2004 11 106173
MOSES LAKE CITY COUNCIL
November 10,2004
11:07 a.m.
Council Present:RonCovey,Richard Pearce,Brent Reese,Dick Deane,JonLane,Lee Blackwell,
and Steve Shinn
Public Present: Kathleen Davis, liaison between the DOT and cities and counties,Don Senn,
Manager oftheWenatchee DOT office,Paul Mahre,liaison betweenDOT in Wenatcheeand Moses
Lake,Joyce Mulliken,State Senator,Leroy Allison,Grant County Commissioner,Jacie Daschel,
Vision 2020 Representative,Bob Russell,Grant County Fair Board Facilities Advisory Committeev j Chairman,Sally Goodwin,Executive Director,Moses Lake Business Association,Richard Teals,
^-^Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District,and Ralph Kincaid
Joseph K.Gavinski,City Manager,stated that the meeting was called in order to discuss the
Division Street bridge over I-90 and the landscaping at the l-90/Broadway interchange with the
Department of Transportation.
I-9Q/DIVISION STREET BRIDGE
Gary Harer,Municipal,Services Director,stated thatthe discussions began with the Department
of Transportation (DOT)on the Division Street Bridge atthe timethe DOT was developing plans
to raise the vertical clearance over I-90.Discussions centered around the possibility of four-laning
this bridge.According tothe DOTs traffic projections,this bridge does notwarrant increasing the
widthto fourlanes. The other optionwas the construction of a separate pedestrian bridgewhich
would accommodate the city's utilities.The cityfeltithad sufficient water/sewer funds to construct
the bridge,which would allow the stateto fully fund the four lane vehiclebridge.However,thecost
ofthe pedestrian bridge wassuchthatthewater/sewerfund could notfully fund itsconstruction and
the funds could not be taken from the General Fund,which made it too expensive for the city to
construct. So the projectis backto a 2-land bridge from the DOTand a 4-lane bridge from the city.
The cityfeels the four-lane bridge is warranted.A bridge has more than a 20-year life and itis
expensive to increase the width.The traffic projections the city has done warrants a four-lane
bridge.The situation needs to be resolvedas DOT is scheduled to go out for bid in 2005 on this
project.
Lori Barlow,Associate Planner,presented the population projections forthe area south of I-90 in
connection with the bridge project.The population projections cover the propertywithinthe city's
urban growth plus the Dune Lakes Planned UnitDevelopment Project.She explained the process
of estimating the population projections and the number of average dailytrips. Within the next 50
^J years this area could develop with 1,380 households and generate 9.55 trips per household.This
comes to 13,226 trips per day from residential development.It is more difficult to estimate the
average daily trips for the commercially zoned property,since much will depend on what is
developed.This area could support up to 6,000,000 square feet of commercial development.
Using a more reasonable number of about 39,000 square feet of commercial development on 31
acres with 1,030 employees,itwas estimated that the average daily trips would equal 4,717.That
comes to about 18,000 average daily trips per day.
Mr.Pearce wanted to know the capacity of a two-lane bridge.
Mr. Harer stated that the city is requesting the bridge be constructed with four traffic lanes with a
2'shy distance from the 6'sidewalks on each side.He mentioned that a two-lane bridge can carry
about 14,000 trips.
Leroy Allison,Grant County Commissioner,stated that there is a great deal of traffic on Potato Hill
Road,much of it recreational in nature,but four laning ofthe road is not in the six year plan for the
county at this time.The road willeventually need to have four lanes but when that will happen will
depend upon development of the area.
Gerry McFaul, City Engineer,stated that roads have a life of 20 years but a bridge has been a life
of over 50 years.Since the traffic will warrant a 4-lane bridge in the future,now is the time to
construct it.
Mr.Pearce pointed out there is a four lane street leading into the bridge and that will create a
bottleneck if the bridge is not also made four lanes.He pointed outthat sewer has been extended
beyond the Division Street bridge and water could be made available in the future.With the
potential for growth in the area south of the I-90,he felt the bridge should be made four lanes.
i J Paul Mayer,liaison between DOT in Wenatchee and Moses Lake,statedthattheir design manual
gives guidance on the width of bridges.The bridges are constructed for a 20 year time frame and
if development necessitates the widening ofthe bridge,then the development would participate in
widening the structure.He pointed out that the bridge would not have to be replaced if it needs to
be widened.The threshold for considering a four lane bridge is a 900 design hourly volume which
equates to about 12,000 ADT.The DOT plans at this time are for a 2-lane bridge with 5'sidewalks
on both sides.He mentioned that the DOT is willing to provide amenities beyond what is required
by their standards,but itis anticipated that the extras would be paid for by the city.
Mr.Gavinski wanted to know howthe city could getthe extra two lanes and what would be the cost.
Mr.Mayer stated that,generally,the extra two lanes would cost about $1.5 million.
There was considerable discussion about the options available,both for the construction of the
bridge and the funding.
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6174
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES November 10,2004
I-90/BROADWAY INTERCHANGE -LANDSCAPING
Mayor Covey stated that in eastern Washington landscaping is done to a rural standards and in
western Washington landscaping is done to an urban standard.The l-90/Broadway interchange
was landscaped to a rural standard which is not attractive for one of the major entrances to the City
of Moses Lake.He wanted to know if the DOT would install landscaping on a par with what was
removed when the interchange was constructed.He mentioned that the city would be willing to
assume responsibility for the landscaping once it is installed.
Paul Mayer, liaison between DOT in Wenatchee and Moses Lake,stated that an agreement could
be drafted between the DOT and the cityfor the maintenance of the landscaping.
Joseph K.Gavinski,City Manager,stated that the question is whether or not DOT would install the
landscaping.
Mr.Mayer stated that the sites are landscaped based on the state-wide plan.The plan for the
Moses Lake area is seeding and fertilizing of local grasses.The landscaping guidelines are
established by the DOT'S landscaping department.Ifa local jurisdiction wishes more,the DOT is
willing to do that if local funding is provided.
Mr.Reese pointed out that this area was landscaped and irrigated prior to the new interchange
being constructed.That was all torn out and nothing was replaced.
Mr.Shinn mentioned that nothing is growing in the area that DOT was to landscape except noxious
weeds and tumbleweeds.The native grasses are not growing.No follow up was done to see that
the seeded native grasses established themselves.
Ralph Kincaid pointed out that this intersection is one of the main entrances into Moses Lake and
should not be treated as an intersection in the middle of nowhere.
Mr.Mayer stated that he would pass on those comments to the appropriate department.
HIGHWAY 17
Mayor Covey requested an update on the progress of the four laning of Highway 17.
Paul Mayer, liaison between DOT in Wenatchee and Moses Lake,stated that the design is
complete and the cost is about $1.3 million.The right-of-way acquisition of the project has funding
but the construction phase of the project is not funded.The acquisition of right-of-way is a lengthy
process and will take about 2 years.
Richard Teals requested the DOT look at the Stratford Road overpass as part of this project since
it is dangerous for pedestrians and bicycles.
Mr.Mayer stated that the overpass is not part of the Highway 17 widening project.However,ifthe
city obtained funding for changes to the overpass,the DOT would be willing to work with the city
on it.
Gary Harer,Municipal Services Director,stated that widening of the 3'sidewalks on Stratford Road
overpass is critical.Residents of the residential area walk or bike to the nearby commercial area.
lot 4
There was some discussion on the possibility of obtaining funding because of the safety concerns.
BROADWAY
Joseph K.Gavinski, City Manager,stated that in the past the Department of Transportation has
been interested in transferring ownership of Broadway to the city. The city has resisted that inthe
past but that may be changing.Before the citywould accept Broadway,however,the state would
have to bring it up to city standards.
Gary Harer,Municipal Services Director,stated that the DOT is planning an overlay of
inthe future and suggested that would be a good time to lookat improvingitto cjtyjstsfndards.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:45 p.m.
ATTEST:
Donald R.Cone,Finance Director
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