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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-03-27 City Council Minutes Approved City Council Minutes—March 27, 2017 Mayor Laurie Gere called to order the regular Anacortes City Council meeting of March 27,2017 at 6:00 p.m. Councilmembers Eric Johnson,Ryan Walters,Erica Pickett, Liz Lovelett,John Archibald and Matt Miller were present. Councilmember Brad Adams was absent. The assembly joined in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Walters moved, seconded by Mr. Johnson,to amend the agenda to add Consent Agenda Item 5d, Contract Modification: March Point Road Shoulder Widening Engineering and Design Services (15-006- TRN-003). Mayor Gere announced that Agenda Item 7a, Cascade Natural Gas Company Phase 5 Replacement Project Presentation,would advance to immediately follow the Consent Agenda as a courtesy to the guest speaker. Announcements and Committee Reports Confirmation and Swearing in of Police Chief John D. Small: Mayor Gere requested Council confirmation of her appointment of Captain John D. Small as Police Chief upon the retirement of Chief Bonnie Bowers on April 1,2017. After commenting that the city was fortunate to have such a qualified successor to Chief Bowers,Mr. Miller moved, seconded by Mr. Johnson,to confirm the mayor's appointment of John D. Small as Police Chief. Mr. Walters noted that the appointment had been reviewed by both the Personnel and Public Safety Committees and unanimously recommended by the interview panel which included Ms. Pickett,Mr. Miller, and community members representing Anacortes High School,the two refineries, and Skagit County Sheriff Will Reichardt. Vote: Ayes—Walters,Pickett, Lovelett,Archibald,Miller and Johnson.Motion carried. Mayor Gere administered the oath of office to John Small. Chief Small thanked the mayor and Council for the opportunity to serve the city as Chief. He introduced the members of his family and thanked his colleagues in the police department especially outgoing Chief Bonnie Bowers. Planning Committee: Mr. Walters reported from the committee meeting earlier in the evening at which the members discussed the prospect of a new youth/teen center in town and also briefly discussed accessory dwelling units. Mr.Archibald added that public comment opportunities on the commercial zoning regulations would be coming up in April. Ms. Lovelett reported from the Depot Master Planning Stakeholder Meeting the prior Friday. Ms. Lovelett reported on the progress of the Storvik Park spray pad and said the amenity was expected to open later in the spring. Public Comment No one present wished to address the Council on any matter not already on the agenda. Consent Agenda Mr. Johnson removed Item 5c, Contract Modification: On-Call SCADA&PLC Services at the WWTP (15-009-SEW-001), from the Consent Agenda. Ms. Lovelett moved, seconded by Mr. Archibald,to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote. Anacortes City Council Minutes March 27, 2017 1 a. Minutes of March 16,2017 and March 20,2017 b. Approval of Claims in the amount of: $449,759.99 d. Contract Modification: March Point Road Shoulder Widening Engineering and Design Services (15-006-TRN-003). The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment: EFT numbers: 84282 through 84321,total$205,730.69 Check numbers: 84322 through 84361,total$212,709.03 Wire transfer numbers: 201468 through 214592,total $18,288.21 c. Contract Modification: On-Call SCADA&PLC Services at the WWTP(15-009-SEW-001) Mr. Johnson asked for an explanation of the increase in the contract amount. Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager Becky Fox explained the nature of the on call contract and the types of services provided by QCC to service the software and controls at the plant and its pump stations as needs arise. She said the modification would extend the contract through December 2018 and cover charges for services anticipated to be provided during that time. Mr. Johnson moved, seconded by Ms. Pickett,to approve Consent Agenda Item 5c. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote. OTHER BUSINESS Cascade Natural Gas Company Phase 5 Replacement Project Presentation Ted McCammant, Cascade Natural Gas Operations Manager for the Mount Vernon District,updated Council on CNG's bare steel pipe replacement project. He explained that CNG is engaged in a phased multi-year project to replace mains and service lines installed prior to 1953. Mr.McCammant said the 8- phase project began in 2012 and was scheduled to complete by 2020. He distributed maps illustrating the geographic range of each phase and the limits of Phase 5 which was scheduled to begin June 1, 2017; the maps were added to the packet materials for the meeting. Mr. McCammant noted that restoration work for Phase 4 was still underway but was expected to complete by June 1. Mr. Miller and Mr. Johnson confirmed that CNG was coordinating its in ground work with the city's street overlay schedule.Mr. Johnson asked that CNG provide Phase 5 plans when complete so those could be made available on the city website.Mr. McCammant agreed to do so. PUBLIC HEARINGS Closed Record Public Hearing: CUP-2016-1005 Associate Planner Kevin Cricchio presented an application from the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community for a Conditional Use Permit/Essential Public Facility(EPF)to permit an outpatient substance use and primary care medical service type of land use within an existing office building at 8212 South March Point Road. Mr. Cricchio's slides were added to the packet materials for the meeting. Mr. Cricchio summarized the current zoning; surrounding zoning and land uses;the Planning Director's designation of the proposed use as a Local Essential Public Facility per Anacortes Municipal Code §17.75.060(A)(2); the absence of public comment;the open record public hearing held before the Planning Commission on March 8,2017; noticing as required by code; critical areas review; SEPA environmental review;the staff recommendation for approval subject to suggested conditions of approval; and the Planning Commission's unanimous recommendation of approval subject to staff s suggested conditions of approval. Mr. Cricchio reported that no appeals of the Planning Commission recommendation had been filed. He called Council's attention to Exhibits 1, 10 and 11 in the packet materials. Anacortes City Council Minutes March 27, 2017 2 Ms. Lovelett asked about Condition 11.Mr. Johnson asked about the"applicant's long-range plans for facilities and operations"referenced at the top of page 6 of the Planning Commission's Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Recommendation. Ms. Lovelett asked if the proximity of the proposed facility to a recreational marijuana retailer would be a problem. Mr. Cricchio indicated that the applicant would address those questions. Mayor Gere invited the applicant to address the Council. John Stephens, Programs Administrator for the Swinomish Tribal Community, summarized the proposed Swinomish didgWalic Wellness Center. His slide presentation was added to the packet materials for the meeting.Mr. Stephens addressed the national public health crisis in substance abuse and specifically opioid use including emergency room visits,mortality trends and related crime statistics. He discussed the Skagit County Population Health Trust and the work of its Opioid Workgroup Leadership Team. He said the tribe was undertaking the proposed project to address a broad public health need and would treat both tribal members and others with the expectation that the vast majority of clients would be non-native. Mr. Stephens described the tribe's internal program to help addicted tribal members to become functioning members of the community again and said that after proving that the service delivery model was successful,the tribal senate undertook to offer the same services to the wider community. He said the tribe was fully funding the investment and that the center had a sustainable financial model as a fee for service operation accepting private coverage,Medicaid and Indian Health Service coverage. Mr. Stephens shared the extensive list of services to be offered. He said the Center would be the only full service clinic of its type north of Snohomish county and emphasized, "This is not a dose and go clinic." Mr. Stephens listed the six different state and federal agencies that would regulate the Center. He summarized the program size, estimated at 200 patients in the first year and 350 in following years with 20-25 staff members and over$1 M of payroll annually. He stressed the importance of public transit readily available at the site and referenced plans to ensure safety of patients and the community. Mr. Stephens said the tribe had not identified any adverse impacts of the facility on the wider community and in fact expected it would alleviate burdens on first responders,public hospitals and law enforcement. Anticipating questions from the public,Mr. Stephens said that the tribe had not applied to have the subject parcel taken into trust but that it would likely do so in the future. He said the $12,000 annual property tax paid on the parcel was far less than what the tribe would be investing in the Center. He responded to questions from Ms. Lovelett that the Center would treat addictions to substances other than opioids,would provide services to Medicaid clients and was working through how clients with no insurance might be served, and would provide a needle exchange program not limited to clients of the Center. Ms. Lovelett and Mr. Johnson both said they were impressed by the range of services that would be provided. In response to Mr. Johnson's question about long range plans,Mr. Stephens said he would like to get the Center up and running and tested before considering expansion but that tribal leaders anticipated a need to expand. In response to Ms. Lovelett's question about potential adverse interplay with the recreational marijuana retailer down the street,Mr. Stephens said he did not anticipate problems and said NIH studies suggest that medicinal use of marijuana may be an effective opioid treatment regimen. Mayor Gere invited parties of record to address the council. Jordan Michael Wilbur, 11167 Swinomish Avenue,thanked Council on behalf of Swinomish for allowing the tribe to present the Center. Mr. Wilbur said the tribe is trying to better the community both on and off the reservation and that the proposed Center would benefit everyone. Mr. Wilbur said the Swinomish Wellness Program gave him back his life and his family and helped many people get back on their feet from addiction. He described the invaluable service provided and reminded that lives were at stake. He Anacortes City Council Minutes March 27, 2017 3 said if this program had been established earlier, lives could have been saved. Mr. Wilbur thanked Council for allowing the tribe to present this dream of its people. No other parties of record wished to address the Council. Mr. Johnson moved, seconded by Ms. Lovelett,to approve CUP-2016-1005 subject to the staff s recommended conditions of approval. Councilmembers Lovelett,Archibald and Pickett thanked the Swinomish Tribal Community for undertaking the project. Vote: Ayes—Pickett,Lovelett,Archibald, Miller,Johnson and Walters. Motion carried. There being no further business,at approximately 7:20 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of March 27, 2017 was adjourned. Anacortes City Council Minutes March 27, 2017 4