Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-20-2005 Special " CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING , RN WASHINGTON October 20, 2005 6:00 PM St. Matthew's Church SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES Mayor Peter B. Lewis called the Southeast Main Street Neighborhood Meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. The following Councilmembers were present during the meeting: Sue Singer, Gene Cerino, Bill Peloza and Roger Thordarson. Staff members present included: Planning and Community Development Director Paul Krauss, City Attorney Daniel B. Heid, Public Works Director Dennis Dowdy, Planner Bill Mandeville, Parks Planning and Development Manager Dan Scamporlina, Senior Planner Mitzi McMahan, Utilities Engineer Duane Huskey, Transportation Planner Tiffin Goodman, Traffic Engineer Laura Philpot, Transportation Planner Joe Welsh, Police Commander Greg Wood, Police Officer Greg McPherson, Fire Captain Stan Laatsch, Planning Secretary Carolyn Brown, Community Relations Manager Duanna Richards, Code Enforcement Officer Chuck Joiner, Planner Stacey Borland, and City Clerk Danielle Daskam. Approximately 50 residents were in attendance. Mayor Lewis introduced Councilmembers in attendance and made some welcoming comments. Mayor Lewis explained the first meeting, held June 30, 2005, was to listen to neighborhood comments and concerns. The purpose of this evening's meeting is to report back to the neighborhood and to ask the residents for their opinion about some ideas regarding proposed projects. Planning Director Paul Krauss introduced the city staff members in attendance. He explained that City staff developed several strategies and objectives from the comments gathered at the first neighborhood meeting. He asked the participants to rank these strategies and objectives using colored dots provided to the residents as they entered the meeting. He said the green dots represent their support whereas the red dots represent disapproval. Director Krauss pointed out the participants have a limited number of dots and will, therefore, need to use them sparingly on those strategies and objectives that they support most. Page 1 City of Auburn Special Council Meetina Minutes October 20. 2005 For the next hour, neighborhood residents met and discussed the different strategies and objectives with City staff. At approximately 7:00 p.m., Director Krauss reconvened the staff and residents into a large group meeting. He asked City staff members to summarize the comments they heard along with the priorities expressed by the residents. The following highlights the results of the votes cast by the residents in each category. . Traffic ManaQement {total of 54 votes}: Approximately 22 votes were cast to reduce the speeding along city streets and an equal number of votes cast to improve visibility at several intersections. Ten votes were cast to synchronize stoplights near Highway 18 along Auburn Way South at 2nd Street S.E. and 4th Street S.E. . Walkabilitv {total of 53 votes}: Installing new curbs and sidewalks received the most votes (26 votes). Maintenance and/or replacement of street pavement were also included in these votes. Bicycle paths and non- motorized routes received 12 votes. Enforcing laws and ordinances to prohibit parking on sidewalks and walking paths received eight votes. . Public Services {total of 37 votes}: Residents cast 16 votes for installing curbs along J Street between Main and 2nd Street and paving alleys. Approximately 13 votes were cast to provide residents information about the City's Housing Repair Program along with other programs and/or linkages to help residents maintain their homes. . Crime and Public Nuisances {total of 37 votes}: Providing public education about nuisances, including adding the topic of public nuisances to the curriculum in the Police Department's Citizen Academy and Neighborhood Watch Programs, received about one-third of the votes. Encouraging residents to call 911 when witnessing illegal activities received the second highest number of votes; followed by encouraging neighbors to get to know each other, particularly the names of the children and teens. . Open Spaces and Recreation {total of 32 votes}: Supporting Washington Elementary School's plans to develop a community playground/park received the most votes in this particular category. Followed by renovating the Veterans Memorial Park by adding lighting and developing a common thread between different attractions such as a walking trail, artwork or flower gardens. Encouraging civic groups and volunteers to help preserve Veterans Memorial Park also received a number of votes. A few residents suggested the development of a compost site for recycled trees and wood waste. . Housina and Historic Preservation {total of 32 votes}: Several residents expressed a desire to preserve the historic homes located in their Page 2 City of Auburn Special Council Meetina Minutes October 20. 2005 neighborhood. About one-third of the votes cast favored official recognition of historic homes. . NeiQhborhood Appearance {total of 22 votes}: Organizing an annual neighborhood clean-up campaign received the most votes (12 votes) followed by landscaping parking lots (6 votes). . Land Uses {total of 15 votes}: Historic preservation was emphasized in this category {6 votes}. A few residents expressed a desire to promote landscape buffers and fencing to separate commercial and residential uses. They also want to encourage commercial uses that minimize vehicular traffic and compatible with commercial and/or residential-office uses. Following the overview from City staff, Director Krauss explained that staff will now proceed to complete the preliminary draft of the neighborhood plan. The City Council will be asked to call a public hearing prior to adopting the plan. He pointed out that residents will have another opportunity to comment on the plan at the public hearing. Director Krauss said copies of the preliminary draft will be sent to the participants of these neighborhood meetings. In addition, the plan will be available for public review on the City's website. Finally, neighborhood residents will receive a notice regarding the time and date of the public hearing. Director Krauss thanked everybody for attending. ADJOURNMENT There being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. APPRO 0,~I,.l)AY OF DECEMBER 2005. Peter B. ewis, Mayor -- ~~l) ; ~. . v . ~t1'4----/ Dan lie Daskam, City Clerk Page 3