Monday, April 26, 2004

Shoreline Conference Center

6:00 p.m. Highlander Room

PRESENT: Mayor Hansen, Deputy Mayor Jepsen, Councilmembers Chang, Fimia, and Ransom

ABSENT: Councilmembers Grace and Gustafson

STAFF: Steve Burkett, City Manager; Robert Olander, Deputy City Manager; Julie Modrzejewski, Assistant City Manager; and Joyce Nichols, Communications and Intergovernmental Relations Director

GUEST: Karen Richter, Puget Sound Regional Council Program Manager

Mayor Hansen convened the meeting at 6:25 p.m.

Steve Burkett, City Manager, introduced the topic of tonight’s meeting, a presentation by Karen Richter, the Program Manager for the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) Transportation Implementation Program (TIP). The TIP is a three-year program that is updated every two years and includes all the road projects in the four-county area of King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap.

Ms. Richter provided an overview of the PSRC. She described the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funding sources. The two primary ones are the Surface Transportation Program (STP) and the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program. She said that projects eligible for STP funding include roads, streets, trails, etc. STP funds can be used as enhanced funds for non-motorized projects. Projects that improve air quality by reducing congestion qualify for CMAQ funds. Ms. Richter explained that she also manages Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds, which mostly go to transit agencies and their partners.

Continuing, Ms. Richter outlined the process for getting access to federal funds. She said the process involves competition among many jurisdictions in the four-county area. The funds are divided into regional and countywide competitions. There is a total of $91 million for two years in STP and CMAC funds. Ten percent of these funds go to non-motorized projects. Countywide there is $26.7 million for STP and CMAQ.

For a jurisdiction to get its project into the TIP, the city has to get the project on the State list. The projects have to be included in the Destination 2030 Plan, which includes the region’s transportation, land use and growth management planning projects. In the regional pot there is $38.9 million. This is also a competitive process and the projects selected must have regional significance. To be selected, the City must work with the Regional Project Evaluation Committee (RPEC). She noted that City Engineer Jill Marilley is a member of this group and that RPEC will meet May 17 and 18 to score the 29 applications. She said the competition is “fierce.” This year, for the first time, there will be a back-up list of projects. These will be prioritized in case more funding becomes available or projects approved are built for less than the dollars allocated. These funds will be released in 2006-2007.

Councilmember Fimia asked if there was anything Shoreline could be doing better in terms of being competitive. Ms. Richter replied that Ms. Marilley understands the process very well.

Councilmember Fimia noted that Shoreline could be eligible for FTA dollars for transit projects. She mentioned competing for funds for Phase II of the Aurora project, which involves transit improvements, noting the FTA money requires locals to partner with transit agencies to quality. Responding to Councilmember Fimia’s question regarding funding for a shuttle, Ms. Richter said the funds would got to the capital costs only. There would be no funding provided for operations.

Mr. Burkett asked how the PSRC fits with the Regional Transportation Improvement District (RTID). Ms. Richter responded that projects eligible for RTID funding are in the TIP. Therefore, passage of RTID legislation would fund completion of many of the projects on the TIP (excluding those in Kitsap County, which is not part of the RTID).

Councilmember Fimia pointed out that the PSRC is more than simply a funder of projects. It also provides analysis of all of the regional projects. Her concern was that PSRC analysts need to be “held harmless” from the politics of decision-making. Ms. Richter responded that her group uses staff from both the PSRC and from several local agencies to help in the evaluation of projects. Then the list is recommended to the elected officials for decision.

Councilmember Fimia asked what is happening with congestion-reducing projects. Ms. Richter said there are a few demonstration projects such as Highway 167 HOV-lane use during non-peak hours. However, the PSRC needs to make sure there is public support for these programs before they move ahead.

Councilmember Chang mentioned an e-mail he received regarding the Park and Ride facility at 167^th and Bagley near the Nazarene Church and that overflow parking is spilling into the neighborhood. It referred to people leaving litter and other nuisances. He asked if the City could do anything about this.

Robert Olander, Deputy City Manager, said staff is following up on this concern, which was also mentioned in Councilmember Grace’s e-mail. He said the City could post the streets for “No Parking” for a certain number of hours per day. However, while neighbors would like the overflow parking issue addressed, they want to be able to park on their street. He said the City will do more enforcement and talk with METRO about the overflow parking problem.

Councilmember Fimia said the City may need to contact METRO with a letter from the Council and urge it to lease more space for Park and Rides.

Mr. Olander said the first step will be a staff discussion. If that is not productive, the Council may be asked for help. Staff will follow up with the individuals who called in and keep Council informed.

The Council also reviewed the list of events for the Boryeong sister city visit in May. Julie Modrzejewski, Assistant City Manager, said the City is estimating spending approximately $4,000 on the events.

Mayor Hansen declared the meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

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Joyce Nichols, Communications and Intergovernmental Relations Director