03-16-2021 Council Minutes - SpecialCITY OF
4*:3�k Federal Way
CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
Remote Meeting
March 16, 2021 — 5:00 p.m.
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Mayor Ferrell called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
City officials in attendance: Mayor Jim Ferrell, Council President Susan Honda, Councilmember
Lydia Assefa-Dawson, Councilmember Greg Baruso, Councilmember Hoang Tran,
Councilmember Leandra Craft, and Councilmember Linda Kochmar.
Mayor Ferrell announced Councilmember Martin Moore is excused.
City staff in attendance: City Attorney Ryan Call and City Clerk Stephanie Courtney.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLIGIANCE
Mayor Ferrell led the flag salute.
3. STUDY SESSION — DEIS FOR SOUND TRANSIT OPERATIONS AND
MAINTENANCE FACILITY (OMF) SOUTH
Ryan Medlen, City Liaison to Sound Transit, welcomed and re -introduced Government &
Community Relations Manager Andrew Austin and Project Development Director Curvie
Hawkins who presented information on the Sound Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility
South Draft Environmental Impact Study findings.
Mr. Austin thanked the Mayor and Council for the opportunity to present. He noted the OMF
South facility was included in the ST3 Plan and is one of four planned in the region. The facility
will hold 144 light rail vehicles and will create hundreds of living wage jobs.
Mr. Hawkins provided more specific information on the process of evaluating the three sites
including the Midway Landfill Alternative, the South 336th Street Alternative and the South
344th Street Alternative. The draft EIS was prepared under State Environmental Policy Act
(SEPA) with Sound Transit as the lead agency. The analysis includes environmental impacts
and potential mitigation measures. The Sound Transit Board will identify a preferred alternative
and the project will comply with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Mr. Hawkins reviewed each of the three alternatives and noted site comparisons and
differences including residential and business displacement, community and social resource
impacts, estimated employee displacements, sensitive areas (wetland, forest, and stream)
impacts, construction timelines, construction truck trips and estimated operating costs.
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March 16, 2021
The remaining timeline was noted and included the Sound Transit Board identifying a preferred
alternative in the Summer/Fall of 2021 followed by the final Environmental Impact Study issued
in mid-2022. The Sound Transit will select the project to be built in Mid/Late 2022.
Contact information for comments and details on online public meetings was also provided for
input on the project.
City Councilmembers thanked Mr. Austin and Mr. Hawkins for the presentation. Questions were
raised regarding the DEIS including the possibility of relocation assistance, the impact on
schools and childcare centers, the opportunity for government assistance to repurpose the
Midway landfill site, and the long-term economic impact on the city if this facility is sited in
Federal Way,
Chelsea Levy, South Corridor Development Director, also spoke to address questions raised
about impacts such as noise and noted this document is a draft and questions raised will be
addressed in the final document; she also responded to questions regarding the BPA
powerlines.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
Brian Nash would like to minimize the impact and asked the city to work with Sound Transit to
ensure the community is not surprised by the decision, if one of the Federal Way sites are chosen.
He also referenced a letter he shared with the Council.
Peter Barbin shared concerns regarding the adjusted boundary lines for 10A site noting the new
boundaries result in additional impact to homes and wetlands.
Letter read by City Clerk from Ken Broyles in opposition of the 10A location of the OMF and
supporting the Midway Landfill location.
C nthia Flicks-Maccotan provided comments regarding the lack of cost benefit analysis in the DEIS
in regards to the to BIPOC communities and the BIPOC community resources which could be
impacted. She would like to know how many truly marginalized families, businesses, and
individuals will be displaced and impacted. She also inquired about the economic impact and the
impact to the Hylebos over time. She believes the displacement costs associated with the two
Federal Way sites would be greater than a cost difference of the Midway landfill site.
Council President Honda stated the Council shares the public concerns and believe they may
need to write another letter or join with other jurisdictions to make sure their voices are heard.
& ADJOURNMENT
There being nothing further on the agenda; the regular meeting was adjourned at 6:01 p.m.
Attest:
SiephaRe Courtney
City Clerk
Approved by Council: 04 JW/ W21
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March 16, 2021