HomeMy WebLinkAbout031626 City Council Business Meeting MinutesCITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING OF MARCH 16, 2026
CALL TO ORDER
The City Council met in a regular session on the 16th day of March 2026 in Council
Chambers at 540 Water St, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Mayor Howard called the
meeting to order at 6:00pm.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers present at roll call were Amy Howard, David Faber, Owen Rowe, Fred
Obee, Neil Nelson, and Monica MickHager with Libby Wennstrom excused and City
Attorney Austin Watkins absent.
Staff members present were Marketing and Communications Director Shelly Leavens ,
City Manager John Mauro, Public Works Director Steve King , 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)
National Medal Day of Honor- Marvin Shields
Mayor Howard presented the National Medal of Honor- Marvin Shields Proclamation to
widow and brother of Marvin Shields.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager John Mauro provided the City Manager's Report which included state
legislative session, Cyber Security grant, RCO grant, Public Works Board meeting in
Port Townsend, and Washington St Sidewalk.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Public comment
There was no public comment.
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Staff or Council response, as needed
CONSENT AGENDA
Approval of Bills, Claims and Warrants
Approval of Minutes: January 12, 2026
Authorize the City Manager to Sign an Addendum to Extend the Current YMCA
Lease through May 31, 2026
Resolution 26-004 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 a Second Leak in the OGWS
Transmission Pipeline Near 223 Aerie Lane
Motion: Owen Rowe moved to approve the consent agenda. David Faber seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote.
OLD BUSINESS (NONE)
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution 26-003 Amending Resolution No. 17-014 Reaffirming that the City of
Port Townsend is a Welcoming City that Promotes Policies that Foster Inclusion
for All, Reaffirming the City's Commitment to Serve all Residents and Visitors,
and Clarifying the City's Policy Related to Non -Discrimination in the Provision of
City Services
Marketing and Communications Director Shelly Leavens and Equity, Access, and
Rights Advisory Board Members Aimee Samara Krouskop, Julia Cochrane, and
Rachael Nutting presented Resolution 26-003 which included process, purpose of
Equity, Access, and Rights Advisory Board, Listening Sessions with immigrant
community, proposed changes came from Listening Sessions, workgroup to update
new resolution, input gathered in Spanish, JCIRA Board, presented to existing
groups part of JCIRA, lived experience feedback, and EAR JCIRA representation out
of the country.
In response to Council's clarifying question staff explained G1 and staff
tasking, translation services, translation tools, item J and comprehensive plan
docket, section B and Jefferson County Sheriff's Department policies, section K&L
and word "commit", and EAR board reviewing policies.
Public comment:
Judith Alexander spoke about appreciation for resolution, City has a proactive
approach, background work done, and appreciation for board and Council.
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Ruth Gordon spoke about appreciation for board and Council, important to people
who live in community, timely, City Attorney guidance, and passing the resolution.
Roberta Lindeman spoke about supporting resolution on behalf of JCIRA, important
as community to show support for immigrant community, immigrants making lots of
contributions to community, put more language into existing resolution, delighted
there was already a welcoming resolution, what it means to be a welcoming city,
Jefferson County Sheriffs Dept policy, and more comments later.
Discussion ensued around edits to the edits in section Al "unless directed by a court
order or judicial warrant" and explanation, complying with warrants, questioning does
not imply opposition, Housing Fund Board, interpretation, zoning/permit, action may
draw unwanted attention, important to send a message of support to immigrant
community, and appreciation for the EAR Board.
Motion: Owen Rowe moved to approve Resolution 26-003 Amending Resolution No.
17-014 Reaffirming that the City of Port Townsend is a Welcoming City that Promotes
Policies that Foster Inclusion for All, Reaffirming the City's Commitment to Serve all
Residents and Visitors, and Clarifying the City's Policy Related to Non -Discrimination
in the Provision of City Services Fred Obee seconded.
Discussion ensued around H1 and pre -determined set of major spoken languages in
Port Townsend, "primary languages", feel strongly to support regardless of unwanted
attention, and what does it mean to be welcoming.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote.
Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into all Contracts to Complete the
Engineering for the Following Four Items in Support of the OGWS Pipeline: A.
Hydraulic Model, B. Engineering Planning Level Cost Estimates (Rate Study
Support), C. Pipeline Condition Assessment- Phase II, D. On -call Services.
Public Works Director Steve King presented Authorizing the City Manager to Enter
into all Contracts to Complete the Engineering for the Following Four Items in
Support of the OGWS Pipeline: A. Hydraulic Model, B. Engineering Planning Level
Cost Estimates (Rate Study Support), C. Pipeline Condition Assessment- Phase II,
D. On -call Services which included a lot of work to do, need professional support,
Capital Spending Plan, Lords Lake, Hydraulic Model for Big Quil down to Lords
Lake, O&M Manual, emergency declarations, need cost estimate for replacement,
engineering firm, request for qualifications, and sister pipeline in Medford Oregon.
In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained on call services, 500k
engineering portion in budget, 500k related to on call services, and OGWS Fund.
Public comment:
There was no public comment.
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Motion: Fred Obee moved to authorize the City Manager to negotiate and enter into all
contracts necessary to complete the engineering services to support OG WS work.
David Faber seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote.
Cherry Street Surplus
Steve King presented the Cherry Street Surplus which included previous discussion
with Council, not a lot to update, needed to get in front of Council again, wrong report
attached from November 3, updated one had summary of all the costs, staff was
working on property line boundaries and real estate property lot line adjustment in
November 2025, no progress on that, survey is done, need agreements signed, need
staff time, November update included deed research and deed restriction for municipal
purposes, surplus for affordable housing, wouldn't be able to pay debt off, November
3, 2025 834k bond issued in 2018 as of October 2023 524k had been spent, since Oct
2023 spent another 51 k for doing property surveys/staff time to prepare property, out of
834k we have expended about 580k, debt service is about 62k a year, interest rate
4.35%, term of debt 22 years maturity date of 2040, affordable housing property
inventory, Evans Vista request for interested parties, zoning code, maximize property
for affordable housing, re -surplus action, wanted to provide update, and need to come
back to Council before any official actions.
In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained when staff will get back to
Council about possibility of using land for affordable housing, developers,
surplus/inventory, interest in property, and potential size of building on property.
Public comment:
Julia Cochrane spoke about permitted affordable housing and subsidies, doesn't
come with for profit developers, broaden on including other parts of continuum of
care, urban rest stop, and Winter Welcoming Center.
Discussion ensued around putting property on inventory for developers to come to
City, creating process and time limited Housing Grants Coordinator position, Comp
Plan, resurrect as affordable housing, paying off debt, looking forward to seeing if we
can do something with land, opposed to selling land, density, subsidy, go back to
local development partners, create website, affordable housing providers, walkable
part of City, find time to work on, and inventory surplus list huge benefit.
Potable Water and Raw Water Rate Model Updates - Authorization to Contract
with Financial Consulting Solutions Group
Steve King presented the Potable Water and Raw Water Rate Model Updates -
Authorization to Contract with Financial Consulting Solutions Group which included
update of domestic water utility rates/raw water rates, Financial Consulting Solutions
Group, rate predicting models, helpful to have a firm/project manager that knows our
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city, previous work done with Financial Consulting Solutions Group, budget, asking
for additional assistance, separation of water/sewer funds, update sewer rate model,
reserves, state tax review, bond issuance process for sewer fund, estimated at about
$100,000, and recommendation.
In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained two water rate models,
accounts on raw water, residential households, customer classification review,
funding, and when FCS will present results.
Public comment:
There was no public comment.
Motion: David Faber moved to authorize the City Manager to contract with FCS Group
to update the City's retail sewer and stormwater rate models in an amount not to
exceed $100, 000. Monica MickHager seconded.
Discussion ensued around motion only stating retail sewer and stormwater rate.
Council member Faber rescinded his motion.
Motion: David Faber moved to approve the City Manager to contract with FCS Group
to update the City's retail water and raw water rate models in an amount not to exceed
$100,000. Monica MickHager seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT
Mayor Howard provided the Presiding Officer's Report which included meeting with
representatives from the agriculture community, Housing Fund Board, Bayside Housing
Anniversary Proclamation, Farmers Market Ribbon Cutting, and Grand reopening of
Historical Society Museum.
Discussion ensued around new Council member on Housing Fund Board and Council
member Faber providing Bayside Housing proclamation.
SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
Deputy Mayor Rowe stated Culture and Society Committee would like to be tasked with
doing a regular annual review of City Manager Evaluation process and schedule in a
timely manner once this year's evaluation process is completed.
Motion: Monica MickHager moved to approve Culture and Society committee be tasked
this year 2026 with reviewing the City Manager evaluation process and paperwork. Fred
Obee seconded.
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Motion: Owen Rowe moved to offer an amendment to rather than say 2026 to make it a
standing tasking to do every year. David Faber seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote.
Discussion ensued around amended motion is to make it a standing task for Culture and
Society to review the evaluation process for the City Manager.
Vote: The amended motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote.
COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL
There were no comments from Council.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: PURSUANT TO RCW 42.30.110 (1)(G) PERFORMANCE OF A
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE (APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES)
Mayor Howard stated the Council will go into Executive Session pursuant to RCW
42.30.110(1)(g) Performance of a public employee for approximately 45 minutes. No
action to follow.
Council went into Executive Session at 7:26pm.
Council came out of Executive Session at 8:12pm. No action was taken.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:12pm.
Attest:
Aiys Rodrigues
Ct Clerk
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