HomeMy WebLinkAbout012125 City Council Business Meeting MinutesCITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING OF JANUARY 21, 2025
CALL TO ORDER
The City Council met in a Regular Session on the 21st day of January 2025 in Council
Chambers at 540 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Mayor Faber called the
meeting to order at 6:00pm.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers present at roll call were David Faber, Amy Howard, Neil Nelson, Owen
Rowe, Ben Thomas, Libby Wennstrom, Monica MickHager, and City Clerk Alyssa
Rodrigues.
Staff members present were Public Works Director Steve King, Community Services
Director Melody Sky -Weaver, and People and Performance Director Cynthia Shaffer .
CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
There were no changes to the agenda.
PROCLAMATION(S) OR SPECIAL PRESENTATION(S)
Risk Reduction Week Proclamation
Mayor Faber presented the Risk Reduction Week Proclamation to East Jefferson Fire
Rescue Community Risk Manager Robert Wittenberg.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Mayor Faber stated the City Manager's Report is in the packet and explained the Coffee
Meeting with the City Manager.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Public comment
Staff or Council response, as needed
There was no public comment.
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EXECUTIVE SESSION- PURSUANT TO RCW 42.30.110(1)(1) DISCUSSION WITH
LEGAL COUNSEL ABOUT CURRENT OR POTENTIAL LITIGATION (APPROXIMATELY
10 MINUTES)
CLOSED SESSION- PURSUANT TO RCW 42.30.140 (4)(B) GENERAL GOVERNMENT
NEGOTIATIONS (APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES)
Mayor Faber stated the Council will go into Executive Session pursuant to RCW
42.30.11 01(l)(i) Discussion with legal counsel about current or potential litigation for
approximately 10 minutes, and a Closed Session pursuant to RCW 42.30, 140(4)(b)
General Government Negotiations for approximately 15 minutes. No action will be
ta�et.
Council went into Executive and Closed Session at 6:08pm.
Council came into Executive and Closed Session at 6:35pm. No action was taken.
CONSENT AGENDA
Approval of Bills, Claims and Warrants
Approval of Minutes: October 23, 2024, December 9, 2024, December 16, 2024
Resolution 25-001 Related to Personnel, Adopting Classification Schedules for
Represented and Non -Represented Employees
Approval for Funds to Support Planning and Community Development
Temporary Staff or Consultant Support
Authorizing the City Manager to Sign a Grant Agreement with the Washington
State Transportation Improvement Board for the 2025 Arterial Preservation Chip
Seal' Project and the Lawrence Street Multimodaal Project and Enter into all
Contracts and Agreements Necessary to Execute the Project.
Authorizing the City Manager to Sign a Grant Agreement with the Washington
State Department of Transportation and all Necessary Contracts and Agreements
to Execute the Sims Way Sandy Williams, the Sims Way Bishop Canyon
Bike/Ped, and the Safe Route to Schools Neighborhood Connections Project and
Further Authorize Expenditure of Additional Transportation Benefit District
Funds to Repair the Pavement for a Section of Discovery Road between
McClellan and Sheridan Streets in Coordination with the Already Approved 19th
and Sheridan Safety Project.
Motion Ben Thomas moved to approve the consent agenda. Monica MickHager
seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS (NONE)
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NEW BUSINESS
Resolution 25-002 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Transfer of
Ownership Agreements with Port Townsend Main Street Program for the Tyler
Plaza Lighting Project and the 2024 Bike Shelter Project to the City of Port
Townsend
Community Services Director Melody Sky -Weaver, Port Townsend Main Street
Executive Director Mari Mullen and Steve King presented Resolution 25-002
Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Transfer of Ownership Agreements with Port
Townsend Main Street Program for the Tyler Plaza Lighting Project and the 2024 Bike
Shelter Project to the City of Port Townsend which included partnership with PT Main
Street, working on projects collaboratively, makes sense to have ownership be with
City, Tyler Plaza Lighting Project, Bike Shelter, goal to enhance Port Townsend lighting
situation, and Arts WA funding for Creative District.
In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained the bike shelter, bike
shelter location, and Main Street project.
Public comment:
There was no public comment.
Motion: Owen Rowe moved to approve Resolution 25-002 Authorizing the City
Manager to Execute Transfer of Ownership Agreements with Port Townsend Main
Street Program for the Tyler Plaza Lighting Project and the 2024 Bike Shelter Project
to the City of Port Townsend Libby Wennstrom seconded.
Discussion ensued around appreciation for Port Townsend Main Street, the need for a
bike shelter, and grants.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
Resolution 25-003 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Transfer of
Ownership Agreement with Port Townsend Main Street Program for the Port
Townsend Creative District to the City of Port Townsend
Melody Sky -Weaver and Mari Mullen presented Resolution 25-003 Authorizing the City
Manager to Execute a Transfer of Ownership Agreement with Port Townsend Main
Street Program for the Port Townsend Creative District to the City of Port Townsend
which included Creative District transition to City of Port Townsend, history of Creative
District, Creative District subcommittee, location of Creative District, mission of
Creative District, temporary with PT Main Street, Arts and Culture Plan, Arts and
Culture Coordinator, reapplying for certification, and LTAC.
In response to Council's clarifying questions staff and Mari Mullen explained Creative
District boundaries, resources for artists, business plan for Creative District,
recertification, Creative Plan, "founding partner organizations" meaning, staffing, and
scaling plan.
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Public comment:
There was no public comment.
Discussion ensued around appreciation for everyone involved and the Creative
District program for Port Townsend.
Motion: Ben Thomas moved to approve Resolution 25-003 Authorizing the City
Manager to Execute a Transfer of Ownership Agreement with Pert Townsend Main
Street Program for the Port Townsend Creative District to the City of Port Townsend.
Owen Rowe seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
Resolution 25-004 Authorizing the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute
Agreement for Services
Melody Sky -Weaver and Mari Mullen presented Resolution 25-004 Authorizing the
City Manager to Negotiate and Execute Agreement for Services which included
annual service agreement, workplan and budget request„ street scape
enhancements, uptown raingarden, Earth Day, 40th Anniversary, and tax incentive
program.
In response to Council's clarifying questions Mari Mullen and staff explained how to
get credit, 150k in 2025 budget, and raingardens downtown.
Public comment:
There was no public comment.
Discussion ensued around continuing work with Main Street.
ManagerMotion: Amy Howard moved to approve Resolution 25-004 Authorizing the City
• Negotiate and Execute
• • .• • ••
Discussion ensued around economic drivers.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
Update City Council Rules of Procedures, Section 5.5 City Manager Evaluation
People and Performance Director Cynthia Shaffer presented the Update to City
Council Rules of Procedures, Section 5.5 City Manager Evaluation which included
agenda bill, timeline, proposed changes to clarify process, additional meetings with
City Managers, and presentation by City Manager for self -assessment,
In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained timeline, Special
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Session proposals, format of goal setting, and if City Manager is prepared for
timeline.
Public comment:
There was no public comment.
Discussion ensued around timeline, Culture and Society involvement, March 31 if
needed, Special Session notice, logistics, feedback from City Manager, April 7
meeting, April 21 meeting, modifying timeline, March 31 is optional, proceed as
presented, goals and criteria, and Cynthia will send out evaluation materials.
Motion: Monica MickHager moved to approve updates to City Council Rules of
Procedures, Section 5.5 City Manager Evaluation and Proposed City Manager
Performance Evaluation Timeline with new verbiage added to the March meetings.
Owen Rowe seconded.
Discussion ensued around appreciation for staff for work with Committees regarding
City Manager evaluation and compensation.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT
Mayor Faber provided the Presiding Officers' Report which included KPTZ show about
potholes, People's March, and Washington State Parking Coalition Letter.
Discussion ensued around Washington State Parking Coalition Letter.
Motion: Owen Rowe moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the letter on behalf of the City
Council. Libby Wennstrom seconded.
Discussion ensued around not precluding people from building parking, AWC concerns,
local control, and raising a profile on topic.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
Mayor Faber continued his Presiding Officer's Report which included the City's E-News
Council column schedule.
Discussion ensued around E-News Council column schedule and logistics.
Deputy Mayor Howard explained the Equity, Access, and Rights Advisory Board
workplan approval, budget request, and moving the EAR Advisory Board
enabling resolution and motion to be included in February 3 meeting.
In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained the EAR Advisory Board
budget.
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Discussion ensued around workplan acceptance related to budget and numbering on
document.
Motion: David Faber moved to approve the 2025 Workplan from EAR subject to the 2025
budget allocated to them. Amy Howard seconded.
Deputy Mayor Howard requested public comment.
Public comment:
There was no public comment.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
Deputy Mayor Howard stated she would like EAR tasking previously discussed at next
meeting.
Council member Nelson suggested having a topic on homeless encampment at DSHS at
an upcoming agenda.
Discussion ensued around scheduled clean up at DSHS, Point in Time Count, voluntary
clean up and not a sweep, coordinated community response, OlyCAP presentation to
Council, outside boards, an,s role, Dept o
Commerce., p
ments in the Right of Way, police navigator funding, clean
up funding, CARES program, City funded navigator program,M bringingN •
agenda l
COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL
Deputy Mayor Howard stated she is out of town for the next ICG meeting.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:09pm.
Attest:
Alyss odrig es
City Clerk
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