HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Works/Planning - 04/20/1998 I
PUBLIC WORIGS/PLANNING COMMITTEE
APRIL 20, 1998
PRESENT: Tim Clark Tom Brubaker
Judy Woods Don Wickstrom
Tom Brotherton Fred Satterstrom
TIB Grant Agreement - South 272nd/277th Corridor
Wickstrom stated that we have received a grant of $5,640,000 for the bridge projects
along the corridor and we are requesting authorization for the Mayor to sign the
agreement and establish a budget.
Committee unanimously recommended authorization for staff to accept the grant,
establish a budget for $5,640,000 and authorizing the funds to be spent on the S.
272nd/277th Corridor project.
TIB Grant Agreement Washington Avenue (SR 181)
Wickstrom explained that this is similar to the S. 277th project in that we received a
grant for the HOV lanes along Washington Avenue from SR 516 almost to Smith St.
This grant is $276,000 for the first phase of the design and we are requesting
authorization for the Mayor to sign the grant agreement and establish a budget.
Clark asked if there is anything planned along Meeker heading west. Wickstrom said
we applied for TIB, UATA (Urban Arterial Trust Account) funds and we will know by
next month if we get anything. If we get something, then we will have a project to widen
Meeker to five lanes from Washington Avenue to 64th Avenue.
Committee unanimously recommended authorization for staff to accept the grant,
establish a budget for $276,000 and authorizing the funds to be spent on the
Washington Avenue (SR181) project.
Downtown Strategic Action Plan - Grant
• Fred Satterstrom, Planning Dept. Manager stated that initially, the Planning Dept
received a grant $150,000 from the Wa State Dept of Community S& Economic
Development Department (DCTED) to do the Downtown Plan. As we were completing
1
iwork on that plan, DCTED gave us an additional $10,000 for this project. Satterstrom
said that at this time,we are asking for authorization to accept this additional grant, and
authorize the expenditures. He stated that the money has been received, however it
needs to be transferred from one account to another.
Committee unanimously recommended authorization to accept the additional grant
funds of$10,000 from the DCTED, direct the staff to adjust the budget accordingly and
spend monies for same.
Guiberson Reservoir Seismic Upgrade - Accept as Complete
Wickstrom explained that this was a $61.000 contract with RDS Construction however
it ended up at $79,000 because we had to relocate some storm sewer plus additional
structural material was required. He stated that because it is over 10%, we present it to
the Committee and noted there is no funding problem.
Committee unanimously recommended that the Guiberson Reservoir Seismic Upgrade
contract be accepted as complete.
Bicycle Free Zone Program
Wickstrom stated that this was an issue Councilman Clark wanted the Public Works
Dept to review and essentially, it relates to providing bikes in the downtown area
providing for public use. Wickstrom said that in the areas where they have been doing
this such as Portland and Spokane, they have not been sanctioned. They have not been
City sponsored programs primarily because of the liability associated with this; if they
are City sponsored than the City involved will be liable for the bike; someone using the
bikes could be injured. Wickstrom said if we were going to have a program it appears
that one thing is needed, at a minimum, is a maintenance program and a policing
program. To do that,we would need additional personnel, at least a part-time mechanic
and people to go around and collect the bikes. He said that the WCIA suggested a
volunteer program, not sponsored by the City. Wickstrom said this is really Council's
decision.
Woods suggested that a volunteer organization would be needed to start the program.
Clarlc asked what type of program existed in Olympia. Wickstrom said that the city has
nothing to do with it. There is a private nonprofit entity coordinating the Olympia
program. Clark said we need to get a partnership going here. We can come up with the
bicycles but gathering volunteers will require some organization as such. Woods
suggested that we find out more about the Olympia program. Clark asked if the City
installed the bike racks as our contribution to this program, would we still be liable.
2
Brubaker stated that there is a liability if we place one of these bicycles into the
transportation stream and it's either defective or becomes defective during its use, if
someone comes along later and uses that same bike without noticing the defect and is
injured, there is very likely going to be a claim against the City. He said there is a second
level of liability that is referenced in the letter from our insurance authority which is
whether or not the City has the infrastructure conducive to bicycle riding because we
have been sued previously for bicycles injuries and the liabilities tried to be shifted to the
City because we hadn't constructed our streets to appropriate standards, for example.
Brubaker reiterated that there is considerable risk of litigation and possible liability under
this program. He suggested that we review this further. Clark stated if we could get a
supporting mechanism from the state, that could limit our liability. Brubaker agreed.
He said we need to see what kind of law was passed in Oregon and see how it works; we
could then recommend it to the legislative session which is almost a year from now.
Tim Clark asked that this item be brought back to the Committee at the end of May.
S. 277th St/SE274th Way Schedules 1 &2 Green River Bridge/108th Avenue SE Bridge
Wickstrom stated this is more of an informational item at this point - he wanted to make
Committee aware of the cash flow issue associated with Council awarding the project.
This is a two year construction project because of the magnitude. The cash flow goes
into 1999; hopefully by then we will have the LID formed. He said we are looking at
only those property owners who have signed the environmental mitigation agreements.
They can either form the LID or if they don't, we will collect the money from them as
per the agreements. He said the importance here is the LID needs to be implemented
sometime before the construction season of 1999 so we don't have a cash flow problem.
Clark asked, if for any reason there is a block on the LID, would we be reaching into
other funds as part of our CIP. Wickstrom said we would have to in order to get thru
the completion of this contract without the LID. Clarlc asked if those funds would
normally be committed to projects that have already gone out to bid. Wickstrom said
not necessarily. It would be cash flow to the 196th Street project. Wickstrom said, if
everything works out we won't have a problem. He emphasized the importance of us
getting the LID together which will be different than the north LID. On this one, we are
proposing to involve those properties that have executed the mitigation agreements
where they have committed to pay their proportionate share of the project.
Added item:
Dan Kiefer and Charlie Kiefer, property owners along SE 274th thanked the committee
for their motion regarding 110th access at SE 274th Street. With reference to the
Resolution, Dan Kiefer stated they would like to add other information to Exhibit 'A'
specifically, more clarification on the berms that will be placed along the corridor. They
met with the fire prevention people (Mike Evans); showed him exactly what we wanted.
3
IGefer presented the plan to Committee. Kiefer said he met with Marl. Madfai
(Engineering); Marl-,concurred with the layout, from an engineering standpoint. IGefer
wanted this added to the record. He asked if the legal owners could be listed on that
document also noting there are two parcel numbers that need to be added.
Brubaker made the following clarification. 110th Ave SE is a private road, maintained
by the adjoining property owners. It was originally created as a condition of two
different short plats when this property was in IGng County. As a condition of short plat
approval, King County required the dedication of this "Tract X" which overlies the
existing private road. The "Tract X" designation gets recorded against the property as a
property interest in favor of King County and essentially it says, "IGng County reserves
rights in 'Tract X" to turn it into a public road in the future also, it binds the adjoining
property owners to agree not to protest the formation of an LID. Those get recorded
against the property. What we have been discussing with the I iefer's and their
neighbors is, closing off the access of 11 Oth Ave and re-routing the circulation pattern
the corridor will function more smoothly. The residents could then construct a berm for
noise protection.
Brubaker further said that Council approval is needed to relinquish the Kiefer interest
in the "Tract X" designation . The listing of the property owners or attaching an exact
drawing of the berm will become part of a subsequent agreement that will be signed by
every affected property owner with all the legal descriptions attached and will then be
recorded. He said that is the document where we can get very detailed as to the specifics
of the berm.
Brubaker said the purpose of this resolution was to make Council aware of the issue and
get them to relinquish their interest on Tract X and they will relinquish that on the
condition that we reach agreement on all the other details.
Meeting adjourned: 4:30 p.m.
4