HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-01-16 City Council Minutes Approved City Council Minutes—January 16, 2018
Mayor Laurie Gere called to order the regular Anacortes City Council meeting of January 16,2018 at the
advertised special time of 5:00 p.m. Councilmembers Eric Johnson, Ryan Walters,Brad Adams,Liz
Lovelett and Matt Miller were present. Councilmembers Anthony Young and Bruce McDougall were
absent. Ms. Lovelett moved, seconded by Mr. Walters,to excuse the absence of Mr. McDougall,who was
away on business. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.Mr. Young joined the proceedings. The
assembly joined in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Announcements and Committee Reports
Mayor's Award of Merit to Gunnar Christiansen: Mayor Gere read a letter recognizing Engineering
Technician Gunnar Christiansen for his outstanding and diligent performance in the Public Works
Engineering Division and for implementing cost saving technologies for city street and sidewalk projects.
The mayor presented Mr. Christiansen with the Mayor's Award of Merit including a gift certificate at a
local eatery and recognition on the plaque displayed in City Hall.
Public Safety Committee: Ms. Lovelett reported from the committee meeting the prior Tuesday at which
Councilmember Eric Johnson was welcomed to the committee. She confirmed that the committee would
henceforth meet the second Tuesday of even months. Ms. Lovelett said the committee briefly discussed
Fire Department equipment and facility needs and the city's relationship with Skagit County. Mr. Miller
added that the committee also discussed the upcoming EMS levy anticipated for August. He said some
committee members planned to attend the upcoming County presentation on the levy to ensure Anacortes
taxpayers receive their value form the levy.
Mr. Johnson reported from the Port/City Liaison meeting the prior Tuesday at which Councilmembers
Young and Miller were welcomed to the committee. He said the group discussed the Dakota Creek
Industries waiver, coordination between the Port's North Basin Plan and the city's Depot Master Plan,
and the desire to hold a joint City Council/Port of Anacortes Commission meeting later in the year.
Mr. Adams reported from the Ward 2 meeting he had hosted the prior Tuesday evening at the Senior
Activity Center. He said approximately 30 very engaged citizens participated and that topics discussed
included the 32nd Street/D Avenue roundabout,the new R2A zone proposed in the new development
regulations, and funding for infrastructure projects. Mr.Adams thanked constituent Patty Young for
helping to organize the meeting.
Skagit County Law and Justice Council: Mr. Miller reported that he had attended the Law&Justice
Council's meeting the prior Wednesday along with Police Chief John Small and citizen representative
Mike Ellis. He said the Council was recruiting members for the Population Trust, a body on which
Anacortes was already represented by Ms. Lovelett. He reported that the focus of the meeting was the ad
hoc Skagit/Island Community Partnership for Transition Solutions to bridge the gap for those returning to
society from the Justice Center. He reported that daily bookings at the new Justice Center were nearly
double those at the prior facility. Mr. Miller said the community was invited to the Transition Solutions
summit on January 25, 2018 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Mayor Gere invited the community to attend the next Guemes Channel visioning meeting at 6:00 p.m. at
the Senior Activity Center, immediately following the City Council meeting. The mayor said the focus
would be on what the community envisioned for the former cannery sites along the channel.
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Public Comment
No one present wished to address the Council on any topic not already on the agenda.
Consent Agenda
Ms. Lovelett removed Item 5d,Interlocal Agreement 260: Basic Life Support Transport Services with
Skagit Fire District#13, from the Consent Agenda. Ms. Lovelett moved, seconded by Mr. Johnson,to
approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
a. Minutes of January 8, 2018
b. Approval of Claims in the amount of: $1,358,922.74
c. Interlocal Agreement 256: Reciprocal Lending Agreement of Fire Equipment with Cities of
Mount Vernon and Burlington
The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment:
EFT numbers: 87705 through 87755,total$1,226,815.92
Check numbers: 87756 through 87809,total$125,842.60
Wire transfer numbers: 226028 through 226758,total $4,675.58
d. Interlocal Agreement 260: Basic Life Support Transport Services with Skagit Fire District#13
Ms. Lovelett invited Fire Chief Richard Curtis to elaborate on this long anticipated transition plan. Mr.
Miller thanked Chief Curtis and Division Chief Nick Walsh for their efforts to bring about this program
and more efficiently share resources. Chief Curtis summarized the history and operation of the Basic Life
Support(BLS)Transport Integration Pilot Program begun in 2016 and responded to councilmember
questions regarding the volume of calls involved,billing services provided to Fire District#13, and the
service area affected. Mr. Walters noted that the agreement was extremely brief and did not explicitly
address billing arrangements or service areas. He asked if the agreement had been reviewed by the City
Attorney. Chief Curtis confirmed that Ms. Swetnam had reviewed the agreement and said it was modeled
on the agreement between Central Valley Ambulance Authority and Sedro-Woolley,which partner in a
similar BLS Transport program.
Ms. Lovelett moved, seconded by Mr.Young,to approve the interlocal agreement with Skagit Fire
District 13 in support of Basic Life Support transport services. The motion carried by voice vote with Mr.
Walters voting against.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2018-2022 CDBG-Five Year Consolidated Plan and One Year Action Plan Public Comment
Period Opening
Planning Director Don Measamer opened the public comment period for the Community Development
Block Grant(CDBG) Strategic Plan and Action Plan.He said the comment period would remain open
until March 6, 2018. Mr. Measamer said that funding applications would be accepted during the same
time frame and that the plans, currently in template form,would be updated to include public comments
and proposed projects and funding applications. He said the city's precise allocation for 2018-2019 had
not been determined but typically amounted to approximately$95K and that of that amount no more than
15%could be allocated to services and up to 20%could be allocated for program administration. Mr.
Measamer said that public comment and applications should be directed to program administrator Joann
Stewart.
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Mr. Young asked if the program included LGBTQ youth,noting that federal and Washington state
policies had recently added language to more clearly and specifically include that demographic. Ms.
Stewart said the CDBG plan was set up to assist anyone in the specified income category and that the City
of Anacortes Fair Housing Policy prohibits discrimination based on race,color,religion, sex,national
origin, disability, familial, sexual orientation, gender identity,marital status,honorably discharged
veterans or military personnel or individuals with HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C. She added that HUD had
intended to affirmatively further fair housing in 2018 but that the plan had been postponed under the
current administration. Ms. Lovelett noted that the Housing Affordability and Community Services
(HACS)Committee would be reviewing CDBG funding applications and invited Mr. Young to
participate in that process. In addition to the CDBG funding,Ms. Lovelett encouraged the city to consider
how it might support Skagit Community Action programs to assist Anacortes seniors to age in place.
Mayor Gere invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item.No one present wished to
address the Council.
Mr. Walters suggested that the city stop allocating the allowed 20%of the grant to administration and
instead put that funding back into capital projects that are eligible for funding,or allocate that 20%to
administrative costs and dedicate an equivalent amount of General Fund dollars to social service
programs. Ms. Lovelett suggested that HACS could consider alternative funding allocations. She recalled
prior discussions regarding dedicating up to 1%of the city budget to social services including the Senior
Activity Center, Community Action, and others.
OTHER BUSINESS
Amendment 7 to Interlocal Agreement C20140640 with Skagit County for Ambulance Service
Fire Chief Richard Curtis presented an amendment to the city's ambulance service contract with Skagit
County that would provide an additional 2.83% increase in the contract amount retroactive for all of 2017.
He recommended approval of the amendment. Chief Curtis displayed a slide,which was added to the
packet materials for the meeting, summarizing the seven amendments to date to the original 2010
agreement. He explained the two separate amendments increasing the total contract for 2017 by 4.89%
over 2016,noting that the second increase was offered to the City of Anacortes because Central Valley
Ambulance Authority requested that same percentage to offset the increased cost to them for needing to
pay an unanticipated LOEFF 2 Retirement benefit that the State of Washington no longer pays. Mr.
Adams asked if the additional 2.83%would be directed to the same LEOFF retirement expense by City of
Anacortes.Administrative Services Director Emily Schuh advised that she would report back on that
topic at a future meeting.
Mr. Walters disclosed that as a fixed salary employee of Skagit County, one of the contracting parties to
the agreement,under RCW 42.23.040 he had a remote interest in the agreement and for the city to enter
into the agreement his vote could not be counted.
Mayor Gere invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item. No one present wished to
address the Council.
Mr. Miller moved, seconded by Mr. Johnson,to approve Amendment 7 to receive the additional 2.83%
increase in revenue,retroactive to all of 2017.Vote: Ayes—Young,Adams,Lovelett,Miller and Johnson.
Abstain—Walters. Motion carried.
There being no further business,at approximately 5:38 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of
January 16, 2018 was adjourned.
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