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