HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-06-01 City Council Minutes Approved June 1, 2009
At 7:30 p.m. Mayor Maxwell called the regularly scheduled meeting of June 1, 2009 to order. Roll call
found present: Nick Petrish, Erica Pickett, Brad Adams, Bill Turner, and Brian Geer. Absent: Kevin
McKeown and Cynthia Richardson. Roll call was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes of Previous Meeting
Mr. Geer moved, seconded by Mr. Turner, that the minutes of May 11, 2009 and May 18, 2009 be
approved as if read. Vote: Ayes— Petrish, Pickett, Adams, Turner, and Geer. Motion carried.
Citizen Hearings
No one present wished to speak on matters not on the agenda.
Mayor/Council Communication
Mayor Maxwell read from a May 18th letter from the Department of Ecology (DOE). DOE identified the
Anacortes Wastewater Treatment Plant as a recipient of the 2008 Wastewater Treatment Plant
Outstanding Performance award. Ecology appreciates the extraordinary level of effort demonstrated
throughout 2008 by dedicated operators ensuring outstanding compliance in the protection of our State's
water quality. The Mayor also reported that a successful open house was held at the Plant; over 150
elementary students were able to tour the plant and its operations. The Mayor thanked the crew for their
dedication to service.
On Saturday, May 30th Mayor Maxwell attended the memorial service for Ms. Nancy Walbeck, former
reporter for the Anacortes American. Ms. Walbeck covered the City of Anacortes for a number of years
with particular dedication to the development of the local arts community.
Senator Kevin Ranker from the 40th District has asked to establish a district office in Anacortes. Senator
Ranker will be using the Council Chambers meeting room to meet with his constituents; days and times to
be announced.
Consent Agenda
Mr. Adams moved, seconded by Mr. Petrish to approve the following Consent Agenda items. Vote: Ayes
—Pickett, Adams, Turner, Geer, and Petrish. Motion carried.
Approval of Vouchers/Cancellation of Warrants
Council voted unanimously that the following vouchers/warrants audited and certified by the City's
Auditing Officer (Finance Director) and subsequently reviewed and approved by the Council Finance
Committee on May 21, 2009 and May 28, 2009 are approved for payment as of this date June 1, 2009.
Claims Warrants
May 2009: Warrant Numbers 51037 through 51200 in the total amount of$362,820.48
EFT
May 2009: EFT Number 51036 in the total amount of$126.00
Prewritten Claims
May, 2009: Warrant Numbers 51033 through 51035 in the total amount of$26,916.10
In the same motion Council:
Approved the Street Fair Application and associated conditions and services for the Shipwreck Days
annual event to be held downtown Anacortes on July 18, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
2008 Fire Department Annual Report
Fire Chief Curtis distributed the 2008 Annual Report to the City Council on the Fire Protection and
Emergency Medical Services provided by the Anacortes Fire Department. The Chief first addressed the
use of lights and sirens. Whenever possible, the Department policy is to reduce the priority response
mode in order to increase citizen and firefighter safety and to reduce City liability. When the vehicles do
respond to non-priority events (without lights and sirens) all traffic laws are obeyed. Medical calls are
identified in terms of severity so that priority responses can be reduced when reasonably possible. The
goal is to arrive as quickly and safely as possible and to ask rather than demand right-of-way. Chief
Curtis then described the mandatory apparatus training courses. Further, preemptive devices are
installed on all lights as an additional safety advantage. The Chief asked the public to remember that
when you hear sirens or see emergency lights you are required by law to pull to the right and to stop the
vehicle. The Chief concluded with a review of the appropriate RCW's relative to lights and sirens.
The Chief then reviewed the five reporting requirements relative to RCW 35.103.030. He also reviewed
the response time standards for turnout time, first arriving engine company, and full first alarm
assignment; response time standards for urban, suburban, and rural areas were also reviewed. To
illustrate the critical element of response time, the Chief showed a video of a 2-minute flashover.
Discussion followed regarding the advantages of sprinkler systems. The 90% response time
measurement was explained; charts illustrated that the emergency call volume of EMS and fire has
increased over a 17-year period. 84% of the calls are emergency medical related due to a higher retired
population and a service area that is larger for EMS than for fire protection. 67% of the calls occur
JUNE 1,2009—CONTINUED
between 8: a.m. and 8:00 p.m. The Chief then reviewed graphs illustrating fire responses by location
(including Shelter Bay and Mt. Vernon) and by subtype. Another service component is the inter-facility
transport services; transports to out of county hospitals are on the rise thereby straining the City's
resources. Another valuable program involves fire inspection support including fire inspections, plan
review, fire alarm and sprinkler tests. The actual EMS response times against the standard are: urban —
78%; suburban — 78%; and rural — 94%. Actual fire response times against the standard are: turnout
time —45%; first unit arrival — 75%; and full first alarm — 25%. The Chief suggested these statistics may
be influenced by the declining volunteer program; in 1996 there were 26 volunteers; today there are 4.
The recommended plan of action includes installation of MDT's (voiceless dispatch, mapping and pre-
plan data); research alternative proposal for staffing full first alarms; and recruiting and maintaining a
volunteer program. Mr. Geer praised the Chief and staff for the successful mutual aid system and
positive relationships with other departments. Mr. Adams asked about the medical and fire aid
relationship with the refineries. The Mayor and Council thanked Chief Curtis for his presentation.
Update: 2009 Police Department Goals
Police Chief Bonnie Bowers presented a progress report on the Department's 2009 goals. The Chief first
shared that the Department is on budget (recovering $8,500 from grant opportunities); crime is down; one
vacancy will be filled; and the Department is fiscally sound.
The goals are based on mission and vision and core values. Issues encompassing the mission
statement: seek to improve the quality of life through reducing danger from criminal activity and
improving community well being. Goal One: Recruit and Retain Excellent Staff; Chief Bowers then
detailed the strategies to recruit and retain staff. Goal Two: Realign staff and resources to meet the
changing needs of the community. Objectives toward that goal include: realign records positions and
hours of service (compress records shifts to City business hours); complete long range staffing plans
based on future needs of our community (consolidate records positions into three support services
positions); and enter into an agreement with Skagit County to maintain a Boating Safety Program in
Anacortes (surplus "Aqua Beat" 23' fiberglass boat and retain and train a minimum of three qualified boat
operators). Goal Three: Reduce chronic criminal activity that is committed by a small but prolific number
of offenders. The plan is to identify frequent offenders in the community and develop strategies to
decrease their criminal activity. Generally, about 5% of the repeat offenders are responsible for 85% of
the crimes. Officers will work with the court system to emphasize accountability and to try to change that
behavior. A graph illustrated the felony and misdemeanor rates for January 2003 through December
2008; the goal is to bring down misdemeanor crime totals through high profile patrols. Goal Four:
Encourage safe motor vehicle and pedestrian safety through education and enforcement. The
Department will: increase pedestrian safety (auxiliary patrol in the school zones); install Section software
(e-tickets); participate in the Safe Routes to School committee for improved signage in all school zones;
officers will issue correction notices and citations when appropriate; continue participation in traffic safety
programs, and criminal interdiction through traffic enforcement. A graph illustrated the warnings,
citations, and collisions from 1996-2008. The Chief supported the proposed Commercial Avenue
roundabout; collisions will decrease once constructed. Goal Five: Encourage officers to be emotionally,
physically, and tactically prepared to respond to dangerous criminal activity in our community. The
Department plans to expand the City Wellness program for commissioned and non-commissioned staff; in
cooperation with the Guild, the Department will improve the exercise room; provide tactical training to
officers; encourage tactical drill and practice during slow shifts; and continue to encourage healthy mental
and emotional lifestyles and access to assistance from EAP and other resources.
Mr. Turner complimented the Department's intelligent and caring approach to public safety; he is
impressed with the results. Mr. Adams asked about enforcement of school zone speed limits. Mr. Petrish
remarked on parking of large rigs/vehicles on City streets, in particular on 8th Street and "0"Avenue. Mrs.
Pickett complimented both the Fire and Police Departments for their professionalism in performing duties
and responsibilities on behalf of the City.
At approximately 9:00 p.m. Mayor Maxwell continued the meeting to Monday, June 8, 2009 for the
purpose of(1) Bid Award for the Commercial Avenue Roundabout; (2) Bid Award for the 2009 "L" District
Sewer Line Rehabilitation— Phase 2.
Steven D. Hoglund, City Clerk-Treasurer H. Dean Maxwell, Mayor
Councilmember