2022-11-28-minutes-public-works-study-session

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KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: November 28, 2022 TOPIC: Black Horse at Whiskey Creek Update ACTION REQUESTED: Direct Staff LEAD STAFF: Mark R. Cook RECOMMENDATION: None. Informational briefing. BRIEFING SUMMARY: • D R Horton is seeking final occupancy on multiple housing units within the next 30 days. • The status of road dedications is unresolved at the time of this briefing. • Initial compaction testing results do not warrant adoption onto the public road network. • The operational status of Pond 3 remains in doubt. • The required two-year monitoring period for stormwater pond performance has not yet begun. BACKGROUND: D R Horton elected to pave the first lift of asphalt last December against PW direction. A second lift was placed earlier this year without Public Works (PW) inspection. Recent pavement compaction testing reveals a failure rate of approximately 80 percent. Pond 3 demonstrated failure for the majority of 2022. PW has an agreement with D R Horton and the Ellensburg Water Company that prohibits further development south of 29`h Avenue until stormwater pond performance is affirmed. DISCUSSION: At the time of this briefing, only 291h Avenue is being considered for public road status. PW believes bringing 29`h Avenue onto the public system is in the best interest of the City of Ellensburg. Without a majority of the remaining street system substantially meeting required compaction, PW will recommend denial for the roads being brought onto the public road system. An option would be to have the failing roads reconstructed. PW is awaiting arrival of pond monitoring data from D R Horton. The data will assist PW determine how best to manage the apparent failure of Pond 3. The pond has reflected groundwater impact since spring 2022. Once PW has analyzed pond Page I of 2 Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2022