HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-26-2007
~~
AUBURN
CITY OF AUBURN
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
November 26, 2007
WASHINGTON
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Rich Wagner called the meeting to order at 2:30 pm 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, Director Dennis Dowdy, City
Attorney Dan Heid, City Engineer/Assistant Director Dennis Selle, Assistant City Engineer Ingrid
Gaub, Senior Project Engineer Bill Helbig, Utilities Engineer Dan Repp, Utilities Engineer Cynthia
Lamothe, Traffic Engineer Laura Philpot, Transportation Planner Joe Welch, Senior Planner
Coordinator Andy Sheridan, Senior Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain, Finance Director Shelley
Coleman, Financial Planning Manager Karen Jester, Engineering Aid Megan Robles, and Secretary
Alison Hudson.
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, 2007 including Top 10 Public
Works Priorities, with changes as noted below. Motion carried.
Add -Pursue Funding for M Street tunnel under Railroad as #11
Switch #5: Complete Link Road from SR164 to SR 18 with #10: M&O Expansion
B. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE APPROVE THE AUBURN DESIGN STANDARDS MANUAL
REVISIONS TO SECTIONS 10.01.1 RELATED TO PRIVATE ACCESS ROADS
Several questions were presented to City Attorney Heid and Assistant City Engineer Gaub
regarding possible liability and legal issues as they related to the Auburn Design Standards
Manual Revision to Section 10.01.1 related to Private Access Roads, which they clarified for
Chairman Wagner and Committee members. Following a proposal by Chairman Wagner
regarding alleys, Assistant City Engineer Gaub proposed that a change be made to state that:
"All new alleys in new plats shall be private". This change was acceptable to the Committee.
Several minor corrections were to made to final document.
It was moved by Vice-Chair Thordarson, seconded by Member Peloza, that the Committee
approve with changes the Auburn Design Standards Manual Revisions to Sections 10.01.0
Related to Private Access Roads. Motion Carried.
C. DESIGN STANDARDS REVISIONS TO CHAPTER 10 AND ADOPT DOWNTOWN AUBURN
SIDEWALK DESIGN GUIDELINES
Discussion was held concerning the proposed Guidelines and the cross sections shown on
page 5. Corrections to the cross sections will be made prior to the council meeting to reflect the
10 foot sidewalks and a 3 foot setback of trees and lights from the face of curb.
It was moved by Vice-Chair Thordarson, seconded by Member Peloza, that the Committee
approve the Design Standard Revisions to Chapter 10.00 and adopt Downtown Auburn
Sidewalk Design Guidelines. Motion Carried
Public Works Committee Minutes November 26. 2007
III. ISSUES
A. ORDINANCE NO. 6137 RELATED TO A MEMORIAL SIGN PROGRAM
It was moved by Vice-Chair Thordarson, seconded by Member Peloza, that the Committee
recommend Council approve Ordinance No. 6137 Related to a Memorial Sign Program adding
section 12.68 to the Auburn City Code. Motion Carried
B. ORDINANCE. 6136 RELATED TO PARKING ON 4T" STREET NE
Traffic Engineer Philpot presented three maps with one that shows what is currently signed for
the parking on 4"' Street NE, one that shows how the existing code is written, and one that
shows the proposed new code. Engineer Philpot explained why the changes were being
proposed.
It was moved by Vice-Chair Thordarson, seconded by Member Peloza, that the Committee
recommend Council approve Ordinance No 6736 Related to Parking on 4th Street NE,
amending sections 10.36.380, 10.36.390, 10.6.500, and 10.36.515of the Auburn City Code.
Motion carried.
IV. DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION
A. WEST HILL SPRINGS SECURITY MEASURES
Utilities Engineer Repp introduced Cynthia Lamothe, Public Work's new Water Utility Engineer,
and then responded to questions from Council and the Mayor regarding the West Hill Springs
property they are proposing to fence off for security measures. The Committee was in favor of
the fencing concept and requested additional information (topography, location of existing
fencing, police firing range limits, and adjacent public access/use of the property) to be
provided to the Committee when the project is formally presented to the Committee for initiation
at a later meeting.
B. CODE AMENDMENTS: MANUFACTURED HOMES
No discussion
C. 2007 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTS
Senior Planner Chamberlain responded in detail to numerous questions presented by Council
regarding the 2007 Comprehensive Plan Amendments. Several questions pertained to
comments submitted by the public, specifically a wetland in the West Hill PAA. Ms.
Chamberlain responded that staff will work on the updating of maps within the comprehensive
plan to provide more current information particularly in the annexation areas. Ms. Chamberlain
stated that if a development proposal is submitted near the wetland system that the Critical
Areas Ordinance would dictate protection of the critical area .She also responded to questions
pertaining to various areas that are designated as mixed use, multifamily or commercial and
changes that have or will need to be made.
Page 2
Public Works Committee Minutes November 26 2007
The responses from Council were good and it was agreed to move forward in the process and
to get a current aerial view prior to making a decision, per Chair Wagner. Mayor Lewis
requested a map showing where the changes had been made.
Member Peloza was assured that action had been taken on most of the areas of concerns from
the community on the letters that had been received.
The Mayor will respond following review of the updated map.
D. DOWNTOWN SIDEWALK GUIDELINES -
An Agenda Modification moved this Item to Consent Agenda as Item C.
E. CODE REVISIONS TO 15.74 RELATED TO LAND CLEARING, GRADING AND FILLING
Assistant City Engineer Gaub explained in detail the more restrictive penalty to those who do
not comply with the proposed code revisions on larger sized projects. She also confirmed that
the "Tree" definitions are consistent with what is in the Critical Areas Ordinance and reviewed
and explained the various code revisions that had been made to 15.74 relating to land clearing,
grading and filling. The last item covered was the new fee structure, to include administrative
fees, showing examples of fees and comparison charts of what other municipalities charge for
both grading and land clearing fees. The committee felt that the value of the financial security
required should be specifically identified in the code. This will be a discussion item at the next
Committee meeting.
F. CODE REVISIONS TO 13.10 RELATED TO CONTRACT CONTINGENCY AUTHORITIES
Assistant City Engineer Gaub provided an explanation of the reason for the proposed changes
to ACC 13.10 related to Contract Contingencies. The changes provide more control, allows for
consistency for departments to efficiently manage their purchases, and clearer direction for
staff when council action is required to amend a contract that is not included in the approved
budget.
Council will review and discuss at the next Committee meeting.
G. 2ND STREET SE AND F STREET SE TRAFFIC CIRCLE
Council presented various questions regarding the monitoring and results of the traffic circle
located on 2"d Street SE and F Street. Traffic Engineer Philpot reviewed the initial reason that it
had been installed and why it was made smaller to accommodate fire trucks and school buses
with the small corner radii. The circle has been monitored and at first, showed that people had
slowed down and appeared to be working quite well. She further explained that now that people
are acclimated to it, drivers are not slowing down as much as hoped. She also shared the fact
that there has only been one recorded collision since installation and it was not due to the traffic
circle, but rather due to the sun being in one of the driver's eyes.
She presented three options: 1) leave as is and continue to monitor it, 2) change the signs to a
two way stop and leave circle, or 3) remove the circle and put in a 4-way stop. For the long
term, she suggested the Committee consider a re-design of the intersection.
Page 3
Public Works Committee Minutes November 26, 2007
She accounted for the decision to utilize traffic circles in that it is consistent with what is going
on regionally and is a standardized process to reduce cut through traffic and to slow traffic
speeds.
Various other questions were responded to and suggestions made as what direction to take
next. The committee agreed to have a circle installed at K Street SE and 2"d Street SE for a
second test case. Engineer Philpot also clarified that although there were some negative
responses to the circle, they were mostly directed at having to slow down, which was why the
traffic circle was installed.
Chair Wagner had hoped to see a video on maneuvering the entire circle and Council would
like to continue to monitor, while possibly designing a new intersection or trying a larger circle in
anew area.
H. BA#8 2008 MID BIENNIAL CORRECTION
Moved to PCD Meeting.
Councilmember Peloza requested that the revisions are more clearly marked in the future, as
the copied changes are fading.
I. CAPITAL PROJECT STATUS REPORT
Item 5 -Auburn Way Pavement Overlay -Senior Project Engineer Helbig indicated that the
depth of improvements on side streets was determined by the presence of concrete joints and
the best location to obtain a sound pavement joint between existing and new pavement. In
addition, he clarified that the island north of Main Street would need to remain as it is needed to
separate the left turn movements for the 2 closely spaced signals on Auburn Way.
Item 18 - "A: Street NW Corridor -Phase 1 -Engineer Helbig clarified that the consultant is in
the environmental review process and that further advancement on design will depend on the
environmental conditions.
Item 21 - SCADA System Improvement: -The Committee asked that they be given an update
on this project in the near future.
Item 22 -City Wide ITS Improvements Project Phase 1 B -Chair Wagner pointed out that the
numbers shown in the budget and the expenditures did not seem to add up correctly. Engineer
Helbig said that staff would review and correct those numbers.
Item 27 -Downtown Water Quality Facility -This project is currently in the preliminary
engineering phase and as the design becomes more refined, the estimated costs for the project
will be better identified in future year budgets.
Item 29 - 8t" & R Street Traffic Signal -Staff clarified that the consultant is proceeding with the
concept that was discussed at the last committee meeting.
OTHER DISCUSSION -
Member Peloza commented on compliments he has received for the new signage at the 7-11 at
the intersection of 8t" and Harvey from the business.
Page 4
Public Works Committee Minutes November 26, 2007
V. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Public Works Committee, the meeting was
adjourned at 5:01 p.m.
Approved this 26 day of November , 2007.
Rich Wagner
Chairman
Aliso Hudson
Public Works Department Secretary
File: 17.2
H:WgendaBills\2007\112607Minutes and E:\Minutes\07PW11-2
Page 5