LUTC MINS 06-08-2015City of Federal Way
City Council
Land Use /Transportation Committee
June 8, 2015 City Hall
5:30 p.m. Council Chambers
MEETING SUMMARY
Committee Members in Attendance: Committee Chair Bob Celski and Committee members Kelly Maloney and Lydia
Assefa- Dawson. Council members in attendance: Deputy Mayor Jeanne Burbidge.
Staff in Attendance: Public Works Director Marwan Salloum, Assistant City Attorney Mark Orthmann, City Traffic Engineer
Rick Perez, Community Development Director Michael Morales, Planner Manager Isaac Conlen, Principal Planner Margaret
Clark, Senior Planner Matt Herrera, Senior Transportation Planning Engineer Sarady Long, Senior Traffic Engineer Erik Preston,
and Administrative Assistant II Shawna Upton.
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Celski called the meeting to order at 5:33 PM.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT (3 minutes)
No public comment was received.
3. COMMITTEE BUSINESS
Topic Title/ Description
A. 2015 Pedestrian Improvement Program — Rejection of Bid
Forward to
Council
June 16, 2015
Consent
Mr. Preston stated this program is part of a two -year project to install Rectangular Rapid
Flashing Beacons (RRFB) at 18 locations in the City. There was one bid received for this
project by Westwater Construction Company. The bid came in about 35% above the
engineers estimate. The City has the option to utilize King County and our existing NTS
contractor to complete the work. A brief discussion was held regarding the use of King
County to perform the work, what would be involved if the City went back out to bid and
potential cost savings.
Jim Styles, Federal Way resident, commented that it seems there is one location was bid
much higher than any other location. He asked if staff talked to the contractor to find out
why the amount was so much higher than the engineers estimate than the other locations.
Committee forwarded Option #1 as presented.
Moved: Maloney Seconded: Assefa- Dawson
Committee Members
Bob Celski, Chair
Kelly Maloney, Member
Lydia Assefa- Dawson, Member
Passed: Unanimously, 3 -0
City Staff
Marwan Salloum, P. E., Public Works Director
Shawn Upton, Administrative Assistant II
253- 835 -2703
B. Ordinance: Periodic Major Update to the Federal Way Comprehensive Plan (2015
Comprehensive Plan Amendments) — Text and Maps
Ms. Clark provided a brief background on this topic noting that the Growth Management
Act (GMA) requires the City update the Comprehensive Plan every eight years. The
deadline for the next major update is June 30, 2015. Public participation was very
important during the process and Ms. Clark outlined the methods used to notify the public.
Ms. Clark provided a brief summary of the proposed changes per chapter.
Chapter One — Introduction
Updates were made to reflect where the vision for future housing would go in the City
Center and Mixed Use Commercial areas, added language on the growing medical sector
as well as added language on how the plan would be implemented. Some ways to
implement the plan would be to adopt sub -area plans, new zoning requirements, and
strategic investments such as the Town Square Park and Performing Arts and Events
Center.
Chapter Two — Land Use
This chapter was updated to add a new zoning map, updated historical and projected
population growth, and housing and job target information were brought up to date.
Based on Weyerhaeuser moving their corporate headquarters to Seattle in 2016, staff
proposes to add a goal to evaluate and realize the potential of the former Weyerhaeuser
properties in East Campus.
Chapter Four — Economic Development
Demographics were updated in this chapter to show the change in population and jobs
between 1990 and 2010. Jobs decreased due to the 2008 recession and Federal Way has
more housing than jobs. The vast majority of Federal Way workers commute to other
areas for work. The vision for Federal Way has been restated to match the
January 20, 2015 Economic Development Strategy. The vision will be accomplished by
producing solutions to attract and retain businesses, jobs and investments along with
improving the tax base and enhancing the quality of life in Federal Way.
Chapter Five — Housing
The Introduction has been expanded to address shifting demographic trends. Ms. Clark
noted the market demand has shifted towards smaller housing units, rental housing and
mixed use housing. Demographic information has been updated to reflect current
conditions, historical trends and expected future housing trends.
Chapter Six — Capital Facilities
Capital Facilities are infrastructure and services provided by public entities. She provided
examples of public entities in the City and what services they provide. Staff worked with
the different providers to update their respective sections. There were no substantive
edits in this chapter.
Chapter Seven — City Center
The City Center is comprised of the City Center Core and City Center Frame. The City
Center Core has been designated as a regional growth center /urban center and is
envisioned to have the highest density and intensity of uses. The City Center Frame is
intended to provide a zone for less dense mixed use development and also intended to
provide a transition between the dense City Center Core and areas outside the City Center
Frame. Ms. Clark also noted the changes to the goals and policies in this chapter.
Chapter Eight — Potential Annexation Area (PAA)
Ms. Clark illustrated the potential annexation areas near Federal Way. This chapter
contained information from 2003 studies when the City looked to annex the PAA areas.
Staff is proposing to remove all the outdated information as the City has no plans to pursue
Committee Members
Bob Celski, Chair
Kelly Maloney, Member
Lydia Asseta- Dawson, Member
June 16, 2015
Ordinance
First Reading
and Enactment
City Staff
Marwan Salloum, P. E., Public Works Director
Shawn Upton, Administrative Assistant II
253- 835 -2703
annexation of the PAA. Past Council direction was to wait for a request for annexation and
then prepare new studies.
Chapter Ten — Private Utilities
Private utilities include electrical lines, gas lines and telecommunications. Information was
updated and a few new sections were added with associated goals and policies.
Chapter Nine — Natural Environment
Mr. Herrera presented information on this chapter and noted an effort was made to
streamline this chapter and make it more user - friendly. Several of the new policies
proposed are directly related to the critical areas ordinance update. The mitigation
sequencing concept requires the applicant to demonstrate that all reasonable efforts have
been examined with the intent to avoid or minimize impacts to a critical area. Proposed
amendments regarding geologically hazardous areas are limiting disturbances in landslide
hazard areas and, if necessary, establishing setbacks as recommended by geotechnical
engineers. For streams, policy amendments are proposed that support a new stream
typing system that reflects stream function and habitat. For wetlands, staff proposes to
use the same rating system that the State and Federal government use. Mr. Herrera also
noted there are three new goals and policies added which are private property rights, tree
preservation and open space.
Chapter Three — Transportation
Mr. Perez briefly presented information on this chapter noting that the Level of Service
standard was the main change proposed. Staff incorporated the Bicycle and Pedestrian
Master Plan by reference and prepared an intelligent transportation systems plan which
will lay out a communications network and plan to implement more sophisticated traffic
control strategies with the traffic signals. Updates were also made to the text and maps.
Mr. Perez further explained level of service standards in relation to intersections that will
fail in the future if no improvements are made.
Committee Member Maloney commented on Chapter Two. She asked for clarification on
removal and replacement of trees and also asked if the Weyerhaeuser property can be
designated as a historic building.
Chapter one discussions included Committee Member Assefa- Dawson suggesting
Children's Hospital be added and Deputy Mayor Burbidge would like to see the information
for Senior Housing to reflect the accurate number instead of referencing 0% so that it
doesn't appear as though there is no senior housing in the City. Chair Celski suggested
that the Comprehensive Plan updates be divided into smaller increments, in the future,
and reviewed in chunks over the eight year cycle rather than update the majority of the
document at one time.
Chapter three discussions included Committee Member Assefa- Dawson asking for a better
understanding of the High Point project and how it relates to traffic. Mr. Perez provided
clarification addressing traffic mitigation, concurrency and road capacity when new
developments are constructed. The Six Year Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) is
used to try and address potential traffic failures due to new development. He further
explained how the High Point project impacts traffic in the area and what they will be
required to do. Chair Celski mentioned he was glad to see the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
included in the comp plan but shared a concern he has about bike lane markings that are
on 10th Ave SW in the Twin Lakes area due to the speed and amount of traffic on that road.
Mr. Perez stated that a bicyclist does have the same right -of -way as vehicles do on the
road and that these markings are used to bring awareness and education to drivers as
well as indicating to bike riders that this is a route that will get them somewhere. A brief
discussion was held regarding the overall vision of the Bicycle and Pedestrian plan and the
possibility of creating a route through the Commons so users can easily access the City
Center. Discussion continued regarding upgrading the level of service in the City Center
core in response to future population growth and an increase of visitors in the City.
Committee Members City Staff
Bob Celski, Chair Marwan Salloum, P. E., Public Works Director
Kelly Maloney, Member Shawna Upton, Administrative Assistant II
Lydia Assefa- Dawson, Member 253- 835 -2703
Conversation regarding Chapter four included the specific wording used in the vision
statement for economic development. A few suggestions were made on how to modify
that statement to make it more attainable. A suggestion was made to add information
regarding the university initiative and a few business name corrections were also noted.
Housing was discussed in chapter five. Committee Member Assefa- Dawson stated she has
updated Housing Authority information to provide to Ms. Clark and noted she was happy
to see affordable housing, larger single - family housing sizes to accommodate
multi - generational families and affordable housing and income levels explained in more
detail. Committee Member Maloney asked how to balance the levels between the different
types of affordable housing. Staff noted it would likely be something that has to be
addressed regionally but they will look into it.
There was no discussion on chapter six for capital facilities.
Chapter seven addressed the City Center. A brief discussion was held regarding the transit
element.
Potential annexation areas are addressed in chapter eight. The Committee asked for more
information about the potential annexation areas near Federal Way and the annexation
process in general.
Chapter nine addresses the natural environment and Committee member Maloney asked
for a more detailed explanation of tree preservation and wanted to know more about the
incentives.
There was no discussion on chapter ten relating to private utilities.
Committee forwarded Option #2 as presented.
Moved: Assefa- Dawson Seconded: Maloney Passed: Unanimously, 3 -0
4. OTHER
5. FUTURE MEETINGS /AGENDA ITEMS:
The next LUTC meeting will be Monday, July 6, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers.
6. ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 7:50 PM.
COMMITTEE APPROVAL:
r.
rF 1.
o els i, Chair
Committee Members
Bob Celski, Chair
Kelly Maloney, Member
Lydia Assefa- Dawson, Member
Kelly Ma ey, Member
Attest: lf,*4
awna Upton, Admi in) trative Assistant II
Lyc i Assefa -Da s , N mber
City Staff
Marwan Salloum, P. E., Public Works Director
Shawna Upton, Administrative Assistant 11
253- 835 -2703