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Home My WebLink About072026 City Council Business Meeting MinutesCITY OF PORT TOWNSEND MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING OF JULY 20, 2026 CALL TO ORDER The City Council met in a regular session on the 20th day of July 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 Amy Howard, Owen Rowe, Fred Obee, Neil Nelson, Libby Wennstrom, Monica MickHager, and David Faber. Staff members present were City Attorney Austin Watkins, City Manager John Mauro, Finance and Technology Services Director Jodi Adams, Public Works Director Steve King, Project Manager Andre Harper, Civil Engineer Mike Connelly, Deputy Public Works Director David Dinkuhn, 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 Proclamation or Special Presentations. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT City Manager John Mauro provided the City Manager's Report which included Bainbridge Island City Manager new position, accessible playground equipment grant, Lords Lake, Farmers Market, and Council Retreat. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Public comment Staff or Council response, as needed There was no public comment. CONSENT AGENDA July 20, 2026 City Council Business Meeting Page 1 of 5 Approval of Bills, Claims and Warrants Approval of Minutes: May 4, 2026, May 11, 2026, May 18, 2026 Motion: David Faber moved to approve the consent agenda. Fred Obee seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote. OLD BUSINESS Ordinance 3367 Amending Port Townsend Municipal Code Chapter 3.04- Funds Finance and Technology Services Director Jodi Adams presented Ordinance 3367 Amending Port Townsend Municipal Code Chapter 3.04- Funds which included same Ordinance from two weeks ago, housekeeping for finance funds, all funds Council already approved in previous Ordinances, removed funds no longer used, added funds, and terminology cleanup. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained Transportation Benefit District fund. Public comment: There was no public comment. Motion: David Faber moved to approve Ordinance 3367 Amending Port Townsend Municipal Code Chapter 3.04- Funds Neil Nelson seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote. NEW BUSINESS Resolution 26-015 Authorizing the Application for Loan Funding for Remaining Design and Construction of the Holcomb and Wilson Street Sewer Upsizing Project in an Amount not to Exceed $2,169,000 and Resolution 26-016 Authorizing the Application for Loan Funding for Planning and Pre -Construction of the Monroe Street Lift Station Rehabilitation Project in an Amount not to Exceed $780,000 Public Works Director Steve King, Deputy Public Works Director David Dinkuhn, and Civil Engineer Mike Connelly presented Resolution 26-015 Authorizing the Application for Loan Funding for Remaining Design and Construction of the Holcomb and Wilson Street Sewer Upsizing Project in an Amount not to Exceeds $2,169,000 which included Public Works Financing, Rainier Subarea, existing sewer system, SM#'s, project budget, identified concerns with original alignment, revised alignment, SM1, SM3, SM6, SM7, 2023 banked capacity project, current project estimate, max request, general sewer plan, rate models, eliminating spaghetti lines, system development charges, and problem area. July 20, 2026 City Council Business Meeting Page 2 of 5 In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained low -interest rate loan, rate model and loan forgiveness, capacity, maximum request, and loan forgiveness percentage. Steve King, David Dinkuhn, and Project Manager Andre Harper presented Resolution 26-016 Authorizing the Application for Loan Funding for Planning and Pre -Construction of the Monroe Street Lift Station Rehabilitation Project in an Amount not to Exceed $780,000 which included Monroe Lift Station, deficiencies, WW1, projected budget, stormwater surge, loan from Public Works Board, Water St project, General Sewer Plan requirements, replacing impellors, Lawrence St project, and retrofit pipeline in place. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained what year renovation of lift station will happen and replacing pump. Public comment: There was no public comment. Motion: David Faber moved to approve Resolution 26-015 Authorizing the Application for Loan Funding for Remaining Design and Construction of the Holcomb and Wilson Street Sewer Upsizing Project in an Amount not to Exceed $2,169, 000. Monica MickHager seconded. Discussion ensued around having a great team. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote. Motion: Monica MickHager moved to approve Resolution 26-016 Authorizing the Application for Loan Funding for Planning and Pre -Construction of the Monroe Street Lift Station Rehabilitation Project in an Amount not to Exceed $780, 000 Fred Obee seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote. Mill Road Lift Station Memorandum of Understanding with Jefferson County Steve King presented Mill Road Lift Station Memorandum of Understanding with Jefferson County which included Evans Vista, Urban Growth Area at Caswell Brown, exhibit, establish an understanding, interlocal agreement, mutually beneficial, Federal Uniform Act, purpose of MOU, and state funding timeline. In response to Council's clarifying questions staff explained PUD land, schematic diagram, cost and secure funding, Caswell Brown expansion, revenue, undergrounding work timeline, and economy of scale. Public comment: There was no public comment. July 20, 2026 City Council Business Meeting Page 3 of 5 Mayor Howard left the meeting at 7:02pm due to technical issues Motion: David Faber moved to authorize the City Manager to sign a MOU concerning siting and location of the Mill Road Lift Station and forward to the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners for their consideration. Neil Nelson seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT Deputy Mayor Rowe provided the Presiding Officer's Report which included upcoming special workshop meeting for City Manager transition process. SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS Deputy Mayor Rowe asked Council as a whole to task EAR board to get input from youth regarding youth representation/participation on Advisory Boards. Discussion ensued around budget. Motion: Owen Rowe moved to authorize Council task the EAR Board with getting input from youth on answering a set of questions that Culture and Society Committee will formulate about youth participation on Advisory Boards 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)(1)) DISCUSSION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL ABOUT CURRENT OR POTENTIAL LITIGATIONS (APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES) Deputy Mayor Rowe stated the Council will go into Executive Session pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i)) Discussion with legal counsel about current or potential litigations for approximately 30 minutes. No action to follow. Council went into Executive Session at 7:07pm Council came out of Executive Session at 7:37pm. Deputy Mayor Rowe stated the Council will go back into Executive Session for five minutes. Council went into Executive Session at 7:37pm. Council came out of Executive Session at 7:42pm. No action was taken. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:42pm. July 20, 2026 City Council Business Meeting Page 4 of 5 Attest: s µ" o rigues it Perk July 20, 2026 City Council Business Meeting Page 5 of 5