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Home My WebLink About060126 City Council Business Meeting MinutesCITY OF PORT TOWNSEND MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING OF JUNE 1, 2026 CALL TO ORDER The City Council met in a regular session on the 1st day of June 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, Owen Rowe, David Faber, Neil Nelson, Fred Obee, and Libby Wennstrom with Monica MickHager excused. Staff members present were City Manager John Mauro , City Attorney Austin Watkins , Senior Planner Adrian Smith , Planning Manager Ryan Harriman , Community Services Director Melody Sky Weaver, Public Works Director Steve King , and City Clerk Alyssa Rodrigues. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA There were no changes to the agenda. PROCLAMATION(S) OR SPECIAL PRESENTATION(S) (NONE) There were no special presentation or proclamations. Mayor Howard stated she will be presenting a proclamation at Pride Event on Saturday. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT City Manager John Mauro provided the City Manager's Report which included sewer overflows, raising level of Lord's Lake, social media comments, Advisory Board events, Police Team Annual Award Ceremony, and Summer Reading. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Public comment Staff or Council response, as needed June 1, 2026 City Council Business Meeting Page 1 of 6 Julia Cochrane spoke about housing and encampments, City staff declared war on unhoused on Port Townsend, Emergency Ordnance ending, Welcoming Center open dates/hours changed, people ticketed for loitering, impact on unhoused, be compassionate and lead with hearts, support unhoused in City, and follow 5-year plan Council voted to endorse. In response to public comment staff explained it was hard to respond due to inaccuracies in comment and better handled through conversation CONSENT AGENDA Approval of Bills, Claims and Warrants Approval of Minutes: March 16, 2026 Appointments/Reappointments: Equity, Access, and Rights Advisory Board and Library Advisory Board Bid Award for San Juan Rehabilitation Project Motion: David Faber moved to approve the consent agenda. Owen Rowe seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. PUBLIC HEARING Ordinance 3366 Relating to Conversion of Existing Buildings to Residential Uses and the Addition of Residential Uses in Existing Buildings in Accordance with HB 1757; Amending Development Regulations in Title 17 of the Port Townsend Municipal Code; and Establishing an Effective Date Mayor Howard opened the Public Hearing and reviewed the Public Hearing Rules of Procedures. Planning Manager Ryan Harriman, Senior Planner Adrian Smith, and Western Washington University interns Rory Clark, Kelsey Fetters, and Ashlyn Winsheimer presented Proposed Amendments for Residential Uses in Existing Buildings which included Implementing HB 1757, Process So Far, Implementing HB 1757 with a New Chapter of Title 17 PTMC, New Chapter: Applicability, New Chapter: Commercial Conversion, Affordability, and MFTE, New Chapter: Definitions and Ground Floor Commercial, New Chapter: Applying Energy Code, Example: Converting an Existing Multi -Use Building on a Major Pedestrian Corridor, Example: Adding Units to a Residential Building, Example: Adding More Units to a Residential Building, Proposed Amendments to 17.20 Commercial Zoning, Changed Uses in 17.20 Commercial Zones, amendments to 17.31 Rainier Street/Upper Sims Way Subarea, Amendments to 17.16 Residential Code, Planning Commission Suggested Changes from May 28, 2026, Next Steps, and Planning Commission Recommendation. There were no written materials submitted. June 1, 2026 City Council Business Meeting Page 2 of 6 Public comment: Scott Walker spoke about building house in C-II S zone, would change allow a single-family resident to have ADU in basement or turn basement into duplex, duplexes in neighborhood, unit behind Strait Flooring, and residential rental. Rick Jahnke spoke about thanking interns and encouraged more use of interns at City. In response to public comment staff explained what residential uses are allowed in C-II subarea zone and what is allowed under proposed change. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained existing units, historic definition, dashed lines in pedestrian corridors, ground floor commercial, 3 years of occupancy, energy code requirement differences, HB 1757 turn around requirement, change commercial back to residential, and permitted vs. conditional. Public comment: Scott Walker spoke about up down duplexes, permit for commercial into residential, deed, and the need to talk to Planning. Discussion ensued around intent around 3-year occupancy, bureaucratic complexity, ground floor commercial, lower barriers, Rainier Subarea Plan, impact in Port Townsend, adding stories, and Mt. Baker Block. Mayor Howard closed the public record and the Public Hearing. Motion: David Faber moved to approve first reading of Ordinance 3366 Relating to Conversion of Existing Buildings to Residential Units in Existing Buildings in Accordance with HB 1757, Amending Development Regulations in Title 17 of the Port Townsend Municipal Code; and Establishing an Effective Date Fred Obee seconded. Discussion ensued around appreciation for interns. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. OLD BUSINESS Ordinance 3365 Adopting the City of Port Townsend Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Functional Plan 2026, Amending the 2025 Comprehensive Plan, and Establishing an Effective Date Community Services Director Melody Sky Weaver presented 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 1/2, June 1, 2026 City Council Business Meeting Page 3 of 6 Comprehensive Plan Goals & Policies Implemented in the PROS Plan, Public Outreach & Engagement, How the Plan Has Changed 2020-2026, Level of Service, Inventory: Open Space, Inventory: Parks Classification, 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 Plan (CIP) Matrix, Regionalization, and PROS Plan: Timeline and Next Steps. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained drawbacks to extending to 10 years and Parks Leaders of Olympic Peninsula. Public comment: There was no public comment. Motion: David Faber moved to approve Ordinance 3365 Adopting the City of Port Townsend Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Functional Plan 2026, Amending the 2025 Comprehensive Plan, and Establishing an Effective Date Owen Rowe seconded Discussion ensued around appreciation for addressing deferred maintenance. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. NEW BUSINESS Chetzemoka Trail Enhancements Public Works Director Steve King and Jamestown S'Klallam Tribal Elder and the Chetzemoka Trail Project Leader Celeste Dybeck and Project Co -Leader and Trail Planner for the Chetzemoka Trail project Lys Burden presented Chetzemoka Trail Enhancements which included process, continuing the original trail, traffic calming and trail visibility, Active Transportation Plan, Connected Routes, cooperation with City, trail longevity, salmon egg crosswalks, Historic Preservation Committee, Arts Commission, four locations of new crosswalks, Transportation Benefit District funding for engineering studies, good working relationship, signs, and fundraising for crosswalks. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained how four locations were chosen, crosswalk engineering analysis, and marked crosswalk. Public comment: Kincaid Gould spoke about being generally supportive, concerns around street painting permits, not sure if project has gone through process in Chapter 12.11, Walker and Lincoln and 49th location concerns. In response to public comment staff explained street painting process and crosswalk locations. June 1, 2026 City Council Business Meeting Page 4 of 6 Discussion ensued around 22nd and San Juan, crosswalks proximity on Walker, and deer. Motion: David Faber moved to support the development of additional crossings and markings associated with the Chetzemoka Trail and approve the crosswalk design. Neil Nelson seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT Mayor Howard provided the Presiding Officer's Report which included Police Awards Banquet, EAR Board Listening Session, Swan School Little Free Pantry, Longview Paper Mill tragedy, Happy Pride Month, and delegate voting members at AWC business meeting. Motion: David Faber moved to appoint Owen Rowe, Neil Nelson, and Monica MickHager as voting delegates to the AWC business meeting. Fred Obee seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS Council member Obee stated he would like to look into Uber/Lyft and making it easier for rideshares to operate here. Discussion ensued around motion language, previous discussion, staff tasking, and timeline. Motion: Fred Obee moved to approve City Manager to task staff to investigate what it would take to approve operations for Uber/Lyft and other sort of ridesharing companies to operate in Port Townsend. David Faber seconded. Vote: 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 20 MINUTES) POTENTIAL ACTION FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE SESSION Mayor Howard stated Council will go into Executive Session pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(g) Performance of a public employee for approximately 30 minutes. There is potential action to follow. June 1, 2026 City Council Business Meeting Page 5 of 6 Council went into Executive Session at 7:34pm. Council came out of Executive Session at 8:04pm,. Mayor Howard explained proposed City Manager's salary, which included 3% increase which is in line with other City senior staff and a week of Executive Leave with parameters that it cannot be cashed out and must be used by end of year. Discussion ensued around John's employment contract regarding salary, public concerns around salary increases, in favor of supporting, process, importance of structure, salary study, comparison to other City Managers, 3% increase, difficult to replace John, inflation, Governor wage, community understanding, appropriate and fair, Executive Leave, and solid financial position. Motion: David Faber moved to increase the City Manager's salary by 3% and grant a week of Executive Leave with a stipulation that it can't be cashed out or banked in the year 2026. Owen Rowe seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:16pm. Attest: Al sa agues City Clerk June 1, 2026 City Council Business Meeting Page 6 of 6