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HomeMy WebLinkAbout072423 City Council Business Meeting MinutesCITY OF PORT TOWNSEND MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL SESSION OF JULY 24, 2023 CALL TO ORDER/ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Port Townsend City Council met in a Special Session on the 24th day of July 2023 in Council Chambers at 540 Water Street. Deputy Mayor Amy Howard called the meeting to order at 6:01 pm. ROLL CALL Councilmembers present at roll call were David Faber, Amy Howard, Monica MickHager, Owen Rowe, Ben Thomas, and Libby Wennstrom with Aislinn Palmer excused. Staff members present were City Manager John Mauro , Public Works Director Steve King , Finance and Technology Services Director Connie Anderson , Code Compliance Officer KT Labadie, and City Clerk Alyssa Rodrigues. PUBLIC HEARING Ordinance 3319 Related to a Transportation Benefit District and Amending the Port Townsend Municipal Code to Add a New Chapter 12.50 "Port Townsend Transportation Benefit District' Deputy Mayor Howard reviewed the Public Hearing Rules of Procedures. City Manager John Mauro introduced Ordinance 3319. Public Works Director Steve King presented Ordinance 3319 Related to a Transportation Benefit District and Amending the Port Townsend Municipal Code to Add a New Chapter 12.50 "Port Townsend Transportation Benefit District" which included Overview, What is a Transportation Benefit District (TBD), How Much Revenue is Available, Why a TBD, What a TBD Would Help Fund in PT, and Are Projects Specifically Identified?. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained Pavement Condition Assessment title. July 24, 2023 Special Session City Council Business Meeting Page 1 of 5 Mr. King, Mr. Mauro, and Finance and Technology Services Director Connie Anderson continued the presentation which included What's Led to This Decision Tonight, What Happens From Here, and TBD in relation to revenue process. Public Comment: Submitted written comment was read aloud by Mr. King, Rebecca Kimball spoke in favor of Ordinance 3319. Scott Walker spoke in favor of Ordinance 3319. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained the assumption of TBD being additive to existing City Budget, Council assuming TBD, effort to present TBD to Council, why money can't be moved from somewhere else, oversight from Council, Complete Streets Policy, Comprehensive Streets, preliminary discussion regarding TBD direction, TBD in effect details, and sales tax process. Deputy Mayor Howard closed the public testimony portion of the hearing. Discussion ensued around 0.1 % Councilmanic and ballot measure for 0.2% if district is formed, 0.3% all going to voter, timing of votes, sales tax, history of car tabs, street budget history, implications of delaying, potential confusions regarding timing of tax, sales tax vs. car tabs, appreciation for staff, priority list, Councilmanic history, confusion to public and business owners, groceries being exempt from sales tax, state mandates, limited in taxing authority, online shopping sales tax trend, not binding future Councils, TBD will be added to revenue, grant funding matches, and budget process. Motion: Monica MickHager moved to waive Council Rules and approve Ordinance 3319 Related to a Transportation Benefit District and Amending the Port Townsend Municipal Code to Add a New Chapter 12.50 "Port Townsend Transportation Benefit District" Libby Wennstrom seconded. Discussion ensued around local small business community outreach for feedback. Deputy Mayor Howard closed the public hearing, Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. July 24, 2023 Special Session City Council Business Meeting Page 2 of 5 UNFINISHED BUSINESS Ordinance 3317 Related to Peace, Morals, and Safety Repealing Chapters 9.08 -Nuisances, 9.10- Punishment and Abatement of Nuisances, 9.12- Burning Permits, 9.16- Storage of Petroleum Products, and 9.32- Malt Liquor Sales and Distribution of the Port Townsend Municipal Code and Adopting a New Chapter 9.08 Nuisances Mr. Mauro introduced Ordinance 3317. Code Compliance Officer KT Labadie presented Ordinance 3317 which included reviewing changes for second reading located in Agenda Bill. Public Comment: There was no public comment. Discussion ensued around not specifying a number in 1.2.A of Code, the term "apparently inoperable", boats, 12ft height vs. 8ft height, term "stored", "single family residential lot" vs "single residential parcel", AA.- enforcement on large parcels, A.5.- 7ft being the lowest, F.5- snow/ice removal and education, clear vision area 10 ft vs 20 ft, high accident areas, property owners taking code literally, good effort by staff to clean up what was in the past, and objective set of rules with complaint initiated process Motion: Libby Wennstrom moved to have in 1.2. the word "lot" be replaced with the word "parcel"; 2.A and 2. C be struck, and 2.B. be 12ft in height. Ben Thomas seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. Motion. Amy Howard moved to have in A.6. 30 inches be removed so it reads "vegetation within the clear vision area, as defined by PTMC 12.04.030, that blocks or impairs motorists, cyclists, or pedestrian visibility. " Ben Thomas seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. Motion. Ben Thomas moved to have in A.5. changed from 8 ft to 7 ft. Monica MickHager seconded. Vote. motion failed, 3-3 by voice vote, with David Faber, Amy Howard, and Owen Rowe opposed. Motion: Owen Rowe moved to have in F.5. changed to state, "snow or ice uncleared within 24 hours. " Libby Wennstrom seconded. Vote: motion carried, 5-1 by voice vote, Ben Thomas opposed. Motion. Owen Rowe moved to approve Ordinance 3317 Related to Peace, Morals, and Safety Repealing Chapters 9.08 -Nuisances, 9.10- Punishment and Abatement of Nuisances, 9.12- Burning Permits, 9.16- Storage of Petroleum Products, and 9.32- Malt July 24, 2023 Special Session City Council Business Meeting Page 3 of 5 Liquor Sales and Distribution of the Port Townsend Municipal Code and Adopting a New Chapter 9.08 Nuisances as amended. Monica MickHager seconded. Vote. motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. Ordinance 3318 Related to Minor Landscaping in the Right of Way and Amending Sections 12.04.030 and 12.04.075 of the Port Townsend Municipal Code Mr. King presented Ordinance 3318 Related to Minor Landscaping in the Right of Way and Amending Sections 12.04.030 and 12.04.075 of the Port Townsend Municipal Code which included item being in original agenda bill and bringing these sections into conformance with just approved nuisance code, PTMC 12.04.030„ 30 inches appearing in PTMC 12.04.075, default to zoning code which is 36inches, limit for minor landscaping in Right of Way at 3ft, and needing to be a vision obstruction. Public Comment: There was no public comment. Council discussed Section 2 of Ordinance 3318, staff recommended keeping 30 inches, defined height is helpful, where to measure from, and 30 inches being reasonable. Motion: David Faber moved to approve Ordinance 3318 Related to Minor Landscaping in the Right of Way and Amending Sections 12.04.030 and 12.04.075 of the Port Townsend Municipal Code. Owen Rowe seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. NEW BUSINESS Transportation Improvement Board Grant Application Priorities Mr. King presented the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) Grant Application Priorities which included getting application in for the TIB, successful projects, informal scoring, Urban Arterial Program, predesign and planning layout, Active Transportation Program, match funds, various sidewalk projects, and dedicating match funding. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained easement by Co -Op having ADA compliant trail, Jefferson St trail, and grants not reimbursing for overhead cost of engineering. July 24, 2023 Special Session City Council Business Meeting Page 4 of 5 Public Comment: There was no public comment. Council discussed potential Sims Way changes in relation to these changes, County admin building, sidewalks on McPherson, sidewalk on Washington St, street parking along Courthouse Park, and agreement with staff recommendations. Motion. Owen Rowe moved to support a Transportation Improvement Board grant application for the Sims Way and Washington Streets Active Transportation projects and dedicate banked capacity property tax as local funding up to $150, 000 for grant match and staff administration costs. Ben Thomas seconded. Vote. motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:31 pm. Attest Alyssa Rodrigues City Clerk July 24, 2023 Special Session City Council Business Meeting Page 5 of 5