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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-30-2006 Committee of the Whole CLTY OF -~ '~ WASHINGTON CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE October 30, 2006 5:00 PM Council Chambers COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION Mayor Pro Tem Sue Singer called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Councilmembers present included: Mayor Pro Tem Sue Singer, Rich Wagner, Gene Cerino, Nancy Backus, Bill Peloza, Roger Thordarson and Lynn Norman. Mayor Peter B. Lewis was also present. Staff members present included Parks, Arts and Recreation Director Daryl Faber, Human Resources and Risk Management Director Brenda Heineman, Chief of Public Safety Jim Kelly, Assistant Police Chief Bob Lee, Police Commander Greg Wood, Police Commander Bill Pierson, Economic Development Manager Dave Baron, Development Services Coordinator Steven Pitcher, Planner Bill Mandeville, Planning, Building and Community Director Michael Davolio, Community Development Administrator David Osaki, Finance Director Shelley Coleman, Information Services Director Lorrie Rempher, Public Works Director Dennis Dowdy, Senior Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain, and City Clerk Danielle Daskam. Also present was John Ghilarducci of the FCS Group Solutions Oriented Consulting. Police Department Recruitment Chief Kelly presented the Police Department's new recruitment video. After sharing the video with the Council, Chief Kelly asked the Council for any feedback on the vide content. Councilmembers complimented Chief Kelly on the recruitment video. Vision Plan and Comprehensive Plan Amendments At the beginning of-the meeting, Councilmembers briefly discussed the use of master development agreements. City Attorney stated that development agreements must be consistent with City Code and once formulated become the operative authority for how a development occurs. If the Council were to enter into a development agreement for a piece of property that identifies long term plans, and the property was subsequently zoned differently, the development Page 1 City of Auburn Committee of the Whole October 30, 2006 agreement could set the parameters that would control for the terms and provisions in the development agreement. Execution of the development agreement must precede the zoning change. City Attorney Heid also stated that the development agreement could be executed after a comprehensive plan change, but before a zoning code change. Councilmembers discussed nonconforming uses, the timing of development agreements, potential challenges, and the Council's vision and goals. Councilmember Wagner stated that he was in favor of encouraging commercial uses but not necessarily eliminating the existing industrial uses in those same areas. Mayor Pro Tem Singer stated that staff should entertain development agreements up until the time any rezone takes place. Councilmembers spoke in favor of pursuing the Council's goals and vision. Traffic Light EnforcementNideo Surveillance Councilmember Wagner suggested the Council discuss a policy regarding electronic surveillance, including red light enforcement and other technologies that may become available. Chief Kelly distributed a handout of the red light and photo safe program statistics. In the three month period of July, August and September 2006, 3,784 red light photo enforcement infractions were issued. Chief Kelly referred to the photo safe map (distributed) showing existing enforcement, future enforcement sites, school zones, and future speed zone enforcement. Other intersections in Auburn have been evaluated by Redflex, traffic engineers and police traffic units; examples include 15th and West Valley Highway North, C Street and 15th Street NE, A Street and 3~d Street SE, and 41St and A Street SE. Redflex has initially indicated that the other intersections are not viable red light photo enforcement sites; however, traffic engineers and police traffic units believe otherwise and have requested that Redflex conduct a more comprehensive review of the intersections. Finance Director Coleman presented the Council with a handout of net proceeds from the red light photo enforcement for the months of July, August and September 2006. Net proceeds for the period are $39,489. Mayor Lewis reminded the Council that additional court staff and additional court time may be needed to address the additional red light photo enforcement infractions. Red light photo enforcement is a revenue neutral safety issue. Page 2 City of Auburn Committee of the Whole October 30, 2006 Information Services Director Rempher and Commander Bill Pierson presented the Council with a handout on video surveillance and demonstrated a graffiti cam. Placing cameras in public areas where graffiti is likely to occur will assist the Police Department in apprehending and prosecuting individuals who may be responsible. The price of one unit is approximately $6,000, and is like a wireless computer, video camera, motion sensor and public address system. Commander Pierson commented on the value of video surveillance to law enforcement. He stated that the use of surveillance cameras would be incident driven, such as problems with graffiti and vandalism in public parks, assist officers in identifying suspects and in evidence gathering, and provide critical area security. Councilmembers spoke in favor of the use of surveillance video for incident driven purposes. Mayor Lewis stated that policies and guidelines for use of video surveillance will be presented to the Council Committees in the future. Parks Impact Fee Presentation Parks, Arts and Recreation Director Faber introduced John Ghilarducci of FCS Group Solutions Oriented Consulting, who presented a PowerPoint on the Parks Impact Fee Study. Director Faber stated that park dedication is currently addressed by the City's subdivision ordinance, which calls for the dedication of park land in accordance with the policies and recommended standards of the Auburn Parks and Recreation Plan. The ordinance applies only to subdivisions of 50 or more dwelling units. Mr. Ghilarducci reviewed the state law with regard to impact fees, limitations on use, key features of fees, and key assumptions for population and housing density. Mr. Ghilarducci reviewed the impact fee calculation. The maximum calculated parks impact fee is $4,422 per single family dwelling unit and $3,669 per multi-family dwelling unit. Mr. Ghilarducci also reviewed revenue forecasts. He noted that the Auburn Park Board consider adopting a park impact fee of $2,211 per unit beginning January 1, 2007. Emergency Radio Station (This item was discussed immediately following traffic light enforcement/video surveillance.) Information Services Director Rempher updated the Council on the status of the City's emergency radio station. Director Rempher advised that staff members are investigating the acquisition of a low-level FM station, converting the City's current AM station, and/or partnering with Green River Community College for broadcast services. Director Rempher advised that no Federal Communications Commission license agreement is necessary for a low power AM station, but one Page 3 City of Auburn Committee of the Whole October 30, 2006 is required for an FM station. Additionally, low power FM broadcast rules require the City to broadcast at least eight hours a day, six days a week, and to include an emergency alert system in the system. The meeting recessed at 7:01 p.m. for approximately six minutes for a brief intermission. The meeting reconvened at 7:08 p.m. Downtown Development Standards and FAR Development Services Coordinator Pilcher spoke regarding downtown development standards, specifically parking standards and floor area ratio (FAR). Mr. Pilcher displayed a conceptual illustration created by LMN Architects of what the downtown would look like under the proposed downtown urban center zone district and development regulations. The Planning Commission held a public hearing and recommended approval of the new zone district and implementing zone changes. The Planning and Community Development Committee continues its review of the draft code. Two issues are under discussion: the proposed parking standards and the Floor Area Ratio. A concern has been raised about whether parking standards are adequate to ensure individual projects will provide enough parking to meet the demand they generate. Additionally, questions have been raised regarding the type of projects possible given the proposed FAR limitations. Staff conducted an analysis of two projects: Project Ace and a possible redevelopment of a downtown block with a mixed use project. The draft code favors mixed use projects that include residential uses. An exclusive commercial and/or office project would not be able to attain the same degree of FAR. Staff recommends several changes to the draft code. One would increase the basic FAR allowance for all projects. Mixed use project would still be able to attain higher FARs and single use projects would have their allowable FAR increased. In additional, staff is recommended granting an additional 0.5 FAR to compensate for the elimination of language stating that elevator shafts, stairwells, etc. are not included in FAR discussions. This change will make planning for a development more straightforward. Also, additional language is being suggested that would treat street level office uses that serve the general public the same as retail uses. This would allow FAR bonuses for these activities. Councilmembers discussed the possibility of creating two separate subzones in the downtown urban center rather than one downtown urban center zone to accommodate a medical district. Page 4 Citv of Auburn Committee of the Whole October 30, 2006 One Stop Shop Financing and CDBG Planner Bill Mandeville and Economic Development Planner AI Hicks presented information on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Section 108 Loan Program and the One-Stop Service Center project using a PowerPoint presentation. As a result of its participation in the CDBG Program, the City of Auburn is able to access the Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 108 program. Section 108 is the loan guarantee provision of the CDBG program. The loan guarantee program enables CDBG communities to borrow up to five times their CDBG entitlement amount from the federal government for use with CDGB eligible activities. Local human services agencies are collaborating to develop aone-stop service center for human services. Several agencies would locate their activities in the center while others would maintain a "presence" in the center but maintain their current facilities. The agencies have asked for the City to financially assist in the acquisition of a facility to serve as the one-stop service center.. Early estimates have placed the cost of an existing 35,000-40,000 square foot facility at approximately $5 million. A site selection committee has identified a facility that King County Assessor has valued at $3 million. The City's current annual CDBG entitlement is approximately $400,000. The City could borrow up to $2,000,000 through the Section 108 program. Planner Mandeville and Economic Development Planner Hicks reviewed loan terms and rates and repayment options. Planner Mandeville also reviewed other funding sources. Councilmember Thordarson expressed concern regarding whether CDBG entitlements would continue in the future. Councilmembers discussed the financing contributions by the participating service agencies. Project Ace Update Public Works Director Dowdy and Planning Director Davolio updated the Council on Project Ace. Director Dowdy commented regarding a proposed overhang of the proposed building on Main Street. The overhang will have a clearance over the sidewalk of about fifteen feet. The street lights will be relocated to avoid the intrusion. Additionally, a restaurant on the Main Street side will have a service area that will protrude into the sidewalk. Staff also discussed sidewalk standards Page 5 City of Auburn Committee of the Whole October 30, 2006 with the applicant. Staff anticipates that the applicant will submit civil plans in approximately two weeks. Structural plans will be submitted November 15, 2006. There being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Summary Prepared by: Dan 11e Daskam, City Clerk OTHER ITEMS MAY BE DISCUSSED BY THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN BY THE COUNCIL ON ANY ITEM DURING A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING. Page 6