HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-05-07 City Council Minutes Approved 9 c ,,
City Council Minutes—May 7, 2012
At 7:00 p.m. Mayor Dean Maxwell called the regularly scheduled Anacortes City Council meeting of
May 7, 2012 to order. Roll call found present: Eric Johnson, Ryan Walters, Erica Pickett, Brad Adams, Bill
Turner, Cynthia Richardson and Brian Geer. Roll call was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes of Previous Meeting
Mr. Geer moved, seconded by Mr. Adams, that the minutes of April 16, 2012, April 17, 2012, April 20,
2012 and April 23, 2012 be approved as if read. Mr. Johnson noted that at the April 16, 2012 meeting
Council had approved the purchase of a Case 580 backhoe with the proviso that staff would first look into
purchasing used equipment less expensively and that staff had in fact confirmed that the approved
contract was the best deal for the City. Vote: Ayes—Walters, Pickett, Adams, Turner, Richardson, Geer
and Johnson. Motion carried.
Citizen Hearings
Rose Dorn, 16989 Sockeye Drive in Mount Vernon, said she attended the recent Envision Skagit 2060
meeting and found it to be right out of Agenda 21. Ms. Dorn called Agenda 21 the UN takeover of
America and described recent executive orders signed by President Obama. Ms. Dorn expressed
concern about her rights being taken away from her and offered to share more information with
councilmembers about Agenda 21.
Mayor/Council Communication and Committee Reports
Mayor Maxwell complimented the Depot Plaza dedication ceremony on Friday and opening day of
boating on Saturday.
Mr. Johnson reported that the Salvation Army food bank is very short on food and provided a list of
critically needed items. He said donations are accepted between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through
Thursday except during the noon hour.
Mr. Geer thanked everyone involved with the transformation at the Depot and said he looked forward to
completion of the master plan for that facility. Mayor Maxwell thanked Senator Kevin Ranker for
supporting appropriations to assist the project.
Consent Agenda
Mr. Geer moved, seconded by Mr. Johnson, to approve the Consent Agenda. Vote: Ayes— Pickett,
Adams, Turner, Richardson, Geer, Johnson and Walters. Motion carried.
Approval of Vouchers/Cancellation of Checks
Council voted unanimously that the following vouchers/checks audited and certified by the City's Auditing
Officer (Finance Director) and subsequently reviewed and approved by the Council Finance Committee
on April 19, 2012, April 26, 2016 and May 3, 2012 are approved for payment as of May 7, 2012.
Claim Checks
April 2012: Check Numbers 64337 through 64521 in the total amount of $3,783,463.98
EFT Claims
April 2012: Check Numbers 64334 through 64336 in the total amount of $218.10
Prewritten Claims
April 2012: Check Numbers 64332 through 64333 in the total amount of$975.00
Payroll for April 20, 2012 in the total amount of$569,888.39
Check Numbers 37084 through 37116 in the total amount of$27,589.76
Direct Deposit Numbers from 44051 through 44233 in the total amount of$352,066.28
EFT Numbers from 1404 through 1410 in the total amount of$190,232.35
Anacortes City Council Minutes May 7, 2012 1
Contract Award: "L" District Sewer Rehabilitation, Phase Ill
Public Works Director Fred Buckenmeyer presented a contract for Phase III of the ongoing "L" District
Sewer Line Rehabilitation project to reduce inflow and infiltration of ground water into the sanitary sewer
system. Mr. Buckenmeyer displayed a map showing the areas already completed and the areas targeted
for Phase III. He reported that bids were opened on April 24, 2012 and the low bid of$297,325.99 was
received from Scimitar Construction. Mr. Buckenmeyer recommended awarding the contract to Scimitar
Construction. He added that the Engineer's Estimate was $343,896.39. In response to questions from
councilmembers, Mr. Buckenmeyer said that Phase III would be all open cut construction in alleys
installing state of the art PVC pipe to replace very old cement and red clay tile pipe. Mr. Turner moved,
seconded by Mrs. Pickett, to award the contract to Scimitar Construction for$297,325.99 including sales
tax. Vote: Ayes—Adams, Turner, Richardson, Geer, Johnson, Walters and Pickett. Motion carried.
Contract Award: Ship Harbor Interpretive Boardwalk Trail
Parks and Recreation Director Gary Robinson provided an overview of the Ship Harbor Interpretive
Preserve interpretive trail which is being constructed in phases. He thanked the Anacortes Parks
Foundation for its ongoing support of the project. Mr. Robinson said the next phase will build an above
grade boardwalk out to the edge of the open water and then continue west towards the Washington State
Ferry Terminal. He explained the innovative bidding specifications used for the project and recommended
awarding the contract to low bidder HB Hansen Construction. He explained that the fixed price contract
will involve additional design, prototype construction, and delivery of modular trail sections and that staff
and/or volunteers would install the modular sections. He added that the project is targeted for completion
at the end of the summer. Mr. Turner asked about the wide range in the bid prices. Mr. Geer moved,
seconded by Mrs. Richardson, to award the contract to HB Hansen Construction for$138,306.65. Vote:
Ayes—Turner, Richardson, Geer, Johnson, Walters, Pickett and Adams. Motion carried.
Public Hearing: Remaining 2011 Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations, Exhibits 5
and 6: Physically Active Community and Public Participation
Planning Director Ryan Larsen presented for public hearing the final two proposed amendments for the
2011 cycle of Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulation updates. He reported that the Planning
Commission had delayed recommendation and action on Exhibit 5 and Exhibit 6 until staff could meet
with proponent Evergreen Islands to refine the proposals. Mr. Larsen said that the refined proposals had
been reintroduced to the Planning Commission at its February 8, 2012 meeting and that a public hearing
was held before the Planning Commission at its March 14, 2012 meeting. Mr. Larsen summarized each
proposal as discussed at the April 23, 2012 City Council study session and included in the current Council
packet. Exhibit 5 would insert into the Anacortes Comprehensive Plan 2010: Transportation a new Goal 6
and four policies to encourage a physically active community. Exhibit 6 would insert new language into
Title 19 of the Anacortes Municipal Code requiring a community participation meeting for quasi-judicial
decisions. Mr. Larsen reviewed the few revisions to Exhibit 6 requested by Council during its discussion
of these exhibits at the April 23, 2012 study session.
At approximately 7:39 p.m. Mayor Maxwell opened the public hearing on Exhibit 5.
Tom Glade, 210 Mansfield Court, spoke on behalf of Evergreen Islands. Mr. Glade said that Exhibit 5 was
submitted with model ordinances as examples and that as the proposal was refined with Mr. Larsen and
Assistant City Engineer Eric Shjarback very timely complete streets language was incorporated as well.
Mr. Glade thanked Brenda Lavender, Ralph Bennett, John Pope, Eric Shen, Mr. Larsen and Mr.
Shjarback for their work on the proposal and encouraged Council to adopt Exhibit 5.
No one else wishing to speak, at approximately 7:42 p.m. Mayor Maxwell closed the public hearing on
Exhibit 5 and opened the public hearing on Exhibit 6.
Arlene French, 1411 8th Street, said that she and Jo Barnes on behalf of proponent Evergreen Islands
were fine with the final changes requested by Council at the April 23, 2012 study session and were very
pleased with the final result. She urged Council to adopt Exhibit 6.No one else wishing to speak, at
approximately 7:43 p.m. Mayor Maxwell closed the public hearing on Exhibit 6.
Anacortes City Council Minutes May 7, 2012 2
Mr. Adams endorsed pedestrian and bicycle amenities and moved, seconded by Mr. Geer, to approve
Exhibit 5. Vote: Ayes— Richardson, Geer, Johnson, Walters, Pickett, Adams and Turner. Motion carried.
Mayor Maxwell advised that staff would bring back an ordinance to codify Exhibit 5 as part of the Consent
Agenda at the next regular City Council meeting.
Mrs. Richardson offered two grammatical corrections to Exhibit 6: B.1 should be "Planned Units
Developments"and "Shoreline Permits shall" should be replaced with "Shoreline Permits may" since the
Planning Director has discretion in that case. She also asked why"pre-application"was being struck and
suggested leaving it in.
Mr. Johnson and Mr. Walters discussed the notice requirements described in paragraph 3 and suggested
that"generally" be stricken and "shall" revert to "should".
Mrs. Pickett said she was also concerned about that paragraph and that it must be made clear that there
is only one public hearing as distinguished from the community participation meeting. City Attorney Brad
Furlong encouraged Council to clearly state what is and is not required in terms of notice, agreed with Mr.
Walters that notice should be required even if by newspaper announcement rather than by direct mail,
and that in B.1 "shall" is in fact compatible with Planning Director discretion.
Mayor Maxwell said that maintenance work didn't need public notice and he favored the language as
presented in the packet.
Mrs. Richardson suggested that in paragraph 3 notice "shall" be required but the type of notice could be
clarified. Mr. Turner agreed with "shall" but said direct mailing to everyone within 300 feet is a good idea.
Mrs. Pickett said the pre-application community participation meeting is a great idea but that the notice
requirements were burdensome and needed to be reworked. Mr. Geer said he favored the language as
presented in the packet with the correct of"units"to "unit". Mr. Turner said the notice requirements aren't
onerous to developer.
Mr. Walters suggested that paragraph 3 be rewritten to state "The applicant must distribute and advertise
the notice per Section 19.40.010 ... "to clarify who sends out the notice and that it is required.
Mr. Walters asked about Conditional Use Permits that don't require public hearing. Mr. Larsen said the
language can specify that those don't require the community participation meeting.
Mrs. Pickett requested a clear copy of the complete proposal on which to vote. Mrs. Richardson
suggested that Mr. Larsen bring back revised language for further review during the subsequent
discussions on new AMC Title 19.
2010 Development Regulation Amendments: Proposed New Title 19
City Council began its review of proposed new AMC Title 19, Options A and B. Mr. Larsen lead a page-
by-page discussion of both versions of the entire chapter which had previously been distributed to Council
and included the latest suggested revisions from the Planning Commission, city staff, City Attorney Brad
Furlong and attorneys from the Washington Cities Insurance Authority (WCIA). Mayor Maxwell and
councilmembers offered both substantive comments and grammatical corrections. Senior Planner Libby
Grage and Mr. Larsen recorded their comments for consideration in a later draft. Mr. Adams noted that
the Board of Adjustment was not mentioned in Title 19. Mr. Larsen advised that the Board of Adjustment
would no longer review variances.
Executive Session (15 Minutes)
At approximately 9:08 Mayor Maxwell called a ten-minute break and announced that upon reconvening
the Mayor, Council and City Attorney Brad Furlong would convene in Executive Session to discuss
potential litigation for approximately fifteen minutes and would reconvene without taking action. At
approximately 9:30 p.m. Council reconvened and there being no further business the regularly scheduled
Anacortes City Council meeting of May 7, 2012 was adjourned.
Anacortes City Council Minutes May 7, 2012 3