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HomeMy WebLinkAbout052107 CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF MAY 21,2007 CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The City Council of the City of Port Townsend met in regular session the twenty-first day of May 2007 at 6:30 p.m. in the Port Townsend City Council Chambers of City Hall, Mayor Mark Welch presiding. ROLL CALL Council members present at roll call were Laurie Medlicott, Catharine Robinson, Frank Benskin, George Randels and Mark Welch. Geoff Masci arrived at 7:13 p.m. Michelle Sandoval was excused. Staff members present were City Manager David Timmons, City Attorney John Watts, and Legal Assistant Joanna Sanders. CHANGES TO AGENDA Addition of Climate Protection Joint Resolution under New Business. PUBLIC COMMENT (Consent and non-agenda items) Cameron McPherson, regarding her concerns about the cutting of library hours. She asked what the many concerned taxpayers could do to assist Council with these tough decisions. Kate Schumann, member of the Library Foundation Advisory Board, regarding concern about library funding and urging a response on how they might help. Mr. Timmons responded that the Finance and Budget Committee would be discussing what measures the Council might want to consider. Mayor Welch concurred with the funding concerns and said the Council would do what it could to find a way to restore the library services. Ms. Robinson invited citizens to attend the Finance and Budget Committee meeting on Tuesday, May 29 at 4:30 p.m. Mrs. Medlicott thanked speakers for their comments and interest. City Council Business Meeting 1 May 21, 2007 CONSENT AGENDA Motion: Mr. Randels moved for approval of the following items on the consent agenda, including the revised version of Resolution 07-014 as distributed this evening. Mr. Benskin seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 5-0 by voice vote. Aooroval of Bills. Claims and Warrants Vouchers 101662 through 101674 in the amount of $6, 786. 69 Vouchers 101661 through 101661 in the amount of $524. 00 Vouchers 101648 through 101660 in the amount of $34,441.29 Vouchers 518071 through 518079 in the amount of $93,447.86 Vouchers 101521 through 101647 in the amount of $812, 195. 76 Vouchers 101510 through 101520 in the amount of $1,424.13 Aooroval of Minutes: April 30, 2007 May 7, 2007 Resolution 07-014. readopting the historic name of the Hudson Point property located in the Port Townsend Historic District (as revised to include the new second paragraph), Remand to the Planning Commission Item #3 of the 2007 Comprehensive Plan Docket. NEW BUSINESS CLIMATE CHANGE RESOLUTION Mr. Timmons solicited final revisions on the revised Joint Resolution of the Board of County Commissioners and the Port Townsend City Council to Commit to Addressing Energy Use and Climate Change/Global Warming. This version was e-mailed to the City this afternoon and would next be forwarded to the County for approval by the Commissioners. Mr. Benskin asked if the joint resolution goal of cutting greenhouse gas should be more in line with what the governor just passed at 50% lower than 1990 levels rather than 80%. Mayor Welch said he understood the theory behind the 80% goal was to obtain credit for what we have accomplished toward reducing greenhouse emissions since 1990. Mrs. Medlicott agreed to change the goal to match the state, but she would abstain from voting on this resolution because of her objection to the path this measure has taken. Ms. Robinson said she is supportive of the 80% goals. City Council Business Meeting 2 May 21, 2007 Mr. Randels asked why the resolution contains both "standard" and "target" terminology when it appears that if they are all goals, one word would suffice. Public Comment: Joanna Loehr with Climate Protection Campaign Committee responded that standard, target, and goal are all equal in her mind. She also supports the 80% reduction in gas emissions. Mr. Watts responded that he did not see the reason for choosing standard over goal, but many resolutions are copied from other jurisdictions language, which might explain the use of both terms. He reminded that the resolution establishes a process for appointing a citizens committee that would bring recommendations back to Council. There would be further opportunity for Council review of the recommendations and then to implement what actions Council deems appropriate. The action in adopting the resolution sets goals or targets for the committee to bring back recommendations on implementation. Council discussion proceeded as follows: Ms. Robinson said her understanding of the resolution is that "standard" equals 80% lower and that the "targets" are the stepping-stones. Mr. Randels reiterated that while he didn't think the terms necessarily conflicted, it was just semantics - the use of one word seemed cleaner. Mr. Benskin asked what the mechanism would be for appointing the joint County and Council citizens committee. He would like to see in the resolution the guidelines for the make up of the committee and how this would be decided jointly with the County. Mr. Watts pointed out that Council Rules of Procedures provide the default that whenever Council establishes a committee, committees are appointed by the Mayor upon confirmation of the Council. Mr. Benskin said if this is a committee that serves both bodies he would like a better understanding of how that would work, such as each jurisdiction chooses three representatives, the background needed, etc. Mr. Timmons noted that at last week's meeting with the County Commissioners, it was decided that depending on who endorses the resolution it would require subsequent follow up action defining the relationship and framework. The initial resolution just says we would create a joint committee. If Council endorses the resolution, then it would require joint follow-up action. If there is not support, then this part would come out of the resolution. City Council Business Meeting 3 May 21, 2007 Motion: Ms. Robinson moved to approve the revised Joint Resolution of the Board of County Commissioners and the Port Townsend City Council to Commit to Addressing Energy Use and Climate Change/Global Warming. Mr. Welch asked if Staff was seeking comments or approval this evening. Mr. Randels agreed he understood the County would act first and then it would come to the Council. Mr. Timmons responded that at this point comments were all that were needed. Staff agreed to forward a summary of Council's discussion to the County Commissioners for their meeting on May 29. It would likely come back to the Council the first meeting in June. The motion failed for lack of a second. PARKS DONATION POLICY City Attorney John Watts reminded that on May 7 Council unanimously approved recommendations of the Community Development and Land Use Committee (CDLU) with the addition that the Park and Recreation Advisory Board draft donation policy come back before Council for approval in two weeks. Absent the development of a park plan with its own policy, any tangible donations (including memorials and plaques) to be located at parks would be decided by City Council on recommendation of the Park & Recreation Advisory Board. He then reviewed that Council still needed to consider the balance of the donation policy in terms of guidelines, standards, procedures, and criteria for acceptance of donations. The policy considers the total cost of the donation over the life of the article being donated. Mr. Watts distributed a new draft policy, noting that the version distributed in the agenda packet did not contain final edits. The new version shows changes underlined. Chair of the Park and Recreation Advisory Board Barbara McColgan-Pastore responded that she believed the CDLU received the updated version via e-mail, but is uncertain they received a hard copy. She volunteered to answer questions as needed. Mr. Timmons suggested forwarding this version to the CDLU Committee for a recommendation. Mr. Randels agreed with this suggestion. He asked about the references to public art and the involvement of the Arts Commission. Barbara McColgan-Pastore explained the creation of a new form that would summarize the proposal and allow several groups to "sign off" as having seen it. Other elements of the policy she mentioned were as follows: obtaining the life cycle cost of a donation upfront; standardization of plaques and typeface; prior approval of verbiage on the City Council Business Meeting 4 May 21, 2007 plaques. She noted that the life cycle cost figures were from the Port Angeles parks department. She noted the P&R advisory board did all the work on this policy and was careful not to overstep their advisory function. Mrs. Medlicott mentioned the column headings in the new draft were unreadable. Mr. Welch and Mr. Timmons acknowledged the Park and Recreation Advisory Board's efforts to create this policy and agreed to forward this to the CDLU Committee. Mr. Welch moved to remand the Public Parks Donation Policy back to the CDLU Committee for a recommendation at their June meeting. Second by Vote: motion carried unanimously, 5-0, by voice vote. PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT Motion: Mr. Randels moved to accept the Mayor's recommendation and confirm the following Advisory Committee reappointments. Mr. Benskin seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 5-0 by voice vote. Historic Preservation Committee Marsha Moratti (Position 6, term expires May 1, 2010) Tree Committee Richard Hefley (Position 2, term expires May 1,2010) CITY MANAGER'S REPORT Mr. Timmons announced that the Elected Official and Emergency Management Personnel FEMA presentation was cancelled for March 23, 2007. The Wastewater Treatment plant has again been selected to receive an award from Washington State Department of Ecology. Marel Harstead has recently retired from the plant and deserves recognition for her hard work as a part of that team. Bill Maxwell provided his written statements concerning Library Funding, which Mr. Timmons agreed to forward to Council. Mr. Timmons reviewed information he and the Library Director have collected to date on other municipally operated libraries in the state to see how Port Townsend compares. He agreed to provide some of this information to Council when it is available. A Public Safety Committee meeting is scheduled for May 24. David Timmons has two critically ill family members right now and may need to leave town unexpectedly. City Council Business Meeting 5 May 21,2007 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS - None SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE COUNCIL MEETINGS Mr. Randels talked about his concern of an effort by developers to circumvent Lots of Record. He asked about the process for Council to recommend the Planning Commission investigate this matter. Mr. Timmons agreed to meet directly with Planning Director Rick Sepler and then make a recommendation to Council. Mr. Benskin asked how Council would like to address the challenge by Vern Garrison for the City to match his $4400 gift to Jumping Mouse Children's Center. Mr. Masci joined the meeting at 7: 13 pm. Ms. Robinson left the room because of her employment with Jumping Mouse. Following discussion, there was Council support for addressing this request through the In Box process. Mrs. Medlicott suggested Mr. Timmons communicate with Jumping Mouse about this request. Mr. Timmons said Staff is considering an alternate venue for the June 18 meeting on Upper Sims Way, possibly the Port Townsend High School or Fort Worden Commons. Ms. Robinson noted that on the June 18 business meeting agenda, Upper Sims would be the third item behind Street Vacation hearing and the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). There was Council support for moving the Bentley Street Vacation and TIP items to the July 2 Council Meeting. Mr. Timmons noted that on June 4 there would be a general business meeting followed by a workshop on Upper Sims Way. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m. Minutes by: Joanna Sanders, Legal Assistant v~~~ Pam Kolacy, CMC City Clerk City Council Business Meeting 6 May 21,2007