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Home My WebLink About08/04/2009 BREMERTON TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT REGULAR MEETING MINUTES VVednesday,August4,2009 The Regular Meeting of the Bremerton Transportation Benefit District (TBD) was called to order in the First Floor Meeting Chambers of the NORM DICKS GOVERNMENT CENTER, 345 6th Street, Bremerton, Washington, Wednesday, August 4, 2009, at approximately 5:00 PM, with Chair of the TBD Board Nick Wofford presiding. Board Members present were Will Maupin, Carol Arends, Dianne Robinson, Mike Shepherd, Roy Runyon, Adam Brockus, Cecil McConnell, and Brad Gehring. Also present were City Clerk Carol Etgen and Legislative Assistant Lori Smith. BUSINESS ITEM (1) - APPROVE MINUTES OF BREMERTON TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT (TBD) SPECIAL MEETING HELD ON JUNE 17.2009: The first item of business was to approve the meeting minutes from the Bremerton Transportation Benefit District Special Meeting held on June 17, 2009. There were no comments from the public or the Board Members. . . 5:02:50 M/S/C/U (Runyon/Brockus) Move to approve the Meeting Minutes of the Bremerton Transportation Benefit District (TBD) Special Meeting held on June 17, 2009. BUSINESS ITEM (2) - RESOLUTION NO. 002 OF THE BREMERTON TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT. PROVIDING FOR A BALLOT PROPOSITION TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS FOR THE NOVEMBER 3. 2009 GENERAL ELECTION AUTHORIZING A $30.00 ANNUAL VEHICLE FEE FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS: City Engineer Mike Mecham presented a PowerPoint@ presentation to provide a visual map of the Proposed Sidewalk Plan for 2010 to 2012 and 2013 to 2015. 5:09:34 Main Motion was made and seconded; then discussion by the Board was opened... Brad GehrinQ expressed concerns about the proposed fee increase and the disparity of the cost to motorcycles which have less of an impact on the roads than vehicles. Mr. Mecham responded that there is no provision in the ordinance for a lower cost or exemption on motorcycle tabs. Cecil McConnell asked how much revenue this proposed fee would generate. Mr. Mecham answered that for approximately 30,000 vehicles registered in Bremerton, the amount would be $900,000 per year. Adam Brockus asked what vehicles would be exempt from the fee. Ken BaQwell stated that per RCW 82.81.140 farm tractors and vehicles, non-highway vehicles, off road vehicles, pool trailers, rental vehicles, and snow mobiles would be exempt from license tab fees. Mr. Brockus then asked where the city receives money from for street projects. Mr. Mecham answered from the General Fund and the State gas tax. Roy Runyon asked what criteria was used to determine what areas would receive sidewalk improvements. Mr. Mecham pointed out that the top priority was to establish safe routes to schools. Mr. Runyon suggested that traffic volumes be considered if and when the road projects list is developed. Mike Shepherd asked if sidewalks were to be constructed on City properties, what was there now. Mr. Mecham replied yes, sidewalks would be constructed only on City properties, the City would maintain them; and currently there are drainage ditches or dirt shoulders being used for walking paths. Mr. BaQwell explained there was a City Sidewalk ordinance that addresses the additional questions asked by Mr. Shepherd but he did not have a copy of that ordinance available at this time. Page 1 of 3 Dianne Robinson asked why the City did not include the Anderson Cove area which is without sidewalks. Mr. Mecham answered that sidewalks were included in routes closer to schools and Anderson Cove was not located close to schools in that regard. Carol Arends said after trying to do some research on this subject, she had a difficult time finding the correct numbers for available funding; reiterated that she would only approve action to place this item on the ballot for a citizen vote; believed that sidewalks are not necessarily required to provide a "safe route to school"; and believed there are flaws in the proposal. Will Maupin agreed that it should be the County's responsibility to provide sidewalks for areas like Navy Yard City, but his main issue he wanted to address was not whether anyone was "for" or "against" increasing car tabs, but in finding a revenue source to replace funding that was lost because of previous initiatives; and recently spoke to a large number of citizens who agreed that they should get to vote on this issue whether or not they support the proposed fee. 5:38:52 Motion was made and discussion by Board Members continued... Ms. Robinson emphasized that she could not support the proposal because of the proposed fee being changed from $20 to $30, and because Anderson Cove was not included on the sidewalk improvement project list. Mr. Shepherd added that while campaigning, he learned that the majority of the citizens he spoke with have placed higher priority on putting food on the table, paying rent, and finding a job. Mr. McConnell asked if there has been a traffic study done on the streets that are proposed to be paved. Mr. Mecham answered that gas tax funding was directed previously to arterial street projects and the street rating was used to develop the project list; and added that to conduct studies would be very time consuming. Mr. Mecham added that the City can do street projects not included in the work plan but outlined in the Multi-Year Pavement Restoration Plan and the Non- Motorized Transportation Plan which provide all street segments eligible for repair; and stated that Public Works staff are willing to work with the Board to refine the work plan. Mr. Brockus stated that the Council has talked about how to find funding to improve streets for several years, and was concerned that if Council again continues this item until next February, the issue will not go to the citizens for their vote and the streets will only continue to deteriorate. Mr. Runvon reiterated that the board is not approving the work plan, only putting the fee issue on the ballot; and mentioned that previous citizen surveys clearly showed that streets are a priority. Mr. Maupin stated that the board's discussion regarding a work plan tonight is only preliminary; and believed that it would be a mistake to delay the decision by the voters for another year. Mr. GehrinQ commented that details can be worked out later .and that we need to get this process going. A Motion to 'Table" the issue was made, but City Clerk Carol Etaen corrected the Motion to "Continue': not 'Table" the issue... 05:51 :20 M/S/F (Robinson/Shepherd) Motion to "Continue" the item per this discussion to the next regular meeting of the Transportation Benefit District on Tuesday, February 2, 2010. Voted in favor of Motion to Continue: McConnell, Shepherd, Robinson, Arends Voted opposed Motion to Continue: Brockus, Runyon, Maupin, Gehring, Wofford Motion failed; 5-No; 4-Yes Page 2 of 3 Mr. GehrinQ proposed an amendment to lower the fee to $5.00 for 2-wheeled vehicles. Mr. Wofford explained that state law can not be changed regarding the fee. Mr. Shepherd clarified that citizens could collect signatures through the initiative process to bring forward a ballot measure regarding the fee change being suggested. Mr. Runyon asked that citizens have the opportunity to vote on whether or not to fund what they said was important during previous elections and through surveys. Mr. Wofford concluded that the decision is whether or not to put the question on the ballot - fund streets now, or if at all when funding may be available at a future time. 5:55:20 M/S/C (Brockus/Maupin) Move to pass Resolution No. 002 providing for a Ballot Proposition to be submitted to the voters for the November 3, 2009 General Election authorizing a $30.00 annual vehicle fee for the purpose of funding transportation improvements. Voted in favor of Motion: Brockus, Runyon, Arends, Maupin, Wofford Voted opposed to Motion: Shepherd, Robinson, Gehring, McConnell Motion carried: 5- Yes; 4-No With no further business, Chair of the TBD Board Nick Wofford adjourned the meeting at 5:56 PM. Prepared and Submitted by: UtJf~J Legislative Assistant Attest: Page 3 of 3