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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-05-12 City Council Minutes Approved City Council Study Session Minutes— May 12, 2014 At approximately 7:00 p.m. Mayor Laurie Gere called the regularly scheduled Anacortes City Council study session of May 12, 2014 to order. Roll call found present City Councilmembers Eric Johnson, Ryan Walters, Erica Pickett, Brad Adams, Liz Lovelett, John Archibald and Matt Miller. Preliminary Population and Employment Projections Kevin Murphy, Executive Director of the Skagit Council of Governments (SCOG), presented Skagit County's proposed preliminary population and employment allocations to be used for comprehensive plans and development regulations by jurisdictions within the county. Mr. Murphy explained how the draft allocations were developed based on projections provided by the Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) and how they will be used to develop a Regional Transportation Plan that will be consistent with county and city policies and comprehensive plans. He said that allocations are based on Urban Growth Areas (UGAs) and reminded that the Growth Management Act(GMA) requires counties, cities and towns to include areas and densities sufficient to permit the urban growth that is projected. The allocation directs 80% of population growth to urban areas. Mr. Murphy said the total allocated population growth for Anacortes between 2012 and 2036 is 6,203. Mr. Murphy then discussed how the employment forecasts, which are not provided by OFM, were developed and allocated among UGAs. He advised that the draft employment figures that he shared were still being refined by SCOG's Planner Committee and that the committee was considering recommending that employment growth rather than acreage drive UGA expansion. He said the allocated employment growth for Anacortes between 2012 and 2036 is 1,742 jobs. Mr. Murphy displayed the revised allocation process being considered by the Planners Committee including having the GMA Steering Committee establish the initial growth allocations by June, reconciling those allocations in 2016, monitoring annually, and then adjusting the targets if needed to ensure that planning models are consistent county-wide. He said that would require each jurisdiction to develop consistent Land Capacity Methodology, prepare a monitoring report using defined methods and that the County would need to revise its UGA expansion policies and procedures. Mr. Johnson questioned where Anacortes would house another 6200 residents by 2036. Mr. Murphy said that if cities believe their allocated population is too high due to known land constraints, SCOG needs to know so the city's target can be adjusted and regional transportation planning can use realistic numbers. Mr. Murphy emphasized that forecasts are always nebulous and that it will be important for jurisdictions to monitor annually to see how actual growth compares to the plan and adjust policies accordingly. Mr. Walters requested a written description of that process. Community Action Agency Presentation Bill Henkel, Executive Director of Community Action of Skagit County, and his staff described the agency's services to the county at large and to Anacortes in particular. He introduced Community Services Director Lynn Christofersen, Deputy Director Karen Parnell, Senior and Disabled Volunteer Services Coordinator Robert McCracken, and Board Member Cory Ertel. Calling the City's allocation of its CDBG social services funding for 2014 "understandable", Mr. Henkel said Community Action has appreciated the City's partnership and support over the years and looks forward to continuing that relationship. Mr. Henkel shared the agency's belief statements and major impact areas. He said the goals are to stabilize lives, equip clients to exit poverty, and strengthen safety nets to support pathways to prosperity. He listed some of the agency's many partners and services offered. He then provided a sample of services provided to Anacortes residents during 2013, with nearly 2000 people served. Mr. Henkel displayed the agency's $10M budget and said it is a very lean organization with an overhead rate of only 6%. He described funding gaps for a number of programs and the ways funds are raised to close them. Lynn Christofersen discussed the difference between revenue received to run a program and the investment the agency has to make in the program to fully fund it. She described the Senior and Disabled Volunteer Services program which receives $45K of contract funding based on the volunteer hours worked. She displayed the budget for the program and said its 45 volunteers served 270 seniors last year to maintain safe and independent living situations. Ms. Christofersen invited Mr. McCracken to share some stories and case histories from the program, which he did. He said the program is a great bang for Anacortes City Council Study Session Minutes May 12, 2014 1 the buck because of all the volunteers who staff it for free. He said clients are prioritized to serve those with most urgent need and least resources of their own. Mr. Ertel concluded the presentation with the observation that Community Action is about helping people help themselves and each other. He praised the staff and the organization, their outcome orientation, and their efficient operation. He said dollars spent with Community Action are dollars well spent and bring results in Anacortes. Mr. Johnson described the mobile nature of homelessness and said that dollars directed to shelters anywhere in the county help address this pervasive problem. Mr. Walters listed a number of social service agencies to which the City directs funds. He recommended an AWC article about a city that has dedicated one percent of its General Fund budget to social services and suggested Anacortes budget for social services in a more holistic way. Skagit County Coalition against Trafficking Presentation Marge Thomas and Gayle Kersten of Soroptimist International of Fidalgo Island delivered an informational presentation from the Skagit County Coalition against Trafficking regarding the coalition's work to oppose human trafficking. They said the group empowers communities in Skagit County to combat sex and labor trafficking. Ms. Thomas shared statistics on sexual trafficking of children, the second most lucrative crime in the world, and said it happens everywhere even in local communities. She described the physical and psychological damage suffered by victims forced into modern day slavery. Ms. Thomas said we all have a role to play in identifying, protecting, serving and defending these victims. She urged the community to increase awareness of trafficking, recognize signs of victims being trafficked, support law enforcement training, support laws calling for the arrest and prosecution of both pimps and buyers, support laws to prevent children being charged with prostitution, support education in the schools, and supporting the work of the Coalition. She said there will always be predators but if we are all defenders there don't have to be victims. Ms. Thomas invited citizens to the Coalition meetings on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Farmhouse Restaurant. Mr. Johnson asked the extent of human trafficking in Skagit County. Police Chief Bonnie Bowers reported that last year the Anacortes Police Department ran an Internet sting and within one hour had 100 hits on one ad. She said the Department made three arrests and could have made more if they had more resources. The Chief said this is a very difficult crime to investigate so the best bet is prevention. Ms. Lovelett asked if trafficking is something a campus officer would be trained in. Mr. Johnson asked what Council can do to combat trafficking in Anacortes. Ms. Kersten encouraged councilmembers and the mayor to attend educational programs the Coalition will be sponsoring in the community to show their support, including the annual rally in January. Ms. Thomas said the Coalition was working with Chief Bowers to set up training for the police officers. Chief Bowers discussed an educational program the group hoped to offer in schools and faith groups. Mr. Adams thanked the speakers for bringing the issue to the community's attention. Mr. Walters said trafficking points to the need for a holistic way of soliciting proposals from groups that need social service funding. Ms. Kersten said that when trafficking victims are rescued they need shelter, education and mental health support for years. Fire Protection Master Planning Project Presentation Fire Chief Richard Curtis presented his recommendation that the City undertake development of a Fire Protection and EMS Master Plan. He explained how the Master Plan would fit in with the current Comprehensive Plan update. Chief Curtis said that Council had not previously had an opportunity to explicitly define the desired level of service other than indirectly through the budget process. He added that EMS service would be changing significantly nationally and locally in the future, including more centralized decisions at the County level. He said the City's next contract with Skagit EMS may impact EMS services and also fire protection because Anacortes staffs with firefighter/paramedics. Chief Curtis cited examples of likely future changes including "posting", or moving ambulances around to cover shortages which could result in Anacortes ambulances moving outside of town. He said another potential change is that each agency may have to provide inter-facility transfers which private ambulance companies do now and which takes ambulances out of the service area so they are unable to respond to Anacortes City Council Study Session Minutes May 12, 2014 2 either medical or fire calls locally. Chief Curtis also warned that cost recovery for Medicare and Medicaid patients is likely to continue to decline so budgets will only get tighter. Chief Curtis described how the proposed 10-year Master Plan would differ from the current 3-5 year strategic plan. He outlined in some detail the Master Plan study elements including a Community Risk Analysis, defining the current and desired Level of Service, preparing a gap analysis, and then recommending alternatives. He said staff issued a Request for Proposals to nine fire service consultants and received and evaluated six responses. He presented the results of the evaluation and recommended engaging CityGate Associates LLC for a price of$42,996. Chief Curtis estimated the plan would take about four months to prepare and would coordinate with the comprehensive plan update. Mr. Walters said that the City needed to know where its increased population was likely to reside before deciding where to optimally locate fire stations. He also said fire protection needs to be included in the Capital Facilities element of the comprehensive plan. Mr. Archibald suggested that most of the new growth is likely to occur on the east side of town so station locations could be considered already. Mr. Walters countered that the recent census data predicted the highest rate of population growth in Ward 3. Ms. Pickett asked if the Master Plan cost was in the budget. Chief Curtis said it was not. He reiterated the benefits of hiring a professional firm to complete the Master Plan Mr. Miller said he was often skeptical of hiring consultants but felt it would be an appropriate investment to study whether to relocate Station 1. Ms. Lovelett said that in light of the Shell Refinery oil by rail project it was important to know what resources the City has available to respond to emergencies and what level of service it can provide, particularly given that Anacortes staffs with firefighter/paramedics. Mayor Gere clarified with Chief Curtis that the consultant would analyze whether the City could condense from two 24-hour stations and one 12- hour station to two 24-hour stations with one possibly at a different location. Mr. Adams confirmed with Chief Curtis that Council would have to approve the proposed consultant contract at a regular meeting. He said he would like to know the level of staffing at each station because that affects the available response and said he looked forward to considering the level of service the community wants and how to pay for it. In response to a request from Mr. Walters Chief Curtis reported on the findings of consultant TCA who looked into building on to Fire District 13's station for use by Anacortes. The consultant estimated construction costs could be $1.7M due to the condition of the soil and the existing building. Chief Curtis said at that point he determined it would be prudent to look at different options. Mr. Walters confirmed that the City owns 4.3 acres of vacant land adjacent to the Venzoil facility on South March Point Road. In response to a question from Mr. Johnson, Chief Curtis explained that unlike Anacortes other cities have separate fire and ambulance agencies. Chief Curtis said he would bring the consultant contract back to Council for consideration and action, including a budget proposal, after it was reviewed by the City Attorney. Ms. Lovelett asked whether the Plan could be prepared in house. There being no further business, at approximately 9:15 p.m. the regularly scheduled Anacortes City Council study session of May 12, 2014 adjourned. Anacortes City Council Study Session Minutes May 12, 2014 3