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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTrans 2016-02-16 Item 2B - Discussion - BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe) Intermodal Facility Access: Community Outreach Plan for Winter/Spring 2016City of Tukw ilAllan Ekberg, Mayor Public Works Department - Bob Giberson, Director INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Ekberg Transportation Committee FROM: Bob Giberson, Public Works Director DATE: February 12, 2016 SUBJECT: BNSF Intermodal Facility Access Project No. 99510409 Community Outreach Plan for Winter /Spring 2016 ISSUE Presentation of the BNSF Intermodal Facility Access' Community Outreach Plan for Winter /Spring 2016, BACKGROUND At the December 14, 2015 presentation to City Council regarding the BNSF Intermodal Facility Access Study selection criteria, staff was requested to return to Transportation Committee with the Outreach Plan prior to scheduling meetings with the Allentown and Duwamish communities. The attached Community Outreach Plan: Winter /Spring 2016 outlines the next steps to involve the community in preparation for an Open House and discussion of the draft screening criteria that will be used in developing the access study. One suggestion since the Open Houses have experienced relatively low turn -out, a two -week Online Open House is proposed that will run in tandem with the in- person Open House. RECOMMENDATION Transportation Committee review and concurrence. attachment: BNSF Intermodal Facility Access Study Community Outreach Plan: Winter /Spring 2016 w_tpw eng ?projects\a. rw & rs projects \bnsf intermodal fadAy access (99510409 )\public outreachVnfo memo 2016 winter, spring outreach p¢an 02.12 -16 gl.docx Community Outreach Plan: Winter /Spring 2016 BNSF Access Study Draft: February 8, 2016 Purpose The proposed outreach plan will allow the community to provide input on the screening criteria that will be used in the development of the BNSF Access Study report. After the criteria have been finalized, the project team will keep the public informed about the report's progress and completion. Outreach Goals • Complement earlier outreach efforts by reminding the community of the project's purpose and need, as well as current status • Provide easily accessible opportunities to provide input on the screening criteria • Develop support for the screening criteria used in the access study • Clearly communicate to community members how their feedback on the criteria will be incorporated Audiences Community outreach will focus on the Allentown and Duwamish neighborhoods, though the tools and strategies outlined below will also be used to engage the local business community, property owners and other interested parties in Tukwila. Outreach Tools The project team proposes the following suite of engagement tools to encourage community members to review and provide feedback on the selection criteria. Consult with neighborhood leaders In order to maximize the effectiveness of the project's outreach efforts, the team will first meet with the neighborhood leaders of Allentown to confirm the outreach plan's approach and ask they encourage their neighbors to participate in the open house, help with handing out flyers and send email notices to their listserv. In- person open house (in tandem with online open house) An in- person open house provides an opportunity for the community to learn about the screening criteria and ask questions of project staff. The event would be held during the evening at a public location. Open house content • Project overview, including process, outreach to date, schedule and ultimate goal • Selection criteria overview and details Audiences • Allentown and Duwamish residents, businesses, property owners, and other interested parties Timing TBD; preferably held about two weeks after notification for the event DRAFT February 8, 2016 w: \pw eng \projects \a - rw & rs projects \bnsf intermodal facility access (99510409) \public outreach \2016_0127 criteriaoutreachplan _draft03.docx 10 Promotion • Flyer created by project team distributed by neighborhood leaders • Project website • Email update to the project distribution list Note: promotional materials will also advertise the online open house (details below) Feedback • Feedback submitted via comment cards will be shared with the project team Online open house (in tandem with in- person open house) Since the City has experienced relatively low turnouts at previous in- person open house events in Allentown, and neighborhood leaders stated that meetings are not typically well- attended, the project team recommends hosting an online open house (OOH) to run in tandem with the in- person open house. The advantages of an OOH: • Designed to simulate, while improve upon, the in- person open house experience • Visitors can participate any time and any way they access the internet • Every page, or station, allows visitors to take notes on the content and then submit them to the team as they leave the open house • Easy to encourage participation via email, website link or social media • Ability to quantify participation, providing city leaders with helpful data to guide future outreach efforts The OOH would run for two weeks and feature the same content, use the same promotional tools, and target the same audience as the in- person open house. All feedback will be shared with the project team. Neighborhood meeting (optional task) In consultation with neighborhood leaders, the team would potentially attend a neighborhood meeting in Allentown to complement the open houses and provide another opportunity for residents to give feedback on the selection criteria. This event would be hosted by the neighborhood and more casual in nature than a formal open house. Additional sources of information Information about the OOH, in- person open house, and other opportunities to provide feedback on the criteria would be shared using the following communication tools: • Project website • Email update City Council Updates The project team will submit the outreach plan to the Transportation Committee (TC) for review. After the Committee's review, feedback on the plan may be incorporated before outreach continues. The project team will keep the Committee informed of their outreach efforts. DRAFT February 8, 2016 w: \pw eng \projects \a - rw & rs projects \bnsf intermodal facility access (99510409) \public outreach \2016 0127 criteriaoutreachplan _draft03.docx 11 Tentative Schedule Engagement Activity* Week beginning 2/8 2/16 3/7 3/14 3/21 Meet with neighborhood leaders 2/10 Present plan to TC 2/16 Open houses notifications 3/7 Online open house Start: 3/7 End: 3/21 In- person open house TBD Website updates 3/7 3/22 Email updates 3/7 3/22 *Schedule and activities are subject to change and concurrence by TC DRAFT February 8, 2016 w: \pw eng \projects \a - rw & rs projects \bnsf intermodal facility access (99510409) \public outreach \2016 0127 criteriaoutreachplan _draft03.docx 12