HomeMy WebLinkAbout111323 Special Session City Council Business Meeting and Tour MinutesCITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL TOUR OF PORT
TOWNSEN DGOLF COURSE AND MOUNTAIN VIEW COMMONS AND BUSINESS
MEETING OF NOVEMBER 13, 2023
CALL TO ORDER
The Port Townsend City Council had a special session on the 13th day of November,
2023 beginning at Mountain View Pool at 1919 Blaine Street at 5:30 p.m. Deputy Mayor
Howard opened the meeting.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers Amy Howard, Aislinn Palmer, Monica MickHager, Ben Thomas, Owen
Rowe, and Libby Wennstrom were present. David Faber was excused.
Staff members present: City Manager John Mauro, Parks and Recreation Strategy
Director Carrie Hite, and Facilities and Parks Manager Michael Todd.
CITY COUNCIL TOUR OF PORT TOWNSEND GOLF COURSE AND MOUNTAIN
VIEW COMMONS
Parks and Recreation Strategy Director Carrie Hite, Facilities and Parks Manager
Michael Todd, City Manager John Mauro, and Olympic Peninsula YMCA Chief
Executive Officer Wendy Bart provided a tour of the Mountain View Pool.
Ms. Hite explained the need to sign a waiver for the tour and if waiver is not signed then
there is verbal consent agreeing the public releases the City of Port Townsend of any
liability. Ms. Hite, Ms. Bart, Mr. Mauro, and Mr. Todd provided tours of the locker rooms.
Public sat on the bleachers and Ms. Hite discussed pool concerns. Council, staff, and
public exited the Mountain View Pool building and proceeded to have Questions and
Answer period outside of the building.
Deputy Mayor Howard announced the capacity of the Mountain View Commons Red
Cross Room was 32 people and provided alternative methods for joining the business
meeting.
The tour concluded at 6:30pm.
CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING AT MOUTAIN VIEW COMMONS (RED CROSS
MEETING ROOM)
Council and staff arrived at the Mountain View Commons Red Cross Meeting Room
1925 Blaine St Ste. 106, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Deputy Mayor Howard called the
meeting to order at 6:30pm. Public was present.
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Councilmembers Amy Howard, Aislinn Palmer, Monica MickHager, Ben Thomas, Owen
Rowe, and Libby Wennstrom were present. David Faber was excused.
Staff members present: City Manager John Mauro, Parks and Recreation Strategy
Director Carrie Hite, City Attorney Heidi Greenwood, Facilities and Parks Manager
Michael Todd, and Deputy City Clerk Lonnie Mickle.
CITY COUNCIL RECEIVES FURTHER BRIEFING ON THE HEALTHEIR TOGETHER
PROJECT
Mr. Mauro introduced the briefing on the Healthier Together Project.
Ms. Hite, Mr. Mauro, Ms. Bart, and Foster Garvey Bond Council Mark Greenough
presented the further briefing on the Healthier Together Project presentation which
included Orientation Revisions, Original Plan, Revised Site Plan, Revised Orientation -
Option A, Revised Orientation- Option B, Financial Analysis, Public Facilities District,
Operational Cost Summary, Operational Projections, and Public Showers.
In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained cost of refinancing, lodging
tax, grant funding administration, sales tax, current growth, independent financial review
for junior taxing district, guarantor, entity responsible for debt, order of feasibility study
and vote, how long to do feasibility study, offering Y token program, how many turned
away for Y token, who would manage public showers, design of public showers,
location of public showers, cost of showers if built somewhere else, defining terms for
City subsidy, staffing, cost comparison with other cities, bond amount, who has had
presentation, how to keep old pool open, special election cost, use of sales tax,
reserves, PFD proposal, what if not successful, and gym.
Public Comment:
Alea Water spoke about the pool.
Mark Leavens spoke about the pool
Kate Chadwick spoke about the pool.
Deborah Pederson spoke about the pool
John McCormack spoke about the pool.
Jane Armstrong spoke about the pool.
Serena Perless and other Highschool Swim Team members spoke about the pool
Jim Scarantino spoke about the pool.
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Julia Cochrane spoke about the pool.
Tim Behrenfeld spoke about the pool.
Zach Moser spoke about the pool.
Rita Mandoli spoke about the pool.
Michelle West spoke about the pool.
Kai Wallin spoke about the pool.
Anita Hale spoke about the pool.
In response to Public Comment staff explained alternate sterilization, swim lessons for
county, City Council action, showers, rate, Ballard King report, Y recommended, City
line items, staffing, tourism dollars, sustainability, all options, and diving.
Council discussed change process, residents leaving town for pools, shower facilities,
sales tax, misinformation, staffing challenges, Y management, community involvement,
lodging tax, cap on City's financial contribution, financials not clear enough, guarantor,
grants, ballot, county, need more financial information, steering committee, and cultural
conflict.
The final recommendations include.
1. Siting at Mountain View Commons
2. Support an aquatic -only facility unless private fund development is successful and a
gym can be added.
3. Committing to raise $17M from state, federal, private and grants. Jefferson Aquatic
Coalition will be taking a lead on this. A City commitment to continue its subsidy of
approximately $400,000 per year to assist with operations.
4. Asking the voters to establish a Public Facilities District which would add a 2/10ths of
1 % sales tax Countywide. This will need to be added to the ballot by the County
Commissioners.
5. Trying to keep the old pool running until a new pool is established.
6. Time a voter -approved initiative for a special election in April 2024. The City and
County would share the cost of a special election cost of approximately $110,000.
Motion: Aislinn Palmer moved to put forward a final recommendation that includes the
six recommendations that start with siting at mountain view commons and ends with
time of voter approved initiative for a special election. Owen Rowe seconded.
Council discussed around feasibility study, public vote, public showers.
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Amended Motion: Aislinn Palmer amended her motion to forward the recommendation
that includes the six bullet points in addition to seven bullet points that includes public
shower facilities. Libby Wennstrom seconded.
Vote: Amended motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote.
Discussion ensued around lobbying County Commissioners for details, process, voters,
recommendation, and required financial feasibility study.
Vote: Motion carried, 5-1 by voice vote.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:02p.m.
Attest:
Alyssa Rodrigues
City Clerk
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