HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-05-16 City Council Minutes Approved City Council Minutes—May 16, 2016
Mayor Laurie Gere called to order the regular Anacortes City Council meeting of May 16, 2016 at
6:00 p.m. Councilmembers Eric Johnson, Erica Pickett, Brad Adams, Liz Lovelett, John Archibald and
Matt Miller were present. Councilmember Ryan Walters was absent. The assembly joined in the Pledge of
Allegiance.
Public Comment
Tom Glade, 210 Mansfield Court, speaking on behalf of Evergreen Islands, thanked the city for its very
professional handling of the Break Free event in Anacortes over the weekend and thanked several
councilmembers for attending and participating in panel discussions.
Announcements and Committee Reports
Ms. Lovelett moved to excuse the absence of Mr. Walters.
Public Works Committee: Ms. Lovelett reported from the committee meeting earlier in the evening and
discussed stormwater upgrades to comply with the city's NPDES permit and also public outreach in
preparation for the slurry seal project.
Mayor Gere reported that the Break Free event held in Anacortes over the weekend had concluded
safely. She thanked public safety staff for the extensive care and planning for the event and thanked the
protesters for respectful behavior. The mayor advised that the Emergency Operations Center had been
activated to manage the event and had productively exercised that operational structure. She thanked
local businesses who provided meals and support for public safety officers over the weekend. Mr. Miller,
a member of the Public Safety Committee, said he visited the EOC several times during the weekend and
was impressed by the successful cooperation between the various law enforcement agencies involved.
He concluded that it was a very well run operation to ensure public safety. He thanked the refineries for
altering work schedule to minimize conflict points. Mr. Miller noted that the event was disruptive to some
downtown businesses and that the cost to the city for staff overtime and equipment was approximately
$57K.
Consent Agenda
Mr. Johnson moved, seconded by Ms. Lovelett, to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The
motion passed unanimously by voice vote.
a. Approval of Claims in the amount of: $391,437.32
b. Street Fair Application: Anacortes Waterfront Festival
The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment:
Voucher(check) numbers: 80363 through 80537, total $408,039.73
EFT numbers: 203503 through 204027, total $14,644.36
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public Hearing: Ordinances 2975, 2976, 2977, Jeretzky, Allen and Rockwood Right of Way
Vacations
City Attorney Darcy Swetnam presented three petitions to vacate an 8-foot wide strip along contiguous
portions of the north side of loth Street between C Avenue and D Avenue, immediately east of a similar
vacation approved by City Council on March 21, 2016 (Ordinance 2969). In exchange for the vacated
property, the property owners proposed to quitclaim a 15-foot wide strip of land at the foot of the slope
forming the northern boundary of their parcels along the proposed route of the Guemes Channel Trail.
Referring to her slide presentation which was added to the packet materials for the evening, Ms.
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Swetnam displayed an aerial photo of the area and plan views of the Jeretzky, Allen and Rockwood
properties depicting the areas proposed to be vacated by the City and quitclaimed to the City. In all cases
the landowners were quitclaiming more area than they were receiving by vacation.
Ms. Swetnam cited the relevant sections of the Anacortes Municipal Code allowing conveyance of real
property in lieu of cash payment for vacated property, AMC 12.50.110 setting out criteria for granting a
vacation, and AMC 12.50.140(A) regarding establishment of value of vacated property. Ms. Swetnam
advised that in accordance with AMC 12.50.140(A), City Engineer Eric Shjarback had determined that no
compensation was required beyond the property transfer because the square footage to be transferred by
quitclaim deeds exceeded the square footage vacated and the parties had agreed that the value was
equivalent. Ms. Swetnam emphasized that the vacations would only be effective after the quitclaim deeds
transferring property to the City were executed, recorded, and publication was complete.
Councilmembers confirmed with Ms. Swetnam and Mr. Shjarback that staff did not foresee any future
need for the vacated 8-foot strip of the 80-foot road right of way. Mr. Shjarback confirmed that the existing
sidewalk along the north side of the roadway and south of the vacated land would remain in place.
Mayor Gere opened the public hearing on the three proposed vacations of 10th Street right of way.
Tom Glade, representing Evergreen Islands, said he would like to see a cross-section of the slope to
determine how steep it is and also some indication of the proposed trail route. Public Works Director Fred
Buckenmeyer explained that because the property was still in private hands the city had not yet been able
to survey the proposed trail corridor nor the upland slope but advised that prior construction of existing
segments of the trail had demonstrated the high value of those slopes to provide construction access and
staging and to allow installation of drainage and retaining structures where required. Mr. Glade
questioned the value of the quitclaimed property if the trail would not actually be constructed on that land.
Marilyn Derig, 1302 K Avenue, spoke to the importance of keeping the existing sidewalks along 10tn
Street to provide pedestrian safety.
Bret Andrich, 2016 10th Street, advised that he grew up on the adjoining Martin property and said that
vacation made sense. Mr. Andrich asked if construction of the Guemes Channel Trail, which he
supported, really required the property proposed to be quitclaimed. He urged Council to be careful about
granting vacations so they don't come to be expected by area homeowners.
Frank Jeretzky, 13664 Rosario Road, applicant, confirmed that the existing sidewalk would remain in
place and in fact be improved. Mr. Jeretzky displayed an overhead image of the property proposed to be
quitclaimed and discussed its usefulness to the trail construction effort.
Ms. Lovelett asked Ms. Swetnam to address the question of setting precedent for street vacations. Ms.
Swetnam explained that no one is entitled to a vacation, that vacations are granted solely at Council's
discretion, and that there must always be a clear public benefit to warrant a vacation.
Patrick O'Hearn, 11039 Post Drive, asked if a title search would be performed before execution of the
ordinances. He said a small portion of the Jeretzky lot still showed as owned by Burlington Norther
Railroad on the Skagit County records. Mr. Jeretzky advised that a survey and title insurance had been
required as part of his application.
No one else wishing to speak, the mayor closed the public hearing.
Mr. Archibald noted the public benefit of the proposed vacations. He moved, seconded by Ms. Pickett, to
approve Ordinances 2975, 2976, and 2977, each vacating public right-of-way to be compensated by
transfer of real property, by means of Quit Claim Deeds, from the Jeretskys, the Allens, and the
Rockwoods to the City of Anacortes. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote.
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Resolution 1957: Potential Speed Limit Change on Oakes Avenue
Mr. Buckenmeyer shared a slide presentation summarizing the proposed change of speed limit on Oakes
Avenue to 30 mph, recapping the discussion from the April 25, 2016 City Council meeting. Mr.
Buckenmeyer recommended Council approval of Resolution 1957 which would initiate a formal request to
the Washington State Department of Transportation to change the speed limit on Oakes Avenue (SR 20
spur)to 30 mph for its entire length.
Mayor Gere opened the public hearing on this resolution.
Kevin Meenaghan, 3211 Oakes Avenue, spoke in strong support of the change to 30 mph. Mr.
Meenaghan said he lives just east of the current speed transition zone and has seen accidents happen at
that location. He argued that 30 mph is consistent with the speed limit on other arterials in the city and
would remove the guesswork for both local and out of town motorists. Mr. Meenaghan said the lower
speed would also make it easier for residents along Oakes Avenue to merge safely onto the roadway.
Councilmembers expressed their support for the lower, consistent speed limit and discussed with Mr.
Buckenmeyer the subsequent steps in the process to seek WSDOT approval for the change.
No one else wishing to comment, Mayor Gere closed the public hearing.
Mr. Johnson moved, seconded by Ms. Lovelett, to approve Resolution 1957 which states that the City
shall formally request, to the Secretary of Transportation, a lowering of the 40 mph speed limit to 30 mph
from Kansas Avenue to Ferry Terminal Road. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote.
In closing, Ms. Pickett congratulated and commended the Anacortes Police Department, all the
organizations that worked so hard over the weekend, and the organizers of the Break Free event.
There being no further business, at approximately 6:50 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of
May 16, 2016 was adjourned.
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