HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-08-05 City Council Minutes Approved Anacortes City Council Minutes - August 5, 2024
Call to Order
Mayor Matt Miller called to order the Anacortes City Council meeting of August 5, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
Councilmembers TJ Fantini,Ryan Walters,Anthony Young, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Carolyn Moulton, and
Bruce McDougall were present. Councilmember Amanda Hubik was absent.
Ms. Moulton moved, seconded by Mr. Young,to excuse the absence of Ms. Hubik. The motion carried
unanimously by voice vote.
Pledge of Allegiance
The assembly joined in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Executive Session
At 6:02 pm,Mayor Miller announced that the City Council and the City Attorney would convene in Executive
Session per RCW 42.30.110(1) for approximately 15 minutes to discuss a potential real estate transaction. At
6:38 pm,Mayor Miller reconvened the regular meeting and reported that no action had been taken during the
executive session.
Announcements and Committee Reports
Mayor Miller thanked fiber customers for their patience and commended staff for their work during an outage
over the weekend caused by a cut line. He then reminded the public that tomorrow from 6-8 pm is National
Night Out at Storvik Park, announced that the public can participate in the Washington State Ferries online
open house through August 23rd, and that August 6th is election day with ballots due by 8 pm.
Fiber Committee
Administrative Services Director Emily Schuh provided an update regarding an outage to the fiber system on
Friday morning that impacted approximately 950 customers and the considerable staff effort required to repair
the damaged line, reporting that the majority of customer service was restored by Saturday night and service
was completely restored by 8:18 pm on August 3rd.
Mr. Young related his previous experience working for a large fiber utility company and noted that outages are
unfortunately an expected occurrence in the course of business.
Ms. Moulton asked how the line cut occurred. Ms. Schuh responded that an underground line had been cut by
an external contractor and that a full investigation into the incident is ongoing for possible restitution to
compensate for the additional staff time required to repair the affected area. Ms. Moulton asked that the details
of exactly how it occurred be ascertained in order to mitigate similar future incidents.
Mr. Fantini asked about the investigation process and city fiber customer notification protocols in the event of
an outage. Ms. Schuh responded that the city is looking at text notification systems that would notify affected
customers of outages.
Mr. Walters expressed appreciation for staff efforts to restore service after the outage and suggested that an
estimated time of repair would have been helpful to affected customers. He then mentioned possible geographic
redundancy measures to provide alternate service pathways in the event of an outage and asked for
improvement in the content and methods of communications to subscribers.
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Housing Affordability and Community Services Committee
Ms. Moulton reported that the Housing Affordability and Community Services Committee did not meet the
previous week.
Finance Committee
Ms. Cleland-McGrath reported from the Finance Committee meeting held July 25th. The topics discussed
included increased tipping fees for solid waste and how that would affect customer rates,the enterprise resource
planning application replacement process, and recent sales tax trends.
Economic Development Committee
Mr. Young reported from the Economic Development Committee meeting held July 26th. The meeting included
a discussion with community stakeholders including the Port of Anacortes, Anacortes Chamber of Commerce,
Island Health, and Holly Frontier Sinclair regarding the process in cooperation with Western Washington
University Institute of Economic Development.
Public Comment
Mayor Miller invited the public to comment on any item not on the agenda. No one present wished to address
the Council on any topic not already on the agenda.
Consent Agenda
Mr. Walters moved, seconded by Mr. McDougall,to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion
carried unanimously by voice vote.
a. Minutes of July 22, 2024
b. Approval of claims in the amount of$1,300,436.14
The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment:
EFT numbers: 109999 through 110059,total$ $1,203,318.08
Check numbers: 110060 through 110093, total $ $63,366.03
Wire transfer numbers: 351402 through 352105, total $ $33,752.03
c. Contract Award: WTP Filter and Backwash Study#24-208-WTR-001
d. Contract Award: WWTP Pump Station 4 Flowmeter Vault#24-209-SEW-001
e. Contract Award: WWTP Pump Station 14 Replacement Pump#24-210-SEW-001
f. Reimbursement Agreement IAA25207 for Blake Decision 7/l/24-6/30/25#24-211-MCT-001
g. Resolution 3161: Establishing a Docket for the 2025 Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations
Periodic Update
h. Contract Award: Commercial Ave Corridor Plan Phase 1 WSDOT Project Reviews#19-095-TRN-004
i. Contract Award: 22nd Street Pedestrian Improvement Project#24-216-TRN-001
Public Hearings
2024-2029 Capital Facilities Plan Amendment
At 7:01 pm,Mayor Miller opened the advertised public hearing for the proposed amendment to the 2024-2029
Capital Facilities Plan. Finance Director Steve Hoglund detailed the proposed amendment to the 2024-2029
Capital Facilities Plan, referring to a slide presentation that was included in 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.
At 7:03 pm,Mayor Miller closed the public hearing.
Other Business
Ordinance 4084: 2024-2029 CFP Amendment
Finance Director Steve Hoglund detailed the provisions of proposed Ordinance 4084 that would amend the
2024-2029 Capital Facilities Plan to accelerate a project to replace discharge meters at the water treatment plant
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and a reduction in the Finance Department professional services budget.
Discussion topics included:
• How amending the budget would negate the spending on the OpenGov subscription.
• Other areas where budget efficiencies could be realized.
• Operating conservatively during times of economic uncertainty.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency funding coverage for 2024 discharge meter project costs.
RYAN WALTERS moved, seconded by ANTHONY YOUNG, to waive the two-read rule for ordinances and
approve Ordinance 4084.
Vote: Ayes -ANTHONY YOUNG,RYAN WALTERS, CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH, CAROLYN
MOULTON, BRUCE MCDOUGALL, TJ FANTINI.Nays -None. Result: Passed
Ordinance 4085: 2024 20 Budget Amendment
Mayor Miller invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item. No one present wished to
address the Council.
RYAN WALTERS moved, seconded by CAROLYN MOULTON, to waive the two-read rule and adopt
Ordinance 4085.
Vote: Ayes -ANTHONY YOUNG,RYAN WALTERS, CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH, CAROLYN
MOULTON, BRUCE MCDOUGALL, TJ FANTINI.Nays -None. Result: Passed
Wastewater Treatment Plant Outfall Relocation Project Update
City Engineer Logan Lee provided an update on the Wastewater Treatment Plant Outfall Relocation 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.
John Wilkinson of Anacortes mentioned that there are communication challenges regarding the project,that he
and other neighbors had not received a pre-blast survey, and that there was a bit of anxiety and confusion in the
neighborhood regarding the project timeline.
Discussion topics included:
• Properties on the list for notification for blasting activities.
• The current construction schedule on the website.
• Reassuring the neighborhood even if there is no new information.
• Advance notice for blasting activities.
• Number of households within 200 feet of the blast zone.
• When pipe sinking will occur.
Adjournment
There being no further business, at approximately 7:35 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of August 5,
2024 was adjourned.
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