HomeMy WebLinkAbout041723 City Council Business Meeting MinutesCITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING OF APRIL 17, 2023
CALL TO ORDER/ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Port Townsend City Council met in a Regular Business Meeting on the 17th day
of April 2023 in Council Chambers at 540 Water Street. Mayor David Faber called the
meeting to order at 6:00pm.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers present at roll call were Aislinn Diamanti, David Faber, Ben Thomas,
Owen Rowe, Libby Wennstrom, and Amy Howard with Monica MickHager excused.
Staff members present were Finance and Technology Services Director Connie
Anderson , Public Works Director Steve King, Planning and Community Development
Director Emma Bolin , City Manager John Mauro, City Attorney Heidi Greenwood, and
City Clerk Alyssa Rodrigues.
Mayor Faber announced Council member MickHager will be 10 minutes late.
CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
Mayor Faber stated there will be additional staff reports during the Presiding Officer's
report. In addition, he stated he will do the Volunteer Appreciation Proclamation and
Public Comment before Executive Session.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Volunteer Appreciation Month Proclamation
Mayor Faber presented Trash Task Force Volunteer Stephanie Moran with the
Volunteer Appreciation Month Proclamation.
Council member MickHager arrived at 6:10pm.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Public comment
Kellen Lynch spoke about volunteer month, connectivity fair, need for volunteers for
Olympic Housing Trust, encouragement of continuing conversations with the City and
April 17, 2023 City Council Business Meeting Page 1 of 8
Olympic Housing Trust, and non-profit and for-profit developers.
Debbie Jahnke spoke about Local 2020 Transportation Lab conference and the
importance to change thinking about transportation.
Julie Jaman spoke about Healthier Together Aquatic Center survey concept concerns,
and gratitude for volunteers that pull invasive plants.
City Staff Response
EXECUTIVE SESSION — PURSUANT TO RCW 42.30.110 (1)(G) PERFORMANCE OF A
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE. (APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES)
Mayor Faber stated they will go into Executive Session to discuss RCW 42.30.110(1)(g)
Performance of a Public Employee for 15 minutes.
Council members went into Executive Session at 6:20pm.
Council members came out of Executive Session at 6:35pm.
Mayor Faber announced they will go back into Executive Session for 10 minutes.
Council members went into Executive Session at 6:36pm
Council members came out of Executive Session at 6:46pm. No action was taken.
CONSENT AGENDA
Approval of Bills, Claims and Warrants
Approval of Minutes: March 13, 2023, March 27, 2023
Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Extension of the Contract with
BigBelly Connect Collection Facilities in the Amount of $1,663.66 per month.
Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into Two -Year Contracts for On -Call
Engineering Services
Motion: Monica MickHager moved to approve the consent agenda. Owen Rowe
seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - NONE SCHEDULED
NEW BUSINESS
Ordinance 3310 Adopting 2023 Supplemental Budget Appropriations
Finance and Technology Services Director Connie Anderson presented Ordinance
3310 Adopting 2023 Supplemental Budget Appropriations which included the need
April 17, 2023 City Council Business Meeting Page 2 of 8
for supplemental appropriations and fund balances to be moved into 2023 as well as
many items not related to capital projects still being in the works and needing to be
moved forward from 2022 to 2023 in order to have proper expenditures authority to
get work done. She stated this is due to staffing shortages. She went on to explain
the use of consultants and the budget, additional requests for unanticipated
expenses, higher than anticipated items, city wide initiatives, and details of various
projects in the packet.
In response to Council's clarifying questions Ms. Anderson and Public Works
Director Mr. King explained the elevator call service and its relation to the budget.
Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin explained the request
for $150,000 being for pass through funding and stated she does not think it all need
to be used. In addition, Ms. Bolin explained if the City is hiring a consultant to help
with permit review, they would like them to help with codes as well. Mr. King
explained Engineering is a cog in the wheel when it comes to permit timelines and
suggested getting engineering support which is not typically covered by fees and
explained code updates in engineering design standards would help improve
timelines and deliver outcomes.
In response to Council's clarifying questions Ms. Anderson stated EV charging is
$10,000 which was committed locally and is matched to car share. She went on to
explain the TIB grant for Tyler St is a total grant amount and match and is not in the
budget. She explained the roundabout analysis and hiring of consultant to do
analysis and the pool roof repair being the cost of the repair. Mr. King explained
location considerations for EV car share and how the City supported applications by
two non -profits (one for fast chargers and one for car share program). He went on to
explain the $10,000 came after a nonprofit for car share who was awarded the grant
needed matching for charging stations which came to Council.
In response to Council's clarifying questions Ms. Anderson confirmed "fund balance"
stands for entire fund. She also explained the City has an overarching insurance
policy with Washington Cities Insurance Authority and the City copied over the
budget amount from two cycles ago which means the increase represents a two-
year increase instead of a one-year increase as well as explained what all it
includes. In addition, Ms. Anderson confirmed the LTAC budget, and how Mr. Mauro
was the facilitator of the LTAC retreat but does not get paid $1500. She went on to
state the Creative District was approved by LTAC to fund the district for four years,
but it is an annual budget which is why it is marked the way it is. She explained there
were additional laptop purchases and the City used the year-end balance from 2022
to buy equipment and other ongoing upgrades. Ms. Anderson explained the fraud
issue from last October.
Public Comment:
There was no public comment.
Discussion ensued around the importance of having two readings.
Motion: Owen Rowe moved to approve first reading of Ordinance 3310 Adopting 2023
Supplemental Budget Appropriations Libby Wennstrom seconded.
Discussion ensued around how helpful it was to pull out funding source on charts and
having the supplemental come to full council first.
April 17, 2023 City Council Business Meeting Page 3 of 8
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
Resolution 23-027 Creating the Equity, Access and Rights Advisory Board
Ms. Greenwood provided Resolution 23-027 Creating the Equity, Access and Rights
Advisory Board presentation which included Equity, Access, and Rights Advisory
Board timeline, conversations and feedback from members of the public, inclusion of
#4, importance for Council to be deliberate in seeking membership for body, and
reduction in age to fourteen.
In response to Council's clarifying questions Ms. Greenwood confirmed she would
correct the statement in Section 2: #2 to state, "Serve as the resident advisory board
for Port Townsend...", Deputy Mayor Howard confirmed in #3 the items only directed
by City Council would go to board, Deputy Mayor Howard confirmed it is not as such
in relation to list of components. She went on to state the intent would be when
Council needed input on something due to potential direct impact and it's not a
specific box. She confirmed this board would work similarly to other advisory boards
and stated it would be helpful to have an iterative process with advisory boards.
Public Comment:
There was no public comment.
Discussion ensued around topics going through advisory boards first before Council
and if that is how this body would work, the importance of having a firm grasp on the
concept, Culture and Society's thoughts behind wanting input from the body that
helped form the body, looking into compensation for advisory boards, identifying
barriers to participation for advisory boards, and accessibility of meetings. In
addition, Council discussed tasking of advising and recommending education,
training and resources, concerns around setting up something that does not have
the expected role people who would serve would think it would, tokenizing, the
document being a starting place, challenges of bureaucracy, importance of Council
remembering to send items to advisory board, Human Rights Commission proposal,
public listening session process and concerns around procedures, importance of
discussion and challenging ideas, 60 days to allow, for group to be built, changing
wording to say "as directed by City Council" first in #2c, #3, and #, and including in
#6 to state, "provide a forum for discussing equity, access" and human rights issues
and forward to Mayor."
Ms. Greenwood asked to have Culture and Society review the edits and concerns
and bring back to Council.
Motion: David Faber moved to send Resolution 23-027 Creating the Equity, Access
and Rights Advisory Board back to Council Culture and Society for another review.
Aislinn Diamanti seconded.
Council discussed sending further edits to Ms. Greenwood.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
Resolution 23-028 Updating and Providing for Planning and Community
Development and Public Works Departments Fees and Ordinance 3311 Related
April 17, 2023 City Council Business Meeting Page 4 of 8
to City Public Works Fees and Repealing Section 3.36.018 of the Port Townsend
Municipal Code
Ms. Bolin presented Resolution 23-028 and Ordinance 3311 which included
implementing tactical infill, hiring contractor to do on-call permit review fees,
enhanced capacity review, code updates, repealing section 3.36.018 appeal fees for
street waiver and variances and utility (water and sewer) waiver and variances, and
fee to pay for hearing examiner and staff time.
In response to Council's clarifying questions Ms. Bolin confirmed it should say,
"Note: Final Plat fee not included see Line 71" not "...Line 70". She explained they
are working on Tiny House on Wheels and the permits and fees involved. In
addition, she confirmed on line 79 the $2,000 is the deposit amount for the street
vacation ordinance and explained secondary, primary, and pivotal home are in the
context of historic preservation review. She went on to state on line 121 the word
"TRUE" is a formula that needs to be updated, line 27 and 30 are duplicates, and
that she is not sure why there are different permit types for secondary, primary, and
pivotal homes.
Public Comment:
There was no public comment.
Motion: Monica MickHager moved to approve Resolution 23-028 Updating and
Providing for Planning and Community Development and Public Works Departments
Fees Aislinn Diamanti seconded.
Discussion ensued around being mindful of Tiny House on Wheels permits fees and
lowering barriers through being clear and providing education.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
Motion: Monica MickHager moved to waive Council Rules and approve Ordinance
3311 Related to City Public Works Fees and Repealing Section 3.36.018 of the Port
Townsend Municipal Code Aislinn Diamanti seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
Ordinance 3312 Related to System Development Fees and Amending Section
13.03.080 and Repealing Section 13.03.090 of the Port Townsend Municipal Code
Mr. King presented Ordinance 3312 which included 2021 water rate study and FCS
group engagement as well as system development charges being calculated
charges by law, the bad practice of putting CPI inflators in System Development
Charges, and no record of implementing CPI inflators at City. In addition, he
explained the decision to recommend repealing to be a good practice in order to be
consistent with not adjusting unless there is a rate study and calculation. He also
explained current staff practice of system development charges needing to be paid if
meter is discontinued, adding in a recommendation of five years be used as a
threshold in code, and stated five years is industry standard.
In response to Council's clarifying questions Mr. King explained discontinued service
and when residents would still pay base charges. He also explained needing to add
a large fee for reinstalling a meter for a termination of service for convenience.
April 17, 2023 City Council Business Meeting Page 5 of 8
Public Comment:
There was no public comment.
Discussion ensued around paying for water service when people are not here year-
round and what is reasonable, five-year window seeming reasonable, having base
fee issue brought back for further discussion, fee for water meter, potential hardship
and disaster waiver, and discontinued service meaning meter is removed and
account is closed.
Motion: Aislinn Diamanti moved to waive Council Rules and approve Ordinance 3312
Related to System Development Fees and Amending Section 13.03.080 and
Repealing Section 13.03.090 of the Port Townsend Municipal Code Ben Thomas
seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
Authorizing the City Manager to enter into an engineering services contract for a
preliminary Mill Road/SR20/Discovery Road intersection analysis and design.
Mr. King presented on Authorizing the City Manager to enter into an engineering
services contract for a preliminary Mill Road/SR20/Discovery Rd intersection
analysis and design which included compact roundabout proposal history, funding,
new roundabout sketches, Jefferson County compact roundabout at Discovery and
Jacob Miller, DOT interest in Jacob Miller Rd and SR20, next year's legislative
priority in collaboration with Jefferson County, DOT program and funding strategies,
state legislator, and hiring a consultant to do analysis.
In response to Council's clarifying questions Mr. King confirmed it would be one big
roundabout and could include median and turning control at Jacob Miller. In addition,
he confirmed the City/County line in intersection, DOT has a right of way issue and
adding a roundabout would include a significant right of way purchase, City is
working with Jefferson Transit, island of roundabout could hold new City sign,
WSDOT pushed off Mill Rd roundabout, the chronological order of delay requests
with City and WSDOT, and Masterplan for intersection consolidation.
Mr. King went on to confirm it was already included in supplemental budget
approved earlier and stated everything proposed tonight is grant funded so there
would not be a contribution for 1 % of arts, he explained if there is a pool of funds
collected for 1 % of arts, they can use for roundabout island art.
Public Comment:
There was no public comment.
Discussion ensued around the importance of non -motorized transportation and bus
stops.
Motion: Monica MickHager moved to approve authorizing the City Manager to enter
into an engineering services contract for a preliminary Mill Road/SR20/Discovery Road
intersection analysis and design Owen Rowe seconded.
Discussion ensued around hoping the County considers closing Jacob Miller between
SR 20 and Discovery Rd and routing traffic around due to how dangerous the
April 17, 2023 City Council Business Meeting Page 6 of 8
intersection is.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT
Mayor Faber provided the Presiding Officers Report which included Boston Marathon
update from City Manager John Mauro, Farmers Market Opening Weekend, Local 2020
Connectivity Fair, Pet Parade, Housing Roundtable, Plant Based Lunch Pop Up, and
Housing Solutions Network event.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Mr. King and Ms. Bolin provided a staff report in lieu of a City Manager Report which
included updates on camping activity and safety concerns in Kah Tai Lagoon. In addition,
they discussed the Evans Vista outreach event.
Discussion ensued around the process for current campers from Evans Vista to move
into Caswell Brown, police doing a good job communicating with campers at Evans
Vista, appreciation for approaching Evans Vista campers with compassion, survey on
Evans Vista project website, and communication of event.
SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT OR FUTURE AGENDA, REGULAR MEETING AND/OR
STUDY SESSION
Council member Wennstrom suggested discussing the HUD reclassification of Port
Townsend as non -rural as a Council and said she would forward the link for comments
to City Clerk to distribute to Council.
Council member Thomas suggested a workshop to discuss different facets of how the
City interfaces with homelessness. Council discussed running issues through the
Committee of the Housing Fund Board and having Council members attend.
Council member Diamanti suggested discussing policies around public comments which
call in other community members who are not pertinent to items on the agenda.
Discussion ensued around tasking Council Culture and Society Committee with this.
Motion: David Faber moved to task Culture and Society committee with reviewing public
comment policy. Amy Howard seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
Council member Wennstrom stated the deadline for HUD is June 8th. Council discussed
having this discussion the first meeting in May and including email in packet.
COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL
Council member Thomas stated the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Association has a
temporary board which he is on as a member of the City. He explained it is going well
and hopes most of the previous fairground board members stay on the Fair Committee.
April 17, 2023 City Council Business Meeting Page 7 of 8
Mayor Faber stated he hopes to see a robust year-round operation at the Fairgrounds
due to North Beach being a food desert.
Council member Thomas explained appreciation for Transportation Conference and how
much work was put into it as well as how many people attended. Deputy Mayor Howard
stated the City was a sponsor of the Transportation Conference.
Mayor Faber stated he has further thoughts on Impact Fees and would like another
touchpoint for discussion.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:54pm.
Attest:
Alyssa Rodrigues
City Clerk
April 17, 2023 City Council Business Meeting Page 8 of 8