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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-10-20 City Council Minutes ApprovedAnacortes City Council Minutes - October 20, 2025 1 Anacortes City Council Minutes - October 20, 2025 Call to Order Mayor Matt Miller called to order the October 20, 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. Executive Session Potential Litigation or Litigation per RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) (15 minutes) At 6:00 pm, Mayor Miller announced that City Council and the City Attorney would convene in Executive Session per RCW 42.30.110 (i) for approximately 15 minutes to discuss potential litigation or litigation. The mayor advised that the regular meeting would then reconvene with no final action having been taken. Councilmembers TJ Fantini, Anthony Young, Ryan Walters, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Carolyn Moulton, Bruce McDougall and Amanda Hubik attended the executive session. At 6:15 pm, Mayor Miller called the meeting back to order and announced that no final action had been taken during the executive session. Mr. Fantini moved, seconded by Mr. Young, to move item 7.d. Resolution 3188: City Council Procedures for a future meeting. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Mr. Walters moved seconded by Mr. McDougall to amend the agenda to add item 3.b. Motion to Authorize Litigation to the agenda. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Authorizing Litigation Mr. Walters moved, seconded by Mr. Fantini to authorize the City Attorney or her legal representative to bring any legal action she deems appropriate in the name of the City of Anacortes and named employees against David Douglas Speidel and other appropriate or necessary parties, including seeking an anti-harassment order and any other relief she deems necessary. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Announcements and Committee Reports Mayor Miller announced that the Haunted Forest will be on Saturday October 25th at 6 pm. He also reminded the public of the importance of having working smoke detectors, reporting that working smoke detectors allowed for a successful evacuation and no injuries in a fire that occurred in an apartment building on 6th Street on October 18th. He then thanked all involved with the ribbon cutting for the Samish Early Learning Center on 16th Street. He then announced that Skagit County would hold two public hearings: The first would be regarding the Guemes Island Ferry fare schedule on October 21st at 1 pm in the Commissioners' Hearing Room. The second, would be regarding a proposed 0.1% sales tax increase for public safety programs and services on October 28th at 3:30 pm in the Commissioners' Hearing Room. Finally, he announced that the Association of Washington Cities would hold a meeting for new and returning elected officials on December 6th. Economic Development Committee Mr. Young reported from the Economic Development Committee meeting held October 14th. The topics discussed included the 2026 budget and funding for future plans, pass-through traffic and how to capture more tourist dollars from those motorists by considering how other local municipalities accomplish that goal, all with the aim of funding initiatives such as downtown beautification, job enhancement, housing, and childcare availability. Anacortes City Council Minutes - October 20, 2025 2 Public Works Committee Mr. Walters and Ms. Moulton reported from the Public Works Committee meeting held earlier in the evening. The topics discussed included a presentation by the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks transiting Anacortes in anticipation of an upcoming review of regulations in the current congressional session, and a presentation by business owners from the area around 12th Street and O Avenue who will lose 13 total parking spaces along the street due to the multimodal improvements with the 12th Street and Commercial Avenue intersection project. Ms. Cleland-McGrath asked if, when the project was reviewed before the council, there was no mention of the loss of parking spaces for these businesses. Ms. Moulton responded that this effect of the construction was not previously discussed or acknowledged at the council or committee level. 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 Ms. Hubik moved, seconded by Mr. Young, to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. a. Minutes of October 13, 2025 b. Approval of claims in the amount of $716,406.51 The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment: EFT numbers: 113824 through 113862, total $633,975.69 Check numbers: 113863 through 113875, total $55,272.59 Wire transfer numbers: 377822 through 378169, total $27,158.23 c. Ordinance 5007: Fiber Municipal Code Update Other Business Community Action of Skagit County Mayor Miller introduced Community Action of Skagit County Chief Strategy Officer Sandi Phinney, who was accompanied by Executive Director Bill Henkel. Ms. Phinney spoke about their organization's activities year- to-date, and planned services for 2026, 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. Discussion topics included: • Energy assistance is key to avoiding difficulties in paying other obligations such as rent or mortgage. • Funding for the Energy Assistance Program is provided by Puget Sound Energy and the Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program. • Community Action assists those people on the margins with more constrained fiscal times. • Appreciation for the actions taken to keep • People above the poverty line who cannot make ends meet. • Organization of the Anacortes Resource Center. • The status of Meals on Wheels for senior citizens. • Connections to home energy audits. Possibly Skagit County Housing Authority. • Relationship between local farmers and getting blemished items to food banks and pantries. o The federal grant that enabled the connection ended. • Established resource center. Anacortes City Council Minutes - October 20, 2025 3 • Benefits that extend income. Opioid Settlement Funds to support Anacortes Youths Parks and Recreation Director Jonn Lunsford, Library Director Jeff Vogel, and Museum Director Bret Lunsford introduced a proposal to allocate $75,000 in opioid settlement funds over five years to Parks and Recreation, the Museum and Library departments to support youth programs in Anacortes, 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. Discussion topics included: • $5k per department for 5 years. o Is that enough? o How much additional open gym time does that allow? o Hiring a young adult or a youth to supervise. o Each department must quantify what they can do with $5k per year. • Appreciation of the initiative to target young people due to the lack of activities for them in the community. • Goal for the use of opioid funds is to prevent or treat addiction. Does this idea fit? • How many young people / students would be involved with the program? • Is there a plan to try to connect with youths who have the greatest need for additional attention and / or services? • Good example of a council work study session topic. • Categorization of funds for wages and programs. Contract Modification – Master Services Agreement #21-024-LEG-001 Public Works Director Andrew Rheaume introduced the proposed contract modification for $34,690 to the master services agreement #21-024-LEG-001 with Anchor QEA for the A Avenue Landfill project to finalize the remedial investigation work plan and the quality assurance project plan with the Department of Ecology, referring to a slide presentation that was added to the packet materials for the meeting. Discussion topics included: • The council already authorized $2 million to Anchor QEA, which was mostly for the former Water Treatment Plant cleanup site. Carolyn Moulton moved, seconded by Bruce McDougall, to authorize the mayor to sign the modification to contract #21-024-LEG-001 with Anchor QEA. Vote: Ayes - Carolyn Moulton, Anthony Young, Ryan Walters, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Bruce McDougall, Amanda Hubik, TJ Fantini. Nays - None. Abstentions - None. Result: Passed 2025-2045 Comprehensive Plan - Planning Commission Recommendation Planning, Community, and Economic Development Director John Coleman introduced the 2025-2045 Comprehensive Plan update with the Planning Commission's recommendations, 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. Anacortes City Council Minutes - October 20, 2025 4 Discussion topics included: Future Land Use Map Amendments • Solicit feedback from the Port on the Planning Commission recommendation for zoning parcels north of Seafarers Memorial Park. Questions • Councilmembers should read, focusing on the strike through portions of the update, and cite policy number(s) that should be amended. Adjournment There being no further business, at approximately 7:35 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of October 20, 2025, was adjourned.