HomeMy WebLinkAbout020325 City Council Business Meeting MinutesCITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING OF FEBRUARY 3, 2025
CALL TO ORDER
The City Council met in a Regular Session on the 3rd day of February, 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, Monica MickHager,
Neil Nelson, Owen Rowe, Ben Thomas, and Libby Wennstrom.
Staff members present were City Manager John Mauro, Long Range Planner Adrian
Smith, Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin , Public Works
Director Steve King , and City Clerk Alyssa Rodrigues .
CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
Deputy Mayor Howard stated she would like to be aware of the weather conditions.
PROCLAMATION(S) OR SPECIAL PRESENTATION(S)
Oath of Office- Police Officer
Chief of Police Tom Olson presented the Police Officer Oath of Office to Andrew Ritter -
Parker.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager John Mauro provided the City Manager's Report which included new staff,
encampment cleanup project, water pipeline break, chip seal rock, and community
coffees.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Public comment
Marie Youssefirad spoke about having reservoir filled and maintained for emergency fire
purposes and brush mitigation around homes in city.
February 3, 2025 City Council Business Meeting Page 1 of 8
Julie Jaman spoke about multi -unit housing, housing study, park rezone, and Mountain
view tennis court land.
Discussion ensued around comments made during public hearing creating its own public
record.
Staff or Council response, as needed
In response to public comment staff and Council explained Jefferson County Wildfire
Prevention Plan and code compliance for brush mitigation, school district site for
affordable housing, appreciation for creative solutions, city owned property, staying
engaged with Comprehensive Plan process, WSR13, reservoir site uses, and Golf Course
well.
EXECUTIVE SESSION- PURSUANT TO RCM" 42.30.110(1)(1) DISCUSSION WITH
LEGAL COUNSEL ABOUT CURRENT OR POTENTIAL LITIGATION (APPROXIMATELY
20 MINUTES)
Mayor Faiber stated the Council will go into Executive Session Pursuant to RCW
' 1 • ••. • • • w• •. • •
Council went into Executive Session at 6:25pm.
Council came out of Executive Session at 6:45pm. No action was taken.
CONSENT AGENDA
Approval of Bills, Claims and Warrants
Approval of Minutes: January 13, 2025, January 21, 2025
Appointments/Reappointments: Civil Service Commission
2024 Third Quarter Financial Update
I•. • Amy Howard moved to approve the consentagenda. Ben Thomas
Vote: motion Wrfied unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
PUBLIC HEARING
Preliminary Periodic Comprehensive Plan Update Docket Preliminary Docket of
20125 Comiprehensive Plan Periodic Review, Resolution 25.0015 Related to the
Periodic Update of the Cit 's Comprehensive Plan and Development
Regulations, Adopting a 2025 Periodic Update Preliminary Docket Setting the
Scope of the Revisions.
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Mayor Faber opened the Public Hearing and reviewed the Public Hearing Rules of
Procedures.
Long Range Planner Adrian Smith and Planning and Community Development
Director Emma Bolin presented the Public Hearing on the Comprehensive Plan
Preliminary Docket which included Presentation Agenda, Summary of Docketing
Process, Criteria for Reviewing Optional Docket Items: Alignment with Mandatory
Amendments, Criteria for Reviewing Optional Docket Items: Respond to Public
Goals and Values, Criteria for Reviewing Optional Docket Items: Feasible by
Deadline, Mandatory Amendments, Capacity Allocated: Adopt Active Transportation
Plan, Capacity Allocated: Critical Areas Ordinance, Capacity Allocated: Parks,
Recreation, and Open Space Plan, Capacity Allocated: Adopt Development
Regulations, Optional Amendments: Housing, Optional Amendments: Density,
Optional Amendments: Implementation, Optional Amendments: Climate Resilience,
Optional Amendments: Parks and Open Space, Optional Amendments: Arts,
Optional Amendment: Commercial and Manufacturing, Optional Amendment:
Agriculture and Gardening, Suggested Amendments: Transportation Goals,
Suggested Amendment: Boat Repair Uses, Optional Amendment: Uses at
Fairgrounds, Suggested Amendment: Day -Use Shelters in P-1 Zone, Site -Specific
Rezone or Overlay at Blaine Street Parcel of Golf Park, Staffs Proposed Preliminary
Docket: Items for 2025 Periodic Review, and Suggested Motion.
Written materials were submitted before and during the hearing and added to the
record.
Jane Wilson spoke in support for optional amendments related to updating goals
and policies for affordable housing and Planning Commission's recommendation to
not include the site -specific rezone at Camas Prairie Park as part of docket.
Bruce McComas spoke against rezoning the golf course property as residential.
Maria Mendes spoke against rezoning Camas Prairie Park for housing.
Amy Hepburn spoke against rezoning Camas Prairie Park for housing.
Lys Burden spoke against rezoning Camas Prairie Park for housing.
Kathy Ryan spoke about support for small/local farms.
Dixie Llewellim spoke against rezoning Camas Prairie Park for housing.
Kathy Darrow spoke against rezoning Camas Prairie Park for housing.
Jude Rubin spoke about Right to Farm, removal of staff time, and enhancing farming
and food production.
Debaran Kelso spoke against rezoning Camas Prairie Park for housing.
Fred Sharpe spoke against rezoning Camas Prairie Park for housing.
Eric Jones spoke in favor of affordable housing.
John Gunning spoke against taking away any farming.
Roger Short spoke about railing protections, spoke against rezoning Camas Prairie
Park for housing, and spoke against restricting any farming.
Marie Youssefirad spoke about importance of fresh food and food availability,
Environmental Impact Statement for Camas Prairie Golf Park, and two -week
postponement of vote due to errors.
Paul Eisenhardt spoke against rezoning on Camas Prairie Park for housing.
Pete Langley spoke against rezoning on Camas Prairie Park for housing and
support for farmers.
Aleta Greenway spoke about the importance of agriculture and to not make
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N' N Ni w•. N N' N �. � • N N
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responseIn • public testimony N need for postponement
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• NFarming, _
needed for agricultural uses, and Land Capacity Analysis.
In response to Council°s clarifying questions staff explained Fairgrounds optional
amendment, Transportation Demand Management, agriculture consideration
process, current state of Right to Farm, and rezoning Blaine St property.
Marie Youssefirad spoke about confusion of writing within proposals, and it was
unfair to do any vote without clarifying and presenting as corrected public document.
Katherine Beril spoke about Right to Farm.
Denise Joy spoke about agriculture on docket in 2026 and using 28 hours.
Bruce McComas spoke about timing of vote for rezoning Golf Park to residential.
,Meta Greenway spoke about clarification to farming clause being optional on the
docket.
Bob Donovan spoke about the docket.
Bly Windstorm spoke about substantive follow up on 2.4.
Bob Donovan spoke about the Camas Prairie and funding.
Mary McCurdy spoke about Land Capacity maps.
Julie Jaman spoke about farmers/gardeners forming a group to collect data.
Mayor Faber closed the public testimony portion of the hearing.
Discussion ensued around appreciation for patience, state mandates, not forcing
future Council, staff time and costs to do the plan, in favor with moving forward with
currently suggested docketed items with recommendations from Planning
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Commission, Planning Commission's role in Comprehensive Plan, Comprehensive
Plan amendment process, support motion from staff, trust work of staff and Planning
Commission, not rushing, error in document adopt as amended, appreciation for
democracy, appreciation for Planning Commission and staffs work, need more time
for discussion on integrated land use, importance for public to stay engaged, Council
not being bound by Planning Commission recommendation, Council can modify,
affordable housing crisis, estimated units of housing needed in Jefferson County in
2044, 2016 Comprehensive Plan done without almost no involvement, #7 in docket
development regulations, concerns for young families, making tradeoffs to meet
community needs, and being committed to get housing figured out.
Mayor Faber closed the public record and the public hearing.
Motion: Monica MickHager moved to approve Resolution adopting the 2025
Preliminary Docket, to include all mandatory amendments, updating the Critical Areas
Ordinance, Active Transportation Plan, Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan,
development regulations, and optional amendments including clarifying goals and
policies to support implementing the comprehensive plan and updating goals and
policies related to housing, density, implementation, climate resilience, parks and open
space, and arts, reflecting 2024-2025 Case files 1-5 and 7 in Staffs Proposed
Preliminary Docket. Ben Thomas seconded.
Staff stated the Resolution number was not included in the motion and stated the
Resolution number is 25-005.
Motion: Amy Howard moved to amend the original motion to include Resolution 25-
005. Libby Wennstrom seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
Discussion ensued around explanation of the docket, upcoming meetings, and due by
end of December.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS (NONE)
NEW BUSINESS
City Involvement and Support for the Jefferson County Connectivity Summit
Marketing and Communications Director Shelly Leavens and City Manager John
Mauro presented the City Involvement and Support for the Jefferson County
Connectivity Summit which included Production Alliance, connect with City workplan,
civic engagement, WA-CELI program, discretionary fund, City sponsor, high quality
in person public engagement opportunities, listening to youth, good opportunity for
City, and alternative funding options.
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In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained funding request,
Community Services Department, and total amount of discretionary fund.
Public comment:
There was no public comment.
Discussion ensued around youth motivated emporium, good program, March dat
supporting event, approach process, for discretionary fu nid' spend ing, people aski
Council for m�oney, workshop discussion, Council hear about request directly fro
person, Council engagement, why discretionary fund and not g�eneral r and
tiscussion with Mayorand Deputy•
Motion: David Faber moved to authorize the, City Manager to enter into a Sponsorship
Agreement _ Production Allir • support
HowardSummit not to exceed $2500 and drawing from the Council Reserve Fund, Amy
- •
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
Discovery/Sheridan/19th St Design Concept Recommendation
•ilic Works Director Steve • presented Discovery/Sheridan/1 9th St Design
Concept
ation which included background, public process, Discovery
�.. toSheridan. submitted grant application based on work with Discovery
intersectionpublic outreach, busy school intersection, Mlobycon, expensive option, dedicated
intersection, protected intersections, and traditional
In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained raised crosswalk
possibility at school, bikes on sidewalk, speed hump on Discovery id, and additional
safety features in the future.
Council member Nelson left at 10:09pm.
Council member Nelson returned at 10:11 pm.
Public comment:
There was no public comment.
Discussion ensued around project being an improvement, raised sidewalk, main
transmission lines, angled sidewalk, and impact to driveways at intersection.
Motion., Amer Howard moved to support proceeding with the Option 3 concept design
for the Discovery Road` McClellan to Sheridan safety improvements project. Owen
Bowe seconded.
Discussion ensued around option being a good choice and importance of raised
sidewalk.
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Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
Task the Equity, Access, and Rights Advisory Board with Reviewing their Scope
of Work within Resolution 23-027 and Providing Edits, Suggestions, and
Updates.
Deputy Mayor Howard stated she would like to postpone the item until the next
business meeting.
Motion: Amy Howard moved to postpone item C to the February 18 business meeting..
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 Parks, Recreation,
Trees, and Trails Advisory Board workplan.
Discussion ensued around workplans at the next Workshop.
SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
There were no suggestions for future agendas.
COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL
Deputy Mayor Howard asked that Council task Culture and Society Committee with a
script for the Public Comment rules.
Motion: Amy Howard moved to task Culture and Society with creating a public comment
rules script. Owen Rowe seconded.
Discussion ensued around getting the Mayor's input.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:20pm.
Attest:
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Alyss lk"" odrig ues
City Clerk
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