HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-04-01 City Council Minutes Approved City Council Minutes—April 1,2019
Mayor Laurie Gere called to order the regular Anacortes City Council meeting of April 1,2019 at 6:00 p.m.
Councilmembers Eric Johnson,Anthony Young,Brad Adams,Bruce McDougall and Matt Miller were present.
Councilmember Ryan Walters was absent.
Mayor Gere announced that Mr. Walters had been detained but would attempt to join the meeting for the
scheduled Executive Session. The assembly joined in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Announcements and Committee Reports
Public Works Committee: Mr. Adams reported from the committee meeting earlier in the evening. Topics
discussed included the possible acquisition by Anacortes of the South Fidalgo water system from Skagit PUD,
the emergency repair of Fidalgo Bay Road following a slide on the bank along a portion of the road during the
March cold snap, and an upcoming presentation to City Council of engineering projects for 2019.
Finance Committee: Mr. Johnson reported from the committee meeting the prior Wednesday. Topics discussed
included a possible budget amendment to address a$10K invoice from Community Action of Skagit County,
consideration of a credit card fee to help cover the fees charged by the banks to the city which total up to $30K
some years, communicating to customers about the Skagit County solid waste tipping fee increase effective June
3,2019,and planning for the future needs of City Hall. Mr. Young asked for more information on the amount
and average of credit card fees charged; Mr. Johnson said banks typically charge 1.5%to 1.7%of the
transaction amount. Mayor Gere clarified that the fee was still under discussion. Mr. Miller said he felt a fee
would be appropriate,noting that most government agencies charge such a fee for the privilege of paying with a
credit card. Mr. Johnson said the committee had discussed the city's Autopay option for utility bills as a no-cost
alternative to customers. Mayor Gere suggested that Finance Director Steve Hoglund report on this topic in
more depth at a future City Council meeting.
Mr. Adams noted that staff had circulated a list of questions that would be asked of the five candidates for City
Council Position 6 at the April 8,2019 City Council meeting. Mr. Adams asked what timing was anticipated for
responses,what order the candidates would be questioned, and generally the ground rules for the interactive
session. He suggested that the list of seven questions was perhaps too long and that a time limit of one to two
minutes for each response might be appropriate. Mr. Johnson suggested that each councilmember select his top
three questions from the list of seven to arrive at a consensus of three questions,with the option to ask additional
questions during the session. Mr.Young urged that each candidate address how he or she would fit in with the
current Council. Mayor Gere asked each councilmember to email Administrative Services Director Emily Schuh
in the next 24 hours with their top three questions and said staff would then prepare and circulate a condensed
list for which candidates could prepare responses.
Public Comment
Wim Houppermans, 3412 K Avenue, speaking as a private citizen and not as a board member of Evergreen
Islands, followed up on the Guemes Channel Trail update presented at the March 25, 2019 City Council
meeting. Mr.Houppermans requested additional detail about the cost of trail repairs,noting that the value of
staff time and city owned equipment should be included. Mr. Houppermans also asked for an update on the
Guemes Channel Trail web page that had been promised four months prior. Mayor Gere said the page was very
close to launching. Mr. Houppermans then presented a series of slides excerpted from Ordinance 2957 adopted
August 17,2015 approving the 2016-2021 Anacortes Transportation Improvement Plan. Mr. Houppermans
noted that Phases 2, 3, 5 and 6 of the trail were included as projects in that TIP showing both planning and
construction complete by 2019. He said the lack of public input on the planning and permitting for those phases
for the six years of the plan was not right. He asked Council to revisit Ordinance 2957, determine if what was
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approved in 2015 was still a valid approach, if not amend the ordinance, and possibly remand the GCT planning
process to the Planning Commission where everything including the website will highlight why the trail should
be built.
Jeff Drenski, owner of Skagit River Bakery, followed up on comments made at the March 25,2019 City
Council meeting by Jennifer Mann regarding parking problems. Mr. Drenski,whose business like Ms. Mann's is
located in the New Wilson Hotel, said that New Wilson residents parking on Commercial Avenue in violation of
the time limits causes problems for the retail businesses on that block and on down Commercial Avenue. He
said residents' cars are sometimes in the same spaces for days at a time. Mr. Drenski said he had discussed the
parking problem with the Anacortes Housing Authority,which owns the New Wilson Hotel,but that AHA staff
were unable to gain resident cooperation with the parking regulations. Mr. Drenski said he had spoken with the
Community Service Officer at the Anacortes Police Department,who advised that cars with handicapped
placards displayed would not be cited but who had contacted the owners of other vehicles parked in violation of
the time limits. Mr. Drenski said that had not curtailed repeat offenses. Mr. Drenski said that he had experience
with the same type of parking problem in downtown Mount Vernon when his business had been located there
and that Mount Vernon had solved the problem by chalking tires at random intervals. He suggested that
Anacortes attempt that solution before the summer tourist season began. Mayor Gere advised Mr. Drenski that
she was meeting the following week with the Chief of Police and the Director of Planning to address this issue.
Consent Agenda
Mr. Johnson moved, seconded by Mr. Miller,to approve the following Consent Agenda items. Mr. Young
thanked staff for making no unnecessary purchases from Amazon. The motion carried unanimously by voice
vote.
a. Minutes of March 25,2019
b.Approval of Claims in the Amount of: $670,954.34
The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment:
EFT numbers: 92712 through 92763,total$616,421.82
Check numbers: 92764 through 92799,total$47,125.54
Wire transfer numbers: 247155 through 247380,total $6,300.61
OTHER BUSINESS
Resolution 2039: Authorizing the Commemorative Naming of the Anacortes Children's Library
Library Director Ruth Barefoot asked Council to authorize commemorative naming of the Children's Wing of
the Anacortes Public Library as the Dr. Sylvia Maxson Children's Library. Ms. Barefoot said that in recognition
Dr. Maxson's lifetime commitment to children's education and literacy, and many years of time and financial
resource contributions to the Anacortes Public Library,most recently a$100,000 cash donation to the Anacortes
Library Foundation to support the children's library,the Library Board of Trustees,Mayor Gere, and Ms.
Barefoot all endorsed the commemorative naming of the Children's Wing in honor of Dr. Sylvia Maxson.
Mr. Young moved, seconded by Mr. McDougall,to approve Resolution 2039 authorizing the commemorative
naming of the children's wing of the library.
Mayor Gere invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item.No one present wished to address
the Council.
Vote: Ayes—Young,Adams, McDougall,Miller and Johnson. Motion carried.
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Executive Session (45 Minutes)per RCW 42.30.110(i)
At approximately 6:30 p.m. Mayor Gere announced that City Council and the City Attorney would convene in
Executive Session for approximately 45 minutes to discuss potential litigation or litigation.
Mr. Walters joined the meeting at the beginning of the executive session.
At approximately 7:25 p.m. Mayor Gere returned to chambers and announced that the executive session had
concluded with no action being taken.
There being no further business,at approximately 7:30 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of April 1,
2019 was adjourned.
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