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Home My WebLink About01-31-2005 CommitteeoftheWhole * .' ~);t{j:"i.4'''''m:",~~1i#'~''¿' Âl!. C.ITY O...F...__"._.:::._.~. . ...,-,---."",--,,>/* ~....... ·.T.::t"A',.v~ T ~ -- ~:~ -~, ~;O-LV ~ '/""'- WASHINGTON CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE January 31, 2005 5:00 PM Council Chambers COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION The Auburn City Council Committee of the Whole met on January 31, 2005 in the Council Chambers of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street in Auburn. Mayor Pro-tem Singer called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Mayor Peter B. Lewis and the following Councilmembers were present: Rich Wagner, Sue Singer, Gene Cerino, Nancy Backus, Bill Peloza, Roger Thordarson and Lynn Norman. Staff members present included: Public Works Director Dennis Dowdy, Parks and Recreation Director Daryl Faber, Human Resources/Risk Management Director Brenda Heineman, Fire Chief Russ Vandver, Police Chief Jim Kelly, Planning and Community Development Director Paul Krauss, Environmental Protection Manager Aaron Nix, Finance Director Shelley Coleman, Community Development Administrator David Osaki, Police Commander Willard Lathrop, Information Services Administrator Lorrie Rempher, City Attorney Daniel B. Heid, Development Services Coordinator Steve Pilcher, Planner Jeff Dixon, and City Clerk Danielle Daskam. SR 164 Corridor Study Public Works Director Dowdy introduced officials from the State of Washington Department of Transportation in attendance to present the Council with an update on the SR 164 Corridor Study. Seth Stark, the Corridor Study Project Manager, presented a PowerPoint of the SR 164 Route Development Plan Status and Update. SR 164 extends from Auburn to Enumclaw. SR 164 Study partners have been identified as Auburn, Enumclaw, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, King County, Puget Sound Regional Council and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The study process is anticipated to last 18 months and is funded in the amount of $650,000. The final product will be a route development plan that will be a consensus-based plan to improve the safety of the route and alleviate congestion. Page 1 Committee of the Whole Meetina January 31. 2005 Mayor Lewis inquired regarding the Tri-party Agreement among the City of Auburn, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and the State Department of Transportation. Mr. Stark responded that elements of the Agreement are moving in conjunction with the corridor study project. The goals of the project are to identify projects agreeable to by all jurisdictions (partners). The goal of the Route Development Plan is to provide accurate and specific problem statements and analyses for each segment of the corridor, review project effectiveness and the project cost using public and agency input, provide context-sensitive solutions, provide a list of priority projects, and ensure a consistent and uniform project implementation. Mr. Stark spoke regarding the amount of growth that has occurred along the corridor and in Auburn and Enumclaw. The City of Enumclaw has projected a 45 percent household increase by 2022, and for the same time period Auburn's projected household increase is 37 percent. Measured traffic volumes along the corridor range from 8,000 vehicles per day in Enumclaw to 34,000 vehicles per day in Auburn near the SR 18 interchange. Key issues for the project include the high congestion in the western portion of the corridor, pedestrian and vehicle safety, the number of uncontrolled driveways and other access points, and options for a new or additional link between SR 164 and SR 18. Mr. Stark reviewed the discussions thus far regarding the Link Road between SR 164 and SR 18. He provided a map of the draft Link Road alternatives. Fatal flaw analysis for geological engineering and other analysis are ongoing to refine the alternatives. Mr. Stark reported that several open houses relating to the SR 164 Corridor Study will be held in March: March 3rd at the Enumclaw High School, March 8th at the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation Philip Starr Center, and March 10th at the Chinook Elementary School in Auburn. Councilmember Thordarson inquired regarding the name used for the SR 164 link road. Mayor Lewis commented that the City of Auburn would prefer a reference to the link road as SR 164A as opposed to SR 164 link road. Mr. Stark indicated that the staff goal is to complete the Route Development Plan by the end of 2005. Once the Plan is complete, affected jurisdictions will be encouraged to include the Plan in their Comprehensive Plans and present the list of proposed projects to the State Legislature for funding. Page 2 Committee of the Whole Meetina January 31. 2005 SR 167 Project Update Kamuron Gurol, Corridor Planning Manager for the State Department of Transportation, updated the Council on the SR 167 Corridor Study. He provided two handouts relating to the "hot lanes" pilot project and general corridor analysis. The SR 167 Corridor Study includes the area one-half mile east and west of SR 167 between South 180th in Renton and the King County/Pierce County boundary to the south. Recently projects were identified through the Regional Transportation Investment District (RTID) legislation. WSDOT is proceeding with Phase 2 of the process, which extends the prior analysis area, identify additional data needs along the corridor, and prepare the way for Phase 3 environmental evaluation. Subsequent phases include completion of the SR167 Corridor Plan, environmental analysis, design, and construction funding. Approximately $9.6 million has been designated for environmental review. Mr. Gurol pointed out the bottleneck projects of South 180th to 84th Avenue SE, SR 516 to South 277th, and completion of the HOV lanes, which will be under environmental review first. He cautioned that there is no construction money allocated for the projects at this time. In response to a question from Councilmember Peloza regarding tolls, Public Works Director Dowdy reported on recent discussions in the legislature regarding tolls. Hearing Examiner - Introduction and Role Planning and Community Development Director introduced the principals for Driscoll Hunter, the City's contracted Hearing Examiner. Mr. Ted Hunter and Mr. Jim Driscoll spoke regarding their background and experience in law and land use. The firm of Driscoll Hunter is dedicated entirely to providing Hearing Examiner services to several cities, including Everett, Mukilteo, Snohomish, Kent, and Lacey. Mr. Hunter circulated a summary of the Hearing Examiner's decisions over the past ten months. The hearing examiner has issued 34 decisions between appeals and applications. Mr. Hunter spoke about the dialogue that occurs between the Hearing Examiner and the Planning staff. Mr. Hunter reported on discussions with Planning staff about the number of rezones that have occurred that are consistent with the underlying Page 3 Committee of the Whole Meetina January 31. 2005 Comprehensive Plan designation. Mr. Hunter suggested the possibility of bundling the rezones together to improve process. Mr. Hunter spoke briefly about the Hearing Examiner's decision-making process and procedure due process. Councilmember Wagner inquired regarding the closed record hearing process. Mr. Driscoll advised that the closed record hearing process was included in the Regulatory Reform Act. The Regulatory Reform Act provided for one open record hearing at which the record was developed. The closed record hearing is to provide an opportunity to review the record as it was developed at the open record hearing. Councilmembers discussed the closed record hearing process and the appeal process and the Council's role. City Attorney Heid advised that the Council's liability increases when it participates in quasi-judicial decisions; however, the City's immunity is greater in legislative decisions. Mayor Lewis suggested that any recommendations by the Hearing Examiner to improve the hearing process or clarify ordinances should go through the Planning Department, which will then forward the information to the Council. OTHER DISCUSSION Mayor Pro-tem Singer advised that blight abatement would be a future discussion item for Committee of the Whole. Council compensation comparisons and the issue of a biennial budget will be discussion items at a future Finance Committee meeting. There being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 6:57 p.m. APPROVED THE ,)/'¿ DAY OF MARCH 2005. .(¿..~ ~ ~ --..J . AL (üJ)¡ ~~ Danlelle Daskam, City Clerk Pe er B. Lewis, Mayor Page 4