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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12182000CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF DECEMBER 18, 2000 The City Council of the City of Port Townsend met in regular session this eighteenth day of December 2000, at 6:30 p.m. in the Port Townsend Council Chambers of City Hall, Mayor Geoff Masci presiding. ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Councilmembers present at roll call were Joe Finnie, Allen Frank, Sydney Lipton, Geoff Masci, Bill Wolcott, Alan Youse and Vem Garrison. Staff members present were City Manager David Timmons, City Attorney John Watts, City Clerk Pam Kolacy, and Public Works Director Ken Clow. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA: None PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT: None CITY MANAGER'S REPORT In light of the holiday season, Mr. Timmons suggested that the Public Safety Committee meeting scheduled for December 21 and the Community Development Committee meeting scheduled for December 26 be deferred to January. Mr. Youse and Mr. Wolcott agreed; Mr. Wolcott asked that the Community Development Committee meet earlier in January than the regularly scheduled fourth Tuesday. Mr. Timmons then made a brief presentation on the Sea Grant Program, coordinated through the University of Washington, which is recruiting cities to assist in modeling disaster scenarios. Requirements would be staff support for one or two all day workshops and access to the city's GIS information. A letter of interest from the City is required for Port Townsend to remain in the pool of cities which will continue in the selection process. He then introduced Joe Breskin who gave more details on the program. After questions and discussion, the council consensus was to authorize the City Manager to write a letter of support for the program. Mr. Timmons then noted that he has been contacted by representatives of the Main Street Program in regard to the amount of fimding budgeted for the year 2000. Their interpretation of the contract is that they would receive $25,000 from the general fund and $3,000 from the lodging tax fund. The contract states that $22,000 will be received from the General Fund and $3,000 from the lodging tax fund. He noted that staff has City Council Minutes 1 December 18, 2000 been unable to locate evidence contradicting the terms of the contract; he will continue to investigate, and revisit the issue in January. Mr. Timmons gave a brief update on the continuing discussions regarding billing from the county for jail services. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC (regarding items not on the agenda) Adam Rymsza: Waterman and Katz wage issue. Mr. Watts again noted that the City paid prevailing wage on the city-requested improvements; the contractor's payments are in question. It was agreed that Mr. Rymsza would make an appointment with Mr. Watts to review the issue. PUBLIC HEARING ORDINANCE 2755 AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF $40,000 TO THE LODGING TAX FUND; $20,000 TO THE SOLID WASTE FUND; AND MAKING FINDINGS AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY Mr. Masci opened the public hearing and asked if any council members had financial or property interest in the outcome of the hearing. There were none. Staff Presentation Mr. Timmons stated that during the course of the year, the budget is updated periodically. This is the second and final update which affects only two funds, Lodging Tax and Solid Waste. Neither adjustment was unanticipated. An additional appropriation to the Marine Science Center of $40,000 is included as well as additional appropriations of $20,000 for increased county transfer station operating costs. The Finance Committee has reviewed the Supplemental Budget and recommended approval to the full council. Public Comment: None Motion: Mr. Frank moved to suspend council rules so that the first reading be considered the second, and the third by title only. Mr. Youse seconded The motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote. Motion: Mr. Frank moved for adoption of Ordinance 2755. Mr. Finnie seconded Ms. Kolacy read the ordinance by title. Vote: The motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by roll call vote. City Council Minutes 2 December 18, 2000 CONSENT AGENDA Motion: Mr. Frank moved for approval of the following items on the consent agenda. Mr. Garrison seconded Corrections to minutes: Mr. Wolcott requested a change to the minutes of December 4: on page 5 change challenge "Main Street" to challenge "City Council." A typographical error was also corrected on page 7. Vote: The motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote. Approval of Bills, Claims and Warrants Vouchers 74275 through 74413 and 74268 in the amount of $421,932.43 Approval of Minutes Regular Meeting of December 4 UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS CITY MANAGER AUTHORIZATION TO SIGN RECREATION AND POOL AGREEMENTS Three different agreements were presented and the question was split to allow consideration and vote on each. Pool Facility Lease Agreement 2001 Staff Presentation Mr. Timmons noted that some of the management burden will be assumed by the City during the next year. No payment will be made to the School District for maintenance of proper chemistry in the pool but the cost will be absorbed by Public Works staff taking on the responsibility, which has been a chronic risk management issue in the past. Several questions were posed by council members regarding the details of the contract. Mr. Lipton suggested adding specific references to "Mountain View Elementary School" in section 4 to clarify that only those costs associated with that facility will be charged to the City by the School District. Public Comment: None Motion: Mr. Frank moved to authorize the City Manager to execute an interlocal agreement with the Port Townsend School District for the Mountain View pool facility lease for the year 2001, with the incorporation of specific reference to "Mountain View City Council Minutes 3 December 18, 2000 Elementary School" in section 4 (Rental Costs Per Operational Period). Mr. Finnie seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote. Inter-Agency Cooperation Agreement for After-School Recreation Program in the City of Port Townsend Staff Report Mr. Timmons noted that the agreement authorizes the City to use the school facilities for after-school programs sponsored by the city's recreation department. Public Comment: None Motion: Mr. Frank moved that the City Manager be authorized to enter into an interlocal agreement with the Port Townsend school district for the after-school recreation program. Mr. Garrison seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote. Port Townsend Swim Team Pool Use Agreement Staff Report Mr. Timmons noted that the contract between the City and the Port Townsend Swim Team is in the second year of a three year adjustment for equity purposes; next year's agreement will result in the Swim Team covering the actual costs resulting from their use of the facility. He noted that the correct amount for the monthly use fee is 20% greater than the fee stated in the contract which was distributed in the council packet. Rather than $1,208.33, the monthly fee will be $1,405. The annual total goes from $14,500 to $17,000. Public Comment Yvonne Starkey, on behalf of the Swim Team: expressed appreciation for the city's continued participation in recreational activities. Motion: Mr. Frank moved to authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with the Port Townsend Swim Team for pool use, management, coaching and lifeguard fees for the year 2001. Mr. Lipton seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 7-0 by voice vote. ORDINANCE 2756 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND AMENDING SECTION 13.05.030, MONTHLY WATER RATES, IN CHAPTER 13.05, UTILITY RATES AND CHARGES, OF THE PORT TOWNSEND MUNICIPAL CODE, TO ELIMINATE SUMMER USE SURCHARGES City Cotmcil Minutes 4 December 18, 2000 Staff Presentation Mr. Timmons noted that the Council Finance Committee has previously discussed elimination of the summer use surcharge in water rates for the following reasons: water rates are sufficiently high to encourage water conservation without the surcharge; curtailing water use by public education and voluntary compliance is preferable public policy; the surcharge generates only a modest revenue ($10,000 per year) to the utility fund; administering the surcharge is costly in terms of staff time; and many complaints have been received from customers regarding the surcharge. Public Comment: None Council Discussion included: desirability of doing a blanket change to water system billing issues rather than "piecemeal" changes, and relationship of this issue to the frequency of reading water meters. Motion: Mr. Wolcott moved to remand the issue to the Finance Committee for investigation and recommendation and discussion in conjunction with other items such as meter reading. Mr. Frank seconded. The motion carried 4-3 by voice vote, with Messrs. Lipton, Finnie and Masci opposed. EXECUTIVE SESSION Mr. Masci announced that the council would adjourn to executive session to discuss items relating to personnel, real estate, and litigation issues. He stated that the session would last approximately one hour, and that no action was anticipated this evening. RECONVENE The meeting reconvened at 9:15 p.m. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:17 p.m. Attest: Pamela Kolacy, CMC City Clerk City Council Minutes 5 December 18, 2000