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