with a special material that allows it to resist graffiti and makes it easy to clean and maintain.
The Committee concluded that because of the heavy use of the area even at night, the sign
would require additional lighting for visibility. The Committee also agreed that the focus should
be on the sign facing southbound traffic and that the sign facing northbound traffic should be
very simple.
Public Works Committee Minutes
Julv 25. 2005
In addition, it was noted by the Committee that the original King County Auburn Library sign
was a cut-out design as is proposed for the art project at the corner of F Street SE and Auburn
Way South. It was determined by citizen comments that the original King County Library sign
was difficult to read from a distance, and it was subsequently changed to a non-cut out sign.
The Committee was very wary of the cut out art design effectiveness and cost.
The Committee requested a follow-up discussion of the way finding signs, signage backing,
further evaluation of the visibility of the water swiri cuts in the sign, and that the project include
lighting elements for the signs.
B. KING COUNTY CAPITAL PROJECTS - FUTURE SEWER IMPROVEMENTS
Sewer Utility Engineer Jeff Roscoe presented information about future King County sewer
projects to handle capacity problems. The project will divert flows from the Auburn Way South
interceptor and from Game Farm Park to 15th Street SW and C Street for future construction of
a parallel main line along West Valley. The intent is to alleviate problems during peak flow
times. Project design is scheduled to begin in 2006, permitting in 2007, and construction in
2008. This is a high priority project for King County. It was noted that the City should make a
temporary fix to the westbound lanes of 15th Street SW until this project is completed.
C. CONSULTANT TO PERFORM A UTILITY ANALYSIS OF THE BONNEY LAKE - NORTH
LAKE TAPPS SERVICE AREA
Utility Engineer Duane Huskey discussed the need to hire a consultant to do a utility analysis of
the Bonney Lake and North Lake Tapps service area. The first phase of the study, which will be
paid for by the developers, will look at the Bonney Lake water area in the City. The second
phase will be paid for by the City and will look at the Kersey III pump station capacity, develOp
benefited area and develop charges for the future sewer main on Kersey Way to the Lakeland
Hills pump station. The third phase will determine if Auburn should serve portions of the
potential annexation areas of Bonney Lake or Sumner on the north end of Lake Tapps. This will
not affect the overall utilities budget except that a line item budget amendment will be needed.
The Committee suggested that Utility Engineer Huskey move forward with the next step.
D. TRANSPORTATION PLAN - POLICIES AND OTHER PLAN COMPONENTS
Transportation Planner/Grants Manager Tiffin Goodman presented the draft transportation plan
policies and non-motorized chapter, which the Committee thoroughly reviewed. The Committee
Members suggested formatting and language changes to maintain clarity, accuracy, and
consistency in the policies. The final draft should be ready in August.
E. TRAFFIC CALMING
Traffic Engineer Laura Philpot discussed the Traffic Calming training on July 21 st. She is
working on a written program, which includes standards, criteria, public involvement levels, and
financing options for traffic calming projects, and requested guidance from the Committee
during a review of a draft program outline. The Committee agreed that a reactive strategy
should be used for existing neighborhood streets, and a proactive approach should be used for
new construction on classified streets or as the City works with specific neighborhoods such as
the current East Main meetings. The Committee also agreed that traffic caiming standards
should be developed for both residential and classified streets. They felt that two to three
neighborhood meetings would usually be sufficient for a proposed project.
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Public Works Committee Minutes
Julv 25. 2005
The Committee agreed that the following traffic calming tools would be acceptable: speed
humps, cushions, and tables as long as the geometry would not cause an increase in
accidents, traffic circles (local streets only), roundabouts (classified streets only), pedestrian
islands, neighborhood entry treatments, narrowing of streets, channelization modifications,
signing, and flashing lights, such as in-pavement flashing beacons. The Committee prefers
stamped asphalt to higher maintenance landscaping for traffic circles, roundabouts and
pedestrian islands. They would also prefer the least amount of marking prior to vertical
deflection treatments as necessary to be safe and effective. The City will consider
neighborhood trial of different methods before deciding to install permanent items, especially if
there is not a consensus of the neighbors.
The Committee discussed who would pay for the improvements and decided that the City would
pay if the City determined that a need exists. If the neighborhood wants something that is not
supported by sufficient evidence of the need, or not willing to wait for City financing on a first
come- first serve basis, then the residents would have to pay for it. The 2006 budget request of
$50,000 for traffic calming appears reasonable to the Committee.
Staff will work with the City Attorney on the legal issues and WCIA on risk management issues.
They will also research how these devices work with motorcycles, emergency vehicles and
street sweepers, what devices can be used on graded streets, and accident statistics for each
method. Traffic Engineer Philpot will bring a draft of the program to the Committee meeting on
August 22"d.
F. TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PLAN (TIP) 2006-2011
Traffic Engineer Laura Philpot distributed the Draft 2006-2011 Transportation Improvement
Plan (TIP). She discussed several changes she made to the TIP as requested by the
committee, and mentioned that she would like to provide this to the whole Council later this
week. She will add a map showing the locations of all the projects, and will take it to the
Planning and Community Development Committee (PCDC) on August 8th for detailed
discussion.
G. CAPITAL PROJECT STATUS REPORT
For the purpose of these minutes, this discussion took place after Discussion and Information
Item B. The following items were briefly discussed:
Item 3. C228A. 2004 Sanitarv Sewer Repair and Replacements: Staff is reviewing the next
Change Order, to include the pedestrian pathway. Staff has also been working with the
contractor to reduce the dust due to construction within the 6th Street NE area while expediting
the design work needed to remobilize the contractor to complete the community's preferred
pedestrian path option.
Item 5. C308A. Sidewalk Improvement Proiect: There are several elements of the 3rd Street
pedestrian island that are not yet complete. These include painting the curb traffic yellow,
channelization, installation of the infrared detection system, flashing lights, and the overhead
signage. These items will make it more visible. In the meantime the temporary barrels will
remain at each end for visibility.
Item 9. C9056. Auburn Way South Sewer Improvements - Phase 1: The night work is going
well. Traffic impacts appear to be reasonable. Committee Member Peloza related a citizen
complaint that the contractor is dumping blacktop shavings in the storm ditch. Engineer Gaub
stated that the shavings are on the edge of the ditch and not actually in the ditch; however, staff
will investigate and let Committee Member Peloza know what the situation is.
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Pubiic Works Committee Minutes
July 25. 2005
Item 12. C1006. 3rd Street SE/Cross Street Improvement Proiect: Staff is currently working to
close on property for right-of-way, and anticipates advertising the project for bids in late August.
Item 13. C205A. Kersey Way - Oravetz Road Traffic Sional: Staff had been waiting on
comments from ICON, which have been received, and will advertise in late August. The
Committee asked that staff coon;Hnate with the schools if the project will impact bus routes in
any way.
Item 20. C411 A. Academy Drive Geotech Study: The summary paper is being completed this
week for the Mayor to review.
Item 21. C505A. 2005 Arterial Preservation - Auburn/Black Diamond Road: The companies
that use the road for hauling have already reconstructed and widened the shoulder, re-Ieveled
some of the concrete slabs, and redirected some drainage. Previously, the City wanted to
rubbelize the road, but the geotechnical investigation indicates this would not be a good idea
due to the high water table and the potential for liquefaction of the subgrade soils. Staff
anticipates advertising the project in August.
Item 36. C502B. Citywide Patchino Proiect: The contractor is removing the damaged asphalt
down to the gravel and patching over it.
V. OTHER DISCUSSION
Municipality Drinking Water Security - Committee Member Peloza advised the Committee and
staff that he attended an EPAlAmerican Water Works Association sponsored Seminar in
Denver, CO. this past Friday and Saturday. The seminar was very interesting and a report to
the Mayor and Council will be provided shortly.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Public Works Committee, the meeting was
adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
Submitted by Megan Robel, Acting Department Secretary.
Approved by the Public Works Committee on ~+ 8, 2.005 .
File: 17 (17.2)
REF. H:\PWCAgendaMinutes/072505Minutes
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