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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Works/Planning - 03/19/1991 y i PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 19, 1991 PRESENT: JIM WHITE CAROL MORRIS LEONA ORR ED CHOW STEVE DOWELL ED WHITE DON WICKSTROM MR •& MRS RUST TOM BRUBAKER LYLE PRICE GARY GILL Iry Fleming Concerns Jim White stated that Iry Fleming had called him with concerns about trucks turning onto 208th and not being able to make the hill; also not being aware that they cannot turn around once they start up. Mr. Fleming has requested signing which would indicate a potential problem. At this point, Ed White stated he didn't feel that signing would take care of the problem. However, he has written a work order to post two signs on the northeast and southeast corners of East Valley Highway on existing poles indicating that. . . . "this area is not an access to the freeway" . The signs should be ready in the next couple of weeks. Underground Tank Removal Don Wickstrom stated that there were six bids and the low bid was essentially double the budget we had. The tanks are for water and sewer facilities and there are Federal requirements to bring them up to standard by 1992. Thus, we are recommending to proceed with the project, transferring some funds out of existing projects. Committee unanimously agreed for approval of the tank removal project and the budget transfers. Traffic Mitigation Resolution Wickstrom stated that Jon Johnson had asked this item be on the agenda. Carol Morris stated the Public Works Department would continue to review the notification of the developments as has been done in the past, and if there is any impact to Kent's transportation system, the City could take whatever administrative recourse they could to protest that, and in any way, appeal it. if that didn't work, the Director of Public Works could determine if the impact would be substantial enough to get c,,ty resources involved. Someone would have to make some discretionary determination before we proceeded at each step of the appeal process. Wickstrom stated we have appealed many of -these before to the County Council level. Public Works Committee March 19, 1991 Page 2 Jim White stated that he does support the theory. However, he stated that virtually every development that happens in SE King County affects the City; and do we have a formula making that M determination and what happens to our legal staff and other staff in keeping up with this process. Don stated that King County does advise us of all developments and we try to target those that have an impact. We were using the King County threshold of 10 peak hour trips. Anything over 10 trips, we would pursue mitigation of their impact and if they weren't walling to mitigate, we could pursue an appeal. Jim White asked what the dollar figure would be at 10 peak hour trips. Don stated about $10,000 - $20,000 for corridor participation. Don stated that the original concern is laying the groundwork for a case to get the courts to support' SEPA and have County Council recognize that they just can't look at their County intersections and say fine; they also have to look at impacts on City intersections and require mitigation for them. Carol Morris commented that the Director of Public Works should make the determination whether a specific development has a significant impact and should be appealed rather than through a formula based on dollars. Jim White concurred with that. He continued that the resolution would indicate that Council agrees we need to pursue the appeals and staff can determine the guidelines. Wickstrom stated that the County is now collecting fees for projects that will be impacted by development. King County has adopted their Transportation Master Plan which identifies the 272nd corridor and are using SEPA to identify impacts. Committee unanimously agreed to recommend to Council the adoption of the Traffic Mitigation Resolution. Downtown Signs Ed White stated he spoke with Dee Moschel last week regarding this. It will take approximately three weeks to manufAptUre the signs with an additional two to three weeks for install4t4n. Jim White inquired on the status of the "City of Kent olcome" signs. Wickstrom stated that some have already been installed. Proposed LID - 218th Street Wickstrom indicated that the Rust's assessment had been reduced as a result of a revision of the project. Mrs. Rust stated that her 4' J Public Works Committee March 19, 1991 Page 3 concerns have still not been addressed and is questioning what to do next. Mrs. Rust major concern is the payment of the $88,000 assessment. Discussion followed regarding Mrs. Rust interpretation that a portion of her property is designated as wetland. Wickstrom stated that they would need to do a study to determine if, in fact, the property or a portion thereof is wetland, and if so, then that portion which is would not be benefitted by the improvements, ' because it would not be useable and the assessment would be adjusted accordingly. Don stated that the area would have to be larger than an acre to be considered wetland. The Army Corps of Engineers allows filling up to an acre of wetland. Anything more than an acre requires a 404 permit. Don further explained that just because it is tentatively a wetland, doesn't negate potential development of the property. Offsetting mitigation can be provided on lands elsewhere in order* to develop this property. It is not "clear cut" whether being a wetland makes it totally non- developable. White asked what options are available to the Rusts. Wickstrom stated that with any LID assessment there is always a question whether the property is benefitted in the amount of the assessment. They could hire a wetland biologist to determine what is wetland - which could be detrimental to potential, future use of the property. They could hire an appraiser to determine the before and after benefit to their property. He added that currently we consider the street unsafe since. the truck/trailer rigs can't maneuver safely. Wickstrom continued that at the final assessment roll hearing, the Rusts should provide information on what is wetland. If a portion is wetland, then it may not be developable and would, thus, affect their assessment. Mrs. Rust stated that they have appealed the house and one acre to the tax assessor. Now they want to appeal the pasture on the basis of it being a wetland; however, at this point, it is inconclusive. Mrs. Rust wondered if Trammel Crow would be willing to pay their assessment. Leona Orr stated she feels the City should be able-to establish a way to determine that when a person has no intention of leaving their property or are in such an income level that by having an LID 'forces them to sell and move out, there should beisome provision made. She feels that Mr. & Mrs. Rust are not going to be benefitted by an LID. Wickstrom stated that the property is industrial zoned area, has water and sewer to its frontage and is only used for residential purposes. White stated this is a similar argument heard anytime property is down zoned. 1 Public Works Committee March 19, 1991 Page 4 Other Jim White asked about the status of Canyon - Drive. Gary Gill responded that all the final plans and specifications are getting put together. White requested a presentation to Council on the scope of the project prior to advertising for bids. Jim White asked about the presentation of the tunnel idea - Don stated it would be discussed at the next Public Works meeting. Regarding the status of the 272nd/277th Corridor - Don stated that we are in the process of updating our traffic study. July or August should be the time for finalization of the draft. A review of the speed limit change is being done as we were using a 40 MPH urban arterial design speed and the County wanted to use 50 MPH. White asked if the 196th Corridor is part of south Tukwila's access and also south access to the airport. Don stated that a notice has been received by TIA that if we don't submit the project prospectus by April 12th our grants could be denied. Dowell asked if we would buy the complete right of way needed at the time we begin this project or just a piece at a time. Wickstrom replied we would be securing the entire right of way. Jim White stated that it appears that if the proposal on the re- authorization on the federal gas tax goes though, that money will flow through the state rather than through metropolitan planning organizations, in our case DOT. The people from ;Hits Puget Sound region felt that it would be a plus if it came through that way because of the designation. , There is no opposition to re- authorizing the federal gas tax but certainly there are some concerns about how they are proposing' to bring it down.