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Home My WebLink AboutLUTC MINS 08-01-2005G:\LUTC\LUTC Agendas and Summaries 2005\08-01-05 LUTC Minutes.doc City of Federal Way City Council Land Use/Transportation Committee August 1, 2005 City Hall 5:30 pm Council Chambers MEETING MINUTES In attendance: Chairman Jack Dovey, Council Member Michael Park, Council Member Eric Faison, Mayor Dean McColgan; Deputy Mayor Linda Kochmar; Council Member Jeanne Burbidge; City Manager David Moseley; Assistant City Attorney Karen Kirkpatrick; Public Works Director Cary Roe; Community Development Services Director Kathy McClung; Public Works Deputy Director Ken Miller; City Traffic Engineer Rick Perez; and Administrative Assistant E. Tina Piety. Planning Commissioner Lawson Bronson and Citizens Pamela Buck, Kevin Buck, Nancy Combs, LeAnn Yadon, Kevin Bush, and a number of unidentified people also attended. 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Dovey called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm. 2. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES The minutes of July 18, 2005, were approved. 3. PUBLIC COMMENT Pamela Buck stated that she and her husband, Kevin Buck, live on 306th Place and oppose the traffic calming devices on 21st Avenue SW. They have voted “no” in the past. There have been speed humps in the neighborhood in the past and they did not like them. They are concerned with their car’s suspension with speed humps. She feels a bigger problem is the people who pull out of the Forest Cove apartment complex without stopping first. Another problem is the lack of sidewalks. She asked why they have not been given an opportunity to vote on this issue. 4. BUSINESS ITEMS A. Status of Traffic Calming Neighborhood Meeting for 21st Avenue SW Rick Perez provided the background information. A neighborhood meeting on traffic calming for 21st Avenue SW was held last Tuesday. Approximately 40 people attended. After much discussion, a vote for speed humps failed (19 – 14) and a vote for speed tables passed (14 – 5). Staff received some complaints because since it took a long time before the second vote, some people had left and the complainant thought that skewed the vote. The proposal arrived at this meeting is to place raised crosswalks at 21st and 304th and at 21st and 307th. In addition speed tables will be placed at the 30500, 30800, and 31100 blocks. The current proposal would cost $17,500, which is over the Neighborhood Traffic Safety (NTS) Program policy of $10,000 for any one neighborhood. Mr. Perez noted that there is only $30,000 in the NTS budget, and three other neighborhoods are currently in the balloting process and a fourth will be holding a neighborhood meeting later in August. The alternatives before the Committee are as follows: 1. Continue with balloting the current proposal 2. Bypass balloting process to install current proposal 3. Modify current proposal and bypass balloting process 4. Do nothing Land Use/Transportation Committee Page 2 August 1, 2005 G:\LUTC\LUTC Agendas and Summaries 2005\08-01-05 LUTC Minutes.doc Sub-Alternatives to Alternatives 2 and 3 a. Phase implementation to stay within $10,000/year b. Authorize expenditure from any surplus operational budget Staff recommends moving forward with the balloting for two raised crosswalks and three speed tables, and deal with the budget issue if the vote passes. Public Comment: LuAnn Yadon – She noted that speed and traffic in the neighborhood has increased. She disagreed with Rick’s account of the neighborhood meeting. She thought decisions would be made at the meeting and they were not. She complained that the meeting started late. Her driveway is on 21st and she must be very careful when backing out because of the speed on the street. According to Rick’s presentation, speed tables will reduce the speed to about 30 mph. If the speed limit is 25 mph, why reduce it to 30 mph? Rick’s presentation said that speed humps would reduce the speed to 25 mph, which meets the law. She thinks the raised crosswalks are great. Kevin Bush – He lives on 307th. He feels the NTS program is a fine program, but it should not be the only way problems are addressed. Action is needed and he called upon the LUTC to take action. Nancy Combs – She commented that she has worked on this issue for three years. She has called the police numerous times to deal with the speeders, but given that there are only so many Federal Way police officers, they cannot be in the neighborhood at all times. She stated that the City needs more police. She has lived on 21st for 40 years and is shocked at the speeding that goes on. She commented that she had been called a liar in the newspaper because she sent in a letter that stated side-by-side car races happen on 21st Avenue SW, but she has witnessed more than one. There are many school buses from private and public schools traveling through the neighborhood adding to the traffic problems. In addition, there are many walkers in the neighborhood who are potentially in danger from the traffic. Unless you live on 21st, you really have no idea what it is like. Please help. Mayor McColgan asked the staff what their recommendation would have been if there had been no citizen input. Mr. Roe replied that the staff works hard not to direct the outcome of these neighborhood meetings and to recommend what the citizens support, but if there had not been the citizen input, staff would recommended the two raised crosswalks at 304th and 307th, and speed humps instead of speed tables at the other locations. He feels speed humps are more effective. Chair Dovey asked what the cost would be if speed humps were done instead of speed tables. Mr. Perez replied it would reduce the cost to $15,000. Various Council Members asked if other tactics have been tried, such as police emphasis patrols and the speed reader board. Staff replied that both of these tactics have been tried a number of times. Each time, the speed problem gradually increased once the tactic had ended. Chair Dovey moved, and it was seconded, to approve raised crosswalks at 304th and 307th, and speed humps at the 30500, 30800, and 31100 blocks. After discussion (see below), motion PASSED two to one Discussion was held on when the item should go to the City Council and how fast the work could be completed; with the intent that it be completed by the time school starts. The normal procedure would have been for this issue to be voted upon by the neighborhood before going to the City Council, but it was felt something must be done as soon as possible. Mayor McColgan expressed his concern that if this were to go to tomorrow’s Council meeting, citizens would not have time for input. It was decided that the issue will go to the first meeting in September, since there is no second Council meeting in August. Concern was expressed over making an exception and how it may set a precedent. Council Member Park expressed concern over the cost. With speed humps, the cost will be over the allocated budget of $10,000 by $5000. His concern is that the $5000 is not budgeted and the Department will be paying for the amount using “left over” funds from other projects. B. Downtown Code Amendments Ms. McClung delivered her report. A public hearing will be held tomorrow before the City Council on the Interim Zoning Ordinance. Staff has begun work on the proposed code amendments for this ordinance, which has to do with the downtown. They are using suggestions from the Leland Study and staff experience. In addition, a consultant is Land Use/Transportation Committee Page 3 August 1, 2005 G:\LUTC\LUTC Agendas and Summaries 2005\08-01-05 LUTC Minutes.doc reviewing the City code and will deliver a report of suggested code changes. Currently, the preliminary proposed changes from the consultant include eliminating density limits, increasing height limits, revising design guidelines to require a minimum percent ground floor retail in desired locations, eliminating the design requirements for multi- family to be compatible with single-family, revising the landscape requirements for multi-family to be more flexible, and revising parking requirements across the zone to be more flexible. The consultant will also be looking at uses and making recommendations about what uses should be added to this zone and what are uses that may be detrimental to achieving the goals of the comprehensive plan. Once staff receives the consultant’s report (should be next week), staff will meet with the Chamber and other stakeholders of this area to share initial results and gather additional ideas. Staff’s intent is to take the proposed amendments to the Planning Commission by late September. Mr. Moseley commented that the staff’s objectives are: 1) encourage the Chamber and stakeholders to become involved in the process and to know the proposed changes; and 2) complete the process in the six-month time frame. 6. FUTURE MEETINGS The next scheduled meeting will be August 15, 2005. 7. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.