HomeMy WebLinkAbout081825 City Council Business Meeting MinutesCITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING OF AUGUST 18, 2025
CALL TO ORDER
The City Council met in a regular session on the 18th of August 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 David Faber, Amy Howard, Monica MickHager,
Neil Nelson, Owen Rowe, Ben Thomas, and Libby Wennstrom.
Staff members present were City Manager John Mauro, Public Works Director Steve
King, Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin, Housing Grants
Coordinator Renata Munfrada, Water Resources Operations Manager Michael Spears,
Finance and Technology Services Director Jodi Adams, and City Clerk Alyssa Rodrigues
CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
Discussion ensued around switching New Business items.
New Business Items A and B were switched.
PROCLAMATION(S) OR SPECIAL PRESENTATION(S)
Oath of Office- Police Officer
Chief of Police Tom Olson provided the Oath of Office to Police Officer Darian Hall.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager John Mauro provided the City Manager's Report which included SEPA
Appeal for hotel project, water supply, pool closure, Farmers Market engagement, chip
seal, and Budget Roadshow.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Public comment
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Staff or Council response, as needed
There was no public comment.
Discussion ensued around written public comment regarding paid parking signage.
CONSENT AGENDA
Approval of Bills, Claims and Warrants
Approval of Minutes: May 22, 2025, July 7, 2025
Staff Appointments to External Board and Committees
2025 Second Quarter Financial Update
Motion: Monica MickHager moved to approve the consent agenda. Libby Wennstrom
seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
PUBLIC HEARING
Resolution 25-025 Adopting the City of Port Townsend Water Use Efficiency Goal
for the Period 2026-2031 and Incorporating the Goal into the City's Water Use
Efficiency Program
Deputy Mayor Howard opened the Public Hearing and reviewed the Public Hearing
Rules of Procedure.
Public Works Director Steve King and Water Resources Operations Manager
Michael Spears presented Resolution 25-025 Adopting the City of Port Townsend
Water Use Efficiency Goal for the Period 2026-2031 and Incorporating the Goal into
the City's Water Use Efficiency Program which included mandates, basic elements
of program, demand and supply goals, Paper Mill consumption, and gallons per day
being low.
Written materials were submitted in the packet.
Public comment:
Gretchen Brewer spoke about Paper Mill water consumption, more housing units,
and threat of drought.
Peter Guererro spoke about the Sierra Club, encouraging Paper Mill to meter water,
law definition, Paper Mill water consumption, and climate change.
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Kim Duddy spoke about Paper Mill water consumption, food growing consideration,
and longevity.
In response to public comment staff explained growth, metering, Paper Mill water
efficiency, and raw water reporting.
In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained volume of water lost for
transmission loss, Water Supply documents, irrigation meter, data from per capital
gallon usage, encouraging Paper Mill to lower water usage, equivalent water usage
regulations around Aquaphor, groundwater potential concerns, and prioritizing
human consumption over industrial use.
Deputy Mayor Howard closed the Public Testimony portion of the Hearing..
Discussion ensued around well thought out plan, importance of reducing
consumption, per capita minus irrigation number, unoccupied homes, data of
drinking water consumption over years, cutting down per capita usage in the future,
agriculture for food production, and additional storage.
Motion: Ben Thomas moved to approve Resolution 25-025 Adopting the City of Port
Townsend Water Use Efficiency Goal for the Period 2026-2031 and Incorporating the
Goal into the City's Water Use Efficiency Program Monica MickHager seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
OLD BUSINESS (NONE)
NEW BUSINESS
Ordinance 3351 Related to Business License Exemption and Amending Port
Townsend Municipal Code Chapter 5.08
Finance and Technology Services Director Jodi Adams presented Ordinance 3351
Related to Business License Exemption and Amending Port Townsend Municipal
Code Chapter 5.08 which included state mandated update to business license code
and the main changes to the Business License threshold.
In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained any other anticipated
changes from legislature, endorsement fee, City revenue from license fees, and
possible pushback.
Public comment:
There was no public comment
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Discussion ensued around topic coming before Finance and Budget Committee and
waiving Council Rules.
Motion: David Faber moved waive Council Rules and approve first reading of
Ordinance 3351 Related to Business License Exemption and Amending Port
Townsend Municipal Code Chapter 5.08 Owen Rowe seconded.
Discussion ensued around needing to adopt due to state law, community benefit, and
waiving Council Rules.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
Evans Vista: A Vision for Sustainable Community Housing
Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin and Housing Grants
Coordinator Renata Munfrada provided the Evans Vista Neighborhood: A Vision for
Sustainable Community Housing presentation which included Presentation Outline,
Community Housing Grants Coordinator Introduction, Evans Vista Neighborhood, A
Vision for Sustainable Housing, Planning for Evans Vista, Council 2025 Workplan,
Growth Management Act, Comprehensive Plan: Housing Element, 20,25 Housing
Needs Assessment, Key Findings, White Paper: Exploration of Strategies for
Supporting Infill & Affordable Housing, Broken Housing Ladder, Homeless
Encampments at DSHS, Housing is a Homelessness Problem, Economic
Development, Economics & Timing of Development, Grant Funding & Regulatory
Responsibilities, Mill Road Lift Station, Roadmap, Roadmap Actions, Identifying
Resources & Obstacles, PT's Preferred Design: Honoring Community Input,
Developer Roundtable, Request for Proposals (RFP), Attachment A PIF Grant
Application: Evans Vista Phase 1 Mixed Use Workforce Housing Streets, and
Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program.
In response to Council's clarifying question staff explained permanently affordable
housing, 2023 design, developer timeline, DSHS homeless encampment, CHIP
grant funding, air quality testing, type of CHIP funding, giving funding back, and
match for State CHIP.
Public comment:
Derek Firenze spoke about the Evans Vista and air quality health risks around the
Paper Mill.
Gretchen Brewer spoke about open space, ownership model, and community
workspace.
In response to public comment staff explained Mill contract, community workspace,
and ownership model.
Discussion ensued around cooperative ownership, condo, developer participation,
supporting staff recommendation, homeless encampment, air quality issue, local
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builders supporting large scale developer, timeline, monitoring air quality, seeking
regulatory controls on Paper Mill emissions, proceeding with project, projects under
public scrutiny, PIT count in January, need to fix housing ladder, City not the
developer, need the money, appreciation for Renata, outside the box solution to
concerns of air quality, and appreciation for all information being in one place.
Motion: Owen Rowe moved endorse staff pursuing additional grant funding in support
of the Evans Vista Neighborhood Master Development Monica MickHager seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT
Mayor Faber provided the Presiding Officers' Report which included the County
Community Conversation event and Port Travel Lift launching event.
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 8:27pm.
Attest:
A sa Rodrigues
City Clerk
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