HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-23-2015 MinutesA-:� City Council Study Session
®.T- �TBURITT February 23, City - all PM
1 slJ Ju lJ Itl�l Auburn City Hall
WAS IIINGT °N MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
Deputy Mayor John Holman called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. in the
Council Chambers at Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street in Auburn.
A. Roll Call
City Councilmembers present: Deputy Mayor Holman, Rich Wagner, Bill
Peloza, Largo Wales, Wayne Osborne, Claude DaCorsi, and Yolanda
Trout.
City officials and staff members present included: Mayor Nancy Backus,
Community Development and Public Works Director Kevin Snyder,
Utilities Engineering Manager Lisa Tobin; Assistant City Engineer Jacob
Sweeting, Assistant Director of Engineering Services /City Engineer Ingrid
Gaub, Water Utility Engineer Susan Fenhaus, Assistant Director of
Community Development Services Jeff Tate, Urban Design Planner
Lauren Flemister, Water Quality Programs Coordinator Chris Thorn, IT
Customer Support Manager Reba Stowe, IT Operations Manager Ashley
Riggs, Parks, Arts and Recreation Director Daryl Faber, Director of
Administration Michael Hursh, Police Commander David Colglazier,
Financial Planning Manager Bob Brooks, Emergency Preparedness
Manager Sarah Miller, Assistant City Attorney Neil Wachter, and City
Clerk Danielle Daskam.
AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION
A. Stormwater Management Program Update (10 minutes) (Snyder)
A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Auburn, Washington,
approving the 2015 Stormwater Management Program Plan and
authorizing the Mayor to include a copy of the program plan in the
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Western Washington
Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit Annual Report for 2014 to the
Washington State Department of Ecology
Water Quality Programs Coordinator Chris Thorn, along with Storm
Drainage Engineer Tim Carlaw, presented a brief review of the
Stormwater Management Program Plan. The Stormwater Management
Program Plan and its annual update is a requirement of the City's
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued
by the Washington State Department of Ecology. The Plan includes
requirements for public participation and outreach, illicit discharge
detection and elimination, controlling runoff from new development,
redevelopment and construction sites, municipal operations and
Page 1 of 7
maintenance, and compliance with total maximum daily load
requirements and monitoring. The public comment period starts today
with a public hearing on the Plan scheduled for March 16, 2015.
Mr. Thorn noted the Council agenda packet includes a copy of the
Annual Report for 2014 for the NPDES permit. Mr. Thorn reviewed
2014's accomplishments and highlights of the 2015 Plan. The 2015
Plan provides for actively implementing new requirements of the NPDES
permit and monitoring requirements, participation in stormwater outreach
opportunities, providing stewardship opportunities, continuing a program
to detect and remove illicit discharges and connections, mapping for
stormwater utility asset management, and developing a stormwater
management manual.
In response to a question from Councilmember Wagner, Mr.
Thorn explained the NPDES permit requires inspection of 100 percent of
catch basins during the first four years of the permit, and the goal is to
inspect 25 percent of the catch basins annually. Councilmember Wagner
questioned how the Plan looks to new technologies for stormwater
treatment and management. Storm Utility Engineer Carlaw responded
the City follows the new technologies approved by the Department of
Ecology and through Washington State Department of Transportation.
New technologies are applied through development review and in the
Stormwater Management Manual for new development and
redevelopment.
Councilmember Wales questioned the types of illicit discharges that
could occur. Mr. Thorn explained examples of illicit discharges include
the spill of vehicle fluids at an auto accident, paint dumped in a storm
drain, and dumping of animal waste in the street. Illicit connections
include an unauthorized piped discharge into the storm drainage system.
Councilmember Peloza questioned whether pet waste stations should be
installed at each city park.
Councilmember Osborne recommended the inclusion of a definition for
pervious pavement in the definition and acronym section.
B. System Development Charges - Fee Update (30 minutes) (Snyder)
Assistant Director of Engineering Services /City Engineer Ingrid and
Utilities Engineering Manager Lisa Tobin presented information on
proposed changes to system development charges (SDCs) for utility
services.
Manager Tobin explained some of the information was previously
provided to committees in 2014. This evening's agenda packet includes
a summary of previous discussions, the consultant's report from FCS
Group, and a letter from the Master Builders Association.
SDCs are charges for new development to "buy in" to connect to existing
utility systems. They are collected as part of the building permit Page 2 of 7
process. SDCs are for building new or expanded utilities to support
current and future growth and development in the city (not for operations
and maintenance). SDCs provide for intergenerational equity between
existing and new customers for the cost of the utility systems. SDCs are
based on the Capital Program costs of the existing and future utility
systems for upgrade and expansion. The Capital Program is based on
the Comprehensive Plans approved by the Council.
Manager Tobin reviewed the current system development charges for
single - family residence: $2,424.00 water SDC for 3/4 inch water meter,
$850.00 sewer SDC per Residential Customer Equivalent, and $1,162.00
storm SDC per Equivalent Service Unit. The current SDCs have been in
effect since 2006. The sewer SDC has not had a significant increase
since 1996.
The City's consultant evaluated the City's SDCs by analyzing the value of
the existing utility systems, the cost of necessary expansions and
upgrades needed over the next 20 years based on a one percent growth
rate, and proposed revisions to the SDCs based on existing value and
future costs divided by existing and future customers.
Some of the major utility infrastructure projects (existing and future)
include: purchase of water capacity from Tacoma Pipeline 5, building
and improving wells and treatment facilities, expansion of Coal Creek
and West Hill water supply facilities, identified the need for a new valley
reservoir and water pump station expansions, need for new sewer and
storm water interceptors and pump stations, and need for a new regional
storm water improvements.
Staff recommends the SDCs should be updated because policy
decisions made during comprehensive planning processes include
identifying system expansion needs, system expansion costs change
over time due to inflation and increased regulatory requirements, charges
based on outdated costs and growth projections will not collect sufficient
revenue for desired improvements or to meet level -of- service
expectations, need to reflect new cost and growth projections to ensure
future customers are paying their fair share of costs for the systems, and
utility comprehensive plan policies state that "growth pays for growth ".
The SDC evaluation considered multiple options to meet revenue needs.
In 2014, the Public Works and Planning and Community Development
Committees recommended implementing a full increase in 2015. Other
options include adjusting 2006 rates only for inflation, phasing in the
required increase over a three -year period, and phasing in the
required increase over a five -year period.
The recommended SDC changes are (based on single family home):
Water SDC from existing $2,424.00 to $6,272.00
Sewer SDC from existing $850.00 to $2,327.00
Storm SDC no change to existing $1,162.00 proposed
Page 3 of 7
Councilmember Peloza asked for information on the Metro costs as well.
Manager Tobin presented a comparison of SDC charges for surrounding
utility providers. Auburn's existing water and sewer SDC charges are low
by comparison. The proposed charges would increase Auburn's charges
so that Auburn's rates are in the mid range of surrounding utility
providers.
Manager Tobin reviewed the former Public Works and Planning and
Community Development Committees' recommendations to: implement
the full change in water and sewer SDCs in 2015, use the same SDC for
3/4 inch and one -inch meters for all water customers, storm SDC will
remain unchanged in 2015, and base future annual increases for water,
sewer and storm SDCs on Construction Cost Index (CCI) adjustments,
but not less than 0% per year.
City Engineer Gaub reported the SDCs will be reviewed annually in the
future. Manager Tobin reported the consultant's evaluation report
contains a chart on the revenue generated under the three scenarios for
implementing the new charges.
Councilmember Wagner spoke in favor of implementing the full increase
in SDCs as proposed. Councilmembers Peloza and Osborne
concurred.
Manager Tobin stated an ordinance will be presented at the Council's
regular meeting on March 16, 2015 for consideration.
C. Comprehensive Water Plan (30 minutes) (Snyder)
Water Utility Engineer Susan Fenhaus and Utilities Engineering
Manager Lisa Tobin reviewed portions of the Comprehensive Water
Plan, including Chapters 1, 10 -12 and the Executive Summary.
Councilmembers reviewed the Executive Summary. In response to
questions from Councilmembers, Engineer Fenhaus explained that
Figure 6.4 represents the utility's ability to pump based on a maximum
daily demand and also reflects the largest source or largest pump out of
service. Councilmember Wagner suggested including all interties in the
scenario when the largest source /pump is out of service.
Deputy Mayor Holman asked staff to perform a historical search of the
policy to consider interties in determining the City's ability to pump.
There were no comments on Chapter 1, Introduction, of the Plan.
Councilmembers reviewed Chapter 10, Capital Improvements Plan, of
the Plan. Engineer Fenhaus referred Council to pages 10 -23 and 10 -24,
which set out the Capital Improvement Program.
Councilmember Osborne expressed concern with the amount spPR ;9a of 7
emergency and backup power systems for wells and pump stations.
Manager Tobin stated backup power systems are necessary to provide
for public safety and for public health in the event of a major emergency.
Councilmembers briefly discussed cost estimates and planning level
estimates.
Councilmembers reviewed Chapter 11, Financial. Engineer
Fenhaus reported the chapter includes the current 2014 system
development charges.
Councilmembers reviewed Chapter 12, Operations and Maintenance.
Councilmember Wagner requested more details on the benefits of
Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI).
D. Public Works Project No. CP1412, Community Center Youth Center
Conceptual Design Discussion (30 minutes) (Snyder)
The Community Center Youth Center presentation was provided
immediately following Item III.A of these minutes.
Assistant City Engineer Jacob Sweeting and Stan Lokting, Principal
Architect of ARC Architects, presented an update and the schematic
design (30% design level) for the community and youth centers at Les
Gove Community Campus. The scope of the project includes 21,000
square feet of space, of which approximately 7,000 square feet will be a
remodel of the existing Parks administration building. Assistant City
Engineer Sweeting reviewed the project schedule. Design is scheduled
to be complete in June 2.015 and bids solicited and awarded by August
2015. Construction is targeted to be complete in June 2016. The project
budget is $9 million.
Mr. Lokting reviewed the public outreach and engagement efforts with
city officials and the community, which led to a series of guiding
principles. Mr. Lokting reviewed the site plan, which was developed
using a guiding concept to preserve open space by not building in the
open areas east of the existing buildings. Mr. Lokting spoke regarding
connections to the park and major primary indoor spaces to outdoor
spaces adjacent to them. All of the new parking (69 spaces) will occur
adjacent to the centers and buffers will be constructed to mitigate the
impact on neighboring residences. Appropriate lighting will be installed
for safety and wayfinding.
Mr. Lokting reviewed the floor plans for the youth center and community
center. Mr. Lokting pointed out shared areas. The youth center includes
multi - functional space intended for informal uses such as gathering,
games and socializing as well as an arts classroom, computer lab, youth
center staff offices and an entry and reception area.
Mr. Lokting stated the men's and women's restrooms are part of the
shared area and will be updated. The kitchen will be remodeled and will
serve as a teaching kitchen and a warming kitchen. There will b ge 5 of 7
shared classroom between the two. The lobby serves as the connection
between the youth center and the community center. The community
center will includes a reception desk that is adjacent to Parks staff. A
lounge area with a fireplace looks out to a view of the park.
The community center includes a fitness room, staff administration
offices, support spaces and a multi -use space, and a 3,500 square foot
multi - purpose room, which can accommodate 200 to 275 seated people
for dinner or up to 500 unseated people. The large multi - purpose room
can be divided into three separate rooms, with a storage room for each.
There was brief discussion regarding the size and operation of the
kitchen and the number of fixtures in the restrooms.
Councilmember Wagner suggested eliminating the fireplace.
Councilmember Osborne spoke in favor of retaining the fireplace.
Mr. Lokting reported the roof shape and walls allow for future installation
of solar panels. HVAC will be standard roof -mount units that will meet
the LEED certification requirements.
Councilmember Wagner requested an opportunity to discuss movable
storage units with the design team.
In response to questions from Councilmember Wagner regarding
potential future expansion of the facilities, Mr. Lokting stated another bay
could be added to the east and would encroach in to the park and may
get very close to the bocce courts.
E. Resolution No 5129 - Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (15
minutes) (Hursh)
A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Auburn, Washington,
adopting the City of Auburn Comprehensive Emergency Management
Plan (CEMP)
Emergency Preparedness Manager Sarah Miller presented Resolution
No. 5129 adopting the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan
(CEMP). By law, the City is required to update its plan every four years;
the last Plan was adopted in 2009. The Plan serves as a City -wide guide
to all disaster response, _recovery, mitigation and planning efforts
conducted by the City. The Plan follows the national standard.
Deputy Mayor Holman suggested an educational session where
Manager Miller could brief the Council on the expectations of Council
during a disaster event.
F. Resolution No. 5133 - Auburn Design Standards (10 minutes) (Snyder)
A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Auburn, Washington,
amending the City of Auburn Design Standards for its Downtown Urban
Center Zone
Assistant Director of Community Development Services Jeff Tate
and Urban Design Planner Lauren Flemister presented Resolution No.
Page 6 of 7
5133 amending the City's design standards for the Downtown Urban
Center zoning district. The amendments eliminate awnings as a required
design feature on downtown buildings in favor of allowing awnings as an
optional feature with design guidelines.
The proposed amendments are in response to concerns expressed at
the Business Summit. The language of the proposed standards provides
guidance on how to achieve awning and canopy designs that enhance
the attractiveness of downtown. The amendments clarify the purpose of
awnings, lighting requirements for awnings, and materials and styles that
are considered appropriate for downtown.
Planner Flemister stated a Fagade Improvement Program will be
implemented this year. Funding of $200,000.00 has been budgeted for
the program. The program details have not been finalized but may
include grants, low- interest loans, in -kind contributions and cash
contributions by business owners.
III. OTHER DISCUSSION ITEMS
Councilmember Wales reported the ad hoc committee on committees is
expected to report on its activities at the March 23rd study session.
IV. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 7:41 p.m.
APPROVED this o20'� day of 2015.
Nlnnhi
NANCY A < , MAYOR Ddrilielle Daskam, City Clerk
Page 7 of 7