HomeMy WebLinkAbout093013CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE WORKSHOP MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2013
CALL TO ORDER
The City Council of the City of Port Townsend met in workshop session the thirtieth day
of September, 2013 at the Cotton Building at 607 Water Street. Mayor David King
convened the meeting at 6-30 p.m.
ROLL CALL and INTRODUCTIONS
Councilmembers present at roll call were Robert Gray, David King, Kris Nelson,
Catharine Robinson, Michelle Sandoval, Deborah Stinson and Mark Welch.
Staff members present were City Manager David Timmons, City Attorney John Watts,
Public Services Director Rick Sepler, Public Works Director Ken Clow, City Engineer
Dave Peterson, Interim Library Director Beverly Shelton, Police Chief Conner Daily,
and City Clerk Pam Kolacy.
Representatives of the Mountain View partners present were Colin Foden (Radio
KPTZ), Earll Murman (Jefferson Aquatic Coalition), Liz Berman (Working Image), Ellen
Crockett and Michelle Kelley (American Red Cross), Erica Delma (YMCA), and Kees
Kolff (ReCyclery).
UPDATE TO MOUNTAIN VIEW PARTNERS/TENANTS ON CITY'S EFFORTS TO
ENTER INTO A LONG-TERM LEASE WITH THE PORT TOWNSEND SCHOOL
DISTRICT FOR MOUNTAIN VIEW
Mayor King welcomed the partners in attendance. He stated the City appreciates all the
services provided at the Mountain View campus. The City has been studying how to
address deferred maintenance as well as current and future facility operations. The
primary purpose of the meeting is to get all parties on the same page with the same
information.
City Manager Timmons reviewed the history of the facility and noted that City focus has
been on two areas — HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) and the pool. (No air
conditioning at Mountain View, but the acronym applies to boilers, heat exchangers,
controls, etc.). The City has secured a $500,000 grant toward the $1.7 cost for repair of
HVAC systems and has recently done a pool upgrade including liner, deck, pump room
and lights.
He stated the 2005 School District study of the state of the facility may have been too
optimistic on the expected life of major systems. In addition, recent field investigation
shows the roof needs to be replaced as soon as possible and there are other related
structural issues in need of immediate attention.
Council Workshop with Mountain View Partners September 30, 2013
The City has limited options on choices for funding repairs. They cannot be funded
from rents or existing City revenues. A councilmanic bond is an option but there are
limitations on capacity; the remaining option is a voted bond. Ideally, partners including
the School District, Hospital District, and County would step forward to assist in
maintaining a facility used by all community members.
Public Services Director Sepler talked about the current status and approach to the
facility issues. Operations cost about $300,000 per year or about $6.40 per square foot.
The City has begun a more detailed assessment process and anticipates results by the
end of October. Currently alternatives include proceeding with a councilmanic bond,
seeking voter -approved bonds, seeking others (potentially a public development
authority, public facilities authority, or interlocal agreement among partners) to operate
the facility with City as the anchor tenant, and the City seeking an alternate location for
the Police and another operator for the pool and vacating the building.
A roundtable dlscussiol 11 it, 1 t he partners followed. All expressed support for
continuing tenancy at Mountain View. It was noted that City ownership of the facility is
not an option as the School District is unwilling to sell but a long term lease of 35 — 50
years without rent is considered an ownership interest in terms of loans and grants.
There was also discussion regarding the scope of service provided by the tenants which
is generally agreed to be County -wide and deserving of support from entities other than
the City. Development of a vision and an overall strategy for the facility that
incorporates the visions of the individual organizations is important. The Mountain
View location also has great potential as an emergency/disaster center and this may
also make it eligible for other types of funding. It will be difficult, however, for the City
to continue to take sole responsibility for funding the facility.
The lease excludes providing space for retail operations so all the tenants must be
government or non-profit entities. This is a mechanism for the City (and others) to
support and subsidize non-profit community services.
The next step in the process is a public forum to be held at Mountain View. Staff will
have more information on the building needs and will develop alternatives to present to
the public. Staff will continue to meet with organizations individually as well.
ADJOURN
Thg1e being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
Attest:
`t
Pam Kolacy, City Clerk
Council Workshop with Mountain View Partners September 30, 2013