The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About072125 City Council Business Meeting MinutesDRAFT CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING OF JULY 21, 2025 CALL TO ORDER The City Council met in a regular session on the 21 st day of July 2025 in Council Chambers at 540 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Deputy Mayor Howard called the meeting to order at 6:00pm. ROLL CALL Councilmembers present at roll call were Amy Howard, Neil Nelson, Monica MickHager, Owen Rowe, Ben Thomas, and Libby Wennstrom with David Faber excused. Staff members present were City Manager John Mauro, Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin, Public Works Director Steve King, Community Services Director Melody Sky -Weaver, Parks and Facilities Manager Michael Todd , Long Range Planner Adrian Smith, and City Clerk Alyssa Rodrigues. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA There were no changes to the agenda. PROCLAMATION(S) OR SPECIAL PRESENTATION(S) Port Townsend Main Street Presentation and Proclamation Deputy Mayor Howard presented the Port Townsend Main Street Proclamation to Main Street Executive Director Natalie Maitland. Natalie Maitland spoke about Port Townsend Main Street. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT City Manager John Mauro provided the City Manager's Report which included new staff, Port Angeles Indian Creek tanker truck spill, Strategic Workplan Retreat, Tyler St project, and Permit Videos. Council member Wennstrom arrived at 6:12pm. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Public Comment Barney Burke spoke about the budget process and rude comments from Mayor. Stephen Schumacher spoke about the Port Townsend Plaza paid parking notices. Staff or Council response, as needed July 21, 2025 City Council Business Meeting Page 1 of 5 DRAFT In response to public comment and Council questions staff explained sign ordinance in relation to PT Plaza parking lot, historic district, complaints, nothing legally City can do, Attorney General's Office, civil public dialogue, financial sustainability, and sign requirements. EXECUTIVE SESSION - PURSUANT TO RCW 42.30.110(1)(1)) DISCUSSION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL ABOUT CURRENT OR POTENTIAL LITIGATION (APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES) Deputy Mayor Howard stated the Council will go into Executive Session pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) Discussion with legal counsel about current or potential litigation for approximately 10 minutes. No action to follow. Council went into Executive Session at 6:23pm. Council came out of Executive Session at 6:33pm. No action was taken. CONSENT AGENDA Deputy Mayor Howard stated she will recuse herself due to her employment at Habitat for Humanity. Council member MickHager stepped in as the Presiding Officer. Approval of Bills, Claims and Warrants Approval of Minutes: June 09, 2025 Authorize the final Plat for Landes South Application Authorize the City Manager to execute a Collective Bargaining Agreement with Local Union No. 589 In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained position vacancies. Motion: Owen Rowe moved to approve the consent agenda. Libby Wennstrom seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. Deputy Mayor Howard resumed the role as the Presiding Officer. OLD BUSINESS (NONE) NEW BUSINESS Glass Recycling Public Works Director Steve King and Waste Connections Site Operations Manager Joey Deese provided the Glass Recycling update which included previous presentation, glass market reopened, Jefferson County taking glass again, reinstating glass pick via curbside or drop off locations, Board of County July 21, 2025 City Council Business Meeting Page 2 of 5 Commissioners directed to single stream recycling, Skookum contract ending, DRAFT source separated concerns, April 2026 no longer source separated, County prefers drop off locations, current process, and no contract change. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained consumers paying for glass recycling regardless of curbside pickup, drop off location cost, staffed location, contamination, County concerns, April Council decision, communication of decision, County resident garbage pickup, payment being the same for City residents, illegal dumping, single stream recycling, April 2026, tonnage in glass in Sequim, tonnage in glass in Port Townsend, and how many people will throw glass away instead of going to drop off. Public comment: There was no public comment. Discussion ensued around steps towards what County is doing, drop off locations, maintaining curbside pickup, contract changes, option to continue with source separated pick up after April, County trying to avoid confusion at transfer station, what's best for City residents, less driving, do both, more recycling if curbside, cost, different trucks, Skookum contract, don't have to make a change right away, and new containers. Motion: Ben Thomas moved to direct staff to implement Option 2. Neil Nelson seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote. Community Services Reserve Fund Status and Direction Community Services Director Melody Sky Weaver and Facilities and Parks Manager Michael Todd provided the Community Services Reserve Fund presentation which included Community Services Reserve Fund, City Hall Boilers, Charles Pink Exterior Restoration, Chetzemoka Kitchen Shelter Rebuild, Bell Tower Repainting, Equipment Rental and Revolving Fund (ER&R), Continued Reserves Recommendation, and Discussion and Next Steps. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained current reserve percentage of Community Service Fund budget, commitment to Kitchen Shelter design, cost for Kitchen Shelter, HPC recommendation for Kitchen Shelter, Pink House cost breakdown, public art maintenance, chimney process, metal roof, HPC guidelines, maintenance program, ER&R fund description, and list of historic buildings. Public comment: There was no public comment. Discussion ensued around funding transfers, metal roof, historic structure lists and costs, building materials, Pope Marine Building, faux in relation to historic, want the usage, doesn't have to look the same, similar material for historic building, HPC recommendation, who recommended materials, state and federal historic registries, and priority list. July 21, 2025 City Council Business Meeting Page 3 of 5 Public Works Grants and Loans Presentation Preview DRAFT Public Works Director Steve King, Civil Engineer Mike Connelly, and Deputy Public Works Director David Dinkuhn provided the Public Works Grants and Loans Presentation Preview which included background, stormwater pipe, General Sewer Plan, rate model update, 50% grant, applying for loans and grants, loan forgiveness, Council commitment, Resolution, sewer rate model, lowest cost loans, Lawrence St pavement, ADA improvements, Complete Streets grant, asphalt curve, sidewalks, fix intersection sidewalks, three options, Option 1, Option 3, Option 2, cost for each option, Public Works Board loans, Centennial Clean Water loan, Transportation Benefit District fund, loan options, Monroe St Lift Station, and utility funds. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained Harrison to Monroe St, stormwater dealt with in all options, ADA compliance, bulb out process cost, rain garden, just do west side, phasing option 2 to option 3, doing sidewalk later, loan amount for Water St project, bulb outs slowing traffic, option 3 pavement long-term durability, stormwater treatment, tradeoffs if Option 2 or 3 is chosen, and Monroe St Lift Station saving for utility. Public comment: There was no public comment. Discussion ensued around being mindful of chip seal projects, between Option 1 and 2, commercial vs residential district, Monroe St Lift Station, rate models for utilities, not Option 3, state loans, political climate, Transportation Benefit District funds concerns, Option 1, preserve funds for pothole replacement, Option 1.5, source of state funds, meet needs of community, pavement preservation, and QR code on sidewalk. Comprehensive Plan Vision Statement Recommendations from Planning Commission Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin and Long Range Planner Adrian Smith presented the Comprehensive Plan Vision Statement Recommendations from Planning Commission which included Planning Commission subcommittee, for review, previous vision statement, importance of flexibility in statement, community engagement feedback, subcommittee process, inclusive and clearer statement, line in and line out edits, draft reviewed by Planning Commission, bulk of work done by subcommittee, and content in agenda bill. Deputy Mayor Howard stated she would like to have public comment at the end. Discussion ensued around appreciation for subcommittee and planning staff, attention to words and phrases, adding Equity, Access, and Rights Advisory Board to list, better job at educating what a Comprehensive Plan is, implementing a plan, profile of Port Townsend, top topics per public engagement list, building and caring for something, and appreciation for work. Public comment: There was no public comment. July 21, 2025 City Council Business Meeting Page 4 of 5 Discussion ensued around the written public comment regarding the term "eldwT and retirees in relation to the housing market. PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT Deputy Mayor Howard provided the Presiding Officer's Report which included watching permit videos. SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS Council member MickHager stated she would like to discuss speed enforcement at an upcoming meeting after Comprehensive Plan. Discussion ensued around priorities at retreat and topic going to Infrastructure and Development Committee. COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL There were no comments from Council. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:10pm. Attest: f Ay�R igues City Cli6rk� July 21, 2025 City Council Business Meeting Page 5 of 5