HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-01-21 City Council Minutes ApprovedCity Council Minutes — January 21, 2020
Mayor Laurie Gere called to order the Anacortes City Council meeting of January 21, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.
Councilmembers Jeremy Carter, Anthony Young, Ryan Walters, Christine Cleland -McGrath, Bruce McDougall
and Matt Miller were present. Councilmember Carolyn Moulton was absent.
The assembly joined in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Announcements and Committee Reports
Oath of Office for Police Officer Josh Scholten: Police Chief John Small introduced Officer Josh Scholten and
summarized his work history and qualifications. City Clerk Steve Hoglund administered the oath of office to
Officer Scholten.
Resolution 2071: ADDointin2 Citv Council Members to Council Committees: Mayor Pro Tern Bruce McDougall
presented Resolution 2071 to confirm City Council committee assignments for 2020. He advised of one change,
the addition of Mr. Walters to the Community Center/Pool Committee. Mr. Miller moved, seconded by Mr.
Walters, to approve Resolution 2071 with the addition of Mr. Walters to the Community Center/Pool
Committee. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Port/City Liaison Committee: Mr. Miller reported from the committee meeting on January 7, 2020. He listed
topics discussed including the Port's event center design and schedule for presentation of that topic to City
Council, Depot restrooms, and impacts of critical areas buffers, among others.
Skagit Law & Justice Council: Mr. Miller reported from the Law & Justice Council meeting on January 8, 2020.
He mentioned topics discussion including re-election of officers, criteria -based dispatch, Community Action's
event on March 25 regarding homelessness, the national homelessness count, and the Council's focus on
combatting recidivism in 2020.
Public Works Committee: Mr. Walters reported from the committee meeting earlier in the evening at which
those present reviewed changes to the Public Works organizational chart, previewed the presentations on the
Edwards Way roundabout and the Senior Center roof that would appear later on the meeting agenda, and the
status of the South Fidalgo Water System consolidation proposal.
Fiber Committee: Mr. McDougall reported from the committee meeting the prior week at which those present
discussed the material to be presented later on the agenda.
Mr. Carter advised that Council had received numerous emails regarding declaration of a climate emergency and
that Council was actively considering next steps. Mr. Walters added that he and Ms. Moulton would be meeting
with the group that had proposed the declaration and would report back to the full Council after that meeting.
Public Comment
Doug Thurber objected to children being used in a public forum to promote climate action, which he said had
happened for the second time recently at the City Council meeting on January 6, 2020. Mr. Thurber said this
was evidence of global liberal agenda pushed in schools. He recounted a history of socialism and progressive
Marxism in the United States and corruption of American youth against their country. Mr. Thurber asked
councilmembers to educate themselves, stating that the environmental movement is the anti -free market, anti -
west movement of our time. He referred councilmembers to the DVD of The Great Global Warming Swindle
that he had recently distributed to them.
Anacortes City Council Minutes January 21, 2020 1
Bob Anderson echoed Mr. Thurber's comments. Mr. Anderson said the Extinction Rebellion argument was
based on carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. He discussed the worldwide ecological damage that would be
caused if CO2 levels were reduced to the level climate activists support. Mr. Anderson said climate change is a
political issue, not a science issue. He urged Council to study the issue carefully before taking action.
Consent Agenda
Mr. Miller moved, seconded by Mr. Young, to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion
carried unanimously by voice vote.
a. Minutes of January 6, 2020
b. Approval of Claims in the amount of: $513,401.72
c. Contract Award: WWTP Incinerator MCC Replacement #20-022-SEW-001
d. Contract Modification Approval: Emergency Management Services #19-015-IDS-001
e. Interlocal Approval: Mutual Assistance with PUD #1 of Skagit County, #20-031-WTR-001
£ Ordinance 3052: Updating AMC Chapter 12.50, Street and Alley Vacation
g. Resolution 2073: Finding of an Emergency for the Senior Center Roof Replacement
The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment:
EFT numbers: 95849 through 95900 and 95940 through 95980, total $423,698.64
Check numbers: 95901 through 95938 and 95981 through 96042, total $503,035.59
Wire transfer numbers: 261413 through 262433, total $32,556.71
OTHER BUSINESS
Skagit County 2020 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
Fire Chief David Oliveri briefed Council on the mitigation plan update and explained opportunities for public
input on the update. Chief Oliveri's comments were added to the packet materials for the meeting. Mr. Miller
and Mr. Walters observed that the plan addressed only natural and not human caused hazards. Mr. Miller
suggested making that explicit in the plan title; Mr. Walters urged developing an all hazards plan in future.
Contract Award: Ship Harbor and SR20 Spur Intersection Improvements Proiect #16-025-TRN-003
Assistant Public Works Director Eric Shjarback requested City Council consent to award a contract in the
amount of $1,435,131.19 to SRV Construction, Inc. to perform the Ship Harbor and SR20 SPUR Intersection
Improvements Project. Mr. Shjarback described the project, its safety features, and the projected construction
schedule and traffic impacts. His slide presentation was added to the packet materials for the meeting. Mr.
Shjarback noted that Mayor Gere had requested that the construction be complete by May 1. He explained the
liquidated damages provision of the contract but said he did not expect delays beyond the 70 working days
allowed under the contract.
Mr. Walters moved, seconded by Mr. McDougall, to approve the contract as presented. Vote: Ayes — Young,
Walters, Cleland -McGrath, McDougall, Miller and Carter. Motion carried.
Municipal Fiber Internet Update
Administrative Services Director Emily Schuh updated Council on the municipal fiber project. Ms. Schuh's
slide presentation was included in the packet materials for the meeting. She requested Council direction on a
strategy for installing the fiber optic network infrastructure in the Central Business District, Old Town and M
Avenue pilot areas in a fashion consistent with the business model. Ms. Schuh recommended hiring three new
staff to install service MST -to -customer as a more cost-effective option than contracting that work as had
originally been anticipated and attempted.
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Councilmembers discussed installation options, progress to date, and measures of success at some length.
Council explored with staff options for incorporating current water distribution employees into fiber installation
crews. After considerable exploration of various staffing options to allow installations to commence efficiently
when materials arrived at the end of February, councilmembers generally favored hiring one new installer and
beginning installations with a team composed of fiber and water crew members to establish a realistic
installation rate, then increasing the crew size if that were to prove more efficient later in the season.
Councilmembers strongly endorsed cross training all fiber staff and emphasized the importance of establishing
positive cash flow.
Mr. Walters moved, seconded by Mr. Miller, to authorize the mayor to hire one additional limited term
employee for the fiber department to assist in fiber installations. Vote: Ayes — Walters, Cleland -McGrath,
McDougall, Miller, Carter and Young. Motion carried.
Doug Thurber returned to the podium and observed that cross training is a luxury, to get efficiency you
specialize. He urged hiring one person with hands on experience to lead a team. Mr. Thurber said Council was
heading in the right direction.
There being no further business, at approximately 7:45 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of January 21,
2020 was adjourned.
Anacortes City Council Minutes January 21, 2020