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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03032003CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF MARCH 3, 2003 The City Council of the City of Port Townsend met in regular session this third day of March, 2003, at 6:30 p.m. in the Port Townsend Council Chambers of City Hall, Mayor Kees Kolff presiding. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The meeting was called to order at 6:30 by Mayor Kees Kolff. Council members present at roll call were Freida Fenn, Kees Kolff, Geoff Masci, Michelle Sandoval, Catharine Robinson, and Alan Youse. Joe Finnie was excused. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA There were no changes proposed to the published agenda. PRESIDING OFFICER'S REPORT Mayor Kolff commended the participants in the Healthy Youth Coalition program. Mayor Kolff introduced Christine Hemp who introduced participants from the Cops and Kids Poetry Program. Many of the participants read from their work. Centrum support A letter supporting restoration of state funding to the Centrum Foundation was presented to Council members. Mayor Kolff noted that Executive Director Carol Shiffman would be traveling to Olympia tomorrow to meet with legislators and would like to take the signed letter with her. Motion: Geoff Masci moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the letter to legislators supporting the retention of funding for Centrum as presented. Ms. Sandoval disclosed that she is an unpaid member of the Centrum Board of Directors. Mr. Youse commented that he opposes items coming to council without prior notice or opportunity for review. ?ote: Motion carried with 5 in favor, one abstention (Youse). Mayor Kolff noted that the AWC training calendar has been distributed to Council members and encouraged them to attend sessions of their choice. The Mayor reported on the AWC Legislative Conference which he attended; he noted that he pursued issues in Olympia, particularly legislation in support of neighborhood City Council Meeting Page 1 March 3, 2003 electric vehicles and funding for state parks. He added that SB775 recommends a tax on recreational vehicles to use for state parks and natural resources funding so that parking fees will not have to be continued in state parks. He indicated a resolution may be coming forward to the Council supporting state legislation. Appointment to Civil Service Commission Motion: Mr. Masci moved to reappoint Ron Kosec to the Civil Service Commission (position 3, term expires 12/31/05). Ms. Robinson seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 6-0, by voice vote. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT Mr. Timmons noted that compost is currently for sale. Mr. Timmons also gave a brief update on the water system, saying that Lords Lake is full. Location of Fire Station. Mr. Timmons responded to a question raised by a citizen regarding the potential relocation of the Fire Station to the Transit facility rather than building a new station at the current location. Information from the ISO indicates: 1) A new station in the current location would be unlikely to alter or impact the ISO rating. 2) Relocating further from the center of the town would increase Port Townsend's deficiency points. 3) PT could retrograde to class 6 if the station is relocated; this may result in an approximately 10% increase in insurance premiums. The department's current goal is to upgrade to a Class 4. Puget Sound Energy Update Don McDaniel, Manager of Government and Community Relations for Puget Sound Energy presented a detailed update of the activities of PSE for the first quarter. He addressed issues including: The state of energy supply on the West Coast and PSE's reaction Comparative rate analysis among Port Townsend and other customers in the region Upcoming plans for incentives for conservation Average system interruptions and frequency of outages for Port Townsend compared to other customers. Street lights: audit, decorative lighting improvements have been completed Communications: now have council members on e-mail list and will continue to update them on PSE activities City Council Meeting Page 2 March 3, 2003 An update will be forthcoming in June and will include a report on PSE's proposals for storm planning during the Hood Canal closure Energy assistance for low income households in Port Townsend. Report on Japan Conference City Manager David Timmons and NW Maritime Center Executive Director Dave Robison presented a slide show about the conference they attended in Japan. They participated in discussions of historic preservation and economic development with an international panel. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Greg Walsh: city employee requested an executive session with the City Council on April 7 to discuss his allegations against the City Manager and City Attorney. He distributed written materials. Leola Armstrong: commented on achievements of prior and current councils; stated that the first and foremost priority of the Council should be to put in infrastructure that will bring jobs to the City. A1 Frank: commented on the current Ethics Code complaint, stated Councilor Masci should not be excluded from the discussion because of the letter he received from Ms. Fenn cited by Mr. Frank in the complaint. PUBLIC HEARING MURPHY STREET VACATION Motion: Ms~ Robinson moved to postpone the Murphy Street Vacation public hearing to April 7. Mr. Youse seconded The motion carried unanimously, 6-0, by voice vote. CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Kolff noted a correction to the February 10 minutes: on page 4, the main motion to endorse a letter endorsing SB 5551 carried unanimously, 6-0 rather than 5-1. Motion: Ms. Robinson moved to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda (including correction of February 10 minutes). Ms. Sandoval seconded. The motion carried 5-1, with Mr. Masci opposed Approval of Bills, Claims and Warrants Vouchers 85073 through 85195 in the amount of $282,372.44 Approval of Minutes Special Session of February 10, 2003 Regular Session of February 18, 2003 City Council Meeting Page 3 March 3, 2003 Approve Action Schedule public hearing on the draft Noise Ordinance for a special meeting on March 24. UNFINISHED BUSINESS RESOLUTION NO. 03-005 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH LOCAL UNION NO. 589 OF THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS FOR GENERAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2003 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2005 City Manager David Timmons stated that agreement has been reached on a new General Government contract. The primary feature of the new contract is that health care costs are kept in control, with employees assuming more responsibility for costs. A cost of living increase will be retroactive to January 1. He thanked the members of the bargaining unit for their cooperation. Public comment None Motion: Mr. Masci moved for adoption of Resolution 03-005. Mr. Youse seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 6-0, by voice vote. 1% FOR THE ARTS City Attorney John Watts stated that the 2003 budget included funding in the capital budget for arts projects; the Council must begin the process of drafting legislation to implement the budgeted program. Public comment Nancy Stevenson, Arts Commission Chair, spoke in favor of the program and noted that the Commission has obtained letters of endorsement from the NW Maritime Center, Main Street Program and Chamber of Commerce. Motion: Ms. Sandoval moved to assign the issue to the Finance/Budget Committee. Ms. Fenn seconded. Ms. Fenn commented that Port Angeles displays art that may potentially be purchased with City funds and asks for feedback from citizens. She added this is an example of a city encouraging community buy-in on art expenditures. City Council Meeting Page 4 March 3, 2003 Fote: motion carried, 5-1, with Mr. Youse opposed. Motion: Ms. Fenn moved to task the Arts Commission with researching art selection procedures that might be public friendly and report their findings to the Finance/Budget Committee for inclusion in the Committee's recommendation to the Council. Ms. Robinson seconded The motion carried unanimously, 6-0, by voice vote. STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT/LAND USE COMMITTEE Chair Michelle Sandoval stated that during the Committee's discussion about the effect of the noise ordinance on the Port properties, other Port issues were brought up that the committee would like to address but the Committee wants to follow appropriate protocol for Council tasking assignments. The action before council would allow the Committee to continue their discussions with the Port and enable them to stay apprised of what the Port is planning in terms of Point Hudson. Mr. Watts stated that the committee has been tasked with reviewing the City's historic preservation ordinance. The recommended motion before the Council clarifies that the CD/LU Committee is to include port issues in its review and recommendation to Council on the draft historic preservation/demolition ordinance. In addition, the Port's Comprehensive Scheme may raise issues for the City outside of any specific comprehensive plan amendment the Port may propose this year. The scheme does not identify a future vision for Point Hudson but identifies several options. The City Manager recommends that the Council motion would task the CD/LU Committee with formulating a recommendation or recommendations on a process to address City planning issues related to Point Hudson. Mr. Timmons stated concerns that upcoming Port issues will mean the City enters into a complicated morass of overlaying jurisdictions so clarification of roles and of the City's vision for Point Hudson must be completed before the City engages in an exchange with the Port. Public comment None Motion: Ms. Fenn moved to 1) direct the CD/LU Committee review and make policy recommendations to the Council on issues raised by the Port in connection with the Committee's review of amendments to the historic preservation code; and 2) direct the CD/L U Committee to formulate a recommendation on a process to review and address City planning issues and goals related to Point Hudson. This includes a process to City Council Meeting Page 5 March 3, 2003 review and address how PDAs might be used as a means to address planning issues and goals. Ms. Sandoval seconded Motion: Mr. Masci moved to divide the question. There were no objections. Vote on first recommended action (direct the Community Development/Land Use Committee to review and make policy recommendation to the Council on issues raised by the Port in connection with the Committee's review of amendments to the historic preservation code. Motion carried unanimously, 6-0, by voice vote. Mr. Masci then commented on the second recommended action, stating that it was his understanding that staff, rather than Council, should discuss and propose process; he expressed concern that the Council would be instructing staff on how to do their job without the benefit of a policy statement. Mr. Timmons stated he would support tasking the Committee to work on clarifying the City's position and getting up to speed on what the process is; this would include mapping out all processes and identifying how to manage them. Ms. Sandoval stated the object is really to study alternatives and mechanisms, similar to the way the Park and Recreation Advisory Board studied the parks funding options and arrived at a recommendation. Amendment: Mr. Masci offered a friendly amendment to add "or other vehicles" after "PDAs" and to replace the word "used" in the last line with "better utilized.." There were no objections to the amendment. Ms. Robinson suggested a joint meeting between the Council and Port Commissioners so that everyone can be educated on the basic issues. Mr. Timmons stated he will check on the Port's meetings schedule and e-mail information to Council members. Vote on amended motion: motion carried unanimously, 6-0, by voice vote. Motion: Ms. Sandoval moved that the "Guidelines for Committee Assigned Tasks" recommended by the City Manager be discussed at an upcoming Council meeting as soon as it can be scheduled Ms. Robinson seconded. Ms. Fenn stated that the final guidelines should then be added to the Council Rules of Procedure. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0, by voice vote. GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Mr. Masci stated that several items were discussed at the last meeting but the most pressing was a discussion of ethics code procedures. The committee's action was to City Council Meeting Page 6 March 3, 2003 recommend to the Council that the ethics code procedures be revised to provide for an independent hearings officer and to provide that the City Attorney make a preliminary report on the sufficiency of any complaint. The Committee also recommended that if a hearing officer is appointed, he/she review the code for any other changes. The Committee recommended that the matter be placed on Council 3/10 workshop agenda for review of the draft procedural changes, and placed on the 3/17 agenda for possible Council action. A draft lines in and out version of suggested changes will be prepared for the March 10 workshop. There were no objections to placing the item on the March 10 workshop agenda. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m. Attest: Pam Kolacy, CMC City Clerk City Council Meeting Page 7 March 3, 2003