HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-10-2009
C ITYOF
DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE
N ~ WS H I N N February 10, 2009
MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Lynn Norman called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m. in the Council Conference Room
located on the first floor of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, WA. Committee
Members present were: Chair Lynn Norman, Member Sue Singer and Member Gene Cerino.
Staff present included: Mayor Pete Lewis, Planning, Building & Community Director Cindy Baker,
Assistant Planning Director Kevin Snyder, Principal Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain, Public Works
Director Dennis Dowdy, City Engineer Dennis Selle, Assistant City Engineer Ingrid Gaub,
Construction Manager Larry Dahl, Parks Maintenance Manager Mike Miller, Economic
Development Manager Dave Baron, Cultural Arts Manager Laurie Rose, Visual/Public Arts
Coordinator Maija McKnight and Planning Secretary Renee Tobias.
Audience Members present were: Gary Hahn, John Nelson and Greg Watson
II. MINUTES
Chair Norman noted a correction to a bulleted item under City Hall Plaza Conceptual Designs. It
should read "Create a dry creek bed for sustainable message and rain garden".
Member Singer moved to approve the January 22, 2009 minutes as amended; Member Cerino
seconded.
The minutes were approved as submitted unanimously.
III. ACTION
A. Downtown Sidewalk Guidelines
Principal Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain distributed three option drawings of proposed
downtown sidewalk guidelines at a typical street intersection; (1) Current adopted sidewalk
guidelines, (2) Option presented to the Committee in October 2008, and (3) Option presented
to the Committee at the February 10, 2009 meeting. Committee discussion ensued.
Vice Chair Singer moved to approve the February 2009 Proposed Downtown Sidewalk
Standards; Member Cerino seconded. Motion carried.
B. Street Trees Along City Half Frontage
Principal Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain provided a background on the status and
maintenance of the Red Sunset Maples planted in the sidewalk cutouts around City Hall.
There is an immediate need to replace trees along Division Street that were removed for
construction. Additionally, other sidewalk trees around City Hall, where there is also existing
landscaping directly behind the sidewalk, should be removed where the sidewalk is lifting
from tree roots and is a safety hazard. Parks staff proposes removing trees where there is
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Downtown Redevelopment Committee Minutes Februarv 10, 2009
competition from nearby trees and if replanted, recommends smaller growing and upright
branching tree species.
Committee discussed various options for trees and sidewalk replacement. Committee agreed
that the trees on the west and north side of City Hall will be removed as existing vegetation
exists behind the sidewalk and the existing street trees are impacting the sidewalk. Where
the trees were located will be filled in with concrete. The construction along Division Street
will be installed per our sidewalk design guidelines with 2x2 scored pattern. Removal of trees
on Main Street, if any, will be held off until work on the Plaza commences.
Vice Chair Singer moved to permit removal of the existing street trees on 1St St NW between
A St NW and N. Division Street and A St NW between W. Main and 1S' St NW.
Member Cerino seconded. Motion carried.
Member Cerino moved to have the 2x2 scored pattern be utilized for the replacement of
sidewalk as a result of the utility construction for the Auburn Professional Plaza project.
Trees will not be installed as there is existing landscaping directly behind the sidewalk.
Vice Chair Singer seconded. Motion carried.
IV. CITY HALL PLAZA FINAL CONCEPTUAL DESIGN
John Nelson, with Maul Foster Algoni, presented two options (A & B) for the City Hall Plaza
Renovation Concept. Both options reflect recent Committee discussions; Option B is more
accurate as consensus was to eliminate the elevated kiosk area at the plaza corner at
Main/Division Street. Other changes incorporated in the long term vision would be to
accommodate glass canopies; one could be a rain umbrella with interactive water feature and art
depicting cultural history. A long term idea would be to install glass canopy above the main City
Hall entrance. The canopy would portray an awning fan shaped using glass similar to the Transit
Center.
Committee reviewed the proposed preliminary budget, identifying which elements would be short
and long range projects. Funding source will be discussed at the Council's retreat on February
12, 2009.
V. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Downtown Redevelopment Committee, Chair
Norman adjourned the meeting at 5:45 p.m.
APPROVED THIS 3rd DAY OF March 2009.
Ly n orman, Chair Rene S. Tobias, Planning Secretary
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