HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-23-2017 MinutesA
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WASHINGTON
CALL TO ORDER
City Council Study Session PWCC
October 9, 2017 - 5:30 PM
Council Chambers - City Hall
MINUTES
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Deputy Mayor Largo Wales called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. in the
Council Chambers of Auburn City Hall located at 25 West Main Street, Auburn.
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Councilmembers present: Deputy Mayor Largo Wales, Bob Baggett,
Claude DaCorsi, John Holman, Bill Peloza, and Yolanda Trout -Manuel.
Councilmember Rich Wagner arrived at 5:31 p.m.
Mayor Nancy Backus and the following department directors and staff
members were present: City Attorney Daniel B. Heid, Police Commander
Steve Stocker, Community Development and Public Works Director Kevin
Snyder, Assistant Director of Engineering Services/City Engineer Ingrid
Gaub, Innovation and Technology Director Paul Haugan, Assistant
Director of Community Development Services Jeff Tate, Human
Resources and Risk Management Director Rob Roscoe, Environmental
Services Specialist Maggie Gipson, Economic Development Manager
Doug Lein, Capital Projects Manager Ryan Vondrak, Assistant Director of
Innovation and Technology Ashley Riggs, GIS Specialist Alice Pence,
and City Clerk Danielle Daskam.
II. ANNOUNCEMENTS, REPORTS, AND PRESENTATIONS
Councilmember Holman announced today is Columbus Day, which is a federal
holiday, but not a state holiday. He also noted that Indigenous Peoples Day was
celebrated at the state capitol in Olympia today. Councilmember Holman
acknowledged the contributions of Italian Americans to the quality of life in the
city of Auburn.
III. AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION
A. Ordinance No. 6658 -Modifying the Business Improvement Area Governing
Provisions (Hinman)
An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Auburn, Washington, creating a new
chapters of the Auburn City Code related to the Auburn Business I mprovement Area
Economic Development Manager Doug Lein presented Ordinance No.
6658 related to the Business Improvement Area (BIA). Also in
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attendance were members of the BIA Committee of Ratepayers Giovanni
DiQuattro, Ronnie Roberts, Laura Theimer, and Bob Klontz.
Manager Lein stated the BIA was originally established in 1988 by
Ordinance No. 4293. The BIA ordinance was amended in 2007. The
current Committee of Ratepayers has worked diligently to update the BIA
ordinance with the following changes: creates a new chapter in Title 2 of
the city code, and modifies exemptions to the special assessment. The
range of fees is dependent on the range on square footage of retail
space. Two exemptions were maintained for government and 501(C)(3)
nonprofits with five or less full-time employees. The ordinance retains the
BIA boundary and fees.
IV. PUBLIC WORKS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSION ITEMS
Councilmember Rich Wagner, chair of the Public Works and Community
Development Special Focus Area, presided over the meeting during discussion
of the Special Focus Area items.
A. Sound Transit Auburn Station Access Improvement Project Update (30 Minute
Presentation)
Community Development and Public Works Director Snyder introduced
Chelsea Levy, Government and Community Relations Officer for Sound
Transit, and Sandra Fann, Project Engineer for Sound Transit.
In early 2017, Sound Transit initiated the alternative development and
screening phase for the Auburn Station Access Improvements Project,
which will construct a second parking garage and install non -motorized
improvements in and around downtown. Throughout 2017, Sound Transit
has worked with the Citys Transportation Advisory Board, residents,
citizens and businesses to identify potential parking garage sites and
options for non -motorized improvements. The last presentation to Council
was on August 14, 2017.
Ms. Levy reported that Sound Transit would like to designate a preferred
parking garage site by the end of November. She stated that Sound
Transit is looking for the City of Auburn to designate a recommended site.
Ms. Fann reviewed the project timeline, which anticipates the parking
garage will be open in 2023.
Ms. Fann also recapped the goals and objectives: improve access to
transit at the station, advance environmental sustainability goals of Sound
Transit and the community, implementation of improvements in a timely
manner, and support regional and community goals.
Ms. Fann reviewed the four sites recommended for further analysis and
the rating criteria.
Site 1 provides approximately 545 net sites. Key considerations include
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reasonable access for cars and passengers, higher potential for traffic
congestion, and property development rights and constraints that may
impact cost.
Site 2 provides approximately 580 net sites. Key considerations include
reasonable access for cars and passengers, lower potential for traffic
congestion, and property acquisition, site constraints, business relocation,
and pedestrian bridge that will influence cost.
Site 3 provides approximately 525 net sites. Key considerations for this
site include: easiest access for passengers and cars, lower potential for
traffic congestion, and an extremely constrained site that requires more
garage structure per stall.
Site 4 provides approximately 550 net sites. Key considerations include:
could be connected to existing garage for easy access for passengers,
reasonable access for cars, higher potential for traffic congestion, and
property acquisition and site constraints will influence cost.
In response to question from Councilmember Peloza, Ms. Levy stated a
significant amount of parking will be added to the Sound Transit line over
the next few years, but adequate parking will never be possible.
Therefore, it is important to make the access improvements and non -
motorized improvements.
Ms. Fann reviewed the potential priority for non -motorized improvements.
The estimated cost for the highest priority improvements is $0.9 million.
Ms. Levy reviewed the public outreach summary, particularly the open
house held on September 19, 2017. Ms. Levy reported that Sound
Transit officials met with the Auburn Transportation Advisory Board on
September 27, 2017.
Assistant Director Gaub reported that the Transportation Advisory Board
meeting on September 27, 2017 did not have a quorum of its 15
members. Of the members and audience present, there was support for:
maximizing the amount of parking for the chosen site and minimizing traffic
impacts including ingress/egress of the garage. There was a lack of
support for Site 3 (existing Sound Transit surface lot west of the station)
and Site 4 (the union hall south of the station).
Councilmember Wagner recommended Sound Transit look at alternative
proposals and requested language in the recommending resolution.
The matter will be considered at the October 16, 2017 Council meeting.
At 6:54 p.m., Councilmember Wagner recessed the meeting for a 10 -minute
intermission. The meeting reconvened at 6:54 p.m.
B. IT Update on Emerging Technologies (Haugan) (10 Minutes)
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Assistant Director of Innovation and Technology Ashley Riggs, provided
information on emerging technologies via three videos and a live
demonstration.
The three short videos were all recorded with the use of the City's drone
program. The first video was of the Auburn Golf Course, and will be used
for marketing and on the golf course web site. The second video was a
3D model of downtown. The third video displayed use of aerial imaging
and elevation data to create a model.
Assistant Director Riggs also demonstrated a virtual GIS system that
allows one to view underground assets, such as utility lines, and their
attributes.
C. Capital Project Status Report (Snyder) (10 Minutes)
Assistant Director of Engineering Services/City Engineer Gaub and
Capital Projects Manager Vondrak presented the Capital Projects Status
Report. The capital project group is currently managing 33 active projects
with a total cost of $54 million. Of these projects, 11 are in the design
phase and 21 are under construction.
Councilmembers reviewed the status report and briefly discussed the
following projects: Project C222A, 277th — Auburn Way North to Green
River Bridge; CP1218, Auburn Way South Corridor Safety; CP1507,
Auburn Way North Pavement Preservation; Project CP1107, Fulmer
Wellfield Improvement Project; Project CP1513, 22"d Street NE and I
Street NE Intersection Improvements; Project CP1511, M Street SE
Improvements; Project CP0767, Mohawk Plastic Wetland Mitigation
Monitoring; Project CP1520, B Street NW Reconstruction; Project
CP1701, Auburn Way South Dynamic Message Sign; Project CP1317,
Water Meter and Billing System Improvements; and Project CP1416, F
Street SE Non -motorized Improvements.
D. Customer Service Dilemmas - Session 1 (Snyder) (10 Minutes)
Assistant Director of Community Development Services Tate reviewed
two customer service dilemmas that are typical for his staff. Assistant
Director Tate stated the discussion this evening is a continuation of the
study session discussion held on August 28, 2017, which included an
overview of the various types of development activities conducted by
staff. He stated the customer service dilemmas challenge the City in its
attempts to balance the interests of various customers and their competing
needs.
The first scenario was a request from an applicant for expedited permit
approval where project financing is dependent upon permit approval.
Assistant Director Tate outlined the considerations in the scenario and
different approaches to assist the customer.
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The second real-life scenario was a request from an architect to approve
plans for a warehouse in a C-3 zone, where the owner has already spent
$30,000 in building and site design work, and an occupant for the
building. However, warehouses are not allowed in the C-3 zone.
Director Tate questioned whether City staff should be able to flex to find a
way to approve the plans in order to satisfy the customer so that the City
does not appear unfriendly to development.
E. Ordinance No. 6660 - EP to M-1 Area -wide Rezone (Snyder) (10 Minutes)
Assistant Director of Community Development Services Tate presented
Ordinance No. 6660, which was discussed at the September 25, 2017
study session and provides for an area wide rezone from Environmental
Park (EP) zone to M-1, Light Industrial.
Assistant Director Tate explained when Council adopted the 2015
Comprehensive Plan amendments (Ordinance No. 6584) the EP zone
was eliminated as a zoning designation. The elimination of the EP
designation in the Comprehensive Plan resulted in an inconsistency with
the zoning regulations, and it is important to eliminate the inconsistency.
Assistant Director Tate reviewed principles and considerations. Land use
policy decision should be based on: awareness of market forces,
balancing both the public and the private short-term and long-term needs
and interests, maximizing the public's return on investment on land uses,
and the original concept of the EP zone envisioned the development and
use of incentives to help lure green industry.
Assistant Director Tate noted properties zoned EP on the north side of
Main Street are primarily small parcels that are already developed with a
mix of light manufacturing uses and single-family homes. EP zoned lands
located on the south side of Main Street consist of larger parcels with
nearly no existing residential uses. For those parcels that are already
developed, all of them are non -conforming.
Assistant Director Tate reviewed the Planning Commission's
recommendation relative to Ordinance No. 6660 and four possible
motions for Council's consideration.
Motion 1 — adopt the Planning Commission's recommendation to adopt
Ordinance No. 6660.
Motion 2 - remand Ordinance No. 6660 back to the Planning Commission
for further consideration.
Motion 3 — accept the Planning Commission's recommendation to adopt
Ordinance No. 6660 for only the geographic area defined as properties
located south of Main Street and remand back to the Planning
Commission for reconsideration the area defined as the properties north
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of Main Street.
Motion 4 — Council scheduled its own public hearing on Ordinance No.
6660.
Deputy Mayor Wales spoke in favor of moving on and changing the zoning
by adopting Ordinance No. 6660.
Councilmember Wagner spoke in favor of Motion 3.
Councilmember Peloza spoke in favor of remanding the ordinance back to
the Planning Commission.
Mayor Backus recommended adoption of Ordinance No. 6660 to eliminate
the inconsistency between the Comprehensive Plan and the zoning code.
There was no other discussion.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business.
VII. MATRIX
A. Matrix
Deputy Mayor Wales directed the Council's attention to the matrix.
Councilmember Wagner requested that the subject of traffic calming in
residential neighborhoods be added to the general discussion items at the
November 27th study session.
Councilmember Peloza expressed concern about the infrequency of the
special focus area meetings. He stated under the old system of Council
committees, the committees were meeting on a monthly basis, and in the
current system of special focus areas, he is unable to bring items forward
in a quick manner. Councilmember Peloza complained that he recalled
under the committee system that staff members were bringing more topics
for discussion, while under the special focus area format the chair and vice
chair must come up with topics for discussion. Deputy Mayor Wales
stated all special focus area chairs collaborate with staff on the items to be
brought forward.
Deputy Mayor Wales suggested discussing the special focus areas scope
of authority.
Councilmember Peloza requested the item "police calls for mental health
issues" be added back on the October 23rd special focus area.
Councilmember Baggett recommended moving "Council budget priorities"
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to the November 27th special focus area.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 9.03 p.m.
APPROVED this 2 day of ���� , 2019.
BILL PELOZA, DEPUTY MAYOR Shawn Campbell, City Clerk
Agendas and minutes are available to the public at the City Clerk's Office, on the City website
(http://www.aubumwa.gov), and via e-mail. Complete agenda packets are available for review
at the City Clerk's Office.
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