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HomeMy WebLinkAbout071618CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING OF JULY 16, 2018 CALL TO ORDER The Port Townsend City Council met in regular session on the 16th day of July 2018 in Council Chambers at 540 Water Street. Mayor Deborah Stinson called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Councilmembers present at roll call were David Faber, Robert Gray, Amy Howard, Michelle Sandoval, Ariel Speser, and Deborah Stinson with Pamela Adams excused. Staff members present were City Manager David Timmons, City Attorney Heidi Greenwood, Development Services Director Lance Bailey, Public Works Director Greg Lanning, Police Chief Michael Evans, Finance and Administrative Services Director Nora Mitchell, and City Clerk Joanna Sanders. Mayor Stinson welcomed new City Attorney Heidi Greenwood. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS Jefferson County Noxious Weed Control Board Jefferson County Noxious Weed Coordinator Joost Besign gave a presentation on the role of the weed board and controlling noxious weeds. He provided an overview of the memorandum of understanding with the City to collaborate on poison hemlock control, street crew training, and management reporting. For the next memorandum of understanding covering the period from 2019-2021, he would work with the City Manager Timmons and Public Works Director Greg Lanning. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Public comment Emelia deSouza, Jefferson County Pride President, presented a certificate of appreciation to the City. She also recognized Community Services Officer Wendy Davis for her assistance at their event. Larry Dunbar of the Jefferson County Public Utility District requested a letter of support for the PUD's application of their CERB grant for Jefferson County broadband planning. There was consensus of Council for the City to provide a letter of support. Mayor Stinson recommended that Mr. Dunbar also contact the North Olympic Development Council. City Council Business Meeting July 16, 2018 Page 1 of 5 Kevin Coker, speaking to the later public hearing topic, urged that both the 8 and 12 - year exemptions be incorporated because of the need for work force housing. CONSENT AGENDA Approval of Bills, Claims and Warrants Vouchers 160114 through 160119 in the amount of $185,190.48 Vouchers 160120 through 160194 in the amount of $118,871.25 Electronic Funds Transfer in the amount of $23,752.00 Vouchers 160195 through 160244 in the amount of $905,572.92 Electronic Funds Transfer in the amount of $39.34 Electronic Funds Transfer in the amount of $106.93 Vouchers 160245 through 160250 in the amount of $302,133.70 Vouchers 160251 through 160290 in the amount of $145,653.18 Vouchers 160291 through 160350 in the amount of $119,225.21 Vouchers 160351 through 160355 in the amount of $1,193.61 Approval of Minutes: May 7, May 14, May 21, 2018 Resolution 18-035 Fixing the Time for Hearing of August 20, 2018 on a Petition for a Street Vacation and to Consider Naming of a New Street Mayor Sandoval disclosed that she has a business relationship with the petitioners. City Attorney Heidi Greenwood noted that no recusal was needed. Motion: Amy Howard moved to approve the consent agenda as written. David Faber seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. PUBLIC HEARING Ordinance 3200 Related to Taxation; Adopting a Multifamily Tax Exemption Program, Designating Residential Target Areas, and Adding a New Chapter 3.15 "Multi -Family Tax Exemptions" to the Port Townsend Municipal Code Mayor Stinson reviewed the procedures for the public hearing. There were no Council financial or property matters to disclose. The staff presentation was given by Planning Director Lance Bailey. Referring to state regulation terminology "multi -unit" versus City code "multi -family," he explained that the City code considers a fourplex to be a single-family development. For this program, Staff is using the term multi -unit and to qualify, four units would need to be built. He then detailed the main difference between the 8 and 12 -year exemption. The 12 -year requires income qualifications (developer rents or sells at least 20% of the units to either low-income (80% of less of median income) or moderate income (120% or less of median income). The eight-year City Council Business Meeting July 16, 2018 Page 2 of 5 exemption has no income qualifier, so this would be market rate housing. In response to Council's request, a change was made to Area 6 map to exclude the Sea Breeze parcel. Despite what he previously understood from the State Department of Revenue, Seattle and Edmonds passed just the 12 -year exemption while Lynnwood, Bremerton and Bellingham have both. Council could choose to include income qualifications for the eight-year exemption. After speaking with developers and from recent studies (Hovee and the Rainier Street Sub -Area Plan), Staff recommends adopting 8 -year without income qualifiers as well as the 12 -year with income qualifiers. If negative impacts are seen on the ground, Council could later modify the program. Public Comment: Liz Coker of the Jefferson County Home Builders Association spoke in support of the 8 and 12 -year exemptions and this being a temporary versus permanent program. The developer's proximity to the project is a large factor as is construction worker housing. Brent Butler spoke in support of the 8 and 12 -year exemptions. He was concerned that the hospital is absent from the list of residential target areas. Kevin Coker spoke in support of the 8 and 12 -year tax incentive. Justine Gonzales -Berg voiced concern on allowing the eight-year program without income qualifications. Questions to which staff responded related to height limitations, bulk and scale standards, eligibility, review of the mapped areas, public hearing legal notice, and program management including certification. Mayor Stinson closed the public testimony portion of the hearing. During deliberation, there was further discussion about the adequacy of the legal notice, the need for a range of housing options, and a question about other cities using the 8 -year program. Council also considered the following recommendations: exclude Areas 1 and 2, edit the boundaries of Area 2, add a notice to title as a condition, and edit the boundaries of Area 2 or delay the vote until Staff answers are known. Motion. Michelle Sandoval moved to approve first reading of Ordinance 3200 Related to Taxation, Adopting a Multifamily Tax Exemption Program, Designating Residential Target Areas, and Adding a New Chapter 3.15 "Multi -Family Tax Exemptions" to the Port Townsend Municipal Code (the public record in this matter would be held open to August 6 at 4.30 pm). Referral of Area maps 1 and 2 for review by the Council Ad Hoc Committee on Housing on Thursday, July 19). Amy Howard seconded. Vote: motion carried, 5-1 by voice vote, Robert Gray opposed. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - NONE NEW BUSINESS City Council Business Meeting July 16, 2018 Page 3 of 5 Resolution 18-033, Adopting the Jefferson County — City of Port Townsend Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Police Chief Michael Evans gave the staff report on the plan that must be adopted by the City and County every four years. Mayor Stinson spoke in support of the plan. Motion: David Faber moved to approve Resolution 18-033, Adopting the Jefferson County — City of Port Townsend Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Ariel Speser seconded. Vote. motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. Resolution 18-034, Establishing Finance and Budget Policy Guidelines and Repealing Resolution 16-042 Finance and Administrative Services Director Nora Mitchell led Council through a review of the primary changes. Councilmember Howard reported on the review of the policies by the Finance and Budget Committee. There was no public comment. Motion: Ariel Speser moved to approve Resolution 18-034, Establishing Finance and Budget Policy Guidelines and Repealing Resolution 16-042. Robert Gray seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT Mayor Stinson reported on the following- - Attendance at a Whidbey Island Naval Air Station briefing. - Participation at the Water Street "Party on the Plaza" and ribbon cutting ceremony - Attendance at the Jefferson County Marine Trades Economic Impact Presentation CITY MANAGER'S REPORT City Manager David Timmons reported on the following- - Citizen recognition of Community Services Officer Wendy Davis - July 30 meeting on housing with Jefferson County Board of Commissioners - Recycling briefing is forthcoming to Council - Water status update - Findings from his trip Norway COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL Amy Howard reported on her attendance at the Annual AWC Conference in Yakima and agreed to report to the Ad Hoc Committee on Housing on the topic of transitional housing. City Council Business Meeting July 16, 2018 Page 4 of 5 Robert Gray reported on the following: attendance at the Habitat for Humanity Writing on the Wall ceremony, working with Councilmember Speser on Bishop Park Trail, attendance at the Kiwanis adopt a park event at the sign on the entrance to town, and attendance at the County Solid Waste Advisory Committee meeting. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:54 p.m. Attest: Joanna Sanders, MMC City Clerk City Council Business Meeting July 16, 2018 Page 5 of 5