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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-05-2012 * * Public Works Committee cin bF --.�' • March 5, 2012 -3:30 PM Annex Room 2 i1NA5HINGTON, MINUTES I. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Rich Wagner called the meeting to orderat 3:30 p.m. in Conference Room #2, located on the secondfloor of Aubum City Hall, One East Main Street, Auburn, Washington, 98002. A. Roll Call Chairman Wagner, Vice-Chair Bill Peloza, and Member Osborne were present..Also present during the meeting were: Mayor Pete Lewis, Councilmember Largo Wales, Public Works Director Dennis Dowdy, Gity Engineer/Assistant Director Dennis Selle, Assistant Ciry Engineer Ingrid Gaub, Utilities Engineer Dan Repp, Traffic Engineer Pablo Para, Storm Drainage Engineer Tim Gariaw, Water Quality Program Coordinator Chris Thom, City Attorney Dan Heid, Engineering Aide Amber Mund, Financial Ptanning Manager Martin Chaw, Finance Accounting Manager Rhonda Ewing, and Public Works Secretary Jennifer Rigsby. B. Announcements There were no announcements. C. Agenda Modifications There was one Agenda Modification, Resolution Item A., Resolution No. 4806. II. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of Minutes Councilmember Peloza moved and Councilmember Osborne seconded fo approve the Public VNorks Committee Meeting minutes for February 21, 2012. Motion Carried Unanimously. 3-0. B. Right-of-Way Use Permit No. 12-06 (Mund) Councilmember Peloza moved and Councilmember Osborne seconded to approve Right-of-VUay Use Permit No. 12-16 for Aubum School District No. 408 Graduation Ceremonies. Page 1 of 7 Engineering Aide Mund was present. There were no questions or comments from the Committee. Motion Carried Unanimously. 3-0. III. RESOLUTIONS A. Resolution No. 4806 A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Auburn,.Washington, Supporting the Aubwrn Transportation Benefit District's Bond Measure Councilmember Peloza moved and Councilmember Osborne seconded to recorrimend that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 4806. There were no questions or comments from the Committee. Motion Carried Unanimously. 3-0. IV. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Utility Rate Discussion (ColemaNChaw/Repp) Financial Planning Manager Chaw explained that foilowing the last Public Works Committee Meeting, at the request of the Committee, staff has taken some time to break down the decline in sewer revenues. Staff reviewed both locaf and statewide past econometric factorsto try and form an educated guess as to the factors (weather, conservation, and economy) corrtributing to the revenue's decline. Chaw stated that staff examined factors such as rainfall ancl weather, which affect consumers' water usage. Staff also examined citywide taxable sales, per capita income, non- single family waterusage, and the U.S. GDP as contributing factors. The Committee and staff reviewed the Sewer Utility Rate Revenue Requirements graph distributed by Financial Planning ManagerChaw. Financial Planning Manager Chaw reported that staff has als.o reviewed a study conducted by the Ame�ican Water Vllorks Association (AWWA) on the elasticity of water pricing and the factors contributing to the decline in revenues for water. Chaw stated that the study's basic conclusion was that there are many factors affecting water usage 6ut trying to identify the relative contributions of each factor was very difficult. Financial Planning Manager Chaw and Mayor Lewis addressed questions asked by Vice-Chair Peloza regarding how fhe increase in precipitation, weather and economic conditions affected water usage. Page 2 of 7 Financial Planning'Manager Ghaw stated that 2010 was the year that the City lost one of its wholesale water purcFiasers, in response to a question asked by Member Osborne. Member Osborne pointed out that the year with the highest amount of rainfall, 2010, was also the year with the highest amount of non-single;family water usage. Mayor Lewis stated that staff is looking into the anomaly. Director powdy poirrted out that Boeing has been decreasing their water usage due to their programs to recycle their plant water. The Committee agreed that the proposed increase, although difficult, is necessary and can be justified. Chairman Wagner sta#ed that the commitment that needs to be made is to complete a Cost of Service Study within the next year,and potentially adjust the rates in accordance to that study. Chairman Wagnee proposed that the Gommittee move forward to recommend that Council approve the proposed utility rate increases at the last Committee Meeting in April 2012 and committee to conducting a Cost of Service Study for all of the utilities.The Committee agreed. Mayor Lewis confirmed the schedule.for moving the ordinance forward, in response to a quest'ion:asked by Member Osborne. Vice-Chair Peloza went over some of his calculations on the proposed rates for the water and sewer utilities. B. Ordinance No. 6400 (Coleman) An Ordinance of the City Council of the Ciry of Auburn, Washington, amending Ordinance No. 6339, the 2011-2012 Bienniaf Budget Ordinance as amended by Ordinance No. 6351, Ordinance No. 6352, Ordinance No. 6362, Ordinance No. 6370, Ordinance No. 6378 and Ordinance No:6379 authorizing amendment to the City of Auburn 2011-2012 Budget as set forth in Schedule "A" Financial Planning Manager Chaw explained that there are typically three budget amendments every year, and Ordinance No. 6400, if approved, will introduce and adopt budget amendment number7, the first amendment in 2012. The budget amendment will recogn'ize#he spending authority for commitments that the City;made in 2011 and has not yet spent and will carry the amounts over to 2012. Financial Planning Manager Chaw reviewed some of the projects for which the funds are being carried over to 2012 from 2011. Mayor Lewis confirmed that there were funds remaining for the Airport runway lighting p�oject which are being carried forward and assigned'to another project, in response to inquiries made by Vice-Chair Peloza and Member Osbome. Page 3 of 7 Financial Planning Manager Chaw answered questions asked by Chairman Wagner regarding the fund balance for the 103 fund and the 505 fund. Vice-Chair Peloza asked for the total amourrt of the carry over for construction projects from 2011 to 2012., Chaw answered that the amount is $21.2M of appropriations are being carried over from 2011. Financial Planning Manager Chaw explained that one of the reasons why the Golf Course is running at a loss is due to fhe decline in rounds played and one of the ways to mitigate the loss is to move the debt service out of the operations cost cente�and into a debt service cost center, in response to a question asked by Vice-Chair Peloza. Mayor Lewis stated thaf doing so wiil provide a more accurate account of th.e performance of the Golf Course. Financial Planning Manager Chaw answered questions regarding the request to increase the budget for the Ciry's unemployment insurance line item, asked by Member Os6orne. The Committee and Financial Planning Manager reviewed the budget - amendment totals. Director powdy spoke abouYthe obligation of grant funds. Mayor Lewis stated that there need to be upgrades made to the audio/video equipment in Council Chambers, in response to a question asked by Vice- Chair Peloza. C. NPDES II 2011 Annual Report (Carlaw/Thorn) Water Quality Goordinator Thorn explained that the public review and comment period of the City's Storm Water Management Program is beginning. The document must be updated yearly as one of the requirements of the municipal stormwater permit which was issued by the Department of Ecology. Chairman Wagner asked if the state is planning to reduce the requirements _ _ for the permit. Water Quality Coordinator Thorn answered that it is not yet certain if the requirements will change. The 5-.year permit was issued in 2007 and expired in Febniary 2012 and unde�state law, the City must operate under the reguirements of the previous permit until the new permit is issued. The programs started under the last permit will continue for the remainder of 2012. 1Nater Quality Coordinator Thorn stated fhat the state is planning to issue a 1-yearpermit in August 2012 and a 5-year permit in August 2013. Chairman Wagner and Mayor Lewis spoke about sending #he City's concerns regarding the permit and clean water requirements to the state legislature. Page 4 of 7 Water Qualiry Coordinator Thorn responded to questions asked by Chairman VNagner regarding the requirements for fhe Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). Thorn explained that the state has assigned how much as a particular parameter each jurisdiction can released to a water body. Water (�uality Coordinator Thorn s#a#ed that fhere is a requirement to monitor the discharge from Miil Pond to the White River. Thom stated that the monitoring requirements will not change with the proposed 1-year permit. There are additional beside fecai chloroform TMDLs that the state is working to implement. Water Quality Coordinatoc Thom responded to questions asked by Chairman Wagner regarding how staff monitors best program practice management. Water Quality Coordinator Thorn briefed the Committee on the City's car wash kit program. Thorn reported that 'in 2011, the City provided Jiffy Lube on Aubum Way N a car wash kiYfor them to keep on site, as it is a very popular location for charity car washed to be held. Thorn explained that the program has been revised so that kits are not check out until staff has reviewed the location of the car wash to make sure the kif will work on the site. Chairman Wagne� recommended loaning kits to more businesses. The Committee and staff discussed possible ways to prevent elicit discharge into the storm drains during car wash events. D. Parking Ordinance (Dowdy/Heid) Vice-Chair Peloza stated that he and Member Osbome had reviewed Ordinance No. 6404 at the Municipal Services Committee Meeting. The Committee supported introduction and adoption of Ordinance No. 6404 regarcJing parking large vehicles in residential zones. E. Capital Project Status Report (Gaub) Item 10— C207A=A street NW Corridor— Phase 1: Assistant City Engineer Gaub verified the funding amounts in response to an inquiry from Vice- Chair Peloza. Item 12— CR1116 — Downtown Pedestrian Lighting Re�lacement: Chairman Wagner asked if the April finish date will be met. Assistant City Engineer Gaub answered that the scope of the project includes replacing.the,streetlights on Main Street on the existing foundations. The materialsfor the project are currently being procured, the poles are being built.,Assistant City Engineer Gaub stated once the poles are delivered the project will not take long to complete the installation of the poles. Page 5 of 7 Member Osborne verified that local businesses will be notified prior to the period when parking will be restricted; during installation of the _ poles. Assistant City Engineer Gaub confirmed that to be correct. Item 17—CP0915 - Well 1 Improvements-Transmission Lines: Assistant City Engineer Gaub stated that the goal is to get the project under construction while M StreetSE is closed and there is less traffic, in response to a question asked by Chairman Wagner regarding the project's finish date. Item 19 —CP1112—20t1/2012 Sidewalk Improvement Project: Assistant City Engineer Gaub stated that a vicinity map of the locations included in the projecYs scope of work was presented to the Committee in2011 and verified that one of the locations is Harvey Road, between 8th Street NE and Auburn Way N. Vice-Chair Peloza asked virhen the interim repair work will begin on the sidewalks on Harvey Road. Mayor Lewis answered; probably when the weather is drier. Assistant Director/City Engineer Selle pointed out that staff has been focusing on cleanup efforts following the January storms. The Committee and staff discussed building sidewalks in the Les Gove Campus area and�that communitie's previous response to a proposed LID, following an inquiry made by Member Osborne. Item 23 & 24—CP1118 & CP1119—Aubum Way South Corridor Imorovements: Chairman Wagner asked why the project cannot be completed sooner:Assistant City Engineer Gaub answered that the Fir Street to Hemlock Street portion of the project includes a significant amount of environmental work and the Dogwood Stree4 to Fir Street portion is federally funded and that also slows down the process. . Assistant City Engineer Gaub pointed out that the project also includes Right-of-Way accjuisition which can extend the time to complete the project. F. Activities Matrix (Dowdy) Item B —Street Lightiriac Director powdy reported that the City has just received more data from PSE and the GIS staff is currently analyzing the data and there is field work that needs to be completed. Director powdy confirmed that staff is planning to bring fhe top'ic to the Committee for discussion in mid to late April. Director powdy spoke about the quality of the data being gathered and the benefits to the customers. Item D —Transportation Benefit District: Director powdy addressed Page 6 of 7 questions asked by Chairman Wagner regarding the item's estimated completion date. V. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to_come before 4he Public Works Committee, the meeting was adjoumed at 4:38 p.m. Approved this 19th day of March, 2012. / < �� ' /�,r� Ri�Wagner ,ertnif�Rigsb C#�irman Public Warks IT��hy ent ecretery � _ Page 7 of?