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CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE WORKSHOP MEETING OF APRIL 20, 2006
CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The City Council of the City of Port Townsend met in workshop session this
twentieth day of April, 2006, at 6:30 p.m. in the Port Townsend temporary Council
Chambers in the Port Townsend Fire Station conference room, Mayor Mark Welch
presiding.
ROLL CALL
Council members present at roll call were Frank Benskin, Geoff Masci, Laurie
Medlicott, Michelle Sandoval, Catharine Robinson, Scott Walker and Mark Welch.
DISCUSSION OF COUNCIL PRIORITIES AND "IN BOX" ITEMS
Workplan Priorities 2006 - previous Iv evaluated and ranked
These items have already been ranked; Council will provide input to staff to
determine where the most effort should be expended.
New Initiatives not evaluated/ranked.
The following ran kings were assigned to the new initiatives brought forward at the
last work plan study session.
Council Suggested Initiatives Ranking (4-20-06)
Lowest Number = Highest Priority
Issue Points Rank Order
Infrastructure Policies 10 1
Impact Fees 11 2
Height and grade 12 3 (tie)
Sign Code 12 3 (tie)
WSF Terminal 12 3 (tie)
Revenue Sharing 14 6
SAMSHA Grant 18 7
ROW Purchase per NMTAB 20 8 (tie)
Public Recycling Facility 20 8 (tie)
Village rezones - mixed use 21 10 (tie)
Banked Land for Affordable
Housing 21 10 (tie)
City Council Workshop
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April 20, 2006
Teardowns in historic district
Parking Plan
Woodstove Smoke Control
School Support
Taylor Street Woofern
Cottage Housing
23
23
24
25
25
25
12 (tie)
12 (tie)
14 (tie)
15 (tie)
15 (tie)
15 (tie)
The following initiatives were not ranked since they are already underway as part of
the work plan:
"Steve Corra" Park
Bike Safety Education Programs
Permit Tracking System
Grant Opportunities
IT and communications network
The following initiatives did not receive enough agreement to be placed within the
work plan priorities at this time.
View Equity
Light Pollution
Enforcement of tourism accommodation regulations
PSE Franchise Agreement
Street Fund allocation $200,000
Drug prevention program $5,000
"In Box"
Public Fiber Network: Dave Brader could not be present.
Revisit Bicycle Helmet Ordinance: Scott Walker introduced the item
Revisit Formula Store Ordinance: Frank Benskin introduced the item.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Public Fiber Network
Bill LeMaster: asked whether the Council is planning to agree to create a taxing
agency (PDA) related to a public fiber network.
Helmet Ordinance
Jane Whicher: stated that every NMTAB meeting has been full of people trying to
get the ordinance repealed. She referred to a memo from the Non-Motorized
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April 20, 2006
Transportation Advisory Board asking for repeal of the ordinance prior to the
establishment of an education program. She stated that helmet regulation is a
small part of the overall issue - how to encourage safer non-motorized use in town.
Bly Windstorm: asked that Council make repealing the helmet ordinance a priority
since it has struck a nerve with bicyclists, has credibility problem and is an obstacle
to the implementation of a safety program.
Robert Frank: spoke in favor of the Council scheduling a repeal of the helmet
ordinance.
Sharon Durga: spoke in favor of helmet law repeal.
Jim Todd: stated he has pedestrian concerns; stated the Non-motorized
Transportation Advisory Board deals with bicycles but not much with pedestrians.
He would like to raise awareness of the problems involved from interaction between
bicycles and pedestrians, particularly on sidewalks.
Formula Store Ordinance
Ian Hinkle: stated there are plenty of current priorities for the Council to deal with
and he does not believe there is a call to revisit last year's business.
David Goldman: said that there has already been another formula store in a
commercial district which is exempt under the ordinance. There are no new facts or
legal opinions which would lead to the need to reconsider. He added that the
Council has a full plate and he does not see this as something that needs to be
done.
Bill LeMaster: stated he is a business owner in the downtown historic district, and
does not believe the necessity of "sameness" is warranted in order to increase the
overall economic base. He stated that the city needs money and jobs but the
formula store ordinance is mostly looking at consumption; he stated that close to
2300 citizens signed in support of the ordinance and revisiting it would further divide
the community.
COUNCIL DELIBERATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Motion: Mrs. Medlicott moved to schedule action on work plan priorities for 2006 for
a future meeting. Ms. Robinson seconded. Motion carried unanimously, 7-0, by
voice vote.
Motion: Mr. Masci moved that the Council take no action but schedule an inter-
governmental meeting regarding the issue of a public fiber network. Mrs. Medlicott
seconded. Motion carried unanimously, 7-0, by voice vote.
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Motion: Ms. Robinson voted to schedule revisiting the bicycle helmet ordinance at a
future meeting. Mr. Walker seconded.
Mr. Benskin spoke in opposition, stating the ordinance was crafted so there would
be a strong public education element before enforcement went into effect; the only
thing lacking has been the momentum to get the program going.
Mr. Masci spoke in opposition, noting that statistics show many deaths occur
because bicycle riders do not wear helmets.
Vote: motion carried, 4-3, by voice vote, Benskin, Masci and Medlicott opposed.
Mr. Benskin stated that he believes the bulk of the formula store ordinance will not
hold water when challenged; therefore he would like to revisit and possibly repeal
the ordinance.
Mr. Masci stated that he objects to several elements of the ordinance and
particularly feels that it affects the growth of small business owners who get into
business by virtue of franchise agreements.
Motion: Mr. Benskin moved to schedule a review of the formula store ordinance at
a future meeting. Mr. Masci seconded.
Ms. Robinson stated she has not heard from anyone in the community about not
liking the ordinance or thinking it is an inhibition to business.
Ms. Sandoval stated that more cities have been passing similar ordinances.
Mr. Welch stated he has some concerns but at this time, given everything else on
the table he is not ready to revisit the ordinance.
Vote: motion failed, 3-4, Benskin, Masci and Medlicott in favor.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:52 p.m.
Attest: cI>{
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City Clerk
City Council Workshop
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April 20, 2006