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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Works Committee - 10/16/2017 PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE Minutes City of Kent, WA Summary Minutes Date: October 16, 2017 Time: 4:00 p.m. Place: Chambers East 1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 4:02 p.m. by Committee member Higgins. 2. Roll Call: Committee members, Dennis Higgins, Dana Ralph and Brenda Fincher were present. Council member Higgins chaired the meeting. Absent: N/A 3. Changes to the Agenda: Added an information only item – Meet Me On Meeker 4. Approval of Minutes, Dated October 2, 2017 Committee member Fincher MOVED to approve the Minutes of October 2, 2017. The motion was SECONDED by Committee member Ralph and PASSED 3 - 0. 5. South King County Area Transportation Board Agreement - Recommend Chad Bieren, Deputy Public Works Director / City Engineer noted that the city has been a member of the South King County Area Transportation Board (SKCATBd) for 25 years and that SKCATBd was developed to share information, build consensus, and provide advice on plans, programs, policies and priorities for countywide, regional, state and federal transportation decisions. Bieren stated that the agreement before the committee identifies member agencies and voting rights, local agency representatives, operating procedures, financing and cost sharing. The City is a full voting member. The new agreement would be in place through December 2021. Committee member Ralph MOVED to recommend Council authorize the Mayor to sign the South King County Area Transportation Agreement subject to final terms and conditions acceptable to the City Attorney and Public Works Director. The motion was SECONDED by Committee member Fincher. The motion PASSED 3 - 0. 6. Quiet Zone/Union Pacific Railroad Crossing Authorization for Crossing Improvements – Meeker Street - Recommend Chad Bieren, Deputy Public Works Director / City Engineer noted that staff is working on setting up the follow-up diagnostic meeting with Burlington Northern (BN) and hope to have a scheduled meeting to report at the next meeting. A meeting with Union Pacific (UP) representatives, the Washington Utilities Transportation Commission (UTC) and the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) is scheduled for November 14. Bieren said that he is working with the Finance Director regarding the new funding for the Quiet Zone. We received an agreement from the UP To update its train detection system as required by FRA to establish a Quiet Zone. Bieren stated that only the UP railroad is able to complete the signalization work within the railroad right-of-way. The UP agreements will require the local jurisdictions to reimburse 100% of actual costs. The amount of the agreement is an estimate and the City will be responsible if any costs exceed the estimate. Committee member Fincher MOVED to sign the Authorization for Crossing Improvements Agreement with the Union Pacific Railroad, subject to final terms and conditions acceptable to the City Attorney and the Public Works Director. The motion was SECONDED by Committee member Ralph. The motion PASSED 3 - 0. 7. Infrastructure For Rebuilding America (INFRA) Grant - Letter of Support to Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) - Recommend Chad Bieren, Deputy Public Works Director / City Engineer noted that in 2015 the Washington State Legislature approved the Connecting Washington Legislation including the SR167 and SR509 Gateway projects. This legislation identified a budget of $1.87 billion to construct both projects, though some funding is still needed. The US Department of Transportation has issued a call for projects to apply for the Infrastructure For Rebuilding America (INFRA) grants to help fund critical freight and highway project across the country. INFRA has replaced the FASTLANE grants under the current administration. The Gateway projects qualify for this grant. WSDOT will be applying for a grant in the $100 million range in November. Support from stakeholders is beneficial to the grant application. The Mayor has signed a letter of support. INFRA would like to have a letter from the Council as well. Committee member Ralph MOVED to recommend Council authorize Council President Boyce to sign a letter of support for the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Puget Sound Gateway Program application for the federal Infrastructure for Rebuilding America grant. The motion was SECONDED by Committee member Fincher and PASSED 3 - 0. 8. Information Only/Limited License Agreement with Kent Downtown Partnership for Dragonfly Artwork Chad Bieren, Deputy Public Works Director / City Engineer noted that the idea to have the darner dragon fly (Anax junius drury) is the state insect. The Kent Downtown Partnership has seventeen metal sculptures they would like to install on pedestrian street lights in the downtown area. These sculptures would be hung on the hanging flower basket brackets by the KDP under a limited license agreement. All costs associated with the installation and maintenance of this artwork would be the responsibility of the KDP. Under the terms of the agreement, KDP will provide a Certificate of Insurance prior to installation of the work consistent with amounts established by the City. The dragonfly sculptures are approximately 2-feet by 2 feet and weigh about 10 pounds. 9. Information Only/West Hill Water System Capital Improvements Dave Brock, Deputy Public Works Director / Operations Manager noted that an additional water tank, pump station, piping upgrades, and stand-by generator are some of the capital improvements needed within the West Hill Water System to meet regulatory requirements for firefighting storage, improved system resiliency, and life cycle improvements. An overview of the West Hill water system and identified capital improvements were provided. Planning level cost estimates of each improvement will be completed as part of the Water System Plan which is currently being updated. Detailed cost estimates are performed as project design progresses. Water Utility revenue would be used to pay project expenses. 10. Information Only/Grant and Construction Update for Leber Homestead and Downey Farmstead Salmon Enhancement Projects Matt Knox, Environmental Engineering Supervisor noted that the grant-funded 8.6 acre Leber Homestead salmon enhancement project was substantially completed in December 2016. Maintenance and monitoring to comply with environmental permits and grant requirements began in early 2017. The 22-acre Downey Farmstead salmon enhancement project is expected to begin in 2018. Grant funds to relocate Frager Roadway and utilities (Phase I) out of the way of the future habitat project have been secured, and over $800,000 in habitat improvement funds are expected by the end of the year to fund initial habitat enhancement. Approximately $5 million more in habitat funds will be needed to complete the project. 11. Information Only/James Street Maintenance - Update Tim LaPorte, Public Works Director gave an update on the James Street improvement, including plantings and the addition of concrete near the bus stop near the Fred Meyer store. Adjournment: At 5:06 p.m., Committee Chair Higgins declared the meeting adjourned. Cheryl Viseth, Committee Secretary