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HomeMy WebLinkAbout091508CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF SEPTEMBER 15, 2008 CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The City Council of the City of Port Townsend met in regular session the fifteenth day of September 2008 at 6:30 p.m. in the Port Townsend City Council Chambers of City Hall, Mayor Michelle Sandoval presiding. ROLL CALL Council members present at roll call were David King, Laurie Medlicott, George Randels, Catharine Robinson, Michelle Sandoval and Mark Welch. Brent Butler was excused. Staff members present were City Attorney John Watts, Public Works Director Ken Clow, Planning Director Rick Sepler, and City Clerk Pam Kolacy. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA City Attorney John Watts requested that Item B under Unfinished Business (purchase of Kosec Funeral Home for Police Station Relocation) be removed from the agenda and rescheduled. Councilmember Welch asked for addition of a staff report on the Post Office issue since the item has appeared in local newspapers. PROCLAMATION Mayor Sandoval read the following proclamations: Library Campaign Committee Appreciation Day Constitution Week Mental Illness Awareness Day COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC (consent and non-agenda items) Jonathan Stratman regarding PTTV operations. Jim Fritz regarding the national economy. CONSENT AGENDA Motion: Ms. Robinson moved to approve the following items on the consent agenda. Mr Randels seconded, with an amendment to the minutes of September 2, 2008 as follows: add final vote (on amended motion to Adopt Ordinance 2981) indicating the motion carried unanimously, 7-0. Motion to adopt consent agenda carried unanimously, 6-0, by roll call vote. City Council Business Meeting Page 1 September 75, 2008 Approval of Bills, Claims and Warrants: Vouchers 105839 through 105943 (plus EFTS) in the amount of $514, 419.15 Approval of Minutes: September 2, 2008 as corrected Resolution 08-036, Fixing the time for Hearing on a Petition fora Street Vacation (October 20, 2008) Resolution 08-037, Granting Final Plat Approval to Corona Gardens Planned Unit Development, Application LUP08-062. UNFINISHED BUSINESS ORDINANCE NO. 2983 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND AMENDING CHAPTERS 17.08 AND 17.86 OF THE PORT TOWNSEND MUNCIPAL CODE, REVISING THE DEFINITION OF A MINOR VARIANCE AND CREATING A SEPARATE MINOR VARIANCE REVIEW CRITERIA Planning Director Rick Sepler reviewed the packet material. He pointed out the staff response to the three issues of concern which were brought up by the Council at the August 4 meeting. There was no public comment. In answer to Ms. Robinson's question, Mr. Sepler stated that the code forbids "rounding up" calculated figures. In response to Mr. Randels, Mr. Sepler clarified that the variance criteria apply to project size, not lot size, and the code section proposed refers to "lot area" as defined in the Planned Unit Development regulations section of the code. Motion: Mr. Randels moved for adoption of Ordinance 2983, amended to 1) add a slash between and/or in Section 1A (page 3) and 2) revise 17.86.055 (A) (6) to read "Does not result in an increase in the allowable density available for the proposal prior to the application." Mr. Welch seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0, by voice vote. RESOLUTION 08-038 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE GRANT AND LOAN AGREEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH A WASHINGTON FLOAT LOAN City Council Business Meeting Page 2 September 75, 2008 PROGRAM IN THE APPROXIMATE AMOUNT OF $5,000,000 FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF THE HASTINGS BUILDING AND ADJACENT PROPERTY City Attorney Watts reviewed the packet materials. He noted that there is no cost to the City other than staff time to administer the grant nor any liability for loan repayment upon default by the intended recipient. Mr. Randels suggested removing the word "grant" from the resolution since the funding is a loan and not a grant. Mr. Watts stated that although the program is called a "grant" program it is not a grant and the change would not change the intent of the Council's action. Mr. Watts stated it would be possible to add a "whereas" clause that says no city monies are being loaned or granted to the Hastings Company. Public comment: Harry Dudley, President of Hastings Estate spoke in favor of adoption. There was further brief discussion, with consensus that no amendments would be offered. Motion: Mrs. Medlicott moved for approval of Resolution 08-038. Mr Welch seconded. Motion carried unanimously, 6-0, by voice vote. NEW BUSINESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE PROCESS, COUNCIL COMMITTEE PROCESS AS IT RELATES TO ADVISORY COMMITTEES; COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE PROCESS Mr. Watts reviewed the packet materials. Ms. Sandoval stated that citizen advisory committees have had issues lately and expressed the need for staffing and more direct communication with the Council. Discussion ensued about the number and types of committees and the current ways committees communicate with the Council. Ms. Sandoval also noted that citizens continue to ask how they make themselves heard or bring issues forward to the Council's attention for action. Mr. Welch suggested setting up some clear policies and procedures in terms of treating all committees equally; if the rules were more formalized there would be fewer questions about the process. City Council Business Meeting Page 3 September 15, 2008 Mr. Randels said that his experience as chair of the Planning Commission was somewhat different as that is aquasi-judicial body. He said he found it useful for the Commission to prepare a proposed work plan and provide it to the Council. He added that the "In box" needs to be used more frequently or if that is cumbersome then a substitute is needed; that may be a "hopper" in which suggestions are placed and evaluated by a rules committee, a chair or other designee who determines whether it should go to an advisory board, a Council committee or some modified form of "in box" for ultimate consideration of the Council as a whole. Mr. King suggested a pamphlet on how to deal with City Council could be produced. He stated that some committees don't agree and have to sort out their problems; others do agree and submit a work product but are upset and disappointed when Council actions do not meet their expectations. He said the committee members need to understand the limitations the council works under such as timing of grants, budget, and staffing. It would be helpful to have that made clear at the beginning of service on a committee. Ms. Sandoval added that the CD/LU committee seems to have the most advisory committees reporting and it would make sense to figure out a more equitable distribution plan for advisory committees reporting to Council committees. Mr. Randels stated when the committees are constituted perhaps they should have a relatively broad jurisdiction; for example the Tree Committee might have been too narrow in it focus. There may be a way to combine and thus reduce the number of advisory committees. He suggested that the Special Projects Committee discuss the issues. Ms. Robinson stated that the committees should develop work plans to be considered when the Council is considering its own work plan and should include rationale, situations and examples. The Council should also decide what to assign to the committees. She added there is a danger if the Council is not aware of what everyone is working on; people can invest energy in something and then the full Council is not willing to support that particular project or issue. Mr. Randels stated that there is a difference between seeking Council approval and providing the Council with information. If all committee minutes are provided to the Council it would give some advance information on what issues were being discussed; Council might give some guidance from there. It was agreed that informal visits by Council members to committee meetings is desirable and possibly assignments could be made to match up Council members with particular committees for quarterly drop-ins. Mr. Welch stated that there should be clarity in the pathway to Council consideration City Council Business Meeting Page 4 September 75, 2008 Motion: Ms. Sandova! moved that this agenda item be tasked to the Special Projects Committee. Mr. Welch seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 6-0, by voice vote. PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT Motion: Mr Rande/s moved to accept the Mayor's recommendation and confirm the appointment of Counsel Langley to the Arts Commission (Position #9, term expires May 1, 2010). Ms. Robinson seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 6-0, by voice vote. Ms. Sandoval stated that the Council and Jefferson County Commissioners need to meet and discuss potential land identified for use as affordable housing. Ms. Sandoval also asked that staff respond to a letter from the Port of Port Townsend requesting the re-establishment of regular intergovernmental meetings. Consensus was that a meeting should be scheduled no later than the first quarter of 2009. City Attorney John Watts made brief remarks about the non-binding letter of agreement between the City and postal service. Further presentation and discussion was deferred to the next meeting when City Manager David Timmons will be present. EXECUTIVE SESSION The Council met in executive session starting at 8:30 p.m. to discuss potential litigation. Mayor Sandoval stated the session would take about 40 minutes and no action would be taken after the session. RECONVENE The meeting was reconvened at 9:20 p.m. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:21 p.m. Attest: ~~~~~~ r~ Pamela Kolacy, MMC City Clerk City Council Business Meeting Page 5 September 15, 2008