HomeMy WebLinkAbout041326 Special Session City Council Meeting MinutesCITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL SESSION OF APRIL 13, 2026
CALL"TO ORDER
The City Council met in a special session on the 13th of April 2026 in Council Chambers at
540 Water Street Port Townsend, WA 98368. Deputy Mayor Rowe called the meeting to
order at 5:59pm.
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Councilmembers present at roll call were Fred Obee, Monica MickHager, Owen Rowe,
Libby Wennstrom, and David Faber with Amy Howard, and Neil Nelson excused.
Staff members present were Chief of Police Tom Olson, Finance and Technology Services
Director Jodi Adams, Public Works Director Steve King, Community Services Director
Melody Sky Weaver, Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin, City
Attorney Austin Watkins, and Deputy City Clerk Lonnie Mickle .
Mayor Howard arrived at 6:00pm.
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Public Comment
Staff or Council response, as needed
There was no public comment.
NEW BUSINESS
April 13, 2026 Special Session City Council Meeting Page 1 of 5
Consideration of Lease Extension with Winter Welcoming Center at Pope Marine Past
April 15, 2026
Community Services Director Melody Sky Weaver, Planning and Community Development
Director Emma Bolin, and Finance and Technology Services Director Jodi Adams presented
on the Consideration of Lease Extension with Winter Welcoming Center at Pope Marine
Past April 15, 2026 which included public comment, appreciation for Winter Welcoming
Center, wish there was more time, existing reservation, current lease with Winter
Welcoming Center, Community Policing Report, permitting, two options to consider, code
changes, uses allowed in zone, and limited staff resources.
In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained extending conditional use
permit, current lease and slight expansion, other potential locations, and faith
communities and allowed use.
Public Comment:
Julie C. B. spoke about importance of Winter Welcoming Center.
Viki Sonntag spoke about importance of Winter Welcoming Center and 5-year plan action.
Natalie Maitland spoke about PT Main Street, utilizing Pope Marine Building, and finding
multiuse.
Ben Casserd spoke about importance of Winter Welcoming Center, growing population,
and continuing operations.
Julia Cochrane spoke about Caswell Brown shelter, American Legion shelter extension,
growing population, support to transition to year-round, and willing to be flexible.
Aleta Greenway spoke about trusting staff at Winter Welcoming Center and having Center
opening saves City money and is safer, coexisting with tourists, and urge to find a different
space.
Susan Powell spoke about importance of Winter Welcoming Center open year-round,
working together with people renting facility, and helping tourists.
Christy Stark spoke about the importance of Winter Welcoming Center and them being the
kindest people.
April 13, 2026 Special Session City Council Meeting Page 2 of 5
Scott Park spoke about importance of Winter Welcoming Center and doing job outside 7
days a week in all weather.
Discussion ensued around it being a challenging situation, unhoused are pan: of
community, last minute request with downstream consequences, working with existing
reservations, staff capacity with turnover day of, zoning concerns and extending lease,
interim ordinance, facility purpose, process for reservations, conditional use permit, plaza
reservation, concerns around late request, keep shelter open through the end of April,
Winter Welcoming Center current hours, Caswell Brown timeline changing, value of
consistency, events in April, partnerships, request for this year, and no one questioning
value or importance of Winter Welcoming Center
Discussion continued around community events, timeline for November lease for Winter
Welcoming Center, Shoreline Master Program, difficult decision, wouldn't work to share
space, responsibility to current reservations made, declaring emergencies, trying to come
up with reasonable solution, hard conversation, next best thing to offer, conflicting events,
busy in summer for reservations, Pink House reopening, exploring other location options,
Interfaith Alliance, shorter closed hours at Legion, Library is welcome to everyone, Planning
consultation process, consequences of going outside of zoning authorizations,
and potential liability.
Motion: Fred Obee moved to continue the current of the Winter Welcoming Center until
April 15 and add an interim agreement that allows use of that space when not currently
reserved through the end of April. Libby Wennstrom seconded.
Discussion ensued around space turnover, small April reservations moved somewhere
else, use time to come up with alternative.
Motion: David Faber moved to amend the motion to add the language "and authorize staff
to work with the Jefferson Interfaith Action Coalition and community partners to explore
other location options for the 2026 Spring and Summer seasons" Libby Wennstrom
seconded.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote.
Motion: Libby Wennstrom moved to approve continue the current lease of the Winter
Welcoming Center at Pope Marine building until original termination of April 15, 2026 and
enter into interim agreement to allow the Winter Welcoming Center to use the space
April 13, 2026 Special Session City Council Meeting Page 3 of 5
through the close of business April 19 and authorize staff to work with the Jefferson
Interfaith Action Coalition and community partners to explore other location options for the
2026 Spring and Summer seasons. 0 seconded.
Discussion ensued around being a new motion.
Council member Wennstrom withdrew her amendment.
Discussion ensued around authorization extension to certain specific.
Council member Obee withdrew his motion.
Discussion ensued around when City staff can get into Pope Marine building and risk
asking to move hospital reservation.
Motion: David Faber moved to approve to authorize the extension of the current lease for
the Winter Welcoming Center at Pope Marine through the date of April 19, 2026 and
authorize staff to work with Jefferson Interfaith Action Coalition community partners to
explore other location options for2026 Spring and Summer seasons. Fred Obee seconded.
Discussion ensued around increasing another 4 days, Red Cross room at Mountain View,
and not an ideal situation.
Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote.
Council went into break at 7:28pm.
Council came out of break at 7:35pm.
Opon Space . lan Press ction
Melody Sky Weaver provided the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan Update
2026 which included Presentation Outline, Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan
Purpose, Update Background, Project Phase Update: Timeline, RCO Requirements,
Planning Context, Vision & Values, Comprehensive Plan Goals & Policies Implemented in
the PROS Plan, Public Outreach and Engagement, How the Plan Has Changed 2020-2026,
Level of Service, Inventory: Open Space, Inventory: Parks Classifications, Inventory: Trails,
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Goals and Guiding Principles, Capital Improvement Plan
(CIP): Cappy's Trails, Capital Improvement Plan (CIP): Concept Plan, Capital Improvement
April 13, 2026 Special Session City Council Meeting Page 4 of 5
Plan (CIP) Matrix, Regionalization, How the Plan Has Changed Since March Draft, and
PROS Plan: Timeline and Next Steps.
In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained Figure 3-2 title and Maritime
Center open space.
Public comment:
Judy Krebs spoke about Figure 3.1 and area south of Hamilton Heights not being marked as
open space.
Debbie Jahnke spoke about Northwest Maritime Center not being on map.
In response to public comment staff explained wet land parcels below Hamilton Heights.
Discussion ensued around water walk arrangements, area below Hamilton Heights on
map, street ends, appreciation for work put into plan, inclusive of all parks available, a
great read, removal of privatization for street ends, inclusive document, appreciate focus
on level of service equity, what can be done for other forms of equity, importance of
neighborhood parks, Sims Way division, and appreciation for youth focus.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:18pm.
Attest:
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