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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-27-2003 SpecialCITY OF *' WAS H I N GTO N CITY OF AUBURN SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE AUBURN CITY COUNCIL AND THE AUBURN PLANNING COMMISSION May 27, 2003 MINUTES INTRODUCTION A special joint meeting of the Auburn City Council and the Auburn Planning Commission convened at 6:34 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn. Mayor Peter B. Lewis and the following Councilmembers were present: Rich Wagner, Jeanne Barber, Trish Borden, Fred Poe, Sue Singer, Stacey Brothers and Gene Cerino. Planning Commission members present included: Ron Douglass, Renee Larsen, Yvonne Ward, Garna Jones, and Dave Peace. Staff members present included: Planning and Community Development Director Paul Krauss, Community Development Administrator David Osaki, and City Clerk Danielle Daskam. Also present in the audience were Bill Peloza and Kevin Chapman. Mayor Lewis expressed support for joint meetings between the Council and the Planning Commission to provide an opportunity to share the vision and goals for the City of Auburn. CITY VISION MAP AND GOALS Director Krauss presented the 2002/2003 vision and goals statement and the City of Auburn Vision for the Future map dated November 2002. Both documents are the result of the Council retreat held last year and will be the focus of upcoming budget discussions and deliberations. The vision map and accompanying statement represent the Council's collective vision for the future of Auburn. At the request of Commissioner Ward, Mayor Lewis briefly updated those present on the City's lawsuit with the Washington State Department of Transportation. Mayor Lewis reported that, in an effort to settle the suit, an Interlocal Agreement has been drafted among the State, the Muckleshoot Tribe and the City which would commit all three parties to seeking funding for planning and completion of the traffic light synchronization, improvements to the Highway Page 1 City of Auburn Council Meetin.q Minutes May 27, 2003 164 roadbed, and for the construction of a link road at some location. The City is waiting to hear whether the State will agree to the Agreement before week's end. Mayor Lewis stated that any improvements committed to through the Agreement would not be realized for at least five years. In the meantime, concerts are scheduled at the amphitheater throughout the summer. Auburn police will work to ensure that intersections are not blocked and that the citizens of Auburn are protected. Councilmember Wagner stated that the City's and the Tribe's destinies are intertwined. He spoke in support of the proposed Interlocal Agreement among the State, the Tribe and the City. Commissioner Douglass referred to the Vision map and spoke in favor of the B Street and I /M Street corridors. Mayor Lewis also pointed out the A Street corridor, which would run from the train station north to ultimately 272nd Street. Director Krauss spoke of an ongoing effort with Mohawk Plastics to commit to building a portion of A Street adjacent to their facility to 10th Street and using the private contribution as a match for a state grant to fund construction of A Street. Mr. Krauss also spoke of an opportunity to gain a new trail along the Williams pipeline. Commissioner Jones suggested incorporating more neighborhood revitalization projects on the Vision Map. She also expressed concern with the amount of time it has taken to get the Terminal Park revitalization project started. Mayor Lewis stated that the vision is intended for the next fifteen to twenty years and is dependent on funding and the desires of the neighborhood. Mayor Lewis spoke briefly about the potential for the implementation of a street utility tax. He explained that state law must be enacted before the City can impose a street utility tax. If implemented, the proceeds would fund sidewalk and street construction and renovation. The City is currently mapping sidewalks throughout the city. There was discussion regarding the process for forming a local improvement district (LID). Councilmember Poe recalled that the last LID the City proposed for sidewalk construction was not supported by the neighborhood it was intended to benefit. In response to comments from Commissioner Jones regarding the status of City revenues, Mayor Lewis reported the City's revenues are holding through a diversified economy. Councilmember Brothers noted that the City has had to balance its budget through the use of reserve funds. Page 2 City of Auburn Council Meeting Minutes May 27, 2003 The Council and Commission spoke regarding the status of Boeing property and development of the area around the Supermall. Mayor Lewis reported that Boeing will reduce its workforce at Auburn to approximately 4,900 this year and their properties west of Perimeter Road will be on the market. Boeing has requested a long-term master development agreement with the City to facilitate redevelopment of their properties. It is anticipated that the majority of the vacated Boeing property will remain industrial use. Mayor Lewis spoke regarding the potential annexation of the Lea Hill area. He stated that the most recent annexation analysis revealed the annexation would cost the City approximately $2.5 million per year, assuming certain public works improvements would be undertaken each year. Additionally, the cost of additional fire and police personnel to serve the area is substantial. The benefit to annexation is that the City would have control over development on Lea Hill and receive revenues from property taxes and impact fees. Councilmember Singer spoke regarding the Council's goal for a new public safety building and the need for the Planning Commission's support of the project. Mayor Lewis reported on efforts to negotiate the use of alternative incarceration facilities. Planning Commission members questioned the development of gated communities in Auburn. Councilmember Borden reported that the Planning and Community Development Committee discussed gated communities extensively. She noted that a gated community was approved near the golf course, where the development is a small, retirement neighborhood that abuts the river. She also pointed out that a Comprehensive Plan policy exists to ensure that neighborhoods will have pedestrian access. Mayor Lewis spoke regarding the storm water challenges on Auburn's west side. He spoke in favor of a long-term goal to develop the site, which extends from Main Street north to 15th and from the Interurban Trail west to Highway 167, as a lake and recreation area. Councilmember Borden explained Tree City USA. Tree City USA is a national designation that cities can apply for. Achieving designation as Tree City USA makes a city eligible for grant funding through the Department of Natural Resources. The designation also elevates awareness of a city's natural resources. Mayor Lewis reported on the City's efforts to receive urban center designation. The Growth Management Planning Council recently voted in favor of Auburn's urban center designation. Page 3 City of Auburn Council Meeting Minutes May 27, 2003 Mayor Lewis advised that City officials will be meeting with postal officials to discuss options for a new post office in Auburn. Recently the Auburn Post Office has advertised for a new site for their trucks and other postal vehicles. The City's future plans to extend A Street has prompted the Auburn Post Office to consider reconfiguration of their current location by relocating postal trucks and vehicles from the site and moving customer parking to the east side of the property. ADJOURNMENT There being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m. APPROVED THE ~7'~-~ DAY OF JULY, 2003. P~ter B. Lewis, Mayor Danielle Daskam, City Clerk Page 4