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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Meeting - Council Workshop - Minutes - 09/18/2018Kent City Council Workshop Minutes September 18, 2018 Kent, Washington Date: Time: Place: Attending: Approved October 2, 2Ot8 September 18, 2018 5 p.m. Council Chambers East/West Dana Ralph, Mayor Bill Boyce, Council President Brenda Fincher, Councilmember Dennis Higgins, Councilmember Satwinder Kaur, Councilmember Marli Larimer, Councilmember Toni Troutner, Councilmember Council President Boyce opened the meeting at 5:02 p.m. Agenda: Sound Transit Update Austin Neilson, Government & Community Relations Officer with Sound Transit advised of upcoming community outreach that includes a community open house at the Green River College Kent campus on October 18,2018, from 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. Sound Transit will send out mailers, make an online survey available, and have a social media campaign. Neilson indicated the Sound Transit team will work with the City's communications team in addition to working closely with Toni Azzola to convey information to neighborhoods. Sound Transit will hold office hours at the Kent Library on October 9th from 1-4 p.m. and November 5th from 6:30 p.m. - B:30 p.m. Federal Way Link Extension Development Agreement Hayley Bonsteel, Long Range Planning Manager, provided an update on Federal Way Link Extension Development Agreement. Bonsteel advised of key issues that have been resolved, including: site distance, public safety, restrooms, pavement restoration, demolition, and wetland mitigation. Key issues that the City is still working include: Utilities - Sound Transit will agree to build stub outs if utility districts agree to terms in writing; Permitting plan - although there is not a design build team on board, the City will provide a general permit process that will include providing a framework for permitting timelines. Page 1 of 3 Kent City Council Workshop Minutes September 18, 2018 Kent, Washington Approved October 2, 20L8 Surplus land discussion - The City and Sound Transit will co-lead the surplus process jointly working together on public outreach, community involvement, and the request for proposal process from the development community. Bonsteel indicated the Development Agreement contains a dispute resolution process. The tentative plan is to hold a public hearing on the Development Agreement in late October, early November and return to the Council with any proposed design build changes. The City and Sound Transit have agreed that the City liaison will be jointly located in the field, and that the plan is to hire for the position early - prior to construction. Council President Boyce requested that, in an effort to keep the Council informed, the City team will provide them with information on the Development Agreement prior to the public hearing. Mayor Ralph expressed her appreciation for all of the hard work of Bonsteel and the team that have been working on this complicated project. Mayor Ralph is confident Kent will get the station we deserve and co-leading the project will help get to a place. Kent Station Sounder Garage update Danielle Butsick, Senior Long-Range Planner, provided an update on the Kent Station Sounder Garage. Butsick indicated that Sound Transit selected a site for the new garage in November 20L7. Staff has been working with Sound Transit, Metro, and Sound Transit consultants to develop and agree on a site layout. Sound Transit staff presented two layout options - one with Railroad Ave. realigned to the west of the garage, and one with Railroad Ave. realigned to the east. They also showed proposed space for active and layover bus bay space, nearly all of which was on-street. City staff had serious concerns about both layouts - for two main reasons: 1) King County Metro plans to double service in this area by 2040 - the site planning envelope as proposed does not provide enough capacity for additional buses; and 2) nearly all the active and layover bus space is on-street, which requires the street to be wider and limits visibility, creating an uncomfortable environment for pedestrians, This conflicts with the city's goals for a transit-friendly, pedestrian-first downtown. Staff sent a formal letter to Sound Transit project staff on June 8th to document these concerns. Page 2 of 3 Kent City Council Workshop Minutes September 18, 2018 Kent, Washington Approved October 2, 2Ot8 The City received a formal response from Sound Transit on August 16, which was co- signed by King County Metro staff. In the response, Sound Transit staff say that they are moving forward with the option that realigns Railroad Avenue to the east of the garage and places the garage where the cold storage building, and Sound Transit surface lot are currently - the site planning envelope will not be expanded to accommodate additional off-street bus bays, nor will bay space on the ground floor of the garage be considered. Metro staff affirmed that they are coordinating with Sound Transit and that the layout as proposed does exceed existing conditions and makes progress toward their Metro Connects vision, although a significant amount of the on-street bus bay space proposed by Sound Transit is in City right-of-way taking up parking spaces and is inconsistent with our goals and standards. City staff are frustrated and disappointed at Sound Transit's response and the City is contemplating entering into a Development Agreement with Sound Transit for this project. Council expressed concerns over how to address future growth and the garage's capacity and requested additional information. Public Works Construction Update Eric Conner, Construction Manager and Chad Bieren, Deputy Public Works Director, provided the 2018 public and private construction project update and detailed projects that are being constructed in compliance with the Meet Me on Meeker standards. Tim LaPorte, Public Works Director, provided an update on 2018 completed projects by the Operations division. The meetin g concluded t 6:1 p.m. Kimberley City Clerk moto September 18, 2018 Page 3 of 3