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HomeMy WebLinkAbout090523 City Council Business Meeting MinutesCITY OF PORT TOWNSEND MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 5, 2023 CALL TO ORDER/ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Port Townsend City Council met in a Regular Session on the 5th day of September 2023 in Council Chambers at 540 Water Street. Mayor David Faber called the meeting to order at 6:00pm. Councilmembers present at roll call were David Faber, Monica MickHager, Aislinn Palmer, Owen Rowe, Ben Thomas, and Libby Wennstrom with Amy Howard excused. Staff members present were City Manager John Mauro, City Attorney Heidi Greenwood, Public Works Director Steve King , Marketing and Communications Manager Shelly Leavens, Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin , and City Clerk Alyssa Rodrigues. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA Mayor Faber suggested moving New Business Item C to Item B. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS Library Card Sign Up Proclamation Mayor Faber presented the Library Card Sign Up Proclamation to Library Director Melody Sky -Weaver. ELR Recap- 49th St Traffic Calming Presentation City Manager John Mauro introduced ELR Recap- 49th St Traffic Calming Presentation. Public Works Director Steve King presented the Edge Lane Roads Special Presentation Update which included References, Traffic Calming -49th Street Neighborhood, Traffic Calming, Traffic Calming Psychology, Traffic Calming What Is It? Traffic Calming What is it not?, Traffic Calming Options and Costs Estimates, Traffic Calming Speed Reduction and Budgets, Traffic Calming Importance- Visibility, Traffic Calming Importance- Crashes, Traffic Calming Local Examples- Edge Lane Roads, Traffic Calming- Examples- Traffic Calming Islands, Traffic Calming Splitter Island with Raised Crossings, Traffic Calming Additional Examples- Curb Extensions, Traffic Calming Consequences, Traffic Calming Additional Examples- Speed Humps, Traffic Calming Additional Examples- Chicanes, Medians, Landscaping, Traffic Calming September 5, 2023 City Council Business Meeting Page 1 of 5 Beware of Spot Treatment, and Traffic Calming Engagement. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained residents requesting to slow traffic down and ELR's, Right of Way on 49th Street, bike lane option challenges, grant timeline, slower streets and tax burden, decreasing stormwater burden, speed table loudness, police department feedback, costs of undoing ELR's, dotted line used as parking, and signage. Discussion ensued around ELR success in other countries, safety, and engaging with data. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT Mr. Mauro presented the City Manager's Report which included H?k?le?a Arrival, Kearney St, Council Workshops, Evans Vista Workshop, Golf Course Council dates, and Community Coffees. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff responded to how the OWL worked at offsite Workshop. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Public comment Dan Bergen spoke about the benefits ELR's. Christina Albrecht spoke about the Golf Course and nonprofit. City Staff Response Mr. Mauro provided a city staff response which included importance of public comment in packet. CONSENT AGENDA Approval of Bills, Claims and Warrants Approval of Minutes: July 24, 2023, August 7, 2023 Authorization to Update Salary Schedule Authorize the City Manager to Execute all Agreements Necessary to Complete the 2023 Banked Capacity Street Repair Projects. IT Equipment Replacement Motion: Aislinn Palmer moved to approve the consent agenda. Libby Wennstrom seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. September 5, 2023 City Council Business Meeting Page 2 of 5 UNFINISHED BUSINESS (NONE) NEW BUSINESS Resolution 23-047 Appointing Conner Bouchard -Roberts as the 2024 Port Townsend Poet Laureate Mr. Mauro introduced Resolution 23-047, City Attorney Heidi Greenwood, Marketing and Communications Manager Shelly Leavens, and Port Townsend Arts Commission member Lindsay Wayland presented Resolution 23-047 Appointing Conner Bouchard -Roberts as the 224 Port Townsend Poet Laureate which included Poet Laureate process, recommendation of Conner Bouchard -Roberts as Poet Laureate, and budget. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff and Arts Commission member explained Poet Laureate upcoming workplan, budget, how to learn more about program, There was no public comment. Council discussed appreciation for work on Poet Laureate program, Arts Commission budget, and funding sources. Motion: Ben Thomas moved to approve Resolution 23-047 Appointing Conner Bouchard -Roberts as the 2024 Port Townsend Poet Laureate Monica MickHager seconded. Council discussed appreciation expanding, the importance of the program, and Library participation in poetry. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. Resolution 23-048 Waiving the One Year Waiting Period for the Appointment of a Fort Worden PDA Interim Director Mr. Mauro, Fort Worden PDA Council Liaison Council member Wennstrom, Ms. Greenwood, Fort Worden PDA Board members Celeste Tell, David King, and John Begley presented Resolution 23-048 Waiving the One Year Waiting Period for the Appointment of a Fort Worden PDA Interim Director which included recent resignation of Executive Director of Fort Worden PDA, appointing a board member as interim Executive Director, letter requesting flexibility in Code, full public transparent process details, lack of organizational capacity for search, Celeste Tell as interim Executive Director, value in interim, concern of year not being long enough, recommendation of 18 months or two years, letter details, details of Resolution. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff, Council member Wennstrom and Fort Worden PDA board members explained time limit in Resolution, another waiver in a year process, and term expirations. Public Comment: There was no public comment. September 5, 2023 City Council Business Meeting Page 3 of 5 Council discussed one year waiver, point of time limit, public transparency, right timeline, onboarding new board members, PDA hire, summer season impact, December 31, 2024, Councilmember Palmers previous recusal explanation, importance of daylight on public process, previous interim director, logic of code, April 1, 2025, Memorandum of Agreement, Motion: Libby Wonnstrom moved to approve Resolution 23-048 Waiving a One Year Waiting period for the Appointment of a Fort Worden PDA Interim Executive Director with the following edit that on the bottom of the first page of the actual Resolution text where it says, "this waiver will expire on September 30, 2024" that date be changed to March 31, 2025. Owen Rowe seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. Stock Structural Plan Program and Fees Mr. Mauro introduced Stock Structural Plan Program and Fees. Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin presented the Stock Structural Plan Program and Fees which included partnership with Jefferson County, work Jefferson County is doing, styles of housing for stock structural plans, submitted plan sets, selected plan sets, engaging to see which plans are popular, subcommittee, plans review, benefits of using program, site plan adaptation fee incentive, multi -family tax exemption program, system development charge deferral program, building fee deferral, review of site designs, and recommendation. There was no public comment. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained additional business for designers, subsidy for structural plans review, designer fees, cost for plans listed, approval and inspection timeline, efficiencies, utility, streets and trails challenges, lot coverage in relation to comprehensive plan, 2021 international and state building code, and sell by date for plans. Discussion ensued around purpose of removing barriers, who is benefited, lot size, partnering with the County, building permit process, Seattle program, equity, timeline, affordable dwellings, ADU fees, supply, unintended consequences, voluntary commitments, PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT Mayor Faber provided the Presiding Officer's Report which included meeting with Christina Albrecht regarding Golf Course. SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT OR FUTURE AGENDA, REGULAR MEETING AND/OR STUDY SESSION Council member Wennstrom shared concerns for timing of Golf Course decision meeting on September 25. Discussion ensued around upcoming Council meetings regarding Golf Course meetings which included timeline, workshop format, stakeholder invite, and public comment period time limit. September 5, 2023 City Council Business Meeting Page 4 of 5 COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL There were no comments from Council. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:50pm. Alyssa Rodrigues City Clerk September S.2O23City Council Business Meeting Page 5of5