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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-04-2009 * * ACTY OF_ V BU lltl ~I PLANNING COMMISSION ~ WASHINGTON NOVEMBER4,2009 MINUTES 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Judi Roland called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers located on the first floor of Auburn City Hali, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, WA. Commission Members present were: Chair Judi Roland, Bob Baggett, Ron Copple, Peter DiTuri, Michael Hamilton, Joan Mason and Dave Peace. Vice Chair Kevin Chapman was excused. Staff present included: Principal Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain, Assistant Director Kevin Snyder, Senior Accountant Michelle Surdez, and Planning Secretary Renee Tobias. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Peace moved and Commissioner Copple seconded to approve the minutes of the October 6, 2009 meeting as submitted. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 7-0 III. PUBLIC COMMENT There were no public comments. IV. PLANNING DEPARTMENT REPORT Principal Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain updated the Commission on recent flood protection measures completed by the City, which include excavation, sandbags and Hesco barriers. The levees are part of the King County Flood Control District and as such, the City of Auburn is working as their agent. The protection measures are for the 13,900 cfs level event which is what the Army Corps of Engineers has authorized King County to protect against. Ms. Chamberlain noted that the majority of the funds for this operation come from the King County Flood Control District, with the City providing the remainder of the costs. Staff confirmed that the measures would stay in place for three years or until the Howard Hanson Dam is repaired. The finishing touches, such as street lamps, sidewalk and landscape, are being installed at the One Main Street building. The completion date of this project was initially slated to occur before the Veteran's Day parade; this will not be met. Tenant improvements for the City's portion of the building are underway; it is anticipated that staff will move in after January 1, 2010. KeyBank's tenant improvement permit application has not been submitted. Ms. Chamberlain did note that the drive-up window for the bank will be underneath the building, with the entrance on 15` Street. Due to costs, the planned sky bridge connecting City_Hall building and One Main Street will not be included at this time. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 4, 2009 In response to Commission's question regarding the new Wal-Mart, Ms. Chamberlain stated that the building permits are ready. The City was waiting on the boundary line adjustment and the transfer of property between the Super Mall and Wal-Mart which has been completed. The agreement (Resolution No. 4080) between the City, Wal-Mart and Glimcher, the owner of the Supermall, requires the existing Wal-Mart building to be removed with a certain timeframe and redeveloped into a life-style center which would include restaurants and retail. V. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. City of Auburn Capital Facilities Plan A Capital Facilities Plan is one of the comprehensive plan elements required by Washington's Growth Management Act (GMA). The GMA requires that a Capital Facilities Plan (CFP) include an inventory of existing facilities showing the locations and capacities, a forecast of future needs, proposed locations and capacities of new or expanded capital facilities, and a minimum of a six-year plan to finance capital facilities with identified sources of funding. The CFP is adopted as part of the City's Comprehensive Plan. Principal Planner Elizabeth Chamberlain noted two items that were not included in the agenda packet. The public hearing notice was published in the Seattle Times on October 23, 2009. The City issued an "adopt an existing environmental determination" document for the CFP and that was issued on October 21, 2009. Projects that were completed or had changes in project titles and/or priorities were removed from the previous year's CFP (2009-2014). The new projects added to the 2010-2015 CFP are a result of the updates to the comprehensive plans previously reviewed by the Commission, such as water, sewer, storm and transportation. The Commission discussed the Level of Service statement on page 5 of the CFP that indicates an increase as a result of the CFP. Senior Accountant Michelle Surdez will review and clarify in the final CFP. Ms. Chamberlain responded to the Commission's question regarding the $21 million for the M Street Grade Separation as listed on page 22 of the CFP. This is a substantial project that will change the at-grade railroad crossing and making it an underpass; vehicular traffic would not have to stop when a train heads east. The Public Works staff held a public meeting on this project and at that time, staff stated the design is about 90% funded. Right-of-way (ROW) acquisition is an element that is not completely funded and the City is still looking for funding; construction is about 30-40% funded. Part of that includes requesting additional federal funds as there are federal funds dedicated to the project. If funds for the ROW acquisition come through, the City will try to get those accomplished in 2010. Concern was expressed by the Commission on the close proximity of the M Street Grade Separation Project to the potential Green River flooding. Ms. Chamberlain explained that this has been considered and is part of the design. Staff is also working through the environmental aspect of the project now. Besides NEPA, the City's SEPA process will analyze soil conditions, geotechnical reports and the structural integrity of the road. Page 2 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 4, 2009 Commissioner Baggett asked who should residents that are living adjacent to Green River contact for permits and plans for backflow prevention devices. Staff stated that Public Works would have the as-built information. There are some instances where citizens are installing the backflow devices at the street when as- built details are available; others are installing the device at the house. Staff recommends that citizens hire qualified professionals to do the work properly. Citizens can contact the Permit Center and staff will assist them with any questions. Staff answered Commission's question regarding REET 1 and 2 as related to Parks and Recreation. The Real Estate Excise Tax 1 (REET 1) can be used for the acquisition of parks and REET2 can be used for capital expenditures. Commissioners questioned why operating funds were not listed on page 4 for the 2011 year. Senior Accountant Michelle Surdez stated that staff will enter operations/ expenditures for on-going maintenance once a project is completed. She will review the information again with Parks & Recreation staff and will clarify in the final CFP if needed. Ms. Surdez will also clarify maintenance expenditures on the Impact on Future Operating Budgets as listed on page 186 for the Auburn Community Center. Assistant Director Kevin Snyder reported that at the November 2, 2009 Public Works Committee meeting, it was stated that the primary funding for the Auburn Community Center is new market tax credits, which is a federal funding opportunity. In order to accomplish this, there may be the potential that a stand alone non-profit entity may need to be established to operate and maintain the Center during the first seven years; this is a federal requirement. Mr. Snyder thought this may be why operating funds are not listed in the year 2011. Ms. Chamberlain clarified for the Commission that the City owns the fire station properties and structures and leases them to the Valley Regional Fire Authority. This is the reason for an entry on the Facilities Inventory (page 192). Commission asked staff to speak about the Mohawk Plastics Site Mitigation Project as listed on page 200. Ms. Chamberlain explained that the project is part of what is known as the A/B corridor, which is a new road extending north of 3~d Street. The developer constructed the entire road rather than just the required half street improvement. The trade-off for this is that the City is assisting with the wetland mitigation for the impact for that construction. The Commission discussed with staff how previous capital funding projects were identified and funded, as well as projected costs versus actual costs. Ms. Surdez stated that the CFP is a planning document that identifies projects the City wishes to complete. Many projects are contingent on obtaining grant funding; if the funding does not come through, then that project more than likely will not occur. Ms. Surdez gave an example of Transportation, stating that they work diligently to ensure that impact or mitigation funds are used, as well as keeping grant opportunities in the works for at least the next few years. The projects are known, and staff is always looking for additional funding. Page 3 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 4, 2009 Commission asked for a few examples of past projects' budget-to-actual costs. Staff will confer with Public Works staff and provide the information to the Commission at a future meeting. Chair Roland opened the public hearing at 7:39 p.m. There being no one in the audience who wished to speak the hearing was closed Commissioner DiTuri moved and Commissioner Copple seconded to approve the 2010 - 2015 City of Auburn Capital Facilities Plan with the planned amendments and clarifications that were discussed. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 7-0 Chair Roland asked staff to provide the Commission with the City Council's action on the comprehensive plan amendments, once taken. VI. OTHER BUSINESS A. Commissioner Peace asked about Commissioner expiring terms. Staff will send the information to the Commission via email. B. Staff reported that there are currently no items for Commission's consideration at the regularly scheduled meeting on December 8, 2009. Should an item come forward, staff will notify the Commission. Secondly, if the meeting is held, it would need to be moved to December 1, 2009 since the Council Chambers are booked for a prior event. Staff will update the Commission as soon as possible. VII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Planning Commission, Chair Roland adjourned the meeting at 7:47 p.m. Page 4