HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-01-22 City Council Minutes Approved City Council Minutes—January 22,2019
At 6:00 p.m. Mayor Laurie Gere called to order the regular Anacortes City Council meeting of
January 22,2019. Councilmembers Eric Johnson,Anthony Young,Brad Adams and Matt Miller were present.
Councilmember Bruce McDougall participated in the meeting by telephone. Councilmembers Ryan Walters and
Liz Lovelett were absent.
Mr. Young moved, seconded by Mr. Johnson,to excuse the absences of Mr. Walters and Ms. Lovelett. The
motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
The assembly joined in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Announcements and Committee Reports
Mr. Young offered a shout out for the film series at Anacortes High School regarding diversity and inclusion.
Mayor Gere said the next film would be Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m.
At approximately 6:02 p.m. Councilmember Ryan Walters joined the meeting.
Mr. Johnson reported on the Salvation Army cold weather shelter which had served at least fifteen families in its
month of operation so far this winter. He advised that dinner and breakfast were served to shelter visitors and
said volunteers were still being sought to work three-hour shifts at the shelter.
Public Comment
Matt Riley, an employee of the Washington State Ferries in Anacortes, asked if the city was doing anything to
help local federal workers who were being affected by the government shutdown. Mr. Riley noted that customs
and border patrol staff had not been paid for two pay periods so far but continued to serve the community. He
encouraged the city to act to help federal workers,perhaps offering help with utility bills. Mayor Gere said that
city staff would begin that conversation the next day.Mr. Johnson added that the Salvation Army has funds
available for such situations and that federal workers were welcome to contact him or to contact the Salvation
Army directly. Mr. Young offered to help publicize ways the public can assist.Mr. Riley reported that Safeway
was donating$20 gift cards to Feed a Fed. He noted that there are limits on the amount of gifts federal workers
can accept. Mayor Gere thanked Mr. Riley for bringing the topic forward.
Simi Jain,representing Skagit Partners LLC, addressed Council regarding fully contained communities and her
client's proposed changes to the Skagit County Comprehensive Plan, Countywide Planning Policies and
development regulations for Skagit County's 2019 docket to allow for development of a fully contained
community in Skagit County. Ms. Jain noted that as a GMA Steering Committee Member,Anacortes' input
would be very important to the County's decision on whether to docket that request for further consideration.
She asked Council to give Mayor Gere authority to support the docketing request. Ms. Jain's slide presentation
was added to the packet materials for the meeting and was distributed to councilmembers at the dais. Her
presentation described fully contained communities per RCW36.70A.350,the changes Skagit Partners had
proposed to the Skagit County code,the proposed Avalon community, and population allocations and other
concerns expressed about fully contained communities. Ms. Jain's law partner, Bob Carmichael,then presented
more specifics about the Avalon community. Mr. Carmichael noted that the Skagit County commissioners
would be making their docketing decision on January 29 and asked City Council to consider a non-binding
straw vote expressing support of docketing and authorizing the mayor to sign a letter to that effect prior to
January 29. He noted that the Skagit Partners docketing request had been supported by La Conner,Burlington,
Lyman and Concrete but said he did not expect support from Mount Vernon and Sedro Wooley. Mr. Carmichael
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responded to councilmember questions about housing affordability and population allocations under the GMA.
Mayor Gere said she would refer the request to committee and that Council could take a straw vote at its
January 28 meeting if it were so inclined.
Consent Agenda
Mr. Johnson moved, seconded by Mr. Adams,to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion
carried unanimously by voice vote.
a. Minutes of January 14, 2019
b.Approval of Claims in the amount of: $569,963.84
c. Contract Award: Critical Areas Regulations Update-Additional Technical Support 16-082-IDS-003
d. Resolution 2029: City of Anacortes Legislative Priorities
The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment:
EFT numbers: 91908 through 91937,total$156,938.09
Check numbers: 91938 through 91973,total$412,472.72
Wire transfer numbers: 243812 through 243934,total$553.03
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Continued Public Hearing: Ordinance 3031 Updating AMC Titles 16, 17 and 19 for Low Impact
Development
City Attorney Darcy Swetnam reminded that Ordinance 3031 was adopted by City Council on November 19,
2018 to reinforce low impact development and that per RCW 36.70A.390,the city had opened the required
public hearing on that ordinance on January 14,2019,within 60 days of adoption of the interim zoning
ordinance. That public hearing had been left open to allow for additional public comment at the present meeting.
Mayor Gere invited members of the public to comment on the ordinance.No one present wished to address the
Council on this topic. At approximately 6:41 p.m.,Mayor Gere closed the public hearing.
OTHER BUSINESS
Parks&Recreation Update
Parks and Recreation Director Jonn Lunsford updated Council on recent developments and upcoming projects in
the Parks and Recreation Department. His slide presentation was added to the packet materials for the meeting.
Mr. Lunsford reported on the new online Washington Park campground reservation system launched in
December. He said the user-friendly system had received very positive feedback and heavy use. Mr. Lunsford
thanked Bob Vaux and Valora Sandstrom for spearheading the successful project. Mr. Lunsford next described
the impact of winter storms on the Washington Park boat launch.He alerted Council that the launch float would
likely need replacement in the current calendar year, ahead of anticipated budgeted expenditures. Mr. Lunsford
indicated that staff were researching permits,design options and fish window constraints,noting the importance
of minimizing disruption of this important revenue stream and community service. He addressed councilmember
questions about whether the float could possibly be repaired rather than replaced and options for reconfiguring
the approach to the launch. Mr. Lunsford next reported on the Anacortes Parks and Recreation and Anacortes
Community Forest Lands Comprehensive Plan updates,noting that both plans had been reviewed by their
respective advisory boards,would be posted on the city website and would be presented to the Planning
Commission on March 27.
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At approximately 6:52 p.m. Councilmember Bruce McDougall concluded his telephone connection to the
meeting and joined the meeting in person.
Mr. Lunsford advised that planning continued for Pickett Pocket Park between 22nd and 21st Streets east of
Commercial Avenue. He said that staff would request Council action to convert the alley right of way in that
location to park use. He said permits had already been obtained and that Strandberg would be the contractor,
working through the Anacortes Parks Foundation. Regarding the Grand View Cemetery expansion project,Mr.
Lunsford reported that staff was working with environmental consultants on delineating critical areas as part of
the SEPA review and that neighborhood meetings would be held as staff worked toward obtaining grade and fill
and conditional use permits. Mr. Lunsford concluded with a report that Marguerite and Don Daniels fast pitch
field turf replacement was under way,thanks to a generous donation of nearly 75%of the costs. He said staff
was looking for other community partners for that project,had permits in hand, and was waiting for the
construction window to open in February to allow team play on the field in the spring.
Executive Session(30 Minutes)per RCW 42.30.110(i)
At approximately 6:56 p.m. Mayor Gere announced that City Council and the City Attorney would convene in
Executive Session for approximately 30 minutes to discuss potential litigation or litigation and that following
the executive session the meeting would adjourn with no action being taken.
There being no further business,at approximately 7:25 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of
January 22,2019 was adjourned.
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