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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-09-19 City Council Minutes Approved City Council Minutes—September 19, 2016 Mayor Laurie Gere called to order the regular Anacortes City Council meeting of September 19, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. Councilmembers Eric Johnson, Ryan Walters, Erica Pickett, Brad Adams, Liz Lovelett, John Archibald and Matt Miller were present. The assembly joined in the Pledge of Allegiance. Announcements and Committee Reports Oath of Office for Police Officer Danielle Trevino: Police Chief Bonnie Bowers introduced new Anacortes Police Officer Danielle Trevino and summarized her background and qualifications. Mayor Gere administered the oath of office to Officer Trevino. Public Safety Committee: Mr. Adams reported from the committee meeting the prior week. He elaborated on topics discussed including the Little Cranberry Lake fire, exploring ways to reduce fire risk surrounding the ACFL and the fire volunteer program. Ms. Lovelett added that the committee also looked at the proposed smoking fine ordinance and discussed enforcement challenges. Mr. Miller reminded that the Police Department was conducting a pedestrian safety emphasis in September and October. Mr. Miller reported from the Law and Justice Committee meeting the prior week and said the new Skagit County jail project was on schedule and on budget. Finance Committee: Mr. Johnson reported from the committee meeting the prior Wednesday. He updated Council on the topics discussed including NoaNet financing, Creekside irrigation water rates, the road overlay fund in the 2017/2018 budget, electronic content management, the City prosecutor position and billing methodology for that position, and replenishing the equipment rental and replacement fund. Parks & Recreation Committee: Mr. Adams reported that the committee had held a special meeting the prior week which would be discussed later in the agenda. Public Works Committee: Ms. Lovelett reported from the committee meeting earlier in the evening. She listed topics discussed including retrofitting some fleet vehicles to propane, storm utility rates and detention pond maintenance, LED light fixture retrofitting projects, status of the 3MG water reservoir project, status of the WWTP outfall repair, and implementation of the asset management program. Mr. Johnson reported that the Commercial Avenue sewer replacement project would be undertaken one block at a time during evening hours immediately after Oyster Run weekend. Mr. Walters announced that he would be hosting a Ward 1 community meeting regarding land use on Thursday, September 29, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. at the Senior Center. Public Comment No one present wished to address Council on any topic not already on the agenda. Consent Agenda Mr. Walters removed Item 5c, Contract Award: Install/Implement Voice-Over-Internet Protocol (VOIP) Communications System, from the Consent Agenda. Mr. Johnson moved, seconded by Mr. Adams, to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote. a. Minutes of September 12, 2016 b. Approval of Claims in the amount of: $700,311.82 The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment: Voucher(check) numbers: 82007 through 82085, total $565,683.44 EFT numbers: 207471 through 208150, total $126,227.62 Anacortes City Council Minutes September 19, 2016 1 C. Contract Award: Install/Implement Voice-Over-Internet Protocol (VOIP) Communications System Mr. Walters asked about the change in pricing from earlier estimates. Finance Director Steve Hoglund updated Council on the systems and vendors evaluated and the ShoreTel system proposed which would be purchased on the state contract. He confirmed that the system would provide the caller ID feature required by the police department and said that given the anticipated $4,000-$5,000/month savings in telephone bills the system would pay for itself in three years. He added that a budget amendment would be required as the system had been removed from the 2016 budget pending firm pricing quotes. Mr. Walters moved, seconded by Mr. Johnson, to approve the contract with All Phase Communications to install and implement a new VOIP Telecommunications System at the City in the amount of$127,111.01. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Contract for South Commercial Murals, South Commercial Improvements Planning Director Don Measamer reported that since the last regular City Council meeting at which this topic was discussed, the Parks and Recreation Committee had met along with a member of the Arts Commission to consider the proposed contract. Mr. Measamer observed that if Council wished to formally establish Arts Commission involvement in the project, Item 2 of Exhibit A to the proposed contract could be amended to require coordination with the Arts Commission. He added that doing so might require additional time on the part of the Arts Festival. Mr. Johnson, a board member of the Anacortes Parks Foundation, reported that at its last meeting the Foundation had voted to grant$21,000 towards construction of the proposed pocket park on Commercial Avenue near 22"d Street. He added that the Foundation would like the Parks Committee to further study the funding requirements to complete the park. Mayor Gere asked if the Parks Foundation grant would allow both the pocket park and the art contract with the Arts Festival to be completed using the remainder of the$75K budgeted in 2016 for south Commercial Avenue economic development. Mr. Measamer said that the available funding would come very close to what would be required. Mr. Adams reported from the Parks and Recreation Committee meeting the prior week that Arts Commissioner Lanny Bergner indicated that the Commission was excited to partner in the art project. Several councilmembers discussed the role the Arts Commission had played in establishing art displays along the Commercial Avenue corridor. Several Councilmembers also expressed support for moving ahead with construction of the long planned pocket park. Council discussed how the Arts Commission might best be involved with the proposed contract. Mr. Johnson suggested moving to approve the contract with the Arts Festival "in collaboration with the Arts Commission." Mr. Miller suggested that could be covered by Paragraph 1 b of the proposed contract as written. Mr. Walters suggested approving the contract as drafted with the understanding that the mayor's office would consult with the Arts Commission on final selection of the art. Meredith Mcllmoyle, Director of the Anacortes Arts Festival, described the close ties and ongoing collaboration between the Arts Festival and the Arts Commission but observed that involving the full 12-member Commission with multiple steps of art selection would protract the process and likely require more time on the part of Festival staff. Parks and Recreation Director Gary Robinson suggested that representatives from the Arts Commission might help select the art to be displayed and then the full Commission might approve those selections. Mr. Johnson moved, seconded by Mr. Miller, to approve the contract with the Anacortes Arts Festival for the amount of$30,000. Mr.Adams moved, seconded by Mr. Johnson, to amend the motion to recognize the involvement of the Arts Commission in the final approval of the art. Ms. Swetnam requested more specificity in the motion to allow staff to re-draft the contract in accordance with Council's intent. Mr. Adams said he would like a couple members of the Arts Commission involved in the selection process as equal partners. Mr. Walters suggested that alternatively Council could authorize the mayor to sign the contract substantially as drafted but with some provision, to be worked out with the contractor, for involving the Arts Commission. Mayor Gere restated the amended motion to include re- drafting the contract to call for two Arts Commission members be part of the selection process and for final approval by the full Arts Commission.Vote: Ayes—Walters, Pickett, Adams, Lovelett, Archibald, Miller and Johnson. Motion carried. Anacortes City Council Minutes September 19, 2016 2 Interlocal Agreement: NoaNet Public Works Director Fred Buckenmeyer recapped his presentation on this topic from the September 12, 2016 regular City Council meeting. He asked Mr. Hoglund to address the financing aspects of the project. Mr. Hoglund presented a spreadsheet summarizing the funding sources. It was added to the packet materials for the evening. Ms. Pickett questioned the $3.15M estimated price tag for needed telemetry upgrades that could be provided much more economically by other means. She asked how much the pipe replacement project funded by the recently adopted rate structure would be delayed or curtailed if capital was diverted towards the fiber project. Mr. Buckenmeyer explained why the current radio-based telemetry system needed to be replaced and why cell phone technology was not dependable enough during emergencies to serve as the primary telemetry system. He said the water pipeline replacement project was projected to cost$35M over twenty years and that the fiber project would require only$.5M of that funding from Water Fund 401. Councilmembers discussed a range of options to replace the current telemetry, what telemetry technology was used by other jurisdictions, the potential for a fiber telemetry system to eventually serve as the backbone for a municipal fiber network, whether the fiber installed would further economic development, and whether other regional fiber providers might lease space on an Anacortes backbone. Mayor Gere invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item. Brett Fontes, 17601 Shalyce Place, Mount Vernon, Director/General Manager of Comcast Cable for the Bellingham region, described Comcast's existing fiber and coaxial cable network in Anacortes including a fiber backbone along SR20 spur to the Washington State Ferry Terminal and along Marine Drive. He said Comcast also had fiber connectivity to Whidbey Island. Mr. Fontes advised Mayor Gere and Council that Comcast may have an alternative solution for the city's telemetry needs. He responded to councilmember questions and agreed with councilmembers that fiber to the home will be the future technology of choice and that fiber was also the preferred telemetry method. Mr. Adams encouraged a master plan for an eventual fiber to the home network as part of the fiber project. Mr. Walters moved, seconded by Mr. Archibald, to approve the interlocal agreement with NoaNet with the specification of a total not-to-exceed amount of$175,000. Vote: Ayes—Adams, Lovelett, Archibald, Miller, Johnson and Walters. Nays - Pickett. Motion carried. There being no further business, at approximately 7:50 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of September 19, 2016 was adjourned. Anacortes City Council Minutes September 19, 2016 3