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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Works/Planning - 08/03/1998 I I PUBLIC WORKS/PLANNING COMMITTEE MATES August 3, 1998 Present: Tim Clark, Chair Don Wickstrom Rico Yingling John Hodgson Tom Brotherton Fred Satterstrom Ed White tms�l PARKING SIGNS AT LAKE MERIDIAN Mr. Brotherton explained that parking is limited at Lake Meridian City Park with overflow parking occurring in the adjacent neighborhoods. Mr. Brotherton stated that the parking is obstructing mailboxes and littering has increased, necessitating frequent clean up by City crews. Al Helton, 27020 150th Place Southeast, Kent, WA stated that he has been a resident of Kent for 18 years. He explained that their street is a dead-end road with 24 single-family residences. Mr. Helton stated that on the weekends, overflow parking from the park does not leave room for residential parking and restricts access to emergency vehicles. Mr. Helton said parking obstructs fire hydrants, driveways and mailboxes and noise volumes have increased as a result of car alarms being triggered. Mr. Helton said that beer and liquor bottles are,,strewn throughout the neighborhood creating safety hazards. He voiced his concern for the,-,increased potential for burglary. Mr. Helton stated that larger volumes of people are looking for the boat,lZmp, increasing traffic congestion in the neighborhood. He stated that current signage is inadequate and needs to be addressed by the City. He suggested creating more parking or limiting access to the lake. Janice Buchmann, 14905 271" Place Southeast, Kent, WA stated ,that her property lies adjacent to the property entrance. Ms. Buchmann explained that people,�re jumping their chain link fence and cutting through their property to reach their cars. They alp.leaving litter behind. She expressed her concern over cars parking at the entrance to the park! r hours in the dark, with the police rarely canvassing the area. She commented on the increased noise in the area as well as the potential for burglary. Robert Elston, 27006 150'' Place Southeast, Kent, WA reiterated concerns with the lack of ,�y; police security and increased vandalism. He stated that parking congestion had increased with cars double parking. He further stated that cars with boat trailers were recklessly speeding on the streets and creating congestion by having to back their vehicles out of the neighborhood while looking for the boat launch. He stated that the congested parking creates does not leave parking available for residents to invite guests over Parks and Recreation Director, John Hodgson stated that they are working in conjunction with Public Works to address overflow parking. He suggested that perhaps a higher fence could be erected in addition to the planting of vegetation, as a method to dissuade fence jumping. He stated that if parking was increased at the park, it would increase the pant capacity and parking would continue to overflow into adjoining neighborhoods. Mr. Hodgson explained that Parks and Recreation works continually at cleaning up debris and they work closely with the Police Public Works/Planning Committee Minutes August 3, 1998 Page 2 Department to curb illegal activities occurring within Lake Meridian P as well as vandalism P g g within all City parks. He stated that the Parks department would work with Public Works in preparing appropriate signage to direct people off of 152"d with the signage visibly displayed on Kent Kangley east of 152"d. Tom Brotherton stated that he personally spoke with Lake Meridian visitors who stated that they did not wish to park in front of people's residences. He stated that visitors suggested locating a map near the park's entrance identifying alternate parking locations. Discussion continued between the committee members on possible alternate parking locations such as Soos Creek Trial Head and a fire department substation. Mr. Brotherton suggested Iinegotiating with local businesses as well as Puget Power substation for the use of their lots for parking. Janice Buchmann explained that when the lake was expanded 152"d was joined to 148t`. She stated that most of that area is vacant and suggested possible side or diagonal parking to offset some of the overflow parking. Mr. Hodgson explained that parking is allowed on the park side of the road, with the other side of the road used as a pedestrian corridor. Transportation Engineer, Ed White explained that the City developed an ordinance two years ago that allowed for parking permit issuance. Seattle's program was evaluated and the draft ordinance patterned after Seattle. Seattle limits rather than prohibits parking. Parking permits are issued to residents for all day parking,with parking hours limited in ft area to non-residents. Mr. White explained that criteria needs to be established and a process outlined to implement an ordinance addressing overflow parking. He stated that drive through tragic could be difficult to control. Mr. White spoke at length on ways the City could improve signage in the neighborhoods surrounding Lake Meridian. Mr. White explained that the Public Works department was in the process of hiring a Neighborhood Traffic Control Program Coordinator who would initially,work on the Lake Meridian issue. Mr. White explained that the new staff person would,vork closely with the community in creating a process for the adoption and implementation of a parking ordinance. Mr. White said that after the ordinance is approved various strategies would be employed as early as spring of next year and enforced by summer time. Committee Chair Tim Clark questioned what could be done about the sign located 90' to Kent Kangley indicating "No Access to Lake Meridian". He stated that the position of the sign is not visually noticeable. Mr. White stated that the sign could be reoriented or greater visibility or replaced with a larger sign temporarily illuminated to draw drivers' attention. Mr. Clark requested that signage be erected immediately, on a temporary basis, duel i;t+o the nature of heavy traffic during the current peak season. Mr. White concurred with Mr. Clarlt's request. Mr. Yingling questioned the legality of Kent Commons and Kent Junior.High using signage to limit public access for parking during events. Mr. White explained that he understood parking could not be prohibited on a public right-of-way to exclude any specific;group of people. He stated parking could be restricted by time or by day. Signage either allows.;i for parking in an area or prohibits parking entirely. Mr. Clark requested that Mr. White determine if a parking exclusion could become part of the . parking solution for Lake Meridian. Public Works/Planning Committee Minutes August 3, 1998 Page 3 Mr. Helton discussed with the Committee the significance of having sigage visibly placed for all drivers to see. He stated that signage needs to contain accurate inforrrtatinn guiding drivers to the park entrance, the boat haunch and parking availability. Tim Clark sated that the residents could be assured the Parks and Public Works departments are taking step�,to correct signage and neighborhood parking. Chair Clark asked that the Parks and Public Works departments bring there recommendations back to the Public Works/Planning Committee meeting of August 17. Mr. Yingling asked Mr. Hodgson if it were possible to create additional parking to successfully eliminate the need for overflow parking. Mr. Hodgson stated that creating more parking would be only a partial solution to the overflow-parking problem and would attract more people to Lake Meridian. He said the lake's boat capacity is limited so boat parking is limited in the park. Committee member, Tom Brotherton asked John Hodgson if it would bo less costly to use the City's existing shuttle bus contract to include service to the lake during peak activity periods instead of seeking alternate parking locations. Rico Yingling asked Don Wickstrom if there was a way to design neighborhood streets that would discourage people from parking. Mr. Wickstrom stated that people will park wherever they desire and further explained that Planned Unit Developments have b"A created with narrow 22 foot wide streets which did not deter people from parking. Rico Yingling stated that if a sign was posted on both ends of Kent Kangley saying "turn at 152nd" this could potentially reduce the number of boats being towed through the neighborhood. Tom Brotherton stated that he would handle public safety issues and advised the residents to set up a blo;k watch program with the Police Department for security purposes. UPDATE ON NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CONTROL PROGR Ed White stated that the Public Works department approached the Mayor's office with a request to hire an individual whose focus will be to concentrate on citizen regwests such as speeding, parking, general pedestrian safety and property cut-through. Mr. White explained that the intent of the program is to provide public p�a#reach in the areas of education and engineering. He stated that the new program coordinator4 develop a program by using the methodology and criteria of established programs of Seattlo;,,Tacoma and Bellevue as well as working closely with City staff and citizens in Kent. Mr. White responded to Tom Brotherton's concerns on emergency,:'chicle access versus pedestrian safety issues. Mr. White explained that Public Works is concerned with the type of emergency vehicle apparatus used and the ability for medical or fire service personnel to respond quickly to the site of an emergency. Mr. White said that several types of traffic calming devices or speed b=ps have been used throughout the community to effectively decrease speeding. He spoke at,jength regarding safety and legal liability issues relating to traffic calming devices. He indicatedAhat traffic buttons are an option that work well in conjunction with small traffic islands allowing,,emergency vehicles to navigate over the buttons when responding to an emergency. Public Works/Planning Committee Minutes August 3, 1998 Page 4 Mr. Clark asked Mr. White to evaluate the community needs and bring*s, information back to the Committee on August 17, 1998 WEST VALLEY HIGHWAY STQRM DRAINAGE REPAIR—AeC,QUI. CE Public Works Director, Don,Wickstrom explained that the Public Works,department had placed a bid to repair an existing storm drain that provided flood relief for that motion of West Valley Highway from the State maintenance facility to Smith Brothers Dairy. A 1,500 section of the storm drain system had to be re-laid due to unforeseen poor soil condid6m. The contract was awarded to RJC, Inc. for the bid amount of $76,734.59. The final ;construction cost was $86,884.232 (13.23% over bid). Adequate funds exist within the project,budget to cover this overage. Committee unanimously recommended that the West Valley Highway $torm Drainage Repair project be accepted as complete. TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT BOARD (T.I.B.) GRANT 92J1 6/200 STREET Don Wickstrom explained that Public Works received a grant received f#om the Transportation Improvement Board for the construction phase of a portion of the 196th Street Corridor project from Green River Bridge to West Valley Highway (SR 181). The Cou*.cil has authorized the Mayor to award this project. Mr. Wickstrom is requesting authorizationlfor staff to accept the grant, establish a budget fqr $1,320,577 and spend the funds on said +project. Due to time constraints, this item has been placed on the August 4th Council agenda under Other Business. The Committee unanimously recommended authorizing staff to acceptl,,the grant, establish a budget for$1,320,577 and authorize spending the funds on the S. 196th Street Corridor project. TRANSFER OF FUNDS-TAST VALLEY HIGHWAY ST. IMPRQT PROJECT t Mr. Wickstrom explained that Public Works completed the East re y Highway street improvement project in 1997 with funds left over in the amount of$47, , He stated that staff was requesting authorization to transfer funds from the project (R52) 1p the Asphalt Overlay project (R11). Mr. Wickstrom explained that transferring funds would Viable Public Works to award the 1998 Overlay project to the low bidder "Lakeside". The 1998 overlay project will include Central Avenue improvements and a pedestrian walkway alo the golf course. Mr. Wickstrom anticipates this project to be,odmpleted no later than Octo 10"', This item is on the Council agenda for August 4th. jai The Committee unanimously recommended authorization for the Coi61 to direct staff to transfer funds from the East Valley Highway Street Improvement project (R52) to the Asphalt Overlay project(RI1). r Meeting adjourned: 4:40 p.m.