HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-04-20 City Council Minutes Approved City Council Minutes—April 20,2020
Mayor Laurie Gere called to order the Anacortes City Council meeting of April 20, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.
Councilmembers Jeremy Carter,Anthony Young,Ryan Walters, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Carolyn Moulton,
Bruce McDougall and Matt Miller all participated in the meeting in absentia via video conference. (Ms. Moulton
and Mr. Young joined the meeting approximately two minutes following the roll call.)
Announcements and Committee Reports
COVID-19 Update: Mayor Gere reported on her teleconference with the governor and the mayors and
commissioners from adjoining counties the prior week. The mayor also shared current statistics from Skagit
County on reported COVID cases. Mayor Gere asked Mr. Carter to report from the National Guard. Mr. Carter
advised that the National Guard had been activated and was delivering food to those in need throughout Skagit
County.
IT Committee: Mr. McDougall reported from the committee meeting prior week. He shared staff reports
regarding the planned new server cluster to support city operations and the rapid extension of VPN capability
which was allowing approximately 50 staff members to work from home. Mr. Miller and Mr.Walters listed
additional information they had requested form staff to justify any additional costs.
Public Works Committee: Ms. Moulton reported from the committee meeting earlier in the evening. The
meeting included updates on COVID-19 prevention measures being taken by staff,the Oakes Avenue
roundabout which was nearly complete and still ahead of schedule,preconstruction conferences for the raw
water pipeline and clearwell project,ranking of city facility roofs by condition and age in preparation for
scheduling inspections, and staff exploration of potential budget savings.
Public Comment
Per Section 3 of Resolution 2082 Ratifying Proclamation of Emergency and Providing Temporary Procedures
to Respond to the COVID-19 Epidemic, adopted by the Anacortes City Council on March 16, 2020, the public
comment portion of Council meetings and any scheduled public hearings were temporarily suspended to
discourage public in person attendance of City Council meetings. The public was encouraged to comment via
email or written comment addressed to: City Clerk, P.O. Box 547, Anacortes, WA 98221. Public comments
received prior to the meeting become part of the record for the meeting,just as if presented in person.
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 April 13,2020
b. Approval of Claims in the amount of: $568,548.12
c. Contract Award: Skagit Raw Water Pipeline&Clearwell Project-Coating Inspections#20-048-WTR-003
d. Contract Award: Skagit Raw Water Pipeline&Clearwell Project- Special Inspections#20-048-WTR-004
e. Contract Modification: Block 36 Sewer Improvements Project#19-197-SEW-001
f. Contract Award: 2020 Slurry Seal Roadway Preparation#20-002-TRN-001
The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment:
EFT numbers: 96892 through 96939,total$335,617.58
Check numbers: 96940 through 96959,total$118,865.58
Wire transfer numbers: 267060 through 267356,total $114,064.96
Anacortes City Council Minutes April 20, 2020 1
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public Hearing: Ordinance 3069: An Interim Ordinance Extending the Moratorium on the Acceptance of
Certain Land Use Actions in the R4 Use Zone West of the Commercial Use Zone
City Attorney Darcy Swetnam provided background on the existing moratorium,referring to the packet
materials for the meeting. Ms. Swetnam explained that the COVID-19 emergency had prevented completion of
the adopted work plan so the moratorium would need to be extended. She acknowledged Governor's
Proclamation 20-28 regarding public meetings during the State of Emergency, advised that the current public
hearing was essential, and concluded that the current public hearing would involve public participation via
written comment only but that once the public health emergency was over the city would hold an additional
public hearing with an opportunity for in person testimony.
Planning Director Don Measamer clarified that Ordinance 3069 would extend the moratorium on the use of
small units to qualify for the bonus height provision but that affordable units would still qualify for the bonus
height provision,which would apply to the Anacortes Family Center project currently being planned.
Mayor Gere opened the advertised public hearing on Ordinance 3069.Mr.Measamer advised that no written
public comments had been received. He confirmed that notice of the public hearing had been published in the
city's newspaper of record fourteen days prior to the hearing.
Councilmembers discussed whether or how affordable units should be exempted from the moratorium. After
considerable discussion,Mr. Measamer proposed adding a new Section 7 to Ordinance 3069:
AMC 19.42.050 D.1 is amended to read, "All living units must meet the affordability
requirements of AMC 19.42.050 D.3,D.4, D.5 and D.6."
Mayor Gere closed the public hearing.
Mr.Walters moved, seconded by Ms. Moulton,to adopt Ordinance 3069 with the addition of a new Section 7
amending 19.42.050 D 1 as proposed by Mr. Measamer. Vote: Ayes—Young,Walters, Cleland-McGrath,
Moulton,McDougall,Miller and Carter. Motion carried.
OTHER BUSINESS
Access Anacortes Fiber Internet Update
Administrative Services Director Emily Schuh provided the regular monthly update on Access Anacortes Fiber
Internet. Her slides were added to the packet materials for the meeting. Ms. Schuh's report included current data
on revenue,customer orders, status of backbone and MST installations, and plans for no-contact customer
assisted installations to comply with social distancing and personal safety protocols. She then elaborated on
2020 expansion areas, focusing on aerial installation fiberhoods. Mr. Miller reminded of the purpose of the three
pilot areas to demonstrate the financial viability of the project.
CARES/CDBG Funding Update
Mr.Measamer said the city had been notified it would receive an additional$68,183 of CDBG funding in 2020,
over and above the $115,906 already awarded. He summarized the funding allocations anticipated in the CDBG
Action Plan prior to the COVID-19 epidemic,then explained how funding could be re-allocated to assist with
COVID-19 response and recovery. Mr. Measamer mentioned projects underway in Seattle and Everett to issue
grants to local small businesses. He said staff and the Planning Committee were exploring options for the
Anacortes funding,including both small business grants and food bank assistance, and would bring an amended
Action Plan to City Council for public hearing and action on April 27 and May 4. He requested a consensus
from Council on the direction staff should proceed. Councilmembers expressed support of Mr. Measamer's
suggestion and emphasized the need to aid as quickly as possible and to publicize the availability of funds as
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widely as possible. Mayor Gere suggested making applications available to the public even before the Action
Plan was approved by HUD to allow more expedient distribution of funding once the plan was approved. Mr.
Walters emphasized the need for objective scoring criteria and offered to help develop those. Councilmembers
requested that staff also provide the HUD parameters governing potential uses of the funds. Mr.Measamer
concluded that on April 27 staff would present amended action plans,the governing parameters from HUD, a
draft of an application, and real numbers on how many businesses might be able to be assisted.
Monthly Finance Update and COVID-19 Impacts
Finance Director Steve Hoglund presented an update on the city's financial position as of the end of March
2020,referring to the packet materials for the meeting. He addressed anticipated impacts to the city's primary
revenue streams due to the COVID-19 emergency. In response to the list of potential cost savings proposed by
Mr.Hoglund,Mr.Walters suggested continuing to fund ERR and DIS replacement funds as scheduled but then
borrowing from those funds if cash was required. Ms. Moulton concurred. Mr.Walters requested staff to present
a resolution extending the duration of Resolution 2082 which was set to expire April 28, 2020.
There being no further business,at approximately 7:45 p.m.the Anacortes City Council meeting of
April 20,2020 was adjourned.
Anacortes City Council Minutes April 20, 2020 3