Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout01142002CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND MINUTES OF THE WORKSHOP SESSION OF JANUARY 14, 2002 The City Council of the City of Port Townsend met in workshop session this 14th day of January, 2002, at 6:30 p.m. in the Port Townsend Council Chambers of City Hall, Deputy Mayor Joe Finnie presiding. ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Councilmembers present at roll call were Frieda Fenn, Joe Finnie, Kees Kolff, Geoff Masci, Catharine Robinson, Michelle Sandoval, and Alan Youse. Staff members present were City Manager David Timmons, City Attorney John Watts, Building & Community Development Director Jeff Randall, Fire Chief Ed Edwards, City Clerk Pam Kolacy. Mr. Finnie noted that the City Attorney wished to make a statement before the beginning of the meeting. Mr. Watts explained that the election process used at the regular business meeting on January 7 was essentially a secret ballot, which is prohibited by state law. Although the council rules require a "written" ballot, the ballots should also be signed so that an official vote can be tallied. He suggested that the council reach a consensus this evening to allow Mr. Kolff to act as presiding officer for the meeting and to open the meeting on January 22. Mr. Finnie asked if the council could come to consensus on this issue. Mr. Youse did not agree. Motion: Mr. Masci moved to waive council rules and designate a member of the council to chair the meeting and open the next regular meeting. Ms. Sandoval seconded The motion carried, 6-1, with Mr. Youse opposed Motion: Mr. Masci moved that Mr. Kolff act as presiding officer at the meeting and at the opening of the meeting on January 22. Ms. Robinson seconded The motion carried 6-1, with Mr. Youse opposed. Mr. Finnie then excused himself from the meeting due to illness. COMMMITTEES AND ADVISORY GROUPS Mr. Timmons noted that a memorandum has been circulated stating that all councilors with committee assignments will continue on their particular committees until replacements are assigned. City Council Workshop Page 1 January 14, 2002 Public Comment: Nancy Dorgan: stated that in regard to Joint Growth Management Steering Committee representatives, the three representatives should meet as a committee in public before attending the JGMSC meetings. All information regarding the meetings should be available at City Hall and on the web site. There was some further discussion of the roles and representative requirements of various committees and materials were provided with information gathered by staff. Mr. Kolff requested that councilors contact him by Thursday to express their assignment preferences. COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEES Mr. Kolff suggested that the City model its standing committees on the Olympia city model. This would result in the creation of three council standing committees: Finance/Budget; Community Development/Land Use; and General Government. There was general discussion of availability of councilors for meetings during particular days and times; it was noted that certain committee activities would become more intensive and time consuming depending upon the issues under consideration (example: Finance/Budget will be more active during the preparation of the annual budget.) The determination of the staff requirements, number of meetings and tasks to be assigned will be an ongoing process during the next few weeks. It was emphasized that the Council as a whole must set committee work plans and agendas. There was also discussion of whether the council committees would have a role in the discussion of various elements of the Comprehensive Plan five-year update. PLANNING COMMISISON EXPANSION Mr. Watts presented two draft ordinance which would result in the expansion of the Planning Commission, either permanently or limited to the year 2002. Version A provides for four new positions appointed for one year only to assist with the work of the five-year Comprehensive Plan Update. Version B provides four new positions appointed with staggered terms to permanently increase the size of the Commission. In this case, persons already appointed would continue to serve. In Version B, terms could be longer than one year to provide some continuity as it could be useful to have staggered terms where new members don't automatically sunset after one year. Public Comment Nancy Dorgan: asked what the purpose is of all the extra people. She mentioned that a downside may be that with up to eleven members, letting them all express their opinions City Council Workshop Page 2 January 14, 2002 would take a long time; she added that it may sometimes be a problem to produce a quorum for the meetings. Jerry Speickerman: vice chair of the Planning Commission. Stated that expanding the number of seats is probably a good idea although eleven might to a bit large; he suggested two additional members, bringing the total to nine. He added that he would urge the Council not to visit the annual review process this year in addition to the five- year update process; or decide up front how to mesh the two. Ms. Robinson added that eleven is probably too large a group to be effective and that even nine members would be on the edge. She suggested waiting until after the end of the month to decide as a joint Council/Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for January 31. Ms. Sandoval added that she would not recommend a large group permanently. She added that original members of the Commission who served during the prior Comprehensive Plan adoption be contacted to get historical perspective. Mr. Masci stated he did not think it would be productive to try to recruit former members. RECESS Council member Kolff called for a recess at 8:15 to allow a break. RECONVENE The meeting was reconvened at 8:25 p.m. REVISIONS TO CITY COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE Mr. Watts noted that flexibility is important to let the work of the council get done with a view to the fact that minority rights are respected and the public is involved as much as is reasonably possible. He cautioned against rules that are too restrictive and don't allow some flexibility. Discussion ensued on the proposed rule for setting a permanent agenda ten days in advance with agenda changes allowed at the time of the meeting. Mr. Timmons noted that posting the entire packet on the web site is currently not within the technical capabilities of staff. Mr. Watts commented on several housekeeping measures such as more elaboration on the election process for Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Mr. Watts and Mr. Timmons made several comments on the amendments from the staff perspective. City Council Workshop Page 3 January 14, 2002 Public comment Nancy Dorgan stated that adjournments to another time should be posted on exterior doors of the building as well as the doors to the Council chambers. She stated that many major policy decisions are made by resolutions, not ordinances; she did not like the idea that a resolution could be put to passage the same day it is introduced but rather should be in the council packet and on the agenda a week prior to the meeting. She also stated a desire that advisory board members be residents of the city and not just work within the city. Mr. Masci asked whether them has been public input or public concem regarding the current rules. He suggested asking each council member to appoint one citizen to a committee with the City Attorney as advisor. Ms. Fenn noted that carrying out the City Attorney's suggestions would help clarify the Council's business for the public so they are able to interact as effectively as possible with the Council. She added that more advance notice of Council topics would be a difficult transition but hoped that it can be phased in so that more notification to the public in the newspaper of record can occur. She supported a degree of flexibility in the rules but continues to support more advance public notice. She stated she would be happy to be in the dialogue with the City Attomey and task force to tweak and improve the suggested amendments. Ms. Sandoval suggested that incorporation of staff, public and councilor comments be written up formally for another review by the entire council. Mr. Kolff note that his primary concern is establishing process improvements, not making a drawn-out process that would require much staff and meeting time. He recommended that the Council move fairly quickly so that if people have effective comments they can be incorporated in a further tweaking of the document. Consensus was that council would work with comments from councilors and the public and direct any changes to the clerk for the record and for the final suggested line in and out revision which can be discussed further by the council. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m. Attest: Pamela Kolacy, CMC City Clerk City Council Worl~hop Page 4 January 14, 2002