HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-01-03 City Council Minutes Approved City Council Minutes—January 3,2017
Mayor Laurie Gere called to order the regular Anacortes City Council meeting of January 3,2017 at
6:00 p.m. Councilmembers Eric Johnson,Ryan Walters,Erica Pickett,Brad Adams and Liz Lovelett were
present. Councilmembers John Archibald and Matt Miller were absent.
Mr. Johnson moved, seconded by Mr.Walters,to excuse the absence of Mr. Archibald who had an illness
in the family. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote. Mayor Gere reported that Mr. Miller was
traveling.
The assembly joined in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Announcements and Committee Reports
Mr. Johnson reported from the recent Port-City Liaison meeting,noting the joint Port of Anacortes/Port
of Skagit meeting to be held in the Anacortes City Council Chambers on Thursday,January 5,2017 at
6:00 p.m. He reported that the group also discussed collaborative comprehensive planning for the Cap
Sante basin.
Public Works Committee: Ms. Lovelett reported from the committee meeting earlier in the evening. She
provided an update on the Whistle Lake water tank project,reported that staff had provided an update on
the fiber optic project, and said the committee had reviewed the powerful new asset management
program. Ms. Lovelett advised that more discussion would follow on storm utility rates.
Mr. Johnson reported that the Salvation Army cold weather shelter had been open recently due to
nighttime temperatures below 30 degrees F and invited members of the public who wished to volunteer
for shifts at the shelter to contact him.
Ms. Lovelett reminded the public of the Christmas tree pickup on Saturday,January 7,performed by the
Kiwanis Key Club.
Public Comment
No one present wished to address the Council on any topic not already on the agenda.
Consent Agenda
Ms. Lovelett removed Item 5c,Drug Enforcement Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force Interlocal Agreement,
from the Consent Agenda. Mr. Johnson moved, seconded by Ms. Pickett,to approve the following
Consent Agenda items. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote.
a. Minutes of December 19,2016
b. Approval of Claims in the amount of. $521,181.53
d. Contract Award: 2017 Waterline Replacement Project(17-001-WTR-001)
The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment:
Check numbers: 83218 through 83221 and 83261 through 83324,total $295,757.01
EFT numbers: 83217 and 83222 through 83260,total $517,334.87
Wire transfer numbers: 210731 through 211575,total $17,147.81
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C. Drug Enforcement Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force Interlocal Agreement
Ms. Lovelett asked Police Chief Bonnie Bowers for an update on balancing mental health and substance
abuse services and addressing crime. Chief Bowers provided background on this longstanding interlocal
agreement dating back to the 1980's for which Skagit County administers federal grant funds. Chief
Bowers advised that for many years Anacortes contributed one FTE officer to the task force but would
cease to do so as of February 1,2017,believing that City resources could be better directed locally.
However,the Chief explained that Anacortes still needed to participate in the interlocal for the task force
and enumerated the advantages to Anacortes of participation. She also advised that the Anacortes drug
dog would continue to be made available to task force partners and but that there would be no cash cost to
the city for participating. Chief Bowers responded to Ms. Lovelett's questions about local programs to
address the root of substance abuse issues in Anacortes,noting that the subject agreement strictly
addressed enforcement. Mr. Walters and Ms. Pickett both pointed out that the agreement as presented said
that Anacortes would provide one full time agent to the task force, counter to actual plans. Chief Bowers
said she could take the contract back to Skagit County with that one strike through but that the County
was aware that Anacortes would not be providing a full time officer. Chief Bowers noted that the
agreement also called for Burlington to provide a full time officer but it had not done so for many years.
Mr. Walters disclosed that as a fixed salary employee of Skagit County, one of the contracting parties,
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. Ms. Lovelett moved, seconded by Mr. Johnson,to approve
Consent Agenda Item 5c with a possible change of language to illustrate that Anacortes would not be
furnishing an officer. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote with Mr. Walters abstaining.
OTHER BUSINESS
Resolution 1980: Legislative Priorities
Administrative Services Director Emily Schuh presented a draft list of legislative priorities to guide staff
on how to best represent the City's efforts to influence, affect or guide the passage of legislation in the
Washington State Legislature. She noted the Association of Washington Cities(AWC)priorities included
in the packet materials as well as the more specific Anacortes general principles and legislative priorities.
Ms. Schuh invited councilmember input to refine the priorities.
Regarding the first draft priority,Ms. Lovelett suggested adding more specific examples, including Safe
Routes to Schools. Mr. Johnson suggested the Public Works Trust Fund loan program as another
example. Mr. Walters suggested"the defunding"rather than"the ending"of the PWAA.
Regarding the second draft priority,Mr. Johnson suggested revising to"rate of population growth". After
some discussion, councilmembers generally agreed.
Regarding the third draft priority,Ms. Lovelett suggested shortening the language to allow the priorities
to fit on one page.
Regarding the fourth draft priority,Ms. Lovelett suggested"restoration"rather than"rededication"and
asked that funding for rehabilitation be included. Mr. Walters suggested broadening the priority to
advocate for broadened social services including regulatory changes for mental health/behavioral health,
or perhaps adding that as a separate priority. Ms. Lovelett asked to specifically mention seniors as a
vulnerable population in need of housing and to mention facilities for early childhood education.
Mr. Walters suggested that the last two general principles should actually be priorities.
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Regarding the fifth draft priority,Mayor Gere reported her conversations with WSDOT on this topic. Mr.
Walters suggested a separate heading for Financial Assistance Requests and moving South Commercial
Avenue to that section.
Regarding the sixth draft priority,Ms. Lovelett asked for more specificity. Ms. Pickett cautioned against
inviting state interference with water rights and allocations. City Attorney Darcy Swetnam clarified that
state agency support had been critical to Anacortes water planning efforts and that staff wanted to ensure
adequate funding for those agencies. Mayor Gere said staff would work on refining that statement.
Ms. Lovelett asked that oil transport and ocean acidification be addressed in the priorities.
Regarding the seventh draft priority,Mr. Walters said the state legislature had little to do with tribal
jurisdiction and suggested removing the priority entirely. Councilmembers generally supported doing so.
Mr. Walters suggested adding some of the 2016 general principals to 2017. He suggested urging state
shared services such as for Electronic Content Management software and website development. Mr.
Johnson suggested adding support for the MRSC. Councilmembers and mayor discussed the balance
between stating policy priorities and providing concise action items to present to legislators.
Ms. Schuh thanked councilmembers for the good discussion and indicated she would bring revised
priorities back for Council consideration at a future meeting.
Regional Water Contracts: Skagit PUD and Shell Oil Products
Finance Director Steve Hoglund summarized the city's current water contracts with its six wholesale
contractual customers that cover the term 2006-2025. He reported that staff had been negotiating new 20-
year agreements with those customers. Mr. Hoglund summarized the primary changes in the new
contracts which eliminate committed volumes in favor of three-year actual, call for providing contractual
customers with preliminary operating costs by November 15 of each year, and increase the notification
required for early termination from one year to three. He then explained the rationale for the changes. Mr.
Hoglund responded to councilmember questions about the contracts. In response to a question from Ms.
Pickett,he said the rate structure did not contemplate an incentive to conserve water. Mr. Hoglund
advised that two of the contractual customers, Skagit PUD and Shell Oil Company,had already accepted
the new contracts. He requested Council authorization for the mayor to execute those contracts and
suggested that the other four contracts subsequently come before Council for approval on the Consent
Agenda as they were accepted,targeted by month end. Ms. Pickett moved, seconded by Ms. Lovelett,to
authorize the mayor to execute the water supply agreements for 2017-2036 with Skagit PUD and Shell
Oil Products. Vote: Ayes—Walters,Pickett,Adams,Lovelett and Johnson. Motion carried.
There being no further business,at approximately 7:05 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of
January 3,2017 was adjourned.
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