HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-12-14 City Council Minutes Approved City Council Study Session Minutes— December 14, 2015
Mayor Laurie Gere called to order the regular Anacortes City Council study session of
December 14, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. Councilmembers Eric Johnson, Ryan Walters, Erica Pickett, Brad
Adams, Liz Lovelett and Matt Miller were present. Councilmember John Archibald was absent.
Island Hospital 2015-2016 Update
Island Hospital CEO Vince Oliver presented an update on the hospital's mission and operations. He
summarized the hospital's governance, service area, and range of services offered. Mr. Oliver reported
that the hospital is the largest employer in the city. He presented patient satisfaction scores and
demonstrated the dramatic growth in the number of patients served in the past decade. Mr. Oliver
discussed the high percentage of patients who are covered by government programs (predominantly
Medicare)and the effect of the Affordable Care Act on patient coverage and fees collected. He
summarized the financial condition of the hospital. Mr. Oliver enumerated the hospital's current and future
challenges including physician recruitment and retention, shrinking reimbursement from government
insurers, the high cost of updating electronic medical records (EMR)technology and finding space to
expand both medical services and parking. He concluded his presentation with a summary of the
hospital's capital expenditure plan. He then responded to councilmember questions about the effect of
local housing costs on physician recruitment and the configuration of 26th Street.
Island Hospital Psychiatry& Behavioral Health Center/ASD Intervention Program
Suzanne Staum, Counselor/Therapist at Island Hospital, reported on the School-Based Mental Health
Intervention Program operated by the hospital in partnership with the Anacortes School District since
2011. She summarized the services offered, all of which are free to patients, and the growth of the
program in its first five years. Ms. Staum displayed the funding sources for the program, then described
the work of the Safety Assessment Team to assess student risk and threats and recommend strategies to
manage risk. She elaborated on the student intervention services provided by the on site social worker,
mental health therapist and Child and Adolescent psychiatrist. Ms. Staum noted that Washington State
has a higher rate of mental illness and a lower rate of access to care than other parts of the country.
She shared positive feedback about the locally funded program from school district administration,
medical care providers, and student participants and listed recognition and awards it has received. Ms.
Staum closed by identifying ongoing needs for community mental health and shared near term plans for
ongoing partnerships and work to maintain and expand the program. Ms. Lovelett praised the success of
the intervention program. In response to a question from Mr. Miller, Ms. Staum described the interaction
between her program and the School Resource Officer partially funded by the City of Anacortes.
Tommy Thompson Train Update
Museum Director Steve Oakley reported that the Tommy Thompson train had recently been certified by
the Department of Labor& Industries and was operational once again. He summarized the history of the
train which Mr. Thompson purchased fifty years prior, first operated along 4th Street during the 1979
Anacortes Arts Festival and subsequently ran along 4th Street/R Avenue/9th Street during summers and
special events until Mr. Thompson's death in early 1999. Mr. Oakley described the Thompson family's
2008 gift to the City of the train shed north of the Depot and then the 2012 gift of the train itself. Mr.
Oakley thanked the many volunteers who had assisted the Museum in caring for the train and celebrating
its first operation in 16 years on November 30, 2015. Mr. Oakley reported that the Anacortes Museum
Foundation had established a fund to care for the train. He said the city was receptive to community
members who might present a proposal to operate the train again, subject to Council approval. Mr.
Oakley reported that local architect Brooks Middleton and his partner were very interested in seeing the
train run again and had been working to raise public awareness and explore possible routes. Mr. Oakley
advised that the Anacortes Railway Organization, the city, the Chamber of Commerce, the Port of
Anacortes and other interested parties were forming a study group for the train. Mayor Gere suggested
that Council engage in further discussion about how involved the City should be in operating the train. Mr.
Walters raised a number of topics to be considered in that regard.
At approximately 7:02 p.m. Mayor Gere called a five minute break. At 7:07 p.m. the mayor called the
meeting back to order.
Anacortes City Council Study Session Minutes December 14, 2015 1
K-T Retail Analysis Update
Planning Director Don Measamer presented the Kepner Tregoe (KT)analysis recommended by the
Western Washington University Center for Economic and Business Research (CEBR)and undertaken by
the Council Planning Committee during a series of meetings over the several months prior. He said the
Committee was seeking feedback from the full Council on the situation analysis, problem statement, and
objectives before continuing its work to develop retail alternatives. Mr. Measamer introduced CAC
volunteer Kirk Kennedy who has extensive experience with KT analyses.
Councilmembers first engaged in considerable discussion of the Situation Analysis. Ms. Pickett
suggested adding a bullet point reflecting the word cloud derived from Comprehensive Plan Update public
meetings: "friendly, beautiful, sustainable and safe." Mr. Johnson suggested striking the word "existing" in
from Item 6, "Want to preserve existing locally owned independent retail shops." Councilmembers
generally supported the first slide of the Situation Analysis as presented with those edits. More discussion
ensued regarding the four points on the second slide. Councilmembers considered whether the role of
internet sales should be addressed and whether Fred Meyer should be mentioned specifically. Mr.
Measamer, Mr. Kennedy and Mayor Gere provided additional information about local and internet sales
figures in Anacortes and statements made at meetings with landowner MJB and representatives of Fred
Meyer. Mr. Walters, a member of the Planning Committee, suggested adding a statement recognizing
that Anacortes generates more retail sales tax from internet sales than the state average and another
statement recognizing that Anacortes has limited or no means to select a specific brand of retailer. Ms.
Pickett and Ms. Lovelett asked for a statement recognizing comparative retail leakage figures for
Anacortes and Oak Harbor.
Councilmembers then considered the Problem Statement. The role of internet sales and mechanisms for
affecting prices of goods were discussed. Mr. Johnson suggested removing the first clause of the problem
statement. Mr. Measamer proposed even more concisely, "How do we broaden the retail merchandise
offerings while limiting negative impacts which may result?" Councilmembers agreed with that suggestion.
Councilmembers next considered the four identified Objectives. Councilmembers again discussed "ease
of access" and Council's role in and ability to affect competitive pricing but eventually agreed to leave the
first three objectives as stated. After some discussion of which "existing areas"were of interest for
shopper density Mr. Kennedy suggested, "Increase or maintain shopper density within currently zoned
commercial areas"to cover the Commercial, Commercial Marine and Central Business District zones.
Councilmembers agreed.
At approximately 8:21 p.m. Mayor Gere invited member of the audience to comment on the KT analysis.
Walt Guterbock, 2005 29th Place, observed that Council can't much affect retail sales and suggested that
the analysis should address the threat that the tribes may initiate retail development along SR20 that
would compete with commercial zones in Anacortes.
Vernon Lauridsen, 2219 32nd Street, suggested the KT analysis objectives should not be based on
recommendations from the WWU CEBR consultants but rather that each item on the situation analysis
should be reflected in an objective, such as maintaining the central core of retail and limiting adverse
effects on existing or potential future small scale retail.
Mr. Measamer presented and explained the Alternatives matrix prepared by the Committee. Mr. Kennedy
then explained that the KT analysis process next required prioritization of the objectives. Mr. Kennedy
said that he would email each councilmember a scoring sheet and asked Council to return their scores to
him by December 21 so he could tally them for use by the Planning Committee at its next meeting on
December 28 to rate the alternatives according to the weighted objectives. Mr. Measamer described the
committee's subsequent steps of scoring the alternatives, performing an adversity matrix and developing
recommendations to bring back to full Council for review in February.
There being no further business, at approximately 8:42 p.m. the Anacortes City Council study session of
December 14, 2015 was adjourned.
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