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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-07-07 City Council Minutes ApprovedAnacortes City Council Minutes - July 7, 2025 1 Anacortes City Council Minutes - July 7, 2025 Call to Order Mayor Matt Miller called to order the July 7, 2025, Anacortes City Council meeting 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 thanked city staff and community volunteers for the successful and safe Fourth of July parade. He then announced that the Commercial Avenue project phase 1 between 11th and 13th Streets would begin on July 7th with the area remaining open to traffic and alternate routes to downtown businesses and the Washington State Ferry posted. He then mentioned the Kids Are Best Fest that will be held at Storvik Park this Saturday, and the installation of new signs on State Highway 20 that inform the public they are entering a Creative Arts District as designated by the Washington State Arts Commission. Finally, Mayor Miller announced that Mr. Fantini was elected to the Association of Washington Cities Board of Directors representing District 14 which includes Skagit, San Juan, and Whatcom counties. Police Officer Swearing In Police Chief Dave Floyd introduced Officer Mitchell Beaupre. Mayor Miller administered the oath of office to Officer Beaupre. There were numerous colleagues and family members in attendance. Police Canine Introduction Chief Floyd introduced Sergeant Terrence Clifford, who introduced police Canine Officer Zeke and his handler, Patrol Officer Tyler Hatcher. Mayor Miller administered the oath of office to Canine Officer Zeke. Fourth of July Parade Award Winners Mayor Miller announced the winners in each category for the Fourth of July parade. Best marching group • 1st Place - Cabalgantes del Northwest Horses • 2nd Place - Twisted Pixies • 3rd Place - Old Anacortes Rowing and Sailing Society Best float • 1st Place - Anacortes Rotary Club • 2nd Place - Azusa Garden • 3rd Place - Salish Sea School and Mermen of Anacortes Fiber Committee Mr. McDougall reported from the Fiber Committee meeting held July 3rd. The topics discussed included subscription numbers (approximately 2700 customers online and nearly 4100 sign-ups), current market share (54%), financial projections, a debrief on a service outage that occurred on June 6th and 7th, and the release of a new coverage map on the city's Access Anacortes Fiber Internet page. Housing Affordability and Community Services Committee Mr. Walters reported from the Housing Affordability and Community Services Committee meeting held July 2nd. The topics discussed included a briefing from the Able Housing Group regarding their grant application, Anacortes City Council Minutes - July 7, 2025 2 the Anacortes Housing Authority being awarded .09 grant funds from Skagit County, accessory dwelling unit construction and parking requirements for disabled adults, a request from the Anacortes School District for a community service worker, and a request from the Salvation Army for support for their cold weather shelter. The committee also discussed the possibility for the Anacortes Housing Authority to apply for a grant related to connecting housing to infrastructure for the Olson Building, including funding sewer and stormwater impact fees and physical construction of those improvements. Library Committee Mr. Fantini announced that the Library Committee meeting was rescheduled for later in the month. Public Safety Committee Ms. Hubik reported from the Public Safety Committee meeting held July 1st. Police topics included a staffing and recruiting update. Fire / EMS topics included a staffing and recruiting update, a coming 3rd quarter budget amendment for increased overtime, an anticipated request for a budget increase for EMS training in 2026, and a federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant to enable the hire of three additional firefighters. Public Works Committee Ms. Moulton reported from the Public Works Committee meeting held earlier in the evening. The topics discussed included the streetscapes contract on the current agenda, the structure of the traffic safety committee and possible changes, and parking on Sixth Street and Seventh Street between O Avenue and M Avenue. After consultation with an on-call traffic engineer, the committee recommended that there only be parking on the north side of Sixth Street and Seventh Street and the east side of M Avenue and N Avenue in the designated area. Port / City Liaison Committee Ms. Cleland-McGrath reported from the Port / City Liaison Committee meeting held July 1st. The topics discussed included welcoming the new executive director, a T Bailey project update, the federal Environmental Protection Agency Clean Ports grant progress that will be beneficial to several waterfront businesses and Washington State Ferries, the planned event center agreements for construction and management, and requirements for boundary line adjustments for street reorientation around the event center area. Ms. Moulton asked for a brief description of the T Bailey project involving heavy tanks. Ms. Cleland-McGrath summarized the successful project of barging several large tanks to Alaska with city cooperation to ensure safely moving the equipment along the heavy haul route to the port pier. Economic Development Committee Ms. Hubik reported from the Economic Development Committee meeting held July 1st. The topics discussed included the Washington State Department of Commerce Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP) grant for workforce and affordable housing for those below 80% of the area's median income and possible ways to ease the process of accessory dwelling unit permitting and development. Public Comment Mayor Miller invited the public to comment on any item not on the agenda. Public comment was given as follows: Pat Gardner of Anacortes addressed a safety concern regarding candy being thrown at children during the Fourth of July parade. She also spoke about dog excrement being left on the sidewalk on the east side of Commercial Avenue near the Port of Anacortes. Mayor Miller responded that the city reminds parade participants not to throw candy and asked that dog owners please clean up after their pets. Bryan Benson, coach of the Anacortes High School Boys Tennis Team, addressed the proposal to add pickleball lines to the two southernmost courts at 22nd Street and K Avenue, pointing out that the lines would Anacortes City Council Minutes - July 7, 2025 3 be confusing for tennis players and that the resurfacing of the courts would not solve the drainage issue that has caused the court surface to become uneven and cracked. Andy Pitz of Anacortes expressed concerns regarding the resurfacing of the courts, pointing out that the surface is not level and resurfacing will not fix the slanted surface, offering that the issue is being driven by complaints regarding the pickleball courts in Clearidge. He asked for data from the parks department to justify the $70k expenditure on the project. He then remarked that tennis and pickleball do not belong together, and the associated noise issues would again be present at the Anacortes Middle School site. He also pointed out that the process was not well considered and that he had experienced difficulties when attempting to contact Anacortes School District staff regarding the proposed agreement. Boshie Morris of Anacortes spoke about the electrification of the Guemes Island ferry and the related upland improvements that would adversely impact parking, traffic, and obstruction of pedestrian walkways in the surrounding Old Town neighborhood, referring to a handout that was added to the packet materials for the meeting. Consent Agenda Mr. Young moved, seconded by Mr. McDougall, to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. a. Minutes of June 6, 2025 b. Minutes of June 23, 2025 c. Approval of claims in the amount of $2,924,327.24 The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment: The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment: EFT numbers: 112873 through 112940, total $2,794,131.90 Check numbers: 112941 through 112974, total $89,365.91 Wire transfer numbers: 371449 through 372054, total $40,829.43 d. Special Event: Anacortes Arts Festival Other Business Interlocal Agreement 25-111-PRK-001 with Anacortes School District No. 103 for Tennis Court Upgrades & Pickleball Conversion at 22nd St & K Ave Parks and Recreation Director Jonn Lunsford introduced proposed interlocal agreement #25-111-PRK-001 with Anacortes School District No. 103 for tennis court upgrades and pickleball conversion at the courts located at 22nd Street and K Avenue, referring to a slide presentation that was added to the packet materials for the meeting. Mayor Miller clarified that only the two southernmost courts would be converted to pickleball use. Mayor Miller invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item. John Pope of Anacortes spoke positively about playing pickleball on a mixed-line court indoors at Mount Erie Elementary School, comparing it to other mixed-use systems such as the Anacortes Community Forest Lands. He also mentioned that children are also playing the sport and will grow into better tennis players, and that resurfacing the courts at 22nd Street would create more space for more pickleball players. Discussion topics included: • The possibility of converting the courts to pickleball only use. o School needs all six tennis courts for team use. • Contacting other entities that use pickleball and tennis lines in a combined format. Anacortes City Council Minutes - July 7, 2025 4 • Decibel level of pickleball noise at the homes on 24th Street. o 60 decibel level on a busy school day morning. o Windless day 90 decibels without the noise-dampening screen at Clearidge. • Balance the use of the new courts with those in Clearidge. • Discussion of hours adjustment with the Parks Board. • Clearidge courts - individuals playing past posted hours - would there be limits imposed at the 22nd Street location? o Residents are encouraged to contact the parks department or police to address any issues. • Addressing drainage would be separate from this project. • The city has a temporary solution to address the drainage, but reconstructing the courts would be necessary to resolve them completely. • The proposed project is not a solution but creates additional problems. • The increasing popularity of pickleball justifies expanding court capacity in the city while giving the school district priority of use. • School district elected officials have not provided feedback regarding the agreement. • Improving the courts for tennis first. • The possibility of constructing pickleball courts at another location, possibly indoors. • Portable line kits for pickleball to mitigate confusion for tennis players. • How would temporary pickleball nets be deployed and taken down? Who would have access? • A privileged conversation to have compared to other problems facing other communities. • Additional pickleball courts would contribute to the goal of enhanced public health and recreation. • The possibility of a test run before resurfacing permanently. • Pickleball court line orientation relative to tennis court lines. • The funding source is real estate excise tax. • Possibly segregating the hours of tennis and pickleball for the 22nd Street location. • Who manages conflicts between user groups? • Maximizing limited resources for public use sooner rather than later. • No representation from the school district at this meeting for consideration of this agreement. Mr. Walters suggested, with no objection, that the Council move on to other agenda items and that staff invite written public comments and bring the agreement back before the Council at a later date. Contract Award: Downtown Streetscapes Plan #25-075-IDS-001 Public Works Director Andrew Rheaume introduced proposed contract #25-075-IDS-001 with First Forty Feet LLC to assist the City with developing a Downtown Streetscapes Plan, pointing out that there would be an additional $45,000 required in the 2026 Capital Facilities Plan to cover the total project cost. He added that the goal of this project is to provide realistic short and long-term improvements while maintaining the historic character of downtown. Mayor Miller invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item. Ward MacKenzie, Board Chair of the Downtown Anacortes Alliance, spoke in support of the proposed contract, referencing the alliance's aim to make the 2016 Comprehensive Plan goals a reality. Discussion topics included: • Aligns with the 2016 Comprehensive Plan goals. • Economic revitalization, supporting small businesses. • Safeguarding historic character. Anacortes City Council Minutes - July 7, 2025 5 • The contractor will use the Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan and Safety Action Plan as reference for the project. • Plant trees that do not interrupt the walkway surface. • Identifies funding options. • Appreciation of the Downtown Anacortes Alliance effort to support the project. • Excitement and energy around downtown. • Concern about the contract cost related to the eventual project cost. • There is no clear idea of the eventual development project cost in fiscally challenging times. • Funds could be better used by going directly to downtown business owners to understand their needs. • The contract does not produce a plan. • The contract has an economic development component. • Development of the downtown since the COVID pandemic. • Getting larger developments to happen. • Address the fear of running out of parking. • Responsibility falls on stakeholders to get value from the process. • Contract deliverable to identify opportunities for state and federal funding. • The second-least expensive proposal in the competitive bidding process. TJ Fantini moved, seconded by Amanda Hubik, to authorize the mayor to sign contract #25-075-IDS-001 with First Forty Feet LLC. Vote: Ayes - Carolyn Moulton, Ryan Walters, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Bruce McDougall, Amanda Hubik, TJ Fantini. Nays - Anthony Young. Abstentions - None. Result: Passed Interlocal Agreement #25-180-IDS-001 with Swinomish Indian Tribal Community for Mutual Assistance Public Works Director Andrew Rheaume introduced proposed interlocal agreement #25-180-IDS-001 with Swinomish Indian Tribal Community for mutual assistance. Discussion topics included: • Like the agreements with the Port of Anacortes, Mount Vernon and other jurisdictions. • Work that would be covered under this agreement. Ryan Walters moved, seconded by Anthony Young, to authorize the mayor to execute interlocal agreement #25-180-IDS-001 with the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community for mutual assistance. Vote: Ayes - Carolyn Moulton, Anthony Young, Ryan Walters, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Bruce McDougall, Amanda Hubik, TJ Fantini. Nays - None. Abstentions - None. Result: Passed Adjournment There being no further business, at approximately 8:10 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of July 7, 2025, was adjourned.