HomeMy WebLinkAbout050108CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
CITY COUNCIL/BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MINUTES OF THE JOINT WORKSHOP MEETING OF MAY 1, 2008
CALL TO ORDER
The City Council of the City of Port Townsend met in workshop session the first day
of May 2008 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, Mayor Michelle
Sandoval presiding.
ROLL CALL
Council members present at roll call were, Brent Butler, David King, Laurie Medlicott,
George Randels, Catharine Robinson, Michelle Sandoval, and Mark Welch.
County Commissioner John Austin, Phil Johnson, and David Sullivan
County Staff: Denny Richards, Interim County Administrator; Neil Harrington Public
Health, Ryan Hunter, Assistant Planner; Sheriff Mike Brasfield
City Staff members present were City Manager David Timmons, City Attorney John
Watts, Police Chief Conner Daily, Senior Planner Judy Surber
City Manager Timmons made opening remarks
HOUSING ACTION PLAN NETWORK STATUS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
City Senior Planner Judy Surber provided information on Housing Action Plan
Network (HAPN), including; there are 49 strategies; she reviewed the HAPN work
plan; she handed out an "affordability index."
Jefferson County Assistant Planner Ryan Hunter handed out a draft letter to
Senators Cantwell and Murray concerning pending federal legislation; he also
reviewed the draft resolution declaring an emergency housing situation.
Commissioner Johnson commented in favor of the emergency resolution.
Mayor Sandoval commented that declaring an emergency can help in getting grants,
and that a housing levy typically follows a declaration, but there is no plan for a levy
at this point in time.
Councilor Randels recommended that the letter to the Senators note that the House
had passed a bill.
Councilor Robinson asked what was being done to keep current low-income housing
stock.
City Council Workshop Page 1 May 1, 2008
Senior Planner Surber commented that there were monitoring efforts; Jefferson
County Housing Authority did not have capacity for active involvement; Pacific
Housing (a nonprofit) may be making a bid to purchase affordable housing using tax
credits. David Rymph, Executive Director of the Jefferson County Housing Authority,
noted that there is a shortage of places in the County that take vouchers; there was
a 200 person waiting list for Section 8 funding, approximately a 2-112 to 3 year wait;
the Housing Authority, the County, and other partners were applying for the
purchase of Garden Court; the Housing Authority essentially has no budget, and that
their budget is substantially used for Section 8 vouchers.
Discussion ensued about the emergency resolution, including that the resolution
may assist in obtaining grants and funding.
Commissioner Sullivan noted that now is the time to contact legislators for next
year's legislative session.
Public comment was taken: David Rymph, Jefferson County Housing Authority,
noted there were potential partners for affordable housing, including the Port, Port
Townsend Paper Company, hospital, schools, and others and that affordable
housing was important for work force needs.
Jim Hagan of Cape George noted that affordable housing tied to larger economic
issues.
Deforest Walker of Olycap provided comment in support of the emergency
resolution.
Mayor Sandoval noted there is a May 8 joint meeting with the School District,
including discussion of the Mountain View property. She further noted that the Town
Meeting in June is on affordable housing and jobs.
Comment included that the City Council and BOCC would review the emergency
resolution on upcoming agendas.
HOMELESSNESS
City Manager Timmons provided an overview, including, the need for a coordinated
regional approach; that there is a difference between the truly needy and others
including criminals, and related that the person recently found dead at Kah Tai was
wanted for kidnapping, and the person who found her was a 14-year old runaway;
he noted the City has limited resources to deal with the homeless situation.
Public comment occurred:
City Council Workshop Page 2 May 1, 2008
Deforest Walker noted that the proper approach is for a 10-year plan and strategy
and that she would be meeting shortly with the BOCC with an expert from HUD on
developing and updating 10-year plans.
Pete Gillis spoke and applauded the City Council decision to postpone action on the
no-camping in parks ordinance.
Sheriff Brasfield spoke and noted the connection between affordable housing and
homelessness, and that if a shelter program is developed, it should be located
where support services are available (Port Townsend).
Discussion occurred, including: Councilor Randels commented that the City Council
had referred the no-camping ordinance to a Council committee, and that the City did
not have a housing program, mental health program, public health program and
noted that the City can play a part but not the primary role.
Joe Carey from the American Legion noted that the Legion is committed to
continuing the shelter program; that there were 1,500 bed nights last winter, 25% of
which were veterans over 103 days.
In response to comments expressing concerns about activities at the Legion shelter,
Deforest Walker stated that there had been some issues and promised to better
monitor outside areas.
City Manager Timmons handed out photos that had been taken today at Kah Tai
and noted that the photos showed a serious problem.
Councilor King noted that a no-camping ordinance would be an additional tool to
allow the police to contact individuals in apparent violation of an ordinance in order
to determine whether or not there were outstanding warrants.
Break occurred at 8:40 p.m. Meeting resumed at 8:52 p.m.
CLEAN WATER DISTRICT
Neil Harrington of Jefferson County Public Health gave an overview and handed out
a task force report. The report, as noted by Councilor Randels, was not unanimously
endorsed by the task force. Mr. Harrington noted that the proposal last year was an
$18 flat fee per parcel, and that the new proposal was $4.00 per parcel except in the
City and Port Ludlow, where the proposal was $1.00 per parcel.
Councilor Randels noted his objections, including that formation of the Clean Water
District did not follow legal procedures requiring consultation.
Commissioner Sullivan stated that consultation requirements for formation had
occurred.
City Council Workshop Page 3 May 1, 2008
Assistant planner Neil Harrington noted that there were about 7,OD0 parcels in the
City.
Councilor Robinson objected to the City taxation and noted that the City is doing its
part through its water and sewer projects.
Mayor Sandoval noted that the City is paying for clean water through the cost of the
treatment plant and that the County has not made similar expenditures in the past.
City Manager Timmons noted that the City spends thousands of dollars on Quilcene
River water quality in connection with the City Forest Permit.
Further discussion included: Commissioner Sullivan noted that grants from
Department of Ecology were available, but not the best funding source.
Councilor Randels noted there is potential legislative action on funding the Clean
Water Districts and supported lobbying efforts in this regard.
Councilor Medlicott commented that her objections were not on district formation
issues, but for the reasons stated by Councilor Randels and others (City already
expending money on clean water).
Public Comment:
Dennis Schultz objected to formation of special taxing districts.
Jim Hagan noted that "affordability issues" were more critical than "environmental
issues" and commented that regulations should be viewed in the larger context of
affordability.
Interim Administrator Denny Richards commented generally that nonprofits should
be challenged to build affordable housing.
Discussion occurred about having the Council and BOCC meet on a regular basis.
Meeting adjourned at 9:35 pm.
Minutes prepared by John Watts, City Attorney
Attest:
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Pam Kolacy, MMC
City Clerk
City Council Workshop Page 4 May 1, 2008