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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Works/Planning - 07/07/1993 PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE JULY 7, 1993 PRESENT: DON WICKSTROM ED WHITE JIM WHITE KEVIN LINDELL JIM BENNETT TIM LaPORTE LEONA ORR KEN CHATWIN TONY McCARTHY MR. & MRS. RUST TOM BRUBAKER CHARLIE KIEFER JACK SPENCER DAN IVANOFF JOHN STREICH (COMMITTEE MEMBER PAUL MANN ABSENT) Overflow RV Parking Glen Jewell stated that his RV group had suggested an overnight rest area for RV'ers. He mentioned they had looked at the area between S. 212th and S. 228th Street on the Green River Corridor where there is a considerable amount of open space in that area to park RV's. Jewell said it is close to Van Doren's Landing Park as well as shopping areas. Jewell said his group proposed to maintain the area as much as they could and felt that it would be an asset to the City of Kent. Leona Orr stated that this item was brought to the Public Safety Meeting at her request and that Paul Mann agreed to bring it to this committee. Orr said her one concern, however, was that the original site suggested was between S. 4th Avenue and Willis Street where there is a State right-of-way and that the State was not terribly excited about that area being used. Orr noted that she was told that truckers use that area to park their big rigs overnight and wondered if it was okay for truckers, why wouldn't it be okay for RV's. Ed White commented that it was more an issue of enforcement because you never know when the truckers are going to be at that location and that the State doesn't have the resources to continually check the area. Jim White questioned whether there would be any difficulties from the City's stand point from developing such a project along Russell Road. Ed White proposed that staff meet with various groups and take a look at several different areas. White also mentioned that the Zoning Code states that anytime that an area is provided for the maneuvering or storage of vehicles, it has to be paved. White 1 went on to say that if the City is going to provide this type of service, is the City going to pave all these areas? White noted that once the area was selected, and the sites were amenable to this activity, we would then come to Council and if anything needed to be changed such as the Zoning Code or an ordinance that would allow this to happen, then we would have the information to take it to the next step. Orr and White were both in favor of finding a way to make this project happen. (Bennett and Mann were absent. ) Chatwin noted from a Risk Management standpoint that he didn't have any problems with the idea. Chatwin also stated that he spoke with WCIA and they really didn't have any problem either with the liability issue as long as the City complies with spacing regulations and mark the spots. Chatwin mentioned that the Police need to be made aware to enforce the parking and felt a time limit should be placed on the vehicles so we are not faced with long-term residency problem. Update on Sidewalks - Sequoia & Park Orchard Wickstrom stated that for the Sequoia School sidewalks a cost estimate had been worked up on the proposed LID. Wickstrom stated that we were proposing that the cost to improve the street with curb, gutter, widening and street lights would be approximately $120, 000. Wickstrom noted that the City proposed to split the amount paying a 1/3 of it, then calculate the assessments and then meet with various property owners. Wickstrom said that the City has covenants representing about 80% of the properties involved,but that the final word would be up to the Council. He went on to say that the school's assessment is about $27, 000 which is about what it would cost them to improve their frontage in accordance with the covenant which is just a deferral of their improvements. Wickstrom estimated that sometime this month we would be meeting with the property owners and then go back to Committee with the results of the meeting. Councilman White noted that he knew it was impossible to get the project done before school begins, but urged that the City move to get it done as soon as possible because of the safety issue. As for Park Orchard sidewalks on 112th, Avenue SE, Wickstrom stated that the City felt we had resolved the issue several years back when a plat went in the area and 112th was widened on the east side and a 5-foot gravel shoulder was installed for pedestrians from James Street to the plat. Wickstrom noted that when the LeBlanc Garden's Condominiums went in, the City required them to put in street frontage, widen the road and put in a gravel walkway all the way up to the City limits at SE 232nd Street. Wickstrom said that in the gap between LeBlanc Garden's and the plat, the City had a contract with the developer to install a storm sewer. The ditch 2 1 was then filled in and a gravel walkway installed. Wickstrom mentioned that grass has grown around the gravel path to the point where it probably doesn't look much like a walkway. White noted that from LaBlanc Garden's going south, if you stepped off the pavement, you were in the ditch. Wickstrom stated that the problem we have with the improvements on the east side is that we only have a 40-foot right-of-way throughout most of that area with the exception of the new developments that have occurred. Wickstrom mentioned that with all the improvements on one side, you could go from James to LeBlanc Garden's on the east side (where we have widened the road and put in a gravel path) , cross the street at LeBlanc's, and go to the end of the street on the sidewalk and path that was installed on the west side. Wickstrom further stated that to do anything else, the City would have to acquire right-of- way now from various parcels. As an option, he suggested that the City could go back and spruce up the gravel path to make it more dominate so people could recognize it. White stated that eventually the City would have to put in sidewalks there, however, Wickstrom noted that it would be costly because the right-of-way is only 40 feet and we have very few LID covenants along that road to put in sidewalks. Wickstrom mentioned that even if the money was pulled out from what was budgeted for all the repair work being done downtown, we still would not have the kind of money necessary to acquire the right-of-ways and then build in the widening. Public Improvements (Sidewalks) Councilwoman Orr stated that she had a real safety concern when we continue to allow development and we provide gravel walkways which become overgrown with grass. Orr made note of the fact that SE 248th Street has become an extremely hazardous street in certain areas because of the new school. Orr continued to say that there is some money set aside for LID's in the future, but given the time frame up to 10 years to do so, it just did not make sense to her anymore. Orr further stated that if the Committee was in agreement, the City could take a look at our policy that allows the 10 year span and find some way to shorten it up so that when a new development goes in, they don't get 10 years before they have to comply with sidewalk improvements. Orr felt that it would be cheaper to install sidewalks at the time of development rather than waiting 10 years. Orr also noted that if we require sidewalks of single-family homes/developments, which certainly affects the cost and affordability, she felt the same should be done with multi- family developments. Jim White stated that he was in agreement, and mentioned that in the Sequoia Jr. High area at 112th Avenue SE, the City is having to go back and retrofit. White said in some cases the LID's are there, but we need to start pulling in some of the covenants that 3 4 b we have in that area. Orr stated along the same line, that the traffic light at SE 240th and 108th Avenue SE is another example of where the City failed because the light should have been put in at the time the street was widened and the developments were opened for occupancy. Orr mentioned that hundreds of apartment units were built shortly before the street was widened and felt that it probably would have been cheaper to put a light in at that time. Orr said, in the mean time, suddenly the City is saying we are going to go back and put the light in, but it always seems like we are doing it after the fact. Orr felt that the City really needs to take a real long, hard, look at that and start doing sidewalk improvements up front. Orr further explained that when we increase density and housing and allow the volume of cars that density brings, then we should do something at the time. Orr stated that we have commitments of money to do so at the time of construction and that maybe the last two or three developments should have paid the whole cost. Orr stated that when you are doing a $5, 000, 000 or $6, 000, 000 apartment project, $30, 000 or $40, 000 as their share of a traffic light should be able to be worked into their construction budget. Brubaker explained that the City had the authority to require a "No Protest" LID Agreement as a condition of development on sidewalks and other street improvements, but by law we are required to give a limit to that agreement, effective up to 10 years. Wickstrom said that the maximum is 10 years, but we could invoke them anytime within 30 days notice during that 10 year period. Jim White suggested that we start with the above areas mentioned (SE 248th Street) and work it through and see what the work plan is to make something happen. However, White did mention that he was not uncomfortable with using LID's, but that we do the "No Protest" Agreements and he felt that the annexation that we are going through on East Hill is a good example, when we find out after a few years that some of these aren't worthwhile. White stated that if folks want the service, then they should annex to the City and if the developers are going to build then they should build the sidewalks. Wickstrom noted that in the Transportation Plan we are including' ' the sidewalk element that will show where the existing sidewalks are and hopefully show where the needs are so we can prioritize where we want to address them. Wickstrom stated that perhaps a resolution should be prepared stating that sidewalks should be installed - the preferred method would be to have sidewalks installed as far as development is concerned. This resolution would be amending Ordinance 12224 or have some Council action showing that sidewalks should be constructed in conjunction with the development of the property. 4 Brubaker will prepare a draft resolution for the next Public Works meeting. 116th Avenue SE Road Improvements - Bid Opening (277th St Corridorl Wickstrom explained that we had executed an agreement with the developer of Lindental plat at 116th Ave which is part of the 277th Street Corridor improvement. He stated that there are several different plats and none of them fit with what we would need as part of the corridor. Wickstrom said that Council authorized and executed an agreement with one of the plat developers who had final platted and road plans approved. We would essentially build 116th and the developer would contribute funds to that. Wickstrom stated that the project is advertised now and the timing is such that we would miss the Public Works Committee meeting and we are committed to get this road improvement in so that the developer can get on with his development. Wickstrom requested authorization to go directly to Council for award, as long as the low bid received is within budget. Committee unanimously approved placement of this item on the July 20th Council agenda, provided the low bid is within budget. S. 196th/S. 200th Corridor - Resolution (Bicycle Advisory Committee) Brubaker stated that John Striech requested that he draft a resolution for the City's consideration regarding construction of a bicycle path on 196th/200th Corridor. Brubaker said he did not draft the resolution because he had a discussion with Tim LaPorte and it is his understanding that there are some bike paths that are being constructed as part of that project. LaPorte explained that as part of this corridor project currently there are plans to extend bike paths from 200th & 4rillia to Frager & Russell Road including a full bicycle interchange. LaPorte said that there have been some discussions on going further, easterly to West Valley Highway. LaPorte said that the middle section of the project extends from West Valley Highway to East Valley Highway; the constraint is actually on the easterly reach of that where we go through the Kingsport Industrial Center, where short of condemning warehouses we don't have sufficient room for a bicycle path which is 10 ' total width. LaPorte further stated that we are hoping to put in a bike path between West Valley Highway and Interurban Trails. In response to Jim White, LaPorte stated that we are not proposing to have bike path on the high level bridge. He said we are proposing to extend the bike path at grade, from West Valley Highway to the Interurban Trail. Jim White asked that if we are going to do a grade separation, could we do a bike path under the bridge? LaPorte stated that there would probably be some 5 0 l liabilities involved with additional crossing of the railroad. John Streich stated that he would like some input into the design of the project. Streich will be in contact with LaPorte on this issue. Segregation Request - LID 327 & LID 330 Wickstrom stated that this is a parcel in Van Doren's Landing that Birtcher Frank Properties wants to sell. As a result, they have to segregate out the assessments for these two projects on this parcel so they can pay off that assessment. Brubaker said typically we would go before Council with the segregations approved and the City Attorney is directed to draw up the necessary ordinance. However, because of time constraints, Birtcher has asked that we have the ordinance prepared at the meeting so that if it is approved, the ordinance can be passed. Committee unanimously approved placement of the Segregation Request on LID 327 & LID 330 on the July 20th Council agenda and that the City Attorney prepare the necessary ordinance for acceptance. Six Year T.I.P. Plan - Set Hearing Date Wickstrom stated that we plan to bring the Six Year Plan to the next committee meeting. He said it is due back to the State by the end of July however, we won't make that date. Wickstrom said that we need to set a hearing date at the first Council meeting in August. Committee unanimously approved setting the hearing for the Six Year TIP Plan at the next Council meeting. McCarthy asked if this is tied in with what the C.I.P. is going to be requesting. He said that we will be having a public hearing on the C.I.P. that same night and asked if projects which are listed in the C.I.P. are the same ones we have on the T.I.P. list. Wickstrom stated that they are," however we load up the Six Year Plan in order to secure grants. Wickstrom also stated that what we have in the C.I.P. is quite a bit less than what we show in the Six* Year Plan. Horseshoe Acres Pump Station - Acceptance Committee unanimously recommended acceptance of the Horseshoe Acres Pump Station as complete. Truck Mounted Sewer & Catch Basin Cleaner Wickstrom stated that we received several bids however the low bids were non-responsive in that they didn't meet the specifications and 6 aY we are recommending that the bids submitted by Sahlberg Equipment and Seattle Crane be rejected as being non-responsive and that the bid in the amount of $129, 000 plus tax, be awarded to Pacific Utilities for the 1993 Peabody Meyers Vactor be accepted. Wickstrom said that this bid is within budget. Committee unanimously recommended acceptance of the bid submitted by Pacific Utilities in the amount of $129, 000 plus tax. Green River Trail Wickstrom said there are two little dips in the levee along the golf course north of Meeker St. that we are raising and that's where we are applying for a Shoreline Management permit. Wickstrom said that we are still in the design phase. We are trying to design that last small section under the bridge; we have to raise the levee 3 ' feet in that area and we have a 15 ' clearance with the bridge so we are having the consultant do a retaining wall along the curve. Wickstrom said once that is done, we will be out to bid. Meeting adjourned at 6:25 PM. 7