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HomeMy WebLinkAbout060611 Business Meeting CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND MINUTES OF THE BUSINESS MEETING OF JUNE 6, 2011 CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The City Council of the City of Port Townsend met in regular session the 6th day of June 2011 at 6:30 p.m. in the Port Townsend City Council Chambers, Deputy Mayor George Randels presiding. ROLL CALL Councilmembers present at roll call were David King, Laurie Medlicott, Kris Nelson, George Randels, Catharine Robinson, and Mark Welch with Michelle Sandoval excused. Staff members present were City Manager David Timmons, City Attorney John Watts, Public Works Director Ken Clow, and Civil Engineer Mary Heather Ames. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA Postponement to a future meeting of New Business Item Authorization to Enter into Design Contract for WiMax Government and Public Safety Broadband Access. The addition of Update on Exploratory Regional Parks Committee under City Manager Report. SPECIAL PRESENTATION: Proclamation: Amateur Radio Week John Ebner of Amateur Radio Operators accepted the proclamation for Amateur Radio Week. He announced upcoming Amateur Radio Field day events. Proclamation: National Flag Day Tom Herwer accepted a proclamation for National Flag Day on behalf of the John Paul Jones Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. He noted they are a new Silverdale chapter. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC There were none. CONSENT AGENDA Approval of Bills, Claims and Warrants EFT in the amount of$12,620.67 Vouchers 114147 through 114156 and EFTs in the amount of $98,911.98 City Council Business Meeting June 6, 2011 Page 1 of 6 Vouchers 114596 through 114707 in the amount of$798,071.56 Vouchers 114708 through 114717 and EFTs in the amount of $98,837.95 Voucher 114718 in the amount of$5,000.00 Vouchers 114719 through 114733 in the amount of$4,897.96 Vouchers 114734 through 114830 in the amount of $504,975.26 Vouchers 114831 through 114832 in the amount of $162.65 Vouchers 114833 through 114841 and EFTs in the amount of$232,494.35 Vouchers 114844 through 114845 in the amount of $188.84 Approval of Minutes: May 16, 2011 (Business) and May 16, 2011 (Workshop) Volunteer Advisory Board Appointment: Lys Burden to the Parks, Recreation and Tree Advisory Board, appointment to Position 6, term expires 511/14 Richard Williams to the Non-motorized Transportation Advisory Board, appointment to Position 2, term expires 5/1/14 Resolution 11-016, CLAN (Cooperative Libraries Automated Network) Annual Contract Renewal Authorization for City Manager to sign all necessary documents to acquire a sewer easement across tax parcel 19 as part of the Kanu Drive Sewage Pump Station Replacement Project Motion: Catharine Robinson moved to approve the consent agenda. Mark Welch seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. PUBLIC HEARING Ordinance 3056, Adopting a Supplement to the Non-Motorized Transportation Plan to provide an update and guidance on non-motorized transportation issues that face the city to include newly-planned projects and show what has been completed since the 1998 adoption of the plan Councilmember Randels read the rules of procedure for the Public Hearing. No Council member had any financial or property interest to disclose in the matter. Public Works Civil Engineer Mary Heather Ames gave background on the Non-motorized Transportation Plan originally adopted in 1998. As part of that adoption, the Non- motorized Transportation Advisory Board was created. The supplement does not amend, revise or change the 1998 plan, but identifies projects that have been completed, adds new trails and facilities to the plan since the 1998 adoption, and expands the tools available to the City's non-motorized community. Ms. Ames reviewed the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process that was initiated. She noted that a copy of the draft plan was placed on the City's website, a public open house was held and comments on the plan were received. From those City Council Business Meeting June 6, 2011 Page 2 of 6 comments, a matrix table with staff responses was prepared and is included in the information presented. The Planning Commission and the General Services Committee recommended approval. With the exception of the maps and the GIS data (Appendix D), the line-in, line-out version in the packet incorporates the changes from the comment matrix confirmed by Council at the May 16, 2011 meeting. Ms. Ames recognized that Council received recent public comment related to the multi- use trails in the Kah Tai Lagoon area. Staff recommends Council approve the supplement and consider this issue as part of the separate Comprehensive Plan amendment process. Staff recommends that in the meantime, Council direct that no new trail work be done in the Kah Tai area. Mr. Randels opened the public testimony portion of the hearing. Rick Jahnke spoke in support of the plan and recommended clarification of the issues going forward as part of the Comprehensive Plan amendment. Mr. Timmons distributed a request from Dick Lynn to designate an easement for a multi- purpose trail on Howard Street between 30th and 37th Streets. Staff recommended the right of way first be secured before bringing back an amendment to the Non-motorized Transportation Plan for trail configuration. Council questions for purposes of clarification: Mr. King asked whether the "natural" designations specifically near the Decatur Street right of way put restrictions on uses. Mr. Timmons responded that he believes when the Kah Tai lagoon was reclassified through the Department of Ecology, the buffers and restrictions on the property changed. The public testimony portion of the hearing was closed. Mr. Timmons asked to confirm the process for making a mapping change to correct an error. City Attorney John Watts explained staff could bring back a housekeeping change for review and approval by Council. Motion: Mark Welch moved to approve Ordinance 3056, Adopting a Supplement to the Non-motorized Transportation Plan to provide an update and guidance on non-motorized transportation issues that face the City to include newly planned projects and show what has been completed since the 1998 Adoption of the Plan. David King seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. Motion: Mark Welch moved to approve referring Dick Lynn's request about providing a new trail easement to the Non-motorized Transportation Advisory Board for review and recommendation to the Planning Commission. David King seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. Motion: Kris Nelson moved to approve directing staff to review the issue of Kah Tai trails as part of the City's review of the pending Comprehensive Plan amendment that proposes to "extend maximum environmental protection in perpetuity for exclusive open City Council Business Meeting June 6, 2011 Page 3 of 6 space, wildlife habitat and passive outdoor recreation functions within Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park."Staff would return to Council about the implication of the 6(f) boundary process and no new trail work would be built in Kah Tai pending further Council action. Mark Welch seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. Referring to public comments pertaining to Kah Tai, Mr. Timmons clarified that the 6(f) determination would not preclude a multi-purpose trail. This trail would be consistent with the 6(f) rules for passive development use of the property. It would be subject to both SEPA and NEPA review. OLD BUSINESS Fire Services Annexation Agreement David King distributed a worksheet he prepared to explain the City's financial support of fire services at this time. Absent a change in governance, he stated there would be a continued increase in the imbalance of contributions between the District and City residents. City Manager David Timmons said the annexation is the next step following consolidation of the fire districts. He talked about trends toward consolidation of public safety service delivery. He clarified that the budgeted amount of$320,000 was the original amount to cover the bond for the District. The primary source for this would be Proposition 1 public safety sales tax (the other half that is not going to the County). Since Proposition 1 would not generate $320,000 there was recognition that this amount would need to be supplemented to meet the debt requirement. In the event of annexation, an issue to be addressed with the County Treasurer is how the initial levy rates based on a dollar amount would be handled in the context of an annexation. Mr. Timmons then briefed the Council on the process of annexation, noting the pre- annexation agreement in the packet outlines the funding and governance models. There are some conditions associated with the FEMA grant that are attached to the property. After a period of time, it becomes the District's decision to determine any future steps they may or may not take with respect to the fire hall. As part of the annexation process, City residents would be eligible to place their name on the ballot for election as a trustee on the Board of three. A second ballot measure would be needed to increase the size of the District Board from three to five. He reviewed the timing of a ballot measure on the question of approval of annexation. If the measure fails, Council would renegotiate the interlocal agreement with the fire district and address the issue of unequal contributions. If the measure passes, the implementation of the annexation would go forward in 2013. Council would need to address the creation of the banked capacity and Proposition 1 money and whether to continue that levy or defer it for some other plan. Mr. King asked about the timing of executing the annexation agreement, which Mr. Timmons agreed would be signed at the time of annexation concurrently with the District. Mr. King pointed out that Page 4, Section B lists specific services the District would be City Council Business Meeting June 6, 2011 Page 4 of 6 providing as part of annexation. Paragraph 10 addresses the possibility of a benefit charge after ten years for City-owned property. Chief Gordon Pomeroy of East Jefferson Fire Rescue spoke in support of this agreement. He clarified the City didn't bond on behalf of the District. The City committed public safety funds to offset the District expense related to the bond until the City and District could address annexation. Concerns raised during discussion were whether the specific inventory listed in the current interlocal could be brought forward in the annexation agreement to replace the phrase "General uniform level of service throughout District"; there was also some concern about level of service if the fire hall were to be relocated "near the City." Mr. Timmons stated that too much specificity in naming specific apparatus can be overly restrictive. Through the agreement, the City can measure fire district performance against ISO standards. He added that City representation in the District increases the likelihood of uniform level of service. Several Councilmembers commented that the added language about the level of service standards provides the assurances and protections previously requested by Council. There was support for a suggested amendment by Mr. King to Page 5, paragraph 4, to read "so long as the district applies any proceeds from the sale toward a replacement structure that is located so it primarily serves the incorporated area of the City. Mr. Timmons mentioned that he would suggest calling a special Council Finance & Budget Committee meeting to work on a public safety item pertaining to upgrades to the centralized dispatch records management system. Motion: Laurie Medlicott moved to approve Action: (1) Move to schedule date for action (June 20) on draft 'pre-annexation"lnterlocal Agreement (with suggested amendments by David King) and (2) Move to direct the City Manager to develop alternatives concerning financial impacts and mitigation strategy related to the financial imbalance in contribution between residents of the District and the City. David King seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. NEW BUSINESS Authorization to Enter Into Design Contract for WiMax Government and Public Safety Broadband Access This item was removed from the agenda. PRESIDING OFFICER REPORT Mr. Randels announced the Webervations system is on line for lodging facilities. He also announced that the Seattle Symphony will perform on June 17 at Fort Worden and two high school students will join in that performance. City Council Business Meeting June 6, 2011 Page 5 of 6 CITY MANAGER REPORT Mr. Timmons reported on the Exploratory Regional Parks Committee delays. County funding for Memorial Field has now been restored to the prior level and was matched by the City. He recommended Council authorize extending the contract with the County. Motion: David King moved to authorize the City Manager to draft an amendment to the interlocal agreement governing the use of Proposition 1 tax money (Exploratory Regional Parks Committee) and grant a six-month extension to reach the documented benchmarks and to cap the capital County contribution based on the original estimate. Any funds in excess would be shared but would be allocated strictly for capital. Any unexpended funds would revert to the City. Mark Welch seconded. Vote: motion carried unanimously, 6-0 by voice vote. Mr. Timmons also reported on the following: - Sponsoring an internship program for continuing our bicycle safety program with assistance from the Walkability Foundation. - Meeting with school superintendent on school budget issues and the future of the Mountain View facility. - Regional economic development and funding for the Associate Development Organization (ADO). The Port/City/County would be asked to contribute $20,000 each. Policy framework is needed before developing the scope of work. - Union contract negotiations will begin this summer - Mr. Timmons distributed an American City and County article on deferred road maintenance. SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT OR FUTURE AGENDA, REGULAR MEETING AND/OR STUDY SESSION COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SESSION ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:14 p.m. Minutes prepared by Deputy City Clerk, Joanna Sanders. Attest: Pamela Kolacy, MMC City Clerk City Council Business Meeting June 6, 2011 Page 6 of 6