HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-12-2006
CITY OF AUBURN
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
June 12,2006
MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Rich Wagner called the meeting to order at 5:00 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, Vice-Chair Roger Thordarson, and Member Bill
Peloza. Also present during the meeting were: 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, Sewer Utility
Engineer Jeff Roscoe, Transportation Planner/Grants Manager Tiffin Goodman, and Secretary
Megan Robel.
II. CONSENT AGENDA
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
It was moved by Vice-Chair Thordarson, seconded by Member Peloza, that the Committee approve
the Public Works Committee minutes for May 22,2006. Motion carried.
B. AMENDMENT NO.6 TO CONSULTANT AGREEMENT AG-C-231 WITH PARAMETRIX FOR
SURVEY STAKING RELATED TO CONSTRUCTION OF AUBURN WAY SOUTH SEWER
PHASE 2
It was moved by Vice-Chair Thordarson, seconded by Member Peloza, that the Committee
recommend Council approve Amendment NO.6 to Consultant Agreement No. AG-C-231 with
Parametrix. Motion carried.
C. PERMISSION TO ADVERTISE PROJECT NO. C525A, 2006 SOS WATERLINE
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
It was moved by Vice-Chair Thordarson, seconded by Member Peloza, that the Committee
recommend Council grant permission to advertise Project No. C525A, 2006 SOS Waterline
Improvement Project. Motion carried.
D. PERMISSION TO ADVERTISE PROJECT NO. CP0631, 2006 SOS PATCHING
The scope of the overlay has been reduced due to the rising cost of asphalt. If the bids
come in lower than expected then the scope can be increased accordingly.
It was moved by Vice-Chair Thordarson, seconded by Member Peloza, that the Committee
recommend Council grant permission to advertise Project No. CP0631, 2006 SOS
Patching. Motion carried.
E. PERMISSION TO ADVERTISE PROJECT NO. CP0632, 2006 SOS OVERLAY
It was moved by Vice-Chair Thordarson, seconded by Member Peloza, that the Committee
recommend Council grant permission to advertise Project No. CP0632, 2006 SOS Overlay.
Motion carried.
Public Works Committee Minutes
June 12. 2006
F. APPROVE FINAL PAY ESTIMATE NO.3 TO SMALL WORKS CONTRACT 05-27 WITH
HOKKAIDO DRILLING, AND ACCEPT CONSTRUCTION OF PROJECT NO. C519A, WELL 2
REPACKING
It was moved by Vice-Chair Thordarson, seconded by Member Peloza, that the Committee
recommend Council approve Final Pay Estimate NO.3 to Contract 05-27, and accept
construction of Project No. C519A. Motion carried.
III. ISSUES
NONE
IV. DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION
A. GRANT UPDATE
Item 3. A Street NW Phase 1: The date will be moved up a little.
Item 5. West Main Street: The construction time frame is reasonable if environmental approvals
from the state occur in a timely manner. The City may also still be under budgeted by about
$141,000 to complete this project.
Item 6. M Street SE Grade Separation: The Committee is concerned that the estimate does not
take into account the recent inflation in material prices and would like to see a revised estimate
based on current material costs. Staff advised that this will occur when we move into the design
phase.
Item 13. F Street SE: The developer fees mentioned are referring to traffic impact fees.
B. BEST WESTERN PEPPERTREE - PARTIAL RELINQUISHMENT OF EASEMENT
City Engineer Selle explained that when the hotel was remodeled the owner had to abandon
portions of existing water and sewer lines in proximity to the new building footprint and construct
new water and sewer lines outside the boundary of the expanded building footprint. The owner is
requesting the relinquishment of remnants of the original utility easements that are no longer
needed by the City. The Committee agreed with the proposal to relinquish the requested
easements.
C. SEWER RATES
Utilities Engineer Huskey brought the revised sewer rates proposal, which he modified based on
comments the Committee made the last time they saw it. He explained the information, which
included spreadsheets showing current revenue and potential revenue at three scenarios for rate
increases of 5,6, and 7%. After lengthy discussion, the Committee determined that the 6% rate
increase seemed to be the most appropriate option. This would be a $39.72 increase per year, with
$6.72 going to the City and $33.00 going to King County. This is justified because the sewer utility
operating expenses have exceeded the revenues for the last two years and there has not been a
rate increase since 1999. The Committee also asked for a more aggressive capital facility plan to
spend down the working capital.
D. KING COUNTY SEWER CONTRACT
Director Dowdy described the issue, which involves King County Wastewater Treatment Division
(WTD) seeking an extension on their existing contract. The current contract expires in 2036, and
Page 2
Public Works Committee Minutes
June 12. 2006
the County desires contract renewals that would be for a term of 30 years so they can sell longer
term bonds for the Brightwater Treatment Plant. They have to get extensions from 70 percent of
the component agencies, but many of the component agencies have several issues with WTD
including use of current funds and methods of rate increase approval. They want certain provisions
added to the contract extensions, and negotiations with WTD are ongoing. Specific concerns are:
1. Demands that the new contracts lock in formulas that require growth to pay for the additional
capital needs of growth, rather than continuing to shift new infrastructure costs of Brightwater back
to existing ratepayers, 2. That the County stop using sewer funds to pay for activities that are not
directly related to the provision of sewer services (Culver Funds), and 3. Flexibility to allow
jurisdictions the right to reuse of sanitary sewer effluent where agencies may have future
opportunities to mitigate new water rights (current contracts do not provide this authorization).
Since each agency that provides the retail service to the customer is the only party with authority to
collect the monthly fees which are passed on to the County, many agencies are concerned that our
monthly sewer rates are accelerating higher with the County's share growing much faster than it
should. A better method of governing how County service rates are established to pay for growth is
essential to convincing all the 36 agencies served by the county to renew their contracts.
E. PETROLEUM PRICE IMPACTS
Assistant City Engineer Gaub informed the Committee that due to the increase in petroleum prices
the City will be seeing increased costs in construction projects. Currently, the asphalt prices are
about double what they were last year, PVC pipe costs have increased approximately 30%, and
prices have increased for the haul of materials such as crushed rock. Some of the projects like
SOS have been scaled back to accommodate the higher prices, but some projects cannot be
scaled back because of the nature of the work or the grant funding requirements. The Committee
will have to make some decisions about how to pay for planned projects in the coming months
especially during the TIP process.
F. BUDGET STATUS SHEET FORMAT
The Committee reviewed the format and made suggestions for changes to make it more
understandable, informative, and useful to them.
G. PENDING PROJECT LIST
Senior Project Engineer Helbig supplied two lists of pending projects which are in addition to the
projects indicated on the Capital Project Status list provided at each committee meeting. One List
provides information on the work being managed by Public Works staff and the other provides
information on the work being managed by other departments but supported by Public Works staff.
This work includes projects that are in the preliminary planning stages or still seeking funding.
H. CITY LIABILITY FOR "ITS" CAMERA FEED TO WEBSITE
In response to a prior request by the committee that the City Attorney research the issue of legal
liability of providing short term camera feeds to the website, Traffic Engineer Philpot briefed the
Committee that the City Attorney has determined that this is not a liability for the City as this
information is protected under federal law and is not admissible in court. She will bring an official
policy for the collection and retainage of traffic camera images to a future meeting.
I. KING COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT PROPOSAL
Postponed to future meeting
Page 3
Public Works Committee Minutes
June 12. 2006
J. FEMA FLOODPLAIN MAPPING
FEMA will be doing new floodplain mapping for this area as a result of a new federal policy issued
August 22nd, 2005. FEMA is aware of only two levees certified on Green River. If the other levees
cannot be certified then the valley cities involved will have several options: 1. They may ask
Ecology to proceed to do the mapping based on the uncertified levees failing, 2. The cities may
wish to provide proof of certification by engaging either the Corps of Engineers or an independent
consultant to reinspect and determine if the levees can meet new federal standards, where
documentation does not currently exist, or 3. FEMA is considering that remapping would create a
new "Advisory Zone" which would for a period of time be used to signify a greater flood risk until
such time as the levees are recertified, or the cities determine that levees would not be improved to
meet federal standards. FEMA expects to send letters to each Mayor of the Green River Valley
soon that more fully describes our options.
K. CAPITAL PROJECT STATUS REPORT
Item 9. C1006. 3rd Street SE/Cross Street Improvement: The City is still in the process of
completing ROW acquisition for one property; however, the City has possession and use of the
property.
V.ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Public Works Committee, the meeting was
adjourned at 6:54 p.m.
Submitted by Megan Robel, Secretary.
~
Approved by the Public Works Committee on '- )\u~ Llo l 7. nOlo
File: 17 (17.2)
REF. H:\PWCAgendaMinutes/061206Minutes
Page 4