HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-07-06 City Council Minutes Approved Anacortes City Council Minutes — July 6, 2020
Mayor Laurie Gere called to order the Anacortes City Council meeting of July 6,2020 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.
Announcements and Committee Reports
COVID-19 Update: Mayor Gere reported current COVID case statistics for Anacortes, Skagit County and
Washington State. The mayor indicated that current case rates in Skagit County would preclude moving to
Phase 3 of the Safe Start Washington plan anytime soon. She responded to citizen queries about the state
requirement for wearing face masks in public.
Mayor Gere responded to citizen queries about the July 4, 2020 patriotic protest in the Central Business District
and the private weapons visible at that event,noting Washington State's open carry law. Several
councilmembers expressed their thoughts regarding the demonstrations.
Finance Committee: Mr. Walters reported from the committee meeting on June 24. He summarized the
committee's discussion of the Parks Department proposal to contract for the 2020 sailing program, COVID
impacts on sales tax revenue which were less than had initially been feared,the affordable housing sales tax that
went into effect July 1 and the related funding contracts under negotiation with the recipients, and the report
from Fiber staff about planned expansion of the municipal broadband network.
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
Mayor Gere removed Item 3d, Letter of Intent: Hydrothermal Processing System to Treat Wastewater Biosolids,
from the Consent Agenda and moved it to Other Business.
Mr. Miller moved, seconded by Mr. Walters,to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion
carried unanimously by voice vote.
a. Minutes of June 22, 2020
b. Approval of Claims in the amount of: $1,949,863.37
c. Contract Award: WWTP NPDES Sediment Sampling#20-163-SEW-001
e. Contract Modification: WWTP Restroom Upgrade- Construction#14-002-SEW-004
The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment:
EFT numbers: 97484 through 97531,total$404,774.99
Check numbers: 97483 and 97532 through 97554,total $1,528,790.78
Wire transfer numbers: 270243 through 270667,total $3,743.84
Anacortes City Council Minutes July 6,2020 1
OTHER BUSINESS
Resolution 2094: A Guide for Expanding Restaurant and Retail Space in the Central Business District
Planning Director Don Measamer noted that he had amended and circulated the agenda bill for this item earlier
in the day;the amended version was added to the packet materials for the meeting. Mr. Measamer presented the
resolution and the referenced guidelines as a means of furthering economic recovery from impacts of the
COVID pandemic. He reported that the governor's office had confirmed earlier in the day that the proposed use
of the street would be allowed under Phase 2 of the Safe Start Washington plan.
Mr. Measamer and Mayor Gere shared a range of feedback from downtown retailers regarding the proposed
closure of Commercial Avenue between 10th Street and 2nd Street and discussed configuration of side streets to
provide access to customers. Councilmembers shared their thoughts about timing and operational details for
such a street closure. Councilmembers all supported a trial run of the closure sooner rather than later,prior to
Phase 3 and prior to arrival of the parklets in August. After considerable discussion,Mayor Gere summarized
that staff would bring back a more specific plan to close Commercial Avenue to traffic and open it for retail
operation in the street from 5 p.m. on Friday, July 17 through 10 p.m. on Saturday,July 18. Council deferred
action on Resolution 2094 to a future meeting.
Letter of Intent: Hydrothermal Processing System to Treat Wastewater Biosolids
Public Works Director Fred Buckenmeyer provided an in depth briefing on the proposed letter of intent and the
reason for investigating this alternative technology to eventually replace the current wastewater treatment plant
incinerator. Mr. Buckenmeyer advised that the City Attorney had reviewed the letter of intent and deemed it
non-binding. Councilmembers supported the feasibility study and outlined the additional information they hoped
to obtain from such a study.
Mr. Young moved, seconded by Mr. McDougall,to authorize the mayor to sign the letter of intent. The motion
carried unanimously by voice vote.
There being no further business, at approximately 7:25 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of July 6,2020
was adjourned.
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