HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Works/Planning - 02/13/1995 r
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
FEBRUARY 13, 1995
PRESENT: JUDY WOODS ED WHITE
TIM CLARK JACK SPENCER
DON WICKSTROM MR& MRS RUST
GARY GILL MCl/METRO REPRESENTATIVES
TOM BRUBAKER DIANE HARPER, METRO
ABSENT: PAUL MANN
JIM BENNETT
Metro Six-Year Service Program
Wickstrom introduced Diane Harper, representative of Metro Transit,Department. Diane
briefly went over Metro's Report on the Six Year Plan and Service'Alternatives for the
South King County Sub-Area. She explained that Metro needs to�adopt'a Six Year Plan
whether or not the RTA passes. Metro therefore is asking for guidance from communities
as to what that Plan should reflect. Diane noted that by getting gcdande on just the bus
plan, when the RTA vote occurs we can very quickly go either waywd submit this to the
County Council. Metro has prepared two alternatives; Baseline artd Multi-Center. At this
time Diane highlighted some points in the report noting that this i# not an increase in
service based upon taxes. The funding for this new service is fret Metro's shift in the
capital budget to the service budget that Executive Locke and County Council adopted last
Spring. She noted that if the RTA gives a positive vote, than there will be more resources
to work from. Diane provided maps explaining the different routes in this community.
Clark stated that commuters ability to accept the change in transfer,, a!$o,is based on their
'comfort level' when that transfer is being made. Clark asked if t�Was an attempt to
accommodate that as the system requires more transfers. Diane lained if the service
plan is adopted, the capital budget would be re-prioritized to mare additional transfer
centers with better lighting and security.
Wickstrom said that this has been before SCATBD and at this firm everyone is gathering
their votes.
Committee unanimously recommended Council support Metro's Multiopnter Alternative per
its Six Year Service Program.
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MCI Metro Franchise Agreement
Brubaker gave a brief background on what has occurred regarding the MCI Metro
Franchise Agreement, explaining that the City and MCI have been in ongoing negotiations
for about 2 -3 months. He said that when it first came to this Committee, Councilmember
Clark raised a number of issues and we have restructured the franchise in some significant
respects and those changes were approved at the last Public Works Committee meeting.
Since that time however, a couple of other issues have come forward. Brubaker stated
that we have reviewed franchises with the Cities of Spokane, Bellevue, Sea-Tac and
Renton and at this time, he said there are really only two main issues that remain. One
is that when a telephone company goes underground, some cities in the state of
Washington require the company to lay an extra conduit so that the City, may at a later
date, make use of that empty conduit to pull its own fibre optic cable thru. He said the
second issue is when existing utility poles are used above ground -there are City owned
as well as Puget Power poles - when using City owned poles they apply the same
construction standards and restrictions that are applied to Puget Power and secondly, that
they create enough attachments on any brackets added to these poles so that more than
one line can be added to that bracket. We are trying to create an opportunity for the City
to add its own fibre optic line if the need arises.
At this time, Brubaker submitted some technical amendments to the agreement; one,
clarification on the notice of provisions to the franchise, the other adds the pole standard
section, and the third adds the provision that conduit be placed in the ground. Brubaker
stated that with other companies wanting to lay conduit and opening up our streets, we
may want to construct a latecomers arrangement to compensate them for their expense
of installation. Brubaker said that he has not had an opportunity to speak to anyone from
MCI on these changes.
Brubaker stated that assuming that the City and MCI can come to an agreement, he asked
that the Committee authorize moving forward with the franchise at the next Council
meeting on the condition that we can work out the final language between the City
attorney's office and MCI's attorney.
Mark Hagood from MCI stated that they have►concerns regarding making additional space
at the time the pole attachments are put in place, along with the request for conduits and
also with the idea that we offer third parties apace during construction. Hagood said that
MCI is not in the business of'renting' conduit space. However, we have agreed in other
cities to put conduits in place for municipal use only and not for the designation of third
party use. He stated that with regard to the City determining what the reimbursement rate
would be that MCI should be able to establish what that reimbursement should be.
Hagood again stated that regarding the third party issue, MCI has very strict rules
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regarding access to their facilities or conduits. However, he said It if the City desires
these conduits, and it is done in a fashion that it does not there with Metro's
construction plans, particularly the schedule, MCI will install this'foallity for the city at
cost plus 10%.
Clark asked Wickstrom for background in terms of what the City has done with other
utilities in relationship to this sort of situation. Wickstrom staW*that primarily, thru a
working relationship, we have the utility companies install conduits; we furnish the
conduits and they install it as part of their work or, they would do the whole thing. Clark
noted that we do have a sincere interest in getting that other conduit laid and if you are
going to open the streets, it makes sense to lay it while you are doing this. Hagood
stated that we would have a problem if we do that for the City free of charge. He
referenced state statutes with regards to preferential treatment; that puts MCI in bad form
with other entities that we are in negotiations with.
Committee unanimously made the recommendation to revise the franchise consistent with
the discussions of today's meeting subject to the approval of MCI and the City Attorney's
office for presentation with those revisions at the next Council meetkg-6nd,to be presented
for approval.
Tacoma's Second Supply.Pipeline Prgject
Wickstrom stated that in trying to get the Tacoma Pipeline built, they were running out of
money in terms of the bonds etc., and this will delay their project so they have asked
participants which are, WD#111, Federal Way Water&Sewer, Covington Water and Kent
to all share in the design cost, our cost being $791,000 for the des.igri of the pipeline. He
said as noted in their letter to us, there are risks involved and It could be a lost cost
because of the problems with different agencies involved, including the Muckleshoot Tribe
Authority He said that this project is extremely important to us to me6t�,Our,long term water
needs and this is our next source. Because of the water right moratorium at D.O.E.
essentially the impoundment would be our only source which has' ther long lead time
due the environmental issues associated with it. He stated that w4, ed to move on this
project; we have the money and it is one of our future options avai iWe.'
Committee unanimously recommended that upon concurrence of they Public Works Director
and the City Attorney, authorize the Mayor to execute a memorandum of Understanding
with Tacoma relating to funding Kent's share of the design work assft, itted with Tacoma;'s
Second Supply Pipeline project.
Regional Water Association Joint Opgrating Agreement
Wickstrom stated that this agreement sets the tone of cooperation for future supply. This
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is important to us because Auburn is sittft, on a major aquifer - it could supply all our
needs and theirs in the future. He said thAuburn's participation in this agreement sets
the tone that they are willing to cooperate and thats why we should sign the agreement.
It is primarily instigated because WD 111 and Covington need water now and Auburn is
willing to share with them.
Committee unanimously recommended authorizing the Mayor to execute the South King
County Regional Water Association Joint Operating Agreement.
Latecomer Agreement- Stillwater Greens
Wickstrom explained that this is a latecomer agreement for sewer that was extended in the
vicinity of Kent Kangley and 132nd near the Meridian Shopping Center. This agreement
would enable the developer to recoup some of his costs incurred in constructing the main.
Committee unanimously recommended authorizing staff to prepare and the Public Works
Director sign a Latecomer Agreement for the sanitary sewer improvements of Stillwater
Greens.
Up Front St Improvements vs. No Protest LID Covenants
No action was taken on this item at this time - Committee stated that Council is very
concerned about the whole LID issue. Judy Woods recommended that a workshop be set
to discuss the LID procedure. I
Wickstrom explained that this item was presotfted at the last Committee meeting and it was
decided at that time to take it to Council,tetreat; nothing was discussed at the retreat.
Wickstrom noted that he brought it back to this Committee to get some direction.
Wickstrom explained that he has contac l:44 surrounding cities and the County and most
of them have up-front improvements; one have means of deferral and there are
exemptions for single family residences and short plats. Wickstrom suggested bringing
that information back to Committee.
Committee concurred that a workshop would be beneficial.
Greed River Levee Improvements
Wickstrom stated that we have completed this contract; it is before the Committee because
it is over 10% of the bid amount however it Is not a funding problem. He stated that there
was alot of bad ground material and we had to import more material than was anticipated.
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Committee unanimously recommended that this project be accept os,complete.
Surplus Vehicles
Wickstrom referenced a list of Equipment Rental vehicles that we are proposing to surplus
at the March auction and we need authorization to do so. In response to Tim Clark, Jack
Spencer explained that the Parks Dept uses their vehicles in the pants and they have alot
of engine hours even though the speedometer does not reflect that. Jack stated that these
vehicles are to a point where, rather than spending a lot of money on these, it would be
better to surplus them.
Committee unanimously recommended that this equipment be declared as surplus and
authorize the sale thereof at the state auction on March 11 th.
Meeting adjourned: 5:40 P.M.
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