LUTC MINS 05-02-2011City of Federal Way
City Council
Land Use/Transportation Committee
May 2, 2011
6:00 PM
City Hall
Ciry Council Chambers
MEETING SUMMARY
Committee members in Attendance: Committee Chair Linda Kochmar and Committee member Jack Dovey
Committee member Jim Ferrell was excused.
Councilmembers in Attendance: Deputy Mayor Dini Duclos and Councilmember Jeanne Burbidge
Staff in Attendance: Director of Parks, Public Works and Emergency Management Cary Roe, City Traffic Engineer Rick
Perez, Surface Water Manager Wili Appleton, City Attorney Pat Richardson, and Administrative Assistant II Darlene
LeMaster.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Kochmar called the meeting to order at 6:01 PM.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
3. BUSINESS ITEMS
Forward
Topic Title/Description to Council
I:l�
Approval of the April 18. 2011 LUTC Minutes
Connmittee was unable to approve the m�nntes �s presented, because Committee m�mber
Davey� was naY present at the April 18, 2U11 LUTC rt►eeting. The April 18, 2011 LUTC'
minutes will be farwdrdet� to the Mxy 16, 20l 1 L�i'CC meeting for appraval.
N/A
B. Water Quality Monitoring Equipment Replacement May 17, 2011
Consent
Surface Water Manager Will Appleton presented information on this item. There was no pubiic
comment. Committee member povey asked about the life span of this equipment and how often
the equipment needs repair. Mr. Appleton responded that the average lifespan of this particular
equipment and sensors is between 9 and 10 years; and, most of the existing sensors have
exceeded their life cycle. It may be difficult to determine how many more data loggers or
sensors may need to be replaced in the upcoming years. The majority of the current equipment
is at the older end of its life cycle. Mr. Appleton made note, however, that there are currently
replacement reserves to replace all the equipment and that funding the replacement of this or
future equipment is not an issue.
Mr. Appleton briefly described what a water quality data logger looks like, how it's used and
how it stores its data. Staff periodically collects and records the data.
Committee forwarded �Dption #1 as presented.
N[oved: Dovey Seconded: Kochrnar Passed: Unanimously, 2-0
Land Use/Transportation Committee Page 2 May 2, 2011
C. Truck Route Ordinance Amendment
City Traffic Engineer Rick Perez presented information on this item. Committee member
Dovey referenced the truck route map and wondered if truck trips were unlimited to those routes
designated in blue. Mr. Perez noted there being a section in the Code referencing a truck
exceeding ten trips per day, even along the truck routes (blue lines). At ten or more trips per
day, even if the delivery is local, the City has the authority to review and evaluate the need for a
routing plan or mitigation for damage to pavement. Mr. Perez stated that because the City has
the authority to request mitigation doesn't mean that it will. The City would not request
mitigation along a state route.
Committee member povey stated that the proposed code amendment makes trucks choose one
route rather than the most efficient route. This is not cost effective given the current gas prices
and we are then routing trucks down Pacific Highway South in order for them to comply with
the ordinance and get to their desired location. Pacific Highway South would become a
thoroughfare for truck traffic through the City.
Deputy Mayor Duclos asked what designates a street as a truck route. Mr. Perez explained that
initially staff had been directed to establish truck routes based on roads that can handle truck
traffic. There are no other definitive qualifiers for truck routes. Areas of the city outside of the
commercial zones are not intended for truck traffic. Signs have been posted designating truck
routes west of l Avenue South; however, these areas have not seen much traffia That is
evident in the current quality of the pavement in non-commercial zones.
Deputy Mayor Duclos wonders why we are proposing an code amendment when there seems to
be no problem. There may be an occasional larger project but truck traffic may only last a few
days. Mr. Perez responded that the existing code is worded in way that contradicts with signage,
thus making the ordinance unenforceable. The code amendment is designed to provide
clarification and doesn't place the burden of tracking the number of trips each truck makes onto
law enforcement. The City does not have the resources to track truck trips. The ordinance
amendment allows a truck to be pulled over by police. If the truck driver can show their
origination or destination to be within City limits, then they would not be ticketed.
Chair Kochmar invited Bob Cooper to speak.
Bob Cooper, Lloyd Enterprises, 34667 Pacific Highway S— Speaking on behalf of Lloyd
Enterprises, the current truck traffic code is a minimum of what is doable for his
establishment and their current level of business. Although their corporate o�ce is in
Federal Way, the location of origin for trucks is located just outside the City limits. In the
present economy, their business is down approximately 40%. Bidding is extremely
competitive. The increase in costs for gasoline combined with the need to comply with the
proposed code amendment, traveling along approved truck routes when traveling through
the city to another jurisdictions, limits Lloyd's ability to be competitive. If their revenue is
increased by being able to be competittve, the city will benefit through taxes. Mr. Cooper
asked the Committee and staff to consider opening up S/SW 356`� Street for trucks, even if it
meant purchasing a permit.
Councilmember Burbidge asked Mr. Cooper for an approximation of the number of daily
truck trips that may be involved for a project. Mr. Cooper explained the number of daily
truck trips depends on the specific job and what it takes to service that job. A job could take
two or three trips ar it could take more than ten; it really depends on the job. There is always
the potential for a job that will take many trips.
Committee member povey summarized what he has heard staff explain and his interpretation
of the proposed code amendment. Committee member povey stated even though he
understands why we don't want trucks driving through Federal Way, he is not convinced that
driving a truck through Federal Way is a problem.
N/A
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Land Use/Transportation Committee Page 3 May 2, 2011
Councilmember Burbidge stated her interpretation of the current ordinance. Director Roe
requested to give some background information as to how this issue came about:
The truck route issue was brought to staff's attention by the Commercial Vehicle
Enforcement Unit of the Police Department. Assistant City Attorney Beckwith and the
Police Department differed in their interpretations of the existing truck route ordinance. The
truck route ordinance has been managed by the Public Works Deparhnent in the past and that
is why Public Works has been involved this time.
City Attorney Richardson gave her interpretation of the current ordinance language, and then
of the language of the proposed code amendment. City Attorney Richardson said the existing
ordinance tries to distinguish two types of deliveries, local and going through the city. The
way the existing ordinance was drafted really means that any truck over 30,000 pounds,
regardless of their destination or origin, may drive through the City and not use a truck route.
In effect, the police have nothing to enforce if trucks are not on a truck route. The language
in the existing code has two inconsistent phrases that make the ordinance meaningless. The
code amendment provides clarification and restates the code as it was ariginally intended;
thereby making it enforceable. The code amendment defines "deliveries" as either the
origination or destination being within City limits.
Committee member povey requested that since the existing ordinance has been in effect for
the past ten years that the Committee is given time to contemplate the issue and the proposed
code amendment. Could staff present this issue to the LUTC again in another few weeks?
Chair Kochar asked staff to study neighboring jurisdictions and report back to the Committee
what ordinance language is in place with other cities.
Committee tabled the topic to tb�e June 6, 2011 LUTC rneeting.
Mo�ed: Dovey Seconded: Kaclzmar Passed: Unaninno�usl.y, 2-0
4. OTHER
5. FUTURE MEETING
The next LUTC meeting will be heid Monday, May 16, 2011 at 6:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers.
6. ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 6:35 PM.
COMMITTEE APPROVAL:
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•a Linda Kochmar, Chair
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Attest: ��J,:�` �,���� 1..,�'-.?'�1�( j-- :
Darlene LeMaster, Administrative Assistant II
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errell, Member Jack ovey, Member
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