HomeMy WebLinkAbout090924 City Council Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 9, 2024
CALL TO ORDER/ ROLL CALL
The City Council met in a Regular Session on the 9th of September 2024 in Council
Chambers at 540 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Mayor Faber called the
meeting to order at 6:00pm.
Councilmembers present at roll call were David Faber, Amy Howard, Monica MickHager,
Neil Nelson, Owen Rowe, Ben Thomas, and Libby Wennstrom.
Staff members present were Library Director Melody Sky -Weaver, City Manager John
Mauro, Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin , Chief of Police
Tom Olson, and City Clerk Alyssa Rodrigues.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT (REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA)
There was no public comment.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Deer Management
City Manager John Mauro introduced Deer Management.
Library Director Melody Sky -Weaver and Planning and Community Development
Director Emma Bolin provided the Deer Management presentation which included
Good deer, bad deer, oh dear!, Acknowledgement of Beliefs and Experiences,
Workshop Objective, Framing the Issue, Acknowledge Complexities: No simple
solution, Suite of Options, Staff Capacity Considerations, Choices and Effectiveness,
Budgetary Concerns, Deer- a Human Behavior Problem, Public Education: Living
with Deer, and Potential Next Steps.
In response to Council's clarifying question staff explained other cities that have
dealt with deer issue and requirements for cities on East Coast.
Public Comment:
Public comment was made.
In response to public comment staff explained observing deer feeding behavior,
legal system, tracking deer interactions in relation to code enforcement, and data
from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
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Discussion ensued around metrics, updated information, committee to identify
problem and solutions, British Columbia, importance of starting work, Bellingham,
community taskforce, staff capacity, non -formal community advocacy group, 2025
budget, code compliance for deer, police department tracking deer reports,
education, data tracking, consultants, reviewing information from Canada, working
with Department of Wildlife, tradeoffs of development, staff time tradeoff, deer/dog
interactions, deer critical mass, uptown, aggressive deer population, SEPA, impact
of community group, Council receiving deer data, and how to contact City Council.
Parking Management
John Mauro introduced Parking Management.
Public Works Director Steve King, Emma Bolin, and Chief of Police Tom Olson
provided the Parking Management Discussion presentation which included
Acknowledgement of Psychology of Parking, Why Parking Management?, Workshop
Objective, 2016 City Comprehensive Plan Transportation Element, 2016
Comprehensive Plan Goals, Background: Downtown Environment, Background:
Review Inventory- Last Parking Count, Background: Recent Interim Ordinance,
Background: Fee $$ Reality, Dollars and Cents, Four Options to Consider, Four
Options Evaluation„ Option 1- Parking Study, Option I- Description, Option 1-
Comprehensive Plan, Option 1- Parking Strategy„ Option 1- Public Engagement,
Option 1- Resource Impacts, Option 1- Work Plan Trade -Off„ Option 2- Parking Fees
with Enforcement and ad hoc Participation, Option 2- Comprehensive Plan and
Strategy, Option 2- Public Engagement, Option 2- Resource Impact and Trade-off,
Option 3- Parking Fee and Enforcement Pilot, Option 3- Comprehensive Plan and
Strategy, Option 3- Public Engagement, Option 3- Resources and Trade-offs, Option
4- Null Alternative, Challenges, and Discussion and Questions on Options.
In response to Council's clarifying questions, staff explained new port parking,
limited fee parking revenue, staff capacity, technology, timing of study, uptown, and
enforcing current rules.
Public Comment:
Public comment was made.
Discussion ensued around supporting bus system, police staff budget, 2026 study,
receiving data, resident concerns, employee parking, minimum size company will
contract for, customer first programs, pilot program, deterrent for customers,
strategy, heat maps, communications, Main St vision, downtown sub area plan,
Option 3, Option 2, Streateries, parking plan, different interest groups„ lead time for
Option 3, exceptions for disabled residents, accessibility, employee/residents
impacted, Option 3 being a modest scope, Option 2 stakeholder involvement,
waiting on Option 1, include uptown, timeline, 2025 spring start pilot, amount of time
to manage Ad Hoc Committee, technology, parking enforcement, Tyler St, Adams St,
some of Washington St, something needs to be done, handicapped parking, and
recent grant award.
ADJOURN
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There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:51 pm.
Attest:
Aly sa tdrigues
City Clerk
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