HomeMy WebLinkAbout051021 CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP OF MAY 10, 2021
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
The Port Townsend City Council met in workshop session on the 10th day of May 2021
in Council Chambers at 540 Water Street. Mayor Michelle Sandoval called the meeting
to order at 6:30 p.m.
Councilmembers present at roll call were David Faber, Monica MickHager, Owen Rowe,
Michelle Sandoval, and Ariel Speser with Pamela Adams, and Amy Howard excused.
Staff members present were City Manager John Mauro, City Attorney Heidi Greenwood,
City Engineer David Peterson, Public Works Director Steve King, Civil Engineer and
Project Manager Laura Parsons, and City Clerk Joanna Sanders.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Discovery Road Concept Design
Public Works Director Steve King did consultant introductions and Civil Engineer Laura
Parsons provided a project overview, including the grant funding. She noted the
project completion is estimated to be in 2022.
Scott Sawyer of SCJ Alliance provided a detailed review of public comment collected
during the online open house and noted the detailed comments are available if
desired. He fielded questions about the preferred alternatives which were the Two-
Way Cycle Track South Side and Shared Use Path South Side.
Terry Reckord and David Saxen of Macleod Reckord led the project presentation
reviewing the project character, context, project sketches, and design concept.
Ms. Parsons and Mr. King responded to questions about the mixing zone/plaza near
the Salish school. While there has been some design consideration to blend the area
in with the project, the project would only be accomplished with additional funding or
project savings.
Mr. King explained an issue with ownership of the right-of-way through 14th street to
Discovery to which there was a suggestion to communicate the closure to the public.
Although the City would later provide a link to Council of the technical reports, Mr.
Sawyer presented additional drawings/documents showing the recommended Final
Alternatives/Desired Outcomes and Discovery Road Alternative Section Adjusted.
When asked to see a comparison between Alternatives 2 and 7, Mr. Sawyer clarified
that staff is recommending the alternative with the pedestrian and cycle path
differentiation (visual or small lip) versus a shared path in alternative 7.
There was no public comment.
During Council discussion, there was a request for a breakout of the $5.3 million in
grants to which Mr. Sawyer showed a project funding page and also interest in the
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funding detail associated with the Sheridan/Grant Street area. Recognizing a majority
of the public comment supported a separated cycle path versus on street bike lane,
additional discussion related to a visual demarcation separating bikes and pedestrians
or a rolled curb as well as a suggestion to accommodate avid cyclists with a wider path
on the north side. There was general support for the work to date and a desire for
access to the full report.
Regional Stormwater - Payback Program
City Engineer David Peterson gave a presentation on the Regional Stormwater
System. To institute the mitigating fees for the system, the fee payback program is
expected to be presented to Council on May 17 along with an ordinance for the code
changes. Construction is expected to be completed in June. He explained the table of
impervious surface assumptions and expected cost recovery from developers. The
Council Finance and Budget approved the fee of$1.20 per square foot of impervious
surface and staff would prepare the recommendation with that assumption.
A Council question was whether other neighboring properties would be eligible if those
in the benefitting area did not opt in. There was also interest in any impacts to other
customer stormwater rates outside this area to which Mr. Peterson confirmed no
additional fee has been assessed.
There was no public comment.
Street Lights/Dark Sky— Update/Policy Discussion
Public Works Director Steve King gave a presentation covering a review of budget
impacts, an LED lighting project update, and policy changes on street lighting. Staff
solicited Council input on policy guidance on light removal and indicated they would
also reach out to other groups in the community.
Council comments and questions related to cyber security of phone adjustments and
a longer-term evaluation on light removal perhaps over the winter when there are
bigger impacts.
There was interest for something in the City utility newsletter on the dark sky initiative
and possibly on Engage PT.
The following individuals provided written public comment (Clerk read the comments
into the record):
Margaret Lee spoke in support of reducing unnecessary light and further examining
streetlight conversion.
Public Works Briefing (Olympic Gravity Water System Status, Sewer Service
Area Investigation, Engineering Standards Update)
Mr. King reported the white papers with technical information on the Olympic Gravity
Water System would be grouped and released on Engage PT and to stakeholders. A
Council briefing would likely occur at the June workshop before the renegotiation of
the Mill agreement is brought to Council. The sewer plan consultant has been selected
and a question came up on whether areas would include Glen Cove and the airport.
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This matter would first be investigated with the consultants and then brought to
Council. Mr. Peterson reported on staffs continuing work on the Engineering Design
Standards, the changes on which may or may not all come before Council depending
on whether they are policy changes.
There was no public comment.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
Attest:
Joanna Sanders„ iMC
City Clerk
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