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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11142005 . CITY OF ORT TOWNSEND CI COUNCIL MINUTES OF THE SPECIA SESSION OF NOVEMBER 14, 2005 CALL TO ORDER A D PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The City Council of the City of Port t ownsend met in regular session this fourteenth day of November, 2005, ~t 6:30 p.m. in the Port Townsend temporary Council Chambers in the Cedar Ro~m of the Waterman & Katz Building, Deputy Mayor Michelle Sandoval presiding. . ROLL CALL Council members present at roll call were Frank Benskin, Freida Fenn, Kees Kolff, Geoff Masci, Laurie Medlicott, and Michelle Sandoval. Catharine Robinson was excused. Staff members present were City At orney John Watts, and City Clerk Pam Kolacy. City Manager David Timm ns arrived at 7:10 p.m. . PUB IC HEARING RESO~UTION 05-045 A RESOLUTION OF THE City COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON, AU1!HORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT I3LOCK (CDBG) APPLICATION, FUNDING THE ACQUISITION OF A THREE-$UILDING OFFICE COMPLEX FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES City Attorney John Watts reviewed the packet material. He stated the Community Development Block Gra~t application process requires a public hearing to discuss any potential proj~cts funded by the grant. The project proposed is acquisition of a three-bUilding office complex for local community action agencies including the Port TljJwnsend Food Bank, Working Image and Olympic Community Action Programls (OL YCAP). In order to apply for the CDBG funds, the Council must pass! a resolution giving the City Manager authority to sign the grant applicatio~, and state that the City will comply with provisions of Title I of the Housing ard Community Development Act and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. ! I It was noted that no one from the pu~lic had signed in to speak regarding the resolution. . Motion: Mrs. Medlicott moved to w~ive the legislative public hearing script. Mr. Kolff seconded. Motion carried, 5-1' Fenn opposed. . City Council Special Business Meeting Page 1 November 14.2005 . Ms. Sandoval asked if any Council embers had any financial or property interests in the issue. Mr. Benskin stated he does not hav such an interest but did wish to disclose that he is the City Council represent~tive to Olycap. Vanessa Brower of Olycap, introdu~d Tim Hockett, Deputy Director of Olympic Community Action Programs, from ~ort Angeles. He noted his appreciation for the support Port Townsend has provided, and for the work of Council members who have served on the Board of Di~ectors. He stated that the organization is well known for the programs they o~erate and that they cover a large territory. He added that Olycap takes stewarqship of the public trust seriously and keeps overhead costs in line. He noted o~e of the lowest overheads in the state at 9.8% for administration. . . He stated the organization's desire t retire the debt on the buildings early and said this is a good mechanism for th t. Only seven million dollars is available for the entire state but he said he belie es this will be a competitive application. It is important to strengthen the community safety net. Vanessa Brower stated she will con~uct the public hearing required for the Community Development Block Grabt. She provided a fact sheet and project summary to the Council members aM for the public record. The documents showed a total project budget of $1 ,~99,940. This includes CDBG: $1,000,000; Other Federal funding (USDA) $5841,800; and private funding of $415,140.00. She reviewed the project summary fprm and noted that new construction of housing is ineligible for funding. Sh~ added that a planning only grant has recently been received by the City. I I Ms. Brower stated that the jurisdicti~n qualifies in size to receive funding through local government agencies rather thjln directly. She noted the project has been in the planning stage for a long timel(five years) without a site, since they were displaced from their location at the Hospital. The interim facility in Glen Cove was very small and not conducive tol good working conditions. Very favorable terms were negotiated with the own~r of the property for the buildings in the Business Park. . Ms. Brower noted that partners have been brought in, such as the Food Bank and Working Assets. Olycap is working closely with the USDA and CDBG staff to make sure activities were in line Vl'ith their specific requirements. Community facilities must meet national objectiv~s in principally benefiting low or moderate income persons. Olycap served in ~xcess of 11,000 clients this year and the great majority are low income, with ~ few of moderate income. She added that the investment of o'le million dollars in the Olycap campus will compute to $91 per low income resi~ent served and this exceeds the granting agency requirements. . City Council Special Business Meeting Page 2 November 14, 2005 . . . Letters of support from community artners were entered into the record. These partners included Jefferson Mental ealth Services, Jefferson County Food Bank Association, Housing Authority of J fferson County, United Good Neighbors of Jefferson County, Olympic Area Ag ncy on Aging Senior Information & Assistance, Rotary Club of East Je erson County, The Salvation Army, and Domestic Violence Sexual Assault ~rograms of Jefferson County (pending). Ms. Brower noted that the non-Engli~h speaking outreach was appropriately conducted and a multi-language tramslator is present. She added that Mr. Hockett speaks seven languages. . At the conclusion of the presentatiol11 , there were no questions from Council members. There was no public comment. Motion: Mr. Masci moved for apprd,val of Resolution 05-045. Mr. Kolff seconded. I Mr. Kolff expressed appreciation to Olycap as a professional and productive agency in the community. Mr. Watts added that the grant mus~ be under City sponsorhip, however there is no cost or expense to the City in corinection with the grant. Ms. Sandoval asked what the $1 ,oo~,ooo CDGB funding would cover. Ms. Brower stated this would be for acq isition of the land and three buildings. The USDA portion would be for the remaining portion of land and buildings and tenant improvements. . Mr. Masci commended Olycap for fimding an excellent deal on the property which will result in more funds being avail~ble for the programs and people served. Ms. Fenn commended Olycap for th~ir years of service to the community. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 16-0, by voice vote. JOINT OPERATIONS AND NjANAGEMENT OF FIRE SERVICES- CONTRACT ~EVIEW AND STATUS Chief Mike Mingee was present to update the Council on the .draft Interlocal Agreement. He noted that now only two entities are involved in discussion as Districts 1 and 6 were merged by ani overwhelming vote of the residents of the districts. He stated that the Interloc~1 provides for a joint fund rather than City Council Special Business Meeting Page 3 November 14,2005 . . . attempting to assess equal contribu ions from each party and dealing with different purchasing policies, budge s, etc. He added that the joint board will co sist of three members from each agency and for a measure to pass, at least ttwo affirmative votes from each entity must be cast. The agreement has a thr~e year term, with one year dissolution clause. There was no public comment. Ms. Sandoval asked about compara~le assets; she asked if there is a list and some comparison so we know who i~ putting in what assets and whether it is equitable. Chief Mingee noted that the agreem!ant does mention personnel; regarding rolling stock, the next step of the c01solidation retains the fleet, personnel and facilities within the City. There havE! been difficulties in working out a contract agreement among three different bargaining units and it is hoped that the process will be worked out this year. Ms. Sandoval asked if the City's General Fund supplement will grow as the EMS tax decreases. . Chief Mingee noted that the overall ~mount of the EMS levy will consistently increase by 1 % from the previous year plus new construction; this results in about a $6,000 increase this year. 4s it increases, whether the General Fund subsidy will remain the same is som$thing we have to work on. He stated we are trying to find equity between the City and District. At this point it is expected that the General Fund supplement lMiII also increase by 1% per year. Ms. Sandoval asked to confirm Gen$ral Fund contribution would not go higher than $780,000 plus 1 % plus new coristruction and asked whether the Council would have to vote that EMS appropriation each year. Mr. Timmons stated that the EMS levy would have to be raised 1 % or it would have to be supplemented by Genera!1 Fund - the City is obligated to provide the funding whether the EMS levy is increased or not. Mr. Timmons stated there are some !VIedicare billings outstanding that will not be received until next year of about $85iOOO and Deputy Chief Aumock's fire and plan review is being billed out at the City and County. The final numbers must balance out by about a $60-80,000 ~djustment to the base budget which will come not from the $780,000 or EMSllevy, but from these other revenue sources. Ms. Sandoval asked about whether the City would assume any extra liability due to the joint venture. Mr. Watts repli~d the liability provisions of the agreement City Council Special Business Meeting I Page 4 November 14. 2005 . . . I have been reviewed with the City's itsurance authority and what is contained in the agreement is their recommenda ion. For vehicles, the insurance will follow the vehicle, not the driver. Regardi g City personnel who remain City employees, their conduct is still the, ity's liability under our insurance. Mr. Timmons noted that there are n<!> provisions of the agreement that will increase the City's liability premium$. Ms. Sandoval asked what "additional consolidation measures" on page 2 refers to. Chief Mingee stated that it should in~icate that we enter into this agreement but still continue to look at other things we can do such as transfer employees into one group. Any change would hav~ to be approved by the Council as an amendment to the interlocal agreemlent. Ms. Sandoval asked whether this pr~cludes the possibility of other districts coming on board. Mr. Timmons st~ted that this isn't impossible but probably wouldn't happen in the near term. Mr. Benskin asked about how equip~ent replacement works. Mr. Timmons stated that technically the City equipment rental fund owns it and it is rented to the Fire Department, then to the dis~rict is the equivalent of a sub lease. This may be an item of discussion as to Vrihether or not this is the best method. When the equipment is retired, the qonsolidated district would be responsible for replacement. Mr. Timmons added that the City's cpntribution to the Equipment Rental Fund is subtracted from our contribution to the district; if we transfer equipment, the amount of contribution remains the ~ame, but is paid to the district rather than the City. The General Government Committe13 will review the interlocal agreement at their next meeting and recommend action to the Council for the December 5 meeting. ~DJOURN There being no further business, th~ meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m. Attest: q~la~~ City Clerk City Council Special Business Meeting Page 5 November 14,2005