HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Works/Planning - 09/15/2014 Public Works Committee Minutes
September 15, 2014
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Committee Chair, Dennis Higgins and Committee members Dana Ralph and Brenda Fincher were
present. The meeting was called to order at 4:04 p.m.
Item 1 - Approval of Meeting Minutes Dated August 18, 2014:
Committee member Fincher MOVED to approve the minutes of August 18, 2014. The motion
was SECONDED by Committee member Ralph and PASSED 3-0.
Item 2 - Information Only/SE 2561h Street Construction Progress Update:
Construction Supervisor, Paul Kuehne and Senior Construction Inspector, Phil McConnell were introduced
to the Committee. Kuehne showed photographs of the SE 2561h Street project on the East Hill, before it
got underway and what it currently looks like. He showed before and after photos of the site, and
explained the on-going construction process. Kuehne also noted that the project was on budget and on
time. They are looking to open the road to drivers soon.
Information Only No Motion Required
Item 3 - South 252nd Street Public Right-of-Wav Dedication:
Assistant City Attorney, David Galazin stated the City is in the process of selling the Old Fire Station Park
parcel located at 3536 South 252nd Street. The survey department found that the south thirty (30) feet
of the parcel extends into South 252nd Street and is currently being used as part of the public right-of-
way. This 30 feet of city-owned property must be dedicated as public right-of-way to preserve the city's
interest in the roadway.
Committee member Ralph MOVED to recommend the Mayor sign the Municipal Quit Claim
Deed dedicating city-owned property as City right-of-way for a portion of South 252nd Street
formally part of the Old Fire Station Park parcel, located at 3536 South 252nd Street, subject
to final terms and conditions acceptable to the City Attorney and Public Works Director. The
motion was SECONDED by Committee member Fincher and PASSED 3-0.
Item 4 - Consultant Agreement with Environmental Science Associates for Wetland Mitigation
Monitoring:
Kelly Peterson noted that when critical areas such as streams or wetlands are impacted or enhanced,
permits require monitoring of the mitigation area for up to 10 years. Several city projects are in the
monitoring phase including the 228th Street Extension, Johnson Creek Restoration and the Meridian
Valley Creek Enhancement Projects. The 228th Street Extension project includes four mitigation sites.
The cost submitted by ESA includes: $12,122.55 to perform one final year (Year 10) of monitoring at the
S. 228th mitigation sites, $21,406.15 to perform Year 2, 3 and 5 monitoring at Johnson Creek, and
$28,585.05 to perform Year 2,3,4 and 5 monitoring at Meridian Valley Creek.
Committee member Fincher MOVED to recommend Council authorize the Mayor to sign a
consultant services agreement with Environmental Science Associates in an amount not to
exceed $62,113.75 to conduct 4-years of wetland monitoring and prepare monitoring reports
for the S. 228th St. Extension, Upper Johnson Creek and Meridian Valley Creek Enhancements
Projects, subject to terms and final conditions acceptable to the City Attorney and the Public
Works Director. The motion was SECONDED by Committee member Ralph and PASSED 3-0.
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Public Works Committee Minutes
September 15, 2014
Item 5 —LID 366/S. 2281h Union Pacific & S. 2121h Union Pacific and Burlington Northern
Grade Separations — Resolution of Intent:
Design Engineering Supervisor, Ken Langholz explained that the City of Kent has been successful over
the years in obtaining grant funding for our grade separation projects. We have completed the S. 228th
Street BNSF grade separation and have been assembling a funding package for the S. 228th UP and the
S. 212th BN and UP grade separations. During its March 2014 meeting, the Washington State Freight
Mobility Strategic Investment Board (FMSIB) requested assurances from the City that grant money will
be spent in the near term or the city would be in jeopardy of losing it. This would result in the loss of
roughly $22 million in FMSIB and other associated grant funds.
Engineering staff has continued researching options for funding these grade separation projects, but are
still short of a complete funding package.
A local improvement district (LID) is one option for completing these projects. We recently contracted
with a real estate appraiser to conduct a detailed evaluation of the potential increase in value (special
benefit') to properties located in the vicinity of the proposed grade separations. This evaluation
indicated that a substantial special benefit would be realized by properties in the warehouse/industrial
area, and that Council could form an LID to keep the grade separation projects moving toward
completion.
Committee member Ralph MOVED to recommend Council adopt a Resolution of Intent setting
a public hearing date on the formation of Local Improvement District 366, subject to final
terms and conditions acceptable to the City Attorney and Public Works Director. The motion
was SECONDED by Committee member Fincher and PASSED 3-0.
Item 6 — Information Only/2014 Residential Traffic Calming Proiect:
Special Projects Manager, Kelly Peterson gave a brief presentation showing the neighborhoods and the
approximate locations where traffic calming devices would be installed.
In April of 2014, the Kent City Council authorized $250,000 to implement the 2014 Residential Traffic
Calming Project at three locations within the City of Kent. Staff developed plans and specifications for
the project and advertised the project for bid.
Four bids were received; however, the apparent low bidder withdrew their bid due to a mathematical
error on their part. A recommendation to award the contract to R. W. Scott Construction Co. will be
presented to the City Council on September 16, in the amount of $236,306.00. This will enable the
contractor to get started in advance of the fall weather.
The 2014 Residential Traffic Calming Projects will need additional funds allocated to include engineering,
inspection and landscaping of traffic circles. The revised estimate to implement the project is $280,000.
The Committee noted the change.
No Motion Required/Information Only
Item 7 —Solid Waste Utility Tax:
Special Projects Manager, Kelly Peterson stated that all city streets are impacted by the Solid Waste
Utility. On residential streets the weekly garbage pickup and every other week recycling or yard waste
pickup are the heaviest vehicles these streets will typically carry. Peterson stated that according to the
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), one fully loaded garbage
truck produces the wear and tear of 1,500 cars. This figure takes into account the lighter solid waste
trucks required to be used under the current contract.
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Public Works Committee Minutes
September 15, 2014
Staff has analyzed potential methods to collect additional revenue through the solid waste utility to help
pay for the street wear and tear caused by solid waste trucks. It was determined that an increase to the
existing 7.8% solid waste utility tax is the most efficient process. To generate 1, 2 or 3 million dollars in
revenue, the solid waste utility tax would need to be increased to 11.621%, 15.139% or 18.379%
respectively.
Peterson stated that if the solid waste utility tax was increased to one of the proposed levels, Kent
residents would still enjoy some of the cheapest solid waste rates in King County.
Committee members decided that no motion would be made at this time and that it would be
discussed further at the next meeting.
Item 8 — Information Only/Drainage District No. 1 September 25, 2014 Board Meeting:
Mike Mactutis noted that Kent staff met with King County Drainage District #1 in November, 2013, to
begin discussions about a partnership to remove sediment from creeks in the valley. Since that time,
staff has been collecting data to identify the extent of the need and determine permitting requirements.
The Drainage District has ownership of creek parcels; however, the streams are not necessarily located
within the district's property due to creek movement from natural processes or development.
Kent staff will be meeting again with the Drainage District Board of Commissioners on September 25,
2014, to continue discussing a partnership to re-establish stream and other drainage channels. Staff will
bring this item back to committee to discuss the outcome of the September 25 meeting.
No Motion Required/Information Only
Added Item: South Kent Neighborhood
Public Works staff and the Police department will be meeting regarding the South Kent neighborhood on
Thursday, September 18. They will be discussing requests for traffic calming, speed enforcement and
the restriction of heavy trucks on certain neighborhood streets.
Tim LaPorte, Public Works Director, noted that staff is working with the Union Pacific railroad to deepen
the roadway at S. 2591h which would allow truck traffic to pass under the railroad bridge.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
Cheryl Viseth
Council Committee Recorder
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