HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-08-06 City Council Minutes Approved City Council Minutes—August 6, 2018
At 6:00 p.m. Mayor Pro Tern Matt Miller called to order the regular Anacortes City Council meeting of
August 6,2018. Councilmembers Eric Johnson,Anthony Young,Brad Adams,Bruce McDougall and Matt
Miller were present. Councilmembers Ryan Walters and Liz Lovett were absent. The assembly joined in the
Pledge of Allegiance.
Mr. Adams moved, seconded by Mr. Young,to excuse the absence of Ms. Lovelett. The motion carried
unanimously by voice vote.
Announcements and Committee Reports
Finance Committee: Mr. McDougall reported from the committee meeting the prior week. He advised that the
group discussed with Director of Administrative Services Emily Schuh offering health care benefits to
councilmembers. He said that at least three councilmembers would have to apply for benefits and maintain
coverage in order for any councilmember to be covered, and that premiums would be paid at 100% for
councilmembers but no benefits would be extended to their spouses or dependents. Mr. McDougall added that
the topic would also be addressed by the Personnel Committee and that a recommendation would then be
offered as to possibly codifying city policy on this topic. Mr. Johnson added that the committee had consulted
the City of Bellingham municipal code as an example.
Mr. Young reported from his recent attendance at an Association of Washington Cities budget and finance class
in Tukwila, including discussion of Amazon purchases by municipalities.
Housing Affordability and Community Services Committee: Mr. Johnson reported from the committee meeting
the prior Thursday. He said the group discussed human services as infrastructure and developing a strategic
policy for such services. Mr. Johnson shared data from the City of Redmond's human services budget and
strategic plan and said the committee had embarked on a long term project to further investigate this topic. Mr.
Johnson also reported on the committee's ongoing effort to create a community resource office to coordinate
human services regionally. He advised that the Anacortes Family Center had offered space for such an office
and that conversation was ongoing on coordinating the estimated$60K annual funding needed to staff the
center, including grant and multiple agency funding. Mr. Johnson added that the group had also discussed a
model for transitional homeless sheltering and said more details would follow in the future.
Public Works Committee: Mr. Adams reported from the committee meeting earlier in the evening. He said that
the topics discussed with staff included the change order that would be presented as agenda Item 5h later in the
evening,the change order for repurposing crushed asphalt from the M Avenue paving project to resurface the
upper parking lot at Washington Park,the ongoing feasibility study regarding the possibility of Anacortes taking
over water service to south Fidalgo Island from Skagit PUD,the sewer rate study being performed by a
consultant relating to sewer capital projects,the 32nd Street and D Avenue roundabout construction that would
begin the following week and would entirely close that intersection for up to 20 days in order to achieve
maximum efficiency of performing the work, and the Public Works budget including new staff positions that
might be requested.
Mr. McDougall reported from the ad hoc fiber committee. He advised that he,Mr.Walters and Mr. Miller had
been meeting with staff every Friday for several weeks to review and develop a fiber optic network business
plan. Mr. McDougall said the committee was drawing close to a recommended direction and was targeting a
presentation of the plan to full City Council at its August 27,2018 regular meeting.
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Mr. Miller announced National Night Out at Storvik Park from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on August 7,2018.
Public Comment
No one present wished to address Council on any topic not already on the agenda.
Consent Agenda
Mr. McDougall removed Item 5f,Grant Agreement with Skagit County Sheriffs Office: OPSG Program, from
the Consent Agenda. Mr. Adams moved, seconded by Mr. Johnson,to approve the following Consent Agenda
items. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
a. Minutes of July 23,2018
b.Approval of Claims in the amount of: $392,464.73
c. Street Fair Application: Oyster Run 2018
d. Contract Modification: March Point Road Shoulder Widening Project 15-006-TRN-002
e. Interlocal Agreement 267 with Skagit County: AFD Training Hub
g. Contract Award: Chlorine Conversion Project—Tanks 18-036-WTR-002
h. Contract Modification: 2018 Asphalt Overlay Project 18-001-TRN-003
The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment:
EFT numbers: 90073 through 90131,total$224,391.59
Check numbers: 90071 through 90072 and 90132 through 90203,total $222,024.87
Wire transfer numbers: 235104 through 236210,total $2,535.99
f. Grant Agreement with Skagit County Sheriffs Office: OPSG Program
Mr. McDougall asked Police Captain Dave Floyd for more details on the grant of FEMA/Homeland Security
funding to enhance border security through operational overtime and equipment purchases. Captain Floyd
explained that the federal funding had been awarded to the Washington State Military Department and to Skagit
County as a sub-recipient,with Anacortes serving as a friendly force with Skagit County. He said the funding
awarded to Anacortes would be used to purchase optics equipment and cover overtime expense for Anacortes
officers to serve as extra eyes in the field looking for smuggling,narcotics, and human trafficking across the
border with Canada. He confirmed for councilmembers that the grant would not involve immigration
enforcement and that the hourly reimbursement rate would cover the full burdened labor cost for the officers.
Mr. McDougall moved, seconded by Mr. Young,to approve Consent Agenda Item 5f, Grant Agreement with
Skagit County Sheriffs Office: OPSG Program. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
OTHER BUSINESS
Update on Permits for ACFL Drainage and Maintenance Projects
Park Operations&Forestlands Manager Jonn Lunsford updated Council on Little Cranberry Lake beaver habitat
management. Mr. Lunsford's slides were added to the packet materials for the meeting. He advised that the topic
had been discussed at public Forest Advisory Board meetings since February and more recently at the Parks
Committee as well as with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife(WDFW) and Department of Ecology
(DOE) staff. Mr. Lunsford described the process of obtaining Hydraulic Project Approval from WDFW to
perform maintenance of bridges and drainage intakes/outfalls surrounding Little Cranberry Lake in the ACFL in
order to enhance wildlife habitat,protect adjoining private property and reduce human/wildlife conflict. He
displayed maps and photographs illustrating the nature of the work planned to replace or repair drainage
structures and associated mitigation. In response to questions from Mr. Adams, Mr. Lunsford explained that the
HPA was being sought because the maintenance would be performed in water and in wildlife habitat.He
reported that prior Forest Advisory Board discussion of the topic had focused on providing flood protection to
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neighboring properties in order to discourage homeowners from harming beavers while still protecting healthy
beaver habitat. Mr. Lunsford added that WDFW biologist Cole Caldwell said the ACFL had perfect habitat and
was doing a nice job managing it. He said the ACFL beaver population appeared to be healthy and increasingly
active. Mr.Young asked if local environmental groups had expressed concerns about the habitat management.
Mr. Lunsford advised that the public had been encouraged to express reservations and questions at both the
Forest Advisory Board meetings and the present Council meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Miller invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item.
Martha Hall,2617 16th Street, said she had been following this issue at the Forest Advisory Board for several
months and that many parts of the proposal were good. She appreciated the additional level of detail presented at
this meeting and in the packet materials. Ms. Hall said she supported the city for obtaining permits and going
through the required SEPA process before undertaking the work. She also supported hiring ATSI and Jim
Wiggins to provide additional scientific information and supported the mitigation and restoration measures
proposed. Ms. Hall then read from prepared remarks describing the extensive and complicated drainage system
in the Cranberry Lake area and its role in maintaining the habitat and recreational value of the ACFL. She urged
additional data collection and analysis beyond that included in the ATSI contract including the impacts of
climate change and long term sustainability of the area. Ms. Hall questioned why the ACFL Comprehensive
Plan was not being updated as part of the Parks Comprehensive Plan. She said that minimizing habitat impact
requires limiting trails in shorelines,wetlands and wetland buffers and said that many trails in the ACFL are not
in compliance with the Shoreline Master Program,the city's Critical Areas Ordinance,or best available science.
Ms. Hall understood the city's desire to protect private homes built near the 32nd Street swamp but urged public
education about the resulting drainage projects to help prevent future development that could suffer the same
impacts. She questioned whether the timetable to perform the work in the 2018 season was doable,urging that
the city and the public both take time to thoughtfully and thoroughly evaluate the information provided by ATSI
and the state agencies. Ms. Hall noted that she had commented on the city's Critical Areas Ordinance update in
2017 regarding study of the water level in this area,which demonstrated her long term interest and involvement
in these issues.
There being no further business,at approximately 6:45 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of
August 6,2018 was adjourned.
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