Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Alright. Good afternoon. I'd like to call the order of the infrastructure planning and sustainability committee meeting of 05/13/2026. Apologies for our late start. We've had a very important meeting that half of our committee had to be at, so apologies for that, but we'll jump right into it. Clerk, would you please call the roll? Council member Diaz?

Yes.

Council member Hines?

Here.

Vice chair Scalgae?

Here.

And chair Walker? Here.

Alright. Moving on to public comment. Clerk, will

you please read? To request to speak during public comment for items on the agenda, please sign up in the front of the room if you've not done so already. Speaking virtually, please press the raise hand button near the bottom of the Zoom window or star nine on your phone. Your name or the last four digits of your phone number will be called out when it is your turn

to speak. Great. Thank you. Anna, does anyone sign up to

speak virtually or in person? What person?

Oh, she's sending in. Oh. Sorry.

No. No worries. So none none online? Okay. We'll go ahead and close comments. Not for now. Okay. So when you are called, please state your name for the record. You have two minutes to make your remarks. Please be mindful of the time frame. Anna, I will turn it over you to you to call on those who have signed in.

Oh, you put your hand back down. Do you still wanna speak?

No. Sorry. We're just being a bit glitchy here. Okay. We'll go ahead and close public comment and move on to our briefing items. Our first item is the register of historic places nomination for North Union Avenue, Greenway. And this is a not just an informational. It there is a motion being asked of us at the end of the presentation, so just to keep that in mind. And that would be a motion to move to the full council for consideration. With that, I would like to call Ruben McKnight from Planning and Development Services for the presentation.

Thank you, chair, meeting members. I'm Ruben McKnight, Planning and Development Services. I'm city assistant preservation officer. And today, I'm here to go over the nomination to of North Union Avenue, Greenway, which was raised in the Landmark's commission. This will be a request for resolution according to council.

And I'm gonna present the Landmark's recommendation and findings for adding this to register, noting that the commission has made a recommendation based on its criteria code for inclusion with this on the tomorrow registered store places and staff support set. That recommendation. I'll go a little bit into the nominations specifics itself and some of the discussion items on that. So, roughly, if you're not not familiar with the area, this is a North Union Avenue. It's about 18 blocks running along the median.

It's a planted median from about North 9th Street up to North 30th Street. There's a couple of different sections beside the different characteristics. This nomination includes only the median itself, not any furniture, trees, or other elements, and this is contained entirely within the public right. But this is one of the reasons why we're bringing this committee. It's a little different than a typical landmarks nomination, which are usually in private property involving a building typically. And so this is this is a slightly different type of nomination.

I'm supposed to be pointing this in certain direction.

Oops. Sorry. There we go. So the the story of of the the Union Avenue Greenway or Union starts back in the the the eighteen eighties with and is associated with the development of the North End, specifically with the first of the a the Tacoma in Lake City railroad upgrade and the planning of of the North End. This is a really familiar civic features that populate the community since the early nineteen hundreds, including high school region.

You can see there some of the earlier photos, like 1947. Now you can see the the median scripts running along there. It's also associated with and part of the University of Saint Louis campus development over the years. So on March 11, the Landmarks Commission voted to make a recommendation to the city council adding this to the town register of historic places. There was a hearing that was conducted on February 25.

We had quite a few comments on this, 59 comments on nearly all of them were in support of the on the nomination. We just had one that was expecting some concern about the impacts of this historic designation upon our housing supply and our housing policies. The environmental environmental services and public works also shared concerns with with operations future development in the area, including things like pedestrian and, crossings, and other road work and storm water as well. I think that in the packet for the for the committee, there was a memo from those departments outlining some of those some of those concerns. And the the Landmarks Commission incorporated those into the recommendation.

Basically, in the in the in the next staff memo to for this committee, really, the essence of it is to try to accommodate the operational needs of the city departments who are affected by this same time, our recognizance and placing on register. And so you'll see that the Landmarks Commission has recommended that there'll be certain review assumptions for work such as maintenance, certainly, 88 work separate utilities, but that really the major changes to the landscaping and configuration should be a good file. This is similar in a lot of ways to other public facilities we have on the historic register. Although it's not right away, we have Park, and Park, which we had in this this last year to the historic register. And there's a number of other public type designations.

School district, for example, to try to incorporate those operational needs all at the same time, protecting issues. The the equity, the sustainability analysis on this, this is city right of way. This has been traditionally used as a as a desired path or walking path by the public, and that's called Golden State over the years, not formally. According to the equity index, this is a high opportunity area. It's very high to moderate on most of

the measured categories we have in

the equity map. This historic designation would not have a direct effect on the city's other strategic efforts. However, it is, as I mentioned, open to all access. And so in the just regarding sort of equity and accessibility, the recommendations specifically exempts ADA explanations of second and third safety from by the commissioner for alterations in this kind of risk. Regarding outreach, nomination was received from was the the primary author on this.

We did a notice of 500 foot radius to property owners and taxpayers and occupants with along the affected corridor and advertised it for our requirements for the public notice. The many of the comments, I would say, noted the value of the open space and history that it does have public use in these neighborhoods. And as I mentioned, that there were concerns internally with the city about impacts to future improvements in maintenance. But the timing was during the Landmark's discussion, it was noted there was no projects planned effective by this destination. And I'm sure there's people here who these are in fact.

They probably mentioned those. So where we're at, so the Landmark's Commission did its first review of this back in January in February. In March, the findings recommendations were adopted by the by the commission, and they're here here today, and then to be determined as a city council consideration. And I think that the in terms of the action, I'm gonna talk a little bit about this because this is a little bit unusual. The what we are requesting or asking for is the branch of the commission recommendation of the sort.

The each nomination that goes to city council has two pieces really that that are part of the designated resolution. There's the component that describes the product of the property and the location, and then there's a section which describes the controls subject to the commission fee protection. If you've seen that in those resolutions before, there'll be the property description and controls sections, second part of the And so there are alternatives to this. The the council may modify those things that are within the landmark solution's purview if it sees fit, or we could certainly, we'd love to have a recommendation from us to to develop as well. And, of course, the the if the committee does not feel this is something should be added to the service, you know, the.

I think that concludes my Okay. My remarks. And that's all you have. I'm sure there

are some. Thank you.

Great. Thank you. I'm gonna I guess I'll just open it up for questions. Councilmember Diaz, councilmember Stalge, I'm not sure if you're in a position

to ask We need just a couple of minutes.

Yeah. Okay. Great. We will start in the room then. Councilmember Hines, do wanna start?

Mhmm. You ready? Okay. Am. Okay.

First question, just as we're looking, Cambridge Street South is part of this because there's my actually. Most of the property units we're thinking from North Bank through north.

So the the University of New York, it did was part of the the notice that you just told me that I don't think there's any sort of opposition concern at least not.

So just to for my own thinking. Right? So what we are talking about, right, is that it's it's not the trees you're historic. It's the historic nature of the the larger media that is tree lot. It's characteristic of it. It's that relate. I guess that

That's that's a that's a that's a great question. It's actually something that was part of the landmarks commission's discussion and certainly heard from the public comments too. Although the median is tree, the the trees themselves are supposed to be part of the. So the the maintenance of those trees would forward would follow the practices that we have for.

And just as a reminder, so as I'm reading through the recommendations. Right? So, basically, if Public Works Environmental Services had things they want to do within this area, right, that would here's a list of exemptions here where, I guess, where it wouldn't go with the Landmark's Information Commission. But changes to plan and landscape configuration, including a large increase for for the medians, that would go back to landmarks. That's correct. That's that's the recommendations.

We're.

Similar to historic buildings, doesn't mean I can't do anything with my property. Just get a little level oversight that comes from the commission to do that and maintain its name for the character of.

That's correct. And the the Landmarks Commission so so it doesn't mean you can't do it. And I'll say that the, you know, for what it's worth, the Landmarks Commission. There's there's a certain amount of the historic standards that we we share with project managers forward on. And but it doesn't mean you can't do the changes.

It means there is a there's a. And and so, for example, I mean, we have a problem. Many, many projects involving public facilities, and also put through that certain assumptions. We try to not claw back with that design review process, minor reviews, and things like that. And in this particular case, a set of exemptions, Landmarks Commission for any means intended to allow those things to. You know, either they're required by law or they would be. But changing the the the overall plan has the the sort of the, you know, essential character would be something that.

Makes sense to me. So my my son and I were, like, we're in Portland two weeks ago, a few weeks ago from Asselgate. We walked through the park blocks, which is kind of a story here. And she made the tables, passed them forward, and trail and box or box area. So it's very similar to this, but different. So I guess my question would be if a councilor Sure. Decided they wanted the trail down the. But I think North 21st or North Oregon is why or put some big expenses in there. Is that something that would have to go back to Landmark's Preservation Commission to change in the character of the because I think what we're saying is it's kind of historic park like area that I can make an

argument for the trail

and pivot tables fit

into that character, but I just put that essentially, I would have to go back to commission that's proposed by someone. I'm not proposing it right now. Yes. No.

As I as I see it, no. I think that that would be just a. The the you know, and perhaps there's there might be some clarification that could be answered. But, really, we're talking about major changes to the moment this evening. And and, you know, if you're being, know, cutting too.

Yeah. Or eliminating entirely, then that would be something that we definitely I think that the probably the one thing during conversations that came up that hasn't been explicitly really discussed, but is is talked about it a little bit in the city memo responses and probably features from our water management that may require some. That's where something can be installed. I'm I have to sit on my field, so I speculate too much. But but, again, that would be something that, you know, as current awarded, a landmark commission we do apply, and would be an additional step for project design.

That's the most kind of in my mind, I think, with what's been recognized by from the Antwerp's preservation commission about the exemptions. I think that makes a lot of sense. I think it addresses most of the concerns I think my question that remains this lands landscaping configuration, does that mean I remove a tree here? Now I can turn a tree right back in that same spot. I mean, is is that the granular level that we're looking at here, or is that still undefined, something that could be defined?

Well, it certainly probably could be defined a little further. I think that the intent here is the individual trees and things like that. And she's gonna be interested in or who they should be. They and we have we have a number of forestry. And so, really, the the now if you're talking about, like, wholesale Yeah. That that's probably different. It's it's like treating maintenance. You got it on the tree for some reason. And

I imagine a major work we have a landscape plan, that that was to go back to. It. Makes sense.

That yeah. Thank you. That that's actually on that's that reminds me on this this. So for example, the the back end actually, I'm losing the dates now. I wanna say, like, right

around the 2010, 2012, something like that.

Parks Tacoma, then Metro Parks engaged in a master planning process for for their right work. And so the individual, like, sort of project areas would find as a part of that master plan was sort of conceptual, which Landmark's commission then viewed, approved. And then when each of the individual component pieces came in, like, sort of the design general together, they came back to Landmarks Commission to discuss it with the the the fact that the project was going to be there, and this was generally what's gonna happen. So it's it's more of a

to find the details.

So that involved in the gray part and sunglasses will go to the. And and so and that's really what it is. It's just it's it's the same plan that you probably have to adopt to find your capital. Something similar to that. And so that's an example of this portion.

I think Red Park's a good example because just because there wasn't a straight part available, that's a big way you can straight part today. So I I I think you answered most I think this has answered most of my question. Think they did a good job of kind of navigating some of, I think, the issues that came up during public comment process.

Need to

stop chatting. My my colleagues have an opportunity to say that with you.

You got some overhead. You got some?

Just

trying to formulate my question. I think you might have covered this, but I actually have to record. The audio is a little bit under watery, and I

can get mic to

there. Just for maybe future tech. Thanks. But my I guess my question, I think, was addressed was if in the future folks want to do something that has nothing to do with the trees but more than vegetation, like, I'm thinking about if folks wanted to do, like, more native plants that, like, work with pollinators or something like that, that kind of thing would all just go before the the committee, and then they would be able community members would be able to have in front of what that looks like even if it wasn't how it was historically

That's correct. Outlined.

Great. So then so

I feel like I

heard that answer. Just wanted to articulate

how do we care for the bees

in the future

if that's the thing people wanna do. So, you know, as it is now, it's it's primarily it's it's grass and trees and things like that. If there was a a landscaping plan to to sort of that and there was a planting plan on that, that would be something that the commission would review with and and have have input on. And then and, you know, it's a public design process too, so we we can't get public comment on that as well. And so, you know, it's also, I guess, in some ways, small opportunity when you're doing you're doing public projects to to have some healthy engagement.

Sure. Thank you.

Good. Yeah. Yeah. Nice chair. Thank you. Can you come back to the map that

you shared? Had a hard time seeing. And I did have a also have a hard time hearing you just just to let, you all know. Yes. Okay. So the question I have in my head, it might be something similar to what maybe that's what Mahindra said is, What is the problem we're trying to solve, and is this the right tool to solve? This kind of the set of thoughts that

I have in my head.

Is there a way you can answer that for me anyway? Just a second. Like

So I guess I would say and there's probably others, you know, like, we can speak a little better to this as denominators. Right? This is on you know, this is something we received this in the Landmark's Commission evaluated according to the criteria. So so not with a particular problem in mind necessarily. However, I think that the if I were to say, you know, state sort of a I don't wanna say a problem, but maybe a a circumstance, you know, from my perspective.

It's that you have what is a fairly unique configuration of the of the street area that has some meaning to the the residents in the area and and to other public users. And so I can presume anyways that there's the nomination comes with some desirables to have recognition for how this space came to be and how it's been used in the past and then have some mechanism to ensure that there's some public process for major changes to and and, you know, opportunity for people to to be aware of of, you know, future projects and to perhaps have some input on them. And and so I think that at this point, like I said in presentation, for the for the audio and also for the size of those aerial maps. I mean, if you're a little red green deficient like I am, those little boxes are hard to see too. So but the the I think the the the intent is really that, And and that's, you know, part of what the the historic registers for.

You know, the the there's not a, as far as I know, anyways, a capital project in the offering right now that that folks are reacting to. It's really the you know, for future future changes to clear on. There's a there's a step that that needs to be taken

to But this would affect more than just public works. Correct? Because Environment sources. And adjacent property owners? That was put in as an exemption. Did I miss that one? Like, how would it not affect them? I mean, adjacent property owners are responsible for maintenance of the right of way. Right? How does that

apply? Because this is only It doesn't

It's just the median.

Yes. Mhmm. It's not I'll

I'll I'll just just for for sort of record too. It's it's just the median fully contained within the right of way. Doesn't include any street services or any, you know, any of the road that or anything like that. It's just the the, you know, elongated avoids in the middle of the room. Yes. I

guess my concern or maybe what I haven't understood fully is is there another way to do the same thing that doesn't involve, like, all of this? Like, what's the whole I don't know if there's any plans. I don't think there's any plan of getting rid of the median. Right? I know we need to have some flexibility in our ability to do modifications across. Are we just adding a layer of bureaucracy to add a layer

of bureaucracy?

Like, what are we like, I'm I just don't understand really what the problem is and what we have you know, what the reason would be to to Sure.

That that that's that's that's a fair point. I mean, the, you know, the the if you if you think of, you know, the historic design process is just another layer you go through, then certainly, you know, that is that represents, you know, either an obstacle or or a little more time or expense. But I think for you know, it doesn't exist. The historic register design process doesn't exist just for some sake. It it it it exists for for protection and sort of stewardship of of historic assets going forward.

And and so, you know, we don't we might not know what happens tomorrow, but, you know, fifty years from now or twenty five years from now, maybe. You're also correct, and I think this is important to acknowledge, and the Landmarks Commission certainly did, is that this is also city right away. Inside the city right away, there's lots of things that are required. There's lots of things the city can do, and there's and there it's valuable, right, because you don't wanna give it up or encumbered, you know, and and decrease your flexibility to provide services utilities, things like that, transportation, whatever. And so so those are all those are all pieces of it.

So, you know, from my perspective, I think that the the landmarks commission recommendation is that it meets the criteria, you know, in the code for historic designation. They have the common record that that that supports that, you know, that was a pretty good show into the Landmark's commission. And so the recommendation tries to balance out the the, you know, operational impacts going forward with the with the public support and desire to recognize this and finding that it meets our criteria. So but but it's certainly I think we could argue other ways and or, you know, it's it's not threatened. And I guess, also, I I'd say that I prefer to have things put on the register when there's not imminent threat to them.

It's sort of that's, you know, crisis decision making never Sure. I mean,

that makes sense, but it also seems like we put so many exceptions in it. It's no longer the actual original kind of the like, I'm I'm just wondering, is there a different way of accomplishing the same thing, right, That still gives us the flexibility that we need and whether we really need to you know, I I would argue that, you know, maybe what we really want is a world in which the neighboring neighbors over there instead of just the commission are are the ones that should be consulted on changes to that. Right? I don't know. But they wouldn't, right, in this world. It'd just be the Landmarks Commission would would be the reviewers. Right?

Yeah. Certainly. I mean, there's I'm sure there's other ways to to to manage public open space, you know, or I mean, we have the tools. I'm sure, you know, to do certain things that are a little different in certain regulations. And and so, I I mean, I'd be happy to to to look into that a little more, contact the corporate staff, and see if there's other options that answer these needs. But this is really I'm here just filling my.

So for me right now, I don't know if we have to make a decision today. That would be a question for the chair. Do we have to make a recommendation today, or can we defer that to a future meeting?

We don't. We have many options. We have the language in front of us to concur with landmarks and send it to the council. We could send it to the council without concurring and just ask the council to consider it. I believe we're not under any time constraint, so we could just ask for it to come back to IPS to discuss again if we wanted to spend the time in this committee. Is that that last one? I just wanna double check. We're not under a time constraint.

So for me, what I would like more time to kinda consider is, are there other tools that are that are out there that can kinda accomplish the same thing? Because one of our options is also just to have an alternate.

Right? Mhmm.

Yeah. Okay.

Because I do I mean, obviously, there's a lot of community that has brought this up, so there's some there should be something we have to consider here. Right? I'm just not, at this point, ready to make a decision. Do I agree with the exact recommendation? Because I feel like I would like to explore the option of is there is there, like, alternatives that can kinda do the same thing, give us flexibility, still give community input? And maybe the answer is no. Maybe the answer is yes. Maybe, you know, it's in between. That's what I kind of prefer. Mhmm.

And I think the question for us is, can we set that council date far enough in the future to give us time to do that research, or do we need to do it here as part of this committee? So that's just for for that.

No. My flailing. That was actually, what I was gonna say is I actually if the vice chair is not comfortable making the motion, I'm comfortable making the motion and then just letting the time between when it leaves this committee to when it comes before full council be the time that more options are given simply to let us kind of cons some of our committee agenda time in case we crunch the rest of the year. K.

I have a few questions before we get to motion options if we can so think on those things. I think I had some similar questions about kind of what the role of the the whole thing is, and I think you guys all discussed that at length. I think my main concern is what precedent we're setting for historic preservation of right of way and, like, could we could someone come in and put our vibe on a historic registry? Because, I mean, it's gonna be pretty old here. Mhmm.

And it certainly has had an impact on I didn't you know, I don't know all the language. Maybe that's an extreme example, but maybe I don't know. I I I guess I think that the my ultimate feeling is like, gosh. I wish every neighborhood had a greenway down the middle of it. And so I'd love to spend my time on that rather than just holding on to this one because I don't think there is a plan to get rid of this one.

I do appreciate all of the I do think Landmark's answered a lot of the questions that I had in terms of exceptions, you know, I'm gonna put in an ADA ramp. Good. I'm glad that we don't have to go through. Council member Hines asked about the trail. I think you set this up too as some of the historic the the history of this area is focused on bicycles. But right now, the bicycle has not the bicycle lane has nothing to do with the median. So what if we did put a trail down the middle? And in theory, landmarks would say yes. Again, then is this really necessary? So I think I have similar questions to my colleagues that I think are answerable, and I think we can kinda think through.

I think my biggest concern really is the precedent piece of it and what other places could be requested after this. Thank you for reminding us that Wright Park and WAP tour on there. I do think that that that made a difference for me because those are in open spaces, so I appreciate those. So those are my comments, I guess. I guess none of them were questions.

The so the options in front of us are to to move forward with concurrence of landmark preservation recommendations. It sounds like none of us are quite there yet. We also can move this to the full council, and we could specifically have language in there, like, at least a month or at least six weeks or something like that to give ourselves time. Or we could not make a motion and well, we can make a motion to bring it back here to IPS if there's more information. I'm not sure that there's information that we would get at this committee that would be helpful.

I think I agree with you, council member Diaz, that I think we need some time and some digging, but maybe not more discussion at the committee level. But I'm happy to entertain that too, or we could what if we do nothing, what have you So maybe It's maybe not a good option, but we can only

So it's is it as I understand it, the the denomination process or the relationship between Landmark's commission recommendations that you can also and and so if there's if there's no action that comes out of this committee, then staff will file the request resolution. We will note that it was before IPS and went through with that recommendation. Okay. And then probably characterize some of the discussion Sure. As well.

So I think it would be in our best interest to move something forward with some I Move the commentary.

You want that time frame to

Yeah.

Yeah. Okay.

Thoughts, comments from council members before we do a motion? I think if I had a question before, it was what is a comfortable time frame, I guess, to move on into councilor Schaller maybe there.

So

how much time do we need to explore other options if we're trying to make a motion that is timed out or if we're not. I don't know.

Is there a staff answer to that starting there? I'm trying to trying to, like,

game this out of my head. So I think that that that I guess my my my homework would be to to talk to colleagues in the city to find out sort of how we, you know, might manage other public spaces like this, particularly with regard to the right of way. I'm sure there's some real property services. There's probably quite a few thoughts on something like this. But and so, you know, I can I can I can probably come back and and and come back to this? Is that the idea? Or take consult

Take consult. Yeah. So

we I mean, we have we have, you know,

more or less, like, you know, about three weeks to a month of counseling planning and these are fine on things. So but everyone have the information again before I find, you know, finalize paperwork. I probably probably

I'm just

trying to help you make terms so so we're

We had three times just a patchy time for you or no? So three

months feels comfortable for you, sounds like?

Just to make sure we we Yeah. Answer everything because we also have summer.

Mhmm. That's okay.

So what I told my students to decide it

was due three months from now, they work on it the day before it

was due. Right? So I do we think three months is gonna be us using that time to dive into the policy and analyze what the the impacts are?

Are you calling me your student? Or No. I think that's I can just say I just it it

just I I'll guess that may be

I am more than happy

to concur with the Landmark Preservation Commission. Right? I guess, we do my I think most of the conservative raises of interest, like, they put together, and they apply the code to make sense. I also understand that, you know, we wanna make whether this is the right tool for to achieve the goal or not. I'm happy to engage with the competition. But I don't know if it's another exemption we wanna build into this, then how what is that exemption? What is it what what exemption do we want to be built into this? If it's, you know, less oversight, which is the issue, what would that be? I I don't know if unless we're gonna have this conversation, you know, offline. I don't know if extending the timeline before we take action on council's actually gonna be that either or not.

So that would be my thought. I'm happy to make a motion to concur with my condition, have you all vote me down, and then we can do something else. But I just I think for me, I've read through it, and I I don't know if there's concern. I I get what the chair is saying about precedent setting, but it is pretty unique. I mean, I've been told my whole life, and I I don't know too many other places that are like that anywhere. I mean, if there was one on the East Side of the South End, I'd be happy to talk to

those neighbors who don't have

the historic register too. But I just this one is, like, pretty unique in many ways. And the fact that it's not the trees that are being historic, it's just the overall appeal. I I the one other one that's pops in my mind as a as a maybe not a good example, but think of North 21st, right, where we did have a conversation about whether or not you know, that's not a story, but that conversation of that is gonna be a major redesign. It has it was built around power lines came through in 1924.

We gave it because she's on station because she's tied to a power project. And the GPU just decided, like, we're gonna we're gonna figure this thing in a way they enjoy. Right? And so I do think with this instance, what is, like, the risk if the environmental services showing up one day and say, we're gonna use this for a, you know, much of retention ponds for storm water for the North End. And then, you know, do we want the public having oversight on that or not, or do we want that just to be a decision made by the environmental services, the public input, or at least in this process?

I don't know. So those are kind of

the questions I'm. I I'm fine with

moving forward full council for a part of the conversation, working with

my colleagues about kinda figuring out what this looks like. But I think the planning commission or sorry. Landmark preservation commission did their due diligence on on this summary.

Great. Thank you, council member Hines. And I would say just and I'll turn it to you, vice chair, to make a motion that you feel good about. But I think Ruben, given the amount of time it's taking us to wrap our heads around it as one on ones with the rest of the council before it comes to full council would be really, really helpful. Pastor, would you like to make the motion?

I would like to make a motion at some time. Mhmm. It is just to give us time to dot our eyes, cross our keys, get some just just get information from other departments, like real property services and whatnot, just to understand what full impacts are, what alternatives actually do exist. I appreciate what what Landmarks has done, and I think this is important for us to consider it with no real, you know, real deadline and and urgency on the exact timeline over here. I think I just wanna be more due diligence.

So do I just add words to say, you know, no less than

I would say we decided we're not gonna concur with landmark preservation recommendation. So I would move to Recommend. Recommend consideration for the North Union Avenue Greenway. You can include all that, but full council for consideration, no earlier than

Okay. I moved to whoops. I just forgot what we're gonna say. We'll just send the recommendation of the landmark's transformation commission for consideration of the North Union Avenue Greenway for inclusion on the Tacoma registered historic places and forward to the city council for consideration no less than two months from

now. Second. Been moved

and seconded. Any final questions or comments?

As well. I think I have votes. I'm gonna vote no because I tend to prefer flavor.

It was

recently mentioned. So

Any other comments? You said two months. Right? Yeah. Clarify what I seconded. In my mind, just in thinking through the little bit of math that Ruben gave us, I think that gives you about a month to do some research before you file paperwork to get before the council. I think that seems fine to me. I like, Heinz would be comfortable with it just going forward anyway, but I'm also comfortable in Sweden. So it's either him or that.

Alright. Well, it's been moved and seconded. All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye. Those

opposed, signify by saying nay. No. Alright. The motion carries. Thank you, Ruben. Appreciate it. Alright. Our next agenda item is an informational briefing. Our public works capital improvement program update, and we have many folks here, Darius Thompson, Brian, Henry, and maybe others come on now. Public works team. Laura, it's yours.

Alright.

Mr. Chair, state of committee members, my name is Mark Emmerich,

and I'm the head of

the division manager of the. To my left, I have Brian,

who is the assistant

division manager of our engineering design group. And to his left, I have Darius Thompson, who is the assistant division manager of our project delivery group. And we're here today to present Public Works capital improvement program update. And if you can go to the next slide, please. An overview of this presentation consists of our project portfolio, of our summary of our funding sources for those projects, highlights of the the projects that are currently in design, highlights of projects that we've completed or are currently in construction, and then our project reporting, and then finally, our outreach and community engagement.

So with that, I'd like to hand it over to Darius Thompson. If you could please go to the next slide. Sorry.

That's Zoom.

Thank you for your tweaking ability over

here. So

starting off, so a couple of engineers currently manages more than 75 improvement capital improvement projects totaling 316,000,000.

No. Yeah?

I'm hungry.

Oh, okay. Oh, I thought it's not. No. I'm

sorry. I'm sorry. Different problems. Okay.

This portfolio includes projects in planning, designs, library, construction, closeout, and other slash on hold. So some of the examples of projects in it, you know, planning is, like, related projects, e 64 phase three, and also a partnership project with TPU on South 23rd Street. Of those 30 active projects, 25 of them are federally funded, demonstrating the compartment's success in securing outside federal and state funding. Examples of projects that are on hold, just to give you an idea, things like Pullen Avenue free access, making the avenue streets good, and also sharing that in phase two. Staff also has has applied for seven additional grants totaling approximately 12,000,000 to support future infrastructure investments.

In few, we're gonna apply for a few more towards the end of the year to summarize grant activities. Next slide. So getting to our funding sources. Slide here is an overview of the funding sources supporting a pretty much the capital improvement project portfolio, which, like I said earlier, is about 316,000,000,000. One of the key takeaways nearly half of program funding of approximately 45% or 142,000,000 comes from federal state banks, which we do really, really good, great job of of that.

Street initiative accounts for about 16.5 of the funding totaling roughly 52,000,000. These local locally approved funds continue to play a crucial role in delivering neighborhood, extreme improvements, and grand match opportunities. Soundtragic represents another significant portion of the portfolio at approximately 18.7% or even 59,300,000,000. These funds will be primarily used in our South Dakota Way neighborhood in our in near the Tacoma. Not not. Sorry. Local so as local,

yeah, local funding sources include some of

our weak dollars, of the appeal tax and general funds, which makes up about 9.6 of the overall portfolio totaling about $330,400,000. These open dollars are often essential for grant matching opportunities and supporting probably that may not qualify for outside funding. One other category we have, the partnership with Tacoma Utilities and Environmental Services, which contributes about 6.3% or approximately 20,000,000. These partnerships allow the city to coordinate infrastructure improvements and reduce construction impacts. In some cases, public works engineering, we manage the project committee for and some power projects, pretty much from from the initiation all the way to close out.

The remaining 3.9 comes from miscellaneous funds also. Local improvement district, Pierce Transit, Tonle Parks, public board board loans, and developers contribution. Overall, this diversified funding allowed the city

to leverage local investments to secure outside

funding and deliver a large number of infrastructure projects that would otherwise be possible using, you know, local dollar. It's important to note that many of our funding sources come with strict timelines, reporting requirements, and grant applications obligations which require coordination and project within the management of my staff, which which could be kind of difficult sometimes with staffing changes at the level and as well. So we work very, very well with them. We have quarterly meetings. We have number meetings, and we are pretty much meeting with them, you know, each and every each and every project for, you know, hours.

Now I'll turn it over to Brian to kinda cover up the next couple of slides highlighting some of our design, construction, and completed projects.

Thanks, Darius. Yeah. These next few side slides, we'll spend some time getting into some of the specific projects that we're working on. Slide is is highlighting projects that we currently haven't designed. Public Works Engineering is currently designing 30 projects.

25 of those are grant funded projects. And just to highlight a few of the the bigger projects that we have right now, the I 5 crossing study is looking at all I 5 crossings where, you know, we have streets that are crossing all these I 5 bridges and finding ways to make those accessible and multimodal. The ADA transition plan is looking at our city public infrastructure and and public right of way, and, you know, developing a transition plan to make those fully accessible in the future. As Darius mentioned, the sound transit access improvements, primarily focused around the South Tacoma station. So that is the $42,000,000 bucket right now that's allocated to five projects.

Shuster Parkway Trail, 3% IPS not

too long ago,

developing a general connection with Forest Street, which I believe. Fishingworth Memorial Bridge is a replacement of the final four segments. The Fishingworth Memorial Bridge. And the Puyall Ave Complete Streets project, which is really redefining what Piola Ave can look like, and we're working very closely with Soundtech and all the

work that there is in

that area as well.

This next slide is gonna talk about projects that we currently have in construction right now. We are constructing 15 capital improvement projects that are, like, actively in construction right now. As many of you may know, this past couple weeks has been a large paving season for a bunch of our projects. So we recently just paved paved out five projects, Sheridan Ave, Portland 56 To 64th, Waterditch Trail Phase 3 B, East Roosevelt, and portions of package 30 have all been completely paved. We've also got six 6th Ave pedestrian safety improvements.

Intersection of sixteenth grade is scheduled to be, Brandon Overlake within the next week. So I believe the paving is scheduled for next Monday. And our 6th Ave and 19th South 19th Street rail crossing, We just met out there with the NSF to get a schedule from them on when they're gonna complete their scope of work so we can complete that project. And we anticipate that to be done here in

the next couple of months.

So, yeah, we have a lot of projects that are currently in construction, and quite a few of these are also grant funded projects as well. So the the final slide here will just be highlighting our completed projects. As you can see, a lot of these projects that have been completed, again, highlighting our our grants and leveraging for grant funding and the success that we have there. We've done ribbon cuttings for quite a few of these projects already. I know that Jay Street, we had a public event.

We're kind of a bike ride about to open that project. E sixty fourth, we had a ribbon cutting. Prairie Line Trail. We plan to have a ribbon cutting here once that is good to go. And then we've also done the Tacoma's northbound and southbound ramps and pedestrian accessibility District 10. So I'll turn it back over to Darius to Right.

So thank you, Brian. So, yeah, Project Important. All the works have been dedicated to continue the effort to improve transparency and public access to project information. So we bring these two websites here. One both of those upfront floor facing to the public.

So on our ..gov and then also on our CIP, we have a QR code that we that you have can have access to kind of, you know, look at the districts, look at the projects, kind of give you the status, look at the product. And Everyone wanted to know exactly why Answer a lot of questions. And I think our director Barbara team doing a good job of using this tool as a way of answering questions that they may have as well. Next slide. And last but not least, our outreach and community engagement.

Our work just continues to prioritize our community engagement, outreach and engagement through product development and and construction. So some of the outreach efforts includes, you know, attending council meetings, community meetings like this one, mail in postcards, notifications. We also attend neighborhood meetings, like I mentioned earlier, project website, email updates. So and then sorry. Not to mention the company outreach events and social media communication, which, you know, we've been working on as a director's office do that really heavy.

We lately, trying to just get all of our information out there to to. So with that, we are focused on early and ongoing engagement, which help improve the project outcome and get the docs in partnership, which that's what we're here for here to be public service and make sure that we're taking care of the community with our projects. So believe that was the last slide. So in closing, we'll get some questions you have where we went through a lot in this time frame. I'm kinda excited for this free interest because I think, you know, a lot of people don't know exactly what engineering group and the project to maybe design and what we do with public works.

But as you can see, we're managing a lot. We have a lot on our plate, and I just I just this is why I like coming to to work a lot of the time is to to be around these problems and. It's calm me. It's calm.

I see you know, you see everybody go through.

Mhmm. We see it all the time. So appreciate that. You I didn't can answer answer any any

questions. Questions. Great. Thank you. Yeah. You know, would you mind bringing the slides up again? Sorry. We go back to the website page. It's, like, do it from the end or something. Okay. So I love this page. There's so much information on it. And anytime I ask any public work staff about a project, they

just send me a link

to this page, and then I go, shoot it on that. But I can't find a project unless I know what it's called. And if I'm in a neighborhood and I'm just, hey. What are they doing over there? How would I search this use the search function? Can you, like, put in a cross street? Or what is the best way to use those top bars if you just see something happening in your neighborhood? Right. So I

would probably suggest using the CIP. Yeah. So you can go go on there, and you can pretty much pinpoint exactly where you're located, and then click click on the on the actual I think it's either green, blue, or whatever it's the demarking is, and then it'll pop up. Okay. So the schedule, the budget, and things like that. So we have our asset management group that's been managing these sites, and our management are responsible for weekly and sometimes weekly. We're just getting on the. We wanna make sure the transparency there. We we have a lot going on. A lot of moving pieces.

CIT is capital approved. Okay. And so if I'm on the Citi page Mhmm. And I wanna see the map, and I've never heard of Arc, g I s, or g dot I s, which obviously I've heard of, but I don't actually know how it works. Like, a member of the public will be able to find that link somewhere and and figure out how to look at a map.

Right. So they'll

I got you.

Okay. Alright. I was gonna say Sorry. Show me

how to look.

The story.

Part of the page.

Okay. Yeah. So go so go back. Scroll

down.

I mean, I do think this is worth doing because Yeah. You guys have so much great information on there. I just want to be able to tell people how to find things. See

Uh-huh. Yeah.

There we go. That's the CIT map where you can

that's what Okay. Perfect.

It's the bottom screen. But then the top screen is kind of like our storyboards for as far as our higher profile projects. Yeah. Okay. Projects that the community really wants to see, we have that story going so that we got the upside, which is if you go back to the capital projects.

That's what I saying. It says.

And then there we go. So they now now you now you yes. That that site there, you can click in public works, and then you can pop populate some of the projects that we are currently that we will discuss in order to see. Yeah. And then there's a link. It goes there's a link to the other website as well to kind be able to talk to each other.

Awesome.

Thank you. And appreciate the time. Thank you. And I've been navigating that. Because I do think it's really important, and I know you all are out at the neighborhood councils and things. I think it's worth walking through that because Okay. It's such an awesome resource. I want people to use it. Can we have data on how many hits, views, and everything.

You know? Okay. And that's why, you know, I'm very I've tried to encourage them again to make sure they update because we don't think Okay.

Great. Thank you. Counsel, colleagues, what questions do we have?

None. But thank you for teaching us how to push. That's. Did I miss it? Because I have

a bone to pick with you, Brian. What did I do? East 34th wasn't up there. The bridge? No. Just East 34th from McKinley to L Street. Or was that East 38th. East 38th. East 38th and East 34th.

Is he good?

Didn't he's 34?

Yeah. He's 34.

You're the one that 34. Is? 88. Oh.

15. Yeah. Alright. Yes. You're right. Sorry.

Yeah. Was it. You're talking So

That's Yes.

It seems like yesterday.

And I was like, man, why did you have, like How does that that affects me, like, personally, because it's, like, right down the street. I did have a real question.

I dropped a ball.

Major Street for your house.

Not in front, but really close. Yeah.

And it was a street that really needed it for generations, quite frankly. Like, 34th was really I mean, East 34th and East 64th were terrible terrible for a really long time. And that's one where, you know, we have to do more than just repaving. We have to do a lot of stormwater management up there because that's the kind of capital investment we really need around the city, especially in areas that have been, you you know, generationally under resourced. The question I had was when you showed those numbers about the matching fund, which is phenomenal, what was the time period that that included? Like like

So those that that would include our entire portfolio. So those are projects that are already closed out, also projects that we are in planning. So it's it's I would say the time period, we have projects as

Is there everything that closed out about, like, last year or two? Yes. So when we

Typically, when I take

it off of our from our portfolio, it's gonna be a box, not closing letter. Okay. Except I just accept this letter from our direct office. Until then, I'll keep going to the in the portfolio because we're just actively working. May not be, you know, the the million dollar a month type, really, but it's at least 5,000 a year. Just trying to close things out. So that I would say the range of our portfolio is probably from $20.24, and then seeing it to, like, $20.30. Got a big executive. So those are that's how we kinda manage.

And the reason I'm asking is that that tells us what our capability is, but I know, you know, Jennifer came and talked about our our our our improvement plan, which is, you know, future looking Mhmm. Projects, and the need is far greater than than that. Right? Like, it's probably many orders of magnitude. Like, we've been able to leverage and invest 300,000,000 in whatever time period that is.

But if we could, we should probably spend probably 10 times that, honestly, in in in projects. So it's really important, and this is really genuine listening, how important it is to leverage dollars so we get the best bang for can spend. Everything is getting expenses. You know, I constantly hear from from from constituents, what are we doing to be efficient in government? And that was a really important slide to show how how efficient we're being in in Appreciate the the hard work, and and this is you know, that is a capability that we've developed in house.

And I think, from what I understand, we're better at it than most of our neighbors and and neighbors in this area, and it's something we should solve it. So thank you.

Good? Yeah. Alright. Council member, honey.

I have one question.

Very specific. One question.

Not when is my street from my house getting no. Get in line. Let's see, like, if that's how it works here. No. Can we one item on the agenda was the 80 ADA transition plan. You all wanna just talk a little bit more what that just mean? I'm just curious to know what that We're hoping

to getting a call I mean, at some point

Yeah. On our agenda.

But Maybe the club notes first.

So the ADA trust the city

has an ADA transition plan now. So they did. This will be another update of that ADA's self evaluation and transition plan. This one will be focused on public sorry, city infrastructure in the public right way. So we'll look primarily at our our and any barriers to accessibility, and we have a consultant on board take taking a look at that. So they'll be looking at barriers to accessibility in our public right way and then providing that self evaluation portion and also a transition plan that kind of highlights how Subi will kinda address those barriers.

Didn't know after the presentation. I would normally ask about the six and a half off IT's rail crossing improvements, and I think we're pretty much done, and I looked at the project page.

Yeah. That's really good.

Uh-huh. Like you said, we met with BMS. Just ask if we can We don't it's we should do some kind of celebration down there. And then finally get sand and those neighbors off the ground.

We'll think about that.

Okay. Otherwise, we'll make the presentation. Is there any house for Walker that drive down South 12th and then cut across 11. Think it looks like I have a project that's gonna be slowing down. Don't know about it.

It's like you're ready. Yeah. Ramira, you were saying what when are we getting the eighty eighth? It will be probably February 2000. Oh, okay. Okay. I think right now, they they just issued a

contract a contractor. It's sometime until

because I believe they will schedule to come in July. It will be I don't wanna come in July without having to be yes. I drive up something. So it's really we're hoping to February.

We can't be that kind of people.

We're actually, they're asking, something. They're status industry. Okay.

Great. Well, thank you all for the update. Very exciting work. And just to echo what councilmember said about really drowning from the rooftops, the leveraging those grants. You all just do such an amazing job. So thank you. I think

with transportation, you know, as well as your thoughts, we can have a good strategy.

Thank you. Thank you all. Alright.

We have one more very important update, and this is one that we will also be asked to forward to counsel for consideration. So get ready for that. And this item is our 2026 stormwater management demanding world update. Mika, Hop in.

Let's meet you. You there? Okay.

I'm gonna be for a loop on the left side. It's very excite it's good, I think. I think Our brains heated the shit. I think this is good. And Shauna Hanson from Environmental Services. Welcome. Yes. Go ahead. Happy be here. Okay. Well, I guess I'll start by also, I I did have.

Also,

And I'm sorry. Our new science division manager at the Massachusetts Center. The stormwater management manual, just as context, is updated every five years. So this is a a process that has happened before in Tacoma. And Mika Hopin is our stormwater management manual editor and project manager every time it's been updated for the past fifteen years. So she knows it forward and backwards now. So if there are any questions about stormwater management manual, Mika knows the answer. And I'm the stormwater management program for the city, so I'll be getting a little bit of the past time with the

I'll leave. Okay.

So this is a request for ordinance to adopt the updated stormwater management manual, and the city's stormwater management manual is updated to the equivalent of the Washington State Department of Ecology's stormwater management manual for Western Washington. And so today, we'll be reviewing some of the proposed manual revisions with you, and the staff recommends that this can be support the adoption of the manual and proposed code amendments to achieve equivalency with. So a little bit of a background. In Tacoma, we have a municipal separate storm sewer system

and a permit from

the Department of Ecology and the Clean Water Act for that. And so we have a public a public outreach campaign to remind everybody that the the storm system is separate from the sanitary sewer system. So I took home and we say, if it hits the ground, it hits the dam. You probably said that before. And the Tacoma has a stormwater management program, and I'm the coordinator for the program.

And it covers all of our departments. City departments have different responsibilities under the stormwater permit with ecology for implementation of our permit requirements. The majority of them are implemented under environmental services, stormwater utility. Like most of the ones here on the slide are talking about management of our storm sewer system, mapping of the system, maintenance of the system, expansion of the system, also the water quality monitoring that we do, the Via Fox Waterway, watershed planning, urban canopy protection is also a requirement under the stormwater permit now, and, also, a lot of business inspections. All those things are mostly under environmental services.

But planning and development services, it does one really, really important element of our stormwater management program, and that is the new and redevelopment plan review and inspections. And that is the main part of what the stormwater management manual covers. They have all the standards that were required for community development projects as well as the standard pollution source control requirements for ongoing businesses in the state. And so according to the city's permit with the Department of Ecology, we have a deadline for updating our solar management manual by July 1, And the SWIM provide for the new new development projects to meet the building permit requirements and reduce pollution from construction activities and also ongoing business operating. And so starting on July 1 then, all new redevelopment projects will be required to follow the updated design requirements in the manual and updates aligned then with Ecology's manual.

So the draft manual revisions are posted on our website as well as public comments and response to comments. And now, Mika, it's gonna talk a little bit about highlights of the proposed new improvements.

Alright. So there are certain requirements that we had to do, which will require additional treatment and control for

certain

types of projects, mostly redevelopment projects within the city. Had new standards. These are standard by Department of Ecology. All of them. There'll be additional stormwater treatment required for certain roads, certain parking areas, light rail projects, and fueling stations.

We have new requirements that are in place for planting and protecting trees. Additional stormwater mitigation, practices or PMPs were added, including channelized flow dispersion, infiltration swales, or ballasted sidewalks. These are new low impact development types of techniques that a development community can use on their projects. There's some new language that's been added to address PCBs, which is a chemical found in older buildings between 1915 and 1980. There's some microvisions associated with the code for consistency with the manual glossary definitions and changing some of

the definitions in our code to

make sure they match the manual, making sure the manual naming convention is correct in our code, and adding new restrictions for washings of buildings suspected of containing those PCBs, those typically held between

1950 and 1980.

So here's sort of the overall, schedules that we've been working on for the manual. We had our first comment period of March 2025. We submitted our draft manual to Ecology on time in July 2025. We just finished a, second public comment period and a CFA public notice period. Manuals of this type have to go through the process.

On May 9, which I think was last Saturday, there was a code update community workshop that talked about a lot of different codes, and there was some, information about the Straumacher Management Manual at that event. We are right now incorporating those final edits, and, we will be providing manual user training and code update training, probably in June. And the land goal will become effective 07/01/2026. So we recommend that you support the adoption of the 2026 swim and proposed code amendments to to help us achieve equivalency with the Ecology Stormwater Management framework for the proposed code amendments to full city council. And just a reminder that the SWIM update and code revisions are required to comply with our municipal stormwater permit.

Next steps. We are on the agenda for the June 2 council first reading, June 9 ordinance, second reading, and passage date. The ordinance will become effective June 22, and the swim will become effective 07/11/2026.

Do you have any questions? Great.

Thank you. What questions? Go ahead. Sounds good. So

all these updates are coming from department college. We make sure we're in compliance or or are there decisions we made when we're going beyond requirements?

The majority of them are associated with changes to ecology. So there's but we have one that I would say above and beyond is the tree recommendations is to add additional trees where feasible and where the code requires those trees. So we did have an additional that we called just to calculate its trees.

And that curve fits current in our our street revenue policy? Policy. Yeah. What's the phone?

Yeah. So it basically says, like, if the trees are required for TMC. I don't know the TMC. Okay. But it basically requires anyone that has to look at managing stormwater to also look at trees. I

only ask because I know that some of us have ongoing talks to developers and redevelopment folks, and stormwater is a component of that. There's only so much physical space, and I see by which you can mitigate, maintain stormwater. So I just it's helpful for me as someone who just asks questions saying we're following state guidance so that they don't say that somehow overreaching in certain capacity. Doesn't sound that way. It sounds like it's all in

the state itself. That makes it's a lot

easier for us.

Yes. And, also, Pierce County is also has a similar treatment for Tickleman, and so they have a manual as well that they had to update similarly for equivalency with ecology as well. So we're at about the same level as as.

Thank you. Thank you, council member. You could, when it comes to full council, either in the memo or in the slides, highlight the difference Yeah. Between that two. If it's just that one, I think that would be a question you'll get again. So I would love to see that.

Other questions?

Both asked

the same questions I was gonna ask.

Okay. Great. Copy.

Thank you. I will I I do have a follow-up question related to that, but I would like to look at it first. So I'll just check-in with you offline. Nothing that I'm worried about passing this through, but would love to just understand a little bit more. So with that, I will entertain a motion

that is listed in the agenda.

I move to forward the proposed amendments due to come on municipal code chapter 12.8 d to the full city council for consideration.

Second.

We move and seconded. Any final comments, questions? Alright. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion is declared adopted. Thank you both. Alright. Anna Lee, topics for upcoming meetings?

The next IPS meeting that would have been have been canceled. On June 10, you will be communicated to the planning commission, have a presentation on circumsigned structure citation by structure and the application process and. And then on June 24 wait. No. On June 24, then it's true mandate for updates, presentation on the South Dakota tree canopy enhancement and NPDS EPA permit on tribal and stormwater comprehensive plan.

And last meeting, you all requested more background on the Shuster Parkway Trail project. A memo on that is Great.

Thank you so much. Really quickly wanna highlight the letter letters we have received. So the committee received a letter from the Transportation Commission on Sound Transit Investment. This letter was included in the committee's materials and will be available to the public on Legisstar after the meeting. Any comments or questions on that letter from the committee? Oh. Yes. Council members at all.

I actually really appreciated reading that letter, and I had conversation with the chair that, Steve, I am just drawing

a blank on right

now. Summit.

Don't think the chair No. Chris Chris something.

I forget. I'm sorry.

Let me share.

But I did appreciate getting the letter and reviewing it, and I thought they made some really good points about, you know, the fact that we're supposed to do regional connectivity and not just local connectivity.

Great. Thank you. Since our last meeting, has anyone visited one of our committee's boards or commissions? Alright. Any other items of interest from the committee? Alright. I will entertain a motion to adjourn.

I move to adjourn.

Second. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye.