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HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM II-ADRAFT DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE July 14, 2009 MINUTES 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Lynn Norman called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. in the Council Chambers located on the first floor of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, WA. Committee Members present were: Chair Lynn Norman and Member Sue Singer. Member Gene Cerino was excused. Staff present included: Mayor Pete Lewis, Planning, Building & Community Director Cindy Baker, Principal Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain, Public Works Director Dennis Dowdy, City Engineer Dennis Selle, Assistant City Engineer Ingrid Gaub, Transportation Planner Tiffin Goodman, Economic Development Manager Dave Baron, Planning Intern Gary Yao, and Planning Secretary Renee Tobias. Audience Members present were: Spencer Alpert, Troy Humphrey, Mel Maertz, Greg Brower, and Ronnie Roberts. . II. CONSENT AGENDA A. Meeting Minutes - June 9, 2009 B. Meeting Minutes - June 12, 2009 Member Singer moved to approve the consent agenda items as presented; Chair Norman concurred. The minutes were approved as submitted unanimously 2-0. III. DISCUSSION A. Future Bike Routes Transportation Planner Tiffin Goodman distributed a Bicycle Facilities map from the Auburn Transportation Plan Update Staff to the Committee. Ms. Goodman reviewed the map, noting current and future bike routes and trails. Council members wanted to ensure a viable bicycle route existed from the downtown area to Les Gove Community Center. One suggestion was to place a bike lane on 3`d Street SW beginning at C Street SW and then south on F Street SE to the Les Gove Center. City Engineer Dennis Selle noted that the most compelling issue prohibiting placement of a bike lane on 3rd Street SW is that vehicular capacity would require the road to be widened. There are properties on either side of 3`d Street SW and the City does not have the additional right of way. An alternative to using 3`d Street SW/Cross Street would be placing a bike lane on 1 St Street NW/NE which does have sufficient width to accommodate a bike lane through to Auburn Way. Staff noted that, depending upon plans by the Auburn Regional Medical Center, the road at the intersection of 1St Street and Auburn Avenue would require Page 1 , Downtown Redevelopment Committee Minutes July 14 2009 modification to accommodate bike lanes. The existing area for on street parking within the right of way could accommodate a Class 2 bike lane. Mayor Lewis suggested looking at routes from the perspective of citizens who are not transitory, but walking or riding bikes, to get from one part of the city to another - a specific destination in a safe manner. This includes citizens living in the downtown center who wish to attend activities and events at the Les Gove Community Center areas. In response to staff's question Committee agreed to review routes that include shared sidewalk usage if there is no alternative or nearby alternative. Committee discussed various neighborhoods and possible routes and connector routes. It was suggested that staff contact members of local bicycle clubs There will be a public Open House on August 18, 2009 to receive community comments on the 2009 Comprehensive Plan Amendments. Committee suggested that staff place informational signs about the Open House on the Interurban Trail and at the Farmer's Market. Staff will compile information into a draft plan and update the Committee at the September 9, 2009 meeting. B. Main Street Pedestrian Lights Spencer Alpert and Troy Humphrey (Alpert International), Mel Maertz (M2 Architects) and Greg Brower (Berger Partnership) joined the Committee at the table. Principal Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain provided background on this item, stating that at the June 9, 2009 meeting, Committee discussed pedestrian lighting within Downtown as the Main Street pedestrian lights are fatiguing and replacement parts are no longer readily available as standard issue and require a custom order. Committee directed staff to work with the Auburn Junction project team on options for pedestrian lights. Included in the Committee's packet were suggestions from the Auburn Junction project team which still require review and vetting by City staff. Ms. Chamberlain distributed additional lighting option information developed by staff for Committee's review. Assistant City Engineer Ingrid Gaub reported that there are a total of 129 of the existing pedestrian light standards. The double arm lights which are installed on Main Street total 62. There are 67 of the new standard single-arm lights, approved in the Downtown Sidewalk Guidelines, of which 18 are planned for the Professional Plaza and Medical Center developments. The lights for the Professional Plaza have been purchased and delivered; the lights for the Medical Center have not been purchased yet. Committee, staff and members of the Auburn Junction Project Development Team reviewed and discussed the City's needs for light standards and the pros and cons of various lighting styles and materials. Committee concurred that the light standards should have dual light heads, electrical outlet capacity; accommodate banners, pedestrian wayfinding signage and hanging plants. Based on Committee's style selection, the staff will research standards that will meet the aforementioned criteria. The Committee identified Kim Lighting products including the Era Bell, straight smooth pole, with smooth decorative base cover, and the decorative arm HA38 for the staff to evaluate: Ms. Gaub indicated that City staff has already identified a product to retrofit to the existing Telespare poles for the vehicular wayfinding signs and once a pedestrian light style is finalized, staff will work to match that style and disseminate it to the Committee. Page 2 Downtown Redevelopment Committee Minutes Juiv 14, 2009 IV. 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 DAY OF AUGUST 2009. Lynn Norman, Chair Renee S. Tobias, Planning Secretary Page 3