HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Meeting - Council Workshop - Minutes - 02/03/2015 KENT
w"°""'°... Kent City Council Workshop Minutes
February 3, 2015
The workshop meeting was called to order at 5:05 p.m. by Council President Ralph.
Councilmembers present: Ralph, Berrios, Boyce, Fincher, Higgins, and Thomas.
Councilmember Ranniger arrived at 5:35 p.m.
Green River System Wide Improvement Framework (SWIF). — Jennifer Knauer,
Flood Control District and Lorin Reineld, Managing Engineer, both from King County
and Mike Mactutis, City of Kent Environmental Engineering Manager reviewed the
Green River System Wide Improvement Framework (SWIF).
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Reineld presented what he called Green River SWIF 101 to the City Council. His
presentation entailed what the SWIF was, why it is important, who is involved, how it
may affect the'City of Kent, and when key decisions will be made.
Reineld communicated that the SWIF is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sanctioned
approach to integrated river corridor planning being completed by the King County
Flood District. He added that it involves cities, tribe, state/federal agencies, business
community, environmental groups, WRIA-9, and other interested parties. The SWIF
establishes flood protection goals for the Lower Green River and also establishes a list
of capital projects to achieve those goals with coordinated sets of ecological, social,
and economical outcomes. It also provides vegetation management recommendations
to improve shade and habitat conditions.
Currently, Reineld noted that the Lower Green River is 21 miles in length with over 17
miles of levees and nearly 10 miles of revetments. He also noted that the area has
productive agricultural lands and the King County Farmland Preservation Program was
approved in 1979 for that area. The area has restrictive easements that protect the
soil and it is very difficult to remove properties from the program. However, currently,
he pointed out, the area lacks sufficient drainage.
Discussion continued and the Green River Regional Trail was highlighted. It was noted
that the trail was missing several important links and needs to be connected and that
local trail connections to the valley cities is being planned.
The three SWIF alternative alignments were discussed and displayed and it was noted
that each alternative presents a different spatial approach to achieving the same set
of flood protection goals. It was communicated that there have been six months of
SWIF alternative advisory meetings, public meetings, workshops, and 1:1 meetings
with advisors. The two map alternatives were displayed and the SWIF Capital Project
Area Alignments were discussed. It was also noted that there were four sub-areas
where advisors were not in agreement. Capital Project Areas 4.1 and 3.4 in Tukwila
and Capital Project Area 6.1 in Kent were displayed and discussed.
Kent City Council Workshop Minutes February 3, 2015
Reineld continued and discussed four SWIF Policy Proposals. He noted that Policy 1a
concerns shade tree planting, ib concerns habitat restoration, and 2a and 2b relate to
resource areas and that there is a new name being considered for them.
A review of the key milestones and dates of the SWIF Alternatives was presented.
Mactutis communicated that there will be on-site visit to the area on February 20,
2015 and everyone was invited to attend.
The meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m.
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onald F. 0ore MC Rona
Clerk `
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