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Home My WebLink About2025-05-05 City Council Minutes ApprovedAnacortes City Council Minutes - May 5, 2025 1 Anacortes City Council Minutes - May 5, 2025 Call to Order Mayor Pro Tempore Carolyn Moulton called to order the May 5, 2025, Anacortes City Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. Councilmembers TJ Fantini, Ryan Walters, Anthony Young, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Bruce McDougall and Amanda Hubik were present. Pledge of Allegiance The assembly joined in the Pledge of Allegiance. Announcements and Committee Reports Mayor Pro Tempore Moulton reminded the public that there is a free daily passenger service between Cap Sante Marina and San Juan county destinations through June 30th, with reservations being highly recommended. She then announced that the Guemes Ferry haul-out had been extended to at least May 22nd with further details and the latest updates available on the Skagit County website; that the Skagit Chamber Alliance will be conducting a legislative wrap-up on Monday, May 12th, from 8:45-10am at the Burlington City Council Chambers, and registration for the event is open online at the Burlington Chamber of Commerce website; that online candidate filing is open today through May 9th for public office; that the Skagit Transit Long Range Transit Plan is open for public comment through May 14th; and that Administrative Services Director Emily Schuh will give an update on the city's legislative priorities at the regular City Council meeting on June 2nd. Public Works Committee Mr. Walters reported from the Public Works Committee meeting held earlier in the evening. The topics discussed included the Downtown Streetscape Plan, with the committee recommending that the city spend the allocated money in 2025 and the remainder required to fund the contract in 2026, as the contract price is greater than the amount allocated in the Capital Facilities Plan for the current year. The committee further recommended that the contract for the plan includes clear deliverables and objectives. The committee then discussed mechanisms to ensure that the project is realized and the necessity of incorporating additional parking on side streets. The committee also discussed the wastewater treatment plant outfall project progress, bids for the 12th Street and Commercial Avenue intersection improvement project, and un-permitted parking lot improvements at a property on Commercial Avenue. Mr. Fantini announced that there would be a public meeting to discuss West 6th Street and Kansas Avenue park designs on May 8th at 6pm in Council Chambers. Public Comment Mayor Pro Tempore Moulton 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. Young moved, seconded by Ms. Hubik, to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. a. Minutes of April 28, 2025 b. Approval of claims in the amount of $1,038,619.99 The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment: EFT numbers: 112383 through 112417, total $1,007,525.01 Check numbers: 11418 through 112433, total $8,833.44 Wire transfer numbers: 368425 through 368678, total $22,261.54 c. Contract Award: 2025 Critical Areas Regulations BAS Update #25-139-PLN-001 Anacortes City Council Minutes - May 5, 2025 2 Other Business Contract Award: Commercial Avenue Water Service Replacements #25-119-WTR-001 Public Works Director Andrew Rheaume introduced the proposed contract #25-119-WTR-001 with RAW Land Construction LLC for the Commercial Avenue Water Service Replacements project. Eight of twenty-two water main services to be replaced Discussion topics included: • Eight of the twenty-two water main service saddles are being replaced. • Water is available in the event of a fire in the 5-story building at 18th Street and Commercial Avenue. • Avoid tearing up the road soon after paving. • Consideration of working at night to minimize disruptions to businesses. Anthony Young moved, seconded by Ryan Walters, to authorize the mayor to sign contract #25-119-WTR-001 with RAW Land Construction. Vote: Ayes - Carolyn Moulton, Anthony Young, Ryan Walters, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Bruce McDougall, Amanda Hubik, TJ Fantini. Nays - None. Abstentions - None. Result: Passed Contract Award: Ben Root Skate Park Restroom & Parking Lot Project - Design #25-136-PRK-001 Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Bob Vaux introduced the proposed contract #25-136-PRK-001 with MacKay Sposito for the design of the restroom and parking lot at Ben Root Skate Park, referring to a slide presentation that was added to the packet materials for the meeting. Parks and Recreation Director Jonn Lunsford responded to questions from the Council. Discussion topics included: • CXT versus Portland Loos restroom style. o Cost comparison. o A complicated Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) conversion process.  Director approval required. o Potential state permitting issues (Burlington) due to Labor and Industries considerations for Portland Loo. o Portland Loos mitigate problems typically associated with public restroom misuse. o Three Portland Loos could nearly replace the capacity of a typical separate gender restroom configuration. o Cost-benefit analysis is necessary over the 18-month period to determine the best option. o Portland Loo does not eliminate sanitary problems associated with public restrooms. o Lack of privacy, space for families and possibly sinks in Portland Loo. o Little to no independent research about the effectiveness of Portland Loo in mitigating drug use and other problems associated with public restrooms. o Assess if a similar restroom or a different one makes sense to replace the one being torn down. o Safety issues with CXT and families o The Skate Park is different from the Farmers Market. o Ask RCO about Portland Loo conversion from CXT prior to moving forward. o Options to have hand-washing station outside, hot water, and winterization for a Portland Loo. o Maintenance cost of CXT versus Portland Loo? o The council receives complaints from the public regarding restrooms. o Any potential loss of restroom capacity if the process takes longer.  Portable toilets would be temporarily deployed. • Amount of initial grant for Tommy Thompson trail grant - $400k not just for the restroom. Anacortes City Council Minutes - May 5, 2025 3 • Unique community needs and requirements. • Appreciation of the governmental process for replacing the facility • Appreciation and trust for the due diligence of the Parks and Recreation staff. • The city government's responsibility is to provide facilities for use and discourage bad behavior. • What happens to the excess funds if the project is accomplished under the budget of the $1 million received from MJB for moving the restroom?  $700k designated for this project  $300k for the general fund • The council want staff to research the following:  Lodge inquiry with RCO if they would entertain two, three, or four Portland Loos to replace the CXT restroom.  Provide crime rate and emergency response statistics around public restrooms in Anacortes.  Advocacy for two Portland Loos. • Possibility to continue with the design of the parking lot in tandem with restroom inquiry. o It is not advisable to move forward with anything without RCO approval. • Impact of requesting more information and not immediately moving the contract forward  Potential delay in RCO processing the city's inquiry and changing work priorities of the design contractor. Adjournment There being no further business, at approximately 6:59 pm the Anacortes City Council meeting of May 5, 2025, was adjourned.