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CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE WORKSHOP SESSION OF AUGUST 8, 2005
CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The City Council of the City of Port Townsend met in workshop session this eighth day of
August, 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 Kees Kolff, Catharine Robinson, Geoff Masci,
Laurie Medlicott, and Michelle Sandoval. Frank Benskin and Freida Fenn were excused.
Staff members present were City Manager David Timmons, City Attorney John Watts, Long
Range Planning Director Jeff Randall, Senior Planner Judy Surber, and City Clerk Pam
Kolacy.
City Manager David Timmons stated that he had hoped to have the Council tour the
construction site at the annex/City Hall, but the contractor was unavailable for a tour this
evening. It will be rescheduled.
SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM
Judy Surber gave the Council an introduction to the Shoreline Planning process to put the
issue in context prior to Council's review of the Shoreline Master Program update. She
reviewed relevant state statutes, key terms, primary goals, and implementation at the project
level.
Ms. Surber explained that the City is one of four "early adopter" jurisdictions selected by the
Department of Ecology. She also explained that the plan, although developed locally, must
be reviewed for compliance and approved for official adoption by the DOE.
She reviewed the City's shoreline inventory and discussed the current change in shoreline
planning that not only mandates protection, ,but restoration of the shoreline. She stated that
the City must provide appropriate mitigation resulting in no net loss as a result of shoreline
projects and must also look for restoration efforts (which cannot be required of a private
developer) .
A citizen committee has been working for many months on the plan, and Planning
Commission is currently holding public hearings and working on their recommendation,
which will come to Council in a September/October time frame. The plan must then be
reviewed by DOE and this may take several months.
City Manager Timmons recognized Ms. Surber and Mr. Randall for their work on the project,
including their successful efforts to obtain funding through state grants.
City Council Workshop
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August 8, 2005
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Mr. Kolff asked how the approval process works. Ms. Surber stated the City adopts at a
local level, then DOE approves, sends back with suggestions, or denies outright. Mr.
Timmons noted that DOE has the final authority for approval. He added that much of our
planning has been in partnership with DOE.
Mr. Randall stated that the target date for the first public hearing before the Council is
September 19. He also noted that all the local plans make up the state plan and so involve
a shared statewide jurisdiction. He stated that the process has been divisive in some
communities and that staff has made an effort to involve all the stakeholders.
Mr. Masci asked why Port Townsend was chosen to be an early adopter. Mr. Randall
stated he though Port Townsend was perceived as having a high chance of success. The
City got a head start with our shoreline inventory and we have interesting and varied
shorelines. Port Townsend also has a lot of shoreline for the size of the city. He added
that an advantage of being an early adopter is that we were able to obtain available funding
and that we can begin protecting our environment sooner.
Mr. Masci noted that the new regulations would provide future developers with a set of rules
they can depend on. Mr. Randall stated there are some provisions of the plan that make it
hard now to develop certain parcels.
Mr. Randall noted that the deadline for action by the City is December 1. It is expected that
DOE approval may come within 30-60 days and after that, the adoption will be official.
Ms. Sandoval asked how the program can be modified after it is adopted. Ms. Surber
stated it would be on the docket for a Comprehensive Plan amendment. In addition, the
state statutes tell you when you have to update the plan.
Mr. Randall noted the Planning Commission did take action on proposed change in
allowance for restaurant size and have started the public notice process with the state.
This particular issue will come to the Council prior to the rest of the Shoreline Program.
Ms. Robinson added that we are looking tentatively at the September 6 meeting for a public
hearing, but it will depend on when it comes back from the state.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:32 p.m.
Attest:
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City Clerk
City Council Workshop
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August 8, 2005