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MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP OF JULY 13, 2020
CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Port Townsend City Council met in workshop session on the 13th day of July 2020
in Council Chambers at 540 Water Street. Mayor Michelle Sandoval called the meeting
to order at 6:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers present at roll call were Pam Adams, David Faber, Amy Howard,
Monica MickHager, Owen Rowe, Ariel Speser, and Michelle Sandoval.
Staff members present were City Manager John Mauro, City Attorney Heidi Greenwood,
Parks Recreation and Community Services Director Alex Wisniewski, and City Clerk
Joanna Sanders.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
The following individuals provided written comments regarding the resolution (the
clerk read written comments into the record):
Bob Gray on the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Victory.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Discussion of the Golf Course Request for Proposal
Parks Recreation and Community Services Director Alex Wisniewski gave the staff
presentation. He solicited input and direction on the scope of work and led a
discussion of whether it should be broadened to mixed recreational uses, including
a review of some of the pros and cons of soliciting multiple types of RFPS, the
primary being that it might lead to receiving fewer targeted golf course proposals.
He reviewed the timeline and asked whether the City should incorporate capital
investment as an RFP component.
The following individuals provided written comments (the clerk read written
comments into the record):
Bob Gray
Scott Walker
Significant Council discussion ensued with staff responding to questions on a
structure for the RFP, PROS Plan references, lack of City capital investment for the
golf course facility, and the dual track exploration process to an RFP for golf course..
It was noted that on June 8, Council gave authority to the City Manager to explore a
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request for proposal. In addition, the Finance and Budget Committee reviewed and
recommended that the golf course was not viable as a City Department.
City Attorney Heidi Greenwood addressed questions about any deed restriction for
the property limiting it to golf course purposes, noting there is only a restriction
for municipal purposes.
In summation, staff and Council's discussion and comments were that the RFP
would focus on golfing as an activity. There was a desire for flexibility about a
potential change in course configuration, reuse of property, and mixed or shared
recreational opportunities. The recreational component could be left relatively broad
as there might be additional multi-use proposals as a result of the
separate community engagement discussions. If there were a desire for an
alternative layout or reconfiguration, the plan would need to identify the
capital needs and investment as part of the vendor's operational plan so that there
is not utilization of City funding.
Mr. Wisniewski indicated that ideally the exploration of other options would have
followed a successful or unsuccessful RFP process. Since the processes are
running concurrently, he and Mr. Mauro offered that before October, staff would
work to create evaluative criteria for the RFPs. Another touchpoint would be to
outline what the broader engagement process would look like to determine the
highest and best use of this facility. There was some concern about how the City
would manage or evaluate potentially disparate ideas through the engagement
process as compared with specific evaluation criteria outlined through the RFP
process.
It was noted that if Council authorizes a new lease for the golf course, the City
does not have the capital investment funds to support the operations. The
lease/leaseholder responsibilities would need to be clear as would the obligations
for adherence to the terms of the lease. There was recognition that any areas not
directly related to the golf course operations would remain the City's responsibility.
EXECUTIVE SESSION RELATED TO REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE OF A PUBLIC
EMPLOYEE PURSUANT TO RCW 42.30.110(1)(G)
At 8:16 p.m., the Council went into Executive Session for an estimated 30 minutes with
no action or decision.
At 9:03 p.m., the Council came back into open session.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:03 p.m.
Attest:
Joanna Sanders, MMC
City Clerk
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