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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01262004CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF THE CONTINUED REGULAR SESSION OF JANUARY 26, 2004 (Continued from January 20, 2004 CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The City Council of the City of Port Townsend met in regular session this twentieth day of January, 2004, at 6:30 p.m. in the Port Townsend Council Chambers of City Hall, Mayor Catharine Robinson presiding. ROLL CALL Council members present at roll call were Frank Benskin, Freida Fenn, Kees Kolff, Geoff Masci, Laurie Medlicott, Catharine Robinson, and Michelle Sandoval. Staff members present were City Manager David Timmons, City Attorney John Watts, Public Works Director Ken Clow, and City Clerk Pam Kolacy. CHANGESTOTHEAGENDA Mayor Robinson stated that item VII (B) Council retreat action items - would be removed from this agenda. PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT Appointments to Metropolitan Park District Task Force Mayor Robinson proposed the following appointments to the Metropolitan Park District Task Force: Lee Springgate, Monica Mick-Hager, Erik Frederickson, Rick Tollefson, Tracy Reinhardt, Jim Hagen, Sheila Murphy, Eli Bliss, Tim Caldwell, Jan Fisler. There was no public comment. Motion: Mr. Kolff moved to confirm the appointments to the Metropolitan Parks District Task Force as presented by Mayor Robinson. Ms. Medlicott seconded The motion carried unanimously, 7-0, by voice vote. Appointments to Affordable Housing Task Force Mayor Robinson proposed that Margaret Maxwell be appointed to the Affordable Housing Task Force, to fill the term of Position 6, which is vacant due to a resignation, City Council Business Meeting (Con0 Page 1 January 26, 2004 She also recommended that Lyn Hersey be appointed as the Planning Commission's ad hoc representative to the task force. There was no public comment. Motion: Mr. Masci moved to confirm the appointments as presented by the mayor. Mr. Kolff seconded The motion carried unanimously, 7-0, by voice vote. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT Mr. Timmons reported on the following items: Review process of BCD and Public Works Departments will begin this week, with interviews by consultant Jim Harris. Fire Hall and City Hall Annex: suggest scheduling a workshop session in March to address these projects. PUD request for purchase of wholesale water from the city: staff would like to review at the administrative level as part of the utility plan update, with policy direction from council. PUD Commissioner Dana Roberts made a short presentation regarding the request. Council will receive quarterly updates on the process. Request to fund ongoing Healthy Jefferson: work session to be scheduled for Feb. 9. Point Hudson planning update: authorization to contract with a consultant group will be brought forward on the next agenda. PUBLIC HEARING (continued) ORDINANCE 2849 AN ORDINANCE VACATING A PORTION OF UNOPENED WILSON AND 22~r> STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY; ESTABLISHING CONDITIONS TO THE STREET VACATION; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE ORDINANCE 2850 AN ORDINANCE VACATING THAT PORTION OF WILSON AND 22up STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY TO THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND; ESTABLISHING CONDITIONS TO THE STREET VACATION; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE City Council Business Meeting (Con0 Page 2 January 26, 2004 Mayor Robinson noted that the public comment portion of the hearing was concluded on January 20. She added that first readings had been approved for both ordinances. City Attorney John Watts presented the staff report on the street vacation. Motion: Mr. Masci moved for adoption of Ordinance 2849 and 2850. Mr. Kolff seconded. Ms. Medlicott questioned the relationship of this pocket park to the overall park plan. She also asked for an estimate of the cost to taxpayers for the staff time involved in the process. She inquired as to the usual procedure for this sort of issue being taken up by the Council. City Manager Timmons stated that the overall parks plan refers generally to pocket parks within the scope of identifying general service areas where a pocket park would be appropriately located. He added that the plan leaves the question of procedure open, but establishment would be an initiative either from a neighborhood or from the city. Mr. Timmons stated much has been learned from this instance which can guide process in the future. He confirmed that the Adopt A Park program may facilitate new parks but the process is very dependent on the neighbors maintaining the property so that the city does not bear the cost. Regarding staff time, time sheets with cost accounting are not kept by the parties involved so a cost number cannot be accurately determined. Vote: Ordinance 2849 approved unanimously, 7-0, by roll call vote. Ordinance 2850 approved unanimously, 7-0, by roll call vote. Motion: Mr. Masci moved to authorize the City Manager to execute necessary documents consistent with conditions in approved Ordinances, including the City-22nd Street Neighbors Agreement. Mr. Kolff seconded. Motion carried unanimously, 7-0, by call vote. Motion: Mr. Masci moved to approve the CD/L U Committee recommendation concerning establishment of a park, namely, "that the park be implemented through the adopt-a-park program without significant City funding; if no one accepts the adopt-a- park responsibilities, then the proposal goes to the bottom of the list of parks in terms of funding and priority; and that any implementation take into account protection of the Laurel Grove Cemetery. Mr. Kolff seconded. Motion carried unanimously, 7-0, by voice vote. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Request from BOCC to Raise Support Sales Tax Raise for E-911 Mr. Timmons referred the Council to a letter from the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners regarding a potential sales tax increase to fund E-911 equipment. Public Comment: None City Council Business Meeting (ConO Page 3 danuary 26, 2004 Council consensus was that more information is needed from the County and the Fire Chiefs Association. Mr. Timmons will draft a letter inviting both entities to come before the council in February. Motion: Mr. Masci moved to schedule the item for full discussion at the second business meeting in February. Mr. Kolff seconded Motion carried unanimously, 7-0, by voice vote. NEW BUSINESS RESOLUTION 04-002 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON, ADOPTING A NEW MEMBERSHIP AND FEE SCHEDULE FOR THE PORT TOWNSEND PEG ACCESS STUDIO AND CHANNELS 47 AND 48 City Clerk Pam Kolacy presented the resolution, noting that it represents a 20% increase in fees for pubic, education, and government users of the station. The increases have been factored into the 2004 budget. Motion: Mr. Masci moved for adoption of Resolution 04-002. Ms. Medlicott seconded The motion carried unanimously, 7-0, by voice vote. STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS Transportation Committee/Downtown Parking Task Force Public Works Director Ken Clow noted that the first phase of the Downtown Parking Study has been completed and staff will be asking for further funding to get information about costs and potential benefits and drawbacks to charging for downtown parking. He stated that it would cost approximately $22,000 to implement the recommendations of the study. Public comment: none In response to Mr. Kolff, Mr. Clow noted that staff considers the project a priority and it is in the 2004 work plan. In response to Ms. Medlicott, Mr. Clow stated that the amount spent to date on the study is $32,000. The funding requested for $22,000 in 2004 is not in the budget. Mr. Robinson expressed concern that the extra expenditure will result in sufficient data and information to formulate a final plan. City Council Business Meeting (Cont) Page 4 January 26, 2004 Mr. Clow stated that the scope of work will be set up carefully and that staffwould not recommend the expenditure unless they were confident that the resulting data will be sufficient to finalize the parking plan. Motion: Mr. Kolff moved to set discussion of the Draft Downtown Parking Plan for a workshop on February 23. Mr. Masci seconded. The motion carried 7-0, by voice vote. SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT OR FUTURE AGENDAS Ms. Fenn stated she has contacted a representative of the US Navy regarding a presentation about the Navy's proposed expansion of testing in the Hood Canal area. Consensus was to sponsor an informational presentation in Port Townsend. COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL Ms. Sandoval stated concern that no motion for action was made during discussion of the PUD request to purchase water. Motion: Ms. Sandoval moved to come back on a future agenda or workshop with a discussion of factual information as soon as staff is ready. Mr. Masci seconded. Motion carried unanimously, 7-0, by voice vote. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m. Pamela Kolacy, City Clerk City Council Business Meeting (Con0 Page 5 January 26, 2004