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LUTC MINS 12-18-2006G:\LUTC\LUTC Agendas and Summaries 2006\12-18-06 LUTC Minutes.doc City of Federal Way City Council Land Use/Transportation Committee December 18, 2006 City Hall 5:30 pm City Council Chambers MEETING MINUTES In attendance: Committee Chair Jack Dovey, Committee Member Dean McColgan, and Committee Member Eric Faison; Council Member Linda Kochmar and Council Member Jeanne Burbidge; City Manager Neal Beats; Public Works Director Cary Roe; Public Works Deputy Director Ken Miller; Street Systems Manager Marwan Salloum; Traffic Engineer Rick Perez; City Attorney Patricia Richardson; Administrative Assistant II Tina Piety 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Dovey called the meeting to order at 5:38 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The December 4, 2006, minutes were approved. Moved: Faison Seconded: Dovey Passed: Unanimously 3. PUBLIC COMMENT None 4. BUSINESS ITEMS The business items were amended to the following order: C, D, E, F, G, B, and A. C. Pacific Highway Phase II – Project Acceptance Brian Roberts provided the background information on this item. There was no discussion. Moved: Dovey Seconded: Faison Passed: Unanimously Committee PASSED Option 1 on to the January 2, 2007, City Council Consent Agenda for approval. D. South 320th Street at 1st Avenue South Intersection Improvements Project – 100% Design Status Report Marwan Salloum provided the background information on this item. Council Member Faison expressed his concern that there are other city projects that are of a higher priority and the city should consider funding one of those projects instead. Council Member Kochmar asked what this project will accomplish. Mr. Roe replied that it will improve the traffic flow that is often backed-up on the weekend due to turning traffic. Council Member Burbidge expressed concern over the size of the intersection due to these proposed improvements. She asked if staff has considered any alternatives. Mr. Roe stated that staff has considered South 328th Street/5th Avenue South as an alternative, but use of this street would send more traffic into a residential neighborhood and would require a traffic light at the intersection of 1st and 328th. The Committee discussed this project in regards to the level of service. Council Member Faison commented that the overall question is what so we want our community to look like. You cannot always build your way out. Council Member McColgan commented that we are always building our way out. The only alternative is fewer cars. Because further discussion dealt with level of service issues, it was decided to table this issue until after the discussion on the Transportation Level of Service Standard. Land Use/Transportation Committee Page 2 December 18, 2006 G:\LUTC\LUTC Agendas and Summaries 2006\12-18-06 LUTC Minutes.doc Once discussion returned to this issue, Council Member Faison asked if it would be possible to not purchase the right-of-way at the northeast quadrant at this time. Mr. Salloum commented that this issue would return to the Committee for authorization and a decision could be made at that time about what parts of the project to purchase or not. Council Member McColgan expressed his concern that with only part of the project right-of- way purchased, the city would not be well situated for grants. Council Member Faison asked that when this project returns for final authorization, that alternatives for the funding be provided. Moved: McColgan Seconded: Dovey Passed: Unanimously Committee PASSED Option 1 to the January 2, 2007, City Council Consent Agenda for approval. E. 21st Avenue SW extension – SW 356th Street to 22nd Avenue SW Improvements Project – Bid Award Marwan Salloum provided the background information on this item. There was no discussion. F. Lakehaven Utility District Interlocal Agreement: 21st Avenue SW Extension Project Marwan Salloum provided the background information on this item. There was no discussion. G. Acceptance of Grant Funding for Transportation Improvement Projects Marwan Salloum provided the background information on this item. There was no discussion. Moved: Dovey Seconded: Faison Passed: Unanimously Committee PASSED Option 1 for items E, F, and G on to the January 2, 2007, City Council Consent Agenda for approval. B. Amendment to the Sound Transit Agreement Patricia Richardson provided the background on this item. Sound Transit brought this proposed amendment to the city without staff input. The version provided to the Committee has been reviewed by staff. Council Member Faison suggested that a decision be tabled until the Committee can have a Sound Transit representative present. He asked to what extent the city was involved in the request for proposal. Council Member McColgan asked if Sound Transit would rather the city handled this project. Ms. Richardson commented that she has not talked to Sound Transit about this issue. Chair Dovey asked what the timeline for this project is. Ms. Richardson responded that Sound Transit has 18 months from February 2006 to find a developer, and then five years to start construction. Chair Dovey asked why they need more time. What are they offering the city for this change? Council Member McColgan asked if the city would be better off to control this property. Would the city have a better result if Economic Development Director Doherty were in charge? Council Member Faison asked what the technical limitations are. Council Member Kochmar requested a copy of the request for proposal and original agreement. It was decided to table this issue to the first meeting that a representative from Sound Transit could attend. A. Transportation Level of Service Standard Rick Perez provided the background on this item. Council Member Faison thanked the staff for the education on this subject. He stated that level of service is a means to an end. The question is what we want our community to look like. Widening streets changes the feel and look of our community, but he recognizes that not widening streets can lead to more congestion. Council Member McColgan commented that quality of life is important, but citizen’s top two concerns are public safety and traffic. He stated that citizens had concerns about the median on 99, but now many say it has improved traffic flow. Chair Dovey asked about how much land is available for development west of 99. Mr. Roe commented that there is some land available for development, but not much. Development in Northeast Tacoma has a big impact on our traffic corridors. We will see continued growth in Northeast Tacoma and we do not have much control over that development. Chair Dovey commented that he is also concerned with the quality of life, but we have to deal with the traffic. Council Member Faison commented that most complaints he has heard deal with getting off the freeway and to 99. It seems our time would be better spent focusing on how to get people off the freeway. Staff is seeking the council’s direction on whether the level of standard should be revised. The 2030 forecasts are being developed and that makes this a good time to consider what if questions. How would a change in the level of service change the Transportation Improvement Plan list? There is software that can graphically show what a different level of standard would do. Staff also suggests the council reconsider a Transportation Improvement Fund (TIF). A TIF is more predictable, captures all trips (rather than just one peak), would not have to direct the funds to a specific project, and generates more revenue. Council Member Faison expressed Land Use/Transportation Committee Page 3 December 18, 2006 G:\LUTC\LUTC Agendas and Summaries 2006\12-18-06 LUTC Minutes.doc concern that TIF funds must be used within six years. He suggested the city stay with the current level of service and reprioritize the funds. Mr. Roe commented that the city likely would not be concurrent if we reprioritize the funds. Council Member Faison commented that we are not concurrent now and are unlikely to be concurrent in the future. Chair Dovey commented that the city needs to fund projects where people live so they can get to and from the freeway. Council Member Faison suggested a survey be done of what citizens’ feel is important to fund for transportation. Council Member McColgan commented that we would eventually need additional access off the freeway, given how long that would take; we need to start the process now. The Committee showed no interest in changing the level of service at this time. Chair Dovey would like additional information on the TIF, in addition to land available for development to the west of 99. Council Member Faison commented that any legal questions regarding a TIF should be answered before any further discussion on a TIF. 5. FUTURE MEETING The next meeting will be scheduled at a later date. 6. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 7:23 p.m.