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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-08-22 City Council Minutes Approved GST Y 411103,41 City Council Study Session Minutes—August 22, 2011 At 7:30 p.m. Mayor Maxwell called the regularly scheduled Anacortes City Council study session of August 22, 2011 to order. Eric Johnson, Erica Pickett, Brad Adams, Bill Turner, Cynthia Richardson and Brian Geer were present. Nick Petrish was excused. Library Migration to Evergreen Open Source Software for Integrated Library System Library Director Cynthia Harrison explained that the library is proposing to join a consortium of Skagit County libraries to migrate to open source software for its integrated library system (ILS). Ms. Harrison reviewed the comparative costs of the new open source software compared to the current SirsiDynix software and projected that the new software would save the library nearly$30K over the next ten years. Ms. Harrison added that the open source software is more flexible and customizable, allows the library to collaborate with other Skagit libraries, and protects the library from vulnerability to significant upgrade and maintenance costs from the existing vendor. Ms. Harrison explained that the free open source software was developed by a consortium of Georgia libraries and went live in 2006. Since then over 1000 libraries in the United States and Canada have adopted the software. In 2009 King County Libraries won a $1 M matching grant to convert to Evergreen open source software and develop a newer version; King County's next release of the Evergreen open source software is the version Anacortes would adopt. Ms. Harrison said she had wanted to see success stories at other libraries before considering open source for Anacortes. Last year the Burlington, La Conner and Upper Skagit libraries formed a consortium to adopt Evergreen OSS. Ms. Harrison said the Burlington library has been very happy with the software and their IT manager feels it is very stable. Knowing that, Ms. Harrison decided the time was ripe for Anacortes to switch. Anacortes has now been invited to join the Skagit consortium which would save costs and provide useful experience. The Skagit library directors met a couple of weeks ago with their IT staff and discovered that Sedro Woolley and Anacortes are both interested in joining the consortium and migrating to the open source software in the fall of 2012. Anacortes would contract with a consultant to perform the migration and would be able to negotiate a better cost for the migration as part of the consortium and then share consortium costs in the future. Mayor Maxwell pointed out that there is a sizable one time implementation cost but once the payback is complete savings would continue into the future. Ms. Harrison provided a second chart projecting the break even point in 2016. Mr. Geer asked about the technical support track record with Evergreen. Ms. Harrison said the Burlington IT manager manages the software, provides support and escalates calls if necessary for the consortium. Mayor Maxwell pointed out that SirsiDynix may cease to support the current proprietary software. Mr. Johnson said proprietary vendors sometimes cancel software altogether so that's another risk. Ms. Harrison said there would be no upgrades to the catalog or webpage modules with the current version of SirsiDynix and support costs$5K per year. Mrs. Richardson asked what difference patrons would see when using the new catalog. Ms. Harrison said the interface would look different but the functionality would be as good or better. Mayor Maxwell said this item would come back to Council at the September 6, 2011 regular meeting for action. Public Works Protect Update Public Works Director Fred Buckenmeyer said Senator Mary Margaret Haugen was recently in Anacortes for a tour of public works facilities so he had prepared an update for Council on the projects they visited as well as some others. Mr. Buckenmeyer said Senator Kevin Ranker helped the City get a$380K grant to continue upgrades that are part of the Depot Master Plan. He mentioned that Senator Haugen was very complimentary about the Anacortes Farmer's Market when she visited. Parks and Recreation Director Gary Robinson then explained that the City has contracted with Makers Engineering for 30% design drawings for the next phase of the Depot plaza pavers. City engineers will complete the construction drawings in house. Stressing the cooperative nature of the project, Mr. Robinson said Parks and Engineering department staff will meet, then will meet with community stakeholders, to determine how far the brick plaza can be extended under the current grant without conflicting with planned utility improvements. Mr. Adams asked when the work would start. Mr. Robinson said they hope to go out to bid by the end of the year, be able to work through the winter, and complete before the Farmer's Market opens in the spring of 2012. Anacortes City Council Study Session Minutes August 22, 2011 1 Mr. Robinson then updated Council on the Guemes Channel Trail. He recalled that the first phase was completed with grants and some funding from the San Juan Passage development. He said the next phase will continue east as far as Lovric's Marina. Mr. Robinson said staff is verifying property ownership now and will then work on design and permitting for that section. Mayor Maxwell announced that the City has applied for a TIGER 3 (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant to help fund the trail. Mr. Robinson added that Engineering staff are meeting this week with the grant manager from the Recreation and Conservation Organization (RCO) regarding other funding possibilities. Mayor Maxwell praised the trails that frame the downtown business corridor and the opportunities they bring to the community. Mr. Robinson said he was very pleased that the increased public waterfront access has enhanced rather than reduced the wildlife viewing potential there. Mr. Buckenmeyer explained that TIGER grants have previously been restricted to communities much larger than Anacortes but the new rural category requires no match so Anacortes is applying for a grant to complete the entire trail. Mr. Geer inquired about the timeline. Mr. Buckenmeyer said the applications are due in October. Mr. Buckenmeyer then illustrated and summarize the status of a number of current and planned projects: • City Property at South Fidalgo Bay Road. Mr. Buckenmeyer said a TIB grant will complete the road to provide access to the City property and also secondary local access after the Sharpes Corner roundabout is constructed by WSDOT. Mr. Buckenmeyer thanked Mike Underwood for donating time and effort to develop a conceptual plan for the potential business park there. • Pennsylvania Avenue, Phase 3. Mr. Buckenmeyer said the underground utilities are nearly complete and roadway construction will begin next. He said the project is about a week behind schedule due to the extra rock encountered. • Fidalgo Bay Road Improvements. Mr. Buckenmeyer said the City is managing this project for the Samish Indian Nation at the entrance to the RV Park on Weaverling Spit. The project will improve about 1500 LF of roadway and solve some longstanding drainage problems in the area. Mrs. Richardson asked if RVs will still have to exit right out of the park. Mr. Buckenmeyer said yes. He added that environmental permitting has already been completed for the entire roadway corridor. • North Texas Road Waterline. Mr. Buckenmeyer said this project is currently underway to provide redundant waterlines to serve the refineries. He said Jennings NW is doing good work and laying 400 LF of pipe a day. • Safe Routes to School. Mr. Buckenmeyer said the City won a grant this year that will be used in 2012 to improve I Avenue as a one-way street, build pedestrian improvements at 32nd Street and M Avenue and 22nd Street and M Avenue, and install improvements at various school sites. He said design work will begin now that the grant has been awarded. • 22nd Street and R Avenue. Mr. Buckenmeyer said the City has an opportunity to apply for a TIB grant to improve this intersection for pedestrian safety, noting any improvements have to allow for the oversize transport route that passes through that intersection. He mentioned a low profile roundabout as one possibility. • 32nd Street and D Avenue. Mr. Buckenmeyer said this is the intersection of two federally designated routes so it may qualify for some federal STPR money but nothing is designed yet. He also mentioned that Anacortes has been invited to apply for another pool of federal funds designated to improve intersection safety and staff is investigating that potential. Mr. Buckenmeyer concluded with a photographic tour of the Water Treatment Plant improvement project. He noted the extensive activity all over the site. Mr. Johnson asked what redundancy is in place if the water transmission lines across the valley were to be damaged. Mr. Buckenmeyer said if all three reservoirs remain intact they provide a 5-7 day supply of water and the City can also tap into the lakes on the island. He added that two pipelines come into town so there is already redundancy built into the transmission system. Mayor Maxwell noted that Whistle Lake used to be the City's only water supply and said the City also has a contract with the State Department of Emergency Management in case of a natural disaster. Mr. Turner asked if there is a way to pipe Skagit PUD water to Anacortes. Mr. Buckenmeyer said there is not currently a physical connection to that system but it's possible. Mr. Buckenmeyer added that Whidbey Naval Air Station contributes personnel and resources in the case of an emergency. There being no further business, at approximately 8:20 p.m. the regularly scheduled Anacortes City Council study session of August 22, 2011 adjourned. Anacortes City Council Study Session Minutes August 22, 2011 2