HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Planning and Economic Development Committee - 08/14/1969 VALLEY REGIONIL PLANKIMG COMMISSION
MD,!UTES
AUGUST 14, 1969
TUK'WILA CITY HALL
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. , by Mr. Hall ,
the President.
Mr. Hall read a letter which had been received from the
County Executive, John Spellman, acknowledging the receipt of
of the V .R.P. C. ' s semi -annual report and the proposed budget
for 1970. He stated, that King County believes in sub-regional
planning, and hopes to be able to participate in the Valley
Regional Planning Commission' s program for the coming year.
Ken Cottingham , of Engineered Industrial Systems, Inc. ,
reported on the progress of the Railroad Grade Crossing Study.
A letter of request, and a book of maps have been sent to the
Railroad Companys, identifying the types of informations that
most easily could be supplied by the railroads operating in
this area. Some of this information has already been returned
by the Northern Pacific Railroad. Identification of 120 rail
crossings, both public and private have been made. Mr. have
Holloway, of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commiss-
ion, has assisted a great deal . He and his secretary have
opened his files on both the permit file for crossings and the
accident file, to the study staff: A copy of Mr. Cottingham' s
report is being sent to the member cities, with conies for
each of the Councilmen. The Legislators in the Green River
Valley area, have also received a copy. Mr . Cottingham thanked
the Railroad Companies for their promptness and assistance in
supplying their information.
Gordon Gould presented a flow chart to each of the Committee
Chairmen for the various studies now in progress. This chart
will assist ih the approximate time limit for each of the studies
to be completed.
Lyle Sandelius, of Tukwila, reported on alternative methods
of developing a system of Rapid Transit, through the Valley area,
other than that of the Forward Thrust bond issue. One of the
ways would be to use the existing rail lines now in the Valley.
However, in a letter from the Great Horthern Railway Company,
it was stated that serious concern has been raised about the
capacity of existing rail lines to handle both the existing
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freight traffic movement and rapid transit at the same time.
Great Northern stands firmly opposed to any plan that would
attempt to use the downtown tunnel for rapid transit . , Since this
would simply prohibit tunnel use for freight train operations
during much of the day, at a time when the tunnel is already
overloaded with freight operations. Mr. Sandelius suggested
perhaps further information could be obtained on the use of
the "Old Inter-Urban Line", between Tacoma and Seattle , as well
as other methods of transportation.
Mr. Thomas ',Ilimmer, President of the 'vlashington Environmental
Council was guest speaker of the evening. He described some
of the 24bills his organization had lobbied for at the last
legislature, only one of these passed, however all of the
others will be presented again. The -dashington Environmental
Council is interested in the preservation of the natural resources
of the State. Clean air , water pollution, desigination of green
belt areas for parks and recreation areas, and the prevention
of the use of �))T in the state, are among some of the items that
aire causing his organization concern at the present time .
Mr. Hall selected a nominating committee to nominate officers
for the coming year . He requested opinions from the members
for having the Officer' s term to Become effective on the calendar
year of the first of January thru 'ecembery rather than from
September to August, as it now stands. Any comments on this
subject would be received through the VRPC office on or before
the next Executive Committee Meeting to be held Sept . 2, 1969.
Comments may r.;e either ay phone or in writing.
The meeting adjourned 9:30 Polo. The next meeting will be
held Sept . ll , 1969 in the .Renton Council Chamber at 7-30 P.M.
ATTENDIFG— Mrs. Gordon Gould, :)avid Hamlin, Gary Kruger,
James Harris, Fred Frazier, a. O' Leary, Jim Haase, C. McGarrigle,
Tom Forsythe, Jeanne Masters, Kay Johnson, Alex Thornton, H. Haanes,
0. ;dales, Joe Mathews, Vinton New-ert, )ick Jowen, Frank Zepp,
Ron Mettler, Stan Minkler, Iry Iverson, Francis Pugh, Gordon Hall ,
Richard Fiedler, Clark Teegarden, Gordon Gould, Ethan Robbins,
Elaine Fleming, Lyle Sandelius, 3ryn Sneva, Alice Johnson,
Bert Johnson, C. :gown, Ken Cottingham, Thomas '4immer, Glen
Sherwood, Max Fullner, '-)on Eide, and Helen Irwin.