04-06-2021 Council Minutes - SpecialCIT
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Federal Way
CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
Remote Meeting
April 6, 2021 — 5:00 p.m.
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Mayor Ferrell called the meeting to order at 5:02 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, Councilmember Martin Moore, and Councilmember Linda
Kochmar.
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: REVIEW OF THE DEIS FOR THE SOUND TRANSIT
OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE FACILITY (OMF-SOUTH)
a. Summary of Impact Findings regarding OMF sites
• Staff Introduction: Ryan Medlen, City Liaison to Sound Transit Consultant and
Review and Report from FCS
Ryan Medlen, City Liaison to Sound Transit, introduced consultants from the FCS
Group: Tim Wood, Project Consultant and Gordon Wilson, Senor Program Manager.
Mr. Medlen indicated the city contracted with FCS Group when it became apparent there
would be two potential sites for the OFM-South within the City of Federal Way.
Mr. Wilson outlined of the purpose of the study was to analyze the potential impact of
the two Federal Way sites: the 53-acre Christian Faith Center (CFC) site and 50-acre
344th Street site. He noted Sound Transit has changed the configuration of the 344th
Site after their analysis which may change the impacts, but not in a significant manner.
He overviewed impacts to city revenues (property tax, sales tax, state shared revenue,
and surface water fees) and other impacts (employment impacts and developable
lands). He highlighted the 344th site currently generates $255,022 for city while the CFC
generates $118,317. Total government services revenue impact for CFC site is
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April 6, 2021
$161,885 and 344th is $519,179 for all revenue impacts including the fire and school
districts.
He concluded by noting the 344th site currently hosts 320 jobs and is 7.25 acres
consisting of six vacant properties. The CFC site hosts 228 jobs and is 22.85 acres with
four vacant properties.
b. Summary of Technical Comments prepared by City Staff
• Staff presentation
Ryan Medlen reported staff from multiple City departments are reviewing the reports
and conceptual designs and will provide a technical review letter to Sound Transit before
the close of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) comment period.
Comments and concerns from staff were grouped into three categories: procedural
concerns, transportation impacts, land use impacts, and economic impacts.
Councilmembers thanked staff and the consultants for their presentation and asked
questions regarding, revenue generation related to utility taxes and Proposition 1 taxes,
cost analysis, and impact to the Hylebos Watershed coupled with the proposed
development on the former -Weyerhaeuser property.
Mr. Wilson indicated the utility tax was considered but analysis concluded there would
not be a significant change. Mr. Medlen addressed questions regarding the mainline
construction costs not being included in the Federal Way site estimates versus the
Midway site estimate. He noted either option will result in impacts to the Hylebos
Watershed including relocation much of which will fall under the Army Corp of
Engineers. CFC has more land affected since there is a second leg which will also be
impacted. He concluded by stating additional analysis of stormwater and surface water
impacts will need to be completed to determine if the proposed OFM-South and former
Weyerhaeuser sites are connected at that level.
c. City Council Discussion and Review of a Draft Letter to Sound Transit (Council
Business Item 7c on the April 6, 2021 regular meeting agenda)
Public Works Director EJ Walsh reviewed the draft letter which was to be considered by
Council during the Regular City Council Meeting following this meeting. The purpose of
this letter is to provide the Council preferred alternative to Sound Transit; a subsequent
technical review letter will be submitted by staff at a later date.
Mr. Walsh read the letter which stated the preferred alternative should be the Midway
Landfill and the Federal Way sites removed from further review. He asked if there were
any questions and/or comments. Councilmember Kochmar asked if the word "overtly"
could be replaced with "incorrectly" before submittal. Council reached a consensus for
this change to be incorporated into the letter.
Council asked about including their other concerns regarding the process and project in
this same letter. Both Director Walsh and Davis suggested this letter remain concise
and focused on the preferred alternative noting a separate letter would be more
appropriate to address other issues.
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April 6, 2021
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comment was received.
5. ADJOURNMENT
There being nothing further on the agenda; the special meeting was adjourned at 6:07 p.m.
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Sioolikrie Courtney
City Clerk
Approved by Council 0-2V-Wc-1
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April 6, 2021