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Home My WebLink About111025 Special Session City Council Meeting MinutesCITY OF PORT TOWNSEND MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL W P-MEETING OF NOVEMBER 10, 2025 Q4-iUl CALL TO ORDER The City Council met in a Special Meeting on the 10th day of November 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, Monica MickHager, Neil Nelson, Ben Thomas, Libby Wennstrom, and Amy Howard with Owen Rowe excused. Staff members present were City Manager John Mauro, Finance and Technology Services Director Jodi Adams, Public Works Director Steve King, Deputy Public Works Director David Dinkuhn, and City Clerk Alyssa Rodrigues. PROCLAMATION(S) OR SPECIAL PRESENTATION(S) (NONE) CITY MANAGER'S REPORT City Manager John Mauro provided the City Manager's Report which included encampment update, Joint BOCC and Council meeting on December 8, Comprehensive Plan, Mill Shut Down, Skate Park Arts WA Grant, holiday lodging at Fort Worden, and new City Attorney Austin Watkins. In response to City Managers' Report staff explained including kids in Skate Park art decision. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Public comment Gary Keister spoke about Bayside Housing, encampment, Pats Place, request for reimbursement for cost, Peter's Place, Vincents Village, San Juan location, and would like to see a therapeutic center built. Karyn Stillwell spoke about changing language in code to allow mobile sauna and mobile businesses, and pilot program. Staff or Council response, as needed November 10, 2025 Special Session Council Business Meeting Page 1 of 5 In response to public comment Council and staff explained Bayside funding request and mobile businesses code change process. CONSENT AGENDA Approval of Bills, Claims and Warrants Approval of Minutes: October 20, 2025 Motion: Monica MickHager moved to approve the consent agenda. Ben Thomas seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. PUBLIC HEARING Ordinance 3359 Adopting the Budget for the City of Port Townsend, Washington, For the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2026 Mayor Faber opened the Public Hearing and reviewed the Public Hearing Rules of Procedures. Finance and Technology Services Director Jodi Adams, John Mauro, and Public Works Director Steve King presented the 2026 Budget City Manager Preliminary Budget which included Agenda, General Fund is Balanced?, General Fund Budget, Accounting vs. Actual Expenditure Budgets, Redesigned for Improved Communication and Transparency Separating Recurring Expenses from Non- recurring Expenses, Department Operational Requests General Fund, General Fund one-time transfers, General Fund- Streets & Community Svc's one-time transfers, Grants, Streets, LTAC- Lodging Tax, Library, Community Services, 1 % Arts, Fleet, Facilities ER&R Fund, Transportation Benefit District, REET- Real Estate Excise Tax, Golf Park, OGWS Transmission Line, Level of Service 2026 Staffing, It's a Balance, 2026 Proposed Budget Fund Summary, and Summary. Discussion ensued around including the Bayside Funding request to the written materials. The document was included in written materials. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained City Attorney being 2 positions, list of REET, positions paid out of LTAC fund for 2026, one time asks are in budget, Community Block Grant fund, funds allocated in 2027 budget, bayside request expectations, and "Golf Park" vs "Golf Course". Mayor Faber closed the Public Testimony portion of the Hearing. November 10, 2025 Special Session Council Business Meeting Page 2 of 5 Discussion ensued around 1 % Arts fund being new, Exhibit A, new format, a lot of capital projects, flagging substantive changes, goals changing, reason for change, 2- year budget, Accounting vs. Actual Expenditure Budgets- spent once but shows up twice, how to show to the public, interfund transfers and grants, appreciation for structure, one-time expenditures, reserve policy and editorials, ER&R Fleet Repair and Replacement Fund, appreciation for staffs approach, Bayside request through third supplement budget, gravel, not discussing Bayside request tonight, how State reviews Reserve Policy, State will come in if we drop below reserves, ER&R Funds for future expenses and savings, and extra pennies into contingency or reserve funds. Mayor Faber closed the public record and Public Hearing. Motion: Monica MickHager moved to approve first reading of Ordinance 3359 Adopting the Budget for the City of Port Townsend, Washington, For the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2026 Libby Wennstrom seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. OLD BUSINESS (NONE) NEW BUSINESS Ordinance 3360 Adopting a New Port Townsend Municipal Code (PTMC) Section 3.04.420 Relating to a Facilities Replacement Fund; Adopting a New PTMC Section 3.04.430 Relating to a Facilities Equipment Operations and Maintenance Fund; Providing for Severability; and Establishing an Effective Date Jodi Adams presented Ordinance 3360 which included previous slideshow, creating fund for Facilities Equipment Replacement Fund, will bring full packet back for review, reason for waiving Council Rules, and having fund created before budget is passed. Public comment: There was no public comment. Discussion ensued around being comfortable waiving Council Rules. Motion: Ben Thomas moved to waive Council Rules and adopt Ordinance 3360 Adopting a New Port Townsend Municipal Code (PTMC) Section 3.04.420 Relating to a Facilities Replacement Fund, Adopting a New PTMC Section 3.04.430 Relating to a Facilities Equipment Operations and Maintenance Fund; Providing for Severability, and Establishing an Effective Date Monica MickHager seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. Bid Award for the Washington Street and Walker Street Sidewalk Improvements Project November 10, 2025 Special Session Council Business Meeting Page 3 of 5 Steve King and Deputy Public Works Director David Dinkuhn provided the Bid Award for the Washington Street and Walker Street Sidewalk Improvements Project which included location and purpose, bids, Transportation Benefit District cost, and recommendation to move forward with award to Van Ness Construction. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained moving bus stop and request to maintain stairs. Public comment: There was no public comment. Discussion ensued around government slowness and concerns for walkers on Washington St. Motion: Ben Thomas moved to award the construction contract for the Washington Street and Walker Street Sidewalk Improvements Project to the lowest responsive bidder, Van Ness Construction, LLC, in the amount of $237,585.30, and authorize the City Manager to sign the contract and all necessary documents to complete the work. Libby Wennstrom seconded. Council member Thomas stated he lives four blocks away, but it does not cause a conflict of interest. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT Mayor Faber provided the Presiding Officer's Report which included going to Annual Veterans Day ceremony at Chimacum Highschool and major announcement that Chimacum School Band will represent the State of Washington at US Semi Quincentennial 4th of July Parade in Washington D.C. SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS There were no suggestions for future agendas. COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL There were no comments from Council. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:50pm. November 10, 2025 Special Session Council Business Meeting Page 4 of 5 Attest: Alsseadries City Clerk November 10, 2025 Special Session Council Business Meeting Page 5 of 5