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Congestion Relief & Bus Rapid Transit Projects
March 7, 2005
Gregg Zimmerman, Public Works Director
City of Renton
1055 South Grady Way
Renton, WA 98055
Dear Mr. Zimmerman:
Re: Concurrence Letter
Springbrook Wetland and Habitat Mitigation Bank
Bank Credit Partnership
`''W CAG -05-026
The City of Renton (City) and Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) are
currently working together to develop the Springbrook Wetland and Habitat Mitigation Bank
(Bank). As we move forward in this process, I would like to clarify our commitments in this
commitment letter.
Full Vision
The vision that the City and WSDOT have developed includes the development of 130 acres of
Renton -owned property as a wetland and habitat mitigation bank. The concept for the proposed
bank includes creation, restoration, and enhancement of wetland area, riparian corridors, upland
habitat, and wildlife habitat and corridors. The proposed bank also accounts for future City
infrastructure needs, like roads and utilities. WSDOT will work with the City of Renton Parks
Division to incorporate a planned Springbrook Trail connection into the full vision concept. We
recognize that trail improvements, while very desirable, may reduce wetland mitigation area and
increase construction cost. We will need to carefully consider the trade-offs inherent in
developing a trail versus maximizing wetland credits.
The City and WSDOT are working with the Bank Oversight Committee (BOC) to determine the
value of the Bank as measured in mitigation credits. The BOC has requested pre -design work on
the site before making their credit determination. This work includes hydrologic analysis,
ground survey, and environmental function analysis. WSDOT has started this work to move the
Bank proposal forward in a fast-track manner.
The proposed Bank provides opportunities for the City to mitigate for City and development
projects and WSDOT to invest in mitigation for needed regional transportation projects. The City
and WSDOT expect that the entire 130 acre site will provide at least 70 credits — adequate to
meet both parties' needs. The City has determined that they require a minimum of 25 credits to
make the Bank viable. WSDOT has determined that they require a minimum of 35 credits to
make the Bank viable. The City and WSDOT propose to split the available mitigation credits on
a fifty-fifty basis.
AM
Washington State
�, Department of Transportation
Gregg Zimmerman, Public V%Wzs Director *4400= CAG -05-026
City of Renton
Page 2
February 1, 2005
Scaled -Back Strategy
In the event that the BOC does not allow sufficient credits to make the Bank viable and justify
the expenditure of public funds, WSDOT and the City agree to work toward solutions that will
retain the investments made by both parties. One solution is to construct a smaller scale project
on a portion of the property that would yield enough mitigation credits with a reasonable
expenditure of funds. Given that WSDOT expects the smaller scale project to provide mitigation
credits for the "nickel package", the goal of the smaller scale project would be to construct a
bank or advanced mitigation that would provide approximately 20 credits. The City and WSDOT
would share equally in the mitigation credits provided by the smaller scale project.
Concurrence
I am anticipating a project that will set a high standard of cooperation between the City and
WSDOT. I ask, by signing below, that the City and WSDOT concur with the Credit Bank
Partnership.
Sincerely,
Craig'J. tone, PE
Urban Projects Director
City of Renton Concurrence:
Kathy Reolker - Wheeler Date
Mayor, City of Renton
cc: Administrators Executive Committee members
City Design Team members
CJS:sct
ATTEST:
V. Z�%
Bonnie I. Walton, City Clerk