HomeMy WebLinkAbout121012 CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
MINUTES OF THE WORKSHOP MEETING OF DECEMBER 10, 2012
CALL TO ORDER
The Port Townsend City Council met in workshop session the tenth day of December
2012 in the Council Chambers at 540 Water Street. Mayor David King called the
meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers present at roll call were Robert Gray, David King, Kris Nelson,
Catharine Robinson, Deborah Stinson, and Mark Welch with Michelle Sandoval
excused.
Staff members present were City Manager David Timmons, City Attorney John Watts,
Public Services Director Rick Sepler, Public Works Director Ken Clow, City Clerk Pam
Kolacy, and Library Director Theresa Percy.
POSSIBLE INITIATIVES THAT WOULD REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL
City Manager David Timmons introduced the issues to be addressed. He provided
handouts "Pavement Condition" and "Key Terminology" and discussed each.
Discussion ensued about levies, banked capacity, levy ceilings, and Council's
authority. Mr. Timmons noted that it might be productive to devote all or part of a
work session to review and discuss how levies work since the issue is complicated.
Public Services Director Rick Sepler guided the discussion about the provided
matrices on four options: Transportation Benefit District, which provides dedicated
funding for transportation projects; Fire Service - Fire Annexation which changes
existing governance and funding "contract"; Metropolitan Park District which changes
governance and funding from existing City General Fund support; and Library Facility
which addresses current and future facility needs. He noted that this is not an
exhaustive list and that this is also a high level overview. The end result of the
discussion will be a timeline and a strategy for the next several years.
Extensive presentation and discussion followed regarding each of the four options
and alternatives as presented in the written materials.
A suggestion was made to revise the Option C (Metropolitan Park District) table to
change the wording in the box for arguments in support of approach C4. The line
would read: "Establishes dedicated funding and governance for parks." In addition,
in the box for arguments in opposition to Alternative C3, clarify that there is a choice
of supplanting or augmenting (through banked capacity) existing funding.
Under Approach on Option D (Library,) clarification was made between alternative D3
(reduce costs) and D4 (rescope/redesign project). The D3 alternative would eliminate
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some costs, such as furniture, from the bond issue amount whereas D4 refers to re-
scoping some parts of the project such as using lesser grade materials.
It was noted that these choices are not being made in a-vacuum-and the-needs of
other governmental entities will come into play as well.
Mayor King declared a recess at 8:05 p.m. for the purpose of a break.
The meeting was reconvened at 8:15 p.m.
Mr. Sepler led the Council through various scenarios including no action, choosing
one initiative for action, spacing out all or some of the initiatives based on timeliness
and ripeness, and combining certain initiatives which may be complimentary, while
treating others individually. Several alternatives were suggested and discussed.
It was noted that both the singular and cumulative costs of the measures must be
considered when establishing a continuum.
Discussion continued, with positive and negative aspects of each scenario examined.
In order to craft a plan, a series of actions should be spelled out in a timeline. More
specific information is needed about cost estimates, timing of return from various
levies depending on when they are voted upon, and the effect of taxes on individuals
in the community. In addition, an analysis must be made of the community's capacity
- how much tax increase can the community absorb.
At some time during the process, when choices have been more defined, it will be
presented at a town meeting. The choices need to be narrowed to a suite of
plausible possibilities.
Probable known initiatives from other government agencies must be taken into
account as well. Staff will present scenarios with more specific information at a
Council meeting in January. Because of the advanced planning necessary, there are
time constraints for action on any of the projects and this will be part of the framing of
choices. It was agreed that the Council should see at least one iteration of the
timeline choices prior to a town meeting.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:57 p.m.
Attest:
Pamela Kolacy, MMC
City Clerk
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