HomeMy WebLinkAbout061625 City Council Business Meeting MinutesCITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING OF JUNE 16, 2025
CALL TO ORDER
The City Council met in a regular session on the 16th day of June 2025 in Council
Chambers at 540 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Mayor Faber called the
meeting to order at 6:01 pm.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers present at roll call were Owen Rowe, Monica MickHager, Libby
Wennstrom, Ben Thomas, Neil Nelson, Amy Howard, and David Faber.
Staff members present were Planning and Community Development Director Emma
Bolin , City Manager John Mauro, Public Works Director Steve King , Project Manager
Tyler Johnson, Chief of Police Tom Olson, and Deputy City Clerk Lonnie Mickle .
CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
There were no changes to the agenda.
PROCLAMATION(S) OR SPECIAL PRESENTATION(S)
Pride Month Proclamation
Mayor Faber presented the Pride Month Proclamation.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager John Mauro provided the City Manager's Report which included
Comprehensive Plan, Tyler St, Walker and Washington St Open House, Deputy Public
Works Director, Creative District Convening, Planning Manager, Skatepark Lights,
Brewocracy Now, and Juneteenth.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Public comment
Julia Cochrane spoke about the Pride Month Proclamation and American Legion
Shelter.
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Staff or Council response, as needed
CONSENT AGENDA
Approval of Bills, Claims and Warrants
Approval of Minutes: May 19, 2025
Appointments/Reappointments: Arts Commission, Historic Preservation
Committee, Lodging Tax Advisory Committee„ Parrs, Recreation, Trees and
Trails Advisory Board, Equity, Access and Rights Advisory Board
Motion: Monica MickHager moved to approve the consent agenda. Ben Thomas
seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
OLD BUSINESS
Resolution 25-017 Expressing the Intent to Adopt an Update of the Shoreline
Master Program and Authorizing the Submittal of the Proposed Shoreline Master
Program to the Washington State Department of Ecology
Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin presented Resolution
25-017 Expressing the Intent to Adopt an Update of the Shoreline Master Program
and Authorizing the Submittal of the Proposed Shoreline Master Program to the
Washington State Department of Ecology which included second review,
Department of Ecology for public review, reason for second review, changes related
to state comments, Aqua Culture, administrative changes, and appreciation for
public review.
Public comment:
There was no public comment.
Discussion ensued around update on changes, heavy focus on sea level rise,
and appreciation for work done.
Motion: Monica MickHager moved to approve Resolution 25-017 Expressing the Intent
to Adopt an Update of the Shoreline Master Program and Authorizing the Submittal of
the Proposed Shoreline Master Program to the Washington State Department of
Ecology Owen Rowe seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution 25-019 Declaring an Emergency, Waiving Public Bidding
Requirements, and Ratifying the City Manager's Approval of all Applicable
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Documents to Allow for the Immediate Repair of Damage to the OGWS
Transmission Pipeline Near 222 Aerie Lane
Project Manager Tyler Johnson and Public Works Director Steve King presented
Resolution 25-019 Declaring an Emergency, Waiving Public Bidding Requirements,
and Ratifying the City Manager's Approval of all Applicable Documents to Allow for
the Immediate Repair of Damage to the OGWS Transmission Pipeline Near 222
Aerie Lane which included call from homeowner, found leak, brought City water crew
to evaluate leak, 1946 pipe, current break 30 ft north, a lot of breaks in area, 5
breaks in last year, 4 breaks due to welds, girth weld, 6inch break, January break,
temporary repair band, concerns about leak growing, directive to the Mill, need for
Emergency Declaration, discussions with Mill, liability for City and Mill, cost of Mill
shutdown, and condition assessment.
In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained how long pipes are
supposed to hold their integrity, engineered coupler being a permanent fix, why Mill
would like to wait until November, coupler getting put on as soon as possible, repair
project would not necessitate a shutdown, risks of not doing repair, option to recycle
coupler, solutions in future, pipe movement, replacing steel pipes, importance of
neighbor flagging leak, neighbor education, what percentage of steel pipe had
cathodic protection, is cathodic protection helpful, June report, length of pipe,
pressure, and length of public bidding process.
Public comment:
There was no public comment.
Discussion ensued around waiving public bidding, coupling process, City involved in
maintenance, comfortable doing this, budgetary impact, Mill's reasoning for wanting
to push to November, and risk factors.
Motion: Ben Thomas moved to approve Resolution 25-019 Declaring an Emergency,
Waiving Public Bidding Requirements, and Ratifying the City Manager's Approval of all
Applicable Documents to Allow for the Immediate Repair of Damage to the OGWS
Transmission Pipeline Near 222 Aerie Lane Monica MickHager seconded.
Discussion ensued around the importance of strategic planning.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
Recommendations for Changes to Federal Arterial Street Classifications
Steve King presented Recommendations for Changes to Federal Arterial Street
Classifications which included national arterial street classifications, monitoring
transportation system, request for changes, recommended changes, enable City to
secure grant funding, street removal, list in priority, and submitting to WSDOT.
In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained Rainier Street to Howard
St, moving public works facility to water towers, public participation, arterial
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definition, future design include bike lanes and sidewalks, conditions of Hamilton
Heights development, wetland buffer, how far gravel road goes, importance of
arterial designation, how often do we look at City to add arterials, Cherry St, 24th
and 25th St, Hastings, Coon St, grant money, Washington St (Quincy to Monroe),
Harrison and Van Buren, general traffic volumes, and Rainier SEPAAnalysis.
Public comment:
Judy Crads spoke about Howard St. redesignation.
In response to public comment staff explained the Howard St corridor and
connection.
Discussion ensued around runoff concerns, aquifer, Hamilton Heights streets,
google maps, arterial designations, traffic, latecomer, pollution, vested development
rights, amend Comprehensive Plan, and 2016 Comprehensive Plan.
Motion: Monica MickHager moved submit to WSDOT a request for changes to the
City's Federal Street Classification System as follows:
1. Correct the Howard Street Corridor to reflect the realignment to Rainier Street and
20th to connect to Howard Street.
2. Add Benton and Fir between Lawrence and F Streets
3. Add Hancock between SR20 and 9th Street.
4. Add 9th Street between Sheridan and McPherson.
5. Add Washington Street between Monroe and Quincy. Owen Rowe seconded.
Discussion ensued around request.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
Resolution 25-020 Adopting the Jefferson County All -Hazard Mitigation Plan
(AHMP) as Required by the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000
Department of Emergency Management Director Willie Bence and Chief of Police
Tom Olson presented Resolution 25-020 Adopting the Jefferson County All -Hazard
Mitigation Plan (AHMP) as Required by the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000
which included definition/purpose of All -Hazard Mitigation Plan, updated plan,
adoption of plan, data, annual updates, federal funding, and public
engagement/feedback.
In response to Council's clarifying questions staff and Willie Bence explained who
has already approved the plan.
Public comment:
There was no public comment.
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Discussion ensued around doing a good job on developing plan,
Motion: Monica MickHager moved to approve Resolution 25-020 Adopting the
Jefferson County All -Hazard Mitigation Plan (AHMP) as Required by the Federal
Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. Ben Thomas seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT
Mayor Faber stated he does not have a Presiding Officer's Report.
SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
Council member Thomas stated he would like to discuss big picture zoning.
Discussion ensued around next joint meeting with Planning Commission and July 7
Council meeting.
COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL
Council member MickHager provided Marketing presentation feedback.
Motion: Amy Howard moved to make Council member Neil Nelson a designated voter for
the City of Port Townsend at the AWC Annual Conference. Libby Wennstrom seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:07pm.
Attest:
Al ssa Rodrigues
City Clerk
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