Planning 2023-06-22 Minutes - Middle Housing / Economic Development / Transportation Element / Community Engagement Plan

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PC Meeting 6/22/23 Page 2 New Business 1) Transportation Element Update Cyndy Knighton, Senior Program Manager, Transportation, PW, began the presentation to update the PC on the Transportation Element. She explained that the Transportation Element is the document in the Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) that helps guide transportation for the next 20 years. She noted that an extensive update was adopted in 2005 which established current baselines for such things as level of service standards for roadway intersections and road compacity. This new update will provide a more complete look at transportation, including the local road safety plan, and will determine where to focus funding (i.e., on safety, etc.). They will be considering the following goals: Equity, Safety, Connectivity, Adaptability and Climate Justice in developing the Plan. Public Works (and their consultants) have established draft transportation element goals and are looking at existing conditions. They will then look at where they are going from there and anticipate future conditions. This analysis will require them to start working on the policy and performance metrics to address future transportation needs for residents, businesses, and visitors, etc. The Transportation Plan will be modified throughout the year and guided by required fiscal restraints. They will develop a draft plan (of projects and programs), and then present it to the PC, and then to the City Council to be adopted. Tinotenda Jonga, Transportation Consultant, Fehr, and Peer, presented information on existing conditions and identified needs for the transportation element. Based on the needs the consultant identified, and those identified during community outreach, the Plan will consider the land use of the 12 distinct neighborhoods; as well as the transportation facilities available for various modes of travel: pedestrian, bicycle, transit, auto, and freight facilities, were identified. Emily Alice Allhart, AICP, Transportation Consultant, Fehr, and Peer, presented the feedback received at outreach events held in Spring 2023, as well as from the online survey and webmap. She said that a lot of the public feedback confirmed or reiterated the goals and priorities identified previously by City staff. She also provided a summary of the interactions with the in -person events and focus groups. She stated, in response to a PC inquiry, that translation was provided in multiple languages. Ms. Knighton concluded the presentation with an overview of the schedule, with the next steps to be completed to have the Transportation Element adopted by the deadline, December 2024. They will be circling back to the communities from whom they've heard comment earlier. She noted that they would be focusing on getting a draft plan to the PC at the Feb 22, 2024, meeting. They plan to present the draft element to the Council for adoption in Spring 2024. 2) Economic Development Derek Speck, Economic Development Administrator, gave the presentation. He provided some background information, which stated that, for many years, there was no economic Development plan/strategy. In 2022, the Council provided funding to develop an "Economic Development Phone: 206-433-1800 • Email: Mayor@TukwilaWA.gov • Website: TukwilaWA.gov