HomeMy WebLinkAbout031824 City Council Business Meeting MinutesCITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING OF MARCH 18, 2024
CALL TO ORDER
The Port Townsend City Council met in a Regular Session on the 18th day of March
2024 in Council Chambers at 540 Water Street. Mayor David Faber called the meeting to
order at 6:01 pm.
Mayor Faber made an announcement regarding the audio/visual system issues.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers present at roll call were David Faber, Amy Howard, Monica MickHager,
Aislinn Palmer, Owen Rowe, Ben Thomas, and Libby Wennstrom.
Staff members present were Planning and Community Development Director Emma
Bolin , Public Works Director Steve King , People and Performance Director Cynthia
Shaffer, Library Director Melody Sky -Weaver, Marketing and Communications Director
Shelly Leavens, and Public Records Officer Haylie Truesdel .
CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
There were no changes to the agenda.
EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO RCW 42.30.110 (1)(G) PERFORMANCE OF A
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE. (APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES)
Council went into Executive Session at 6:05pm for approximately 20 minutes to
discuss Performance of a Public Employee pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(g).
Council came out of Executive Session at 6:25pm. No action was taken.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS (NONE)
There were no Special Presentations.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Mayor Faber announced the City Manager's Report is attached to the agenda,
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Public comment
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City Staff Response
There was no public comment.
CONSENT AGENDA
Approval of Bills, Claims and Warrants
Approval of Minutes: January 22, 2024
Appointments/Reappointments: Arts Commission and Civil Service Commission
Authorizing Deferral of Building Fees and Utility Connection Charges for Habitat
for Humanity Low Income Housing Unit at "Cliff Street."
Authorizing Deferral of System Development Charges, System Development
Permits, Building Fees and Utility Connection Charges for Olympic Housing
Trust Dundee Hill
Grant of Easement to the PUD for Power Pole Retrofit
Purchase 2024 Police Department Vehicles
Correcting a Scriveners Error on Ordinance 3332 Concerning Sewer Rates,
PTMC 13.05.040 as Adopted on February 20, 2024
Deputy Mayor Howard announced she will be recusing herself from the vote due to her
employment at Habitat for Humanity.
Motion: Ben Thomas moved to approve the consent agenda. Owen Rowe seconded.
motion carriedunanimously,. I by e vote.
PUBLIC HEARING
Mayor Faber reviewed the Public Hearing Rules of Procedures.
Ordinance 3334 by which the City Assumes the Rights, Powers, Functions, and
Obligations of the Port Townsend Transportation Benefit District and Amending
Port Townsend Municipal Code Chapter 12..50 Port Townsend Transportation
Benefit District
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Public Works Director Steve King provided the Ordinance 3334 presentation which
included background, City Council to assume Rights, Powers, Functions, and
Obligations of the Port Townsend Transportation Benefit District, and staff
recommendation.
Public Comment:
There were no written materials.
There was no public comment.
In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained why public wouldn't want
to waive Council Rules and how funds of TBD will appear on City budget.
Mayor Faber closed the public testimony portion of the Public Hearing.
Motion: Owen Rowe moved to waive Council Rules and approve Ordinance 3334 by
which the City Assumes the Rights, Powers, Functions, and Obligations of the Port
Townsend Transportation Benefit District and Amending Port Townsend Municipal
Code Chapter 12.50 Port Townsend Transportation Benefit District Aislinn Palmer
seconded.
Discussion ensued around scriveners' errors.
Attorney Kendra Rosenberg explained Section 6 in draft Ordinance allows for non -
substantive edits to be made.
Discussion ensued around the word "immunity".
Mayor Faber closed the Public Hearing and record.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS (NONE)
NEW BUSINESS
Equity, Access, and Rights Advisory Board Appointments
Marketing and Communications Director Shelly Leavens and Deputy Mayor Howard
provided the Equity, Access, and Rights Advisory Board Appointments presentation
which included Equity Statement, Culture and Society Committee work, application
and interview process, recommended appointments, and term assignments.
In response to Council's clarifying questions staff and Deputy Mayor Howard
explained how many interviews were done and randomly assigned terms.
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Public Comment:
There was no public comment.
Discussion ensued around who was involved in interviews, great body to live up to
City aspirations, board coming up with own rules within legal parameters, and other
cities doing same work.
Motion: Aisiinn Palmer moved to approve the Equity, Access, and Rights Advisory
Board Appointments. Owen Rowe seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
Authorizing the City Manager to apply for a Library Capital Improvement
Program Grant for 2025-2027 for HVAC and Elevator Improvements at the Port
Townsend Public Library
Library Director Melody Sky -Weaver and Public Works Director Steve King provided
the Library Capital Improvement Program Grant for 2025-2027 for HVAC and
Elevator Improvements at the Port Townsend Public Library presentation which
included background, completed projects, modernizing elevator, new HVAC system,
identifying funding, grants cycle opened, costs estimates, $300,000 total, grant
requiring 1:1 match, bond refinance, Friends of the PT Library, elevator concerns,
climate resiliency centers, and Library energy usage.
In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained heat pumps, backup
system, and 1 % for the Arts.
Public Comment:
There was no public comment.
Discussion ensued around saving energy costs, Library being used as a cooling
space, air filtration, access to community space, and Library having extended hours
during emergency situations.
Motion: Amy Howard moved to authorize the City Manager to apply for a Library
Capital Improvement Program Grant for 2025-2027 for HVAC and Elevator
Improvements at the Port Townsend Public Library Owen Rowe seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT
Mayor Faber provided the Presiding Officer's Report which included discount water rates
for Food Bank gardens.
Discussion ensued around if it would be possible to discount water rates for Food Bank
gardens.
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SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT OR FUTURE AGENDA, REGULAR MEETING AND/OR
STUDY SESSION
There were no suggestions.
COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL
Deputy Mayor Howard announced she presented the Port Townsend Kiwanis Club 75th
Anniversary Proclamation.
Council member Palmer announced the shelter has been extended for another month of
operations and meetings will continue in order to develop a plan.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:11 pm.
Attest:
)Aly,,s,b Rodrigues
City Clerk
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