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04-06-2021 Sount TransitCouncil Preferred Alt I 1 1 %04 %w I v %.0 %no 1 %0 %.0 and Authorization to Submit a letter to Sound Transit regarding Operations and Maintenance Facility South Public Works Department 4/6/2021 1 Policy Question Should City Council approve a letter to the Sound Transit Board regarding the location of the proposed Operations and Maintenance Facility South? Draft Letter April 6, 2021 Sound Transit Board 401 S Jackson Street Seattle, Washington 98104 Re: Operations and Maintenance Facility — South Draft Environmental Impact Statement Dear Sound Transit Board Members, The City of Federal Way's Mayor and Councilmembers have reviewed the findings of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) of the potential sites for the Operations and Maintenance Facility South (OMF-South), conducted a Council Study Session with Sound Transit staff, have heard from our community, and have reviewed technical comments prepared by City staff. Our review has affirmed our belief that the Midway Landfill needs to be identified as the preferred alternative and ultimately be the site selected for this facility and the two Federal Way sites should be removed from further review. Draft Letter We recognize that Sound Transit is building new transit infrastructure to support sustainable growth in our region. In doing so, Sound Transit should not make a decision that will have a lasting negative impact. Environmental review by way of NEPA and SEPA was implemented at the Federal and State levels to evaluate the impacts of government decisions in order to prevent them from causing unnecessary impacts to communities like those that the OMF-South will have in Federal Way. The 336t" Street site will remove a church, a school, and a daycare that serve our community as well as residences and other businesses. The 344t" Site will remove multiple churches, 20 residences, and a dozen small businesses, including the Garage Town community that the DEIS presents as a single business but is in fact made up of over 60 unique owners. The Midway Landfill will displace significantly fewer businesses and employees, no residents, and no civic institutions. The DEIS presents a clear preferred alternative when the impacts are considered and it is the Midway Landfill. In accordance with NEPA and SEPA, cost is not an _ Environmental Impact, however the prepared DEIS clearly shows that Sound Transit has elected to include costs within the decision matrix. In considering the overall impacts and a robust environmental review process, cost cannot be a factor in your decision, the impacts to the Federal Way sites are significant and will be far too detrimental to our community. Draft Letter The DEIS overtly assumes that the City of Federal Way will approve vacating public roads, that City staff will modify our Development Standards to permit this development that would not be approved of other public or private developers, or that adequate mitigation to these items could be found. We strongly object to Sound Transit's finding of regulatory certainty on behalf of the Federal Way sites by unilaterally assuming City approval. Additionally, Sound Transit does not have adequate authority to commit the City of Federal Way to a future legislative act in vacation of opened and utilized public right-of-way. The City and Sound Transit have a shared interest in the success of the light rail system and have enjoyed a successful partnership on the Federal Way Link Extension to date. We have seen and heard from Sound Transit a willingness to look to the future and make the decisions that are in the best interest for the future of this region. In this spirit, we ask that the Sound Transit Board remove the two Federal Way locations and select the Midway Landfill as the preferred alternative and site of _ the new OMF-South. City staff will provide additional technical comments under separate cover. Sincerely, Options Considered 1. Approve the proposed letter. 2. Approve the proposed letter with modifications. 3. Do not approve letter and provide to staff. direction Mayor's Recommendation Option 1: Approve the proposed letter. Questions?