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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-02-09 City Council Minutes Approved Anacortes City Council Minutes -February 9, 2026 Call to Order Mayor Ryan Walters called to order the February 9, 2026, Anacortes City Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. Councilmembers Luke Currier, Anthony Young, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Carolyn Moulton, and TJ Fantini were present. Councilmember Bruce McDougall was absent. Pledge of Allegiance The assembly joined in the Pledge of Allegiance. Ms. Moulton moved, seconded by Mr. Young, without objection, to excuse the absence of Mr. McDougall. Announcements and Committee Reports North Harbor Diesel Donation Recognition Fire Chief Bill Harris introduced DiannaChonka and Josh Blankenship from North Harbor Diesel, who presented a donation to the city in the amount of $19,673.09 to install a new outboard motor on the Anacortes Fire Department (AFD) rescue boat. HF Sinclair Donation Acceptance Chief Harris described how the Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR) camera had been left off the AFD rescue boat during the procurement process in order to keep costs within the limits of the grant funding. He then mentioned that Battalion Chief Chris Byer had successfully applied for $25,000 in additional funding through the HF Sinclair community giving request program that would allow for the FLIR system to be installed on the AFD rescue boat. Mr. Fantini moved, seconded by Ms. Moulton, to approve the acceptance of a $25,000 donation to add a Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR) camera on the AFD rescue boat. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote. Chief Harris then introduced Andrea Petrich, A.J. Tupper, and Steve Lang from HF Sinclair, who presented a $25,000 donation to add a Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR) camera on the AFD rescue boat. Mayor’s Announcements Mayor Walters announced, referring to a slide presentation that was added to the packet materials for the meeting, reminding the public that election day is tomorrow and ballots must be postmarked or submitted to the local drop boxes by 8pm, that the Downtown Streetscapes survey is available to the public, and that Community Development Block Grant applications are being accepted through February 23rd. He then provided an update on the 12th Street and Commercial Avenue project, announced the reappointment of Xuhua Mu to the Anacortes Housing Authority Board for a five-year term through December 31, 2030, and encouraged those interested to apply to serve on city boards and commissions. Housing Affordability and Community Services and Planning Committee Ms. Moulton reported from the Housing Affordability and Community Services and Planning Committee meeting held earlier in the evening. The topics discussed included introductions of the new committee members, consideration of fees that the city does not currently assess to the public for work that is not undertaken by staff, including some stormwater plan reviews, which could be recouped by the city from the applicant. Ms. Moulton announced that the proposed fee changes will come before the council after more data is collected. The committee also discussed hearing examiner fees for various appeals that could be brought forward, and the upcoming Housing Affordability, and Community Services meeting on 10 February. Anacortes City Council Minutes - February 9, 2026 1 Port / City Liaison Committee Ms. Cleland-McGrath reported from the Port / City Liaison Committee meeting held February 3rd. The topics discussed included next steps on the Olson Building and associated preservation efforts, the importance of coordinating letters of support between the port and city on matters of mutual interest, an update on the Northwest Basin project that is moving toward 60 percent design, and the interlocal agreement for organizing the area improvements around the Market Street and Ninth Street intersections. Mr. Young spoke about love and Valentine's Day, announcing that there is an event to support downtown businesses to show up with a loved one or loved one(s) at the 'Love Out Loud' event. Mr. Fantini mentioned that the Anacortes Community Theater had just begun its 61st season and encouraged the public to check out a show. Public Comment Mayor Walters invited the public to comment on any item not on the agenda. No one present wished to address the Council on any topic not already on the agenda. Consent Agenda Mr. Young moved, seconded by Ms. Cleland-McGrath, to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. a. Minutes of February 2, 2026 b. Approval of claims in the amount of $582,054.85 The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment: EFT numbers: 114810 through 114843 total $370,470.15 Check numbers: 114844 through 114856, total $205,136.67 Wire transfer numbers: 383864 through 383169, total $6,448.03 c. Amendment 1 to Interlocal Agreement 24-253-APD-001 for the Skagit County Interlocal Drug Enforcement Unit task force (SCIDEU) d. Ordinance 5008: Amending AMC 10.12.380 Parking — Prohibited by street segment e. Contract Award: Heart Lake Shoreline Restoration - Survey, Design, & Project Management #25-182-PRK- 001 Public Hearings Public Hearing Regarding the Vacation of a Portion of Alleyway City Attorney Darcy Swetnam introduced the public hearing on the proposed vacation of an alleyway as captured in the proposed Ordinance 5021, referring to a slide presentation that was added to the packet materials for the meeting. At 6:30 pm, Mayor Walters opened the public hearing. At 6:30 pm, with no one wishing to address the council and no objection, Mayor Walters closed the public hearing. Discussion topics included: Access to the Anacortes Community Forest Land (ACFL) trail system where none previously existed. Neighborhood concerns about parking and increased traffic. Expect some change in most neighborhoods. Increasing the ACFL footprint. A 10-foot designated pathway up to the ACFL from 17th Street is included in the ordinance. Anacortes City Council Minutes - February 9, 2026 2 Anthony Young moved, seconded by Christine Cleland-McGrath, to approve the vacation of a portion of alleyway and the associated Ordinance 5021. Vote: Ayes - Carolyn Moulton, Anthony Young, Christine Cleland-McGrath, TJ Fantini, Luke Currier. Nays - None. Abstentions - None. Result: Passed Closed Record Decision Hearing "Local 17" Unit Lot Subdivision w/ Cottage Housing Development Proposal (ULS-2025-0001) Senior Planner Grace Pollard introduced the Closed Record Hearing for the "Local 17" Unit Lot Subdivision with Cottage Housing Development Proposal (ULS-2025-0001), referring to a slide presentation that was included in the packet materials for the meeting. Discussion topics included: Appreciation for the depth and clarity of the presentation for the public benefit. How private and public parking spaces are accounted for in the plan. Speed of traffic as a result of widening the road o Only the right-of-way would be widened to create an area for on-street parking. Mr. Currier mentioned that he was on the Planning Commission when the matter was considered and recommended for approval by that body, and that he is no longer a member of the Planning Commission. Anthony Young moved, seconded by Luke Currier, to adopt the findings of fact and conclusions of law contained in the staff report dated December 5, 2025, and to approve the preliminary plat for the Local 17 unit- lot subdivision, including the cottage development site plan, wetland buffer width averaging, and the alternative pedestrian circulation design, subject to all conditions listed in the staff report. Vote: Ayes - Carolyn Moulton, Anthony Young, Christine Cleland-McGrath, TJ Fantini, Luke Currier. Nays - None. Abstentions - None. Result: Passed Other Business Ward 1 City Council Applicant Statements and Council Deliberation Human Resources and Labor Relations Director Kendall Moyle introduced the process for selecting the Ward 1 City Council person to fill the vacancy left by Mayor Walters, referring to a slide presentation that was included in the packet materials for the meeting. The council offered ideas about what they were looking for in each council candidate. The candidates, Kami Bratten, Suzana Clements, John Gasser, Sarah Henry, Marcia Hunt, Courtney Orrock, Britta Reyier, and Matthew Trunnell then provided their 3-minute statements regarding their qualifications to the council and the public. Candidate Sharon Brown was called to make a statement but was neither present in the council chambers nor online. Carolyn Moulton moved, seconded by Christine Cleland-McGrath, to go into executive session for 30 minutes to discuss the qualifications of the candidates in accordance with RCW 42.30.110(1)(h) and then come back to open session and discuss the process by which the council would then proceed. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote. At 7:33 pm, the City Council went into executive session pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(h) to discuss the qualifications of the candidates. Anacortes City Council Minutes - February 9, 2026 3 The council extended the executive session by 15 minutes. At 8:18 pm, the City Council returned from executive session. Mayor Walters asked the council if they wanted to set a target or not for how many candidates to move forward. The council discussed the number to move forward to the next stage of the selection process. Mr. Young moved to move forward no more than four candidates. There was no second and the motion died. Mr. Fantini moved, seconded by Ms Cleland McGrath, to start at the west end of the dais for each Councilmember to have the opportunity to nominate a single candidate. without a second, to the slate that would be voted on by the whole council. Anthony Young moved, seconded by TJ Fantini, to amend the main motion to begin the nomination process with Mr. Fantini at the east end of the dais. Vote: Ayes - Carolyn Moulton, Anthony Young. Nays - Christine Cleland-McGrath, TJ Fantini, Luke Currier. Abstentions - None. Result: Failed The council approved the main motion to start at the west end of the dais for each Councilmember to have the opportunity to nominate a single candidate without a second to the slate that would be voted on by the whole council by unanimous voice vote. The council discussed their general opinions and outlook regarding the candidates. Mr. Currier nominated Courtney Orrock. Mr. Young nominated Sarah Henry. Ms. Cleland-McGrath nominated Suzana Clements. Ms. Moulton nominated Marcia Hunt. Mr. Fantini nominated John Gasser. Mr Fantini moved, seconded by Mr. Young, to move the slate of candidates forward to the next meeting. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote. The council discussed the process for the next step in the selection process. Mayor Walters provided a synthesis of council input regarding the process, summarizing that each candidate will make a five-minute statement addressing questions provided by the council in advance. Each Councilmember will submit one question to the mayor for the candidates by the end of the day on February 10th, which will be published in the packet for the candidates to prepare their response. Mr. Fantini moved, seconded by Mr. Young, to establish a rule to have 3 minutes to ask the candidates follow- up questions. The motion passed by voice vote, with Ms. Cleland-McGrath voting against the motion. Mr. Fantini moved, seconded by Ms Moulton, to rescind the previous motion. The motion passed by voice vote. Mr. Fantini moved, seconded by Ms. Cleland-McGrath, to allow follow-up questions at the discretion of the chair. Mr. Fantini proposed to amend the motion, without objection, to allow follow-up questions at the discretion of the chair after all candidates have completed their statements. The amended motion passed unanimously by voice vote. Confirmation of Public Works Director Ms. Moyle introduced the appointment of Logan Lee as the permanent Public Works Director and recommended that the City Council approve the appointment of Mr. Lee and authorize the mayor to sign Anacortes City Council Minutes - February 9, 2026 4 contract #26-085-HRD-001 agreement of employment as Public Works Director. Ms. Moulton moved, seconded by Mr. Young,to approve Mayor Walters confirmation of Logan Lee as Public Works Director. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Contract Award: Memorandum of Agreement as to Employment - Public Works Director #26-085- HRD-001 TJ Fantini moved, seconded by Carolyn Moulton, to approve the memorandum of agreement #26-085-HRD- 001 as to the employment of the Public Works Director. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Resolution 3208: Ratifying Department Head Employment Agreements Ms. Moyle introduced Resolution 3208 that would ratify the employment agreements for department heads. TJ Fantini moved, seconded by Anthony Young, to approve Resolution 3208. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote. Closed Session Collective Bargaining topics per RCW 42.30.140(4)(b) (15 minutes) At approximately 9:05 pm, Mayor Walters announced that the council would move into closed session for 15 minutes to discuss collective bargaining topics per RCW 42.30.140(4)(b). The council extended the closed session for an additional 10 minutes. The council returned to open session at 9:30 pm. Other Business Continued Resolution 3204: IAFF Local No. 1537 Collective Bargaining Agreement Ms. Moyle introduced Resolution 3204 that would ratify a collective bargaining agreement with the International Association of Firefighters No. 1537, referring to a slide presentation that was included in the packet materials for the meeting. Luke Currier moved, seconded by TJ Fantini, to move that the City Council adopt Resolution 3204 authorizing the signature and execution of a Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Anacortes and IAFF Local No. 1537 from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Adjournment There being no further business, at approximately 9:35 pm, the Anacortes City Council meeting of February 9, 2026, was adjourned. Anacortes City Council Minutes - February 9, 2026 5