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City Council Minutes—March 25, 2013
At approximately 7:00 p.m. Mayor Dean Maxwell called the regularly scheduled Anacortes City Council
study session of March 25, 2013 to order. City Councilmembers Eric Johnson, Ryan Walters, Erica
Pickett, Brad Adams, Bill Turner, Cynthia Richardson and Brian Geer were present.
Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee -Triangle Property
Planning Director Ryan Larsen introduced Mark Lawrence from the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce
Beautification Committee. Mr. Lawrence, 814 Fidalgo Avenue, provided an update on the Triangle
Property beautification project near the Washington State Ferry Terminal and presented a suggestion
from the committee to replace the existing sign at the property. Mr. Lawrence said the project is expected
to be complete by the end of the year. Councilmembers discussed the sign proposal and complimented
the beautification project.
Safe Routes to Schools Presentation
Assistant City Engineer Eric Shjarback introduced Liz McNett Crowl, Skagit Valley Hospital Outreach and
Development Healthy Communities Coordinator, and Catherine Houck, parent volunteer, to provide an
update on the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. Mr. Shjarback also introduced other members of
the SRTS Advisory Committee present at the meeting including Erica Pickett, John Small, Warren Tessler
and Bob Weathers. Ms. McNett Crowl reviewed the engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement
and evaluation components of the SRTS program, then summarized the projects completed thus far and
those planned for the year ahead. Ms. Houck explained the data collected during the Fall 2012 campaign
to count the number of students walking, biking and skateboarding to school. Mr. Shjarback summarized
the engineering projects that are part of the SRTS grant including the new sidewalks on I Avenue and 29th
Street, intersection improvements at 32nd Street and M Avenue and 22nd Street and M Avenue, and new
bike racks at Island View elementary school. He added that the city has been ranked for a 2014 SRTS
grant to continue enhancements to pedestrian crossings, increase bike parking at the schools, and
continue education and encouragement activities.
Assisted Living Definition
Mr. Larsen reviewed his March 11, 2013 memo in the City Council packet presenting recommendations
from the City Council Planning Committee for defining and regulating "assisted living" in the Anacortes
Municipal Code. Mrs. Richardson elaborated on Item 3 regarding density calculations and the difference
between living unit and dwelling unit. She suggested not referencing living units at all and simply
regulating the number of residents in each facility. Mr. Adams explained committee's suggestion for
disallowing assisted living in the R3 zone and making it a permitted use in the R4 zone. Mr. Johnson
suggested defining "housekeeping establishment" also. Mr. Turner urged ensuring the regulations leave
enough possible locations for additional assisted living facilities to be built. Mr. Geer agreed. Mrs.
Richardson said the Committee would like direction from the Council whether to proceed with this as a
code change or to docket it as part of the next comprehensive plan amendment cycle. Mrs. Pickett
endorsed moving the amendment ahead outside the docket process. Mr. Larsen said he would bring the
topic back to the Planning Committee on April 1, 2013.
At approximately 8:15 p.m. Mayor Maxwell called a five minute break. He called the meeting back to order
at 8:20 p.m.
Review of Proposed New Title 19 with Attorney Edits
Mr. Larsen reviewed with Council proposed Title 19 in the 2010 Comprehensive Plan amendments as
edited by attorney Susan Drummond. He walked through the edited document page by page and solicited
feedback on each suggested revision. Councilmembers provided extensive feedback which was noted by
Mr. Larsen and Assistant Planning Director Don Measamer to be addressed in future drafts and
discussion before Council. Mr. Larsen also noted items to be further reviewed with the attorney.
There being no further business, at approximately 9:40 p.m. the regularly scheduled Anacortes City
Council study session of March 25, 2013 adjourned.
Anacortes City Council Study Session Minutes March 25, 2013 1