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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-10-08 Council Special Minutes Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes September 8, 2024 Page 1 EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES APPROVED MINUTES October 8, 2024 ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT Mike Rosen, Mayor Vivian Olson, Council President Neil Tibbott, Councilmember Will Chen, Councilmember Susan Paine, Councilmember Michelle Dotsch, Councilmember Chris Eck, Councilmember Jenna Nand, Councilmember STAFF PRESENT Phil Williams, Acting Public Works Dir. Angie Feser, Parks, Rec., & Human Serv. Dir. Rob English, City Engineer Shannon Burley, Deputy Parks, Rec., & Human Serv. Dir. Nick Falk, Deputy City Clerk Jerrie Bevington, Camera Operator 1. CALL TO ORDER The Edmonds City Council special meeting was called to order at 4:59 pm by Mayor Rosen in the Council Chambers, 250 5th Avenue North, Edmonds, and virtually. 2. COUNCIL BUSINESS 1. 2025-2030 CAPITAL FACILITIES PLAN (CFP) AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CIP) Parks, Recreation and Human Services Director Angie Feser introduced City Engineer Rob English. She relayed the intent for a light touch this year for a number of reasons. Shifting to a biennium budget enables more time and energy, staff resources and council review in the off-budget years on the capital budget which could occur in 2025. In addition, three major plans will be completed and adopted by then including the Transportation Plan, the Storm and Surface Water Plan Update and the Comprehensive Plan which includes a facilities element as well as a capital element. Ms. Feser continued, tonight’s presentation will include a lot of detail and staff will return in two weeks for a public hearing which will include a summary presentation. Staff welcomes questions related to the presentation and encourages councilmembers to utilize the budget query system where emails are submitted, collected and answered as part of the public record, making for a smoother process. During the public hearing, following a summary of the capital programs and following public comments, councilmembers will also have the ability to ask questions. Adoption of the CFP/CIP is scheduled in November. Mr. English reviewed the Public Works & Utilities 2025-2025 CFP & CIP (Combined CFP & CIP document) • Public Works Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes September 8, 2024 Page 2 o Transportation o Utilities  Water  Stormwater  Sewer o Facilities o Wastewater Treatment Plant • Citywide Public Works Project Maps • CFP & CIP Format (Project List) Example • Project Sheets Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes September 8, 2024 Page 3 Public Works projects are constrained in first three years and last three years are unconstrained (no funding source identified) • Work in Progress o Public Works Comprehensive Plan Updates - Transportation & Stormwater/Surface Water • Transportation o 2025-26 Pavement Preservation Projects o 2025-26 Safety & Capacity Projects o 2025-26 Active Transportation Projects & Planning Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes September 8, 2024 Page 4 • Utilities o 2025-26 Water Utility o 2025-26 Stormwater Utility o 2025-26 Sewer Utility o 2025-26 Wastewater Treatment Plant Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes September 8, 2024 Page 5 • Facilities o Boys & Girls Club o Cemetery Building o City Hall o Fishing Pier o Frances Anderson Center o Fire Station 16 o Fire Station 17 o Fire Station 20 o Historic Log Cabin o Historic Museum o Library o Meadowdale Club House o Old Public Works o Parks Maintenance Bldg o Public Safety o Public Works O&M o Wade James Theater o Yost Pool House • 2025 Funding • 2026 Funding Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes September 8, 2024 Page 6 • 2025-30 Funding Councilmember Tibbott asked, 1) where the Transportation Benefit District (TBD) funds fit in, and 2) he did not see Yost Park in water flow management. Mr. English answered TBD revenue is not a funding source for the capital program, it is in Fund 111 Streets to fund street crew operations, materials and equipment to maintain the streets. Councilmember Tibbott clarified the TBD funds are not used to construct sidewalks or add streets. Mr. English answered it is not. With regard to the stream in Yost Park, Ms. Feser suggested addressing that as part of Parks’ presentation. Councilmember Paine referenced the water tower reservoir projects in 2025 and 2026. Mr. English answered those are the Yost and Seaview reservoirs which are in-ground. Councilmember Paine recalled the presentation which indicates the water towers are like Swiss cheese. Mr. English agreed they are in need of improvement and seismic retrofit. Councilmember Paine said she was glad to see there was funding for those reservoirs. Mr. English answered the cost for those facilities was factored into the utility rate assessment. Council President Olson referred to PWT-40 Maplewood Walkway and asked for verification there was a sidewalk from 196th to 200th, remarking it was strange PWT-40 started at 200th instead of 196th. Mr. English answered staff is working on the list of questions she submitted. There is no sidewalk between 200th and the park on Maplewood Drive; the project is a walkway from Main Street to 200th. The sidewalk does not go all the way to 196th. Council President Olson observed the sidewalk stops at the park and the project is based on reaching the park, noting someone may want to access the park from the other side. Mr. English answered in the 2015 Transportation Plan, the sidewalk stops at 200th. Council President Olson questioned why the walkway would not be the entire stretch between 196th to 200th. Council President Olson wanted to ensure the CFP/CIP includes the reduced scale for the 4th Avenue Corridor that the council agreed on the last time that was presented and that the dollar amount in the plan Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes September 8, 2024 Page 7 reflects that reduced scale. She also wanted to ensure staff was aware of line of sight issues and the hilly terrain with PWT-34 where there are currently no sidewalks, making it dangerous for people leaving Seaview Park going east. She wanted to ensure that was considered in the timing of that project. With regard to facilities, she noted the CFP/CIP includes fire stations; however, the budget is based on a RFA annexation and she was unsure whether the CFP/CIP should match up with the budget or whether that was that premature. There won’t be any fire station facilities maintenance if the City annexes into the RFA starting in 2026. Mr. English agreed that was a little premature, but as that process moves forward, appropriate adjustments will be made. Councilmember Chen asked for clarification related to funds allocated for several years for facilities maintenance for the Boys & Girls Club when the Boys & Girls Club was taking over construction. Ms. Feser answered funds were allocated in the budget because it was unknown when the Boys & Girls Club would be constructed. Facilities is doing maintenance on it now to keep it safe and comfortable for the users. It is a very old facility that requires occasional work, but not major investments. Once the Boys & Girls Club takes over the facility, they will own and maintain it. If the City moves forward with an operating agreement with Boys & Girls Club, that would be something to identify and address at that time. Councilmember Chen referred to PWT-64 Green Streets, recalling the council canceled that program in 2023, yet there are funds budgeted in 2023. Mr. English answered in 2023 there were two project proposed as part of the Green Streets program, one on Dayton between SR104 up to 2nd and another on 236th. The council eliminated the project on Dayton, but kept the project on 236th and moved it to the out years. For this CFP/CIP, it was moved to the sixth year in the plan. There is no funding programmed for that project, but it is consistent with council direction last year to keep it in the six year horizon. Councilmember Chen suggested removing it when the council amends the CFP/CIP. Mr. English answered that was not the direction council gave last year; the intent was to retain the project in the event there was an opportunity for grant funding, but no active design work would occur because there is no funding. Councilmember Chen said he will submit additional questions via the query system. Councilmember Nand referred to PWT-66 and suggested Public Works work with the city attorney to do an analysis of the potential litigation cost and delays to the timeline if the City were to pursue this $9.2M project. Mr. English answered PWT-66 is the 4th Avenue Cultural Project. There would have to be individual discussion on that project if there was a desire to pursue it and allocate funding to address what Councilmember Nand suggested. Director Tatum has been the lead on that project; he could be asked to attend the public hearing or provide an answer to the question Councilmember Nand raised. In view of the Ebbtide litigation and the multiyear litigation costs, Councilmember Nand anticipated of all the projects, this would be the one most likely to lead the City into litigation. She suggested it would be useful if litigation costs and time delays related to litigation could be factored into the CIP/CFP for 4th Avenue Cultural Corridor. Councilmember Dotsch asked about Lynnwood’s plans for growth in Perrinville. Mr. English answered he was sure they were doing planning; he would need to talk with Director Hope regarding what the City of Lynnwood is doing. Edmonds is partnering with Lynnwood on a basin analysis study; that potential growth could be considered during that study as far as stormwater management work. Lynnwood is approximately 55% of the basin and Edmonds is the remainder. The t ransportation model is synced with Puget Sound Regional Council’s (PSRC) transportation model so it should be consistent with Lynnwood which is taken into account during modeling for the Transportation Plan update. Councilmember Dotsch commented if the City is going to spend a lot of money doing a lot things, what Lynnwood does could have a huge impact. She was glad Lynnwood was contributing to the basin study and that the cities were looking at it together before making decisions that are not coordinated. Mr. English Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes September 8, 2024 Page 8 asked if her focus was on Perrinville. Councilmember Dotsch answered the Perrinville portion of the stormwater utility includes a lot of projects and a lot of money. Mr. English said the basin analysis update will be a big part of the coordination and communication with Lynnwood. Councilmember Dotsch referred to funding provided by WWTP partners and asked if the partners provide enough funding. She recalled the contract was updated a couple years ago, but there has been a great deal of inflation since then. Acting Public Works Director Phil Williams answered that is tracked on an annual basis, but there are no overall meters; it requires a fair amount of calculation. The partners make payments throughout the year and if there is a difference at the end of the year, it is trued up at yearend. Getting the finances correct is a huge part of the partnership. The partners’ monthly payments are based on the flow they contribute plus a portion of capital projects as determined by the capacity each partner owns. Edmonds is about 51% of the flow and capital and the other partners add up to 49%. Councilmember Dotsch commented there are a lot of growth plans and transportation plans for 196th, a possible roundabout at 88th & 196th, right turn only projects, etc. that are dependent on the Puget Drive stretch that has a cliff on one side and a ravine on the other which she described as a black hole that she did not anticipate would be addressed in her lifetime. Mr. English agreed that is a challenging stretch of road due to the topography. The Transportation Plan identified that stretch for a future study that would potentially include multimodal improvements to make it safer. It is a State route so the State has some responsibility for maintaining the integrity of that roadway and it is not entirely the City’s responsibility. Councilmember Eck referred to the Transportation 2025-26 Safety and Capacity projects and asked about the SR-104 Adaptive System. Mr. English explained it is an interconnect of the existing traffic signals on SR-104 to synchronize them and identify increased traffic volumes to provide more green time for signals. Councilmember Eck expressed support for that particularly with plans for more multifamily and commercial on SR-104. She referred to the list of facilities to be maintained and asked which three buildings had the most ad hoc, unplanned maintenance. Mr. Willilams answered Frances Anderson Center is very old, and there is no AC summer which is a problem for summer use of the spaces; Parks and Public Works have done their best to keep it usable at all time to meet the City’s needs. The City spends a lot of money there, there are water problems and there have been roof problems in the past as well as the problem with the deck. There are a lot of deficits in the City Hall building including wiring, insulation, the method for cooling the building is very inefficient with 32 separate condensers on the roof rather than one single unit. Staff keeps it clean and presentable, but deferred maintenance and replacement projects accumulate over time. Mr. Williams continued, the City spruced up the fishing pier a few years ago, takes good care of the fire stations the fire district does a lot of the work inside the fire stations, most of the day-to-day needs at the log cabin and museum are handled by the occupants, the library is getting old and also has water issues including leaks in the roof where the water is collected before it hits the ceiling tiles and directed out of the building via channels. He recalled there have been discussions about replacing the parks maintenance building when he was with the City previously and that has never been done due to funding issues. Some issues with the Public Safety Building have been addressed recently, but there are a lot of HVAC issues. Public Works is the newest building, built in 1992. The City does not take care of the Wade James Theater any more. The first three he mentioned are probably the biggest ones. Councilmember Eck commented a great job was done on the pier. Mr. Williams advised Public Works managed the project, Parks worked with the State to obtain the funding. With regard to green streets, Council President Olson remembered the City wasn’t ready to proceed with a project, but there can be grant opportunity for green streets that are not available for anything else which is the reason the council agreed to keep it in the CFP/CIP. It was her understanding the design for 84th was in the budget for 2024; she asked if more design was needed or was the design not done. Mr. English answered Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes September 8, 2024 Page 9 a presentation was made to the PPW Committee in June where there were requests for costs for an asphalt sidewalk and other cross sections but there wasn’t enough staff capacity to keep that project moving forward and generate that information. He anticipated it will be presented to full council in the next few weeks related to the cross section for preliminary design. Council President Olson recalled when it was added in 2024 the hope was to have it constructed in 2025 or 2026, but construction is further out in the CIP. To the extent funds can be identified or another project doesn’t proceed, she hoped staff would keep that project in mind to prioritize. Council President Olson said she was amazed how quickly the overlay on Main between 8th and 9th was done and was surprised to hear that the section between 6th and 8th had to be delayed due to weather. She asked if a couple days this year could be identified to do that project. Mr. English answered the portion between 6th and 9th is more complex due to building curb ramps and installing storm drainage at two locations. He did not anticipate that could be accomplished unless there was some bizarre weather mid-late November. With regard to 84th, that was initially in the 2023 budget funded with ARPA funds which were then removed. In 2024 the council budgeted $75,000 for a predesign study of the 84th walkway to assist the council in making a decision whether to proceed with that project. The numbers reported to PPW committee were over $3.5M for that stretch of sidewalk so the committee asked for different cost estimates. It is programed in the unconstrained three-year portion of the CIP because there is no funding source for construction. Council President Olson commented moving the police station has been talked about often and she was surprised it was not in the CFP/CIP. She suggested it would be appropriate for the council to have that discussion and consider including that project in the future. She recognized the City was not in a position to fund that now, but it should be in the six year plan. She asked if the council was taking action tonight. Mr. English responded it would be premature to make amendments to the CFP/CIP before the public hearing. He referred to Ms. Feser’s comment about taking a lighter approach to the CFP/CIP due to the upcoming approval of the comprehensive plan that has a facilities section where that type of change might be more appropriate. Council President Olson commented the hillside in Westgate behind the gas station was concerning and she wondered whether preserving and ensuring the embankment holds was the City’s responsibility or should the City work with the private property owners. With all the rain storms, she wondered if the City needed to worry about slides or doing preventative work to ensure that is not an issue. Mr. English answered that is private property; the building department reached out to the property owner a couple years ago when a tree that slid. Council President Olson recognized the City would not do the work, but wanted to ensure the property owner was keeping everyone safe because due to the location of the gas station, it is a public safety issue for everyone. Councilmember Dotsch referred to Ferry Storage Improvements and asked whether WSDOT or Washington State Ferries helped with that. She noted on some days the ferry backs up to QFC and she wondered if that was a safety issue and/or affected people living on SR-104. Mr. English responded that project came about as a result of an SR104 Corridor Study done 7-8 years ago. The focus was to change the channelization in the section between Dayton and Pine by removing one of the eastbound through lanes to provide storage capacity in the lower section anticipating growth in the ferry system. However, growth in the ferry system has been flat or decreased so there hasn’t been any momentum to move that project forward. Councilmember Dotsch concluded it was just a placeholder. Mr. English agreed. Councilmember Nand recalled in the 2023 budget, Councilmember Chen made a motion to provide Public Works $70,000 for a consultant to identify property on Highway 99 for a police annex. She assumed those funds were swept into the General Fund with the budget amendments. If the council pursued Council President Olson’s suggestion, she asked whether that should be done via a decision package for deliberation Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes September 8, 2024 Page 10 in this budget cycle. Mr. English agreed there was a motion, but anticipated those funds were swept away due to budget challenges. Mr. Williams recalled former Director Patrick Doherty and Thom Sullivan spent time looking for a suitable building or property on Highway 99. He did not remember if they found anything, but did not recall any funding for a consultant. He was unsure that was the same effort Councilmember Nand was referring to. Councilmember Nand recalled the last time Councilmember Chen asked then-Public Works Director Antillon about it, the funds were still unspent. If the council was interested in bringing that forward, perhaps not this year, that seemed a good way to start. Councilmember Chen said the money was not spent and there were no results. He recalled in 2023 Councilmember Tibbott made an amendment to budget funds for Citywide Lighting Study, but that project seems to have disappeared. He asked if staff had the capacity to resume that study and whether there was still a need. Mr. English answered staff was close to bringing that to council. That project took longer due to staffing; the information regarding City-owned and PUD-owned lights has been put into the GIS database and an analysis done to identified places where lighting is missing and those projects have been scored and a priority list prepared. Staff will provide council the result of that study and the location of the higher priority projects where additional lighting could be added. Parks, Recreation & Human Services Director Angie Feser relayed a fun fact; the Yost Reservoir is located under the Yost tennis and pickleball courts. Parks will work with Public Works when the reservoir is being updated. She introduced Deputy Parks, Recreation & Human Services Director Shannon Burley and reviewed the Parks 2025-2030 CIP/CFP: • Framework • Geographic Distribution • Format Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes September 8, 2024 Page 11 • Funding Sources • Current/Ongoing Capital Projects o Mathay Ballinger Park Improvements  Permanent Restroom  Water fountain  Improved Parking  ADA accessible path to playground and Interurban trail  Large Picnic Shelter  Landscaping  Benches o City-Wide Improvements/Deferred Maintenance  Main Street/Shell Creek Property public access  Automated door locks all park restrooms (6)  Brackett’s Landing North  Bottle filler (replaced failed drinking fountain)  ADA Access to bottle filler  Improvements for security/decrease vandalism  Signage (variety)  Puget Sound “No boating” buoys  Five – Corner Hanging Baskets (9) Installation  Civic Park - Landscape Plant Warranty issues - Grant close-out - Wavy Walk retrofit o Signage & Wayfinding Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes September 8, 2024 Page 12  Entry Sign Standardization  Rules/Enforcement  Education  Safety  Asset and wildlife protection o Mee Property Acquisition  1-acre  Expands Mathay Ballinger Park by 50%  Access from 76th Ave  House/outbuilding – to be removed  80% grant funded ($880,000) - Purchase price ($925,000) - Related costs o Sierra Park Expansion/Alderwood District Acquisition  0.38-acre  Ballfield encroachment  Snohomish County Conservation Futures Grant (100%) - Board approved - County Council - December • Parks 2025-2030 CIP/CFP Projects o Shell Creek Restoration Phase 2 – R19 o Ballinger Park/Mountlake Terrace ILA– D19 o Columbarium Expansion Phase 2 – D8 Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes September 8, 2024 Page 13 o Mee Property – P2, D13 o Johnson Property – P5 o Parks & Facilities Maintenance Building – P1 & D2 o Marsh Boardwalk Replacement – D21 & R20 Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes September 8, 2024 Page 14 • Parks 2025-2030 CIP/CFP – Projects Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes September 8, 2024 Page 15 • Programs o Citywide Park Improvements/Capital Replacement – R-17 o ADA Improvements / Replacement – R16 • Programs – not site specific • Parkland Acquisitions • Changes to CIP/CFP Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes September 8, 2024 Page 16 • 2025-2030 CIP/CFP Schedule o July  City staff begins development of capital budgets o August  Submit proposed Capital budget to Finance  Prepare draft CFP and CIP o September  Planning Board Presentation (September 11th)  Planning Board Public Hearing (September 25th) o October  City Council Presentation (October 8th)  City Council Public Hearing (October 22nd) o November  Adopt CFP w/ Budget (November 26th) Councilmember Paine asked what would be required to amend the cost to update the pool rather than estimating it at $24M. Ms. Feser answered Shoreline went gone through a process recently and King County did an aquatics facilities study that included locations and the cost and she suggested referencing that document as the City does not have the time or capacity to price that out. Councilmember Paine referred to Marina Beach planning and the grant staff obtained that council declined and asked if that plan need to be revised. Ms. Feser responding Marina said the Beach Park Master Plan can remain as is, it has a very large intertidal channel for the flow between Puget Sound and Willow Creek at the railroad bridge. A lot of work went into that; the challenge will be what happens under bridge because there is only 4-5 feet. Councilmember Paine recalled talking to Ms. Feser about the right-of-way adjacent to Mathay Ballinger Park, owned by SnoPUD, and their excitement about a bike path over SR-104. She asked if updating the right-of-way for non-motorized transportation should be in the CFP/CIP. Ms. Feser answered that is an interesting conversation, whether it is a park project or a non-motorized transportation project. Mr. English responded that project is part of Transportation Plan update; a feasibility study regarding crossing SR-104 would be the first step. Councilmember Eck thanked Ms. Feser, commenting she loved the idea of having a line item specifically for ADA improvements and replacements due to the importance of that visibility. Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes September 8, 2024 Page 17 Councilmember Nand referred to P1 and D2, Parks & Facilities Maintenance Building and asked the feasibility of a public-private partnership with a ground level parks and maintenance facility and a second level of multifamily apartments or subsidized housing for public employees. She suggested that would be a helpful way to get that project funded. Ms. Feser agreed all creative options were on the table. Parks shops and Facilities shops are usually restricted from public access due to vehicles, equipment, chemicals, etc., but possibly a bilevel option could be an option. Councilmember Nand suggested some type of subsidized housing in exchange for a lower salary for seasonal FTEs possibly would make it less of an issue to live above a parks maintenance facility versus members of the general public. Councilmember Dotsch referred to the Ballinger Park Mountlake Terrace Improvement Access and asked if lighting was included, recalling the neighbors wanted lighting. Ms. Feser asked if Councilmember Dotsch was referring to lighting on the park property. Councilmember Dotsch clarified she was inquiring about lighting at the access to the park from the Edmonds side. Ms. Feser was unsure if there was lighting associated with that property, but said she could easily find out. Councilmember Dotsch asked if improvements at the old Woodway High School property could count as a park in south Edmonds. Ms. Feser answered it would be worth looking into investing in providing public park access. Right now the project is improving one athletic fields and lighting an existing field. Councilmember Dotsch observed the description was community park and athletic complex. Ms. Feser answered the addition of a park and amenities would be at council discretion. Council President Olson referred to the master planning process for the Johnson property, recalling when the council had the opportunity to accept the donation, it was discussed in the context of being a community garden and it was on that basis that she agreed. She asked if the master plan would be for the community garden or for future use of the property which seems contrary to the basis upon which the property was accepted. In terms of funding, if the intent is just a community garden, likely a professional in the community would do a layout of the community garden, how to staff it, etc. for free. The Floretum Garden Club and the Snohomish County Conservation District have offered to assist. She wondered if the proposed cost of $100,000 could be lowered to zero. Ms. Feser responded there is a serious parking issue at Yost Park. The pool , pickleball courts, playground and trails are very active and there are estimated to be 200 swimmers in the pool every day over the winter. The improvements on Bowdoin eliminated parking on one side of the streets. It may be possible to utilize some of the Johnson property for parking to support Yost Park as well as the community garden. Shirley Johnson’s will states the purpose for use as a park and/or community garden site and/or to cultivate and grow plants, fruits, vegetables and other related things all for the City of Edmonds and citizens of Edmonds and the local community as the City of Edmonds deems best in their discretion which to her meant community garden, plus. There could be more on that site than a community garden such as environmental and agricultural education opportunities for the public because that is the history of the site. A master plan could capture that much better and honor Shirley Johnson’s intent in donating the property. Bringing in a professional to help facilitate that design will ensure elements won’t be lost in the process rather than simply having a community garden. She summarized that is her opinion, it is always up to the discretion of the city council. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, the Council meeting was adjourned at 6:43 pm. Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes September 8, 2024 Page 18