HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-22-2014 (2) ' * �c CITY OF AUBURN
C[TY OF � * TRANSPORTATION, TRANSIT
AND TRAILS COMMITTEE
* January 22, 2014
WAS H I NGTO N
MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Roger Thordarson called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. in Conference Room#2,
located on the second floor of Aubum City Hali, One East Main Street, Aubum, Washington.
CommiBee members present were: Vice-Chair Nick Perius, Lonnie Tealer, Jim Fletcher and?erri
Calnan. Also preserrt during the meeting were: Community DevelopmeM&Public Works Director
Kevin Snyder, Assistant Director of Engineering Services/City Engineer Ingrid Gaub, Traffic
Engineer James Webb, Transportation Planner Joe Welsh and Office Assistant AAolly Noisington.
II. CONSENT AGENDA
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
It was moved by Member Calnan, seconded by Vice-Chair Perius that the Committee approve
the TranspoRation, Transit and Trails Committee minutes for November 27, 2013. Motion
carried.
III. DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION
A. KING COUNTY'S PROPOSED TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT (Webb)
Traffic Engineer Webb informed Committee that Metro has a significant funding shortage and
are proposing to cut 17% of their existing service. King County has been to the Legislature to
try to have a discussion and pass a transportation funding biil, but have not been successful in
that effort.
King County has proposed to implement a transportation benefit district that is county wide,
which would increase salestax by a tenth of a point and introduce a new$60 vehicle
registration fee.
King County is allowed to implement fees up to $100 (maximum) and a .2% sales tax increase
per Washington State Code. Tfie $100 fee is split into two pieces; there's a$20 portion which
can be implemented without voter approval. The remaining $80 portion requires voter approval:
The sales tax increase is expected to generate approximately $50 million dollars in reVenue.
The $60vehicle fee is expected to generate approximately $80 million dollars in revenue. The
total expected revenue is approximately $130 million dollars within the County. This total wiil be
split;60% goes to Metro which is about$75-$78 million dollars and the remaining 40°hbf thaY
which is about$50-$55 miilion dollars is split between unincorporated King County and local
cities. King County will receive abouf$6.2 million and the City of Aubum would receive about
$1:7 million dollars annually.
Member Calnan commented that citizens are very angry right now as theydidn't approv_e the
vote to �educe speed limfts (various locations) and those speed limits were reduced anyhow.
Member Calnan stated this made.Aub.um very hostile as this slowed things up omVHest Valley
Highviray and a few other places, so this should be taken into consideration.
Transoortation`Transit and Trails Committee Januarv22. 2014 '
MINUTES
Traffic Engineer Webb and Assistarrt Director of Engineering Services/City Engineer Gaub
stated the ordinance that reduced those speed limits was repealed at City Council January 21,
2014. Those speed limits will start coming back up after staff completes traffic speed stuclies to
verify tlie apprbpriate speed limits based on engineering standards.
There was a group discussion regarding the proposed vehicle registration fee.
Assistant Director of Engineering Services/City Engineer Gaub added that she touched base
with the County last inreek and the County was unabie to make it to this Transportation, Transit
and Traiis Commit4ee meeting, but are willing to come to the next meeting to go over and
answer some of these group questions. AssistaM Director of Engineering Services/City
Engineer Gaub asked the Committee to gather group questions for King County for the next
Transportation, Transit and Trails Committee meeting. The committee confirmed they would
like the County to attend next Transportation, Transit and Trails Committee meeting.
B. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT& PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION (Snyder)
Community Development & Public Works Director Snyder introduced himself and informed
Committee that he is the new Director of Community Development & Public Works combined
department.
Community Development & Public Works DirectorSnydermentioned he previousiy served the
City of Aubum as the Planning & DevelopmeM Director for about 4 '/:years. After thaf, moved
to Arizona, but has now retumed to Washington.
The department was combined to look for opportunities to streamline operations, take
advarrtage of efficiencies and create horizontal relationships amongst folks that work together
directljr.
The reorganization has set the combined department up in this manor with three core service
areas:
• Engineering Services which is overseen by Ingrid Gaub as the Assistant Director and
City Engineer.
• Maintenance and Operations which is overseen by Randy Bailey as the Assistant
Director.
• Community Development Services which is overseen by Jeff Tate as the Assistant
Director.
Community Development& Public Works Director Snyder assured Committee that while there
have been some major reorganization changes, a lot will not change. The daily things that go
on in the department wili remain as is.
Community Development& Public Works Director Snyder added thathe is not an Engineer by
training, but a Planner by training: BuY more than anything else is he is a generalist.
Community Development 8� Public Works Director Snyder said he has the oppoRun_ity to float in
different areas, but he has assured the department and will assure Corrimittee that he will not
iMrude in areas that are not his area of expertise. There are experts in the departmeri4 and
there is no reason to intrude other than to help.
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' Transoortation. Transit. and Trails Committee Januarv 22, 2014
MINUTES
Chairtnan Thordarson tumed meeting over to Transportation Planner Welsh as the
Transportation, Transitand Trails Committee had previously inquired about o'il train Vaffc
coming through town. There was a small group discussion regarding this topic and group
requested to have BNSF at next Transportation, Transit and Trails meeting to further discuss
this topic.
IV. ADJOURNMENT
There being no furtherbusiness to comeBefore the Transportation, Transit, and Trails Committee,
the meeting was adjoumed at 10:OQ a.m,
�v. �A
Approved this.�_day of' 1'L'b1���Y� , 2014.
�C/' � . (���oy��
Rbg Tho�darson olly H sington
Chairman Public Works Department Office Assistant
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