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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Works/Planning - 10/02/1990 �X Cle� PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE RECEIVED OCTOBER 2 , 1990 Ul,'I 124 IyyU CITY ADMINISTRATION PRESENT: Jim White Gary Gill Leona Orr Tim Heydon Steve Dowell Norm Angelo Don Wickstrom Mr. and Mrs. Rust Jim Hansen Al Varney Carol Morris L. I. D. 331 - S.E. 240th Street Improvements Wickstrom explained that at the beginning of this project we had attempted to form two LID's - one for sewer and the other for the street improvements. The one for sewer failed; however, the street LID was formed. In conjunction with the street improvement, we installed sewer crossings so that as properties developed they would be able to connect to sewer without cutting the road. The cost for these crossings was approximately $50, 000. We had originally planned to include this cost in the LID; however, the LID costs have exceeded our original estimates. Thus, since the cost of the sewer crossings are a legitimate expense of the sewer utility, it is proposed to pay for this from the unencumbered sewer fund. This will keep the LID assessments closer to the original estimate. White asked if we have done this type of thing before. Wickstrom explained it is not an uncommon practice and we did the same type of thing on the Kent Kangley improvement project. Wickstrom added that once the LID is finalized we will be asking for a charge in lieu of assessment so that when the properties connect they would reimburse the sewer fund for their appropriate share of the cost. The Committee unanimously recommended approval to transfer the $50, 000 from the unencumbered sewer funds. 272nd/277th Corridor Wickstrom explained that we had previously met with members of King County Council, King County Executive' s office and King County Public Works Department regarding this project. They have asked us to defer finalizing our Environmental Impact Statement until January to enable them to do some technical analyses as to how our proposed alignments would fit with the proposed alignments of their extension of the corridor to Highway 18 . King County also wanted to receive additional citizen input on their route alignment. Wickstrom stated he would like formal Council concurrence with this request. White asked when we are at risk of losing funding for the corridor. Wickstrom stated that if Initiative 547 is approved then the gas tax issue is in question and that will jeopardize the funding. White questioned if Council needs to be looking at their Public Works Committee October 2, 1990 Page 2 priorities and possibly thinking about the 192nd/196th Corridor. White asked what would happen if the City determined not to build the corridors. Wickstrom explained there were no other solutions. The minor improvements to the existing system have been completed and we still have intersections and roads at or exceeding capacity. We know the 272nd/277th corridor provides a lot of benefit to our East Hill area and to the Valley area along the 516 corridor, much more relief than the 192nd/196th corridor would provide initially. The Committee unanimously recommended the City defer the completion of their EIS on the 272nd/277th corridor until January. Street Utility Wickstrom stated the growth management act requires concurrence of the transportation system with the land use plan in order to allow continued development. White asked if development could be shut down unless the City improves its transportation system to comply with its comprehensive plan. Wickstrom stated that we have two to three years before the City's transportation system has to be in concurrence with the land use plan. There are no other intersection improvements available that will improve our service level so the corridor projects become increasingly important. They all have long lead times thus we need to establish financial commitments to get them into the "six year window" so that development can continue to occur. Wickstrom stated he was presenting this information in further support of the street utility. A decision on the street utility needs to be made shortly. Perhaps Council may want to wait until after November to see if Initiative 547 is enacted. If it is, the street utility authority is replaced so there would be nothing on which to act. If it fails, we will need to act on the utility to give us some lead time so we can confirm these projects will be implemented in the six year window. White asked if development would be shut down until we get our intersections back to a D- service level. Wickstrom stated the service level issue will have to be agreed upon by the County and adjacent cities. Growth management states the transportation improvement either has to be built in concurrence with the development or the financial structure committed within a six year financing scheme. The only funding structure we do not have a handle on is the street utility. We have the gas tax, grant funding, LID commitments, and the Vehicle Registration fee recently approved by the County. The final element is the formation of the street utility. TIB has already given us formal approval on the 277th Corridor, west leg of the 196th corridor which ties WVH to Orillia Road and the middle section of the 196th corridor which ties EVH to WVH. There was Public Works Committee October 2 , 1990 Page 3 some discussion of the regional transportation review agency that is established under the growth management act. White asked how a street utility worked. Wickstrom explained the utility sends out a monthly bill. The maximum bill for a single family residence is $2 . 00 per month. Commercial pays a maximum of $2 . 00 per employee. Wickstrom continued the City' s street utility is looking at charging $1.52 per residence/employee. Boeing is apparently supportive of the street utility concept. White commented that Wickstrom should come back to the Committee with a draft action plan after the November election and we know the status of Initiative 547 . Arterial Classification King County has requested reclassification of the 272nd/277th corridor. Currently it is not classified under the federal system. In order to receive TIB funds the route has to be classified according to the Federal system. The County is proposing to classify it as a principal arterial from I-5 to 132nd and a minor arterial east of 132nd. White asked if this classification had any effect on the access. If we do not concur with this reclassification, we would not be eligible for grant money for the project. Orr asked if it would affect the speed limits. Wickstrom explained this purpose is to make the project eligible for funding. The Committee unanimously recommended concurrence with the reclassification. Alternate Fuel Source Heydon reported there are three alternate fuel sources being used in the Seattle area. Metro had a five year study using methanol as an alternate fuel to diesel. Metro is not planning to complete their study as they have had poor reliability with the methanol engines. Pierce County Transit is trying natural gas on some of their busses and Washington Natural Gas and Holmes Electric are trying it on some of their vehicles. Propane and natural gas require a rather bulky tank and fueling techniques are quite different from gasoline. There is also a reduction in power. Heydon stated the City converted several vehicles to propane during the last gas crisis. We are still set up to convert vehicles to propane if needed. Conversion of a vehicle to propane is about $1, 000 to $1, 400. Heydon stated it would be his recommendation that if the situation worsens we could convert vehicles to propane. Orr asked about the safety of propane. Heydon stated there does have to be training on the proper refueling techniques and these have to be adhered to. Norm Angelo supported this. Angelo stated Public Works Committee October 2 , 1990 Page 4 he has to be concerned about readily available fuel supplies for his vehicles responding to emergency situations. He continued it would be very critical not to transfer to an alternate fuel until there is a plentiful supply. Wickstrom stated the last time we converted just those vehicles that were in the top 10% of fuel usage. Some of these were converted to diesel because of the greater MPG offered. White summarized that it is staff recommendation to stay where we are unless there is further rise in price. Heydon stated he was more concerned about availability than price. Dowell stated that in order to address Councilman Mann' s concern we should take some action. The Committee recommended we continue with our present fuel source. Utility Charges Hansen stated he had been contacted by the owner of a duplex concerned about the manner in which he was charged for his utility service. After discussion, the matter was referred to the Public Works Director for action. Proposed LID 218th Street Improvement Mrs. Rust questioned the amount of the preliminary assessment on her property. Wickstrom explained the assessment is based on the zoning of the land and it highest potential use and not the actual use. The Rust's 4 acres are zoned M-1 even though they use it as residential. Mr. and Mrs. Rust asked if the Council members would be at the public meeting on the 18th regarding this LID. Mrs. Rust had questions about the LID covenants signed by other property owners in the area and about the Trammell Crow development using 218th. Mr. and Mrs. Rust were encouraged to attend the public meeting on the 18th at which the staff would be able to respond to all their questions. Pedestrian Crosswalk on S. Central Mr. Varney was present to discuss the possibility of a crosswalk on S. Central in the vicinity of S. 259th. Wickstrom commented we know there is a signal warranted at S. 259th. Crosswalks alone are more dangerous than none since pedestrians perceive they are safe in a crosswalk. Wickstrom indicated the cost for this signal would be $150, 000. Wickstrom added we had made a 1991 budget request for funds for signal improvements but it fell below the cut. It was suggested that Mr. Varney attend the Council meeting tonight and bring it before the Council. Wickstrom stated there is unallocated gas tax money available. White asked Wickstrom to Public Works Committee October 2, 1990 Page 5 determine where this falls in the hazardous intersections. White asked how long it would take to get a signal installed. Wickstrom stated it would take approximately one year due mostly to the fact that we are very short staffed in the Traffic division.