HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-04-13 City Council Minutes Approved City Council Study Session Minutes—April 13, 2015
At approximately 7:00 p.m. Mayor Laurie Gere called the Anacortes City Council study session of April 13,
2015 to order. Roll call found present City Councilmembers Eric Johnson, Ryan Walters, Erica Pickett,
Brad Adams, Liz Lovelett, John Archibald and Matt Miller.
Multi-agency Presentation on Homelessness
Dustin Johnson, Executive Director of the Anacortes Family Center, 1011 27th Place, introduced a
presentation on homelessness in Anacortes. Mr. Johnson discussed the increasing complexity and
intensity of service provided by the Center since it opened five years prior. He underscored the Center's
high success rate of placing its clients in stable housing. Mr. Johnson introduced Dr. Diane Dempsey Marr.
Dr. Marr, 4603 Kingsway, a member of the Board of the Family Center, explained the impacts of
homelessness from a mental health perspective. She shared a CDC study elucidating the long term
negative impacts of adverse experiences on physical and mental health of children and adults. Dr. Marr
then discussed protective factors to help counteract risk factors. She discussed how the Anacortes Family
Center serves as a protective factor in the community by meeting basic needs such as food and shelter,
providing a safe environment, providing a sense of belonging, and empowering clients with tools for
success including self-esteem and self-efficacy.
Mr. Johnson introduced Gabriel Olmsted, a member of the Board of Home Trust of Skagit. Mr. Olmstead,
1019 16th Street, described the mission of the Home Trust to hold land in trust for affordable housing by
bridging the gap between a market purchase price and the mortgage loan a buyer can qualify for while
maintaining the affordability of the property in perpetuity. He observed that affordable multifamily housing is
not being built and noted that even the employed often cannot afford housing at market rates in Anacortes.
Mr. Olmstead encouraged a housing levy to provide funds for rental vouchers and development of
affordable housing. He described a number of potential means of leveraging multiple funding sources to
strengthen the network of support services for those needing housing.
Mr. Johnson invited Councilmember Eric Johnson to update the audience on the Salvation Army Cold
Weather Shelter. Mr. Johnson described the shelter which was set up in December 2014 and opened for
service once during the season based on the temperature triggers. Councilmember Johnson thanked
Planning Director Don Measamer and Anacortes Fire Department personnel for assisting with the shelter.
Mr. Johnson introduced Tina Shibley, 1106 24th Street, former Family Center resident and current
employee at the Center. Ms. Shibley described the services and training she received at the Center and
the life skills support she and her family continued to use after they found permanent housing. She lauded
the success engendered by the Board and staff of the Center.
Mr. Johnson next updated Council on new services at the Family Center. He described the new life skills
class for children, counseling programs for children and adults, transportation assistance, and the motel
voucher program to provide short-term bridge assistance. Mr. Johnson then announced that the AFC had
just closed on the purchase of a nearby property with the plan of developing 9 units of transitional housing
for those who need longer term assistance to establish stable, healthy long term independent living. He
described the model of services to be provided. Mr. Johnson said the Center is currently raising funds to
repay the$150K property loan, then to develop, construct and implement the project. He said the
estimated total budget is $1.3M. Mr. Johnson emphasized that public-private partnership would be required
to realize the transitional housing project. He suggested exploring innovative funding mechanisms such as
a housing levy, tourism taxes, or construction fees.
Mr. Walters contrasted the role of the Family Center with that of the Anacortes Housing Authority. Mr.
Johnson agreed that the Center provides transitional rather than long term subsidized housing and
characterized the Center's offerings as 90% program services and 10°/0 housing. He agreed with Mr.
Walters than additional property for the transitional housing project would be welcome but said the call to
action is immediate.
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Sharpes Corner Wetland Study
Planning Director Don Measamer reported on the wetland study recently completed for the City's Sharpes
Corner property. He described the topography of the property and the effect of the State's new, larger
wetland buffers on the amount of usable land. Mr. Measamer described the lengthy permitting that would
be required to access the western portion of the property. He advised that as part of the 2016
Comprehensive Plan update process the CAC had looked at the property as a potential site for mixed use
development including residential or strict residential development. He reported potential for 40-90 units if
developed at R2-R3 density or up to 280 units if developed at R4 density. Mr. Measamer said staff had not
yet asked consultant Walt Meagher to value the property based on residential uses and inquired if Council
wished him to do that or to await the results of the upcoming Comp Plan hearings. Mr. Johnson inquired if
WSDOT would consider a stop light or some other traffic control at Old Brook Lane. Mr. Measamer agreed
that some sort of traffic mitigation would be necessary if the property were developed residentially. Mr.
Walters said that residential was as good a use as any for the property, citing the example of Maddox
Creek in Mount Vernon, unless the City could find an institutional user that might want to develop it but
suggested allowing the Comp Plan process to continue before consulting with Mr. Meagher on value. Ms.
Lovelett said residential development on the site would require too much additional transportation
infrastructure, noted that there was still developable residential land in town closer to existing services, and
suggested considering recreational development such as a zip line or disc golf course that could also be a
tourist draw. Ms. Pickett recalled that Skagit Valley College had considered the site at one point but would
not work with the natural gas line across the property. She observed that the City has a persistent shortage
of work force housing and suggested working with Home Trust of Skagit or other groups to establish work
force housing there. Mr. Miller said he was interested in continuing to market the property concurrently with
the Comp Plan process and considering both residential and non-residential ideas from any interested
party. Mr. Walters agreed with Mr. Miller that the City should solicit serious offers for any use. He
requested a pipeline distribution map for the entire city limits. Ms. Pickett disagreed and said it does not
make sense to market the property for sale and throw away the one opportunity to locate workforce
housing on city-owned land. Mr. Measamer offered to ask Mr. Meagher to develop a marketing proposal.
Ms. Lovelett said she did not want to increase the amount already budgeted for Mr. Meagher's services.
She also cautioned against casting too broad a net and receiving proposals for uses that are not
appropriate for the site. Mayor Gere clarified that the CAC would bring Council recommendations for the
highest and best use of the site and the Council would make the final determination. The mayor said it was
wise to be proactive rather than reactive and to develop goals for the site that could be used to evaluate
how eventual proposals fit the City's vision. Mr. Measamer said he would assemble additional information
and bring it back to Council at an upcoming regular meeting. He discussed with Mr. Archibald the potential
of the property for use in wetland banking or buffer enhancement.
DNR Lease Renewal Survey
Mr. Measamer explained the City's present lease from DNR for shoreline property at the end of 30th Street
and displayed an aerial view of the area. He said the lease expires October 2016 and to renew it for
another 20 years will require new legal descriptions and surveys. He noted that the renewal would be for a
smaller overall area, deleting a portion to the south. Mr. Measamer said the survey cost of approximately
$22K was not budgeted for 2015 because staff anticipated pursuing it in 2016 but that the complexity of the
survey made it wise to complete in 2015 so lease terms could then be negotiated. He noted additional
elements of the lease renewal including dedication of right of way for W Avenue and an easement to
access DNR property to the north. In response to councilmember questions, Mr. Measamer said that as
part of the lease renewal process the City would be evaluating its subleases to ensure they meet DNR
requirements and that the pricing is appropriate. Mr. Walters observed that Council approval was not
necessary for the survey contract but thanked Mr. Measamer for advising Council that a budget
amendment would be needed to accommodate it. He asked to know the terms of the DNR lease and the
City's obligations under it.
Police Department Annual Report
Police Chief Bonnie Bowers presented and elaborated upon the Anacortes Police Department 2014
Annual Report which was included in the evening's Council packet. She described the department's
strategic plan and reported on crime prevention activities, problem solving teams, school safety, fighting
drug abuse, and traffic safety initiatives in 2014. Chief Bowers summarized the education and training of
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the APD staff, the staff demographics, the department's organizational chart, the department's budget,
crime statistics, and drug trends. The chief then described the department's challenges including
maintaining the public trust, combatting cyber crime and fraud, public disclosure issues, human trafficking,
and school safety. She reported successes including the Mayor's Drug Summit, the prescription drug
drop-off site, and improvements to radio infrastructure and other equipment. Chief Bowers asked Council
to consider funding a drug dog for 2016.
Mr. Walters suggested looking into the possibility of property seizures for DUI arrests. He requested
collision statistics for SR20 approaching Anacortes and suggested the speed limit on that stretch of
highway be considered as part of the 2016 Comp Plan. Chief Bowers answered questions from
councilmembers about enforcement of bike lights and enforcement of marijuana laws. Mr. Johnson
suggested that the Aktion Club and Rotary might help fund a drug dog.
There being no further business, at approximately 8:55 p.m. the Anacortes City Council study session of
April 13, 2015 adjourned.
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