HomeMy WebLinkAbout4247'RDTNAN.E
No. 4Lql
AN ORDINANCE of the City Council of the
City of Kent, Washington, amending Chapter 6.L4
of the Kent City Code entitled "Complete Streets."
RECITALS
A. The City of Kent passed complete streets legislation,
Ordinance 4207, on July 5, 20L6, codifying the City's commitment to a
transportation system that provides for all users, regardless of mode, age
or ability.
B. The City of Kent already had many standards that contribute
to safe and welcoming walking and biking environments at the time the
complete streets Ordinance 4207 was passed.
C. To implement Ordinance 4207, staff created an administrative
checklist process to ensure projects are scoped to include consideration of
all existing standards and policies that support safe walking and biking
environments, in addition to considerations that go above and beyond the
standards.
D, The City of Kent passed Ordinance 1703 in L97L, declaring
that it is a policy of the City to line its streets with trees, and regulated the
maintenance, protection, control and removal of street trees.
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E. Street trees are an important component of a safe and
welcoming pedestrian environment. Street trees can calm traffic and
reduce pedestrian fatalities. Street trees also preserve asphalt from sun
damage and raise adjacent property values. While not specifically called
out in the City's complete streets Ordinance 4207, the City has long
understood the integral component street trees are to a functioning and
com plete tra nsportation system.
F. More recently, the City of Kent has identified conduit as an
impoftant element to consider during transportation project scoping. Given
the potential fiscal impacts to removing ancl replacing sidewalks or other
infrastructure when utilities are needed, it is the desire of the City to
consider conduit needs along with other utilities as part of the assessment
for complete streets.
G. The City determined that due to the procedural nature of this
amendment (which includes no development regulations), neither
notification to the State nor State Environmental Policy Act review is
req uired.
H. Planning staff presented the draft ordinance at a public
hearing held by the Land Use and Planning Board (LUPB) on May 8, 2OL7.
The LUPB moved to recommend to the City Council adoption of the
ordinance as presented by staff.
I. The Public Works Committee, at its regularly scheduled
meeting on May 15,2017, moved to accept the recommendation of the
LUPB, and forward the matter for consideration by the full City Council.
J. The City Council, at its regularly scheduled meeting on June
6, 2017, adopted the ordinance as presented by staff,
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NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENT,
WASHINGTON, DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
ORDINANCE
ECTION 7. - Amendment. Chapter 6.L4 of the Kent City Code,
entitled "Complete Streets," is amended as follows:
Sec. 6.14.O1O. Vision. The city endorses the concept of complete
streets, which promotes roadways that are safe, convenient, and attractive
for all users regardless of age and ability, including pedestrians, bicyclists,
transit riders, freight haulers, and motor vehicle drivers. The vision of
complete streets is a community in which all residents and visitors can
safely and efficiently use the public right-of-way to meet their
transportation needs regardless of their preferred mode of travel.
Sec. 6.14.O2O. Policy.
A. The city will plan for, design, construct, operate, and maintain an
appropriate and integrated transportation system that will meet the needs
of pedestrians, bicyclists, wheelchair users, transit riders, freight haulers,
motorists, emergency responders, and residents of all ages and abilitÍes.
B. Transportation system facilities that support the concept of complete
streets shall include, but are not limited to: pavement markings and signs;
street and sidewalk lighting; sidewalk and pedestrian safety
improvements; Americans with Disabilities Act (*ADA') and Title VI
compliance; street trees; transit accommodations; bicycle
accommodations, including signage and markings; and, as appropriate,
streetscapes that appeal to and promote all modes of travel. The system's
design will be consistent with and supportive of local neighborhoods,
recognizing that transportation needs vary and must be balanced in a
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flexible, safe, and cost-effective manner Proiectc will fherefnre he
assessed holistically to include the many considerations outlined above, as
communications. oiven the budggtary implications for provision of
facilities.
Sec. 6.14.O3O. Applicability. The city will plan for, design, and
construct all new city transportation improvement projects to provide
appropriate and safe accommodation for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit
riders, freight haulers, motor vehicles, and persons of all abilities. Those
city employees involved in the planning and design of projects within the
public right-of-way will give consideration to all users and modes of travel
from the start of planning and design work consistent with approved plans
and standards._ Transportation system improvements shall be viewed as
opportunities to create safer, more accessible streets for all users. and as
opportunities to imorove city communication processes between relevant
personnel, such as consulting citv arborists on designs including street
trees. This shall apply to new construction, reconstruction, and
rehabilitation. The city may create a checklist that will assist in considering
modes of travel in the planning and design of transportation system
improvements. ADA-specific projects, such as the installation of ramps or
other improvements required for improved accessibility, are exempt from
complete streets consideration, as are ordinary maintenance activities such
as mowing, sweeping, spot repair, joint sealing, pothole filling, and
installation of raised pavement markers.
Sec, 6.14.O5O. PIans and standards. As city plans, guidelines,
and standards are updated, consideration shall be given to complete
streets concepts to ensure that new regulations and practices comply with
this chapter and the latest in applicable complete streets research and best
practices. Examples of plans and standards include, but are not limited to,
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the design and construction standards and the Transportation Master Plan.
Resources to be referenced in developing these standards and plans shall
include, but not be limited to, the latest editions of National Association of
City Transpoftation Officials' Urban Street Design Guide, Urban Bikeway
fìacian l?r tiAa Tranci{-Qùraaf fìacinn l?r rir{a and the Federal Highway
Administration's Department of Transportation Manual on Un¡form Traffic
Control Devices.
Sec. 6.14.1O0. Exemptions.
A, The mayor, after consultation with the public works director, the
economic and commun¡ty development director, and the parks and human
services director, may determine that a project is exempt from anv or all
el the requirements of this chapter, based on the following circumstances:
1. The project would require the accommodation of street uses
that are prohibÍted by law;
2. The accommodation of a specific use is expected to have
adverse impacts on environmental resources such as streams, wetlands, or
floodplains, or on historic structures or sites (eligible for listing in national,
state, or local preservation registers), above and beyond the impacts of
currently existing infrastructure;
3, Topographic challenges make accommodation of a specific
use infeasible;
4. The establishment of complete streets facilities would be
contrary to public safety;
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5. The cost would be excessively dispropoftionate to the need or
probable future use; or
6. The inclusion of complete streets facilities would create a
disconnected section (less than 300 feet) of improvements where
additional improvements at either end are unlikely to occur within 10
years.
B. Where the above exemptions allow complete streets facilities to be
omitted from a roadway project, the city shall consider whether bicyclists,
pedestrians, transit users, and persons of all abilities can be
accommodated by nearby facilities, and shall strive to provide complete
streets connections to those facilities.
Sec. 6.14.L2O. Intergovernmental cooperation. The city will
cooperate with other transportation agencies, including the Washington
State Department of Transpoftation, King County Metro, and Sound
Transit, to ensure the principles and practices of complete streets are
embedded within their planning, design, construction, and maintenance
activities. The city will specifically cooperate to ensure the transportation
network flows seamlessly between jurisdictions in accordance with local
and regional road, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian plans.
SECTION 2, - Severability. If any one or more section, subsection,
or sentence of this ordinance is held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such
decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this
ordinance and the same shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 3, - Corrections by Citv Clerk or Code Reviser. Upon
approval of the city attorney, the city clerk and the code reviser are
authorized to make necessary corrections to this ordinance, including the
correction of clerical errors; ordinance, section, or subsection numbering;
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or references to other local, state, or federal laws, codes, rules, or
regulations.
SECTION 4, - Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect and
be in force thirty days from and after its passage, as provided by law.
KE, MAYOR
ATTEST
&
KIMBERLEY MOTO, CITY CLERK
AP AS TO FO
PATRÏCK, ACTING ATTORNEY
tIh
PASSED: ø day of
APPRoVED , (f, day of
PUBLISHEo, QF day of
.lu¿¿
Jw,¿20L7
20t7
2017..1,^yt¿
I hereby certify that this is a true copy of ordinance No. Ll¿t{-l
passed by the City Council of the City of Kent, Washington, and approved
by the Mayor of the City of Kent as h reon indicated.
û SEAL)
KIMBERL KOMOTO, CITY CLERK
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Re: Complete Streets
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