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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-07-02 City Council Minutes Approved City Council Minutes—July 2, 2018 At 6:00 p.m. Mayor Laurie Gere called to order the regular Anacortes City Council meeting of July 2,2018. Councilmembers Eric Johnson,Anthony Young,Ryan Walters,Brad Adams,Bruce McDougall and Matt Miller were present. Councilmember Liz Lovelett was absent. The assembly joined in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Walters moved, seconded by Mr. Johnson,to excuse the absence of Ms. Lovelett who was ill. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Mayor Gere withdrew Item 7e,Resolution 2017: Transportation Benefit District 0.2% Sales Tax(for public vote in November), from the agenda and advised that the matter would come back to Council on July 9,2018 in conjunction with Resolution 2018: Transportation Benefit District Description and Funding Source Breakdown. Announcements and Committee Reports Public Works Committee: Mayor Gere announced that the regular committee meeting scheduled for earlier in the evening had been cancelled. Public Comment Michele Pope,4001 Peters Lane, speaking on behalf of the Anacortes Senior Activity Center Foundation, thanked Mayor Gere and City Council for supporting the Memorandum of Agreement with the Foundation and thanked City Attorney Darcy Swetnam and Administrative Services Director Emily Schuh for their wisdom and careful work drafting the MOA. The mayor thanked Ms. Pope for her work on behalf of the Foundation. Consent Agenda Mr. Young removed Item 5c, Contract Award: Library RFID Equipment, from the Consent Agenda. Mr. Johnson moved, seconded by Mr. Adams,to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. a. Minutes of June 25,2018 b. Approval of Claims in the amount of: $231,272.62 d. Memorandum of Agreement: Anacortes Senior Activity Center Foundation The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment: EFT numbers: 89726 through 89752,total$200,709.29 Check numbers: 89753 through 89789,total$30,268.55 Wire transfer numbers: 233732 through 234787,total $2,370.37 c. Contract Award: Library RFID Equipment Mr. Young noted that the subject contract prohibited discrimination by the Contractor on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex,national origin or physical handicap and asked that future contracts also explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and other protected classes. Mr. Walters asked that the City Attorney report back on that language change at a later meeting. Mr. Young advised that Ms. Swetnam had already begun that research. Mr. Walters moved, seconded by Mr. Johnson,to approve the contract. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Anacortes City Council Minutes July 2, 2018 1 OTHER BUSINESS Public Meeting: Final Plat,Phase V of the Rock Ridge South Subdivision Associate Planner Kevin Cricchio presented a request for final plat approval from RR Summit NW, LLC for Phase V of the Rock Ridge South subdivision. Mr. Cricchio's slide presentation was added to the packet materials for the meeting. He summarized the project chronology and advised that following its public meeting on June 13,2018,the Planning Commission voted unanimously in favor of recommending approval to City Council. Mr. Cricchio reported that Planning and Public Works Department staff had reviewed the application material submitted for final plat,had verified that all conditions of preliminary plat approval had been met, and recommended approval by City Council. He responded to councilmember questions regarding street frontage on the final plat, confirming that all 19 lots have at least 30 feet of street frontage. He summarized City Council's role in final plat approval,noting that according to AMC 16.16.030, if the City Council finds that the final plat meets the requirements in the preliminary plat approval conditions,the final plat will be approved. Mr. Johnson moved, seconded by Mr. Miller,to approve the final plat request for Phase V of the Rock Ridge South subdivision. Vote: Ayes—Young,Walters,Adams,McDougall,Miller and Johnson. Motion carried. Public Meeting: Final PUD/Plat,Haddon Road PUD (PUD-2016-1001) Associate Planner Kevin Cricchio presented a requested for final plat approval from Tom Allen and Allen Family Investments,LLC, for the Haddon Road Plat/PUD-2016-1001. Mr. Cricchio's slide presentation was added to the packet materials for the meeting. He summarized the project chronology and advised that following its public meeting on June 13,2018,the Planning Commission voted unanimously in favor of recommending approval to City Council.Mr. Cricchio reported that Planning and Public Works Department staff had reviewed the application material submitted for final plat,had verified that all conditions of preliminary plat approval had been met and/or would be bonded shortly, and recommended approval by City Council. He summarized City Council's role in final plat approval,noting that according to AMC 16.16.030, if the City Council finds that the final plat meets the requirements in the preliminary plat approval conditions,the final plat will be approved. Mr. Cricchio displayed the final plat map and summarized the minor changes to the layout of Lots 9 through 13 between the preliminary and final plats. Mr. Johnson moved, seconded by Mr.Adams,to approve the final plat/PUD request for the Haddon Road PUD/plat. Vote: Ayes—Walters,Adams,McDougall,Miller,Johnson and Young. Motion carried. Mr. Walters noted the appeals that had been filed on this project, all subsequently denied, and suggested that the Planning Committee perform a review of the project with an eye to informing the upcoming changes to the development regulations. Mayor Gere concurred. Update on Projects and Activities from the Anacortes Bike/Pedestrian Advisory Committee(ABPAC) John Pope and Warren Tessler,representing the Anacortes Bike/Pedestrian Advisory Committee,presented the plans for three neighborhood greenways to serve pedestrians and cyclists on quieter streets parallel to busy arterials. Their slide presentation was added to the packet materials for the meeting. Mr. Pope described the benefits of greenways, including reducing traffic, increasing safety,linking neighborhoods, and inviting new and young users to non-motorized travel. He then elaborated on design features of greenways. Mr. Pope indicated that the ABPAC had been working with city engineering staff to identify and begin configuring greenway routes. He displayed a map identifying bike/pedestrian routes throughout the city,then more detailed maps of three greenway routes: South Hill, Q Avenue and West 2nd Street. Mr. Pope then reported on progress to date,noting that signage and wayfinding markings were underway for the South Hill greenway. Anacortes City Council Minutes July 2, 2018 2 Mr. Tessler then described improvements funded by the Anacortes Parks Foundation(Kiwanis Mount Erie Fund) and installed by City crews to fill in missing links for the greenways, including Q Avenue between 28th and 29th Streets already underway and West 2nd Street between Dakota and Erie Avenues due later in the summer. He praised the effectiveness of the ABPAC, city and Parks Foundation working together to achieve safer cycling and walking for city residents and visitors. Mr. Pope and Mr. Tessler invited the public to attend a ribbon cutting for the first, South Hill Greenway on July 28,2018 at 9 a.m. at 22nd Street and J Avenue. Mr. Miller confirmed that the Traffic Safety Committee had reviewed the greenways several times and praised the concept,noting that greater separation of motor vehicles and cyclists is good for both modes of transport. Mayor Gere invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item. Wim Houppermans, 3412 K Avenue, spoke in support of bicycle transportation in the city and said he was charmed by the word"greenway"which made him envision lanes with trees. He suggested that there was some planting to do. Ordinance 3025: Adopting a Speed Limit Reduction on L Avenue for the Bicycle Boulevard/Greenway Mr. Buckenmeyer presented a companion action to reduce the speed limit on L Avenue between 5th and 22nd streets from 25 mph to 20 mph to improve safety along that corridor. He advised that the Traffic Safety Committee had reviewed the draft ordinance. Mr. Miller asked if the public had been provided sufficient opportunity to comment on the proposed change, if the City Attorney had reviewed the ordinance, and if enforcement mechanisms were in place. Ms. Swetnam confirmed that she had reviewed Ordinance 3025 and that Council had authority to approve the ordinance. Mr. Adams questioned the location of stop signs along the South Hill Greenway route and asked if some intersections might be resigned.Mr. Buckenmeyer advised that it would take separate Council action to eliminate or alter stop sign placement. Mr. Pope observed that reducing the speed limit along a greenway was one means of reducing the cut through traffic in lieu of hardscape traffic calming measures. He indicated that staff was investigating changing the stop patterns at the 9th and 14th Street intersections with L Avenue. Mr. Johnson cited statistics from a AAA Traffic Safety Foundation 2011 study showing dramatically lower pedestrian mortality in collisions with motor vehicles traveling at 20 mph compared to 25 mph. He noted that signage and pavement marking also tend to reduce motor vehicle speeds. Mr. Walters encouraged installing 20 mph speed limit signs and greenway signage on the same poles to underscore the reason for the reduced speed. He noted instances of discontinuous sidewalks along L Avenue and urged completing the gaps. Mr. Walters echoed Mr. Miller's query as to whether the public had been provided sufficient opportunity to comment on the proposed speed reduction. Mayor Gere invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item.No one present wished to address the Council. Mr. Miller suggested postponing action for two weeks,then including the item on the regular agenda including opportunity for public comment. Mayor Gere and councilmembers concurred. Resolution 2019: Authorizing Pledge to Community Action of Skagit County Capital Campaign Mayor Gere reminded that at the June 25, 2018 consideration of this matter Mr. Young had moved, seconded by Ms. Lovelett,to pledge$50K for Community Action's capital campaign and Mayor Gere had clarified that the motion included prior suggested amendments to draft Resolution 2019 to specify that the funds would be payable once Community Action completed the sale transaction for its new Services Center building. Council subsequently voted 4-3 to postpone vote on the motion for one week. Anacortes City Council Minutes July 2, 2018 3 Finance Director Steve Hoglund shared additional information provided by Joan Penney of Community Action following the June 25,2018 meeting. Ms. Penney's explanation of CA's capital campaign requests to Skagit County municipalities was added to the packet materials for the meeting. Mr. Hoglund also noted that the packet materials for the meeting included two alternative versions of Resolution 2019,one specifying $35K and one specifying$50K. Mr. Johnson expressed his support of CA's programs and services but argued in favor of pledging$35K to the capital campaign,then more holistically considering the larger policy and budgetary question of city funding for non-profit agencies in Skagit County. He indicated that the Housing Affordability and Community Services Committee would undertake that review over the course of the summer. He suggested amending the motion on the floor to specify$35K. Mr.Adams seconded. Mayor Gere restated a motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Adams,to change the amendment from$50K to $35K. Mr. Walters agreed with Mr. Johnson's proposal to look holistically at city funding for social service agencies but clarified that the matter on the table was a one-time contribution to CA's capital campaign,not a request for ongoing support of its programs and operations. He noted that CA had requested$50K from four Skagit County cities and had thus far received only$25K, from Sedro Woolley. Mr.Walters argued in favor of pledging$50K and appealed to his colleagues to demonstrate that Anacortes is a giving community and is willing to be as fully supportive of CA as Mount Vernon has been through its annual funding contribution for CA services. Mayor Gere recommend that the during the upcoming budget discussion Council consider adding a line item for social services and establishing a plan for responding to funding requests. Mr. Miller disagreed with Mr. Walters and said forced philanthropy is not good governance. He said there is no disagreement with the good work done by CA,Anacortes Family Center,the Boys and Girls club and other social service agencies the city supports with taxpayer money but said that such funding should be discussed and determined as part of the budget cycle rather than responding on an ad hoc basis to each request. Mr. McDougall agreed on the wisdom of considering the city's social services portfolio holistically to determine what sorts of programs the city wants to fund and how to fund them. He inquired if there is a norm or benchmark for municipal funding of social services,perhaps as a percent of the total budget; he recalled Ms. Lovelett had mentioned 2%. Mr.Hoglund said he would research what other regional cities budget but confirmed that Anacortes expenditures for social services are far less than 2%. Mr. McDougall suggested that lacking a target budget figure,he would lean towards$35K. Mr. Young elaborated on the breadth of CA's mission and the very small amount of funding CA had received from Anacortes for the preceding several years.He said the $50K request was reasonable and agreed with Mr. Walters on supporting that amount but said that if Council decided on$35K, and agreed to consider the additional $15K during the budget discussions over the summer,he would be willing to amend his motion. Mr. Adams said it was a win-win situation to pledge$35K now and then look hard at increasing social service agency funding during the budget process. Mayor Gere invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item. Wim Houppermans observed that each city faces different budget challenges each year so it is nice if the funding burden is shared by multiple cities so one can step up to the plate when another faces constraints. Joan Penney,Community Action of Skagit County,thanked Council for its thoughtful discussion. Ms. Penney shared her experience touring and researching homelessness across the country. She reported that a regional approach to responding to homelessness is much more productive because homeless populations are so fluid and Anacortes City Council Minutes July 2, 2018 4 mobile. Ms. Penney said she also saw a trend towards budgeting for human services departments, such as in Everett and Seattle,who partner with common cause non-profit agencies. Ms. Penney encouraged Council's interest in taking a broader look at social service funding. She said that Anacortes is a leader in Skagit County on affordable housing. She thanked Council for its support in whatever amount it determined. Mr. Walters referred to Ms. Penney's table of Historical Giving by Jurisdiction for 2012-2017 and concluded that other cities contribute more to CA than Anacortes does. He said that if social service agencies were not providing those critically important services,he would argue that the city should provide them directly. He again urged pledging$50K,to make up for low contributions from Anacortes over the preceding four years. Mr. Johnson observed that the city was spending the same amount on social services but had directed it to a different agency in recent years. He again urged looking at social service needs county-wide during the budget process,then considering the appropriate amounts to offer each agency including possibly additional funds for CA. Mr. McDougall reported that the City of Seattle human services budget is $176M, 2.9%of its overall budget. Mr. Johnson restated his motion,which had been seconded by Mr.Adams,to amend Mr. Young's motion to pledge $35 with an opportunity to revisit the pledge as part of a broader look at support of social services in Anacortes and Skagit County. Vote: Ayes—Adams,McDougall,Miller,Johnson and Young.Nays—Walters. Motion carried. Ms. Swetnam observed that the original draft Resolution 2019 included a pledge for$35K and suggested that Council's intent could perhaps be captured by adopting that draft with an amendment adding that City Council will revisit additional giving through the budgetary process. Vote: Ayes—McDougall,Miller, Johnson,Young, Walters and Adams. Motion carried. There being no further business,at approximately 7:20 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of July 2,2018 was adjourned. Anacortes City Council Minutes July 2, 2018 5