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HomeMy WebLinkAbout111008CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL BUSINESS MEETING OF NOVEMBER 10, 2008 CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The City Council of the City of Port Townsend met in special session the tenth day of November 2008 at 6:30 p.m. in the Port Townsend City Council Chambers of City Hall, Mayor Michelle Sandoval presiding. ROLL CALL Council members present at roll call were, Brent Butler, Laurie Medlicott, George Randels, Catharine Robinson, Michelle Sandoval, and Mark Welch. David King was excused. Staff members present were City Manager David Timmons, Planning Director Rick Sepler, Public Works Director Ken Clow, City Engineer Dave Peterson, Planning Director Rick Sepler, and Legal Assistant Joanna Sanders. RESOLUTION 08-039 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON, PROVIDING COUNCIL POLICY DIRECTION CONCERNING PROPOSED UPPER SIMS WAY DESIGN AND IMPROVEMENTS Mr. Timmons reviewed the resolution before Council. The federal government could enact an economic stimulus plan putting funding into public works. Having the Upper Sims projects ready to build could give the City funding priority. Mr. Scott Sawyer of W&H Pacific gave a status report on the overall improvements and development plans for Upper Sims and Howard Street. He provided a detailed explanation of the projects by section including the estimated project costs. Spreadsheets reflected where funding is available and areas where additional funds are being sought. They continue to refine the design and vehicle speed and will have another meeting with the Washington State Department of Transportation this Thursday. Mr. Peterson and Mr. Sawyer responded to questions about drainage. They also explained wetland mitigation and the changes from bioswales for addressing Howard Street storm water. Now, a combination water quality treatment and storm water retention pond would be located somewhere south of Sims and west of Howard Street. City Council Special Meeting Page 1 November 10, 2008 Mr. Randels suggested including Jefferson County under Item #4 in the resolution if funds are being sought. Mr. Peterson agreed this should be included. Ms. Robinson asked about the Revised Project Sequencing on page 4 of the resolution. Mr. Peterson explained the intent was to move forward with Howard Street and then on Sims Way working east. The City is now planning to prioritize Sims Way and would proceed with the whole Sims Way design. While money is being pursued for construction, staff would work on a flexible plan so they are ready to bid the construction in March or April. Mrs. Medlicott asked for annual maintenance cost for the storm water maintenance facilities. Mr. Peterson said he could provide an estimate. Mrs. Medlicott also asked for a more detailed explanation of the truck aprons in the roundabouts and traffic speed and flow. Mr. Sawyer explained estimated speeds varying from 10-23 mph and how larger trucks could traverse the roundabouts using the truck aprons. Mrs. Medlicott insisted the Department of Transportation (DOT) would not allow an intersection control within one quarter mile of the Police Department without an on- demand control. She asked about the cost to take out the Thomas Street interchange. Mr. Peterson said the City is unaware of this requirement so he does not have an estimated cost. Mr. Sawyer responded that a preemption type signal does not fall under their guidelines. Mr. Timmons said he is not aware of any requirement, but if it is needed DOT would need to approve it. Mrs. Medlicott asked for a clarification of business owners' approval of the roundabout and center medians. Mr. Sawyer said his goal was to restate Council recommendation. Some business owners were and some were not supportive. He reviewed some of the concerns business owners have expressed. Mr. Butler asked about pedestrian circulation from Howard to Thomas Streets and if any comprehensive plan amendments were needed. Mr. Sawyer reviewed sidewalk pathways as depicted. Mr. Sepler indicated only the Howard St. corridor required comprehensive plans amendments and these were discussed with the Planning Commission. Mr. Welch asked about right of way encroachments. Mr. Sawyer explained what improvements are in the existing right of way. For encroachments by the City (in the areas of the roundabouts}, since the process included federal money, there is a certain order that must be followed. A right of way plan has to be prepared which would require legal descriptions and exhibits. Mr. Peterson said as soon as Mr. Sawyer is finished with WSDOT discussion, they would begin on a right of way plan. Mr. Randels asked about WSDOT's denial of the proposal for the overlay. City Council Special Meeting Page 2 November 10, 2008 Ms. Sandoval responded that if there is a stimulus package with funds disbursed to the State, the City would need to resubmit their funding request to the State. Mr. Timmons noted this project was listed as the priority package for this county. Mr. Randels added that funds might come through the Governor's office and not through the Department of Transportation and might then have a different prioritization and disbursement. Mrs. Medlicott asked about right of way encroachments by plantings and sign improvements. Is the City now changing its mind and saying that some improvements that the City previously approved now need to be removed. At whose cost would this be removed? Mr. Sepler responded that some of the plantings that were assumed to be on private property ended up being in the right of way. The gateway plan did allow signs to be placed in the right of way. Some approved plans might have landscaping in the right of way that will be relocated. He believes Council has said that those signs lawfully located in the right of way consistent with the plan should be relocated as a part of the project cost. However there are a number of unpermitted encroachments, e.g., car wash facilities, vacuum and other facilities along the corridor. Public Comment Vi Koenig, PT Laundromat and Car Wash asked about wetland mitigation. Mr. Sawyer explained that if the City encroaches on a wetland, it needs to create a wetland somewhere else. He provided an explanation of jurisdiction over wetlands. Mr. Timmons summarized that the proposed resolution directs staff to continue work on implementing the project. The cost to finish design work and get contract documents is estimated not to exceed $400,000 for Sims Way and $300,000 for Howard Street. Funding would come from the state Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) and federal funding. Overall project costs and funding is in the "Upper Sims Way/Howard Street Project Update (October 2008)" that was presented at the Oct. 23 workshop. Mr. Butler asked about revising the resolution to include the environmental protections and timeline. He hopes that records would reflect how stormwater and increased impervious surface areas are being addressed. Mr. Peterson and Mr. Sawyer responded. The environmental documents have to be complete before moving ahead and the timeline is shown in Item C. Both the SEPA and NEPA documents are currently being processed by the City. Mr. Sepler responded that the only improvements subject to SEPA are the detention ponds. A threshold determination on Howard Street should be complete in the next couple of weeks. Mr. Randels suggested that in order to address Mr. Butler's concerns staff prepare a detailed report and schedule on what has been and is proposed to be done on City Council Special Meeting Page 3 November 10, 2008 environmental issues. He and Ms. Robinson noted a few additional typographical errors on pages 1, 3, and 5. Action: Motion: Mr Randels moved for approval of Resolution 08-039 as revised (adding the County to item 4 and making typographical corrections), providing Council Policy Direction Concerning Proposed Upper Sims Way Design and Improvements. Mr. Welch seconded. Mrs. Medlicott asked to confirm that with approval of Resolution 08-039 Council is agreeing to form an LID for Sims Way improvement and changing its previous actions on its focus. Mr. Peterson and Mr. Randels corrected that Council is changing the sequence of events, but not the direction. Mr. Watts clarified that Council has not taken action and is not by this resolution taking action to form an LID. Forming an LID would be done by ordinance. The motion carried, 5-1 by voice vote. Mrs. Medlicott opposed RECESS Mayor Sandoval declared a recess at 8:15 p.m. for the purpose of a break. RECONVENE The meeting was reconvened at 8:25 p.m. RESOLUTIONS 08-041 and 08-042 AUTHORIZING DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE AND WATERFRONT PROJECT IMPROVEMENTS Mr. Timmons stated that the downtown projects are authorized under current bond financing, but Council authorization is necessary to proceed. The construction work on undergrounding utility lines is complete and companies would begin removing overhead power lines and poles. Following that would be the beginning of the hard scape improvements to be reviewed tonight. Planning Director Rick Sepler reviewed agenda packet materials on the background of the downtown revitalization project to allow for continued public access to and along the water and revitalize the downtown. The consultant working on the relocation of the wave viewing gallery is PND Engineers. Macleod Reckord Design is providing assistance with the design of the waterfront esplanade including the tidal clock and wave viewing gallery. Additional conceptual drawings were provided to Council prior to the start of the meeting. The resolutions before Council would authorize the City Manager to proceed with certain capital projects and give design approval for the waterfront esplanade project between Quincy Street and Pope Marine, including the tidal clock. City Council Special Meeting Page 4 November 10, 2008 Terry Reckord of Macleod Reckord presented drawings comprising the waterfront esplanade design proposal. The challenge was to make the places better and more inviting, to do them with consistency, without negatively impacting the character of the community. He described better delineation of pedestrian and vehicle access, including curb extensions, which shorten the crossing distance. Other improvements mentioned were better pedestrian corridors, improved ADA code compliance, and larger sidewalk areas for gatherings such as in the area of the Northwest Maritime Center. Mr. Sepler reviewed that the design plans are consistent with the adopted East Downtown Streetscape Plan. There are specific criteria for street trees and specific requirements for bulb outs. Staff would have a preliminary review on the specificity of materials at the November 18 Historic Preservation Committee meeting. Staff is requesting approval of the resolution providing direction to proceed with the plan, including the shoreline substantial development permit. Mr. Timmons noted another element of the project is converting the Cotton Building to a visitor's plaza with public restrooms and is being done with a FEMA grant. Many of the hard scape improvements will be done concurrent with the Northwest Maritime Center project. Council comments were they were glad to see planned improvements for gathering places, the opportunity for a barrier if needed to exclude motor vehicles, ADA accessibility, and sight lines. The improvements would be a positive economic stimulus to the area. Discussion ensued about specific locations for curb extensions. There was a request for assurance that fire trucks can navigate the turns. Mr. Reckord said that would be the next step following this conceptual design. There was also some discussion about parking areas lost and gained around the Police Station and on Monroe Street. Mr. Sepler noted that there is parking and dumpsters in the Quincy Street area. Ecology would require the City move parking shoreward as a part of any shoreline development permit. There was some discussion about the width of the sidewalks on Monroe at the expense of adding bicycle lanes. Mr. Sepler noted that the Non-motorized Transportation Advisory Board, HPC, and the Tree Committee reviewed previous plans. Revised drawings would need to be reviewed with each. Ms. Sandoval asked about alternatives to using the Cotton Building as a Visitor Plaza. She was unclear that this decision had been before Council. Mr. Timmons said several years ago Council considered and decided against a surplus of the building. The utility extensions for Pope Marine are incorporated into that building and the property on three sides of the building are in public ownership. The current City Council Special Meeting Page 5 November 10, 2008 design has 3 basis elements: public restrooms accessible from outside and inside, a small office work area for access/use by police at times, and open areas for visitors, events and functions. Ms. Sandoval said because this was decided by a previous council, she asked if it is appropriate for Council to have further discussion about how space should be used, e.g., art exhibitions, or museum exhibits. Mr. Timmons responded that because FEMA is providing federal assistance it has to be maintained in public ownership. It is intended to be multi-use functional space rather than planned space. Additional discussion ensued about Council's perception of uses. Mr. Welch inquired about vendors utilizing space in the building. Mr. Timmons said he does not believe that would be precluded. Mrs. Medlicott noted it was not intended to be a visitor information center, but a visitor plaza as LTAC recommended to Council. Ms. Robinson asked to better understand about the limit of development. Mr. Timmons said if there was a desire to change the proposed uses, Council would need to hold the second resolution. The approval of the resolution would not preclude Council from discussing allowable uses. Public comment: none Action#1 Motion: Mr. Randels moved to approve Resolution 08-041, authorizing the City Manager to sign all Necessary Documents and Contracts for the Construction of Certain Downtown Capital Projects and Resolution 08-042 (with the typographical error in item 8 corrected, "the" rather than "as'), approving Design of Waterfront Esplanade between Quincy Street and Pope Marine, including the area around the Tidal Clock and Wave Viewing Gallery. Ms. Medlicott seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 6-0, by voice vote. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m. Minutes prepared by Joanna Sanders, Legal Assistant Attest: ~~ f 1 ~-1 U Pam Kolacy, MMC City Clerk Crty Council Special Meeting Page 6 November ?0, 2008