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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-06-23 City Council Minutes Approved City Council Study Session Minutes—June 23, 2014 At approximately 7:00 p.m. Mayor Laurie Gere called the regularly scheduled Anacortes City Council study session of June 23, 2014 to order. Roll call found present City Councilmembers Eric Johnson, Ryan Walters, Erica Pickett, Liz Lovelett and John Archibald. Brad Adams and Matt Miller were absent. 2015-2020 Capital Facilities Plan Finance Director Steve Hoglund kicked off the Council discussion of the draft 2015-2020 Capital Facilities Plan. He advised that Public Works projects would be discussed at the July 14 study session and projects from all other departments would be discussed at the present meeting, and that a public hearing was scheduled for the regular City Council meeting on July 21. Councilmembers discussed Facilities Department projects. Mr. Hoglund advised that all of these projects,which relate to structural and safety retrofitting of the existing City Hall, had been in the CFP in prior years but had been postponed pending grant funding. Councilmembers discussed the relative value of retrofitting the existing building versus constructing a new one as was done in Burlington (2007)and Sedro-Woolley. Ms. Pickett observed that the citizens may or may not want to invest in a new City Hall but that the existing building is the most energy efficient building the City owns and that there is also a lot of energy saved by remodeling rather than building a new building. Mr. Walters called the existing City Hall functionally obsolete. He said FP-003, FP-005 and FP-006 should be removed from the CFP and replaced by a single CFP project to build a new City Hall. Mr.Archibald agreed. Councilmembers next discussed General Government projects. Mr. Hoglund explained the proposed VOIP phone system slated for 2016. Ms. Pickett asked if that needed to happen sooner. Mayor Gere suggested looking at the 2015 budget with that project in mind, noting that the City did not want to have to replace its phones in an emergency situation. Mr.Walters urged a VOIP system compatible with an updated Exchange server and asked if the Exchange server was in the CFP. Mr. Hoglund said if that project met the$15,000 threshold for CFP items it could be added. Library Director Sheri Miklaski addressed the two projects proposed for the library, noting that these had been introduced into the CFP by her predecessor in prior years. She described her ongoing research into the optimal solution for both of the proposed projects and said she had slated the new integrated library software (L-005)for 2015 because it needs to happen soon. Councilmembers discussed the costs and benefits of switching from the current ILS but suggested no changes to the proposed CFP items. Museum Director Steve Oakley discussed the two new projects he had introduced into the draft CFP. The first was the proposed Anacortes Community Maritime Heritage Center(M-1500)which would include expanded exhibit space as well as meeting and event space and would be located directly south of the Maritime Heritage Center and east of the W.T. Preston. He outlined the conceptual design of the building, donated by architect Cynthia Richardson, and possible variations on the size and shape of the building depending on intended uses and available funding. Councilmembers questioned how event and meeting space would fit in with new facilities proposed by the Port of Anacortes and how the new building would fit in with the Depot Master Plan and the Port's North Basin master plan. Mr. Oakley reported that Port Executive Director Bob Hyde felt the two facilities, both still in very conceptual stages, would complement each other. Councilmembers inquired about the large anticipated cost and fundraising efforts. Mr. Oakley explained the Washington State Capital Heritage Projects grant system for which the project might qualify during the 2016 grant cycle and which might pay up to a third of the cost of the project. Mr.Archibald suggested that any proposed new event space should be discussed in the context of the comprehensive plan to determine the best location. Mr.Walters said he felt this was not the right time to move forward with this project given the flux in the area and said his constituents want to focus on critical infrastructure rather than amenities. He asked to remove it from the CFP. Mr.Walters asked to know the ongoing maintenance and operation costs for all new projects, including this one. Mr.Archibald said he liked the concept and that it should be part of the discussion but maybe not included in the CFP. Mr. Oakley said it had been included in the CFP for planning purposes. Mayor Gere explained that the concept started as an expansion of the current Maritime Heritage Center at the suggestion of community members who strongly support celebrating the City's maritime heritage and that the meeting space was added to the concept to help offset the cost of the project through rental fees. She said it would also encourage tourism,fits the site and has a lot going for it. Mr. Walters asked if$1 M of donations was realistic. Mr. Oakley said that there are citizens who care deeply about the community's maritime history and that without private support the project would not be built, it was not intended to burden the City budget. He urged including the project in the CFP and considering it as a planning document. Mr. Oakley next described the proposed Vintage Garage Row at the Depot Plaza, an approximately 60-foot-long structure along the north end of the Depot Plaza east of the existing train shed that would house and display the 1924 American LaFrance fire engine,the antique ambulance donated by Tesoro,the Demopoulos junk truck and possibly other historic vehicles. Mr. Oakley said the structure would include restrooms,which is called for by the Depot Master Anacortes City Council Study Session Minutes June 23, 2014 1 Plan, and would also include some space for the Anacortes Farmers Market. Ms. Pickett suggested engineering the building for an eventual second story that could accommodate a caretaker apartment among other uses. Mr. Oakley said artist studio space had also been suggested for a second story. Ms. Lovelett and Mr. Walters expressed support for the project. Mr.Walters questioned the cost estimate. Mr. Oakley said it had been provided by Mr. Measamer and that he could come back to Council with a revised cost estimate for a two-story structure. Mr.Archibald again cautioned about building single projects in the area without a big picture look at all uses in the area as part of the comprehensive plan. Ms. Pickett said the north end of the Depot plaza is largely constrained by adjacent Dakota Creek, the madrone grove and the wetlands and said the building was a nice idea for that location. Mr. Walters supported including the project in the CFP but said he wanted public review of the design. Mr. Johnson said both of the proposed museum CFP projects should be on paper. Parks and Forestlands Manager Jonn Lunsford then reviewed with Council the Parks Department projects from the draft CFP that were either added new for 2015-2020 or projected costs in 2015. He explained planned improvements at H Avenue Park. Ms. Lovelett asked if drainage issues at the park would be part of the improvements. Mr. Lunsford said he would find out. Mr. Walters noted the two H Avenue projects in the CFP and said that the Stream Restoration project(P-041)should be prioritized. He described work he would like to see at the H Avenue Park. Ms. Lovelett reiterated that drainage issues need to be addressed in the area. Mr. Lunsford next briefly described the Neighborhood Parks(P-023). Councilmembers had no questions on that item. Mr.Walters asked about the Cemetery Improvements/Expansion project(C-017). Mr. Hoglund explained the anticipated lease revenue from the Water Fund to fund that project. Mr. Lunsford described the SHIP Wetland Interpretive Trail (P-035)and addressed questions from Mayor Gere about connecting that project to the Washington State Ferry Terminal on the west end. Mr. Lunsford referenced the recent study session presentation about the Storvik Park Restroom Replacement and Spray Pad project(P-040)about which councilmembers had no further questions. However, Ms. Pickett noted that the Storvik Park North Parking Lot is in very poor shape and said the project to pave it(P-1300)needs to happen sooner than 2017. Councilmembers discussed whether this project could be timed to coincide with the restroom project and possibly expand the parking capacity at the park. Mr. Lunsford said staff would look into that after their scheduled visit to the Mt.Vernon spray park in July. Mr. Lunsford described the new Parks item in the CFP, the South Commercial Avenue Pocket Park(P-1500). Ms. Pickett elaborated on the plan for this small park to add a little green to that part of town. Ms. Lovelett said the Washington Park restrooms need the money more than the pocket park. Ms. Pickett said she didn't disagree but that placing an item in the CFP sets a marker so donations can be solicited and staff can watch for opportunities to realize the plan. Mr. Walters said he liked the pocket park project but the restrooms were more important. He urged a programmatic approach to restrooms and suggested that replacement funds should exist for infrastructure with a finite life span, similar to the Equipment Rental and Replacement Fund 501. There being no further questions on Park projects, Mr. Hoglund next described the two Planning Department projects in the CFP. Mr. Walters asked why the Clyde Creek Water Quality Enhancement Project(PL-010)was submitted by the Planning Department and not the stormwater utility. Mr. Hoglund said it had to do with staffing and grant opportunities. Mr. Johnson asked about the cost of the 30th Street Travel Lift Capacity Upgrade(PL-009). Ms. Pickett pointed out that the City does get some revenue from the existing travel lift, which is leased to a private company that operates it. Mr.Walters asked that this project description, and all project descriptions, include mention of any offsetting revenue. Fire Chief Richard Curtis then addressed Council about the three Public Safety projects in the CFP. Regarding PSF- 117 to underground the power lines in front of Fire Station 1 so they don't block access during a disaster, Ms. Pickett recalled a recent Puget Sound Energy presentation to Council during which PSE indicated it would pay up to 70% of the cost of undergrounding power lines in some locations. She asked if that contribution was included in the cost estimate. Chief Curtis said it was not and he would follow up with PSE. Mr. Walters said this was a high priority item and should be moved to 2015. Mr.Walters wondered if the City could partner with the Samish on the proposed March Point Fire Station and asked that the estimated annual savings be filled in for each project. Councilmembers requested no other changes to the Public Safety items in the draft CFP. Mr. Hoglund reiterated that the CFP discussion would resume at the July 14, 2014 study session focusing on Public Works projects. There being no further business, at approximately 8:40 p.m. the regularly scheduled Anacortes City Council study session of June 23, 2014 adjourned. Anacortes City Council Study Session Minutes June 23, 2014 2