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City Council Study Session Minutes—January 13, 2014
At approximately 7:00 p.m. Mayor Laurie Gere called the regularly scheduled Anacortes City Council
study session of January 13, 2014 to order. Roll call found present City Councilmembers Eric Johnson,
Ryan Walters, Erica Pickett, Brad Adams, Liz Lovelett, John Archibald and Matt Miller.
Former Shell Tank Farm Site Cleanup Presentation (Dept. of Ecology)
Planning Director Ryan Larsen introduced Nick Acklam, Dept. of Ecology site manager. Mr. Acklam
presented the draft cleanup action plan for the former Shell tank farm as well as a brief history of the site
located between 13th and 14th Streets west of Q Avenue. Mr. Acklam reported the types of contaminates
discovered in prior investigations, then described the four remediation alternatives considered by DOE.
He reported that DOE's current preferred alternative is Alternative 3, partial removal with in situ soil
treatment of the remainder with a price of approximately$3M. He added that this alternative would not
involve excavating any existing sidewalks or streets. In response to councilmember questions regarding
funding for the project, Mr. Acklam advised that the Port of Anacortes had received a remedial action
grant from DOE so would share the cost 50/50 with DOE. Port Executive Director Bob Hyde addressed
Council to add that the Port contribution would include insurance money and contributions from Shell Oil
Company. Mr. Hyde assured Council the Port was ready to fund its portion of the project. In response to a
question from Ms. Lovelett regarding the use of MOTCA funds for the cleanup, Mr. Hyde said the project
was designed to clean the site to industrial standards and that it would continue to be used for boat
storage. Mr. Acklam said the public comment period on the draft plan ended January 8, 2013 and that
very minor comments were received, none of which affected the preferred alternative.
Pavement Management Plan (PMP) Presentation, Schedule, and Goals for 2014
Public Works Director Fred Buckenmeyer introduced an initial study session on the Pavement
Management Plan (PMP) currently under development. He summarized the national epidemic of
degraded pavement and the lack of federal funding for local roadways. Mr. Buckenmeyer said the current
session would focus on the Pavement Management Program report and that future sessions would
address funding and priority strategy, rehabilitation options, and additional funding opportunities.
Mr. Buckenmeyer introduced Joel Conder and Paul Wigowsky from the City's consultant, Capitol Asset
and Pavement Services. Mr. Conder reported that Capitol had performed an on site review and
assessment of every street in Anacortes. He explained that the pavement management system shows
the effect of the maintenance decisions made in the past and allows projections of different maintenance
scenarios for the future. Mr. Condor said the assessment results in a pavement condition index (PCI)
ranging from 0-100 with 100 being perfect new streets. He reported that the current PCI for Anacortes is
64, that most agencies have PCI's in the 70s, and that the average for cities the size of Anacortes is 76
indicating Anacortes is behind in street maintenance. Mr. Condor warned that failing to maintain an
optimum PCI increases deferred maintenance costs and described proactive best maintenance practices
to extend pavement life and decrease future maintenance costs.
Mr. Wigowsky provided more specific information based on the Anacortes assessment. He said about
51% of Anacortes streets are in good condition and can be maintained with slurry seal, another 17%
would qualify for patching and slurry seal, and that the rest are in poor or very poor condition and would
need reconstruction. Mr. Wigowsky then presented a series of scenarios based on different street
maintenance budget levels over the next ten years. These ranged from an Unconstrained scenario that
would cost$64M over ten years and would bring the Anacortes PCI up to 85 to a Current Funding Level
scenario which would cost$4M over ten years and would result in an average PCI down at 50. He
displayed maps showing the PCI of various streets now and under the various treatment scenarios. He
then showed some comparisons of what different cities are spending per mile on maintenance.
Mr. Conder summarized Capitol's recommendations which included investigating additional funding,
(possibly a Transportation Benefit District sales tax or license tab fees) and implementing a slurry seal
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program. Mr. Walters requested a scenario to achieve PCI of 76 over 10 years. Councilmembers
discussed the different scenarios and different technologies to repair and maintain pavement.
Review Contract Water Customer Capital Rates
Finance Director Steve Hoglund introduced a review of wholesale regional water rates. Mr. Buckenmeyer
began with an overview of the water distribution system. Mr. Hoglund then introduced rate consultant
Ashley Emery from Peninsula Consulting Group who has been consulting on Anacortes water rates since
2004. Mr. Emery explained that the majority of the costs to produce water don't vary with the amount of
water used, fixed costs are a large proportion. Mr. Emery reviewed the three components of the regional
customer rates: variable, fixed and capital. He said the variable and fixed rates are adjusted periodically
and reconciled each year whereas the capital rate is adjusted every three years by contract. He said the
capital rate is based on committed volumes and that customers are penalized for using more water than
their committed volume. Mr. Emery discussed the rate methodology which has been used since 2005. He
then presented a rate comparison with other regional water utilities showing the relatively low cost of
Anacortes water. Mr. Hoglund advised that he could bring an ordinance to Council at the next regular
meeting to adjust the capital rate for the regional customers.
2013 City Work Crew Report
Police Chief Bonnie Bowers presented a 2013 update on the City Work Crew program to provide
alternatives to jail for eligible misdemeanor offenders. Chief Bowers reviewed the structure of the program
which began in 2011 and presented summary statistics for the past three years. She demonstrated that in
2013 the program had 130 participants, 90 of whom completed it successfully, providing 1800 hours of
labor and saving the City$24,200 in jail bills. Several councilmembers expressed their satisfaction with
the program.
Georgetown University Energy Prize
Mayor Gere described the Georgetown University Energy Prize (GUEP) competition among communities
to creatively decrease per capita energy usage and foster sustained energy efficiency. The mayor asked
Council to consider supporting sending a letter of intent for Anacortes to participate in the competition. Mr.
Johnson observed that the only cost to apply would be staff time and Mayor Gere responded that
community volunteers had offered to help with that. She added that PSE and CNG would also help
provide baseline information for the competition. Several councilmembers expressed support for a letter
of intent. The mayor advised that staff would draw up a letter.
Mayor Transition Plan
Mayor Gere presented to the public her transition plan for her first year in office. She reported that the
plan had been presented to the Anacortes American, to City Council, and to staff. She invited
councilmembers to express any suggestions or concerns. Mayor Gere reviewed the plan section by
section including Personnel, Appointments, Citizen Involvement, Communications and Transparency,
Legislative Agenda and Administrative Projects. Several councilmembers supported the idea of a Mayor-
Council retreat in the very near future.
Mayor Visioning Plan
Mayor Gere presented her thoughts on the visioning process to be undertaken as part of the 2016
Comprehensive Plan update. She called for answers and solutions to issues the City has faced for years,
a common vision for what Anacortes wants (and needs)for its future, and a Comprehensive Plan infused
with thoughtful discussion and fact-based decision making to guide the city toward its desired future. The
mayor suggested that the process draw upon Step 2 of the Anacortes Futures Project and the Anacortes
in Action study back in the fifties. She proposed to modify the existing 2016 Comprehensive Plan Update
contract with Makers to incorporate elements of the Anacortes Futures Project Step 2. Councilmembers
offered feedback and suggestions about the process.
There being no further business, at approximately 9:20 p.m. the regularly scheduled Anacortes City
Council study session of January 13, 2014 adjourned.
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