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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-18-1995 CITY OF AUBURN SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES March 18, 1995 I. CALL TO ORDER Fla,q Salute Mayor Booth called the meeting to order at 8:00 am and attendance in the pledge of allegiance. led those in Roll Call Those in attendance included Mayor Charles A. Booth and members of the Auburn City Council as follows: Pat Burns, Rich Wagner, Virginia Haugen, Trish Borden, Jeanne Barber, Stacey Brothers, and Don Kurle. Staff members present included Planning Director Paul Krauss, Public Works Director Frank Currie, City Attorney Mike Reynolds, Senior Planner Bob Sokol, Utilities Engineer Dwight Holobaugh, City Engineer Dennis Dowdy, and City Clerk Robin Wohlhueter. Announcements and Appointments 1. Announcement (a) Comprehensive Plan The purpose of the workshop 'is to present the proposed policy changes and draft policies of the City's Comprehensive Plan as it relates to annexation and utility service provisions in unincorporated areas. Planning Director Krauss pointed out April 28, 1995 as a target date to be in compliance with the Growth Management Act. After two months of working on these policy issues Mr. Krauss hoped to bring the Council to a consensus on annexation policies. City of Auburn Special Council Meetinq Minutes March 18, 1995 Mr. Sokol presented a brief overview and background of annexation issues and utility provisions facing the City of Auburn as it relates to the City's Comprehensive Plan. He said there has been public input into the proposed plan. The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend to the City Council adoption of the plan as amended by the Planning Commission addendum dated December 8, 1994. After review by the Planning & Community Development Committee and Public Works Committee the outstanding issues of the plan include annexation policies and utilities provisions and Level Of Service. Mr. Sokol stated there is a mandatory State review that's required for the Comprehensive Plan to ensure the City is in compliance with the Growth Management Act. Mr. Sokol discussed development in unincorporated areas surrounding Auburn and the limited control Auburn has in development of Lea Hill to the east, Lakeland Hills to the South, and Federal Way to the west. Mr. Krauss explained Auburn's history of Resolution 2232, adopted in 1991, that added policies to ensure development of unincorporated areas in King County and surrounding areas of the City. He stated new development must have access to urban services. In evaluating areas surrounding Auburn where Auburn provides water and sewer services, the policy conditioned a preannexation agreement and development to City standards. The impacts of these areas in unincorporated King County have an impact on public safety services, parks, streets, and traffic impacts. The City of Redmond has a similar policy where they withheld water service outside the City for development to their standards. King County Utility Technical Review Committee ruled against development according to City standards in surrounding unincorporated areas and ordered Redmond to provide water service. They claimed the City of Redmond did not actively pursue an interlocal agreement with King County. Mr. Krauss pointed out that King County is to work closely with surrounding cities in developing procedures for development according to Auburn development standards. There hasn't been much success in King County working with Auburn. Anticipated population growth in unincorporated surrounding Page 2 City of Auburn Special Council Meetinq Minutes March 18, 1995 areas was discussed and the impacts of expansion as it relates to providing services of water, sewer, transportation, and existing parks. Mr. Sokol described the City's involvement in working with King County long range planning. Three surrounding potential annexation areas include Lea Hill, Pierce County, and the West Hill. Mr. Krauss noted the right of way isn't clear between Auburn and Kent in the Lea Hill area on 272nd, and Federal Way and Auburn have reached an agreement where the boundary line should be. In Pierce County there is an overlap between jurisdictions, and staff is working with the Pierce County Boundary Review Board in active discussions with Henderson Homes. Mr. Krauss discussed the existing 1991-1993 preannexation agreements on Lea Hill where annexation has not resulted. Discussion centered around utilities services boundary areas. A map illustrated water and sewer boundary areas. Dwight Holobaugh described how these areas evolved during the 60's and 70's in sharing of water resources in the Covington area and Water District 111. Mr. Holobaugh stated today, in the Lea Hill area to Highway 18, potential water service areas will be based upon the timing of annexation and the financial mitigation impacts to debt service. Councilmember Haugen expressed concern with regard to providing water to the Lea Hill area residents as it continues to develop. Bob Sokol recommended pursuing an intergovernmental agreement with King County which should set the development standards, how we go about collection of impact fees, long range planning for the area, how annexations will take place and will the County support them, and concerns about water, sewer, and 3olice and fire services. Staff is recommending annexation when the property is adjacent to the City limits or adjacent to properties that have signed preannexation agreements. Mr. Sokol referred to CE-3, subsection (b) that states we adopt existing County zoning and if we do not agree the City may choose to not extend utility service beyond annexation area. Mr. Sokol noted discussions are ongoing with Pierce County, and they are aware of what Auburn is proposing. City of Auburn Special Council Meetinq Minutes March 18, 1995 With regard to the position Auburn may take in annexation, Paul Krauss said the law restricts the City's ability go out and solicit annexation, however, at the Council's discretion a more aggressive approach can be taken. Many communities have published informational brochures to compare tax rates and utility service in an effort to inform the public. He discussed continued development of the Lea Hill area where the County is limited in providing adequate services such as parks, street, and storm drainage improvements. Mr. Sokol pointed out City staff spends a considerable amount of time up in the Lea Hill area and the City receives no compensation. Councilmember Burns reiterated that part of the proposal is to adopt King County's zoning standards for the Lea Hill area, and it is not contemplated that commercial development will occur. Mr. Sokol stated King County does recognize some multi-family development and some commercial. Looking at preannexation areas, Mr. Reynolds clarified the methods of annexing property into the city. Bob Sokol pointed out as the City begins t'o annex adjacent properties to the City, other properties who have signed preannexation agreements will be combined. Councilmember Brothers asked if there was a character study available to use as a mechanism to assess long-term implications of annexation, doubling its geographic boundary. A study that would perhaps tell what happens when a City suddenly becomes larger by annexation. Mr. Krauss stated some cities will go through a visioning process to accomplish this. At Councilmember Haugen's request, Mr. Reynolds explained there will be three levels of hearings. Hearings will be held at the Planning Commission, City Council, and the King County Boundary Review Board. The meeting recessed at 9:35 AM. The meeting reconvened at 9:50 AM. Mayor Booth noted that even though this was not a public hearing process, citizens in the audience were allowed to participate. Pa~,¢ 4 City of Auburn Special Council Meetinq Minutes March 18, 1995 Paula Thrush - 10872 SE 318th Place, Auburn WA Paula Thrush introduced herself as a resident of the Lea Hill area for approximately 5 years and in Auburn 45 years. Referring to the annexation map, Ms. Thrush stated she has had an opportunity to appeal the developments in purple and most of them in green with King County. Ms. Thrush expressed concern with Auburn annexing the Lea Hill area. She invited Councilmembers and staff to take a tour of the property on Lea Hill to see some of the impacts of erosion, deteriorating roads and traffic problems. She stated there are 17,900 car trips up Lea Hill per day. Ms. Thrush urged the Council to work with three organized area groups in planning for annexation. Bill Joy - 28183 109th Avenue SE, Auburn WA Bill Joy, resident of the Lea Hill area, discussed Kent's annexation process. With regard to the percentage that it takes to annex an area, Mr. Joy felt all residents, instead of just the 60% required, should be able to voice an opinion. Apparently there was a lot of animosity with the 277th corridor in Kent's approach to annexation. Mr. Joy said people should be made aware of the Olsen Canyon area and the significance of that area. They need to be reserved, he said. There are natural habitats that exist in these areas. In response to Ms. Thrush's concern relating to traffic, Virginia Haugen asked to receive information on the number of car trips up Lea Hill per day. Mr. Currie stated that information would be available from King County. Paul Krauss explained that King County should act as a regional service agency. He explained with the amount of increased growth and the 277th corridor, development pressure continues to exist because of its limited access. Mr. Krauss explained staff has told King County that we want to annex now, and it's important that we do it now. Mr. Currie pointed out that development is going to occur and that development should occur without adverse impacts to the area. He said development of the Lea Hill area will impact Auburn. Mr. Currie mentioned that Auburn has good Water and Sewer Comprehensive Plans. However, currently plans for storm drainage do not exist for King County or Auburn. Surface water runoff is managed by the County on a service basis and runs out on the road. The City's preference for surface water runoff is the need for a regional system. Mr. Currie also City of Auburn Special Council Meetinq Minutes March 18, 1995 II. expressed the need for a Transportation Plan,Traffic Plan and a Parks Plan. Councilmember Kurle urged staff to involve citizens in areas of annexation. Councilmember Brothers pointed out since the County is not well suited in providing urban services, why are they reluctant to proceed with outlying annexations. Paul Krauss responded that King County has a vision of what growth will occur in the future according to the Growth Management Act. King County has to look at the staffing levels and service levels, he said, which may be why King County is hesitant to proceed. In Auburn, he said, we are dealing with two counties; King County and Pierce County. Mr. Krauss agreed there is some hesitancy with each County. There are complex issues facings county government. In Pierce County, Mr. Krauss discussed its position with regard to providing services to residents. Up until they approved their Comprehensive Plan, Pierce County's position was that they can provide services for a city as well as a county. It has only been recently that Pierce County appears to be moving away from that position. Councilmember Burns summarized the consensus of the Council to direct staff during the budget process to budget for the Comprehensive Storm, Traffic, and Park Plan and look at this mid-year. Councilmember Wagner further urged staff to look at a Transportation Plan encompassing all potential annexation areas. Councilmember Burns recommended the Council, by consensus, accept the staff policy as proposed. Other members of the Council agreed. In light of the developments with the 277th corridor, Councilmember Burns further encouraged staff to move forward with potential annexation areas and take that area to the east as far as Highway 18 provided an agreement is worked out with the Covington Water District. Bob Sokol interjected we would include that area only if it is part of the potential annexation area. CITIZEN INPUT, PUBLIC HEARINGS & CORRESPONDENCE None. III. COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS - None. IV. CONSENT AGENDA - None. Pagc 6 City of Auburn Special Council Meetinq Minutes March 18, 1995 VII. V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None. VI. NEW BUSINESS - None. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS - None. VIII. MAYOR'S REPORT- None. IX. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 10:10 AM, Charles A. Booth, Mayor 95M3~18 Robin Wohlhueter, City Clerk Pagc 7