Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-02-16 City Council Minutes Approved Anacortes City Council Minutes - February 16, 2021 Call to Order Mayor Laurie Gere called to order the Anacortes City Council meeting of February 16, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. Councilmembers Jeremy Carter,Anthony Young,Ryan Walters, Christine Cleland-McGrath and Carolyn Moulton all participated in the meeting in absentia via video conference. Councilmembers Bruce McDougall and Matt Miller were absent. Ms. Moulton moved, seconded by Mr. Young,to excuse the absences of Mr. McDougall and Mr.Miller. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Announcements and Committee Reports COVID-19 Update: Mayor Gere shared current case statistics and trends for Anacortes, Skagit County, Washington State, and the nation. She reported on vaccination progress in Anacortes and Skagit County,noting the dearth of vaccine being distributed to Washington State. The mayor briefly summarized the state's Roadmap to Recovery Phase 2 guidelines. Finance Committee: Mr.Walters reported from the committee meeting held the previous Wednesday. The topics discussed included several items on the evening's agenda as well as staffing at the water treatment plant,a potential hire in the road department,and budget reporting software options, specifically Socrata. Personnel Committee: Ms. Cleland-McGrath reported from the committee meeting held the previous week. The topics discussed included water treatment plant operator training and compensation,backfilling street crew positions, and GIS staffing needs. Public Safety Committee: Mr. Carter reported from the committee meeting held the previous week. The topics discussed included a grant opportunity for the Fire Department to hire up to five new firefighters for three years. He indicated that the proposal would come before full Council for direction very soon. Ms. Cleland-McGrath elaborated on the tight timeline for the grant application and the potential long term financial impacts of applying for and accepting the grant funds. Mayor Gere invited Assistant Fire Chief Jack Kennedy to address Council on this topic,which he did. Interim Fire Chief Mike Ganz echoed Chief Kennedy's comments and reiterated that the department's current staffing does not meet the State's immanent rescue requirements. Traffic Safety Committee: Ms. Moulton reported from Traffic Safety Committee meeting earlier in the day. Topics discussed parking in the neighborhood of the Guemes Ferry,Kansas Avenue in the Rock Ridge neighborhood, and tsunami evacuation route signs going up around town. Public Comment No one present wished to address the Council on any topic not already on the agenda. Consent Agenda Mr.Young removed Item 4d,Resolution 3018, from the Consent Agenda. Mr. Young moved, seconded by Ms. Cleland-McGrath,to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Anacortes City Council Minutes-February 16,2021 1 a. Minutes of February 8, 2021 b. Approval of claims in the amount of$756,724.87 The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment: EFT numbers: 99317 through 99365,total$323,113.03 Check numbers: 99366 through 99385,total$292,025.02 Wire transfer numbers: 279822 through 280212,total$136,846.46 c. Ordinance 3084: Repealing and replacing Ordinance 3082 to establishing a$4,500,000 line of credit with SaviBank to provide resources for the continued build out of the City Access Fiber network d. Resolution 3018: Waiving the State Competitive Bidding Requirements for the Purchase of Gutermann Zonescan 820&Aquascan 620L leak detection equipment Mr.Young reiterated his objection to waiving competitive bidding without having a set price. He acknowledged that in the specific situation addressed by Resolution 3018,waiving competitive bidding was appropriate. Mr.Young moved, seconded by Mr. Walters,to approve Consent Agenda Item 4d as presented. Mr.Walters asked staff to explain the need for the item. Water System Manager Brian McDaniel and Water Distribution Manager Terry Nemeth responded to councilmember questions. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. OTHER BUSINESS Anacortes Family Center Agreement City Attorney Darcy Swetnam requested Council approval of an agreement on the Sales and Use Tax Revenue between the City of Anacortes and the Anacortes Family Center. Ms. Swetnam's slide presentation elucidating the proposed agreement was added to the packet materials for the meeting. She recommended approval of the agreement. Mr.Young reminded that Council had previously discussed keeping some of the funds in reserve for future suitable projects that might arise.Ms. Swetnam explained that the agreement terms were required by the Anacortes Family Center's funding underwriter. Ms. Cleland-McGrath said she would abstain from voting on the agreement because she sits on the Board of the Anacortes Family Center. RYAN WALTERS moved, seconded by CAROLYN MOULTON,to approve the agreement as presented. Vote: Ayes-JEREMY CARTER,ANTHONY YOUNG,RYAN WALTERS, CAROLYN MOULTON.Abstain - CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH.Nays-None. Result: Passed Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Annual Appointments 2021 Planning Director Don Measamer requested that Council appoint representatives to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee for 2021. He reviewed staffs recommendation for those appointments and reappointments which was included in the packet materials for the meeting. ANTHONY YOUNG moved, seconded by CAROLYN MOULTON,to reappoint Matt Miller as Chair, and Mark Lione,Erik Schorr,Russ Olivier,and Andy Stewart as members, of the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee and appoint Jennifer Mann and Kripa Patel as new committee members to represent the City in the review and recommendation of projects that encourage tourism in Anacortes. Vote: Ayes -JEREMY CARTER, Anacortes City Council Minutes-February 16,2021 2 ANTHONY YOUNG,RYAN WALTERS, CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH, CAROLYN MOULTON. Nays-None. Result: Passed 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 responded to councilmember questions. Adjournment There being no further business,at approximately 7:37 p.m.the Anacortes City Council meeting of February 16,2021 was adjourned. Anacortes City Council Minutes -February 16,2021 3