HomeMy WebLinkAbout111014CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL BUSINESS MEETING OF
NOVEMBER 10, 2014
CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Port Townsend City Council met in special session on November 10, 2014 in
the Council Chambers at 540 Water Street. Mayor King called the meeting to
order at 6:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers present at roll call were Pamela Adams, Robert Gray, David
King, Kris Nelson, Catharine Robinson, Michelle Sandoval, and Deborah Stinson.
Staff members present were City Manager David Timmons, City Attorney Steve
Gross, Finance Director Nora Mitchell, Senior Planner/Planning Manager Judy
Surber, City Engineer David Peterson, and City Clerk Joanna Sanders .
PUBLIC HEARING
ORDINANCE 3120 FIXING AND ADOPTING 2015 PROPERTY TAX LEVIES
FOR THE GENERAL LEVY WITH A TOTAL INCREASE OF ONE PERCENT
(1.00%) AND FOR THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES LEVY AN
INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY SEVEN AND 4/10 PERCENT (7.40%)
Mayor King read the script for the public hearing. Councilmembers did not have
any financial or property interests to disclose.
Staff presentation
City Manager David Timmons gave the staff report on the 2015 levy and
distributed an illustration of the 2014 property tax dollar showing the allocations
to local governments. For every dollar, 17 cents is paid to the City for general
City operations, 8 cents to the Library, and 5 cents for Fire/EMS (to fulfill
contractual obligations). He explained the voter approved Fire/EMS levy and
noted the City can claim the banked capacity that it was prevented from
claiming in prior years.
Public comment
There was no public comment.
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Council deliberation and action
Mr. Timmons responded to questions from Council about the obligation of the
City to pay its contractual obligations for fire/EMS (even though the City does
not have the obligation to levy the increase) and about the rate of the cost of
living increase (2.0%). Comments from Council were as follows: concern
about the cumulative impact to taxpayers of this increase and the upcoming
voted tax increase, support for regular increases allowed under levy,
acknowledgement of the deferred maintenance that exists at the Mountain
View public facility, comment that this levy would fulfill the City's responsibility
for City services and day-to-day operations and maintenance of public facilities.
Motion: Catharine Robinson moved to approve first reading of Ordinance 3120
Fixing and Adopting 2015 Property Tax Levies for the General Levy with a
Total Increase of One Percent (1.00%) and for the Emergency Medical
Services Levy an Increase of Approximately Seven and 4/10 Percent (7.40%).
Pamela Adams seconded.
Vote: motion carried, 6-1 by voice vote, Robert Gray opposed.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Ordinance 3119 Relating to Comprehensive Planning; Adopting Certain
2014 Comprehensive Plan Map and Text Amendments, and
Amendments to the Non -Motorized Transportation Plan, Pursuant to
Chapter 20.04 PTMC and Chapter 36.70A RCW
Mayor King reminded that Council closed the public hearing on this matter on
November 3 and would go directly to deliberations. It was noted that the
ordinance was copied incorrectly and that a correct version was distributed
this evening. Ms. Robinson and Mr. Gray recused themselves from the
Jefferson Transit portion of the meeting because they are members of the
Transit Authority Board.
City Attorney Steve Gross described the two additional comments received
after the public testimony had been closed related to Kah Tai and Beech
Street amendments and asked Council to provide direction on reopening the
public testimony to hear these amendments. Council took no action to
reopen the public hearing to accept these comments.
Council discussed the Jefferson Transit Rezone (LUP14-010). Questions to
staff were about reverting back to the zoning before Transit occupied the
property and about the restrictive covenants placed on Parcels A and B
(shown on new map). Ms. Surber responded and provided an explanation of
"enabling integrated development on commercial property" as written in
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Policy 10.4. During discussion, there was a request to identify all streets on
the map and for the Planning Commission minutes to state the specific
comments of individuals. One objection to the rezone related to a desire
for protections for the adjacent neighborhood and critical areas. There was
also some support for the amendment as written with buffering and change
of ingress and egress. Staff responded to questions of when covenants
would be triggered.
Motion: Kris Nelson moved to approve (tentatively) docketed Item 1.
Jefferson Transit Rezone (LUP14-010). Pamela Adams seconded.
Vote: motion carried, 3-2 by voice vote, Michelle Sandoval, and Deborah
Stinson opposed.
After reviewing the rules, it was determined that the prior motion failed
without a majority of Council voting in favor.
Kah Tai Lagoon Park Policy and Reassess Decatur Street Trail (LUP11-
015) and Kah Tai Lagoon Park Policy Alternative Language and Reassess
Decatur Street Trail (LUP11-055):
Ms. Surber explained the recommendations related to the Decatur Street
trail from the Non -motorized Transportation Advisory Board (trail stub for
view on Lawrence and trail stub on Garfield) and Planning Commission
(disagreement with the NMTAB recommendation, but agreement with the
Decatur Street trail deletion) and public comment. During Council discussion,
there were proposed changes in 4.5.1 to say "shall' rather than "should" and
to add "maximum environmental protection in perpetuity." It was noted that in
perpetuity is already included. Mr. Timmons noted that federal regulations
provide protections, but the City might be able to provide an amendment to
third party trust and prepare a restrictive covenant in order to state intention
as clearly as possible. There was support for quoting the full text of the grant
and revising the amendment language accordingly.
Motion: Catharine Robinson moved to approve directing staff to return to
Council with amendment language on Docket Item 2 under 4.5.1 to reflect "in
perpetuity" in fulfillment of the findings and to amend conclusion 24 for
consistency. Michelle Sandoval seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
Ms. Surber noted that through public testimony there was support for
Decatur Street Trail and not support for Lawrence Street or Garfield stubs for
a viewpoint. If approved, the Ordinance at Section 5.1 under text
amendments would be amended.
Motion: Catharine Robinson moved to approve the Planning Commission
recommendation on Kah Tai Docket Item 5.1 "as modified" deleting Decatur
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Street trail ends on Lawrence and Garfield and removing the extension of
Decatur from Clay to Blaine and the piece of non -motorized trail from Clay to
Blaine (consistent with findings on page 15 of 31 and to add a new
conclusion that the Planning Commission recommendation did not go far
enough based on the record.) Pamela Adams seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
Add Fort Worden Goal & Policy - Proposed Text Amendments to Chapter IV.
Land Use Element or Chapter VIII. Economic Development Element (Docket
Item #4 LUP14-029).
There were several comments in support of the amendment. There were
some notations of outdated names of organizations under the goals and
policies under Economic Development in the findings (Peninsula
Development Authority is now Peninsula Development District and the name
of the Department of Community Trade and Economic Development has also
changed).
Motion: Kris Nelson moved to approve (tentatively) Docket Item #4, Fort
Worden (LUP14-029). Deborah Stinson seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
Parkside Park Rezone (Docket Item #5, LUP14-027):
There were comments in support of this item.
Motion: Michelle Sandoval moved to approve (tentatively) Docket Item #5
Parkside Park Rezone (LUP14-027). Deborah Stinson seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
Beech Street (Docket Item #6, LUP14-028):
Ms. Robinson disclosed she lives in the neighborhood. Kris Nelson disclosed
she owns a rental property on Cedar Street, just two streets from Beech
Street. Mr. Gross read the conflict of interest script. There were no concerns
preventing the Councilmembers from participating.
Staff responded to questions about drainage concerns raised by the
public. There was support for keeping the existing zoning as P/OS(B)
(Existing Parks and Open Space) because P/OS(B) (Mixed
Public/Infrastructure/Open Space) is more restrictive and only in a few
instances is it less restrictive. If it is changed to P/OS, it would require an
update in the Parks Functional Plan as P/OS allows other uses. There was
support for evaluating this property under the periodic Comprehensive Plan
review for possible transfer of development rights to the Land Trust or
for stormwater management purposes. Other than affordable housing, it was
City Council Special Business Meeting November 10, 2014 Page 4 of 6
noted that the findings do not include other reasons to justify keeping the
property. Mr. Gross said the Council did not need to amend the findings
unless it was going to come to a different recommendation than the Planning
Commission.
Motion: Michelle Sandoval moved to approve (tentatively) the
recommendations of Docket Item 6 (LUP14-028) Beech Street, but with
modifications to the conclusions (deleting conclusion 26, modifying
conclusion 27, adding a statement under 23 [after looking for a land use
policy that supports "could further limit the City's use of the property" and
remove the balance]). Catharine Robinson seconded.
Vote: motion carried, 6-1 by voice vote, Robert Gray opposed.
Council returned to a discussion of the Jefferson Transit Rezone (LUP14-
010) and the procedures for Council making changes to
the amendment. Staff reviewed Jefferson Transit's proposal and the zoning
history. There was discussion of potential amendments. A map was
circulated with modifications for a proposed historical rezone. There was
some support for a modification of the zoning on the southern portion to
R -II based on a disagreement with findings and conclusions (Page 8, criteria)
that mitigation was not adequate to protect neighbors. It was noted that the
Gateway commercial buffer was supposed to be 200 ft. and this
recommendation goes beyond that. Staff stated that "livability measures"
intended to show we were protecting the integrity and viability of the
neighborhood which is why the 2002 plan was referenced. Ms. Surber
responded to questions about the intent behind Gateway plan and about bulk
and dimension limitations for development.
Motion: Michelle Sandoval moved to approve directing staff to bring back
language modifying Docket Item #1 request for rezone per the proposed new
map which includes a portion of Block 281 being zoned R -ll and leaving the
existing buffers and the covenant for the P -I for the ravine and changes to
the conclusions as mentioned previously (visual and access covenants
would go away). Kris Nelson seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 5-0 by voice vote.
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution No. 14-060 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a
Professional Services Agreement with E.D. Hovee & Company, LLC for
Preparation of an Economic Feasibility Study for the Howard Street
Corridor
City Manager David Timmons reviewed that this resolution authorizes a
contract for an economic feasibility study primarily focused on development
and redevelopment in the Howard Street/Upper Sims Way corridor.
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There was no public comment.
Motion: Deborah Stinson moved to approve Resolution No. 14-060
Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement
with E.D. Hovee & Company, LLC for Preparation of an Economic Feasibility
Study for the Howard Street Corridor. Catharine Robinson seconded.
Vote. motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:58 p.m.
Attest:
Joanna Sanders, CMC
City Clerk
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