HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works April 22 20031
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Public Works and Capital Projects Committee
April 22, 2003
The meeting was called to order at 1:40 p.m. by Committee Chair Barbara
Brenner in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: Absent:
L. Ward Nelson None
Sam Crawford
Also Present:
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING OPTIONS TO IMPROVE SAFETY FOR
PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS ON LAKE WHATCOM BOULEVARD IN
THE AREA OF THE AUSTIN CREEK BRIDGE (AB2003 -172)
Joe Rutan, Assistant Director of Engineering, stated there is no action
required on this item at this time.
Brenner stated a recent meeting with County staff and the Sudden Valley
Community Association Manager Steve Greiser was excellent. She supports the
proposal.
Rutan stated a project titled Lake Whatcom Boulevard, Rocky Ridge to Lake
Louise, is on the six -year road program and supports the Austin Creek Bridge. It is
five to six years out. It incorporates the limits of the Austin Creek bridge. The
bridge now is very narrow and has no real shoulder. It is a dangerous place to walk
or ride a bike. There are different options for dealing with it and incorporating that
work into the Rocky Ridge /Lake Louise project. Staff looked at shared
pedestrian /bike paths, installing paths on one or both sides, and using the existing
golf cart bridge. They did not feel that was the best of options. Staff looked at
widening or replacing the existing bridge. They have to replace it in about 15 or 20
years anyway. It currently has columns that are in the perimeter of the creek. It
also has a very thin deck, which makes it difficult to widen. A completely new
structure would be a bit longer and wider. It has environmental advantages and
won't need to be replaced in 15 to 20 years. A new bridge is the preferred solution.
The recommendation from solely an engineering perspective is to do the
entire bridge and widen Lake Whatcom Boulevard in that area at once. They will
only have to mobilize once. They can do that in five to six years. There are
wetland and permitting issues.
Public Works and Capital Projects Committee, 4/22/2003, Page 1
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
However, that does not meet the concerns of the community. The County
has the ability to pull the bridge out, redo it as a separate project in the summer of
2004, and tie it into the roadway as best they can. It solves the issue of the narrow
bridge for the interim. When they do the rest of the project, they can tie it all
together.
Since the recommendation was prepared, the County Executive gave him
direction to only reconstruct the bridge in 2004. At the July 8 Council meeting, the
six -year plan will come forward with that change to it.
Nelson asked if there is a shoulder up to the bridge. Rutan stated there is an
unpaved shoulder. When they tie the bridge into the roadway, they will redo that
surface. They don't want to add more than 5,000 square feet of impervious
surfaces, or they will have to do quality and quantity treatment. He prefers to put
that off when they do the entire road. Now, it won't mean anything in terms of the
Department of Ecology and the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Nelson asked how it protects the streambed. Rutan stated they get the
columns out of the streambed. This bridge was damaged by debris flow in the past.
Crawford asked how long the road would be closed during the bridge
replacement.
Jim Karcher, Engineering Manager - Design /Construction, stated the road
would be closed two months.
Rutan stated they discussed the sequencing with Steve Greiser. They will do
the bridge first, then Lake Louise, then Lake Whatcom Boulevard. They will have to
station some fire equipment from the fire station on the other side of the
construction.
Nelson asked why the road would be closed for two months. Rutan stated
they have to remove the old bridge, build new foundations, set the new bridge, and
tie it all together.
Crawford asked where people want to walk to. There is a bridge on the road
that has no shoulders. There is also a golf cart path. Rutan stated gate 3 to
Sudden Valley is on one side of the bridge. The shopping areas are on the other
side. It is a recreational area. This is the main thoroughfare for the people of
Sudden Valley.
Crawford asked where the million dollars would come from.
Nelson stated this has been a top priority with the people of Sudden Valley
for many years. Rutan stated the plan was well received by the community
association.
Public Works and Capital Projects Committee, 4/22/2003, Page 2
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
Nelson stated it is expensive, but Sudden Valley contributes property tax
revenues to the County, and the County doesn't do anything with their roads.
Rutan stated separating the bridge from the road project appeals to him
because they are separate issues with separate permitting processes. They won't
have to mix the bridge into any funding that comes to the County for the road.
Brenner stated this is a safety issue, as well. Get it done as soon as
possible. Rutan stated they did some speed enforcement in the area, which was
well received.
2. CONTINUED DISCUSSION REGARDING THE POSSIBLE INSTALLATION
OF CITY -LEVEL SERVICES (SIDEWALKS) ON CERTAIN COUNTY
ROADS (AB2003 -155)
Brenner stated she has mixed feelings about this particular area. She'd
rather they didn't widen the shoulders. However, one of the good things about
widening Smith will be to funnel traffic away from the narrow bridge on Axton
Road. That is a horrible traffic mess all the time. Even when the State works on it,
they won't widen it. They may install footpaths on both sides. This may alleviate
some of the traffic. In Ferndale, there is a stop light from where La Bounty Road
crosses onto Main Street.
Nelson stated they could maybe get the State to change the exit from Axton
Road to Smith Road. Rutan stated a Smith Road access is on his six -year road
program. This cross section matches the cross section at the bridge soccer field. It
will allow for the east -west connector and for a center turn lane.
Brenner stated she still feels that the 1984 road standards are not
compatible with the Growth Management Act. Staff is working on amendments.
Mike Donahue, Engineering Manager - Traffic, stated the Technical Advisory
Committee is working on a new set of road standards, due at the end of this year
or in 2004. That recommendation will go to the Executive. There is a definition of
"urban" in the 1984 road standards, which is a density of one unit per acre or
higher. That is a general guideline. Title 20 is what drives the difference between
urban and rural. In Whatcom County, anything that is three units an acre or more
is essentially urban.
Nelson asked what an urban level of service is in terms of road. Donahue
stated curb, gutter, sidewalk, storm sewer, and some different road standards that
allow for parking and bike lanes.
Brenner stated that if they start putting that on one -acre sites, it would be
very expensive stormwater controls and not very effective until they get a density
of three units per acre or more.
Public Works and Capital Projects Committee, 4/22/2003, Page 3
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
Donahue stated Title 20 drives the zoning and the urban level of surface.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 2:01 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
ATTEST:
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Barbara Brenner, Committee Chair
Public Works and Capital Projects Committee, 4/22/2003, Page 4