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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-09-25-minutes-public-works-study-sessionKITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Public Works Study Session Regular Meeting Monday September 26, 2023 -1:30 PM BoCC Auditorium 205 West 5th Room 109 - Ellensburg 1. Call to Order 2. Citizen Comments (1 min. time limit) 3. Pheasant Lane 4. Search and Rescue Wetland Impacts 5. CERB Grant Request for ELN S. Other Business - No Action to be taken 7. Concluded Created on 9/21/2023 3:45:27 PM KITTITAS COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS STUDY SESSION MINUTES COMMISSIONERS' AUDITORIUM, 205 NEST 5TH ROOM 109 Regular Meeting MONDAY 1:30 PM September 25, 2023 Board members present: Chairman Cory Wright, Vice Chairman Brett Wachsmith, and Commissioner Laura Osiadacz. Others: Josh Fredrickson, Rebecca Cruse, Public Works; Brian Carlson, Auditors Office; Jessica :Miller, Jamey Ayling, Community Development Services; Stephanie Hartung, Jacob Schroeder Prosecuting Attorrey's Office; No members of the public. At 1:35 PM Chairman Cory Wright opened the Public works Study Session. No Citizen Comments - PHEASANT LANE Josh Fredrickson briefed the Board of County Commissioners on requests received to use Pheasant Lane, an unopened right-of-way for access to development of residential homes. Josh Fredrickson presented a Road Improvement District as an option for the residents to improve the road and stated in 2020 a Public Hearing was held, and the road remained unopened. Discussion pursued. Chairman Cory Wright requested this item be tabled for further review. SEARCH AND RESCUE WETLAND IMPACTS Josh Fredrickson stated that the consultant is working on design and environmental permitting for the new Search and Rescue Facility site and wetlands have been identified adjacent to Airport Road. Josh Fredrickson added that exemptions exist for the setback requirements for Public Facilities. The Board of County Commissioners supported staff efforts moving forward on the project. CERB GRANT REQUEST FOR ELN Josh Fredrickson briefed the Board of County Commissioners on a pending Economic Development Grant for development of a master plan for Bowers Field. Chairman Cory Wright requested Briar. Carlson_, Budget and Finance Director's input on funding. Brian Carlson stated that there are possibly some ARPA funds that could be allocated to fund the master plan development. Meeting concluded at 1:58 PM 2023-9-25 MINUTES Rebecca Cruse, Administrative Assistant 2023-9-25 MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON Cory Wright, Chairman KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: September 25, 2023 TOPIC: Pheasant Lane ACTION REQUESTED: Direct staff LEAD STAFF: Joshua Fredrickson RECOMMENDATION: Direct staff to provide access permits for residential uses on unopened right-of-way. BRIEFING SUMMARY: • Unopened county right-of-way continues being used for residential access. • Pheasant Lane extends from a bend in Reecer Creek Road north for approximately 2.62 miles. • Pheasant Lane provides access to numerous residences and undeveloped lots • Public Hearing on August 18, 2020, and continued September 1, 2020, considered establishment of unopened Pheasant Lane county right-of-way. The decision to not establish Pheasant Lane onto the public road network resulted from the public hearing. Pheasant Lane continues to be unopened county right-of-way for approximately 2.62 miles. • Interest from property owners seeking to develop residential housing in the area increases demand to the unopened county right-of-way. • Public Works currently has a request to use Pheasant Lane for another residential home builder. BACKGROUND: Unopened rights -of -way exists throughout Kittitas County. Public Works has seen an increase in demand for access permits to parcels utilizing unopened right-of-way for development. Pheasant Lane, located off of Reecer Creek Road, is a current example of such right-of-way. Public access to public lands as well as access for development brings an inherent confusion related to utilization of the unopened right-of-way. Increased use of unopened rights -of -way results in higher demand for maintenance and ongoing confusion of maintenance responsibility. DISCUSSION: Development interests to construct residences utilizing access through unopened right-of- way continues to increase. The inherent confusion over public access occurs when individuals look to utilize unopened right-of-way for home access. Road improvements Page 1 of 3 Public Works "Work Session Staff Report" 2023 may be considered through a Road Improvement District (RID). An example of an RID used for improvement was Wiehl Road. Access permits for existing and future uses may be issued, conditioned on future improvements, and require waiving the right to protest future formation of an improvement district. FISCAL IMPACTS: Undetermined at the time of this briefing presentation. ATTACHMENTS: Exhibit 1: Pheasant Lane Map Page 2 of 3 Public Works "Work Session Staff Report" 2023 EXHIBIT 1: Pheasant Lane Map Page 3 of 3 Public Works "Work Session Staff Report" 2023 `4e:SYf yFY 7 a bl o C C U) m � 0 all M :m �x o � mk✓� X i ' N Sr 1- 0 I c IN t it i H p y -z ' z I I Z7 F o o � � KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 2023 STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: September 25, 2023 TOPIC: Search and Rescue Wetland Impacts ACTION REQUESTED: Direct Staff LEAD STAFF: Mark R. Cook. RECOMMENDATION: Support staffs decision completing design and environmental permitting for the Search and Rescue facility in Cle Elum, WA. BRIEFING SUMMARY: • Public Works (PW) has been leading the design and environmental permitting effort supporting the development of a new search and rescue facility in Cle Elum, WA. • A couple of months back, during final environmental permit preparation, a small wetland was discovered on site. • Our current Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) imposes a wetland buffer of sufficient size that renders the site useless for search and rescue facility purposes. • County code contemplates such an occurrence at KCC 17A.01.060 Exceptions. • A critical areas report is currently being produced consistent with KCC 17A.01.080 and will provide the basis for an exception request. • The Director then reviews the request and shall: approve, approve with conditions, or deny the request. BACKGROUND: PW is nearing completion of the environmental permitting phase of the project. Site impacts from a small wetland onsite negate the use of the property owing to CAO required wetland buffer size. KCC 17A.01.060 allows exceptions for a public agency_ DISCUSSION: Once the required critical areas report is completed and reviewed by the Director (PWICDS), a decision regarding a requested exception shall be consistent with the requirements of KCC 15A.03. The criteria for review and approval appear below for Board of County Commission consideration: i. There is no other practical alternative to the proposed development with less impact on the critical area and its buffer; ii. The application of this Title would unreasonably restrict the ability to provide utility and/or agency services to the public; Page I of 3 Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2023 iii. The proposal does not pose an unreasonable threat to the public health, safety, or welfare on or off the development proposal site; iv. The proposal attempts to protect and mitigate impacts to the critical area functions and values consistent with the best available science; and v. The proposal is consistent with other applicable regulations and standards. Pursuant to county code, a Director administrative decision may be appealed to the Hearings Examiner and then to Superior Court (KCC 15A.03). FISCAL IMPACTS: Site engineering and building design are nearing completion. The county has invested approximately $500,000 to date in land acquisition and building design costs. ATTACHMENTS: EXHIBIT 1: KCC 17A.01.060 Page 2 of 3 Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2023 EXHIBIT 1: KCC 17A.01.060 Page 3 of 3 Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2023 17A.01.060 Exceptions. 1. Public Agency and Utility. It the application of this Title would prohibit a proposed development by a public agency or public utility, the agency or utility may apply for an exception pursuant to the following: a. Exception Request and Review Process. An application for a public agency and utility exception shall be made to the County and shall include a critical areas report, as described in KCC 17A.01.080. including mitigation plan, if necessary; and any other related project documents, such as permit applications to other agencies, special studies, and environmental documents prepared pursuant to the State Environmental Policy Act (Chapter 43.21 C RCW). The application shall follow the administrative project permit review process outlined in KCC 15A.03 b. Director Review. The Director shall approve, approve with conditions, or deny the request based on the proposal's ability to comply with all the reasonable use exception criteria in Subsection 2(c). c. Public Agency and Utility Review Criteria. The criteria for review and approval of public agency and utility exceptions are as follows: i. There is no other practical alternative to the proposed development with less impact on the critical area and its buffer; ii. The application of this Title would unreasonably restrict the ability to provide utility and/or agency services to the public; iii. The proposal does not pose an unreasonable threat to the public health, safety, or welfare on or off the development proposal site; iv. The proposal attempts to protect and mitigate impacts to the critical area functions and values consistent with the best available science; and V. The proposal is consistent with other applicable regulations and standards. d. Burden of Proof. The burden of proof shall be on the applicant to bring forth evidence in support of the application and to provide sufficient information on which any decision must be made on the application. 2. Reasonable Use. if the application of this Title would deny all reasonable economic use of the subject property, the County shall determine if the property owner may apply for an exception pursuant to the following: a. Exception Request and Review Process. An application for a reasonable use exception shall be made to the County and shall include a critical areas report, as described in KCC 17A.01.080, including mitigation plan, if necessary; and any other related project documents, such as permit applications to other agencies, special studies, and environmental documents prepared pursuant to the State Environmental Policy Act (Chapter 43.21C RCW and rules thereunder in Chapter 197-11 WAC). The application shall follow the administrative project permit review process outlined in KCC 15A.03. In determining what is considered reasonable use of an undeveloped parcel, the Director may consider additional information such as zoning, and comparable structure sizes and land uses of the surrounding area. b. Director Review. The Director shall approve, approve with conditions, or deny the request based on the proposal's ability to comply with all the reasonable use exception criteria in Subsection 2(c). c. Reasonable Use Review Criteria. Criteria for review and approval of reasonable use exceptions include: i. The application of this Title would deny all reasonable economic use of the property; ii. No other reasonable economic use of the property has less impact on the critical area and its buffer; iii. The proposed impact to the critical area is the minimum necessary to allow for reasonable economic use of the property; iv. The inability of the applicant to derive reasonable economic use of the property is not the result of actions by the applicant after the effective date of this Title; V. The proposal does not pose an unreasonable threat to the public health, safety, or welfare on or off the development proposal site; vi. The proposal will result in no net loss of critical area functions and values consistent with the best available science; vii. The proposal is consistent with other application regulations and standards. d. Burden of Proof. The burden of proof shall be on the applicant to bring forth evidence in support of the application and to provide sufficient information on which any decision must be made on the application. Ord. 2021-016, 2021 KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 2023 STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: September 25, 2023 TOPIC: CERB Grant Request for ELN ACTION REQUESTED: Direct Staff LEAD STAFF: Mark R. Cook RECOMMENDATIONS: Support accepting the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) grant developing a Master Plan for economic development at Bowers Field (ELN) in the amount of $75,000. Provide direction to staff to appropriate and/or repurpose $111 K for this Master Plan element. BRIEFING SUMMARY: • The county has been noticed of a pending $75,000 planning grant from CERB. • County match for this grant is $47K; County has previously appropriated $50K in anticipation of this grant award (first 2023 Budget Amendment resolution). • JUB has an executed task order (3) in the amount of $236,000. • Additional funding of $1 I OK is needed to complete this task. Staff can identify optimal combination of new appropriations and repurposed prior appropriations to Airport and formalize in Resolution to Amend 2023 Budget. The action is consistent with the recently adopted Economic Development Strategic Plan for Kittitas County. BACKGROUND: On the heels of adopting the Economic Development Strategic Plan for Kittitas County, the county is seeking grant funding (EXHIBIT 1) to master plan economic development at ELN. The plan author will be JUB using their existing service contract for ELN support. DISCUSSION: Re -assignment of agricultural leases at ELN begins the process of identifying the feasibility of master planning approximately 850 acres of industrial development. The plan produces: topographic survey, documents public involvement, inventories existing conditions, produces an economic/market feasibility study, analyses utilities and infrastructure need and identifies possible funding assistance implementing elements of the master plan. Page 1 of 4 Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2023 The project is expected to start in July 2023 and be completed in December 2024. FISCAL IMPACTS: $111,000 is required to complete project funding. ATTACHMENTS: EXHIBIT 1: CERB GRANT APPLICATION EXHIBIT 2: GRANT PRESENTATION Page 2 of 4 Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2023 EXHIBIT 1: CERB GRANT APPLICATION Page 3 of 4 Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2023 CERB Planning Project Analysis 2023-2025 I. PROJECT SUMMARY Staff Contact: Janea Stark 360.252.0812 CERB Meeting: September 21, 2023 Applicant: Kittitas County County: Kittitas Rural County: yes ® no ❑ (as defined by OFM) Rural Community: yes ❑ no ®(as defined by CERB) Distressed County: yes ❑ no ® (as defined by ESD) Project Title: Bowers Field Business Park Feasibility Study Project Description: ; A study to evaluate the feasibility of development of approximately 850 acres of land surrounding the Kittitas County Airport (Bowers Field). 11. FINANCING REQUEST A. Applicant Request CERB 5-Year Average Leveraged Funds Funding Request: Grant: $75,000 $29,448 Amount Match $47,200 Source Status Kittitas County Secured TOTAL Match $47,200 Total Match as of Project Cost Project Total $122 200 (112u16 to b1zU21 - nl Planning Projects: Estimated Match; B. Staff Funding Recommendation Recommended Offer: I Grant: 1 $75,000 III. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS I A. Local Dynamics i Current Unemployment Rate Three Year Avg. Unemployment Distressed County? Rate 3 year avg. county i unemployment 2096 greater County i State County State than state avg. 3 year rate 3.7% 3.8% 6.7% 5.7% No B. Previous CERB Planning applications for this applicant* Mo/Year 1 Total Award Current Status Updates 07/2021 $40,000.00 Study Completed 11/2022:The next step for this project will i 07/12/2022 be applications for funding to support the i I necessary mid -mile and FTTN networks. C. Previous CERB planning applications for other applicants in this county* Mo/Year Jurisdiction Total Award Current Status Updates 07/2021 PUD #1 of $47,020.56 1 Study Completed i 12/27/2022: Study deemed feasible, Kittitas County 07/12/2022 i however support for public investment in ! Itelecommunications infrastructure is expected to be a significant challenge for rate ' payers. 09/2022 Ellensburg BDA, $50,000.00 j Conducting dba CenterFuse i Study I 09/2022 Ellensburg BDA, $50,000.00 Conducting dba CenterFuse i; I Study ! ' 01/2023 Ellensburg BDA, $25,000.00 Conducting i dba CenterFuse i Study r nese planning projects were awarded in the last 10 years. The client reports on projects for 5 years after project completion. D. Population Data As of (Date) Total Labor Force 22,786 June 2023 Per Capita Income ; $45,267 2020 E. Project Readiness Consultant Services Chosen 06/2023 Consultant Begin Work 07/2023 E Consultant Draft Report 06/2024 Consultant Final Report 11/2024 E Consultant End Work 11/2024 Project Complete 12/2024 1V. PROJECT DYNAMICS A. Industry Clusters Does this project build on locally -identified industry clusters? ® Yes ❑ No If yes, please explain: Staff Contact: Janea Stark 360.252.0812 CERB Meeting: September 21, 2023 { Agriculture • Warehouse/Distribution • Healthcare O Alternative (renewable) Energy • Manufacturing + Aviation • Tourism B. Supports Infiil Evaluate the feasibility of development of up to approximately 850 acres of land surrounding the Kittitas County Airport (Bowers Field). in addition, land previously used for the closed crosswind Runway 7-29 will be evaluated for development opportunities. This effort will produce a Master Plan document to report existing conditions of the properties and recommendations of actionable items to promote opportunities. The Master Plan will encompass the entire 850 acres of Bowers Field, with an emphasis on the "Ready to Lease" properties primarily south of W Bowers Rd that are more "infrastructure ready" for Conceptual Site Plans. The "Future Development" properties are primarily north of the closed crosswind Runway 7-29 and will be evaluated at a later date, as funding is available and development occurs. If this project is not funded, the timeline will ultimately be stalled until the County can secure funding to move forward. There is a high demand for developable land adjacent to airports for aeronautical and related uses. Industries are looking to move now and if this project is not funded, the crucial window of opportunity to utilize such desirable land may be missed. This will not only negatively impact the airport, but Kittitas County and the surrounding communities in the region. C. Evaluation Standards Short-term benefits: • Identify key industries who may be interested in the site. • Identify lot size and configuration, infrastructure needs, and wastewater treatment options. 10 Provide a supply chain analysis to identify potential growth opportunities. • Focus recruitment on industries that are not only compatible with the site, but with the community and its values. Long-term benefits: • Position Bowers Field and Business Park as an aviation training and light manufacturing hub. • Develop tools to strengthen the County's talent pipeline by aligning development, attraction, and retention efforts with the needs of current and future employers. • Provide a steppingstone to continue coordination between Central Washington University and employers to create opportunities for learning and employment for students and community members. • Expanding the aviation sector in Kittitas County will provide more jobs for graduating students and encourage talent retention. • An increase of employment opportunities in the aviation sector will provide higher -wage jobs. • Identify infrastructure investments needed to ensure sites are shovel ready to attract manufacturing companies and support expanding aviation training programs. D. Project Goals Kittitas County will have a completed Master Plan that will be used as a north star for future development. This Plan will identify the long-term vision for Bowers Field with flexible plan implementation approaches that respect market conditions and interests within the Plan's anticipated build out period. E. Project Concept The scope of work will include: Topographic Survey • Public Involvement • Inventory of existing conditions (environmental, land ownership, existing development plans, site topography, local and regional demographics (existing/projected), community land use issues, utility and roadway information, future and existing land use maps/plans, zoning designations, land use restrictions/encumbrances, and airspace analysis) • Economic/Market Feasibility • Conceptual Site Plan • Utility/infrastructure Analysis (traffic, water, sewer, storm, utilities, cost opinions) • Funding assistance F. Economic Diversity The County aims to create more diversification in the industries and jobs currently available to CWU graduates and community members. This lack of diversification is a major challenge for retaining young talent. As stated in the Kittitas County Economic Development Strategic Plan, "light manufacturing, aviation, craft brewing, agriculture innovation, logistics and distribution all offer opportunities for diversification." These industries strengthen the case for pursing the Bowers Field Master Plan and making large strides to preparing a shovel ready site. STAFF RECOMMENDATION IF CERB APPROVES FUNDING, staff recommends the project take the form of a $75,000 grant. Staff recommends pre -contract requirements be completed within 4 months and due prior to January 18, 2024. Pre -Contract Requirements Staff recommends that execution of the final contract be contingent upon completion of the following conditions: 1. Finalized scope of work. 2. Evidence that consultant services have been selected to complete the study. 3. Evidence that the $47,200 cash match is in place, from the following or alternate sources: a. 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