HomeMy WebLinkAbout092710CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
MINUTES OF THE WORKSHOP OF SEPTEMBER 27, 2010
CALL TO ORDER
The City Council of the City of Port Townsend met in workshop session the 27th day
of September, 2010, in the Port Townsend City Council Chambers of City Hall, Mayor
Michelle Sandoval presiding.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers present at roll call were David King, Laurie Medlicott, Kris Nelson,
George Randels, Michelle Sandoval, and Mark Welch with Catharine Robinson
excused.
Staff members present were City Manager David Timmons, City Attorney John Watts,
Public Works Director Ken Clow, DSD Director Rick Sepler, and City Clerk Pam
Kolacy.
Public Works Director Ken Clow updated the Council on the accident today involving
the power line on Upper Sims Way.
TRANSPORTATION PLAN
Public Works Director Ken Clow gave a staff report on the draft Transportation
Func~ional Plan. He distributed a new Chapter 5 ("Agency Coordination") developed
with input from the General Services Comittee and presented a tentative review
schedule, There was brief discussion and Mr. Clow Mated that his goal is to move
the Plan through the Planning Commission this year and to present the final version to
the City Council in January.
PRIVATE USES OF RIGHTS OF WAY IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS
DSD Director Rick Sepler and City Attorney John Watts reported on the discussions
held by the Council Community Development and Land Use Committee. They
stated that there are a great number of current instances of private use of the rights of
way for uses including parking, landscaping, vehicle "storage," structures, community
gardens, fences and trees. Public Works Director Ken Clow showed a slide show of
photos showing examples of each of the categories.
Questions and discussion followed. Mr. Sepler stated that staff is most concerned
with the instances of private use of the rights of way increasing into excessive use of
the rights of way in the future. It is difficult to differentiate on which uses are
appropriate or harmless. Attractive landscaping could be installed over utility lines
where access is needed. Regular parking could be degrading the road shoulders
and interfering with stormwater runoff. There can be view issues regarding tree
plantings and sight line issues with large hedges. Neighborhoods such as the
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Courthouse area are not designed for parking but the rights of way are heavily used
for parking. Some uses interfere with pedestrian traffic. Citizens need to be
educated about property lines and public rights of way.
It was suggested that standards be developed so that enforcement would be for
purposes of issues like safety, drainage, access to underground utilities, pedestrian
access, preventing degradation of the roadway, traffic flow, and type of
landscaping. Guiding principles would be established so each individual issue can be
considered. Comprehensive Plan goals regarding Rights of Way Management
(distributed during the meeting) will be incorporated into the standards.
Council agreed to schedule another workshop to discuss the issues further. Staff will
work on draft performance standards and criteria as well as guidelines about parking,
with distinctions made between arterial corridors and neighborhood corridors.
COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS
There were no committee reports.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:28 p.m.
Attest:
G
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Pamela Kolacy, MMC
City Clerk
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