LUTC MINS 11-02-2009G:\LUTC\LUTC Agendas and Summaries 2009\11-02-09-Minutes.doc
City of Federal Way
City Council
Land Use/Transportation Committee
November 2, 2009 City Hall
5:30 PM City Council Chambers
MEETING SUMMARY
Committee Members in Attendance: Committee Chair Linda Kochmar and Committee Members Ferrell and Duclos
present.
Council Members in Attendance: Councilmember Jeanne Burbidge
Staff Members in Attendance: Director of Parks, Public Works and Emergency Management Cary Roe, Deputy Public
Works Director Marwan Salloum, Assistant City Attorney Peter Beckwith, Deputy Public Works Director Ken Miller,
Surface Water Manager Will Appleton, City Traffic Engineer Rick Perez, Senior Transportation Planning Engineer Sarady
Long and Administrative Assistant II Darlene LeMaster.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Kochmar called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
3. BUSINESS ITEMS
Forward
Topic Title/Description to Council
A.
Approval of the October 19, 2009, LUTC Minutes
Committee approved October 19, 2009 LUTC minutes as presented.
Moved: Duclos Seconded: Ferrell Passed: Unanimously, 3-0
N/A
B. 2009 Asphalt Overlay Project – Project Acceptance and Retainage Release
Marwan Salloum presented information on this item. There was no public comment or
discussion.
Committee forwarded Option #1 as presented.
Moved: Ferrell Seconded: Duclos Passed: Unanimously, 3-0
11/17/2009
Consent
C. Response to Belmor Park Concern – Informational Presentation
Rick Perez presented information on this item. There were two public comments:
Nancy Evans, Belmor Park Manager, Federal Way – Ms. Evans is requesting staff study speeds
along westbound S 324th Street and feels that more can be done to make this stretch of road
safer for Belmor’s residents. Ms. Evans is also interested in the yellow flashing beacon as an
option for her community.
Betty Taylor, Waterbury Park Apts., Federal Way – Ms. Taylor wants to see Council act on this
issue for the sake of the safety of the residents in the Belmor Park area and doesn’t want the
decision to be money driven. Ms. Taylor made mention of many grants and funding
12/01/2009
Business
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opportunities that are available. S 324th Street, westbound, is also of concern regarding speed.
Committee Member Duclos asked for more information on the flashing yellow beacon. Could
red signals be substituted for the yellow signals in an attempt to draw more attention? Mr.
Perez responded that that suggestion would change the beacon into a full blown signal.
Committee Member Duclos requested that staff look into this option. Mr. Perez noted that the
flashing “yellow” beacon has been documented as yielding positive results.
Committee Member Ferrell asked about City liability with those options that don’t meet federal
standards. Mr. Perez stated that these options do create liability for the City as well as give
pedestrians a false sense of security when crossing the street.
Councilmember Burbidge asked if there were any exceptions to federal standards for volume.
Mr. Perez stated that federal standards dictate what has to be done, what should be done and
what cannot be done. Mr. Perez feels that staff has done what they’re supposed to do and has
reasons as documentation for not doing what we could have done in past situations. Staff is
looking for Council direction on this issue.
Committee Member Duclos recommended getting some data regarding westbound speeds
along S 324th. Mr. Perez will work with Police and get a speed reader board installed in the
westbound direction.
Chair Kochmar feels this issue is a priority and would like to have staff act on this issue as soon
as possible. Staff suggests looking at the flashing yellow beacon to determine if this location
may be an appropriate location for this application.
Committee Member Duclos moved that staff study data from SW 356th St/BPA Trail
rectangular rapid flashing beacon and return to the December 1, 2009 Council Business
Agenda with an informational presentation, data findings and recommendation for
installation of a rectangular rapid flashing beacon at the Belmor Park/S 324th Street
location.
Moved: Duclos Seconded: Ferrell Passed: Unanimously, 3-0
D. Response to 21st Avenue SW Concerns
Rick Perez presented information on this item. There were two public comments:
Nancy Combs, Federal Way - Ms. Combs feel that speed tables are not effective and have not
been a solution to the speeding along SW 304th St at 21st Ave SW. Speed tables also create lots
of noise for residents living in close proximity.
Hatidza Mehmedovic, Federal Way – Ms. Mehmedovic wants Council to know how bad of a
problem exists at SW 304th St and 21st Ave SW. Cars race along the SW 304th St corridor.
Safety is a big issue. Ms. Mehmedovic also feels that the residents that voice their lack of
support to this issue, don’t live close enough to care one way or the other.
Director Roe noted that this topic had been redirected to the Committee level prior to going to
Council. The Committee expressed that they would like to see this item go to Council as well
to present the concerns of the resident along with the history of petitions, traffic studies, NTS
balloting results, etc. Select residents remain concerned with volume and speed of traffic near
this intersection. This intersection currently has stop signs in the East/West directions; and
nothing for the North/South directions.
Committee Member Duclos asked why Council opted to change the originally recommended
speed humps to speed tables. Mr. Perez explained that speed humps added an undue delay to
emergency vehicles. Mr. Perez also commented that the last petition for this issue was received
in 2008 and did not meet any Federal or NTS criteria. It has also been statistically proven that
all-way stops do not resolve speeding issues. Per the Council adopted process, staff should not
N/A
Land Use/Transportation Committee Page 3 October 19, 2009
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reevaluate this program until 2011.
Director Roe offered up another speed study with speed counters. Although staff is not
initiating another NTS program, staff and Council would be made aware of what speeds
vehicles are actually traveling in this location. Staff will conduct the speed study and bring the
data back to LUTC and the full Council after the data is collected.
No recommendation was made. Item was for information only.
E. Marine Hills West Emergency Storm Drain Repair
Will Appleton presented information on this project. There was no public comment or
discussion.
N/A
4. OTHER
There was no further discussion or additional topics addressed.
5. FUTURE MEETING
The next regular LUTC meeting will be Monday, November 16, 2009, at 5:30 PM in City Council Chambers.
6. ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 6:45 PM.
Attest:
Darlene LeMaster, Administrative Assistant II
COMMITTEE APPROVAL:
Linda Kochmar, Chair Jim Ferrell, Member Dini Duclos, Member