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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09092002CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL SESSION OF SEPTEMBER 9, 2002 The City Council of the City of Port Townsend met in special session this ninth day of September, 2002, at 6:30 p.m. in the Port Townsend Council Chambers of City Hall, Mayor Kees Kolff presiding. ROLL CALL Councilmembers present at roll call were Joe Finnie, Kees Kolff, Geoff Masci, Catharine Robinson, and Michelle Sandoval. Frieda Fenn was excused; A1 Youse notified the Clerk he would be late. Staff members present were City Manager David Timmons, City Attorney John Watts, Fire Chief Ed Edwards, Public Works Director Ken Clow, and City Clerk Pam Kolacy. JOINT WORKSHOP: CITY COUNCIL AND FIRE DISTRICT/46 COMMISSIONERS Commissioners Rich Stapf, Zane Wyll and Mark Bowes were present. City Manager Dave Timmons gave a brief introduction. He stated that there are many implications to the discussion of combining services, some of which are financial and level of service considerations. He asked those present to keep in mind the benefits to be gained for the people we serve and those who perform the services to carry out critical missions. Chief Ed Edwards of the Port Townsend Fire Department and Fire District #6 Commission Chair Rich Stapf, presented an in-depth presentation including overviews of each department, budgets, insurance rating, options and recommendations. Recommendations Chief Edward recommends that the City Council determine an adequate level of service and direct the City Manager to evaluate methods of providing that level. Commissioner Stapf recommends that as elected officials we establish the "level of service" we want to provide to our respective communities and then work together to meet that goal." In answer to michelle: budget implications: reallocate budget to responders rather than administration. Clarifying questions Chief Edwards elaborated on the need for a Training Officer and the duties of the position. He also discussed the details of a pre-fire program. City Council Special Business Meeting Page 1 September ~ 2002 Mr. Stapf explained on the new proposed structure of Fire District #6, noting that the budget funds are being reallocated to responders rather than administration. Mr. Masci asked about the potential paid staffing at District 6. Mr. Stapf replied there is no official proposal on the tale, but there is a potential, with cooperation, to come up with a command officer, paramedic and two firefighters on each shift. The staffing would be supplemented by the volunteers. Chief Edwards noted that an example of benefit from combining departments is that District 6 has a new piece of equipment which, if shared, would eliminate the need for the City to acquire at a cost of about $120,000.. Public comment: Nancy Dorgan. Stated she would like to hear more information about the merger from the perspective of growth management. Comments from Fire District Commissioners Mr. Wyll stated that it is important we do all we can to provide best service for Port Townsend and for District 6 with the resources now provided by the public; we should show the public we are providing the best service possible and if the public desires a higher level of service, they may support more funding. Mr. Bowes stated that he has the highest praise for the departments and commends their efforts for managing resources in the face of shrinking dollars. He commented on the growing number of mergers and annexations.. He stated his one reservation is that he does not want to compromise maintenance of the strong Port Townsend Fire tradition which goes back 127 years. Council discussion Ms. Sandoval asked for a list of three positives and three negatives that would result from a cooperation between departments. Chief Edwards replied he is asked continually for the negative side of cooperation with Fire District #6. He stated that for public safety, firefighter safety, best utilization of resources, and service to the public, it is a win-win situation and he can see no down side. Councilors had several questions about the ISO ratings. Chief Edwards noted that the rating system is complicated but he would provide whatever information the councilors wish. He added there can be many benefits to public safety which will not necessarily be reflected in an improved ISO rating. Mr. Youse arrived at 7:50 p.m. City Council Special Business Meeting Page 2 September [~, 2002 Mr. Masci stated he considers the growth management issue to be is a red herring which has nothing to do with providing a consistent and adequate level of service to the citizens of the area. He said the discussion should center around citizen benefit and life and death issues, not whether an urban or rural level of service is maintained. He added that the council should step forward and determine how all the people in this isolated area can be best served. He added that we are probably one of the last cities to go forward with a merger or annexation and as a result citizens are being disadvantaged. Mr. Finnie noted that the Fire Department budget request goes up every year and cuts always must be made that affect the level of service. He does not consider the growth management argument compelling when one considers the fact that there are extraordinary upward pressures on our ability to deliver the current level of service. Mr. Youse stated his continual concern that the department should be working closely together; he stated we are missing a level of professionalism we could maintain if the department were larger. He added that Chief Edwards's leadership has been crucial to the department and he puts great store in his recommendation. He agrees that the ISO rating can be maintained but with significant improvement in service. All councilors expressed appreciation for the excellent presentation. Mr. Timmons spoke to the issue of insurance ratings, and stated that the benefit would likely be to maintain the rating we have rather than improving it. He said we are barely maintaining at this point. Other positives resulting from cooperation include sharing of resources and improved disaster response and management through a unified plan. Mayor Kolff stated there are some issues to resolve and he looks forward to dealing with them through the General Government Committee, with a recommendation to the council. RECESS The meeting was recessed at 8:10 p.m. At this time, the District #6 Commissioners left the meeting. Mr. Finnie left the meeting during the recess. RECONVENE The meeting was reconvened at 8:20 p.m. PARKS AND RECREATION FUNDING OPTIONS Mr. Timmons introduced Lee Springgate, of the Point Wilson Group, who presented an overview of the City of Port Townsend Parks and Recreation, including a discussion of funding options. City Council Special Business Meeting Page 3 September [,~, 2002 Mr. Springgate answered several clarification questions regarding different funding options. He stated that in general he recommends that the City Council maintain control and make decisions regarding the city's parks and recreation; that a city parks department be formed separate from Public Works, that taxpayers generally do not welcome another government board (i.e. Board of Park Commissioners), and that the city's Parks Plan is a good pragmatic piece which should be related to an overarching vision or community plan which looks at the total benefits to the citizens. Public Comment Lyn Hersey Asked whether, if a recreation district were formed and a tax levied to support the city's operations and maintenance expenses for county facilities within the city, the county would also contribute funding for those facilities. Warren Steurer. (Jefferson County Public Works) stated that Jefferson County is at a new beginning in terms of Parks and Recreation policies; the county is also working on a non- motorized plan. He cited county budget shortfalls and noted that part of the recommendation within the Comprehensive Plan is to create some sort of park and recreation funding source; a metropolitan park district is specifically identified but there are other ways to accomplish this. He cited the county's success with Chimacum Beach and H.J. Carroll Park and clarified that the Larry Scott Trail is a County, not a Port project and that the City maintains part of the trail. He stated that this is a great point in time for the City and County to work together and determine different ways to come together with involvement from non-profits and stakeholders as well. Barbara McColgan Pastore stated that she and other members of the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board are in attendance, and one of their tasks has been to sit in on the Jefferson County Park Board's deliberations. The board will be asking the council for some specific guidance with regard to their work plan. Cary Bozeman, Mayor of Bremerton, stated that a Public Facilities District can be established by the County and is being done successfully in Kitsap County. City Attorney John Watts stated that cities can form Public Facilities Districts themselves or in cooperation with a county; there are restricted purposes and limitations on what the money can be spent for. He added that formation of a metropolitan park district requires a vote on the people in the jurisdiction in which it is established. Lyn Hersey stated that when the city's Parks Plan was created, the citizens were never asked about recreation facilities, but only about open space; she added that is the plan is revisited, she would like to see more added regarding recreation facilities and programming. Rebecca Rafuse stated that many special interest groups appear to express their views at council meetings; she is concerned about the effect of another tax on low-income families, and stated that another $100 per year might turn someone over the edge of being City Council Special Business Meeting Page 4 September 16, 2002 able to live in the community. She added that there are many parks for our population and they are used by tourists as well, so there may be a way to collect money from visitors. Mr. Youse stated the council should decide on what it wants to achieve in terms of funding per capita. He added that if a new tax is created it should be identified that way instead of as a "funding source". He likes the vision of connecting the green spaces but would like to be very cautious about protecting the people who have built the system and their ability to pay for it in the future. ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m. Attest: Pamela Kolacy, CMC City Clerk City Council Special Business Meeting Page 5 September 16, 2002