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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Works/Planning - 07/06/2015 Public Works Committee Minutes July 6, 2015 Item 1 — Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 4:01 p.m. by Committee Chair, Dennis Higgins. Item 2 — Roll Call: Committee members present: Higgins, Ralph and Fincher. Item 3 — Chances to the Agenda: Switch in order, item 7 will be heard before item 6 Item 4 — Approval of Meeting Minutes Dated June 15, 2015: Committee member Fincher MOVED to approve the minutes of June 15, 2015. The motion was SECONDED by Committee member Ralph and PASSED 3-0. Item 5 —10 Year Inter-Local Agreement with Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 9: Environmental Manager, Mike Mactutis noted that in 1999, the federal government listed Puget Sound Chinook salmon and Bull Trout as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. In 2000, concerned about the need to protect and restore habitat for salmon, 16 cities and King County in WRIA 9 signed an ILA to jointly participate in and fund the development of a habitat conservation plan. In 2006, the ILA was updated to reflect implementation of the 2005 WRIA 9 Salmon Habitat Plan and renewed for a ten year term which expires at the end of 2015. Puget Sound Steelhead were subsequently also listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2007. The local agencies entered into the ILA share interest in and responsibility for addressing long term watershed planning and conservation and wish to continue providing for planning and implementation of various activities and projects. The result of the sixteen years of collaboration among the parties and stakeholders is the development and implementation of the WRIA 9 Salmon Habitat Plan, which is anticipated to be updated in the term of the proposed ILA. The goals of the ILA are to collaborate on Salmon recovery; integrate other efforts into the Salmon recovery efforts. Another is to review capital projects, funding sources are reviewed at the Form. Kent has been awarded over 5 million in grants, this year the City is looking at 1.6 million in grant funding. Funding comes through State, local and Federal funding; the City is the third largest contributor. Some accomplishments to date are 918 acres of protected land through acquisition or easement and 80 acres of riparian area planted. The proposed ILA has been updated to reflect the current structure of the WRIA 9 Watershed Ecosystem Forum and clarify some of its purposes and procedures. Ratification of the ILA would continue the City's support for preservation and restoration of salmon habitat in the Green River watershed through the implementing the Salmon Habitat Plan. The updated WRIA should be signed by the end of July. Committee Chair Higgins notes that at the last meeting it was made clear that no major changes are being made and all entities involved are signing the same document. There seems to be no reason to not approve this ILA; this is an impressive agreement to be a part of and approve. Committee member Fincher and Ralph agree. Committee member Ralph further noted that the intent of the ILA is solid and expressed her appreciation for Environmental Manager Mactutis being a strong voice for the City of Kent and for bringing a very balanced voice to the group with great perspective. Committee Member Ralph MOVED to recommend to City Council authorization for the Mayor to sign an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) for the Green River, Duwamish River, and Central Puget Sound Watersheds within the geographic planning area of Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 9 (which includes portions of Water Resource Inventory Areas 8, 10, and 15). The motion was SECONDED by Committee member Fincher and PASSED 3-0. 1 Public Works Committee Minutes July 6, 2015 Item 7 — Agreement with R2 Resource Consultants for Mitigation for the Mill Creek Reestablishment Proiect: Environmental Biologist, Matt Knox noted that the Mill Creek Reestablishment Project proposes to reestablish the original grades between culverts along Mill Creek in the Kent valley. This project will remove accumulated sediment within the creek channel between S. 2041h Street and W. Smith Street to reduce flooding and drainage issues. The sediment build up in the Mill Creek channel seems to be coming from Earthworks and has no place to go. The project would remove built up sediment. Several environmental permits will be required for this project, including an Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 (Discharge of Dredge or Fill Material into Water) permit. Several wetlands are expected to be impacted by this project and mitigation must be designed and planned to receive Corps approval of the 404 permit. Currently the goal is to permit the entire project so staff does not have to return to committee for each permit. There is about 3 miles of creek channel to clear, including wetland mitigation that needs to happen as a result of clearing the sediment. R2 Resource Consultants, Inc., will design a wetland mitigation plan that meets Corps requirements to compensate for impacts to Mill Creek wetlands from the Mill Creek Reestablishment Project. It is expected that mitigation will occur on the City property just east of Mill Creek and north of James Street (the "Little Property"). Knox noted that informational meetings have been held with the neighborhood council and mailings have been sent. He anticipates continuing this practice as the project moves forward. Committee member Fincher MOVED to recommend Council authorize the Mayor to sign a consultant services agreement with R2 Resource Consultants, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $76,319 to prepare a wetland mitigation plan for the Mill Creek Reestablishment Project. This agreement will be 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. Item 6 — Agreement with Tetra Tech for Geotechnical Enaineerina for the Mill Creek Reestablishment Proiect: Environmental Engineer, Toby Hallock noted The Mill Creek Reestablishment project consists of removing accumulated sediment throughout the creek channel in order to restore the original grade of the creek. The accumulation of sediment is one reason there is flooding along Mill Creek in the Kent Valley. In researching the creek and its culverts, it was determined that two culverts are at higher elevations than areas directly upstream. This causes water to back up and increases the risk of flooding during rain events. Tetra Tech, Inc. will evaluate the two culverts and the surrounding areas and make recommendations to alleviate the potential problems caused by the elevated culverts. One of the culverts is under a driveway at the Chandler's Bay Apartment complex off of Central Avenue North and it is 3.5 feet higher than the closest up stream Culvert on James St. The other is a Union Pacific Railroad culvert near 761h Avenue South and it is about 3 feet higher than the next upstream culvert. Improvements at and near these two culverts, in addition to other improvements related to this project and other current storm drainage work in the valley will help reduce the risk of flooding. Director LaPorte commented that it was important to know exactly what we needed to do before we approached Union Pacific Railroad about solutions. The Culvert at Union Pacific has some 2 Public Works Committee Minutes July 6, 2015 quarry rocks that may be able to be removed which could help alleviate the flooding. This will be a partnership project with Drainage District number 1. Committee member Ralph questioned if the UP culvert was the responsibility of the City of Kent and if we can approach the railroad about bringing it up to code since it was not built or maintained by the City. Director LaPorte responded that the study needed to be done first prior to approaching the railroad so we are able to ask that question of UP intelligently. Committee Member Fincher questioned what other cities might also be having this problem and if a solution was to approach the railroad together. Committee Chair Higgins agreed that this was an idea that should be explored. Committee member Ralph MOVED to recommend Council authorize the Mayor to sign a consultant services agreement with Tetra Tech, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $27,045 to evaluate and provide recommendations to improve culverts along Mill Creek, subject to terms and final conditions acceptable to the City Attorney and the Public Works Director. The motion was SECONDED by Committee member Fincher and PASSED 3-0. Item 8 — Information Only/Change Order 40" Ave & 42nd Ave — 2015 Overlay Project: Joe Araucto, Pavement Management Engineer, noted that at the June 16, 2015 City Council meeting, the Public Works Department will present 401h Avenue South between South 272nd and approximately 150 feet north of Cambridge Court, and 42nd Avenue South between Reith Road and South 261s' Street as candidate streets to add to the 2015 Overlay Project. These streets were chosen as a representative street from the West Hill Area and because they are main arterials. There will be coordination with the local schools for the project. Director LaPorte commented that more action items will be brought to the Committee after Construction Manager, Eric Connor has reviewed the work that needs to be done on these streets. The speed bumps on these streets are some of the first put in the City back in the 70's and the plan is to replace them exactly as is, with new pavement since they have held up so well. Information Only/No Motion Required The meeting was adjourned at 4:54 p.m. Kara Moore Council Committee Recorder 3