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Home My WebLink About080425 City Council Business Meeting MinutesCITY OF PORT TOWNSEND MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING OF AUGUST 4, 2025 CALL TO ORDER The City Council met in a regular session on the 4th day of August 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, Owen Rowe, Ben Thomas, and Neil Nelson with Monica MickHager, and Libby Wennstrom excused. Staff members present were Public Works Director Steve King, Code Compliance Officer KT LaBadie, Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin, City Manager John Mauro, Civil Engineer Mike Connelly, Deputy Public Works Director David Dinkuhn, Chief of Police Tom Olson, and City Clerk Alyssa Rodrigues. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA There were no changes to the agenda. PROCLAMATION(S) OR SPECIAL PRESENTATION(S) (NONE) There were no Special Presentations, CITY MANAGER'S REPORT City Manager John Mauro provided the City Manager's Report which included water supply, Port Townsend Farmers Market, Chip Seal, City Manager coffee conversation, and ballots due. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Public comment There was no public comment. Staff or Council response, as needed CONSENT AGENDA August 4, 2025 City Council Business Meeting Page 1 of 6 Approval of Bills, Claims and Warrants Approval of Minutes: June 16, 2025 2025 General Government Wage Schedule Motion: Amy Howard moved to approve the consent agenda. Owen Rowe seconded. Discussion ensued around general government wage schedule. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 5-0 by voice vote. OLD BUSINESS (NONE) NEW BUSINESS Encampment Briefing Code Compliance Officer KT LaBadie, Chief of Police Tom Olson, East Jefferson Fire Rescue Community Risk Manager Robert Wittenberg, Public Works Director Steve King provided the Encampment Briefing which included public health issues, DSHS encampment, human waste issues, dumpster, trash issues, Evans Vista Site, unreported fires concern, champions in area, support from other agencies, fire safety education, calls for service volume, serious in nature calls, challenging situation, community call to action, Caswell Brown, OlyCAP expanded services, City of Port Townsend role, intervention, and Housing Fund Board. In response to Council's clarifying question City staff, EJFR staff, and Housing Fund Board members explained capacity at Caswell Brown, preferred place, 5-year plan process, sanitation, Evans Vista property, laundry/showers, and 2500 affordable housing units needed. Public comment: Viki Sonntag spoke about 2200 affordable housing units needed, Housing Fund Board/Taskforce, underserved senior population, and City strategy. Julia Cochrane spoke about housing subsidies, DSHS encampment, and Evans Vista land for supported encampment. James Holthaus spoke about case managers at encampment. Beulah Kingsolver spoke about showers, Housing Fund Board concern, more people, and community shelter concerns. Barbara Morey spoke about affordable housing, policy, best practices, and places. August 4, 2025 City Council Business Meeting Page 2 of 6 Discussion ensued around number of service calls, 5-year plan process, information gathering, conversation at Housing Fund Board, sweeps, city staff, where to place the issue, harm reduction approach, need people to step up to solve problem, low barrier shelters, what is Council doing, how does City bring funds into action, Council Reserve Fund, bureaucratic vs. holistic viewpoint, Evans Vista property with RV's and tiny homes, roundtable community conversations, proposed action, capacity building strategies, increasing conversation with others, needing to think differently, centralized vs. decentralized solutions, expanding capacity of a system, conversation with other bodies, conversation with intention and care, bringing community conversation forward to Housing Fund Board, low barrier shelter as priority directive, WA-CELI training, creating the opportunity, and Council workshop option. Motion: Amy Howard moved to request the Housing Fund Board to reboot Community Conversations with a focus on assisting the City on solving the immediate problem at unsanctioned encampments. Ben Thomas seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 5-0 by voice vote. Motion: Owen Rowe moved to raise low barrier shelter policy and options as a priority for the Housing Fund Board to address as part of a coordinated, interagency approach. Ben Thomas seconded. Discussion ensued around if intent is to do it in 5-year plan and acknowledge of intent. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 5-0 by voice vote.. Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with ARC Architects to Develop Schematic Design for a New Municipal Service Center Public Works Director Steve King and Facilities and Parks Manager Michael Todd presented Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with ARC Architects to Develop Schematic Design for a New Municipal Service Center which included budget for schematic design, Municipal Service Center, proposals, ARC Architects, city representative Richard Berg, next steps, and development of a plan. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained funding breakdown, timeline, future synergy between departments, and heavy machinery traffic. Public comment: There was no public comment. Discussion ensued around tour of current location, better base for departments, increasing retention, existing water plant, and 10-15-year project. Motion: Owen Rowe moved to authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with ARC Architects to develop schematic design for a new Municipal Service Center August 4, 2025 City Council Business Meeting Page 3 of 6 Neil Nelson seconded. Discussion ensued around current city shop land for affordable housing and Jefferson Transit route. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 5-0 by voice vote. Transportation Improvement Board Grant Application Support Steve King, Deputy Public Works Director David Dinkuhn, and Civil Engineer Mike Connelly provided the Transportation Improvement Board Grant Application Support which included TIB programs, recommending projects that fit criteria, feedback on applications, Six Year Transportation Improvement Plan, sidewalk program grant on Lawrence St, TIB grant spending, and list of project recommendations. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained length of Discovery Rd from Mill Rd to roundabout, 12th and Landes safety improvements, TBD fund, and Discovery Rd between San Juan and 19th multiuse sidewalk. Public comment: There was no public comment. Discussion ensued around 12th and Landes concerns, different buckets of money, Lawrence St, arterial street study, more projects than funding, prioritizing with other agencies, capacity limitations, and perception vs. true conflict recusal process. Motion: Amy Howard moved to support a Transporation Improvement Board grant application committing to funding match up to $1 million combined for all four grant programs Owen Rowe seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 5-0 by voice vote. Resolution 25-024 Authorizing the Application for Loan Funding for Final Design and Construction of Lawrence Street Combined Sewer Separation Project in an Amount not to Exceed $4,500,000 Mike Connelly and Steve King presented Resolution 25-024 Authorizing the Application for Loan Funding for Final Design and Construction of Lawrence Street Combined Sewer Separation Project in an Amount not to Exceed $4,500,000 which included project intention, modified Option 1, submitting application for alternative, project cost estimate, 20% city match, TBD contribution, next steps, sewer rates, sewer plan, Monroe Lift Station, and another Public Works Board loan in spring. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained project name, public outreach plan, Monroe Lift Station, and layout of bulb outs. August 4, 2025 City Council Business Meeting Page 4 of 6 Public comment: There was no public comment, Discussion ensued around property ownership, borrowing money, interest rates, vital street, and good compromise. Motion: Ben Thomas moved to approve Resolution 25-024 Authorization the Application for Loan Funding for Final Design and Construction of Lawrence Street Combined Sewer Separation Project in an Amount not to Exceed $4, 500, 000 Amy Howard seconded. Discussion ensued around when final work will be done and timing of other section of Lawrence St construction. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 5-0 by voice vote. PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT Mayor Faber provided the Presiding Officers Report which included Life Care Center nursing staff need and housing crisis, Olympic Housing Trust Dundee Hill Project, Jefferson County Fair, and Uptown Street Fair. SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS There were no suggestions for future agendas. COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL Council member Rowe stated the Wall that Heals is coming to Jefferson County Airport and help is needed. Discussion ensued around creating a proclamation. Deputy Mayor Howard stated she would like to consider other activities for volunteer appreciation. Motion: Amy Howard moved to task Culture and Society Committee to have a conversation about volunteer appreciation. Ben Thomas seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 5-0 by voice vote. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:15pm. August 4, 2025 City Council Business Meeting Page 5 of 6 Attest: Alysse Rodrigues City Clerk August 4, 2025 City Council Business Meeting Page 6 of 6