HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-02-22 City Council Minutes Approved Anacortes City Council Minutes - February 22, 2021
Call to Order
Mayor Laurie Gere called to order the Anacortes City Council meeting of February 22, 2021 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. Mr. Walters
was not present for roll call but subsequently joined the meeting for the Executive Session.Mr.McDougall
participated in the Executive Session but departed the meeting at the conclusion of the Executive Session.
Executive Session: Potential Litigation or Litigation per RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) (30 minutes)
Mayor Gere announced that City Council and the City Attorney would convene in Executive Session per RCW
42.30.110(i) for approximately 30 minutes to discuss potential litigation or litigation. The mayor advised that
the regular meeting would then adjourn with no action having been taken. Councilmembers Jeremy Carter,
Anthony Young,Ryan Walters, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Carolyn Moulton,Bruce McDougall and Matt
Miller attended the executive session. At approximately 6:35 the meeting reconvened in open session.
Announcements and Committee Reports
COVID-19 Update: Mayor Gere shared current case statistics and trends for Anacortes, Skagit County,the
North region,Washington State, and the nation. She reported on vaccination progress in Anacortes and in the
county and on emergency funding measures in the state.
Parks and Recreation Committee: Ms. Moulton reported from the Committee meeting held the previous week.
The topics discussed included Smiley's Bottom reclamation work,the Whistle Lake dam management plan,
progress on the Depot Plaza restroom project and the cemetery expansion project,recreation program offerings
during Phase 2 of the pandemic Roadmap to Recovery, Senior Center programming,parks impact fees and
Washington Park fee adjustments.
Planning Committee: Ms. Cleland-McGrath reported from the Committee meeting held earlier in the evening.
The topics discussed included the Critical Areas Ordinance update,the annual comprehensive plan amendment
process,the R4 bonus height provision discussion,the Shoreline Master Program update, and pending HUD
approval of the cold weather shelter.
Public Comment
No one present wished to address the Council on any topic not already on the agenda.
Consent Agenda
Mr.Young moved, seconded by Mr. Miller,to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion
carried unanimously by voice vote.
a. Minutes of February 16, 2021
b. Approval of claims in the amount of$787,925.18
The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment:
EFT numbers: 99386 through 99418,total$167,675.59
Check numbers: 99419 through 99449,total$719,259.62
Wire transfer numbers: 279882 through 280556,total$32,544.02
c. Resolution 3019: Waiving the State Competitive Bidding Requirements for the Purchase of CRALEY
FibreTM M-Series,an ANSI/NSF certified micro-duct system,for the City's gigabit passive optical
network("GPON")
Anacortes City Council Minutes-February 22,2021
1
OTHER BUSINESS
Request from Thompson Family to Return the Donated Tommy Thompson Train
City Attorney Darcy Swetnam introduced this topic,referring to the materials included in the packet materials
for the meeting. Mayor Gere invited Lisa Carney,legal counsel for the Thompson family,to address the
Council. Ms. Carney presented the Thompson family's request that the train be returned to them,rescinding the
2012 donation agreement. Ms. Carney referred to her letters included in the packet materials for the meeting.
Mayor Gere invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item.
• Dennis Clark urged Council to return the train to the Thompson family and elaborated on the reasons for
doing so.
• Dave Sem reported on progress of the Anacortes Railway Group,referring to his letter and the group's
letter which had been included in the packet materials for the meeting.Mr. Sem urged Council to keep
the train in town.
• William Campbell said he had helped rescue the train from storage in Seattle. He shared his
recollections of the transfer and said he would love to see the train stay in town and run again.
• Lloyd Watson shared his recollection of bringing the train back to Anacortes from Seattle. He said his
assumption had been that the train would run again in Anacortes.
Councilmembers discussed the Thompson family request and Council's prior direction to staff at the October 26,
2020 regular City Council meeting to reject any current proposals to purchase the Thompson train, stop any
current efforts to sell the Thompson train, and that the mayor report to Council in six months on a plan for a
static display of the train. Councilmembers largely agreed that the plan should not involve expenditure of scarce
City funds for the display.
John Bowman, a member of the Anacortes Railway Group, said the group offered the Council four options for
accomplishing the objective of keeping the train in Anacortes, either for display or for operation or both.
Mayor Gere summarized that Council wanted a staff presentation by the end of March with location and funding
for a static display,consistent with Council's October 26, 2020 direction,before taking any action in response to
the Thompson family's request for return of the train.
Dave Sem expressed some frustration on the part of the Anacortes Railway Group regarding a moving target for
what the non-profit group needed to provide.
Mr.Young moved, seconded by Mr. Carter,to take no action on the Thompson family request. After further
discussion,Mr. Young withdrew his motion and Mr. Carter withdrew his second.
RYAN WALTERS moved, seconded by ANTHONY YOUNG,to postpone indefinitely consideration of the
Thompson family's request to return the donated Tommy Thompson train. Vote: Ayes-JEREMY CARTER,
ANTHONY YOUNG,RYAN WALTERS, CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH, CAROLYN MOULTON,
MATT MILLER.Nays-None. Result: Passed
Commercial Avenue Complete Streets Project Phase 1 - 11th Street to 13th Street Alternatives
Public Works Director Fred Buckenmeyer introduced Project Manager Tim Hohmann to report back on
questions raised by Council at its February 1,2021 meeting. Mr. Buckenmeyer requested Council direction to
staff regarding which preferred alternative to pursue.Mr. Hohmann referenced the history of the South
Commercial project and the extensive public input over a number of years. He introduced Andrew Bratlien of
consultant TSI. Mr. Bratlien referenced his memo in the packet materials for the meeting which analyzed the
Anacortes City Council Minutes-February 22,2021
2
queuing impact of closing the Safeway access at 12th& Commercial on both 12th Street and 11th Street traffic
flows. Councilmember raised several additional questions for staff and the consultant team to address as design
proceeded.
RYAN WALTERS moved, seconded by MATT MILLER,to approve the roundabout option as the preferred
alternative for the intersection control of the 12th and Commercial intersection and to support the Public Works
Department beginning preliminary design of the preferred option. Vote: Ayes-JEREMY CARTER,
ANTHONY YOUNG,RYAN WALTERS, CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH, CAROLYN MOULTON,
MATT MILLER.Nays-None. Result: Passed
Adjournment
There being no further business,at approximately 8:15 p.m.the Anacortes City Council meeting of
February 22,2021 was adjourned.
Anacortes City Council Minutes -February 22,2021
3