HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Works/Planning - 05/06/2013 PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
May 6, .2013
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Committee Chair Elizabeth Albertson and Committee members Dana Ralph and
Dennis Higgins were present. The meeting was called to order at 4:10 p.m.
Item 1 — Approval of Meetina Minutes Dated April 15, 2013:
Committee member Higgins MOVED to approve the minutes of April 15,
2013. The motion was SECONDED by Council member Ralph and PASSED
3-0.
Item 2 — Information Only/Water Festival - Update:
Gina Hungerford gave a brief overview of the Water Festival that took place on
March 26 and 27 at Green River Community College in Auburn. The Water
Festival has taken place for the past 14 years. This year there were 1,600
registered fourth and fifth graders from 14 schools; 8 from Kent and 6 from
Auburn, Lake -Haven Water District, in Federal Way also participated in this
event.
The two day event included the following presentations:
• The Water Magic Show with Master Magician Steffan Soule. Steffan awed the
kids with his magic when he took water and turned it into a solid (ice) and
then into a gas (steam).
• Critters from Point Defiance Zoo — taking care of the environment not just for
people, but for all living things.
• Awesome Water Bugs — the kind of bugs found indicate water quality
• Trees & Our Water — kids planted small trees learning how trees play an
important role in the water cycle, moving water from the earth to the air.
• Marine Science Technology Center — Underwater Sea Life where Sponge Bob
Square Pants started the conversation and inspired learning about life in Puget
Sound.
Hungerford gave committee members a handout of the campus maps and a list of
presenters and schools that attended the Water Festival. Committee member
Higgins thanked Gina for the success of this festival stating that his wife works in
the school district and is reminded by their daughter not to drink bottled water
but to purchase a refillable bottle instead. Public Works Director, Tim LaPorte and
committee members Albertson and Ralph also thanked Hungerford for a job well
done.
Information Only/No Motion Required
Item 3 —Waiver of Bidding and Signature Procurement Code
Reauirements•
Fleet Superintendent, Ron Green briefed the committee regarding the city's
practice to expedite purchase of services, materials and supplies to repair
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
May 6, .2013
equipment that has been damaged or isn't working and put it back in service as
quickly as possible. The purpose of this motion is to authorize this limited
exception to the city's procurement code.
There was much discussion among staff and committee members as to what the
motion includes and what it really means. Green noted that fleet is the largest
procurement card user in the city. Green went over the following items:
• Current Procurement Practices
• Procurement Process & Steps
• Benefits of using this type of procurement code
• How Often they are 'over the limit"
• Dollar Limit Safeguards - against abuse
• Fuel Charges account for 50% of the total purchases for fleet
• Parts for New Equipment - when equipment has been damaged?
• Expensive Repairs - Vactor truck needed a new fan at a cost of $27,000
• Accident Damage - i.e., 3 new police vehicles were in an accident and need to
be replaced as soon as possible.
City Attorney, Tom Brubaker noted that it is important to get vehicles and
equipment back in service. Brubaker noted this has been the past practice and
what we have always done. He would like to make it official with the committee's
authorization.
Higgins stated he would like staff to prepare quarterly reports for large
expenditures and share them with the committee.
It was decided that a motion would not be made at this time. This item
will come back to the Public Works Committee meeting with more
detailed information.
Item 4 - Information Only/Street Vegetation - Update
Scott Schroeder went through a series of pictures showing what the street
vegetation crews are responsible for.
Schroeder noted the following:
• Color Zoned & Inventory Map stating when and what zones particular parts of
the city are mowed. Information can be found on the city's website at
http://www.ci.kent.wa.us/publicworks/maps.asox?id=16163.
• There are 320 lane miles of roadside to mow
• We have 11 lane miles of planted traffic islands to mow
• There are 3 side arm mowers in use at all times during the season, one
mowing each portion of the city - east, west and the downtown core of Kent.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
May 6, .2013
• There is 16 million square feet of side arm mowing done each mowing season.
That equals 15,000 square feet of land per hour.
Schroeder went on to explain the different areas that his crew maintains on a
weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis and the challenges encountered in maintaining
those areas.
Information Only/No Motion Required
Item 5 — Consultant Services Agreement/Noel, Inc. for Engineering
Services/Green River Flood Protection, Emeraencv Flood Response &
Ecosystem Restoration Proiect:
Toby Hallock stated that the City of Kent is working on a number of projects along
the Green River which involve flood protection and ecosystem restoration. The
flood protection projects include levee repair and other improvements along the
Green River. Ecosystem restoration projects include projects along the Russell
Road Levee, Boeing Levee, Leber Homestead and Downey Farmstead Projects.
With over 35 years of service with the Army Corps of Engineers, Noel Gilbrough
will provide the City guidance and consultation on the Corps' processes for flood
protection and ecosystem restoration projects. In addition, Mr. Gilbrough has
significant first-hand experience with flood fights and could provide this service if
necessary during a flood event.
Committee member Ralph MOVED to recommend Council authorize the
Mayor to sign a Consultant Services Contract with Noel, Inc. for
Engineering Services related to Green River Flood Protection, Ecosystem
Restoration Projects and Emergency Flood Response in the amount of
$22,100 subject to final terms and conditions acceptable to the City
Attorney and Public Works Director. The motion was SECONDED by
committee member Higgins and PASSED 3-0.
Item 6 — Briscoe/Desimone Levee - Interlocal Agreement with King
County Flood Control District for Levee Construction, Operation and
Maintenance
City Engineer, Chad Bieren and Public Works Director, Tim LaPorte met with the
King County Flood Control District regarding the Interlocal Agreement with them
for the Briscoe/Desimone Levees. The State of Washington included in its 2011-
2013 biennial budget a $7 million grant for the Briscoe/Desimone Levee. This
funding was directed through the King County Flood Control District and is
intended to pay for improvements to the levee needed for FEMA accreditation.
The Flood Control District also has funding set aside in their budget for this levee
segment.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
May 6, .2013
After prolonged discussions between the City and Flood Control District Staff on
the best alternative for the reconstructing weak levee sections, the Flood Control
District Board of Supervisors, at their February 26, 2013 meeting, adopted the
city's setback floodwall alternative. Because half of the project is located in
Tukwila, the City of Kent will enter into a separate interlocal agreement with
Tukwila to complete the work.
The interlocal agreement describes the procedure for King County to reimburse
the City for the reconstruction effort on the Briscoe/Desimone Levee using state
grant money and Flood Control District Funds.
This item passed through Committee 3-0, and will go on the Council
Agenda under Other Business at the May 21, 2013 meeting.
Committee member Higgins MOVED to recommend Council authorize the
Mayor to sign an Interlocal Agreement with the King County Flood Control
District for the City to receive reimbursement for improvements to and
FEMA accreditation of the Briscoe Desimone Levee, subject to final terms
and conditions acceptable to the City Attorney and the Public Works
Director. The motion was SECONDED by Ralph and PASSED 3-0.
Item 7 — SE 256th Street Proiect Status:
Public Works Director, Tim LaPorte went over the current status for funding SE
256th street road improvements. He noted that the idea was first conceived in
1990 and reaffirmed annually in the Six-Year Transportation Improvement
Program.
The loss of the $2 million funds, from the failure of the Local Improvement
District, has created a budget shortfall in the project. The exact amount of the
shortfall cannot be known until the bids are opened. It was decided by the
committee that we should bid the project and return to the Public Works
Committee on June 3, for further discussion.
Committee member Albertson stated that this project needs to move forward and
that she would contact the apartment owners if need be to explain to them the
importance of the project and what the benefit would be to their property.
Albertson noted the following:
• 60% assessed value was needed to defeat the LID — 62.35% was received
• Four of the 131 property owners had the capacity with 1 signature to vote this
LID down.
Higgins handed out information about the area being discussed giving very
detailed information about the area.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
May 6, .2013
• Census block groups not 1 to 1 match - 6,600 people live in this area
• 11 Apartment buildings with 2,281 people
• The medium income in the area is $41,000,
• in Kent $58,000
• in Seattle $59,000
Higgins stated he would like to continue with LID's and that staff should proceed
with the non-covenanted properties.
Finance Director, Bob Nachlinger noted that we don't have the money right now in
our budget to pay for it
Committee members stated they would like at a minimum to see this go out to
bid. It was decided that the project needs to go forward that the covenant needs
to move forward and that the B & 0 tax needs to be looked at.
SE 256th Street will have the bid opening on May 29, will come to Public Works
Committee on June 3, and to Council on June 4, 2013.
Items 8, 9 and 10 where not heard at this meeting. It was decided they wouldn't
come back to committee until after SE 256th Street bids are opened.
Item 8 - SE 256th Street Agreement w/Puget Sound Energv for Utility
Underaroundina:
On hold
Item 9 - SE 256th Street Agreement w/Comcast for Utility
Underaroundina:
On hold
Item 10 - SE 256th Street Aareement w/Century Link for Utility
Underaroundina:
On hold
The meeting was adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
Cheryl Viseth
Council Committee Recorder