HomeMy WebLinkAbout020909• CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE WORKSHOP SESSION OF FEBRUARY 9, 2009
CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The City Council of the City of Port Townsend met in workshop session the ninth
day of February 2009 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 Brent Butler, David King, George
Randels, Catharine Robinson, Michelle Sandoval and Mark Welch. Laurie
Medlicott was excused.
Staff members present were City Manager David Timmons, City Attorney John
Watts, Public Works Director Ken Clow, Water Operations Manager Bob LaCroix,
Water Resources Asset Manager Ian Jablonski, and City Clerk Pam Kolacy.
U.S. FOREST SERVICE SPECIAL USE PERMIT
HOUSE BILL 1494 (WATER BANK EXCHANGE PROVISIONS)
HOUSE BILL 1482 (RECLAIMED WATER PERMITTING)
• WATER RESOURCE INVENTORY AREA (WRIA 17) -DOE STATE RULE
City Manager David Timmons noted that the Council, at their retreat in January,
requested a workshop to hear an update on water issues. He also stated that at
a recent meeting with Representative Kessler and others, Mayor Sandoval was
made aware of a perception that Port Townsend has an excess of water which
could be sold or used by other entities. It was noted that the Mayor would
provide a letter to Representative Kessler explaining some of the complexities of
Port Townsend's water supply system.
Mr. Timmons said that this is a false perception because of the many limitations
placed on the system and the complicated matter of water rights to water in the
rivers. There is a big difference between our water supply in theory and our
water supply in reality.
Ian Jablonski and Bob LaCroix discussed the water system, the status of the
U.S. Forest Service Special Use Permit renewal decision and the conditions of
the renewal, as well as current proposed legislation regarding water. Bills which
are in the legislature now would establish different tools in terms of how to
manage the water resources we have. It is important that limitations and realities
are recognized along with assumed capacity.
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City Council Workshop Page 1 February 9, 2009
• At this time, Port Townsend is one of a small number of cities which do not have
a filtration system for the water supply.
Mr. Timmons stated that critical decision points will be coming up which will
impact the City and development in Jefferson County. Issuance of the Forest
Service permit renewal will add layers of regulation and monitoring for the City's
water supply.
The City is mostly supportive of the preliminary Draft Rule for WRIA 17; it was
noted that when the formal rule is adopted, the WRIA planning unit has ended its
responsibility.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:01 p.m.
Attest:
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Pam Kolacy, MMC
City Clerk
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City Council Workshop Page 2 February 9, 2009