HomeMy WebLinkAbout07152019CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING OF JULY 15, 2019
CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Port Townsend City Council met in regular session on the 15th day of July 2019
in Council Chambers at 540 Water Street. Mayor Deborah Stinson called the meeting
to order at 6:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers present at roll call were Pamela Adams, David Faber, Robert Gray,
Amy Howard, Michelle Sandoval, Ariel Speser, and Deborah Stinson.
Staff members present were Interim City Manager Nora Mitchell, City Attorney Heidi
Greenwood, Public Works Director Greg Lanning, Senior Planner John McDonagh,
and City Clerk Joanna Sanders.
CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
Mayor Stinson reported there would be a closed session at the end of the meeting
with no action to follow. The agenda was reordered to address Item B under New
Business ahead of Item A. There was some discussion of whether to proceed with
the Water System Plan and general agreement to proceed with the agenda as written,
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Fort Worden "Thing"
Nadia Quitsland and Mason Sherry of the Seattle Theatre Group gave a
presentation about their festival event scheduled for August 24-25, 2019 at Fort
Worden. They addressed camping needs, sound mitigation, parking, neighborhood
impacts, traffic and shuttles. Roughly 5,000 tickets per day are available for sale.
Council questions centered on the involvement of local artists, route of shuttle
(10am-midnight), directional signage, medical and security services, weather
provisions, North Beach impacts, employment for local residents, and advertising.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Public comment
Owen Rowe spoke about the City's Arts in Public Places Policy and lack of
information forthcoming to the Arts Commission on the mural art at the Tyler Street
plaza.
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CONSENT AGENDA
Approval of Bills, Claims and Warrants
Vouchers 163143 through 163241 in the amount of $664,860.69
Vouchers 590 through 591 in the amount of $302.50
Approval of Minutes: June 3 and June 13, 2019
Appointment of Karen Clemens (Position 4, term expires May 1, 2022) to the
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee; Appointment of Shelley Jaye (Position 10,
term expires December 31, 2021; Appointment of Diane McDade (Position 12,
term expires December 31, 2021), Cara Loriz (Position 13, term expires
December 31, 2021), and Dave Seabrook (Position 15, term expires December
31, 2021) to the Climate Action Committee
Resolution 19-062 Authorizing the City Manager to Develop and Administer
Internal Procedures Covering the Acceptance of Credit/Debit Card Payment
Solutions Pursuant to RCW 39.58.750
Resolution 19-063 Authorizing Certain Petty Cash Funds Established for
Transacting City Business
Resolution 19-064 Authorizing and Directing the City Manager to Execute an
Agreement with Hanson Electric Networks for Hosted Telephone Service
Motion: David Faber moved to approve the consent agenda as written. Pamela
Adams seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
PUBLIC HEARING
Ordinance 3230 Adopting the City of Port Townsend 2019 Water System Plan
and Establishing an Effective Date
Mayor Stinson reviewed the rules of procedure for the public hearing. No Council
Members had any financial or property issues to disclose in connection with this
matter.
Public Works Director Greg Lanning gave the staff briefing reviewing the timeline of
water plan development including the public process. When the plan was presented
in November 2018, Council asked for additional information on the industrial use, so
staff has now addressed the Olympic Gravity Water System in Chapters 8 and 9.
The nine chapters comprise 150 pages with the appendix making up the bulk of the
plan. He reviewed other plan components, including basic planning data, water
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service area, water system performance, water use efficiency, and needed water
system improvements.
Public Comment:
Gale Chatfield asked about planning for logging,
Mariah Lynn Nadeau expressed concern about micro plastics and asked about
mitigation efforts.
Mr. Lanning responded to public comment with a list of watershed management and
protection efforts. He agreed to find out if micro plastics are addressed by the ultra
filtration process. He went on to address the following Council questions. The
Olympic Gravity Water System transition is not addressed in the plan. Related to
the service area boundary, he agreed it can be a challenge to provide adequate
pressure for those parcels on the Jacob Miller corridor. Capital improvements would
need to be addressed in a future financing plan. Interim City Manager Nora Mitchell
stated that the previously adopted water rates by FCS Group are included in this
plan. There was further discussion about the policy development to expand those
boundaries and subsequently the inclusion of other properties fronting that
boundary.
Motion. David Faber moved to approve continuing the public hearing until August 5
on Ordinance 3230 Adopting the City of Port Townsend 2019 Water System Plan
and Establishing an Effective Date. Ariel Speser seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Ordinance 3229 Adopting Amendments to the Comprehensive Plan Related to
the Rainier St/Upper Sims Way Subarea Plan and Amending Chapter 4 (Land
Use) of the Port Townsend Comprehensive Plan and the Land Use Map
Planning Director Lance Bailey gave the staff briefing and responded to questions
about public bathrooms in the subarea plan as well as a desire for more flexibility on
the zoning. It was noted that the pending Parks Recreation and Open Space plan
revision would address the restrooms. Zoning regulations would be addressed
when the subarea plan development regulations are brought forward.
There was no public comment.
Motion: Michelle Sandoval moved to approve Ordinance 3229 Adopting
Amendments to the Comprehensive Plan Related to the Rainier St/Upper Sims
Way Subarea Plan and Amending Chapter 4 (Land Use) of the Port Townsend
Comprehensive Plan and the Land Use Map. Pamela Adams seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
NEW BUSINESS
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Ordinance 3231 Vacating a 10 -foot Wide Portion of the 30th Street Right -of -
Way Lying Immediately North of Lots 4 & 5, Block 20, Hasting's Third
Addition; Establishing Conditions to the Street Vacation and Establishing an
Effective Date
Ms. Sandoval recused herself because she has clients that live adjacent to the
subject property.
Senior Planner John McDonagh gave the staff report.
There was no public comment.
Motion: Ariel Speser moved to approve waiving Council Rules and approving
Ordinance 3231 Vacating a 10 -foot Wide Portion of the 30th Street Right -of -Way
Lying Immediately North of Lots 4 & 5, Block 20, Hasting's Third Addition;
Establishing Conditions to the Street Vacation and Establishing an Effective Date.
Pamela Adams seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote.
Resolution 19-065 Calling for the United States to Negotiate the Worldwide
Elimination of All Nuclear Weapons
City Attorney Heidi Greenwood noted that the resolution closely follows the
Jefferson County Board of Commissioners June 3 resolution.
Public Comment:
Doug Milholland spoke in support of the resolution and provided a publication titled
"Warheads to Windmills."
Pete Von Christierson spoke in support and about climate concerns, including
nuclear waste issues.
Forrest Shomer spoke in support of the resolution and mentioned Council's 1998
resolution.
Daniel Milholland spoke in support of the resolution.
Mariah Lynn Nadeau spoke in support of the resolution and of her experience on a
4,000 mile peace walk on nuclear disarmament.
Motion: David Faber moved to approve Resolution 19-065 Calling for the United
States to Negotiate the Worldwide Elimination of All Nuclear Weapons. Pamela
Adams seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
Resolution 19-066 Authorizing and Directing the Mayor to Submit a Petition to
the Washington State Conservation Commission Requesting the City of Port
Townsend be Included in the Jefferson County Conservation District
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Interim City Manager Nora Mitchell gave the staff presentation reviewing the request
by the Jefferson County Conservation District and the payment mechanism.
Al Cairns responded to various questions about a fee for service versus
redistricting and what services residents receive for the assessment.
Public Comment:
Sara Spaeth, Washington State Conservation member and Jefferson Land Trust
Conservation Director, spoke about the funding constraints that prevent the district
from being more successful.
Rick Jahnke spoke about areas such as Kah Tai that have benefitted from the native
plant species provided by the Conservation District.
Janet Aubin urged support and spoke about the National Conservation District that
originated from the Dust Bowl and said little funding is currently available for climate
change mitigation.
Al Latham, Jefferson County Conservation District Chair, urged support and spoke
about services provided to City residents since 1946. When asked about the
maximum rate set by state statute, Mr. Cairns explained this rate is set for next 20
years.
There was additional discussion and comments about the resolution. The timing
matters because of the need to petition the state board and subsequent discussion.
There was also concern about soliciting input from citizens on this new fee and
information on the services received in exchange for the fee.
There was consensus to continue the Council meeting beyond 9:30 p.m.
Motion: Ariel Speser moved to approve Resolution 19-066 Authorizing and Directing
the Mayor to Submit a Petition to the Washington State Conservation Commission
Requesting the City of Port Townsend be Included in the Jefferson County
Conservation District. Amy Howard seconded.
Vote: motion carried, 5-2 by voice vote, David Faber, and Robert Gray opposed.
PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT
Mayor Stinson reported having read a City proclamation on Pride in the Park,
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Ms. Mitchell reported on the status of the Admiralty Apartments closure and security
of the Taylor Street end.
SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT OR FUTURE AGENDA, REGULAR MEETING AND/OR
STUDY SESSION
Mr. Gray asked for a review of the animal control code penalty or citation addressing
the issues of dogs on leash. There was a decision to add this to the InBox.
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CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO RCW 42.30.140(4)(8)
At 9:40 p.m., Council went into Closed Session RCW 42.30.140(4)(B)
At 9:55 p.m., Council came back into Open Session.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m.
Attest:
Joanna Sanders, MMC
City Clerk
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