HomeMy WebLinkAbout08222002CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL SESSION OF AUGUST 22, 2002
The City Council of the City of Port Townsend met in special session this twenty-second
day of August, 2002, at 9:18 a.m. in the Port Townsend Council Chambers of City Hall,
Mayor Kees Kolff presiding.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers present at roll Call were Freida Fenn, Kees Kolff, Catharine Robinson,
and Michelle Sandoval. Absent were Joe Finnie, Geoff Masci and A1 Youse. Staff
members present were City Attorney John Watts, and BCD Director Jeff Randall.
Bobbie Usselman, Legal Assistant, sat in for the City Clerk, who was unavailable.
ORDINANCE 2815
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND,
WASHINGTON, RE-ENACTING AND EXTENDING FOR SIX (6) MONTHS
ORDINANCE 2799 INTERIM STANDARDS FOR TREE CLEARING AND
PLANTING
City Attorney John Watts stated the purpose of this meeting is to take action on the
ordinance. Council approved a first reading of the ordinance at the business meeting on
August 19, but declined to waive the council rules to allow adoption at that time.
Ordinance 2815 does not make any changes to Ordinance 2799. Monday's (8/19/02)
discussion indicated that council members preferred the ordinance be re-enacted as is
without any changes. The task force working with BCD is well under way working on
the final ordinance and it should be completed in the next sixty (60) days to come again
before the Council. The effect of Ordinance 2815 is to re-enact the existing ordinance
prior to changes proposed for the final ordinance.
There were no clarifying comments from council.
Public comment:
Forest Shomer from the Citizen Advisory Group was asked by Mayor Kolff to give a
status report. He stated the group has met four times since spring sorting out initial
differences about what, if anything needed to be protected by ordinance. Jeff Randall
has been reviewing other cities' ordinances and drafting the ordinance with input from
the committee members. It has been agreed in principle that single families with land
under 20,000 square feet should be exempt from any municipal oversight as far as people
managing trees on their lots. The group is looking at small acreages that haven't been
logged or developed to try to guide a path of development for the future. He added that
the flip side of enforcement is a proactive approach to putting trees into the landscape.
He is hopeful the final product will prevent thoughtless removal of trees.
City Council Special Business Meeting Page 1 August 22, 2002
Mayor Kolff commented that procedural oversight prevented adoption of the ordinance
on August 19. Because a delay results in having no ordinance in effect, he called this
special meeting to allow adoption of the ordinance.
He spoke in favor of amending the interim ordinance to reduce the impact on personal
homeowners.
Councilmember Sandoval expressed appreciation to Mr. Shomer and Mr. Randall who
gave an extensive overview of the process at yesterday's Community Development/Land
Use Committee meeting. She had hoped the process would be completed in six months
but since more time is needed, favors acting on the completed product rather than
amending the interim ordinance.
Councilmember Robinson agreed, indicating it is confusing to have different versions
enacted before the final document. She also spoke in favor of not penalizing individual
residential property owners.
Councilmember Fenn also spoke in favor of extension of the current ordinance until a
final version is presented.
Motion: Ms. Fenn moved to adopt Ordinance 2815. Ms. Robinson seconded.
Vote: the motion carried 4-0.
City Attorney Watts stated for clarification that Ordinance 2815 is the ordinance in the
Council Packet for today's meeting and is different than the ordinance presented at the
August 19, 2002 meeting.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:32 a.m.
Minutes taken by Bobbie Usselman, Legal Assistant.
Attest:
Pamela Kolacy, CMC
City Clerk
City Council Special Business Meeting Page 2 August 22, 2002