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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04112005 . . . CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL SESSION OF APRIL 11, 2005 CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The City Council of the City of Port Townsend met in regular session this eleventh day of April, 2005, at 6:30 p.m. in the Port Townsend temporary Council Chambers in the Cedar Room of the Waterman & Katz Building, Mayor Catharine Robinson presiding. ROLL CALL Council members present at roll call were Frank Benskin, Freida Fenn, Kees Kolff, Geoff Masci, Laurie Medlicott, Catharine Robinson, and Michelle Sandoval. Staff members present were City Manager David Timmons, City Attorney John Watts, Public Works Director Ken Clow, Long Range Planning Director Jeff Randall, and City Clerk Pam Kolacy. PROCLAMATION Mayor Robinson read a proclamation in honor or Arbor Day. Forest Shomer and George Bush accepted on behalf of the Tree Committee. Mayor Robinson read a proclamation regarding Youth Week CONSENT AGENDA Motion: Ms. Sandoval moved for adoption of the following items on the consent agenda. Mr. Koltt seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 7-0, by voice vote. Approval of the followinç¡ Bills, Claims and Warrants Voucher 93389 in the amount of $6,701.00 Vouchers 93408 through 93560 in the amount of $381 ,586.18 Vouchers 93562 through93605 in the amount of $67,791.58 Vouchers 405051 through 405058 in the amount of $63,956.54 Voucher 4050510 in the amount of $10,059.47 Voucher 413051 in the amount of $36.36 Approval of Minutes March 14, March 21, and March 28,2005 Approval of Action City Council Special Meeting Page 1 Apri/11, 2005 . . . Authorize Mayor to appoint (subject to Council confirmation) a citizen task force up to 9 members comprised of a broad representation of interested business owners and citizens to review and make recommendation on sign code revisions, under the purview of the CD/LU Committee. CD/LU would review task force recommendation, keep Council advised, and forward task force recommendation to Planning Commission. Mayor Robinson announced that an executive session would be held at the end of the meeting regarding potential litigation and personnel issues. FIRE CONSOLIDATION UPDATE Chief Mingee reviewed the packet material and highlighted the following issues: County Assessor Jack Westerman will attend the next meeting of the Joint Oversight Board to answer questions regarding tax issues. He also reported that District #6 is moving forward on a bond for improvements at the station on Jacob Miller Road and that the two volunteer groups are addressing the merger of their organizations. VIDEO STREAMING CONTRACT Ms. Kolacy noted that problems with the lap top computer prevented a demonstration and suggested that after review of the agenda bill, the item be postponed. Public comment Ian Hinkle: raised questions re archiving material. Mark Welch: supported as an excellent concept, questions historical long-term access, which platforms will support media; who will supply tech support for customers. Bill LeMaster: asked about cost benefit. Robin Sharron: money could be used in better ways. Council requested further information about platforms required, minimum system configuration, number of cable modem subscribers, whether system can provide closed caption, how system fits into the bigger picture, whether personnel costs will be saved, how it will be funded and how partnerships with other agencies will affect the cost. Motion: Mr. Masci moved to postpone further discussion and action until a live demonstration by the vendor can be scheduled and to add the item to the agenda for the next intergovernmental meeting. Ms. Sandoval seconded. Motion carried unanimously, 7-0, by voice vote. City Council Special Meeting Page 2 April 11, 2005 . . . IN BOX City Attorney John Watts stated that because this is a special business meeting, only items on the published agenda could be acted upon. He said Council could only take action on the specific motions listed. Motion: Mr. Masci moved to allow public comment on in box items including both process and content related comments. Ms. Fenn seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 7-0, by voice vote. Mr. Masci asked if it would be better to go through the CD/LU Committee rather than Planning Commission. Ms. Robinson noted that the Planning Commission is specifically tasked to deal with land use regulations. Ms. Fenn stated that the "recommended action" is too narrowly stated. Public comment: The following commented on the formula store ordinance: Robin Sharron (in favor) Gretchen Brewer (in favor) Marilyn Muller (in favor) Donn Trethewey: (in favor) Arne Hansen: (in favor) Joshua Bennun: (in opposition) Bill LeMaster: (in favor) Phil Roam (actions by citizens will speak more loudly than legislation which may not be in best interests of the city) Florence Morgan (in favor) Mark Downing (in favor) Motion: Ms. Fenn moved for first reading of the citizen proposed interim ordinance "An Interim Ordinance of the City of Port Townsend for the Amendment of Chapter 5 of Title 17 of the Port Townsend Municipal Code Defining and Regulating Formula Retail Establishments" (proposed citizen proposed ordinance) and for forwarding the ordinance to the Planning Commission for review. Mr. Koltt seconded. Mrs. Medlicott she will not support this motion as it does not follow the process that was agreed upon. Ms. Sandoval stated she supports the concept of the motion but wants to have proper process. She stated that Mr. Kolff stated last week he was in favor of an interim ordinance; since next week is a business meeting, she suggested having the discussion added to that agenda. She stated she would rather be clear in the process and get to the decision point in the correct manner; she added the Council must also look at C-II design standards, sign code, and other codes that affect the issue. City Council Special Meeting Page 3 April 11, 2005 . . . Motion: Mr. Kolff moved to postpone further discussion of this matter until next week when it can be on the agenda with all possibilities open for action. Mr. Benskin seconded. Ms. Fenn stated she would support on the assumption that the original motion for first reading could be entertained at the next meeting, as well as any other motion. Mr. Masci stated this is an item that will require careful crafting due to potential legal ramifications. He added he is always opposed to a moratorium on its face and an interim ordinance of this kind could have the same effect as a moratorium. He stated he would rather see CD/LU do the work and then have Planning Commission consider and fast track the item. He stated there are no big box stores lurking at the entrance to town. Vote: Motion carried, 5-2, Masci and Medlicott opposed. Consensus was for the City Attorney to bring forward some recommendations at the next meeting RECESS Mayor Robinson declared a break at 8:20 p.m. for the purpose of a break. RECONVENE The meeting was reconvened at 8:35 p.m. Mayor Robinson stated that the floor was open to public comment on all the remaining in box items. Public comment: There was no public comment. Motion: Mr. Masci moved to task the City Manager to include Drug Court funding of up to $35,000 in discussions with the County Administrator regarding joint City/County programs and resources. Mr. Kolff seconded. Motion carried, 6-1, by voice vote, Fenn opposed. Regarding Life Skills Training, Mr. Masci stated that the record shows that the City Manager and Police Chief were given control over the funding which was not allocated to EDC in the 2005 budget. Motion: Mr. Kolff moved to task staff to clarify the record in terms of the budget decision in December and postpone the discussion to the next meeting. Mr. Masci seconded. Motion carried, 6-1, Sandoval opposed. City Council Special Meeting Page 4 Apri/11, 2005 . . . Motion: Mr. Kolff moved that staff bring forward an ordinance that will enable the police department to cite drivers for using studded tires after the required removal date. Mr. Benskin seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 7-0, by voice vote. Motion: Mr. Kolff moved to task review of the Home Occupation ordinance to the Planning Commission for recommendations regarding possible interim measures or amendments to the PTMC; and direct the City Manager to review the Home Occupation application process to ensure Home Occupation use complies with applicable codes. Mr. Benskin seconded. Motion to amend: Ms. Fenn moved to amend the motion by striking all wording before "direct City Manager to review.. . " Mr. Benskin seconded. Ms. Sandoval stated that this may not be the highest and best use of time right now, but some of the trends in changing types of home occupations should be taken into consideration, perhaps by CD/LU or another subcommittee. She stated the ordinance needs tweaking and enforcement. Ms. Fenn suggested that staff could begin the process and report difficulties with the existing code to the Council. Vote on amended motion: motion carried unanimously, 7-0, by voice vote. Motion: Mr. Masci moved to task the City Manager to report on a new monthly payment plan for water and sewer service connections and review with the Finance Director and bring back recommendations regarding this plan for existing buildings and new owner built buildings based on need. Mr. Benskin seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 7-0, by voice vote. Consensus: no official action was needed on the citizen's sustainability task force. Council Committee Work Plan Items for 2005 Mayor Robinson stated she has asked Bill Kush to provide a letter inviting a Council representative to join the Metropolitan Parks District discussions and is waiting until the letter is received to appoint someone. Motion: Mr. Masci moved to accept the Council Committee 2005 work plan items as shown on the table dated April 6, 2005. Ms. Sandoval seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 7-0, by voice vote. Motion: Mr. Masci moved that the cutoff date for acceptance of in-box item submittals be set at two weeks prior to the in-box meeting. Mr. Kolff seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 7-0, by voice vote. City Council Special Meeting Page 5 April 11, 2005 . . . TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATION/ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS City Manager Timmons reviewed the agenda materials. He stated that he recommended hiring the project out on a contingency bases, similar to the City's contract to monitor Department of Revenue tax compliance. The income and expenditure would be incorporated into a supplemental budget request. Public comment: none Motion: Mrs. Medlicott moved to direct the City Manager to step up enforcement of transient accommodation regulations, with the following considerations: actively pursue taxes and fees that benefit the city; and provide for a reasonable period for licensing, building and land use code compliance; and authorize the City Manager to retain personnel or contracted services up to $10,000 to assist in enforcement. Ms. Sandoval seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 7-0, by voice vote. EXECUTIVE SESSION Mayor Robinson announced at 9: 15 p.m. that the Council would retire to Executive Session to discuss potential litigation and personnel issues. She stated the session would last approximately 40 minutes and there would be no action following the session. At 10:00, the executive session was continued for an additional 30 minutes. RECONVENE The meeting was reconvened at 10:30 p.m. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:31 p.m. Attest Van, c¡:{ ~ Pam Kolacy, CMC City Clerk City Council Special Meeting Page 6 April 11, 2005