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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-04-06 City Council Minutes Approved City Council Minutes—April 6, 2015 At 7:00 p.m. Mayor Laurie Gere called the regularly scheduled Anacortes City Council meeting of April 6, 2015 to order. 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. Citizen Hearings No one present wished to address the Council. Mayor/Council Communication and Committee Reports Mayor Gere welcomed the assembly into the first major update to City Council chambers in 20 years. She highlighted the updated audio and video equipment and improvements in safety, security and barrier-free access in the Council chambers. Mayor Gere thanked the many staff and contractors involved for their extraordinary efforts. Mr. Walters reported from the Planning Committee which met earlier in the day. He announced that the permit for the Anthony's Restaurant expansion would be issued within the week, that the committee would be working on regulations for commercial outdoor storage as well as rewriting the nuisance and code enforcement ordinance, and that it would be reviewing the regulations regarding parking of oversize vehicles and parking in right of ways in residential zones very soon. Mr. Johnson reported from the March 31, 2015 meeting hosted by Ward Councilmembers Walters (Ward 1), Adams (Ward 2) and Johnson (Ward 3) and Mayor Gere. He said approximately 50 community members turned out to talk about truck traffic, stop signs, sidewalks, parking, trash cans, the Comprehensive Plan and other issues of interest to the community. Ms. Lovelett reported that she and Mayor Gere had met with Guemes Island residents at Anderson's Store on Guemes Island to discuss issues of interest to that community including parking options on the south side of the channel during ferry haul outs. Mayor Gere recognized the recent passing of Knute Figenshow, past City Councilmember and Mayor of Anacortes. Mayor Gere recapped some of Mr. Figenshow's many accomplishments and his years of service to the City. She offered condolences and thanks to his family. Proclamation: National Library Week- Unlimited Possibilities @ Your Library: Mayor Gere read a statement proclaiming April 12-18, 2015 to be National Library Week in Anacortes and encouraging residents to visit the Anacortes Public Library and take advantage of the wonderful resources and unlimited possibilities available there. Proclamation: Arbor Day-April 9: Mayor Gere read a statement proclaiming April 9, 2015 to be the celebration of Arbor Day in Anacortes and inviting citizens to recognize the occasion. Appointment of Brian Strickland to Arts Commission: Mayor Gere announced that she had appointed Brian Strickland to fill a vacant position on the Anacortes Arts Commission for a term expiring December 2017. Swearing in of Police Officers Jeff Devine and Tyson Meyer: Police Chief Bonnie Bowers introduced new Anacortes Police Officers Jeff Devine and Tyson Meyer. Mayor Gere administered the Oath of Office to Officer Tyson Meyer and Officer Jeff Devine. Consent Agenda Mr. Johnson moved, seconded by Ms. Pickett, to approve the following Consent Agenda items. Vote: Ayes—Walters, Pickett, Adams, Lovelett, Archibald, Miller and Johnson. Motion carried. Anacortes City Council Minutes April 6, 2015 1 Approval of Vouchers/Cancellation of Checks Council voted unanimously that the following vouchers/checks audited and certified by the City's Auditing Officer(Finance Director) and subsequently reviewed and approved by the Council Finance Committee on March 18, 2015, March 25, 2015 and April 1, 2015 are approved for payment as of April 6, 2015. Claims Check Numbers 75687 through 75877 in the total amount of$991,502.47 EFT Numbers 75683 through 75686 in the total amount of$63,450.05 Pre-Written Claims Check Numbers 75679 through 75682 in the total amount of$23,824.90 Payroll for March 20, 2015 in the total amount of$875,052.44 Check Numbers 40329 through 40352 in the total amount of$21,750.91 Direct Deposit Numbers from 57999 through 58205 in the total amount of$613,759.76 EFT Numbers from 1783 through 1788 in the total amount of$239,541.77 Payroll for April 3, 2015 in the total amount of$740,046.90 Check Numbers 40353 through 40391 in the total amount of$35,085.20 Direct Deposit Numbers from 58206 through 58398 in the total amount of$380,708.46 EFT Numbers from 1789 through 1794 in the total amount of$324,253.24 In the same motion Council approved the minutes of March 16, 2015, March 25, 2015 and March 27, 2015 as if read. NEW BUSINESS Authorize Mayor to Execute Contract for City Hall Solar Panels Public Works Director Fred Buckenmeyer requested authorization of a contract to install a solar array on the roof of City Hall. He advised that the approximately$205K project would be funded by a $185K grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce and the City's $20K award from the Puget Sound Energy Green Power Challenge. Mr. Buckenmeyer said the 21.4 kW solar array would be installed over the summer and was expected to save the City approximately$2,000/year in electricity costs. Mayor Gere invited members of the audience to comment on this topic. No one present wished to address Council. Mr. Johnson moved, seconded by Mr. Miller, to authorize the mayor to sign the documents to install the 21.4 kW solar array on the roof of City Hall. Councilmembers discussed with Mr. Buckenmeyer the expected energy generation and resulting cost savings of the subject project and of solar arrays in place or planned for the Anacortes Public Library and the Anacortes Public Safety Building. Vote: Ayes— Pickett, Adams, Lovelett, Archibald, Miller, Johnson and Walters. Motion carried. Contract Award: 2015 Utility& Street Improvements Project Mr. Buckenmeyer requested approval to enter into a contract for routine water main replacement in three locations and asphalt overlay on 15th Street from M Avenue to Commercial Avenue. He reported that four bids were received with the low bid from C. Johnson Construction, Inc. in the amount of$257,881.61. Mr. Buckenmeyer advised that a bid protest had been filed but that the issue raised was a minor irregularity so the City could still award to the low bidder. He recommended awarding the contract to C. Johnson Construction. Mr. Adams confirmed with Mr. Buckenmeyer that the asphalt overlay would be funded by Water Fund 401 as a necessary restoration following the pipe installation. Mayor Gere invited members of the audience to comment on this topic. No one present wished to address Council. Anacortes City Council Minutes April 6, 2015 2 Mr. Adams moved, seconded by Mr. Johnson, to approve the contract with C. Johnson Construction, Inc. in the amount of$257,881.61. Vote: Ayes—Adams, Lovelett, Archibald, Miller, Johnson, Walters and Pickett. Motion carried. Street Fair Application: Anacortes Farmers Market Planning Director Don Measamer presented a request from the Anacortes Farmers Market for closure of R Avenue between 6th and 7th Streets in front of the Depot for the weekly Saturday Farmers Market running May 9 through October 24, 2015 from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. He advised that this request has been granted annually since 2008. Mr. Measamer said that staff had received letters from two neighbors in the vicinity objecting to the proposed street closure, hence suggested that Council hear from the community before deciding on the request. Mayor Gere invited members of the audience to comment on this topic. Ms. Lovelett announced that because she is a non-voting member of the Anacortes Farmers Market Board she would recuse herself from voting. Gary Dear, owner of Mad Hatter's Ice Cream, 801 6th Street, said that when the Market is in the street it cuts off the flow through traffic to his business and eliminates ease of access to his handicapped parking space. He said the Market also takes up 25-30 parking spaces when it is in the street as well as the adjacent spaces where Market vendors park. Mr. Dear said there is almost a 60% decrease in his business on Market days. Peter Watson, 406 %Commercial Avenue, Apt 1, said he sometimes serves for Market vendor Jalillah's Cookies whose booth looks out over R Avenue. Mr. Watson observed that when the street in front of the Market is open there is 25 mph traffic moving through the area while children and market goers are crossing the street. He called the street closure a safety issue. Patricia Reed, 1306 H Avenue, owner and operator of Market vendor The Vintage Hen, described the role of the Market as a community meeting place. She called the Market an incubator for the community. She said the street closure enlarged the Market area which allowed her to become a Market vendor. Ms. Reed said if the street is not closed all the vendors have to be located behind the Depot but that sometimes conflicts with other activities that have rented the Depot and associated plaza space. She described the visual draw of the Market when it is located in the street and expressed concern that some vendors would be excluded if the space were reduced without the street closure. Jennifer Korn-Leech, 132 Alger Cain Lake Road, Sedro-Woolley, vendor at the Market, described how the Market has grown in both size and participation over the years. Noting that the Market received permission years ago to operate in the street, she said tents and vendors in the street provide atmosphere, attract customers and encourage community interaction. Ms. Korn-Leech said shoehorning all the vendors into the space behind the Depot would defeat the purpose of the market, would cut the number of vendors and would eliminate tabling by non-profits. She said the street closure is best for the entire community. Seth Poor, 2308 Grant Place, owner and operator of Market vendor Color Cove, said his booth has been directly in front of Mad Hatter's for two years. He said he observes the customer flow to Mad Hatter's, often answers passerby questions about Mad Hatter's operating hours, and has seen impressive lines of people waiting to get ice cream. He said many Market patrons are either very aware of or pleasantly surprised to learn of Mad Hatter's presence. Mr. Poor said any event that brings customers by the door of a business is generally a good thing and that leaving the street open to vehicle traffic discourages that. Johanne Schmidt, 406 1/2 Commercial Avenue, Apt 1, owner of Market vendor Jalillah's Cookies, described how children who purchase cookies at her booth then want to go get ice cream at Mad Hatter's. She said she really loves having the community in the street and it would be a shame not to have it. Anacortes City Council Minutes April 6, 2015 3 Kay Reinhardt, 1102 16th Street, Anacortes Farmers Market Board member and owner of Market vendor Bad Penny Letterpress, described how many visitors to Cap Sante Marina are attracted by the sight of the Market tents in the street. She also observed that the street closure allows elderly patrons to walk more safely to and around the market. Marius Hibbard, 1501 7th Street, spoke as a member of the Anacortes Arts Foundation housed in the Croatian Cultural Center at 801 5th Street, a former Board member of the Depot Art Center, a former Anacortes Farmer's Market vendor, and a member of the Depot Master Plan committee. Mr. Hibbard reminded that the City built the Depot Plaza specifically to provide a home for the Farmers Market and said there is plenty of room there to house the entire Market. He said most of that area is empty on Market days. Mr. Hibbard said closing the street to traffic makes people have to park farther away and that opening up the 25 parking spaces that are blocked by the street closure would provide Market customers better access. Keri Knapp, 3517 H Avenue, Director of the Anacortes Farmers Market, reported that when the Market first requested the street closure in 2008 she checked for possible concerns from neighbors and none were expressed, including by Mr. Dear. She said the Market has grown substantially since that time and an estimated 3000 people visit it each week. She said when Mad Hatter's subsequently opened in 2011 the street closure was already in effect. Ms. Knapp expressed the desire to find a compromise so that everyone can experience success. She said she has instructed Market vendors where to park, proposed to set up seating in front of Mad Hatter's to make the area more inviting for all customers, and offered to sign two parking spaces to encourage parking for Mad Hatter's customers only. Ms. Knapp clarified that the Depot Plaza is a community asset, the major share of which is used by the Farmers Market on Saturdays but which is sometimes dedicated to rental events at the Depot instead, such as weddings and receptions. In response to a question from Ms. Pickett, Ms. Knapp said Market vendors would be asked to park on Q Avenue and down 9th Street, leaving the residential streets and R Avenue north of the market open for other users. Ms. Pickett pointed out that the City Hall parking lot is unused on Saturdays. Mr. Archibald asked if all the Market vendors could be fit behind the Depot. Ms. Knapp explained how the orchard fruit vendor from Okanogan County might not fit there. Mr. Archibald asked how many parking spaces are lost if the street closure is approved as requested. Ms. Knapp said 19 spaces. Mr. Archibald noted those spaces could provide more access for seniors and the disabled. Mr. Knapp said that when the Market is excluded from the street, on Arts Festival and Shipwreck Day weekends, the street is very busy with drivers circling looking for parking. She said safety is a concern when the street is open to vehicles. Mr. Johnson observed that European markets are typically located in town centers and asked if the new City owned space on 4th Street could provide an alternative home for the Market. Ms. Knapp said that alternative locations had been considered in the past and she could certainly discuss it with the Market Board but probably not for the 2015 season. Ms. Pickett said she understood the frustrations but that any activity like the Market which brings hundreds of people near a store is a benefit for merchants. She called the Market a huge attractor of potential customers. Mr. Miller requested clarification about the Depot rental events and the assorted uses in that shared public space. Mayor Gere asked how many times during 2014 the Depot Plaza was constrained by rental events during Market hours. Ms. Knapp replied three weekends during the 25-week season. Kristi Lynch, of Mad Hatter's Ice Cream at 801 6th Street, said that during its first summer Mad Hatter's had 4-5 employees on Saturday but now only needs one. She reported a marked decrease in sales during Market hours. She said having the market in the street makes it hard for patrons to see their business. Ms. Lynch agreed that the safety of pedestrians and children is a critical issue for Mad Hatter's as well and they have installed visual aids reminding the public to drive slowly. Anacortes City Council Minutes April 6, 2015 4 George Thelen, 15481 Colony Road in Bow, Market vendor, said he has visited most of the markets in Western Washington and they very commonly operate in the city streets to create a plaza feeling, such as in Ballard, Edmonds, and North Shore among others. Mr. Thelen said in those communities the surrounding streets are lined with businesses and they do very well with the markets in their midst. Mr. Adams said safety should be the first topic and that when a street is closed to traffic it is safer for everyone. He remarked that the requested closure has been established since 2008 and would be hard to take away. Mr. Adams observed that markets all over the world close streets and there's no reason it can't work in Anacortes. He said the concerns of neighbors can be addressed to enable success for everyone. He supported the street closure request. Ms. Pickett said she supported the request as well. She observed that the street closure also spares market goers the noise, smell and danger of cars. Mr. Miller proposed a compromise, possibly closing the street every other week, noting that the Market already accommodates that on festival weekends. Mr. Walters said he was disturbed to see vehicles parked on the Depot Plaza. He noted that streets are for travel and did not support closing the street. Noting that the City invested in a Master Plan for the Depot, he urged working with that and putting the Farmers Market off the street, in the Depot Plaza. Mr. Archibald said his concern was about the weekly closure, contrasting that with the routine street closures that occur for once a year events. He said having the Market in the street is great but not necessary and it would be nice to have more parking available so he was undecided. Mr. Johnson echoed the need to put safety first. He said the Farmer's Market has been there for quite a while and it's not avant garde to shut one block of street weekly, it happens around the world. He urged approving the street closure request for 2015 to give the Market a chance to explore other locations closer to downtown, or to work with existing businesses in the Depot area if that turned out to be the preferred location. He reminded that the Guemes Channel Trail and the Tommy Thompson Trail will eventually likely converge in this vicinity so decreasing the risk of auto collisions was important. Mr. Johnson moved, seconded by Mr. Adams, to approve the Anacortes Farmers Market Street Fair Application for 2015. Mayor Gere clarified the expectation that the Market would continue discussions and that the question would be revisited the following year to see if any improvements had been made or long term solutions arrived at. Mr. Walters requested a written report from the Parks Department on the possibility of allowing the Farmers Market to use the entire Depot Plaza and whether that conflicts with Depot rentals or not. Vote: Ayes—Archibald, Miller, Johnson, Walters, Pickett and Adams. Abstain - Lovelett. Motion carried. There being no further business, at approximately 8:33 p.m. the regularly scheduled Anacortes City Council meeting of April 6, 2015 was adjourned. 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