HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-05-2012 * * Public Works Committee
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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Member Osborne verified that local businesses will be notified prior to the
period when parking will be restricted; during installation of the
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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
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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.
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