HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-03-12 City Council Minutes Approved City Council Minutes—March 12,2018
At 6:00 p.m. Mayor Laurie Gere called to order the regular Anacortes City Council meeting of March 12, 2018.
Councilmembers Eric Johnson,Anthony Young,Ryan Walters,Brad Adams,Bruce McDougall and Matt Miller
were present. Councilmember Liz Lovelett was absent. The assembly joined in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mr. Walters moved, seconded by Mr. Johnson,to excuse the absence of Ms. Lovelett who was ill. The motion
carried unanimously by voice vote.
Announcements and Committee Reports
Oath of Office for Police Officer Robert J. Faber: Police Chief John Small introduced new police officer Robert
Faber who graduated March 1,2018 from the police academy first academically in his class, first overall in his
class, and selected by his classmates for the patrol partner award. Officer Faber is a U.S.Navy veteran with a
bachelor's degree in public safety. Mayor Gere administered the Oath of Office to Officer Robert Faber.
Port/City Liaison Committee: Mr. Johnson reported from the committee meeting the prior week. He said the
committee discussed the Olson Building and the Port's concerns about its roof and brickwork. Mr. Johnson
added that Planning Director Don Measamer had noted that before the New Wilson Hotel was renovated for
affordable housing it was in worse condition than the Olson Building and that the city was still exploring a the
possibility of a similar program for the Olson Building. Mr. Johnson said the committee also discussed the
Anacortes Railway's desired routing and suggested that the railway integrate its plans into the Depot Master
Plan and the Port's north basin plans. He updated Council on the Dakota Creek waiver,noting that the matter is
caught in the middle of a larger industry struggle between large factory ships and onshore processing facilities.
Mayor Gere added that Senator Maria Cantwell's staff had called earlier in the day to report that they and
Alaska Senator Sullivan's staff had prepared waiver language including restrictions on what Fishermen's Finest
could do but that the language would still have to be attached to a Senate bill,hopefully by the end of the month.
Mr. Johnson reported that the committee also discussed the Guemes Channel Trail, confirming that the trail
would comply with all applicable regulations; fiber pilot zones; and the Port's events center feasibility study
which was scheduled for a public meeting on April 19.
Planning Committee: Mr. McDougall reported from the committee meeting earlier in the evening at which staff
presented draft rules regarding bonus incentives for increased density in the R1 zone as well as height bonuses
in the R4 and several downtown zones. He said the draft contemplated allowing lots as small as 5000 SF in the
RI zone in exchange for reserving a percentage of the developable land(which does not include critical areas
and their buffers) as permanent open space. He said the committee suggested that 5000 SF might be too small
for that zone and that public input and further discussion would follow. The draft rules also proposed increasing
height from 50 feet to 65 feet in the CBD in exchange for establishing one affordable housing unit(as defined
by HUD) for every three market rate units constructed. In response to a question from Mr. Johnson,Mr.
McDougall reported that the committee did discuss cottage housing and having a mix of building sizes but did
not discuss ADUs disconnected from the main building.
Public Comment
Bill Mitchell, 807 27th Street, spoke in support of the Olson Building. Mr. Mitchell described his lifelong
interest in Anacortes history and noted that the Anacortes Mural Project began in 1984 on the then-boarded up
Olson Building partly because he had felt that was one of the most important buildings in town to get up and
running. Mr. Mitchell said he was not worried about the brick on the building. He called the Olson Building
iconic, a very picturesque standalone brick building that reflects the early character of Anacortes. Mr. Mitchell
urged the City to work with the Port to figure out something to do with the building to pass it on to the future.
He offered his support to the effort. Mr. Mitchell shared copies of an illustrated report on the building's history
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prepared by Museum Director Bret Lunsford. The document was added to the packet materials for the meeting.
Mayor Gere added that the Port Commission would be taking public comment on the Olson Building at its
meeting the following Thursday.
Consent Agenda
Mr. Johnson removed Item 5a,Minutes of March 5,2018, from the Consent Agenda. Mr. Adams moved,
seconded by Mr. Miller,to approve the following Consent Agenda item. The motion carried unanimously by
voice vote.
b. Approval of Claims in the amount of: $599,704.06
The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment:
EFT numbers: 88348 through 88399,total$445,901.91
Check numbers: 88400 through 88448,total $150,846.09
Wire transfer numbers: 228738 through 229535,total $4,254.10
a. Minutes of March 5,2018
Mr. Johnson commended the recording secretary for the thoroughness of the minutes. Mr. Johnson moved,
seconded by Mr.Adams,to approve the minutes of March 5, 2018 as presented. The motion carried
unanimously by voice vote.
OTHER BUSINESS
Washington Park Update
Washington Park Manager Bob Vaux reported on the boat launch and the upper restroom remodel project at the
Park. His slide presentation was added to the packet materials for the meeting. Mr. Vaux described the layout of
the boat parking area serving the boat launch, including 100 parking spaces for boat trailers with vehicles,which
he said is sufficient 99%of the time. He thanked Stan Shimkus and a volunteer crew for helping to maintain
vegetation for safe sight lines. Mr.Vaux illustrated the overflow trailer parking area that is used during very
busy summer weekends for up to an additional 10 trailers. He then shared photographs of the launch itself and
described its configuration and use. He mentioned the possibility of adding lighted bollards in the future. Mr.
Vaux described the ongoing maintenance required to clear the ramps of sediment deposited by tides and storms.
He said staff was investigating non-skid surfaces that may be appropriate to apply to the dock. Mr. Vaux said
the daily$9 parking fee(or annual pass)provides access for a great many boaters and that revenue was expected
to top $90K in 2018. He said the old creosote bollards west of the exit ramp would be removed in the near
future. Other changes requested by launch users include straightening the access route, adding more floats
further out into the water and extending the paved launch ramp for easier launching at low tide. Mr. Adams
asked about other projects currently slated for the launch area. Mr. Vaux indicated that further projects were
pending a master plan for the beach.
Mayor Gere reported that the Washington Park boat launch was mentioned at virtually all the Maritime Strategic
Plan interviews and that maritime businesses consider the launch essential for the city. She asked Mr. Vaux
about opportunities to provide additional trailer parking. Mr. Vaux recalled the opposition to that notion when it
was last proposed in the late 1980s but said there was currently a forested triangle of land adjacent to the
existing trailer parking that could possibly be converted.
Mr. Miller asked for data regarding how often the floats were full with circling boats waiting for space to tie up,
saying that would help determine if adding floats should be a high priority. Mr.Vaux explained that extending
the current floats would not expand capacity much and that to significantly improve traffic flow would require
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adding two more launch lanes and another float instead. Mr. Young observed that eliminating wait times during
peak demand sometimes results in excess capacity for much of the year which may not be the best investment of
public funds. Mr.Vaux agreed and said that huge delays are not normally a problem. He said the community
needs to determine if it wants to give up a big chunk of Sunset Beach for more boating capacity,which would be
one of the topics addressed in the master planning process.
Mr. Vaux then reported on the upper(campground)restroom remodeling project. He showed photos of the
refurbished building including new metal roof,new paint,new showers,new fixtures, increased handicapped
access, and enhanced privacy and security features. He reported that the project had been mostly constructed in
house by staff from several city departments for much less than originally budgeted. He thanked Brandon Kraus
and Mack Jackson in Facilities for their exceptional skills and service dedicated to the project. Mr.Vaux noted
that the restrooms are not heated or cooled but that an HVAC system remains to be installed to provide
sufficient ventilation. Mr. Young asked staff to monitor the costs associated with offering the campground
shower facilities. Mr.Vaux assured that staff was analyzing that question and reported on a number of different
revenue models in place at different facilities around the state.
Mayor Gere invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item.No one present wished to address
the Council.
Mr. Miller thanked Mr.Vaux and all the city staff who work so hard to make Washington Park the jewel that it
is. Mr.Vaux thanked his colleagues on the Parks Maintenance staff for their ongoing efforts and City Council
for its support.
Municipal Broadband Update
Administrative Services Director Emily Schuh provided an update on the Anaeortes municipal fiber project. Her
slides were added to the packet materials for the meeting. Ms. Schuh summarized the project vision of using
excess capacity in the new fiber optic utility telemetry system to build a community fiber network. She
enumerated why high speed internet connectivity is desirable for both quality of life and economic development.
Ms. Schuh reported that the online survey of interest had received over 1500 responses to date, an extremely
high rate of response. She reported on the Request for Qualifications issued January 25 to solicit internet service
providers. Ms. Schuh said five responses were received by the March 2 deadline and had subsequently been
reviewed by the mayor, staff and City Council representatives. Ms. Schuh then shared a schedule of upcoming
City Council agenda topics related to the fiber project,targeting a Municipal Fiber ISP Model decision by City
Council as early as April 23, 2018.
Mr. Miller and Mr.Adams asked to know when the utility-funded fiber telemetry system would go live. Mr.
Adams asked his colleagues on the RFQ review committee when the city would need to commit to investing in
the municipal broadband network. Mr. McDougall said that was still an open question. He described different
funding models that had been used in other locations and said the key was to get enough subscribers to pay any
debt service as well as ongoing operational costs. Mr. McDougall cited studies showing that connecting homes
to fiber optic service increases their value by 3%, so any city investment would provide an immediate return to
residents. Mr. Johnson asked if a municipal broadband network should be expected to generate profit or if it
should be treated like other basic infrastructure. Ms. Schuh reminded that staff had previously presented tools to
determine ROI based on different variables but confirmed that staff envisioned the network operating like a
utility.
Mayor Gere invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item.
Patrick Gallagher, 1406 Portalis Court, said he had learned quite a bit about how to bring wires to houses during
his career at Seattle City Light. Mr. Gallagher said that cable is underground at Portalis and that he'd like to
begin conversations with his HOA about how to pull fiber into those homes. He emphasized that the last'/4
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block to the house is the key. He asked how far along the city was with that last'/4 block planning,which can
have tremendous hidden costs as Tacoma discovered.
Ms. Schuh acknowledged that connecting fiber to individual homes is the most difficult piece. She said the
proposed pilot zones have aerial lines but that the city was investigating other methodologies for the west end
where utilities are buried. Mayor Gere noted that the construction of the telemetry backbone in the west end
would be considered by City Council on April 2. The mayor emphasized that a broadband network needed to be
treated like a utility and would need a business model to be self-sustaining, supported by user fees not taxes.
Mr. Walters asked if the connection between homes and the fiber backbone could be something other than fiber,
reminding that the goal was reliable, affordable,high speed internet not fiber per se. Mr. McDougall said that
other options such as wireless were certainly possible and outlined how the selection and implementation of
those options could enhance or detract from the city's ability to control its network in terms of net neutrality and
privacy. Mr.Walters suggested adopting different connection means depending on topography. Ms. Schuh said
that was being considered. Mr. Gallagher urged that the building code should require installing unused conduit
from poles to homes which was standard practice in cities south of Anacortes. Mr. Young asked if the city could
provide advantages to local businesses on its own municipal network. Mr. McDougall said a municipal network
would help local businesses be more competitive in both the local and global marketplaces by offering superior
service affordably. He warned that if net neutrality erodes, small businesses will face yet another challenge and
that by maintaining control of its own network,the city could guarantee that. Ms. Schuh added that staff hoped
that a web presence would provide an additional"door"to local business. Mr. Miller asked that the RFQ
respondents specifically address the costs of the last'/4 mile and options for meeting connection requests from
specific neighborhoods or HOAs. He reminded that fiber is currently available to anyone in Anacortes but that
in many locations the price was prohibitive.
Contract Award: WWTP Air Emission Testing Services 18-041-SEW-001
Public Works Director Fred Buckenmeyer requested City Council consent to award a contract in the amount of
$53,092.50 to Elemental Air to provide air emission testing services including compliance testing,visible and
fugitive ash emissions testing, and a RATA on the fluidized bed incinerator at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Mr. Buckenmeyer referenced the agenda bill included in the packet materials for the meeting. He said Anacortes
has been very satisfied in the past with Elemental Air who had proven to be the most reliable stack testing firm.
He recommended awarding the contract to Elemental Air. Mr. Buckenmeyer responded to councilmember
questions regarding the separate tasks included in the scope of work for this annual testing required by the US
EPA. Mr.Walters moved, seconded by Mr. Johnson,to approve the contract as presented. Vote: Ayes-Young,
Walters,Adams,McDougall,Miller and Johnson. Motion carried.
There being no further business,at approximately 7:30 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of March 12,
2018 was adjourned.
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