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HomeMy WebLinkAbout022123 City Council Business Meeting MinutesCITY OF PORT TOWNSEND MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING OF FEBRUARY 21, 2023 CALL TO ORDER/ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Port Townsend City Council met in a Regular Business Meeting on the 21st day of February 2023 in Council Chambers at 540 Water Street. Deputy Mayor Amy Howard called the meeting to order at 6:30pm. ROLL CALL Councilmembers present at roll call were Aislinn Diamanti, Amy Howard, Ben Thomas, Monica MickHager, Libby Wennstrom, Owen Rowe, and Code Compliance Officer KT Labadie with David Faber absent. Staff members present were Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin , Public Works Director Steve King , City Attorney Heidi Greenwood , Finance and Technology Services Director Connie Anderson , and City Clerk Alyssa Rodrigues . CHANGES TO THE AGENDA There were no changes to the agenda,. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS Digital Equity Navigator City of Port Townsend Library Director Melody Sky -Weaver introduced Jefferson County Library Director Dr. Tamara Meredith and Digital Equity Navigator Jamie Pena, Dr. Meredith and Mr. Pena presented the Digital Equity Navigator Program which included Services, Facts, Classes, Challenges, Funding and Future, ACP Workflow, and Contacts. In response to Council's clarifying questions Mr. Pena confirmed anyone can use the program as well as offering the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). He explained the ACP program is for people who are participating in Government Assistance Programs and people can also qualify via incomes. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Public comment February 21, 2023 City Council Business Meeting Page 1 of 6 City Staff Response There was no public comment. CONSENT AGENDA Approval of Bills, Claims and Warrants Approval of Minutes: February 6, February 13 State Auditor Exit Conference Resolution 23-016 Related to Personnel, Adopting Classification Schedules for Non -Represented Employees Motion. Owen Rowe moved to approve the consent agenda. Libby Wennstrom seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (NONE) NEW BUSINESS Evans Vista Master Plan Kick Off Presentation Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin introduced the Evans Vista Master Plan Kick Off Presentation. Ron Thomas, AIA, Principal in Charge, and Amos Callendar, AIA, Associate Principal from Thomas Architecture Studios provided Port Townsend Evans Vista Housing Presentation which included Introduction, Project Team, Partnering with TAS, Stakeholders, Project Schedule, Vision & Goals, Background Overview, Vision, Project Goals Creating Neighborhood, Financially Successful, Addressing Social Equity, Current Outreach Efforts, Project Site, Encampments/Outreach, Site Preparation, Area Studies/Types Research, Infrastructure, Demographics, Economic Studies, Economic Goals, Example Housing Types„ Parks, Play and Connectivity, Community Outreach, and Community Engagement. In response to Council's clarifying questions Mr. Thomas confirmed they will look into current local numbers, explained 120-150% AMI as far as non-profit/profit partners, County/City Sewer Line, the process and importance of public outreach, the idea of mobile homes, percentage of multi -family vs. single family homes in Port Townsend, potential partners locally vs. not locally, key stakeholder process, how to reach the people served, forecasting models and EcoNorthwest, and housing for younger residents. Public Comment: Liz Revord spoke about affordable housing for local workers, long term affordability, February 21, 2023 City Council Business Meeting Page 2 of 6 community needs assessment, and land trust. Kim Herman spoke about structures being applicable to site, interested profit/non- profit developers, affordable workforce housing and low-income housing. Viki Sonntag spoke about enthusiasm for project, community involvement, project attainability goal for local contractors, mixed affordability, and social housing development model. Michelle Sandoval spoke about public outreach, MLS listings, Real Estate brokers, forecasting, and who gets the housing concern for locals. Kelsey Caudebec spoke about how housing security correlates with different age groups. In response to Public Comment Mr. Thomas spoke about the level of interest from community, competitive environment for public money, keeping a portion available for public development, separating projects with different funding sources, smaller homes, and public input. In response to Council's clarifying questions Mr. Thomas explained Port Townsend is capped out at three stories for building, process for getting transit services, parking costs and development, acknowledged reaching out to employers, potential partners for long-term affordability, developers being motivated by incentives, and Public Art. Code Compliance Presentation on Hoarding Cases and Alternative Actions Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin introduced the Code Compliance Presentation on Hoarding Cases and Alternative Actions. Code Compliance Officer KT Labadie provided the Hording and Code Enforcement Presentation which included What is Hoarding?, Types of Hoarding, What is NOT hoarding?, Prevalence of Hoarding, Impact on the Community, Typical Code Enforcement Process, Hoarding and Code Enforcement in PT, Hoarding Code Enforcement Challenges, and Persistent Non -Compliance. City Attorney Heidi Greenwood provided the Blighted Properties presentation which included Code Enforcement Options, RCW Code Enforcement Options, Blighted Property Work? How does it work? Where does it work?, Step 1: Blight on the Neighborhood, Step 2: Court Action, Step 3: Fair Market Value, Step 4: City acquires title, Step 5: City disposes of property, and Why are we here? In response to Council's clarifying questions Ms. Greenwood stated the City has not declared houses blight in the past. Public Comment: There was no public comment. February 21, 2023 City Council Business Meeting Page 3 of 6 Discussion ensued around Van Ness properties and blighted property code enforcement, effect on neighboring property values not being on list, education step in workflow, case by case decision, and concerns around neighbors using City code enforcement in a retaliatory nature. Resolution 23-017 Endorsing the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and Proclaiming Port Townsend to be a Human Rights City Ms. Greenwood introduced Resolution 23-017 Endorsing the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and Proclaiming Port Townsend to be a Human Rights City. Ms. Greenwood explained the Human Rights City request process through Council Culture and Society„ Human Rights City research„ and Universal Declaration of Human Rights and updated language. Public Comment: Liz Revord spoke about PT Leader staff member not publishing the Human Rights City declaration. Stephen Schumacher spoke about being slandered, guilt by association being a rights issue, massive human rights violations, war on speech rights, World War III, and concerns around a pigeonholed declaration. In response to public comment Ms. Greenwood explained the Universal Declaration on Human Rights Council discussed housing in relation to Universal Declaration of Human Rights, interpretation of Universal Declaration of Human Rights limiting speech, Jefferson County and Board of Health adopting Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and basic statements of human rights Motion: Aislinn Diamanti moved to approve Resolution 23-017 Endorsing the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and Proclaiming Port Townsend to be a Human Rights City. Monica MickHager seconded. Vote. motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. Resolution 23-018 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with Springbrook and Civics Plus for an Upgraded City Financial System and Online Billing and Payment Portal Director of Finance and Technology Services Connie Anderson presented Resolution 23-018. She went on to explain this item is part of 2023 workplan and will strengthen the financial position and provide better integrated software pool to streamline the budgeting and financial process. She went on to explain the current system, customer support with Springbrook, need for software upgrade, server based vs. cloud based and associated costs, Civic Plus and Springbrook integration, February 21, 2023 City Council Business Meeting Page 4 of 6 staff recommendation to cloud based version, and October implementation timeline. In response to Council's clarifying question Ms. Anderson explained the cloud -based system security efforts, implementing software before budget being the best solution, why Springbrook is the best option, confirmed $15,000 for either version, confirmed there will be staff time saving, costs for server version, confirmed Civic Plus online will replace Doxo, static reports and graphs will be easier for public to understand, confirmed she did not calculate saved staff time into numbers, and confirmed the City will still take cash, checks and credit cards. Public Comment: Stephen Schumacher spoke about transition from ownership model to rental model, why upgrades are needed now, and concerns about cloud -based services. In response to public comment Ms. Anderson explained the current software is a 2013 version and portions will no longer be supported as of October 2023. Motion. Owen Rowe moved to approve Resolution 23-018 authorizing the City Manager to sign a contract with Springbrook to convert and migrate the City's financial system to the cloud -based platform and implement Civic Plus as the online bill pay option. Aislinn Diamanti seconded. Discussion ensued around the need to move forward, concerns around annual costs, comparisons, length of contract, trusting Finance staff, fund transparency, staff efficiency, and cloud security. Vote., motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. Discussion of City Managers Annual Evaluation Process Deputy Mayor Howard announced the Discussion of City Managers Annual Evaluation Process will be tabled until next month per the Mayor's request. PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT Deputy Mayor Howard provided the Presiding Officer's Report which included asking Council member Thomas to provide a WSDOT Hood Canal Bridge Closures update. In addition, the Presiding Officer's report included the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new transit, City Action Days, City Lobby Day, and next meeting time is 6:00pm. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT Public Works Director and Acting City Manager Steve King provided the City Manager's Report which included Break Water Repair Letter of Support, Michael Spears promoted February 21, 2023 City Council Business Meeting Page 5 of 6 to Water Operations Manager, ODT RAISE Grant, Compensation Study, and appreciation for Director team. SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT OR FUTURE AGENDA, REGULAR MEETING AND/OR STUDY SESSION Council member Wennstrom suggested an ICG Special Meeting to discuss Hood Canal Bridge closures. COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL Council member Rowe announced the Washington State Arts Commission has selected Port Townsend to host the first in person gathering of Creative Districts in at least four years on June 28-29. Discussion ensued around tactical infill zoning having two readings. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:44pm. Attest Alyssa Rodrigues City Clerk February 21, 2023 City Council Business Meeting Page 6 of 6