HomeMy WebLinkAbout042125 City Council Business Meeting MinutesCITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING OF APRIL 21, 2025
CALL TO ORDER
The City Council met in a regular session on the 21st day of April 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 Owen Rowe, Monica MickHager, Ben Thomas,
Neil Nelson, David Faber, and Amy Howard with Libby Wennstrom excused.
Staff members present were City Manager John Mauro, Public Works Director Steve
King , People and Performance Director Cynthia Shaffer, Finance and Technology
Services Director Jodi Adams , Project Accounting Specialist Isaac Johnson, and Deputy
City Clerk Lonnie Mickle.
CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
There were no changes to the agenda.
PROCLAMATION(S) OR SPECIAL PRESENTATION(S)
Volunteer Appreciation Proclamation
Mayor Faber presented the Volunteer Appreciation Proclamation.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager John Mauro provided the City Manager's Report which included Tyler St,
Police Vehicles, City Smart Webinar, Late Skate, staff training, and Legislative Session,
Council member Wennstrom arrived at 6:05pm.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Public comment
Staff or Council response, as needed
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There was no public comment.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: PURSUANT TO RCW 42.30.110(1)(1) DISCUSSION OF
LITIGATION (APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES)
Mayor Faber stated the Council will go into Executive Session Pursuant to RCW
42.30.110(1)(i) Discussion of litigation for approximately 20 minutes.
Council went into Executive Session at 6:11 pm.
Council came out of Executive Session at 6:31 pm. No action was taken.
CLOSED SESSION: PURSUANT TO RCW 42.30.140 (4)(B) GENERAL GOVERNMENT
NEGOTIATIONS (APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES)
Mayor Faber stated the Council will go into Closed Session Pursuant to RCW
42.30.140(4)(b) General Government Negotiations for approximately 20 minutes.
Council went into Closed Session at 6:32pm.
Council came out of Closed Session at 6:52pm. No action was taken.
CONSENT AGENDA
PCD Department Staffing Update
Fee update for expedited services
Authorize classification schedule for Represented and Non represented
Employee
Motion: Owen Rowe moved to approve the consent agenda. Neil Nelson seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote.
OLD BUSINESS (NONE)
NEW BUSINESS
Interfund Loan Policy and Resolutions
Finance and Technology Services Director Jodi Adams, Public Works Director Steve
King and Project Accounting Specialist Issac Johnson presented the Interfund Loan
Policy and Resolutions which included identifying need to update water meters and
reading devices, costs, General Fund Reserve loan, Water Operating Fund, interest
rate, investing into the City, pay interest rate back over 4 years, amount of loan,
presented to Finance and Budget, rate model, cost, 500k budgeted, 1.6 million loan,
and water meter reading process.
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In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained length of job, loan from
enterprise funds, fund reserve percentage, state law, normal process, what could go
wrong, benefit to General Fund, staff benefit, quality of meters, how meters break, and
comfort level with dropping reserve levels.
Public comment:
There was no public comment.
Discussion ensued around long-term benefits, reserves, crew work, replacement
process, radio read, Finance and Budget, and financial sustainability work.
Motion: Ben Thomas moved to approve Resolution 25-009 authorizing the lending of
cash from the General Fund to the Water Capital fund, for the replacement of the
meter readers, in 2025. Owen Rowe seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT
Mayor Faber presented the Presiding Officer's Report which included submitted Advisory
Board workplans, Habor Masters and Port Managers welcome, City Smart Webinar,
KPTZ, Late Skate Ceremony, and Joint City Council/PC Meeting.
SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
Council member MickHager asked to discuss lowering speed limit on Hastings.
Discussion ensued around the process for changing speed limit, tasking Infrastructure
and Development, look at this year, draft traffic calming book, budgeted money, radar
feedback signs, and police car dummy.
Motion: David Faber moved to task Infrastructure and Development with reviewing traffic
calming and safety measures on arterials. Monica MickHager seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL
There were no comments from Council.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: PURSUANT TO RCW 42.30.110 (1)(G) PERFORMANCE OF A
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE (APPROXIMATELY 60 MINUTES)
Mayor Faber stated the Council will go into Executive Session Pursuant to RCW
42.30.110 (1)(g) Performance of a Public Employee for approximately 40 minutes. Action
will follow.
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Council went into Executive Session at 7:31 pm.
Council came out of Executive Session at 8:11 pm.
Mayor Faber stated the Council will go back into Executive Session for 20 minutes.
Council went into Executive Session at 8:11 pm.
Council came out of Executive Session at 8:31 pm.
Mayor Faber read aloud the 2024 City Manager Performance Evaluation.
Motion: Libby Wennstrom moved to approve the City Managers Evaluation that was just
read into the record. Monica MickHager seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
Discussion ensued around City Managers Performance Evaluation.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:41 pm.
Attest:
Alyssa Rodrigues
City Clerk
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