HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-27-2006CITY OF
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I. CALL TO ORDER
CITY OF AUBURN
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
November 27, 2006
MINUTES
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, Vice-Chair Roger Thordarson, and Member Bill
Peloza. 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, Project Engineer Ryan Vondrak, Transportation Planner/Grants
Manager Tiffin Goodman, Development Services Coordinator Steve Pitcher, IS Director Lorrie
Rempher, Community Development Administrator David Osaki, Finance Director Shelley Coleman,
Utility and Accounting Services Manager Karen Jester, Transportation Planner Joe Welsh, Senior
Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain, Engineering Aide Megan Robel, and Secretary Kim Powell.
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 November 13, 2006. Motion carried.
B. SERVICE AGREEMENT NO. AG-S-017 WITH PTV AMERICA FOR TRANSPORTATION
MODELING
Transportation Planner Welsh presented the advantages of the new Traffic Modeling software to
the committee, why we need to adopt a new model, and discussed several issues in response to
questions of committee members. The Committee agreed this software appears suitable to meet
the needs of the City.
It was moved by Vice-Chair Thordarson, seconded by Member Peloza, that the Committee
recommend Council approve Service Agreement No. AG-S-017 with PTV America. Motion carried.
C. FINAL PAY ESTIMATE #3 TO CONTRACT 06-07 WITH VLS CONSTRUCTION, INC., AND
ACCEPT CONSTRUCTION OF PROJECT NO. C525A, 2006 SOS WATERLINE
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
The Committee would like to see a summary of the Repair and Replacement Programs for Utility
projects indicating what funds have been expended on which projects and how much remains
unspent. They want to know if depreciation is being funded or if more money should be spent on
maintenance projects.
It was moved by Vice-Chair Thordarson, seconded by Member Peloza, that the Committee
recommend Council approve Final Pay Estimate #3, and accept construction of Project No. C525A.
Motion carried.
III. ISSUES
NONE
Public Works Committee Minutes November 27,..2006
IV. DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION
A. ORDINANCE NO. 6060 AMENDING SECTIONS OF THE AUBURN CITY CODE RELATING
TO SCHOOL IMPACT FEES
City Council has the authority to increase or decrease school impact fees for single-family and
multi-family residences in Auburn. The Auburn and Federal Way School District fees will decrease,
Kent has not submitted a request for a fee increase, and Dieringer asked that their fee stay the
same. The Committee agrees with the requests.
B. ORDINANCE NO. 6061 AMENDING TITLE 17 OF THE AUBURN CITY CODE RELATING TO
RECORDING AND LOT ADDRESSES ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR VARIOUS
SUBDIVISION ACTIONS
Planning would like to change Auburn City Code related to recording lot addresses. Chairman
Wagner requested more specific language, clarifying who is responsible for the recording of the
documents. Vice-Chair Thordarson does not believe having City employees submit the documents
for recording is the best use of their time and that couriers might be a better idea.
C. EXTENSION OF TRAFFIC IMPACT FEE EXEMPTION FOR DOWNTOWN
The traffic impact fee exemption for the downtown area will expire at the end of this year unless
Council decides to extend it. They have the ability to extend it for as many years as they wish rather
than being restricted to a five-year extension. Chairman Wagner would like to know what the fiscal
impact of this exemption would be before determining whether to extend the exemption. Mayor
Lewis does not support a short extension such as two years as this would not allow time for
development of a project.
There was some discussion about where the impact fee revenue paid by the City through the
exemption process should be used. This will require some confirmation as to what restrictions can
legally be placed on the funds as well as evaluation from Engineering concerning the impacts of
this concept. Chairman Wagner would like the money to be targeted to projects in the urban center
rather than being available for projects city wide. The funds would be restricted to capacity projects
per the traffic impact fee analysis that has been completed. Staff will provide an estimate of the
expected fiscal impact of the exemption and the list of projects located within the Urban Center that
are currently included in the Traffic Impact Fee analysis to the next meeting.
Member Peloza asked why the ordinance mentions that the Auburn downtown is willing to accept a
lower level of service. Senior Planner Chamberlain will review, and if this is not necessary she will
remove it.
D. OUTSIDE CITY WATER/SEWER UTILITY BILLINGS
Finance Director Coleman told the Committee that Finance has been performing audits on utility
billings to determine if any accounts were not being charged appropriately. They have found 97
accounts in the Lea Hill area, District 4, that have not been billed correctly. They have made the
corrections to the billing rates and sent most of the letters explaining the issue to the customers
affected. However, Finance has not determined what back amounts or credits are owed. This will
take additional time and research.
E. TRUCK IMPACT FEES
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Public Works Committee Minutes November 27, 2006
Transportation Planner Welsh reviewed a memo explaining the methodology used for the truck
percentages and survey results. There was not enough time and money to conduct an extensive
survey, but the survey was conducted on a representative sample of classes of businesses within
Auburn that use Auburn's streets for their truck deliveries. Auburn's survey counted the number of
truck trips in a 24-hour period rather than just PM peak, which is what the Institute of
Transportation Engineers (ITE) uses.
Mr. Welsh explained that he was not able to get a figure for how much revenue could be generated
because the City's permit system does not have consistent information regarding building square
footage. This would have to be calculated by hand if the Committee still needs the data. The
Committee does not feel this is necessary.
The difference between the phase 1 and phase 2 fee amounts was discussed and the concern was
expressed that it appeared that phase 2 will not generate an appropriate level of revenue. Staff
explained that it can be deceptive because this perception is due to the smaller overall cost of the
projects identified in the phase 2 fee calculation which is significantly less than the city wide project
list used in phase 1. The calculations for phase 2 involve only the estimated costs of those
improvements to bring future truck routes to a truck standard; whereas, phase 1 involves the costs
of all capacity improvements for the City. Each phase has a separate list of projects. Also the trips
were calculated for PM peak for phase 1 versus all day for phase 2 to more closely relate to the
impacts in each case.
F. STREET VACATION FEES
Auburn charges $250 for a street vacation application, which is quite a bit lower than other
jurisdictions in the area based on a survey completed by staff. The Committee agrees that $750 is
a reasonable application fee. They also agree that the City should charge for the property that is
vacated when applicable.
G. GRANT STATUS UPDATE
Item 2 A Street NW Phase 1: Multicare sold the right of way for A Street NW to the City. Staff will
look into creating a "benefit district" if the City pays for the improvements. This could allow the City
to recover some of those costs.
Item 3 A Street NW Phase 2: Transportation Planner/Grants Manager Goodman plans to wait until
phase 1 is funded, before, looking for funding for phase 2.
Item 7 Community/Shopper Shuttle: Staff will know by the end of the week about Transit Now
funding.
Item 13 S 277th Street: Staff cannot apply for STP funds again until 2009, and are waiting for
developer agreements before applying for TIB funds.
Item 15 Harvey Rd/8th St NE Capacity Improvement: This project will add an additional lane east
bound on 8t Street and remove the island on the east side of the intersection, allowing two through
eastbound lanes in the intersection.
Item 22 15th St SW Reconstruction: This project is on the grant program's contingency list and
could get funded if a jurisdiction that did get funded cannot do their project.
Item 23 Auburn Way Corridor: Staff will compare to TIP to see if it matches this list.
Item 25 Downtown Drainage Water Quality Facility: This project will take water from previous storm
water conveyance improvements in downtown and provide storage and treatment then discharge
the water back to the system.
Item 27 Water Facility Security: The SCADA project will enhance the ability to add security
features.
H. HALF STREET APPEAL PROCESS
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Public Works Committee Minutes November 27, 2006
The Committee reviewed the memo showing proposed changes to Chapter 12.64 of the Auburn
City Code. This process usually applies to building permit requirements and sometimes grading
permits. The changes would make the appeal process more consistent, which will make the code
easier to interpret. The appeal procedures will be more consistent with those for Design Standards.
It creates two levels of appeals for applicants and it does not require the whole City Council to be
involved. The Committee concurred with the proposed changes and staff will proceed with an
ordinance.
I. CAPITAL PROJECT STATUS REPORT
The signal that the Muckleshoot Tribe is doing on Auburn Way South is not on the list because it is
not a City project but is a developer project. The Committee would like to see the progress of
"special interest projects" such as this included in the report in the future. Staff will add special
interest projects to the list as the Committee requests them.
Item 2 C1006 3~d Street SE/Cross Street Improvement Proiect: Staff is still working on negotiations
to determine the final value of the property.
Item 6 CP0601 C Street NW Improvements: The Committee would like staff to review the need for
a fog line on either side of the road.
Item 7 C1014 Auburn Way South Safety Improvements: Grass and weeds are coming up through
the pervious pavers and the paved medians are not very aesthetically pleasing.
Item 14 C307B City Wide ITS Improvements Project -Phase 1 B: The difference between total
budget and total cost is the funding shortfall for the match required for the federal funds.
Item 18 C322A West Main Street Improvements: The difference between total budget and total
cost is because costs are higher due to inflation and current material costs than when the budget
was originally created.
Item 23 C523A 2006 Storm Pond Retrofit: The costs are lower than the budget because one of the
ponds chosen for this year has a liner which limits the landscaping options.
Item 25 CP0627 2006 Pedestrian Crossing Improvements: This is not traffic calming but includes
the islands planned for I Street and East Main Street.
Item 26 CP0634 4t" Street NE Sewer Force Main: This project will not likely meet the current
schedule due to lack of resources and the need to develop design standards for a low pressure
force main system which staff is currently working on. Vice-Chair Thordarson would like to see
some communication with the neighborhood about the progress.
OTHER DISCUSSION
Chairman Wagner asked if there is a policy stating the priority of streets for sanding. The sanding
policy does not specify the priority of roads. This depends on the event. Usually the main roads are
done first and also busy roads with steep slopes. The City is split into three zones and prioritized
within the zones. There is coordination between Police and Public Works related to calls received
about areas in need of sanding. The City has 3 sanders available and a vehicle for the de-icer.
Member Peloza commented that the flashing signage for the 4-way stop on 320t" and 110t" seems
to be working well and he has not witnessed any backups.
A citizen notified Member Peloza about speed signs down along 110t" and 3201h. He also told the
citizen about the traffic calming program.
In response to a question from Member Peloza, staff is currently researching the capability of
lighting the intersections of Green River Road and 100t" and the 104t" Street Intersection. The
Committee also indicated their desire for appropriate signage for the golf course clubhouse along
this roadway.
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Public Works Committee Minutes November 27, 2006
V. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Public Works Committee, the meeting was
adjourned at 5:42 p.m.
Submitted by Megan Robel, Engineering Aide.
Approved by the Public Works Committee on ~~-~~-~v"--~-~~-{~-- ((, ~C%U(U
File: 17 (17.2)
REF. H:\PWCAgendaMinutes/112706Minutes
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