HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-07-01 City Council Minutes Approved Anacortes City Council Minutes - July 1, 2024
Call to Order
Mayor Matt Miller called to order the Anacortes City Council meeting of July 1,2024 at 6:00 p.m.
Councilmembers TJ Fantini,Ryan Walters,Anthony Young, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Carolyn Moulton,
Bruce McDougall and Amanda Hubik were present.
Pledge of Allegiance
The assembly joined in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Announcements and Committee Reports
Mayor Miller reminded the public that the Anacortes Parks Foundation is still accepting online donations for
the 4th of July fireworks display. He then shared an update on Independence Day events,reminded the public
that fireworks are prohibited within city limits, and announced the city office closure and associated solid waste
service holiday schedule. Mayor Miller then announced the email and website domain change to
anacorteswa.gov effective July 2nd. He then welcomed visitors from Anacortes'newest sister city, Comarnic,
Romania. He then announced that Fire Station 1 has a second unit thanks to citizen support through Proposition
1, and the impending delivery of the new ladder truck. He concluded by announcing intermittent trail closures
on the Tommy Thompson Trail from 8-12 July for geo-technical research and that the Washington State Office
of Financial Management updated Anacortes population to 18,270 residents.
Fiber Committee
Mr. McDougall reported from the Fiber Committee meeting held June 27th. The topics discussed included
subscriber numbers and take rates,a construction and funding update for the ongoing network build out, and
financing options and revenue projections for fiber internet service beyond construction completion.
Finance Committee
Ms. Cleland-McGrath reported from the Finance Committee meeting held June 27th. The topics discussed
included a review of wholesale water rate reconciliation, fiber financing, solid waste rates in light of recently
published increased county tipping fees,June sales tax revenues, and the Enterprise Resource Planning
application replacement initiative.
Housing Affordability and Community Services Committee
Ms. Moulton reported from the Housing Affordability and Community Services Committee meeting held June
27th. The topics discussed included a cold weather shelter, a recap of the North Star meeting about countywide
efforts to reduce homelessness and increase access to services, and the difficulty of getting the message out to
the public about housing.
Mr. Fantini asked if there was a plan to have a work session on housing. Ms. Mouton responded that it will be
something that the committee would move forward on scheduling in the future.
Public Works Committee
Mr.Walters reported from the Public Works Committee meeting held earlier in the evening. The topics
discussed included the 12th Street and Commercial Avenue intersection design,how to visually separate bike
and vehicle lanes, a traffic-calming project on 16th Street between D Avenue, B Avenue and C Avenue in the
vicinity of the Samish Early Learning Center, a possible traffic-calming feature at 1 Oth Street and M Avenue
and the planned Kansas Avenue connection to Oakes Avenue, and other requests for traffic and parking
improvements throughout the city.
Mr. Young added that the committee discussed the traffic-calming island on M Avenue,but did not reach a
conclusion on the issue.
Anacortes City Council Minutes-July 1,2024
1
Library Committee
Mayor Miller announced that the Library Committee meeting was moved to a later date.
Police Officer Swearing In
Police Chief Dave Floyd introduced Officer John Monaghan. Mayor Miller administered the oath of office to
Officer Monaghan.
Public Comment
Mayor Miller invited the public to comment on any item not on the agenda.
Dan O'Donnell of LaConner commented on water rates and asked that there be a public hearing on the issue and
that the Council review the three main points in his written comments. He pointed out that the city charges too
much for water.
Xuhua Mu of Anacortes addressed communication challenges associated with city government related to the
proposed Habitat for Humanity project and affordable housing. She requested that councilmembers hold town
hall meetings to address housing affordability,planned capital projects, and the 2025-2045 Comprehensive Plan
update. She suggested that notice of these events be provided via residential utility bills and email.
Consent Agenda
Ms. Hubik moved, seconded by Mr. Young,to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion
carried unanimously by voice vote.
a. Minutes of June 13,2024
b. Minutes of June 24,2024
c.Approval of claims in the amount of$586,796.39
The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment:
EFT numbers: 109746 through 109781,total $440,781.88
Check numbers: 109782 through 109806,total $138,005.74
Wire transfer numbers: 349729 through 349952,total$8,008.77
Public Hearings
Ordinance 4080: Port of Anacortes Vacation/Dedication Application for a Portion of 9th Street
City Attorney Darcy Swetnam re-introduced Ordinance 4080,referring to a slide presentation that was added to
the packet materials for the meeting. Adam Morrow of Pacific Surveying and Engineering,representing the Port
of Anacortes, stated that the Port agrees with the revised ordinance and pointed out that the action represents an
important step in the redevelopment of Cap Sante Marina.
Mayor Miller invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item.No one present wished to
address the Council.
At 6:37 pm,Mayor Miller closed the public hearing.
Discussion topics included:
• Assurance that this will be a public park and open space through recording in the county land records.
• Collaboration between the Port and City staff to enhance the public quality of life.
• A net benefit to the city is trading park land for park land.
• Care in construction of the document to ensure reversion if land is not used as a public park.
RYAN WALTERS moved, seconded by AMANDA HUBIK,to approve Ordinance 4080.
Vote: Ayes-ANTHONY YOUNG, RYAN WALTERS, CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH, CAROLYN
Anacortes City Council Minutes-July 1,2024
2
MOULTON, BRUCE MCDOUGALL,AMANDA HUBIK, TJ FANTINI.Nays-None. Result: Passed
Other Business
South Commercial Avenue Corridor Phase 1: 11th Street- 13th Street
Public Works Director Andrew Rheaume provided a report on the South Commercial Avenue Corridor Phase 1
project,referring to a slide presentation that was added to the packet materials for the meeting.
Mayor Miller invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item.
Suzanne Rohner of Anacortes suggested that traffic be required to turn left or right only from eastbound 12th
Street onto Commercial Avenue,thus requiring this traffic to enter the Safeway parking lot from either 1 lth
Street, 13th Street, or Q Avenue.
Discussion topics included:
• The effect of a single through-right turn lane on Commercial Avenue on the signal light timing.
• Signal technology includes sensors.
• Raised intersection at 1 lth Street and Commercial Avenue.
• Cost savings and better view of downtown.
• Separating bike and pedestrian traffic.
• Loss of southbound lane between 1 lth Street and 12th Street on Commercial Avenue.
• Stop lines being moved back reduces stacking capacity and truck turning space.
• Project funds in the 2024 budget.
• Opportunity to discuss the project and parking lot stall orientation with Safeway.
• Connectivity of bike lanes southward down the rest of Commercial Avenue.
• Avoiding the Traffic Improvement Board delay list.
• Pedestrian warning lights at 1 lth Street and 13th Street intersections.
• Two-stage bike lanes for bikes turning from northbound Commercial Avenue on to 12th Street.
• Limiting turn direction from Sebo's to southbound on Commercial Avenue.
• No left turn from southbound Commercial Avenue into Safeway parking lot.
• Access to the bank parking lot from southbound Commercial Avenue between 12th Street and 13th
Street.
Email and Website Domain
Administrative Services Director Emily Schuh provided an update on the July 2nd transition of city website and
email domains from cityofanacortes.org to anacorteswa.gov,referring to a slide presentation that was added to
the packet materials for the meeting.
Mayor Miller invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item.No one present wished to
address the Council.
Discussion topics included:
• Subdomains such as docs.cityofanacortes.org
• Re-directs from the old domain to the new domain.
• cityofanacortes.org email will be forwarded to anacorteswa.gov indefinitely.
Anacortes City Council Minutes-July 1,2024
3
Adjournment
There being no further business, at approximately 7:30 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of July 1,
2024 was adjourned.
Anacortes City Council Minutes -July 1,2024
4