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HomeMy WebLinkAbout110915CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL BUSINESS MEETING OF NOVEMBER 9, 2015 CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Port Townsend City Council met in special session on November 9, 2015. Deputy Mayor Kris Nelson called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Councilmembers present at roll call were Pamela Adams, Robert Gray, Kris Nelson, Catharine Robinson, Michelle Sandoval, and Deborah Stinson with David King excused. Staff members present were City Manager David Timmons, City Attorney Steve Gross, Nora Mitchell Finance Director, Finance Manager Sheila Danielson, Planning Director Lance Bailey, Public Works Director Ken Clow, and City Clerk Joanna Sanders . PUBLIC HEARING Ordinance 3138 Adopting the Capital Improvement Plan for 2016 through 2021 Deputy Mayor Nelson reviewed the rules of procedure for each of the three public hearings. No Councilmembers had any disclosures regarding financial or property interests in these matters. City Engineer David Peterson provided a detailed review of General Government, Street, Water, Sewer, and Storm Water projects. Mr. Peterson and Public Works Director Ken Clow then responded to questions about treatment of waste water and storm water and explained that there is no funding for street development on Rainier to the new treatment facility. In December, staff would begin discussions about a local improvement district and/or system development charges for Howard Street stormwater treatment. The development of a storm water master plan is a priority for 2016. There being no public testimony, the public hearing was closed Motion: Michelle Sandoval moved to approve first reading of Ordinance 3138 Adopting the Capital Improvement Plan for 2016 through 2021. Deborah Stinson seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. Ordinance 3139 Adopting the Budget for the City of Port Townsend, Washington, for the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2016 City Manager David Timmons and Finance Director Nora Mitchell gave the staff presentation. Further budget modifications include a 2% increase in utility tax in City Council Business Meeting November 9, 2015 Page 1 of 4 support of staffing changes and a strategy for assisting with 160 low income accounts. A refinancing of the 2008 bond would provide savings to repay the $500,000 interfund loan and a plan would be brought forward to Council. A capital surcharge for stormwater is included in the budget as is staffing for code enforcement and more parks maintenance. Given the increased lodging tax revenues, a recommendation is coming forward during the second reading of the ordinance related to further investments in tourism -related infrastructure. Staff and the Finance and Budget Committee are also working on other enabling ordinances to be brought before Council before the end of the year. Finance Director Nora Mitchell reviewed the written summary of changes to the budget analysis and responded to the list of questions submitted by Council members. Fund balances meet Council policy requirements. Work is still needed on the equipment rental fund. There being no public testimony, the public hearing was closed. Staff addressed Council questions regarding the PDA capital contribution, mental health professional training in the Police Department, repayment arrangements for water shut off issues, and staffing levels including unsustainable staffing expenses at the library. There was a question about lowering the minimum fund balance in lieu of a utility tax increase. Staff did not feel that would be adequate. Staff responded to additional questions on staffing in Human Resources and Parks. Motion: Deborah Stinson moved to approve first reading of Ordinance 3139 Adopting the Budget for the City of Port Townsend, Washington, for the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2016. Michelle Sandoval seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. Ordinance 3140 Adopting 2015 Supplemental Budget Appropriations and Making Findings and Declaring an Emergency Finance Director Nora Mitchell reviewed the supplemental budget noting that some funds incurred additional costs unforeseen during the initial development of the 2015 budget. She provided an overview of these adjustments. There being no public testimony, the public hearing was closed. Motion: Deborah Stinson moved to approve first reading of Ordinance 3140 Adopting 2015 Supplemental Budget Appropriations and Making Findings and Declaring an Emergency. Catharine Robinson seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Water Status Update Public Works Director Ken Clow reported that with recent rainfall, Lords Lake is now at 12 feet. Flows on the Big Quilcene River are up and the City has been able to take its City Council Business Meeting November 9, 2015 Page 2 of 4 full right. City Lake and Lords Lake are being filled. A KIRO news report focused on Port Townsend Paper Corporation and their water use. If precipitation trends continue, staff would return with a proposed action to reduce water conservation measures. Ordinance 3136 Fixing and Adopting 2016 Property Tax Levies for the General Levy with a Total Increase of One Percent (1.00%) and for the Emergency Medical Services Levy an Increase of Approximately Three and 1/10 Percent (3.10%) and a New Voter -Approved Tax Levy for the Mountain View Commons Capital Improvements of $0.05 per $1,000 of Assessed Property Value Mr. Timmons gave the staff report and responded to questions about Mountain View, EMS levies, and property tax assessments. Motion: Michelle Sandoval moved to approve Ordinance 3136 Fixing and Adopting 2016 Property Tax Levies for the General Levy with a Total Increase of One Percent (1.00%) and for the Emergency Medical Services Levy an Increase of Approximately Three and 1/10 Percent (3.1096) and a New Voter -Approved Tax Levy for the Mountain View Commons Capital Improvements of $0.05 per $1, 000 of Assessed Property Value. Deborah Stinson seconded. There was some concern about the General Levy increase because of the potential to negatively impact the rents of multi -family housing units. Motion: Robert Gray moved to amend the motion to eliminate adopting the 2016 Property Tax Levy for the General Levy increase in Ordinance 3136. The motion failed for lack of a second. Vote: motion carried, 5-1 by voice vote, Robert Gray opposed. NEW BUSINESS Resolution 15-039, Authorizing an Interfund Loan to Finance Various Capital Projects City Manager David Timmons noted that this resolution provides a funding source for projects inadequately funded because the costs had not yet been determined. An amended resolution was distributed to fix an error in the amount of the loan from $5,000,000 to $500,000. There was no public comment. Council questions/discussion related to debt refinancing, whether right turn lanes from Sheridan Street to 19th Street accommodate buses, and some concern about the likelihood of future revenue increases. Motion: Deborah Stinson moved to approve Resolution 15-039, Authorizing an Interfund Loan to Finance Various Capital Projects with an amendment to recital E and Section 3 as follows: "Staff recommends an interfund loan that will be repaid by future City Council Business Meeting November 9, 2015 Page 3 of 4 refunding or refinancing the 2008 bonds and possibly supplemented by future REET revenue. " Michelle Sandoval seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. Resolution 15-040 authorizing the City Manager to Award and Execute a Contract with Jefferson Audio Video Systems, Inc., (JAYS) for End of Life Replacement of Audio and Video processing Equipment City Manager Timmons gave the staff report on needed equipment upgrades to Council Chambers recording equipment. There was no public comment. Motion: Michelle Sandoval moved to approve Resolution 15-040 authorizing the City Manager to Award and Execute a Contract with Jefferson Audio Video Systems, Inc. (JA VS) for End of Life Replacement of Audio and Video Processing Equipment. Pamela Adams seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. Resolution 15-041 Authorizing the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Contract for Development Services -Related Software Planning Director Lance Bailey explained the needed upgrade of permitting tracking software. There were questions about the full cost for ongoing maintenance, code enforcement tracking and whether the migration of data to a cloud based system would improve public interaction. There was no public comment. Motion: Catharine Robinson moved to approve Resolution 15-041 Authorizing the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Contract for Development Services -Related Software. Deborah Stinson seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. EXECUTIVE SESSION ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m. Attest: Joanna Sanders, CMC City Clerk City Council Business Meeting November 9, 2015 Page 4 of 4