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HomeMy WebLinkAbout101722CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING OF OCTOBER 17, 2022 ROLL CALL The Port Townsend City Council met in a Regular Business Meeting on the 17th day of October 2022 in Council Chambers at 540 Water Street. Mayor David Faber called the meeting to order at 6:30pm. Council members present at roll call were Aislinn Diamanti, David Faber, Amy Howard, Monica MickHager, Owen Rowe, Ben Thomas, and Libby Wennstrom. Staff present were City Manager John Mauro, City Attorney Heidi Greenwood, Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin, Library Director Melody Sky Weaver, Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations Manager Bliss Morris, Facilities and Parks Manager Michael Todd, Director of Finance and Technology Connie Anderson, Director of Parks and Recreation Strategy Carrie Hite, Public Works Director Steve King, and City Clerk Alyssa Rodrigues. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA There were no changes to the agenda. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS Proclamation for Planning Month Mayor Faber presented the Community Planning Month Proclamation to the Planning Commission Vice Chair Rick Jahnke. Proclamation for National Friends of Libraries Week Mayor Faber presented the National Friends of Libraries Week Proclamation to Friends of the Port Townsend Library President Deb Vanderbilt. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Public comment Jim Scarantino spoke about Mayor Faber's Twitter account. Bethel Prescott spoke about transgender rights. October 17, 2022 City Council Business Meeting Page 1 of 6 Lani Peterson spoke about 77th Anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. David Griffith spoke about his appreciation for the Jefferson County Library. City Staff Response In response to written public comment City Manager John Mauro explained the City has a good water supply. CONSENT AGENDA Approval of Bills, Claims and Warrants Approval of Minutes: July 5, 2022, July 111, 2022, August 8, 2022, October 3,2022 Ordinance No. 3296 An Ordinance of the City of Port Townsend Related to Notice of Residential Rent Increases and Amending the Port Townsend Municipal Code Title 9 and Adding a New Chapter 9.60 Residential Rent Increase Notice Ordinance No. 3296: An Ordinance of the City of Port Townsend, Washington, Amending Port Townsend Municipal Code Chapter 10.28 Speed Limits Established and Adding Two New Sections Motion: Monica MickHager moved to approve the consent agenda. Owen Rowe seconded. Vote: Motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (NONE) There was no unfinished business. NEW BUSINESS Capital Facilities Plan Mr. Mauro introduced the Capital Facilities Plan (CFP). Mr. King presented the CFP which included the adoption process for the CFP, Capital timeline process and roadmap, and purpose of the CFP. Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin explained the Public Hearing process and importance for future Councils to understand what has happened previously. Director of Parks and Recreation Strategy Carrie Hite explained how the CFP provides information to allow for informed decisions by Council. October 17, 2022 City Council Business Meeting Page 2 of 6 Mr. King continued on to discuss details, projects, hard to fund projects and placeholders. In response to Council's clarifying questions Mr. King confirmed Council could get a list of properties and also clarified the list consists of properties identified for affordable housing which were not officially declared surplus. Mr. King confirmed he will fix the wording for grants and donations for sources of funding. In addition, he confirmed libraries can receive grants. He went on to state the CFP is not ready for prioritizing, but he would like to be informed by Council if there was something missed as well as receive their feedback. In response to Council's clarifying questions Mr. King stated the funded tables are somewhat prioritized as they have been through a process to be funded. However, the unfunded table is not. He continued to explain the dog park amount is an estimate placeholder. Mr. King stated Council authorized $100k for the Cherry St Carmel Building in 2022 to prepare the property for sale and is assuming it would be carried forward in 2023. He went on to state there has been a proposal to add another restroom by Quimper Plaza and explained due to new staff there may be projects of which they are not aware. Mr. King confirmed he would add Visitors Center bathrooms to the list. In response to Council's clarifying questions Mr. Mauro explained the EDC contract was left blank due to an existing contract and it has been put in the category to reflect its value add for the community through an investment. Mr. King explained the CFP is for capital only. Ms. Bolin explained certain items came from the Downtown Urban Waterfront Plan which she confirmed was dated but being new to the City she had to decipher what was still relevant. In response to Council's clarifying questions Mr. King explained staff will bring planning information forward until it changes and confirmed the document will be updated and placeholders will be removed as information is received. He went on to explain items are placed on the CFP through an initiative effort. Mr. Mauro explained due to the high degree of commitment to public feedback the City would want to design a process around a subject area and then infer decision making trajectory. In addition, he explained this CFP is available to the public now through the council packet. Mr. King stated once the CFP is adopted it will go on the City website under City Plans. In response to Council's clarifying questions Ms. Bolin shared the parking structure was part of the Downtown Urban Waterfront Plan. Mr. King stated the CFP implements the Comprehensive Plan and any items will need to be vetted against the Comprehensive Plan. Ms. Bolin explained there are opportunities to add projects outside of the CFP. Mr. King suggested checking Library Foundation bylaws to see if it can be a source of funding and confirmed they need to revise the Cultural Access Program description. He continued to explain the table for "Inventory of City Properties" is large and needs to be scanned and added. In response to Council's clarifying questions Mr. King explained there will always be a 1 % for the Arts line in the CFP and they will review each time to see if it is applicable. Ms. Greenwood shared the intent of the upcoming Public Art Subcommittee is to discuss capital projects in relation to the 1 % for the Arts. Mr. King shared the number of projects the 1 % applies to is small. He went on to state because there was a significant replacement portion of the Equipment Repair and October 17, 2022 City Council Business Meeting Page 3 of 6 Replacement Fund, and they are not doing the same for General Fund Equipment this could probably be changed and explained fiscal sustainability is the right venue to discuss the change. Mr. Mauro confirmed from the bylaws of the Library Foundation it states facilities would be eligible and the grant committee looks for federal and state funds. Mr. King confirmed he will change Jefferson County School District wording. Public Comment: Debbie Jahnke spoke about maintenance for the "Courting Pigeon Guillemots° sculpture and history. Council member Howard explained restrooms were originally in the Visitors Center Plan and just stub outs were in the Downtown Urban Waterfront plan and asked to have the Visitor Center restroom added to the CFP. Council shared their appreciation for staffs work on the CFP. Resolution 22-040 Directing the City Manager to Include the Remaining Banked Property Tax Capacity and Restrict $908,000 for Respective Capital Projects in the 2023 City Budget Mr. Mauro introduced Resolution 22-040, Ms. Anderson explained Banked Capacity process. She shared there is an additional $300,000 that can be added to Banked Capacity this year. She went on to explain the dollar amounts set aside with that property tax are restricted through 2024 for specific capital projects which are part of the list provided to Council earlier in meeting. Mr. King shared the RCO grant will probably not be successful because we are out of compliance. Public Comment: There was no public comment. Motion:, Aislinn Diamanti moved to approve Resolution 22-040 Directing the City Manager to Include the Remaining Banked Property Tax Capacity and Restrict $908,000 for Respective Capital Projects in the 2023 Budget. Monica MickHager seconded. Vote: Motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote. Resolution 22-041 Updating and Providing for Public Works Department Fees Mr. Mauro introduced Resolution 22-041. Mr. King shared they have received requests to take in materials at the Wastewater Treatment Plant which they traditionally do not take in, such as composting toilet waste and water high in BOD. Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations Manager Bliss Morris explained the process for disposing these materials as well as the need to charge a fee to dispose. Mr. King explained the fee is reasonable and is due to the interruption of staff time to deal with these situations. October 17, 2022 City Council Business Meeting Page 4 of 6 In response to Council's clarifying questions Mr. Morris explained if it says "drop in" this means the meter base is already there, and meter will have to physically be put in base. Public Comment: There was no public comment. Motion: Ben Thomas moved to approve Resolution 22-041 Updating and Providing for Public Works Department Fees. Owen Rowe seconded. Vote: Motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote. PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT Mayor Faber provided the Presiding Officers report which included upcoming City retirements, upcoming meeting with the President of Western Washington University to discuss partnership with local community colleges to provide more four-year college opportunities on the Olympic Peninsula, and update on marketing fund discussion from Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT Mr. Mauro provided the City Manager's Report which included meeting with Peninsula College President Suzy Ames, Ms. Andersons work with Jefferson County, staffing update, NW Women's Leadership Academy, partnerships, Golf Course/Mt View Open House, press release process, Zero Emission Cooperative, Ride -Share, East Jefferson Fire Rescue 150th Anniversary, CARES program, Port Townsend Paper Corporation acquisition, partnership meetings with the Port, Great Shake Out Drill, and Long Range Planner presentation. SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT OR FUTURE AGENDA, REGULAR MEETING AND/OR STUDY SESSION COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL Council member Rowe shared his full support for Mayor Faber. He went on to state he is entertained by Mayor Faber's Twitter account and does not understand that as in anyway representing the City's Organization. Council member Howard shared the Housing Fund Board is doing site visits and is excited to see several agencies and how they are operating. In addition, she shared the Finance and Budget Council Committee meetings have been moved to the Council of the whole for the rest of the year. ADJOURN October 17, 2022 City Council Business Meeting Page 5 of 6 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:04pm. Attest: City Clerk October 17, 2022 City Council Business Meeting Page 6 of 6