HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-08-24 City Council Minutes Approved Anacortes City Council Minutes — August 24, 2020
Mayor Laurie Gere called to order the Anacortes City Council meeting of August 24, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.
Councilmembers Jeremy Carter, Anthony Young,Ryan Walters, Christine Cleland-McGrath,Bruce McDougall
and Matt Miller all participated in the meeting in absentia via video conference. Councilmember Carolyn
Moulton joined the meeting at approximately 6:02 p.m.
Announcements and Committee Reports
COVID-19 Update: Mayor Gere reported current case statistics for Anacortes, Skagit County,Washington State,
the United States and the world. She compared the Skagit County statistics to the metrics required to move to
Phase 3 of the Safe Start Washington plan. The mayor encouraged all residents to be sure to be counted by the
2020 Census. She also announced that Skagit County Health Officer Dr. Howard Liebrand would join the mayor
for her weekly COVID-19 Community Briefing on September 2.
Parks &Recreation Committee: Ms. Moulton reported from the committee meeting the prior Thursday. She
summarized topics discussed including the dam at Whistle Lake, behavioral health challenges in parks at all
levels, collaboration between the Parks,Library, Museum and the school district to serve students, the sailing
program contract, the Grand View Cemetery expansion project,the Depot Plaza restroom project, opening
playgrounds,Washington Park campground use, and Parks impact fees. Mr. Young elaborated on the
collaboration between the Parks Department and the school district.
Planning Committee: Ms. Cleland-McGrath reported from the committee meeting earlier in the evening. She
summarized topics discussed including additional small business stabilization grant funding recently made
available by the Skagit Community Foundation,rental assistance funds to be administered by the Anacortes
Family Center,Habitat for Humanity's request to lease land for affordable housing,the Tommy Thompson train
proposal, and the Port's northwest basin master plan and proposed event center.
Mr. Walters reported that he attended a meeting the prior week regarding the Snohomish,Whatcom, Island, San
Juan, and Skagit(SWISS)Proposal for Greater Regional Cooperation. He suggested that cities be included in
those discussions as well as counties, sooner rather than later. Mr. Walters urged his colleagues to contact the
county commissioners in this regard.
Public Comment
Claudia Cimini,2308 30th Street,Public Policy Director for the Anacortes branch of the American Association
of University Women(AAUW), commented on Resolution 2099 which would be presented for action later on
the agenda. Ms. Cimini briefly summarized the history of voting rights and the women's suffrage movement in
the United States. She acknowledged the ongoing challenges to protect voting rights in the country. Ms. Cimini
requested that City Council adopt Resolution 2099 recognizing August 26 as Women's Equality Day in
recognition of the work that has been done and that must continue for voting rights for all Americans.
No other members of the public wished to address the Council.
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 August 17,2020
b. Approval of Claims in the amount of: $131,062.99
Anacortes City Council Minutes August 24, 2020 1
The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment:
EFT numbers: 97958 through 97997,total$116,691.61
Check numbers: 97998 through 98013,total $5,778.92
Wire transfer numbers: 272565 through 272830,total $8,592.46
OTHER BUSINESS
Access Anacortes Fiber Internet Update
Administrative Services Director Emily Schuh provided the regular monthly update on Access Anacortes Fiber
Internet. Ms. Schuh's slides were added to the packet materials for the meeting. She reported on current installed
customer counts,revenue, and pre-orders for new service by area. Ms. Schuh also shared the breakdown of
subscribers by service plan. She then summarized the construction plans for the remainder of the year and
reported on special project progress and funding options for 2021.
Ordinance 3074: Amending Section 1.30.080 of the Anacortes Municipal Code Regarding Executing
Contracts for Dark Fiber Leases and Telecommunication Contracts
City Attorney Darcy Swetnam presented Ordinance 3074 to amend the municipal code to streamline the
contracting process for dark fiber leases and telecommunication agreements by authorizing the Mayor to
approve such agreements. She explained the provisions of the ordinance.
Councilmembers discussed the draft ordinance and requested changes including clarifying the language of
1.30.080(b), setting limits on the number of strands per lessee and the lease term for which the mayor would
have authority to sign leases, and possibly setting an upper limit on the percentage of the fiber system or of
particular fiber runs that could be leased. Mr. Miller requested that the ordinance ensure adequate capacity to
provide all 7600 potential fiber customers with 1 gigabyte service. Ms. Swetnam said she would revise
Ordinance 3074 per Council's requests and bring the ordinance back to Council for consideration and action at
the next regular City Council meeting on September 8.
Mr. Walters asked that separate from the proposed ordinance, Council develop and adopt a policy addressing
what total portion of the system should be available for lease. Mayor Gere suggested that the Fiber Committee
take up that question at its next meeting.
Monthly Finance Update and COVID-19 Impacts
Finance Director Steve Hoglund presented the regular monthly update on the city's financial position,referring
to the charts and graphs that had been included in the packet materials for the meeting. Mr. Hoglund called
Council's attention to a steady decrease in water consumption compared to prior year. He noted that such a
decrease affects water revenue, sewer revenue and utility tax revenue. Mr. Hoglund then reviewed each of the
primary revenue streams and highlighted the variances from budget and from prior year. He concluded with a
summary of revenues and expenditures in each fund compared to target figures.
Critical Area Regulations -Workshop: Draft 2 Critical Aquifers, Frequently Flooded, and Geologically
Hazardous Areas
Associate Planner Tess Cooper facilitated Council review of the final sections of Draft 2 of the Critical Area
Regulations, addressing Critical Aquifers,Frequently Flooded, and Geologically Hazardous Areas. Ms. Cooper
responded to councilmember questions. Staff noted revisions and additional research requested by
councilmembers. Ms. Cooper advised that staff would next begin compiling Draft 3 of the regulations,
incorporating changes discussed during City Council review. Mr. Walters requested that Draft 3 come back to
Council for review before it was released for public comment,to ensure that Draft 3 reflected Council's intent.
Ms. Cooper agreed. She asked Council to send her any additional requests or suggestions for Draft 3 no later
than September 7, 2020.
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Resolution 2099: Designating August 26th as Women's Equality Day
Ms. Moulton introduced Resolution 2099 designating August 26th as Women's Equality Day,honoring the day
in 1920 that American women won their right to vote and recognizing the opportunity to continue to work for
equal rights for all citizens. Ms. Moulton thanked Claudia Cimini and the local chapter of the American
Association of University Women for bringing the topic forward. Ms. Cleland-McGrath commented on key
personalities and events in the women's suffrage movement. Mr. Young thanked Ms. Cleland-McGrath and Ms.
Moulton for bringing Resolution 2099 forward, and thanked all those who worked for suffrage in the past and
continue to work in support of equality for all.
Mr. Young moved, seconded by Ms. Cleland-McGrath,to adopt Resolution 2099.Vote: Ayes—Young,Walters,
Cleland-McGrath, Moulton, McDougall,Miller and Carter. Motion carried. Mayor Gere read the resolution
aloud.
There being no further business, at approximately 8:00 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of
August 24, 2020 was adjourned.
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