HomeMy WebLinkAbout051523 City Council Business Meeting MinutesCITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING OF MAY 15, 2023
CALL TO ORDER/ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Port Townsend City Council met in a Regular Business Meeting on 15th day of May
2023 in Council Chambers at 540 Water Street. Mayor David Faber called the meeting to
order at 6:01 pm.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers present at roll call were Aislinn Diamanti, David Faber, Owen Rowe,
Ben Thomas, Libby Wennstrom, and Amy Howard with Monica MickHager excused.
Staff members present were City Manager John Mauro, City Attorney Heidi Greenwood ,
Public Works Director Steve King , Planning and Community Development Director
Emma Bolin , Finance and Technology Services Director Connie Anderson ,
Communications and Marketing Manager Shelly Leavens, Wastewater Treatment Plant
Operations Manager Bliss Morris , and City Clerk Alyssa Rodrigues .
CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
Mayor Faber recommended moving New Business item "C" to item "A".
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Swearing in of Officer
Chief Olson swore in Officer James Berteig,.
Main Street Presentation
Executive Director of the Port Townsend Main Street Program Mari Mullen provided
the Port Townsend Main Street Program 2022 Recap & Looking Ahead which included
Who We Are, 2022 Highlights, Organization, Design Projects, Earth Day Spring Clean
Up, Tyler Plaza Lighting Project, Promotions, May is Art Wave!, Concerts on the Dock,
Uptown Street Fair, Soundcheck, Girls' Night Out, Haunted Histories & Mysteries,
Downtown Trick or Treat & Parade, Small Business Saturday Nov. 26, "Ring in the
Holidays!" in Port Townsend, Now & Future Events, Member & Volunteer Appreciation
Event, Economics, and The Creative District.
City Manager Mr. Mauro recognized the City's partnership with Main Street.
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Immigrant Heritage Month Proclamation
Mayor Faber presented the Immigrant Heritage Month Proclamation to Jefferson
County Immigrant Rights Association board member Roberta Lindeman.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Public comment
Pat Teal spoke about concerns regarding trees being removed for house construction
and the City enforcement of the Tree Ordinance.
City Staff Response
City Manager John Mauro stated he would like to know about situations where the
Tree Ordinance is not being enforced and would need to know more.
EXECUTIVE SESSION — PURSUANT TO RCW 42.30.110 (1)(C) CONSIDERATION OF
THE MINIMUM OFFERING PRICE FOR SALE OR LEASE OF REAL ESTATE IF
THERE'S A LIKELIHOOD THAT DISCLOSURE WOULD DECREASE THE PRICE
(APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES)
City Attorney Heidi Greenwood stated the Council members will go into Executive
Session for approximately 15 minutes pursuant to RCW 42.30.110 (1)(c) to discuss
Consideration of the minimum offering price for sale or lease of real estate if there is a
likelihood that disclosure would decrease the price.
Council members went into Executive Session at 6:28pm
Council members came out of Executive Session at 6:45pm. No action was taken.
CONSENT AGENDA
Approval of Bills, Claims and Warrants
Approval of Minutes: March 6 2023, April 10 2023, April 17 2023
Authorization for the City Manager to execute a professional services agreement
for modernization of the water plan SCADA system
Authorization to purchase a new Kubota tractor with implements for
maintenance and repair of the Olympic Gravity Water System (OGWS)
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Resolution 23-034 Related to Personnel, Adopting Classification Schedules for
Represented and Non -Represented Employees
Resolution 23-032 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute all Agreements
Necessary to Abate the Evans Vista Site
Ordinance 3313 An Ordinance Vacating A 24 X 66 Foot Portion of the Cleveland
Street Right -Of -Way Between Block 192 and 193 in the Eisenbeis Addition;
Establishing Conditions to the Street Vacation; and Establishing an Effective
Date
Motion: Amy Howard moved to approve the consent agenda. Owen Rowe seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
USDA RD Rural Classification Letter
Mr. Mauro provided the USDA RD Rural Classification Letter presentation which
included possibility of reclassification as ineligible, suggestion to Council to write a
letter to USDA, and noting the City should be eligible for important funds.
Public Comment:
There was no public comment.
Council discussed when decision is made, maintaining eligibility through 2030,
effects on hospital, submitting letter promptly, adding a bullet point regarding
regional medical center and rural status concerns, more inclusive regarding
concerns with all programs, submitting a second comment, grammatical errors, add
impact statement for other programs, which programs to include, not to have an
exhaustive list, affordable housing first, add in "ineligibility would have a devastating
impact on this... and other programs such as...", cleaning up reference to direct
program to be direct loan program, clean up MSA reference, adding comma after
Dear USDA -RD, and adding "such as
bridge closures" at the end of the 3rd bullet.
Mr. Mauro stated he can make edits during meeting and bring back at the end of
meeting for signature.
Motion: Libby Wennstrom moved to approve the USDA RD Rural Classification Letter
with amendments as noted. Owen Rowe seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote.
NEW BUSINESS
Ordinance 3315 Related to Building Codes, Adopting by Reference the 2021
Version of the International Building Code, International Residential Code,
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International Mechanical Code, International Fire Code, International Wildland-
Urban Interface Code, Uniform Plumbing Code, Washington State Energy Code
(Commercial), Washington State Energy Code (Residential), and Washington
State Existing Building Code and Amending Chapter 16.04 of the Port Townsend
Municipal Code
Mr. Mauro introduced Ordinance 3315.
Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin and Building Official
Dave Nakagawa presented Ordinance 3315 which included presenting at
Infrastructure and Development Committee, 2021 international codes, details of New
Wildland Urban Interface Code, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) map,
requirements kick in, legislation lacked implementation code language, State
Building Code Council responsible for evaluating new codes, and first version being
ready or Wildland-Urban Interface Code.
Mr. Nakagawara continued the presentation which included updated Washington
State Energy Codes, energy efficiency for buildings recognized by state for primary
driver of energy usage, reduce energy consumption by 70% in buildings by 2030
code, items added to code until 2030, 2031 being when codes comes into play, the
City goes through process of adopting codes as a means of communications with
community and builders, City is responsible for enforcing codes as of July 1, rush to
get in before July 1, informational material on website regarding new codes,
Wildland-Urban Interface Code details, DNR Map details, state wide adoption date,
Washington State Ratings Board for insurance, administrative provisions, and
validity of a permit.
In response to Council's clarifying questions Mr. Nakagawara confirmed builders
have to address Energy Code at state level and provided history of Energy Code,
East Jefferson Fire Rescue participated statewide, Appendix C needs to be updated
to include the one-year building permit provisions, and other cities go through formal
adoption process but City must follow State code.
Public Comment:
There was no public comment.
Council discussed updating Exhibit B capitalizing Planning and Community
Development Director title and changing "his/her designee" to "their designee.",
appreciation for Mr. Nakagawara's work, increasing costs stopping building, need for
State and Federal action to soften costs, and the importance of being consistent and
clear.
Motion: Aislinn Diamanti moved to approve Action: Move to approve first reading of
Ordinance 3315 Related to Building Codes, Adopting by Reference the 2021 Version
of the International Building Code, International Residential Code, International
Mechanical Code, International Fire Code, International Wildland-Urban Interface
Code, Uniform plumbing Code, Washington State Energy Codd (Commercial),
Washington State Energy Code (Residential), and Washington State Existing Building
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Code and Amending Chapter 16.04 of the Port Townsend Municipal Code as
amended. Amy Howard seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote.
Ordinance 3314 Amending Port Townsend Municipal Code Chapter 10.28 Speed
Limits Established by Adding Four New Sections
Mr. Mauro introduced Ordinance 3314
Public Works Director Steve King presented Ordinance 3314 Amending Port
Townsend Municipal Code Chapter 10.28 Speed Limits Established by Adding Four
New Sections which included having a meeting with Fir and 9th street, upcoming
meeting with 49th street, proposing 3 additional Edge Lane Roads (ELR), speed
limit reduction to 20 mph due to ELR, many streets currently operate as ELR,
generally positive feedback, some concerns, speed data, work better with more
activity, and details of ELR striping.
In response to Council's clarifying questions Mr. King confirmed 49th street is about
1,000 trips per day, the striping contract will be the same price per foot as last year
and the City is cutting quantities down and are starting to rotate streets, and there is
no special treatment needed for 9th street in regard to sidewalks and signage. Mr.
King stated the City has not received feedback from Jefferson Transit but have
received feedback from residents that bus drivers are not happy, there is no specific
number other than 6,000 or higher that requires you not to do ELR's but as an
introduction the City said 2,000-2,500, Jefferson Transit runs on Fir, 49th, and 9th,
and Fir and U St will be striped.
Public Comment:
There was no public comment.
Discussion ensued around Walnut St temporary striping and ELR, success metric for
ELR through speed limit drop, when ELR's do not work, and drivers slowing down.
Motion: Aislinn Diamanti moved to approve first reading of Ordinance 3314 Amending
Port Townsend Municipal Code Chapter 10.28 Speed Limits Established by Adding
Four New Sections. Ben Thomas seconded.
Discussion ensued around ELR being helpful on Fir St.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote.
Resolution 23-033 Declaring an Emergency, Authorizing the City Manager to
Execute an Agreement with RH2 Engineering, Inc., And Authorizing the
Application for Loan and Grant Funding for a Water Street Sewer Main Repair
Design in an Amount not to Exceed $2,700,000.
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Mr. Mauro introduced Resolution 23-033.
Mr. King, Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations Manager Bliss Morris, Project
Engineer RH2 Engineering Quentin Chalmers and Project Manager RH2
Engineering John Hendron presented on authorized assessment, sewer pipe
collapse, contracted with RH2 Engineering, findings and recommendations of sewer
inspections.
Mr. Hendron and Mr. Chalmers provided an introduction and went on to provide a
presentation which included classic failure, communities having similar issue, details
of what happened in sewer main, pipe needing to be replaced, two replacement
techniques, videos of defect, unable to video all of pipe, end of useful life, and pipe
not being able to be lined due to risk.
Mr. King explained updating the General Sewer Plan and looking at modeling data
for which pipes are under capacity and need to be replaced. In addition, he
discussed Water Street Sewer Main is under capacity.
Mr. Hendron, Mr. Chalmers, and Mr. King explained possible solutions, challenges,
funding options, and timelines.
In response to Council's clarifying questions Mr. King and Mr. Hendron explained
the pros and cons of Option 2, possibility of collapse, Monroe Lift Station relocation,
air release stations, downtime, and bike lane and access point disruption.
Public Comment:
There was no public comment.
Council discussed the importance of dealing with issue now, grants, historic avoided
situations, looking at other issues, and good practices while working on streets
around triage.
Motion: Aislinn Diamanti moved to approve Resolution 23-033 Declaring an
Emergency, Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with RH2
Engineering, Inc., and Authorizing the Application for Loan and Grant Funding for a
Water Street Sewer Main Repair Design in an Amount not to Exceed $2,700, 000.
Owen Rowe seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT
Mayor Faber provided the Presiding Officer's Report which included Behavioral Health
Advisory Committee membership, Rhody Festival, Donate an Experience, Planning
Commission Happy Hour, Site Visits and Video Taping, and Candidate Filing Week.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Mr. Mauro provided the City Manager's Report which included revised USDA letter for
signature, staffing update, High Performing Organization training, consultants, Discovery
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Road bids, Housing Workshop, Water Main Break, Educational Campaign, meeting
schedule changes, Evans Vista Update, ADU's, Golf Course Open House, Healthier
Together, High School Lock Down, Jefferson Transit Authority, FireCARES project, and
Rhody Festival.
SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT OR FUTURE AGENDA, REGULAR MEETING AND/OR
STUDY SESSION
There were no suggestions.
COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL
Deputy Mayor Howard stated she is scheduled to attend the AWC conference in June as
an AWC board member but if City Council would like her to attend as a Port Townsend
voting delegate, she will need it to be voted on by City Council.
Motion: David Faber moved to approve that. Libby Wennstrom seconded.
Mayor Faber withdrew his motion.
Motion: Libby Wennstrom moved to approve that Port Townsend City Council formally
send Amy Howard as the Port Townsend voting delegate at the AWC conference. Aislinn
Diamanti seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote.
Deputy Mayor Howard also stated she submitted into the Everybody Wins lottery for
allowing someone on the roof of City Hall.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:53pm.
Attest:
Alyssa Rodrigues
City Clerk
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