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Home My WebLink AboutLUTC MINS 06-20-2005G:\LUTC\LUTC Agendas and Summaries 2005\06-20-05 LUTC Minutes.doc City of Federal Way City Council Land Use/Transportation Committee June 20, 2005 City Hall 5:30 pm Council Chambers MEETING MINUTES In attendance: Chairman Jack Dovey, Council Member Michael Park, Council Member Eric Faison, Deputy Mayor Linda Kochmar; Council Member Jeanne Burbidge; City Manager David Moseley; Assistant City Manager Derek Matheson; Assistant City Attorney Karen Kirkpatrick; Public Works Director Cary Roe; City Traffic Engineer Rick Perez; and Administrative Assistant Marianne Stiles. Citizen Dave Kaplan also attended. 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Dovey called the meeting to order at 5:34 pm. 2. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES The minutes of June 6th were approved. 3. PUBLIC COMMENT None 4. BUSINESS ITEMS A. Belmor Park Safety Improvements Rick Perez presented the background information on the project. Councilman Faison asked if bicycle lanes could be added. Mr. Perez said they could not be added now. Mr. Perez discussed reducing lane size to create bike lanes; Federal Way’s road standard width is 11 feet. Councilwoman Burbidge asked why there are pedestrian flashers on 21st Ave SW near Saghalie Junior High? Mr. Perez said that in the past, there was a fatality accident on 21st and when that flasher was put in it was decided to put in a flasher on S. 336th street, near Saghalie, also. They were converted to push-button flashers from 24-hour flashers. Chair Dovey asked if the City starts with option 1, could they build [expand] on it later? Mr. Perez said that, yes, they can add to it later. Councilwoman Kochmar asked if the residents of Belmor Park knew that the city is working on this safety issue? Mr. Perez responded ‘Yes, we have been working with them’ and added that he called them this morning. Ms. Kochmar urged a wait in action to discuss the impacts with Belmor Park residents and that, in any case, they be notified before action is taken. Chair Dovey stated he wanted to move forward with the issue, the full Council can discuss it and invite the residents of Belmor Park to attend that meeting. Other topics mentioned were vegetated pedestrian islands (difficult to irrigate) and a way to ‘beautify’ them. Responding to a question from Chair Dovey, Mr. Perez stated that the nearest crosswalks in either direction are 1) A crosswalk at 17th that has a street light and pedestrian refuge and 2) A crosswalk at 23rd that has a full traffic signal. Land Use/Transportation Committee Page 2 6/20/2005 G:\LUTC\LUTC Agendas and Summaries 2005\06-20-05 LUTC Minutes.doc Chair Dovey noted that the crosswalk near the entrance to Belmor Park is between two larger crosswalks and to ‘over mark’ all crosswalks will negate the purpose of the street work done to reduce automobile congestion. Councilman Faison moved to approve Option 1*, creation of a Pedestrian Refuge Island. Park seconded. PASSED unanimously. * Councilman Faison added the request that Mr. Perez notify the residents of Belmor Park about the planned changes for 324th B. 2006-2011 Transportation Improvement Project Chair Dovey turned over the meeting to Councilman Park and recused himself from this agenda item, as he is a tenant in properties impacted by a project on the TIP. He left the LUTC meeting at this point. Rick Perez provided background information. Staff recommends Option 1, reducing the scope of some projects and consolidating others. Councilman Faison asked if the City is establishing a policy to look into using roundabouts first – is this a Council issue or a Public Works policy issue? Mr. Perez responded that the City does consider roundabouts, and looks at cost effectiveness. Right of Way (ROW) for a roundabout is expensive and another additional cost is landscaping. However, the cost for a signal is higher ($3500 per year) and there are more accidents at a signal. Mr. Perez advised that a policy is not needed and staff recommendations are adequate. In response to Councilman Faison’s questions on signalized roundabouts, Mr. Perez responded that non-signalized ones are better at moving traffic, 1 or 2 entry points at most should be signalized, to control one or two access points that take all available space in the circle. Councilman Faison also brought up issues of aesthetics and ease of pedestrian crossing. He mentioned wanting to discuss removing projects #6, 11, & 21 from the TIP. He later suggested these projects take a lower priority and be reviewed in the future. Mr. Perez stated that the City is due to update their comprehensive plan; any change to the plan will require a thorough re-working of the TIP. Councilman Faison wants bundled items separated out so critical items can be identified. Which ones are failing now? Which will fail in three years? Which will fail in six years? Mr. Perez says he can have maps available at the next meeting. Councilman Park suggested that this can be discussed at the City Council meeting July 19th. He also asked about projects on 312th & 356th. Mr. Perez stated that the City is compelled by budget to complete projects using a ‘worst first’ approach, using funding, as it is available. Councilman Faison asked why there were no identified projects in the newly annexed areas. Mr. Perez stated that, because these areas were not within the city, city staff did not have access to data on them. There is a project underway funded by the State. Councilman Faison asked about funding for sidewalks. Mr. Perez responded that there is some available in the school improvements funding, but that it is difficult to suggest pricing for sidewalks as it is so dependant on the drainage needs. Cary Roe added that there is some funding for sidewalks, mostly for repair and meeting federal standards, in the Pavement Overlay project. Moved by Faison. Seconded by Park. Recommendation to fwd Option 1, PASSED unanimously [without Dovey]. 6. FUTURE MEETINGS The next scheduled meeting will be July 18, 2005. 7. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 6:37 p.m.