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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Meeting - Council Workshop - Minutes - 05/06/2014 .40 v KENT Kent City Council Workshop Minutes May 6, 2014 The workshop meeting was called to order at 5:03 p.m. by Council President Ralph. Councilmembers present: Ralph, Boyce, Berrios, Fincher, Higgins, and Thomas. Councilmember Ranniger arrived at 5:32 p.m. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency- Craig Kenworthy, Executive Director of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) discussed his organization and the effects of air pollution on people and the environment. He noted that PSCAA is a local agency working with the Department of Ecology (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with jurisdiction in King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties. He added that they are governed by a board of directors of elected officials from the four counties. Regional issues include overall health impacts, goods movement and transportation (diesel pollution), and climate change issues, he said. He also pointed out that in Kent his agency worked to reduce diesel emissions in Kent school buses, six trucks and emergency vehicles. He noted that they have also conducted two monitoring studies and maintain a permanent air quality monitoring site in Kent. He reviewed how the agency gets funded and communicated its strategic plan goals, Kenworthy communicated that the City can't withdraw its membership from the PSCAA because the legislature allows the counties to decide whether a city is in the PSCAA or not. He noted that the board is asking for feedback of a proposed rate increase and it will be discussed at their May 22 meeting. Councilmember Higgins verified with Kenworthy that the increase to Kent would be about $20,000, from about $40,000 to $60,000 per year. Councilmember Berrios verified that there was a temporary monitoring device at the skatepark and inquired what effect the railroads have in it, Kenworthy communicated that they will be taking more of a look at the railroads in the future. Berrios noted that the coal trains are already coming through. Councilmember Thomas suggested that the monitor should be put at the 614 North Railroad site, next to the railroad and Kenworthy highlighted that procedurally it has to be a certain distance away from the direct pollutant to get a proper reading. Councilmember Higgins inquired if the legislature designated who would be a member and he confirmed that they did, based on how many counties were in a certain area. Council President Ralph confirmed that any comments needed to be sent to Kenworthy. Grade Separation LIDs - Tim LaPorte, Public Works Director and Doug Levy, Lobbyist, highlighted the grade separation LIDS. LaPorte communicated that the City has secured two grants for this from the Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board (FMSIB) dating back from 2002 and 2005. One of the grants is for the 228th Street Union Pacific Railroad and the other is for the 212th Street Burlington Northern and Union Pacific Railroads. He stated that the 212th Street grade separation could go above or under the tracks and the 228th Street separation needs to go above, LaPorte added that the separation on 180th Street and 177th Street need to go Kent City Council Workshop Minutes May 6, 2014 above. He noted that it normally takes a municipality 10 years to get the funding and two years to get the grade separation built. LaPorte discussed the City of Auburn M Street separation and how the $23 million for the project was funded. He also explained how the City of Renton Strander Boulevard grade separation was funded and that the total cost was $16 million. He noted that the 228th Street grade separation project cost is $25 million and $8,072,500 has been secured with $15,427,500 unsecured at this present time. He noted that the additional funding should come from a $6 million federal/state grant, $8,427,500 in LID/State Grant, and $1 million from B&O funds. Levy communicated why it is a good idea to bring this to the legislature. LaPorte continued and discussed the S. 212th Union Pacific grade separation and the total cost is $27 million with $1 million in unsecured funding coming from the Port, $16,750,000 coming from LID/State/Federal Grant of $16,750,000, $1 million from Kent storm utility funds, $2 million from the Kent B&O, equalling a total unsecured funding amount of $20,750,000. LaPorte continued and discussed previous LIDs in the City and highlighted what a 212th and 228th grade separation would look like on a map. He added that the entire LID would be commercial and the City would need the support of the business community and the Chamber of Commerce. Levy communicated that both routes have very significant functions and these topics are being introduced with the FMSIB board. He noted that this will be communicated to the legislature as a completion of the Green River Valley set of freight improvements that could have phases, improving freight movement through Kent, instead of work being done on individual locations, Council President Ralph communicated that this was discussed in the Public Works Committee meeting and Councilmember Higgins communicated that it is imperative that the impacted communities know that the $20 million in funds that have been already received will go away if additional funding isn't received though the LID. He added that if the City is able to retain and utilize this $20 million it will be successful with obtaining grant funds in the future. LaPorte noted that if the City wishes to keep the grant funding for these projects there needs to be a certain level of commitment made by the City. Councilmember Berrios communicated that he has toured both of these areas and the roads are failing. He stated that the City needs to be sensitive because the property owners in these areas may already be paying a B&O tax. Council President Ralph communicated that the overlay would have to be done to determeine who is paying for what and where. Councilmember Boyce verified that the funds consist of funds that have already been derived from the B&O tax funds and that these two projects fall into the list of B&O projects the Council has previously discussed. Councilmember Fincher inquired if this is a new idea to pull several projects into a regional corridor idea and Levy communicated that legislature previously allowed the 2 Kent City Council Workshop Minutes May 6, 2014 Port of Vancouver to have several projects categorized into a single regional project with several phases. He noted that there have been some good conversations and there is some sympathy with the legislature concerning the magnitude of what needs to be done in Kent. Brubaker communicated that the board is meeting on May 30 and they have expressed that they will cancel our grant funds if the City doesn't come up with some additional funding. He noted that in May the City will be communicate to them that we are considering an LID and is hopeful they will delay any decision until November. Economic Development Strategy - Ben Wolters, Economic and Community Development Director noted that the strategy was introduced at the Council retreat and brought to the Economic and Community Development Committee (ECDC). He stated that the strategy is in draft form and he is looking for input. He said he is looking for assurance that this is on the right track because some items are already underway and reviewed the schedule. Wolters reviewed the purpose of the plan which is to provide a comprehensive playbook of strategies for economic growth for the next 5 to 10 years. Wolters announced the six implementation strategies and substrategies which make up the plan. Councilmember Boyce communicated that he likes what is being done and inquired how the process will progress. Wolters replied that this will be vetted at ECDC and at a minimum be brought to the Council every six months. He added that the basis for this document is the Council's strategic goals and a conscious effort was made to tie it to that. Councilmember Berrios communicated that there needs to be a way to get the community to embrace the plan and what Kent's future is going to look like. He noted that there will be a need for funding, so the community will need to be on board. He added that there needs to be discussion with the faith community and inclusion about the homeless in this plan. He said the community doesn't understand the big picture and Wolters communicated that there can be an element included in this to determine how to communicate this to the community. Councilmember Berrios noted that as the City looks at funding for LIDS, franchise fees, etc it needs to be sensitive to earmark those funds for those specific projects. He noted that funds need to be dedicated to those projects and not put into the general fund or the Council losses credibility. Councilmember Thomas highlighted on Strategy 2.6.3. concerning swapping parking for green space and pocket parks. Wolters communicated that this item refers to having these small pocket parks turned into a town square plaza, something to serve more of the downtown area. Councilmember Fincher communicated that she likes the economic viability of this plan. She highlighted several sections of the plan that she is pleased with. Brubaker communicated that he wants the Council to think of this as a foundation for the different plans and decisions the Council makes this year. 3 Kent City Council Workshop Minutes May 6, 2014 Council President Ralph added that it is important to keep our eyes on what Kent can be and its potential. The meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m. ,-"Ronald F. Moore, `MKC City Clerk `f I i 4