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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-012 Providing council policy direction concerning proposed upper Sims Way design and improvements RESOLUTION NO. 08-012 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND PROVIDING COUNCIL POLICY DIRECTION CONCERNING PROPOSED UPPER SIMS WAY DESIGN AND IMPROVEMENTS RECITALS: A. The City of Port Townsend has been involved over several years in a planning process to define the nature and extent of improvements for Upper Sims Way transportation improvements that seek to address, generally, projected increases in traffic volumes; congestion; vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle traffic and safety; difficult left turns onto and off of Sims Way; implementation of the Gateway Plan and creation of a "gateway" to the City at Howard and Sims and Discovery and Sims; and economic development objectives (and constraints on economic development from lack of infrastructure). B. Community workshops to help define the Upper Sims and Howard Street vision were held on September 12,2006, October 10,2006, and January 17, 2007. Elements of the ViSIOn were: . A Port Townsend gateway with a mixed-use of neighborhood where residents: can walk and bike to work, local services and schools; pursue recreational activities at nearby parks; gather for community events; and find a mix of housing types. . 'Treed Gateway west Upper Sims Way . Mixed-use development (medium density) between Sims Way and Discovery Road, along Howard Street . Green public spaces integrated throughout . Light Industrial to remain . Low density commercial development along Sims Way - Auto oriented businesses. C. Council held study sessions on February 12,2007 and March 12,2007 to review planning efforts on Upper Sims Way and Howard Street. On May 12, 2007, Council took public comment on the Upper Sims Way and Howard Street project. D. On June 18,2007, the City Council adopted Resolution 07-016 which provided the following: . Adopted intersection controls for upper Sims Way with roundabouts at Howard and at Thomas. . Directed staff, in consultation with W.H. Pacific, to continue with design work for the adopted option for intersection controls and corridor improvements, and directed staff to address in the design the project objectives, including: o Handle through traffic and turning movements o Access to businesses on both sides of Sims (including delivery trucks) o Improve safety (High Accident Corridor) - TIB o Reduce accidents o Better accommodate pedestrians and bikes 1 Resolution 08-012 o Promote economic development o An inviting Gateway . Directed staff to periodically report to the City Council on design work. . Directed staff to submit options for construction phasing based on available funding and include recommendations concerning interim improvements, such as, a center turn lane with appropriate access controls, pending full implementation of intersection improvements. E. In August, 2007, Council authorized a contract for a local improvement district feasibility study. F. On October 22, 2007, Council held a workshop to review conceptual design, prepare a plan for WSDOT approval, and directed staffto return to Council in February 2008 ",ith . Revised conceptual design . Updated cost estimates . Funding plan and project phasing plan G. In November, 2007, Washington State Ferries retired from the Port Townsend-Keystone service the steel electric ferries due to safety issues. Fully restored service is several years out. In the meantime, service may be provided with a smaller vessel, and at times there may be no ferry service. H. Council held a workshop on April 14, 2008 to review concepts and review plans to implement Upper Sims Way and Howard Street improvements. Council determines: . It would be advantageous, in order to minimize disruption from construction on traffic, to proceed with Upper Sims Way and Howard Street improvements while ferry traffic is down or at less than full service. . Proceeding with the project while ferry service is down or at less than full service implements economic and transportation strategies to increase business activity and improve transportation in the City. . Accomplishing the project on an integrated basis avoids individual owners constructing infrastructure improvements on a piecemeal basis at greater cost to the owners than if the improvements were done through a single public project. . Preliminary information from a special benefit appraiser retained by the City shows a completed project for Howard Street and intersection control at Howard Street and Upper Sims Way increases property values in the vicinity by $5-7M. Funding from a local improvement district (LID) helps finance public improvements by assessing property owners whose properties specially benefit as a result of the improvements. LID financing allows owners to pay for improvements over a period of years through assessments on benefiting properties, at bond rates available to the City that are lower than if the owner privately financed improvements. 1. Council determines to provide additional policy direction as set forth in this Resolution. 2 Resolution 08-01l NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Port Townsend resolves as follows: 1. Recitals. The Council hereby adopts the above Recitals. 2. Continue Design Work. Staff in consultation "ith W.H. Pacific, is directed to continue with design work for the adopted option for intersection controls and corridor improvements. 3. Funding; LID. Council on April 14 and April 21, 2008 reviewed funding options including funding from the County commnnity infrastructure fund (CIF), transportation improvement board (TIB), federal funding, and a local improvement district (LID). Based on this review, staff, in consultation with the special benefits appraiser, is directed to continue analysis of information and to cause the preparation of a special benefit study relating to the formation of a local improvement district that would finance a portion of the proposed improvements. Council by this Resolution makes no decision on whether or not to form a local improvement district. Formation, if any, of a local improvement district will only occur follov,ing legal processes and notices to affected owners. Staff shall pursue additional fnnding, including, state, and additional federal monies. 4. Howard Street Realignment. Council gives conceptual approval to realigning, though property exchanges with owners, Howard Street to the west of the existing alignment. Potential advantages of realignment include: To the Owners - additional frontage on both sides of a new Howard Street arterial, allowing for more frontage exposure for new business activity. To the City - economic development from more locations for new business activity; use of a portion of the existing Howard alignment for bicycle and pedestrian use; better alignment at Discovery intersection. Final decision on any property exchange, street vacation or plat alteration would only occur following regular and lawful processes and public hearing. 5. Construction Sequencing. Council reviewed a preliminary concept presented by staff for construction sequencing as follows: (l) Howard Street; (2) Howard and Sims intersections; (3) Thomas and Sims intersection; and (4) Sims Way between Howard and Thomas. Council directs staff to continue to evaluate construction sequencing options and return to Council with a proposed plan. 6. Timeline. Council reviewed a preliminary concept for a project timeline presented by staff: . Preliminary Design - May 08 to Mar 09 o Freeze the roadway layout - Jun 08 o Submit Environmental Docs - Jul 08 . Final Design - Jul 08 to May 09 . Right-of- Way - Jun 08 to Apr 09 . LID Formation - May 08 to Nov 08 . Construction - Jul 09 to Feb 11 . TIB/Leg Funding Available - Jul 09 3 Resolution 08-012 The timeline represents a fast track that mayor may not be attainable. It is designed to implement the project in the next several years, during the time that ferry service is limited or not in service, to minimize project impacts on traffic. Staff is directed to work toward meeting the timeline and target dates. 7. Contract Authoritv. Within approved budgets, the City Manager is authorized to execute contracts and instruments that implement this Resolution, provided: there is no authority (l) to exchange property to implement the Howard Street realignment, or (2) to execute construction contracts. Contracts and instruments that implement this Resolution include permits and environmental reviews. ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend at a regular meeting thereof, held this 21 st day of April 2008. ~/'~~ Michelle Sandoval, Mayor Attest: Approved as to form: Pevm ~1/L/ Pamela Kolacy, MM City Clerk 0(~ John P. Watts City Attorney 4 Resolution 08-012