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HomeMy WebLinkAbout042026 City Council Business Meeting MinutesCITY OF PORT TOWNSEND MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING OF APRIL 20, 2026 CALL TO ORDER The City Council met in a regular session on the 20th day of April 2026 in Council Chambers at 540 Water St, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Deputy Mayor Rowe called the meeting to order at 6:00pm. ROLL CALL Councilmembers present at roll call were David Faber, Amy Howard, Monica MickHager, Libby Wennstrom, Owen Rowe, and Fred Obee with Neil Nelson excused. Staff members present were Public Works Director Steve King , City Attorney Austin Watkins , Community Services Director Melody Sky Weaver, City Manager John Mauro , Senior Planner Adrian Smith , Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin , and City Clerk Alyssa Rodrigues . CHANGES TO THE AGENDA Council member Faber suggested postponing the Executive Session to a different night due to a busy agenda and him being unable to stay for Executive Session. Discussion ensued around postponing and Council Rules timeline. Council agreed to remove Executive Session and move it to another meeting. Discussion ensued around waiving Council Rules motion. Motion: David Faber moved to waive Council Rules and continue the Executive Session scheduled for tonight for Performance of a public employee city manager evaluation to the first meeting of May. Libby Wennstrom seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. PROCLAMATION(S) OR SPECIAL PRESENTATION(S) Parks Appreciation Week and National Library Week Proclamation Deputy Mayor Rowe presented the Parks Appreciation Week and National Library Week Proclamation to Community Services Director Melody Sky Weaver. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT April 20, 2026 City Council Business Meeting Page 1 of 9 City Manager John Mauro provided the City Manager's Report which included Olympic Discovery Trail, Transportation Benefit District annual report, street projects, Memorial Field tree removal, State Library Conference, Public Works State Conference, all City staff training, and Comprehensive Plan celebration event. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Public comment David Thielk spoke about good City Council and staff, Authentic Citizenship participation group, and request for Council and John Mauro to read document regarding ladder of authentic citizen participation in relation to Comprehensive Plan.. Julia Cochrane spoke about Winter Welcoming Center and locations, RCW regarding religious organizations, reservation calendar, never broken a table, freeze Pope Marine calendar, no intention to be there permanently, and eventually moving to edge of town. Staff or Council response, as needed In response to public comment staff explained how they are working to find solutions to Winter Welcoming Center challenge and upcoming meeting. CONSENT AGENDA Approval of Bills, Claims and Warrants Approval of Minutes: (None) Appointments/Reappointments: Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, Historic Preservation Committee Motion: David Faber moved to approve the consent agenda. Fred Obee seconded.: Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. OLD BUSINESS (NONE) NEW BUSINESS Resolution 26-006 Setting a Public Hearing Regarding the Vacation of Street Right of Way in Cappy's Trails Public Works Director Steve King and Jefferson Land Trust Stewardship Coordinator Marlow Moser presented Resolution 26-006 Setting a Public Hearing Regarding the Vacation of Street Right of Way in Cappy's Trails which included Figure 9-5: Cappy's April 20, 2026 City Council Business Meeting Page 2 of 9 Trails- Future Park, grant match, buying out remaining private property, vacate Right of Ways, Exhibit B Right of Way Vacation Map, open to public, resolution sets a Hearing, purpose of Hearing, final adopting Ordinance, partnership, cohesive management, and serves goals for continued preservation in area. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained preserving wetlands and just setting public hearing tonight. Public comment: Sarah Spaeth spoke about renewed enthusiasm from City staff, supporting wetland and largest drainage basin within City limits, hope to have more Rights of Way, and Urban Wildlife Habitat grant through RCO. Discussion ensued around Cappy's Trails and private ownership, more parcels under ownership of City or Land Trust, in support of eventual vacation, good reason for vacating Right of Way, and in favor. Motion: David Faber moved to approve Resolution 26-006 Setting a Public Hearing Regarding the Vacation of Street Rights of Way in Cappy's Trails Monica MickHager seconded. Discussion ensued around looking forward to hearing and continued protection. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. Planning Commission Recommendation to Add to 2026 Annual Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations, 2026 PCD Workplan Priorities Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin presented Planning Commission Recommendation to Add to 2026 Annual Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations, 2026 PCD Workplan Priorities which included 2026 Comprehensive Plan amendment from Quimper Growers Network, Planning Commission voted to reopen docket to consider limited amendments relating to proposal, staff reviewed recommendation within Council direction which was not to open the suggested amendment cycle, why staff recommends not opening the docket in 2026, Resolution 25-035 correction, significant tradeoffs, statutorily required work, required code updates, focus on affordable housing implementation, existing code that supports limited agriculture, legal obligations, state law, UGA tools that exist, appreciation for Planning Commission and subcommittee, and options before Council. In response to Council's clarifying question staff explained permit program for community gardens for use of unopened Rights of Way, City supporting Conservation Easements on agriculture land, Conservation Easements on private property, create a mechanism that removed the possibility of disrupting agricultural production that occurs within internal Rights of Way, adopting language allowing for expanded shared housing options to meet the need for affordable housing, building April 20, 2026 City Council Business Meeting Page 3 of 9 code and grant funding, bedroom separated from kitchen/bathhouse, changing setback, TDR program, allowing municipal water to be used for commercial and non- commercial agriculture production to enhance food security, water rates analysis, promoting direct farm -to -community onsite sales of farm products, and agricultural tours/classes/events, and minimum standards for detriment to the public's interest. Public Comment: Rick Jahnke spoke about false information, public comment sent to Planning Commission, comp plan strengthens support for urban agriculture relative to the 1996 comp plan, language from current comp plan, and all support urban agriculture. John Gunning spoke about owning local farm, marketing scheme, only selling through farm stand, water basin almost empty in California, price of gas, agriculture in new position, Farmers Market, and future resource base for children. Judy D'Amore spoke about Council supporting Planning Commission recommendation and vote yes, and importance of community gardens and small local farms. Devon Cohn spoke about appreciation for staff and Council, historic urban agriculture, community engagement, narrowed proposal for less staff time, and should receive a fair/open responsive process. David Thielk spoke about Council supporting Planning Commission recommendation and voting yes, language isn't strong enough in comp plan, grow produce on private property, and losing garden due to loss of sunlight. Carol Light spoke about supporting ag amendment proposed by Quimper Growers, tone, perception growing in community, adversarial relationship developing, critical tone within the document, and appreciation for people who showed up tonight. Candice Cossler spoke about having poultry farm, small farms in Port Townsend, 1996 storm, dependent on own resources, effects of climate change and geopolitical situation, growth of local food economy, school gardens, Farm to School programs, gardens, 1996 Comprehensive Plan process, and important to amend current comp plan to protect land for agriculture purposes. Bly Windstorm spoke about proposed comp plan amendment, importance of goals/policies/implementations, opening docket in public interest, water access for agriculture, drought emergency, and Planning Commission understands City's priorities/staff resources and recommendation. Carol Bernthall spoke about accepting Planning Commission recommendation to add items to 2026 docket or find another way to get work done, urgency factor, detrimental to public interest if no action taken, "if not now, when?" quote, disconnect between people doing ag and implementation into City Comp Plan, working together as a team, challenges of practicing agriculture in city limits, importance of eating healthy food, and commitment for strategy moving forward. Jude Rubin spoke about invasive plants on Cappy's Trails, appreciation for Planning April 20, 2026 City Council Business Meeting Page 4 of 9 Commission and subcommittee, importance of farms, City code tolerates farming/community gardening, include supportive language in Comp Plan, opt in model, qualified and renewable opportunities, farm friendly programs exist, rezoning is not part of proposal, no interest in annexation from City, followed process, proposal not treated the same, and urge to pass and vote yet. Dylan Quarles spoke about City work for people who make it work, people who love this community and land, anxiety is real, Comp Plan explicitly states urban agriculture/ community garden/local food systems as essential to Port Townsend's future, proposed amendment is about sequence not values, Port Townsend has room for housing and farming, finite staff time, housing crisis, support growers goals, code overhaul of this scale into docket that can't absorb it is not the way to do it, and want it done right and kept alive. Katherine Macomber Millman spoke about importance of food/flowers, environment forcing us to look at how we will support ourselves, local energy, not counting on food from elsewhere, able to do work due to people handling that part of community, listen to their recommendations, concerns around having only housing on docket, looking at future generations, and look at big picture. Discussion ensued around how to proceed with public comment and will cut off public comment at 8pm. Public comment cont, Jason Victor Serinus spoke about artificial polarizing between needs of housing and the needs/concerns of farmers, staff time, misses mark with people, clear that people here don't trust and feel their needs are taken care of, stop false polarization, presented a viable/vital amendment, criticizing press, and act on amendment. Aleta Greenway spoke about adopting Quimper Growers Network amendment, importance of amendment, urge Council adopt language as put forth by Quimper Growers Network, don't envy staff time, look forward to see how staff and Council will work together to make sure they hear community and go forward with decision. Kees Kolff spoke about ecovillage, appreciate dilemma, easier to accept the amendment rather than resist, community members can volunteer time, don't represent boards, and green cap. Daisy Janes spoke about small agriculture up against big guys, very defensive and protective, very vital and important, urge to vote yes on amendment, understand it may not pass tonight, need to feel heard, hard to trust promises made, trust Council is on the side of agriculture and food, and needs to be huge priority. Kelly Janes spoke about family generation on farm, figuring out how to be a generational farmer, farm is over 30 years old, adopt amendment, importance of farms, indicator for quality of life, and appreciate Council/staff/ and Quimper Growers. April 20, 2026 City Council Business Meeting Page 5 of 9 Nicolette Kalafatis spoke about growing food on property, important to feed ourselves and community, aspects of community, urbanization and community development, supporting amendment, and if there is will there is a way. Phil Dinsmore spoke about group of people producing/making food, supporters at Farmers Market, level expertise/knowledge, encourage to listen to experts, pushback on docketing, Council/staff carry out desires/needs of community, take action and not kick down road, and agriculture is a long process and future effects. Judith Alexander spoke about food system support volunteer, Dundee Hill community garden feeding families, creation of common ground, community garden protected, community garden tour, and Braver Angels depolarizing ourselves. Seth Rolland spoke about picking and donating fruit, dispersed orchard that goes throughout City, don't believe affordable housing and keeping agriculture feel is incapable, Seattle zoning, and important to have both values. Sylvia Platt spoke about if Council listened in December about affordable housing there would not be a legal case and hope Council is listening today. Kathy Ryan spoke about supporting work done, need for food security, water and water support for farmers, support proposed amendment, have to look at succession for farmers, need to look at where we get food from, can't just be ordered in from other states, climate, engaged community, need to better support our farmers, trying to comply with what Council requested, and seven generation thing. In response to public comment staff explained appreciation for public comment, productivity, energy inputs/quality output, and tradeoffs. Discussion ensued around appreciation for Planning Commission, considered staff constraints, manageable recommendations made the list, trimmed down proposal, proposals forwarded by Planning Commission are worthy of adoption, proposals and workload, designate/classify agricultural resource land, plenty of property to meet growth needs for the next 20 years, amendment does not pose threat to land or housing, need significant economic development, unfortunate view point of adversarial relationship between housing and agriculture, conflict point is staff capacity, comp plan appeal, outcome will be taking up affordable housing work, hopefully group accepts settlement offer, importance of agriculture, comp plan supports and encourages agriculture, unnecessary divisive point, opening docket criteria, current comp plan doesn't threaten agriculture in community, policy tradeoffs, water access, not all comp plan changes, affordable housing for all uses, setbacks, broadly in favor of some, some not in comp plan, need to understand staff capacity, and want to do something. Discussion continued around Planning Commission meeting, taskforce didn't get through all explanations, can't support opening docket and taking as one bundle, what can be tradeoff, appreciate community, surprised community feels staff is working against them, trained staff, farming is important for economic development, want time to do work, mandated work, multifamily tax, find something to do in 2026, City Rights of Way, water rate, detriment to community, process of government, April 20, 2026 City Council Business Meeting Page 6 of 9 tradeoff for staff, permits, adopting cascading state preemption laws, pushing aside work could hurt agricultural actions in proposal, Jefferson County Farmers Market, Engineering Design Standards, Cappy's Trails planning, Jefferson County Growth Management, Urban Growth Area, could be rework based on Growth Managements Hearing Board petition, permit processing timelines, Council decision, and hiring decisions. Discussion continued around Engineering Design Standards, permits, no tradeoffs to consider, Rights of Ways available, water will be looked at, something to be looked at in 2026, hiring more staff, Council's role to set priorities, very supportive of goals, trying to move goals in effective way, some things we are already doing, better policy way to do some pieces, setbacks for agriculture buildings, minimum lot density rules, buildings on parcels without a primary residence, what pieces are already available, opt -in program, goal to have local agriculture feel supported, not sure if opening Comp Plan is right way to do it, process is challenging to understand, if it doesn't go forward tonight doesn't mean it's a forever no, stay in room when docket is decided in December, and don't know what findings of detriment would be. Discussion ensued around community values, important to Council, recommendation from Planning Commission re: multifamily tax exemption and comp plan amendment, opening docket is commitment by government to complete process this year, so many unanswered questions, limited staff capacity to research answers, what will need to drop, affordable housing, multiyear process, show pathway of how to engage and work on this, many items do not require comp plan, set up a task force, putting cart before the horse, farmers trying to follow process and now being told to wait, not how to encourage public engagement, Council chose to close the docket, importance of how you ask the question, burden of proof of why it has to be taken up now, finite staff capacity, three items that are actually comp plan amendments which included #10 consistent agricultural definitions, #12 and strike agriculture, #13, no detriments if agricultural definitions are not done this year, commonality on looking deeper, need to figure out a process for looking at goals, July Council retreat, workshop with agriculture group in June, workgroup before Council workshop for prework, staff has best interest of community in mind, Infrastructure and Development, managing staff, break it up into the right places, and Comprehensive Plan amendment process in 2027. Motion: Fred Obee moved that we put the Comprehensive Plan amendment that the growers have previously submitted be considered for the workplan in July and possible addition to the docket next year. -1 seconded. Motion failed for lack of second. Discussion ensued around rejecting the "Comprehensive Plan amendment" language, feel frustration from Growers association, July workplan retreat process, individual Council members have conversations with ag community to have a better understanding for work plan session, staff support concern for June workshop, assigning staff work in future, all topics weighted together, July 13 workshop retreat, individually do follow up and bring to retreat in July, representing what a large amount of people want to do, removing road blocks, want to make sure growers feel heard, making conscious decision in a way we feel we can get the work done, and appreciation for everyone who participated. April 20, 2026 City Council Business Meeting Page 7 of 9 Mayor Howard asked if we could carry next items forward to May 4, Council member Faber left at 9:41 pm. Ordinance 3364 Adopting 2026 Supplemental Budget Appropriations Motion: Amy Howard moved to postpone the first reading of Ordinance 3364 Adopting 2026 Supplemental Budget Appropriations to May 4. Owen Rowe seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 5-0 by voice vote. Transportation Benefit District (TBD) Annual Report; 2026 TBD Fund Update; Project Contract Authorization; and TBD Fund Summary and Real Estate Excise Tax Budget Amendment Request Public Works Director Steve King provided the Transportation Benefit District (TBD) Annual Report; 2026 TBD Fund Update; Project Contract Authorization; and TBD Fund Summary and Real Estate Excise Tax Budget Amendment Request which included annual report in packet, more grant money for Lawrence St, TBD analysis, extend analysis to 2029, San Juan Ave, recommend using REET funds to help with work this year, and evaluating how to get bike lanes on San Juan and Sheridan. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained bike lanes, community engagement, Complete Streets Policy bike lane process, REET funds, and staff capacity. Public comment: There was no public comment. Motion: Monica MickHager moved to authorize the City Manager to execute all contracts to accomplish the 2026 street maintenance work. Fred Obee seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 5-0 by voice vote. Motion: Fred Obee moved to allocate $268,000 of Real Estate Excise Tax to the 2026 street maintenance work budget. Libby Wennstrom seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 5-0 by voice vote. OGWS Fire Hydrant Connections Steve King presented the OGWS Fire Hydrant Connections which included draining water, opportunity to help Jefferson Transit, connection agreement, and discharge into their stormwater pond. In response to Council's clarifying question staff explained charges. April 20, 2026 City Council Business Meeting Page 8 of 9 Public comment: There was no public comment. Discussion ensued around being comfortable saying yes to this and future ones, good emergency preparedness, and maintenance on pipeline going forward. Motion: Libby Wennstrom moved to authorize the City Manager to enter into Olympic Gravity Water System fire hydrant connection agreements with property owners. Amy Howard seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 5-0 by voice vote. PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT Deputy Mayor Rowe provided the Presiding Officer's Report which included upcoming ICG meeting, AWC Annual Conference, WA-CELI, and Comprehensive Plan Celebration at Golf Park. SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS Council member Wennstrom explained Culture and Society is asking to be tasked with youth serving on Advisory Boards/Commissions. Motion: Monica MickHager moved to task culture and society to look into how we would have youth on advisory boards. Libby Wennstrom seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 5-0 by voice vote. COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SESSION: PURSUANT TO RCW 42.30.110 (1)(G) PERFORMANCE OF A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE (APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES) POTENTIAL ACTION FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE SESSION ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:05pm. Attest: Alyues City Clerk April 20, 2026 City Council Business Meeting Page 9 of 9