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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-09-26 Committee of the Whole MinutesTUKWILA CITY COUNCIL September 26, 1994 Tukwila City Hall 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Council President Steve Mullet called the Committee of The Whole meeting to order and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. LI ROLL CALL JOE DUFFIE; JOAN HERNANDEZ; STEVE MULLET, Council President; DENNIS ROBERTSON; ALLAN EKBERG; JOYCE CRAFT; DOROTHY DeRODAS. OFFICIALS JOHN McFARLAND, City Administrator; LINDA COHEN, City Attorney; LUCY LAUTERBACH, Council Analyst; ROSS EARNST, Public Works Director; RON CAMERON, City Engineer; PAT BRODIN, Senior Engineer; PHIL FRASER, Senior Engineer. CITIZEN COMMENTS Joe Egan, 14438 Military Road South, commented on an issue he had brought before the Council several weeks ago regarding the darkness of the street section between 146th and 148th on 34th Avenue South. Sharing an incident that happened Saturday morning around 2:30 a.m., he told how his security person was jumped by two men who had entered his property over a 6 ft. fence. The men were apprehended; however, he wanted to impress upon the minds of councilmembers how dangerous it is for anyone walking in that area at night. On another issue he had previously called to the Council's attention regarding the traffic on 34th (the traffic that comes speeding off of Military Road, down 34th to turn right at the stop sign on 146th), Egan says two cars collided recently in this area. These are the kinds of incidents that are happening on a somewhat regular basis. McFarland responded that discussions with the Police Department on the above issues are in progress. On a different subject, Egan stated there has been talk about another precinct location. He suggests rather than a permanent precinct, consideration be given to a mobile van similar to the one the City of Seattle uses. When Seattle has a problem area, they just park the van in that area for several weeks. Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes September 26, 1994 Page 2 PUBLIC HEARINGS Sewer construction Public comments Earnst pointed to a map as he briefed the Council on the sewer construction costs for seven residential areas that do not have sewers, priority for construction, and policy for funding the construction. The seven areas are: Allentown, Ryan Hill, Duwamish, Foster Point, South 158th Street (loop), 51st Avenue South (area bounded by I -5, South 144th Street, 48th Avenue South, and South 150th Street), and Riverton Crest (cemetery area). He said sewer construction costs were estimated based on a per foot of length for the various streets. The "planning level" estimates include three sewer construction cost components: 1) Construction of the public sewer line infrastructure, 2) Metro connection charges and permits, 3) Costs to construct pipe from the public infrastructure to the house. These costs are summarized for each of the seven residential areas on a spreadsheet tabulation included in the packet. Limited funding for the public infrastructure can be provided with sewer utility revenues The owners pay the costs for: 1) Metro connection charges and permits (estimated to be an average of $1,270 /lot); 2) Private connection costs between the public infrastructure and the house (estimated to be $2,400 /lot); and 3) All public infrastructure through a connection charge (estimated to be $6,020 /lot). Earnst concluded that as the project progresses they will be refining the cost of construction in each area. Also, in some areas where there are large lots some will subdivide. Of course, that means there will be more lots in which to divide the costs. Therefore, there will be modifications to the costs as time goes on. Donald Ellefson, 4406 South 156th Street (Ph. 246 7248), asked how the City was going to determine the lot size in wetland areas. Also, Ellefson has a lake on his property. He asked if the ground waters from the sewer system are piped away, how will that impact his lake. Public Works staff agreed to get back to Ellefson with the answers to his questions at a later date. Mr. Ellefson requested that a response to his concerns be provided to him in writing. Tom Maltsberger, 3331 South 140th, asked how will the costs affect him since he lives across from the cemetery. It is his understanding that cemeteries are governed by special guidelines. Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes September 26, 1994 Page 3 Public Hearing Public comments (Copt' d) SPECIAL ISSUES Renaming a portion of Southcenter Blvd. Earnst explained that cemeteries are exempt from sewers and things of that sort because it would be difficult to prove a benefit to the cemetery. Faye Cooper, 12218 48th Avenue South, asked why the construction for Allentown is so much more expensive than other areas. Mullet answered that Allentown is much larger and many more sewers are going in that area. Dan Cheney, 11108 40th Avenue South, asked when will schedules be established for the construction; also, how will the residents be informed of developments and future plans. Public hearing closed Council President Mullet closed the public hearing at 7:34 p.m. Robertson answered that those types of questions will be discussed in the Council's Utility Committee meeting, then published in the City's Hazelnut newsletter. Earnst stated that as the preliminary design for each area is being drafted, meetings will be held and residents will be invited to participate. It was the consensus of the Council to forward the sewer construction for several residential areas back to the Utilities Committee for further discussion. The Utilities Committee usually meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. and is open to the public. Mike Alderson, Assistant Chief, Fire Department, stated that during the first week of August he made a recommendation that the segment of Southcenter Blvd. leading to Fort Dent Park be renamed "Fort Dent Way." This recommendation was based on the re- alignment of Southcenter Blvd. with Grady Way. Letters were sent to all businesses and building owners notifying them of the appointed date and time for public input on this subject. Only two responses were received- -one for the renaming and one against it. Alderson says the engineering department informed him it will Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes September 26, 1994 Page 4 Renaming a portion of Southcenter Blvd. (Cont'd) Amend Agenda Cascade View Neighborhood Drainage Program Briefing on King County Planning Policies be sometime in mid to late November before the actual realignment occurs. After a brief discussion, it was the consensus of the Council to forward this issue to the next Regular Council for approval. The Council agreed to move Item "6c" forward on the Agenda. Earnst briefed the Council that a drainage plan to add drain pipes has been prepared for the Cascade View neighborhood. It includes adding pipes requested by residents to alleys that have not been dedicated as right -of -way or improved. The plan is for five years of phased improvements. Since annexation in 1990, many Cascade View residents have complained of local ponding and flooding on their properties. This area is characterized by a lack of upstream natural or artificial detention facilities, poor soils, and high water tables. These high water tables are largely responsible for the localized ponding and flooding throughout the neighborhood. The estimated cost for the improvements to correct the existing deficiencies is $430,000. It is proposed that this program begin with a budget of $100,000 for the first year, and $75,000 each year thereafter until the program is completed. At this level of funding, the program will take about five (5) years to complete. The estimated $430,000 includes $150,000 for alley pavement which will provide a higher quality surface and less alley maintenance in the future. After a lengthy discussion, it was the consensus of the Council to authorize the Administration to proceed with drafting more details of the drainage plan, then submit to the Utility Committee for further review. Rick Beeler, DCD, informed the Council that Suburban Cities Association will take up the issue of the County -wide Planning Policies at the September 28 meeting. He said we have until November 21 to either ratify or reject the policies. He said the proposed amendments represent significant compromises by the representatives of the County, Seattle, and Suburban Cities to established a new framework for managing growth in King County. There are a lot of external factors that permeate several of the policies. Beeler focused on three of them: 1) The Urban Centers (Page 37 of the policies), received a great deal of attention Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes September 26, 1994 Page 5 Briefing on King County Planning Policies (Cont'd) and revision, more so than the Manufacturing and Industrial Centers. They recognized the wide variety Urban Centers, i.e. where they are in their capacity to achieve the population and employment targets that were created in the original County -wide Planning Policies necessary to support what was supposed to be the high capacity transit alternative. 2) The second and probably the most controversial part of these policies is the affordable housing (Page 60 of the Policies). There may need to be some changes here in order for Tukwila to achieve its vision. 3) The last significant item is on Page 79 of the policies -The Regional Financing Plan. Beeler says this section is focusing on shared funding rather than new funding. McFarland announced that Suburban Cities will be meeting in a Special Meeting this Wednesday night at 6:30pm to discuss the elements of the plan. The meeting will be held at the Renton Community Center and everybody is invited. REPORTS Mayor Rants provided a copy of a previously requested King County Animal Control annual budget to the Council. Police Chief Ron Waldner gave a brief report on the various shootings, accidents and domestic violence that had taken place over the weekend. Councilmember Robertson stated that our City Attorney, Linda Cohen is a fine City Attorney; however, she does not have the expertise to address land use issues. He suggested staff contact a good land firm, specializing in land use issues and obtain an interpretation of the policies on Urban Centers and other aspects of the Planning Policies so that the Council can be better prepared to take whatever legislative action necessary. After a lengthy discussion, the Council agreed that a legal opinion, in written form, should be obtained from a specialized attorney in land use issues within the next two weeks, then forwarded to the next Committee of The Whole meeting for further review. Additionally, a synopsis on the four or five issues within the policies that pertain to the City should be available and ready for discussion at the next Council meeting. Committee of The Whole Meeting Minutes September 26, 1994 Page 6 ADJOURNMENT MOVED BY DUFFIE, SECONDED BY ROBERTSON, TO 10:00 p.m. ADJOURN TO THE SPECIAL MEETING. MOTION CRRR D. St ve Mullet, Council President j Celia Square, beputy City Clerk