HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-10-13 City Council Minutes Approved City Council Study Session Minutes—October 13, 2014
At approximately 6:45 p.m. Mayor Laurie Gere called the Anacortes City Council study session of
October 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.
Community Action of Skagit County Presentation
Lynn Christofersen, Community Services Director for Community Action of Skagit County, updated
Council on the work of her organization in Anacortes and throughout the county. She described
Community Action's work to stabilize the lives of those in poverty; equip families for success
through job training, skills coaching, tutoring, and food aid; and strengthen the community through
volunteerism, homeless prevention, affordable housing, appropriate health and dental care, and
financial coaching. She described at length the strengths of the Skagit Food Distribution Center.
Ms. Christofersen highlighted the services Community Action provided to the 1971 clients served
in Anacortes in 2013 which were summarized in the materials handed out to councilmembers at
the beginning of the presentation. She described the activities of the agency to strengthen the
community including Project Homeless Connect, working with community leaders on vital poverty
issues, and providing poverty education to remove stereotypes and increase empathy. Ms.
Christofersen She thanked Anacortes for its ongoing partnership and support.
Robert McCracken, Volunteer Services Coordinator at Community Action, described in more detail
the services provided by that program including yard maintenance, home repairs, handicapped
modifications, moving assistance, housekeeping, meal preparation, and other services to provide
senior and disabled clients with the assistance needed to remain safely and independently at
home. He lauded the services provided by the program's many volunteers and urged continued
support of the program from the mayor and council.
Mr. Walters discussed with Ms. Christofersen the way that Community Action's services
complement those offered by the Anacortes Family Center.
Council Review of Budget - Public Works
Finance Director Steve Hoglund advised that the Public Works Department budget would be
reviewed at the present meeting and that the remainder of the budget would be reviewed at the
study session on October 27. Mr. Hoglund summarized how Council's budget objectives stated in
Resolution 1900 adopted September 15, 2014 were reflected in the mayor's proposed budget. He
also described the$842K budgeted for street maintenance projects and how that figure compared
to the$1.1 M targeted in Resolution 1895.
Mayor Gere summarized that she had presented a realistic budget which covered everything but
approximately$250K for roads and proposed to use $339K of General Fund cash reserves
compared to $344K and $337K of cash reserves actually used in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Mr.
Walters requested a summary of which 2015 Capital Facilities Plan projects were included in the
proposed budget.
Public Works Director Fred Buckenmeyer introduced the Public Works staff present for the budget
discussion: Operations Manager Sandi Anderson, Water Treatment Plant Manager Jamie LeBlanc,
Wastewater Treatment Plant Interim Manager Bob Hendrix and Supervisor Steve Doebler, City
Engineers Matt Reynolds and Eric Shjarback, and Facilities Manager Russ Pittis. Mr. Buckenmeyer
presented the department's organizational chart, departmental overview and budget goals.
Mr. Hoglund and Mr. Buckenmeyer then highlighted items from the proposed revenue and
expenditure budgets for each division in the Public Works Department including Engineering,
Facilities, Street Maintenance, Arterial Street Construction, Water, Sewer, Storm Drain, Sanitation
and Equipment Rental. They responded to councilmember queries as those arose.
Regarding Fund 104, Street Maintenance, line 1032 for street overlays, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Adams
supported increasing that amount from the$842,000 budgeted to the$1.1 M targeted in Resolution
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1895. Mr. Hoglund explained that Resolution 1895 anticipated dedicating $300K of vehicle license
fees to street maintenance annually but that collection of those fees would not begin until
approximately two months into 2015 so the revenues available for the first year would be lower than
subsequent years.
Regarding Fund 401, Water, line 1523 for water conservation supplies, Mr. Walters suggested that
the city should spend much more than the $3,000 budgeted for conservation education and asked
that staff look at that in the context of water contracts and rates currently being renegotiated.
Regarding Fund 440, Sewer, line 1766 for the WWTP administration building upgrade,
councilmembers inquired how much of the design and construction of the project would be completed
with the$200K budgeted. Mr. Buckenmeyer explained that the project was still in programming so its
total cost had not yet been determined. Mr. Walters expressed concern about scope creep. Mr.
Buckenmeyer indicated the final project scope and cost would likely be less than envisioned in the
Capital Facilities Plan. He suggested adding the topic to the next Council Public Works Committee
agenda. Ms. Lovelett remarked on the amounts budgeted for architectural design fees for various
capital projects and asked if there are cities who keep architects on staff. Mr. Buckenmeyer said none
locally and that such design fees were typical in the industry. Ms. Lovelett wondered if Anacortes
might share an architect with Mount Vernon.
Regarding line 1781 for the sea level impact study, Mr. Adams urged care in selecting a consultant
for that work. Mr. Buckenmeyer said he would be contacting other jurisdictions who had undertaken
similar studies.
Ms. Lovelett inquired about line 1809 for electronic O&M manuals. Staff explained that the $40,000
budgeted was the estimated 2015 completion cost for the existing contract begun but not completed
in 2014.
Mr. Walters inquired about line 1866 for increased utility costs at the WWTP. Mr. Hendrix explained
that the demand rate multiplier charged by PSE had increased so even with lower total electricity
usage cost will increase.
Regarding Fund 445, Storm Drainage, line 1967 for NPDES permit public involvement and
education, Mr. Walters suggested including rain gardens in those expenditures.
Regarding Fund 501, Equipment Rental, Mr. Hoglund explained the capital replacement calculations
for vehicles and equipment. Mr. Walters inquired if the proposed 2015 budget included amounts to
begin making up underfunding of the ER&R fund since the 2008 economic downturn. Mr. Hoglund
pointed to some increases for that purpose but said the fund in still critically underfunded. Mr.
Walters suggested Council Finance Committee continue that discussion.
Ms. Lovelett suggested that the city look into ways to generate power in the next 10 to 15 years to
offset the costs of electricity used at the plants. Mr. Walters suggested that the community solar
associations may be an option. Mr. Buckenmeyer and Mr. Pittis said the next potential site being
considered for solar panels was at the Public Safety building.
There being no further business, at approximately 9:00 p.m. the Anacortes City Council study
session of October 13, 2014 adjourned.
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