CT Y OF AUST Z FOUNDED 1839 Austin City Council MINUTES WORKSESSION WEDNESDAY, March 25, 1998 Mayor Watson called the meeting to order, noting the temporary absence of Mayor Pro Tem Garcia. CITIZENS COMMUNICATION: GENERAL READING OF CONSENT AGENDA READING OF DISCUSSION AGENDA CITIZENS COMMUNICATION: CONSENT AGENDA ACTION ON CONSENT AGENDA PREVIEW OF ITEMS FOR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING 1. Review of Proposed Agenda Items from the City Manager for April 9, 1998. 2. Review of Proposed Agenda Items from Council for April 9, 1998. 3. Discuss and identify consent and discussion agenda items for the March 26, 1998 Council meeting agenda. (Agenda for March 26, 1998 is attached and incorporated by reference.) Items pulled for discussion: 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 39 and 55. 4. Set Time Certain, if necessary, for agenda items on the March 26, 1998 Agenda. Items set for time certain: 33 and 34 @ 3:00p.m., 66 @ 4:00 p.m. POLICY DISCUSSION 5. Discuss transportation issues, including: working with other entities such as Austin Transportation Study (ATS), Capital Metro, and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT); communication among the entire council and council representatives to ATS and Capital Metro; developing policies to advocate at these agencies; staff support for council representatives to ATS and Capital Metro; transportation planning process. Discussion held, no action taken. BREAKING STALEMATES 6. Set a date for Council decision on whether pedestrian and bicycle improvements to Lamar Bridge will be cantilevered or separate, and direct the City Manager to set a faster timetable for completion of pedestrian and bicycle improvements to Lamar Bridge. (Councilmembers Daryl Slusher and Beverly Griffith, Mayor Kirk Watson) Resolution No. 980325-6 approved on Councilmember Slusher's motion, Councilmember Griffith's second, 6-0 vote, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia temporarily absent. 7. Direct the City Manager to develop a proposal for estimating costs of the proposals by the Barton Springs and Lamar charrette and by the Downtown Austin Alliance for the improvement of Lamar, funded from TSM account, and to present the proposal to council within two weeks. (Councilmembers Daryl Slusher, Beverly Griffith, and Bill Spelman) Resolution No. 980325-7 approved on Councilmember Spelman's motion, Councilmember Slusher's second, 6-0 vote, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia temporarily absent. 8. Adopt criteria for evaluating options for roadway and intersection improvements in the area of North Lamar Boulevard, West Fifth, and West Sixth Streets. (Councilmembers Beverly Griffith and Bill Spelman, Mayor Kirk Watson) Approved on Councilmember Griffith's motion, Councilmember Spelman's second, 6-0 vote, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia temporarily absent. 9. Direct the City Manager to make a recommendation on Barton Springs Road improvements by April 9, 1998, and to identify funding, with the goal of offering the project for bids by October 1, 1998. (Councilmembers Daryl Slusher, Beverly Griffith, and Jackie Goodman) Resolution No. 980325-9 approved on Councilmember Goodman's motion, Councilmember Griffith's second, 6-0 vote, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia temporarily absent. 10. Direct the City Manager to review proposals to convert Chavez, Second, Fifth, Sixth, Brazos, and Colorado to two-way operation and to recommend by April 30, 1998 which street(s) to convert first, provide for further public input, and set the recommendation for Council action by May 28, to be implemented by September 1, 1998. (Councilmembers Daryl Slusher and Bill Spelman, Mayor Kirk Watson) Resolution No. 980325-10 approved on Councilmember Slusher's motion, Councilmember Griffith's second, 6-0 vote, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia temporarily absent. 11. Approve a plan to reconstruct the intersection at North Loop and Burnet. (Councilmembers Jackie Goodman and Daryl Slusher) Approved on Councilmember Goodman's motion, Councilmember Griffith's second, Motion withdrawn. Postponed two weeks to April 8, 1998 on Councilmember Goodman's motion, Councilmember Spelman's second, 6-0 vote, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia temporarily absent. BRIEFINGS 12. Presentation of the Bicycle Plan. (5 minutes) 13. Presentation of the Sidewalk Task Force Report. (5 minutes) 14. Presentation of the draft Pedestrian Plan. (5 minutes) 15. Presentation of the Traffic Calming Report. (5 minutes) 16. Presentation of the Town Lake Plan. (5 minutes) 17. Presentation of the ATS East-West Downtown Rail Corridor Study. (10 minutes) Presentation given by Peter Reick, Keith Snodgrass, Stewart Strong, Joan Hudson, Kim Demill, Dave Gerrard, Jesus Olivares, Mike Aulick, Janet McCann and Cecil Pennington. ITEMS FROM COUNCIL Planning and Operations 18. 19. Direct the City Manager to review the Bicycle Plan part 2, the Sidewalk Task Force Report, the draft Pedestrian Plan, the traffic calming report, and the Town Lake Plan, prepare an inventory of those recommendations completed and those outstanding; and regarding recommendations outstanding, to identify city code changes needed for implementation, estimate costs, evaluate and recommend priorities, and implement recommendations in existing and new projects as they are constructed. (Councilmembers Daryl Slusher and Beverly Griffith, Mayor Pro Tem Gus Garcia) Approved on Councilmember Spelman's motion, Councilmember Lewis' second, 7-0 vote. Discuss the role of the Urban Transportation Commission and consider reconstituting the Urban Transportation Commission with slots for stakeholder membership. (Councilmembers Jackie Goodman, Daryl Slusher and Mayor Kirk Watson) Resolution No. 980325-19 approved with friendly amendment by Councilmember Goodman; that all ATS issues are taken to the Urban Transportation Commission prior to ATS meetings, enabling Councilmembers to benefit from Urban Transportation Commission comments and recommendations, on Councilmember Goodman's motion, Councilmember Slusher's second, 7-0 vote. 20. Adopt transportation system goals to shift trips to pedestrian, bicycle, and public transit modes; direct the city auditor to assist the city manager in developing measurable performance objectives for the Department of Public works and Transportation and other departments that are tied to these transportation system goals; and direct the city auditor to in Fiscal Year 1998-1999 conduct a performance audit of the Public Works and Transportation Department to measure departmental success in meeting the objectives developed. (Councilmembers Beverly Griffith, Daryl Slusher, & Bill Spelman) Approved 21. Adopt goals for reducing traffic accidents through transportation system improvements and traffic enforcement programs; direct the city auditor to assist the city manager in developing measurable performance objectives for the Department of Public Works and Transportation and the Austin police Department that are tied to these traffic accident reduction goals; and direct the city auditor to in Fiscal Year 1998-1999 conduct a performance audit of the Public Works and Transportation Department and Austin Police Department to measure departmental success in meeting the objectives developed. (Councilmembers Beverly Griffith, Daryl Slusher, & Bill Spelman) Approved 22. Direct the City Manager to use TSM funds to promote all modes of transportation. (Councilmembers Beverly Griffith & Daryl Slusher, and Mayor Pro Tem Gus Garcia) Approved 23. Direct the City Manager to develop an ordinance setting out a planning and public input process for design of transportation projects. (Councilmembers Daryl Slusher, Beverly Griffith, and Willie Lewis) Approved Items 20 through 23 approved on Councilmember Spelman's motion, Councilmember Lewis' second, 7-0 vote. 24. Direct the City Manager to develop and implement a plan of coordinated incident management along IH 35, with a goal of reducing time to clear an accident by 50%. (Mayor Kirk Watson, Mayor Pro Tem Gus Garcia, Councilmember Daryl Slusher) Approved with friendly amendment by Councilmember Goodman to add after the BE IT RESOLVED section on line 2 to add after management along IH-35: and all major thoroughfares with specific attention to peak traffic hours and with a goal of reducing "clear-up" time for traffic accidents up to 50% on Councilmember Goodman's motion, Councilmember Spelman's second, 7-0 vote. 25. Direct the City Manager to evaluate the San Antonio program for putting utility lines underground and report to Council within 90 days. (Councilmembers William Spelman, Daryl Slusher and Mayor Pro Tem Gus Garcia) Approved 26. Direct the City Manager to establish and publicize a hotline for traffic signals, walk signals, and potholes, and to add an internet site for on-line citizen reports. (Councilmembers Daryl Slusher and Bill Spelman, Mayor Pro Tem Gus Garcia) Approved 27. Direct the City Manager to lengthen the timing of walk signals, to allow a wheelchair or small child adequate time to cross an intersection. Further direct the City Manager to regulate traffic signal wait and clearance timing for pedestrians and bicyclists. (Councilmembers Daryl Slusher and Willie Lewis, Mayor Kirk Watson) Approved Rail 28. Direct the City Manager to begin strategic planning to support light rail and transit oriented development through city code changes, zoning, location and design of city facilities, rail corridor preservation, and other means. (Councilmembers Daryl Slusher and Beverly Griffith, Mayor Pro Tem Gus Garcia) Approved 29. Direct the City Manager to study the Austin Transportation Study report on the East-West Downtown Rail Corridor, and present an evaluation to Council within 90 days. (Councilmembers Daryl Slusher and Beverly Griffith, Mayor Kirk Watson) Approved Items 25 through 29 approved on Councilmember Spelman's motion, Councilmember Lewis' second, 7-0 vote. 30. Discussion and possible action on a resolution to join the Commuter Rail District. (Councilmembers Jackie Goodman and Daryl Slusher) 31. Resolution No. 980325-30 approved on Councilmember Slusher's motion, Councilmember Goodman's second, 6-0-1 vote, Councilmember Griffith "ABSTAINING" Discussion and possible action on direction to the City Manager to work with the Texas Department of Transportation, the Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council, and other entities to acquire the Union Pacific line from Round Rock to San Antonio, and to relocate Union Pacific operations to State Highway 130. (Councilmembers Jackie Goodman and Daryl Slusher) Approved with amendment by Councilmember Slusher to delete line 3 "to acquire the Union Pacific Line from Round Rock to San Antonio", and add to read: City Council will direct City Manager to work with the Texas Department of Transportation and Austin/San Antonio Corridor Council and other entities to relocate Union Pacific operations to the vicinity of State HW 130 or other appropriate corridor, on Councilmember Slusher's motion, Councilmember Spelman's second, 7-0 vote. Downtown and Neighborhoods 32. 33. Direct the City Manager to organize a parking summit in June 1998. (Mayor Kirk Watson, Councilmembers Daryl Slusher and Beverly Griffith) Approved Direct the City Manager to begin planning to protect neighborhoods along Cesar Chavez and Martin Luther King from increased traffic from Bergstrom Airport through traffic calming and pedestrian facilities. (Councilmembers Willie Lewis, Daryl Slusher, and Beverly Griffith) Approved Airport Access 34. 35. 36. Direct the City Manager to work with Capital Metro to provide convenient and efficient drop-off and pickup bus service to Bergstrom Airport. (Councilmembers Daryl Slusher and Beverly Griffith, Mayor Kirk Watson) Approved Direct the City Manager to encourage alternatives to auto transportation for all employees at Bergstrom Airport. (Councilmembers Willie Lewis and Jackie Goodman) Approved Designate Riverside Drive, East 7th, and Airport Blvd as airport gateway corridors, to ensure adequate access to the Bergstrom Airport while preserving and improving current pedestrian, bicycle, commercial, and residential uses of the corridors. (Mayor Pro Tem Gus Garcia, Councilmembers Daryl Slusher and Jackie Goodman) Approved Items 33 through 36 approved on Councilmember Spelman's motion, Councilmember Lewis' second, 7-0 vote. 4:30 P.M. - CITIZENS COMMUNICATION OPEN FORUM EXECUTIVE SESSION (No Public Discussion on These Items) The City Council will announce it will go into Executive Session, if necessary, pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, to receive advice from Legal Counsel, to discuss matters of land acquisition, litigation and personnel matter specifically listed on this agenda. The City Council may also announce it will go into Executive Session, if necessary, to receive advice from Legal Counsel regarding any other item on this agenda. ADJOURNED at 5:35 p.m. on Councilmember Slusher's motion, Councilmember Griffith's second, 7-0 vote. Approved on this the 7th day of May, 1998, minutes for Worksession of March 25, 1998, April 15, 1998; April 29, 1998; and Regular Meeting of April 16, 1998. Minutes Regular Meeting of April 30, 1998 and Special Called Meeting April 22, 1998, postponed on Councilmember Spelman's motion, Councilmember Slusher's second, 6-0 vote, Mayor Watson absent.