HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-07-13 City Council Minutes Approved City Council Study Session Minutes —July 13, 2009
At 7:30 p.m. Mayor Maxwell called the regularly scheduled study session of July 13, 2009 to
order. Kevin McKeown, Nick Petrish, Erica Pickett, Brad Adams, Bill Turner, Cynthia
Richardson and Brian Geer were present.
Mayor Maxwell introduced Marcia Hunt who will henceforth be taking Council minutes as
Kathy Janke retires at the end of the year.
Shoreline Master Program Briefing
Planning Director Ryan Larsen gave a brief update on the SMP schedule which includes
extensive public process between September 9 and the anticipated final approval date of
March 1, 2010. The Watershed Company will have materials prepared for Council review
for the scheduled meetings on September 21, November 23 and December 14. February 1
and February 16, 2010 will be public hearings before Council. Staff will address public
comments from those hearings in time for the final hearing date before Council and
anticipated adoption on March 1, 2010. The City received word last week that it did receive
the grant it requested. A final letter making the grant award official is due within a couple of
weeks. The City can start withdrawing funds from the grant account already. The amount is
expected to be the full amount requested.
Discussion
Mrs. Richardson noted that Department of Ecology is formulating new rules cities are to
incorporate into SMPs. Anacortes started its SMP process prior to these changes so may
not be subject to them. Mr. Adams noted that four public hearing opportunities are included
in the schedule.
San Juan Passage — Schedule Update
Planning Director Ryan Larsen outlined the review schedule for the proposed Native Growth
Protection Easement (NGPE) Restoration and Management Plan for San Juan Passage.
After the last site visit staff met and determined that some public involvement was in order.
The proposal will go before the Planning Commission on September 9 for public comment,
consideration and recommendation, then move on to City Council on September 21 for
public comment and either approval or deferral of action to a future meeting, likely
October 5. Prior to September 9 staff will meet with the applicant to clarify exactly what will
be brought before Council and will prepare a memo clearly stating what action the applicant
is looking for from Planning Commission and City Council.
Anacortes Futures Project
Mike Trafton, incoming president of the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce, introduced the
Anacortes Futures Project. The Project's report, the product of two years of research, has
been out for two months now and includes an executive summary of the 99-page report.
The Project team includes Mike Trafton, Kirk Kennedy, Mark Bunzel, Pam Allen, Steve
Wilhoit, Jim Clarke, and Patti Anderson. The Project follows up on the Berk Study that the
City commissioned in 2006 regarding the economic drivers of the local economy.
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Mike Bunzel presented a slide show summarizing the report which looks at the economic
history and present of Anacortes and examines a range of economic development scenarios
for our future. After considering history, trends, land use, demographics, housing,
employment, and taxable retail sales, the recommendation of the AFP is to develop a
collaborative master plan for the City's economic future to be created by a task force
including stakeholders such as the City, the Port of Anacortes, and the Chamber of
Commerce. The AFP report is available free on line and at the Anacortes Public Library and
may be purchased at Bayshore Office Products.
Discussion
Mrs. Richardson noted that historical economic development reacted to industrial changes
but now we can be more proactive to steer our economic future. Mrs. Pickett complimented
the Chamber on the AFP report and asked if the Project looked at the energy cluster at all.
Mr. Bunzel confirmed that it did; that information appears in the printed report. The Mayor
asked if the plan has been updated to reflect public comments received thus far. Mr. Bunzel
responded that new material is being developed now but no major revisions have been
made yet. The Mayor encouraged the AFP to make those revisions sooner rather than later
so the public has complete and accurate information. Mr. Geer expressed his appreciation
to the AFP and asked if a City Council member or two could be on the task force. Mr. Bunzel
responded that the temporary team including the Mayor and Mr. Larsen is looking now at
what the best make up of the task force would be. Mr. Petrish praised the report's
independent and neutral view of possible futures for the waterfront and observed that
decisions made now will impact the future for 50-100 years. Mr. Turner thanked the project
for its hard work and noted that radical economic changes in the past two years may require
that the assumptions in the report be adjusted. Mr. Adams thanked the AFP for its objective
report, noted that our fairly rigid geographic boundaries constrain our decisions, and urged
expanding retail opportunities in town. Mr. McKeown thanked the AFP for a blueprint that
injects optimism into the community about how we can grow a sustainable, enriching
community.
Parks Comprehensive Plan and ACFL Comprehensive Plan
Parks Directory Gary Robinson provided an overview of the process and schedule for
approving the Parks Comprehensive Plan and ACFL Comprehensive Plan. Councilors
received copies of the current drafts of each plan. The two plans are being considered
concurrently because they affect each other. An approved Parks Comprehensive Plan is
required for grant funding, the ACFL Comprehensive Plan is not. Mr. Robinson reviewed the
process undertaken to date to arrive at these drafts including formation of a steering
committee, identification of interested parties, three rounds of public input, a telephone
survey, drafting of initial plans by staff, taking public comments on the drafts before the
Parks Commission and the ACFL Advisory Board, a SEPA review (the plans received no
comments from state agencies), presentation to the Planning Commission including public
comments, and a small round of revisions made to the drafts based on the Planning
Commission's hearing and recommendations. The resulting drafts now presented are thus
fairly well refined.
Mr. Robinson highlighted some major issues in each plan. The Parks Comprehensive Plan
reflects revised service level recommendations since the last Plan, a major interest in
pathways and trails, conformance of goals and policies to the City Comprehensive Plan, the
need to obtain County funding for services Anacortes provides to non-Anacortes residents,
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potential expansion of off-leash dog recreational areas, a planning process for Heart Lake,
and significant community interest in a small boat center.
In the ACFL Comprehensive Plan the current draft deletes references to logging and reflects
significant discussion about use of Mt. Erie and motorcycle use in the ACFL. There was a
great deal of discussion about off-leash dogs that is not reflected in draft Plan because the
Forest Advisory Board recommended dogs should continue to be welcome in the ACFL on
leash only as they always have been. The Plan reflects the importance of environmental
education as well as allowing recreational opportunities while still preserving the space.
Regarding the schedule for adoption, Mr. Robinson proposed that Council consider both
plans together, on the same night, September 8, with public input. On September 21 Council
would discuss the Parks Comprehensive Plan, on October 5 Council would discuss the
ACFL Comprehensive Plan, staff would incorporate any requested changes, then on
October 19 Council would take action on either or both plans if that has not already
happened on the earlier dates. Written comments will continue to be accepted through
September 8; over 200 pages of written comments have already been received. Both the
Plans and the comments will be available on line by approximately Wednesday this week
and printed copies will be available for public review at the library and at City Hall.
Discussion
Mr. McKeown spoke on behalf of the Council Parks & Recreation Committee to endorse
considering both plans together. Mr. Turner commended staff for taking so much public
input thus far and urged the audience to review the draft plans and comment in September if
appropriate. Mr. Robinson reminded people who are pleased with the plans as drafted that
they may also still express that opinion. Mr. Petrish inquired about the location of Anchor
Cove Park. The Mayor clarified that it is west of Trident. Mr. Geer complimented staff on the
draft plans and on the new Kiwanis Field at Volunteer Park. The Mayor observed that the
Kiwanis clubs and Rotary clubs have contributed hugely to our parks. Mrs. Richardson
agreed that our staff could never provide and care for the facilities we have without the
financial support and physical labor donated by volunteers. Mr. Adams reminded that the
Parks plan is actually a Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Plan and Council is interested
in public opinion on recreation programs and activities as well as facilities.
At approximately 8:38 p.m. the Mayor adjourned the regularly scheduled study session of
July 13, 2009.
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