HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-05-10 City Council Minutes Approved Anacortes City Council Minutes - May 10, 2021
Call to Order
Mayor Laurie Gere called to order the Anacortes City Council meeting of May 10, 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.
Announcements and Committee Reports
COVID-19 Update: Mayor Gere shared current case statistics and vaccination progress for Anacortes, Skagit
County,Washington State,and the nation. The mayor noted that Skagit County remains in Phase 3 of the state's
Roadmap to Recovery plan.
Port/City Liaison Committee: Ms. Cleland-McGrath reported from the committee meeting held the previous
week. The topics discussed included coordinating re-opening steps between the two entities,the future of events
at the Port Transit Shed, a potential interlocal agreement for 2nd Street,the Maritime Strategic Plan, and the
Depot Plaza stage grant application.
Housing Affordability and Community Services Committee: Mr. Walters reported from the committee meeting
held the previous week. The topics discussed included the survey of service providers and planning for the
committee's May 12 meeting with service providers.
Mr.Walters reminded councilmembers to send their budget priorities to the Finance Director by the following
morning.
Mayor Gere mentioned public concern about RV parking and camping along R Avenue and the Tommy
Thompson Trail. She said the city and community groups were working to address the issue and connect those
in need with resources.
Public Comments
The mayor read into the record a letter received from Elizabeth Walker regarding take out packaging that cannot
be composted or recycled.Ms. Walker's letter was added to the packet materials for the meeting.
Consent Agenda
Mr.Miller moved, seconded by Mr. Carter,to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion carried
unanimously by voice vote.
a. Minutes of May 3,2021
b. Approval of claims in the amount of$967,305.50
The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment:
EFT numbers: 100033 through 100075,total$606,553.63
Check numbers: 100076 through 100084,total$345,458.85
Wire transfer numbers: 283095 through 28420,total $11,197.11
c. Contract Award: Ambulance Billing Services#21-103-FIN-001
d. Resolution 3034: Emergency Declaration for 41st Street Repairs
e. Street Fair Application: Anacortes Farmers Market
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OTHER BUSINESS
Ordinance 3087: Vacating right-of-way of a portion of 11th Street adjacent to blocks 242 and 243, "Map
of the City of Anacortes"
City Attorney Darcy Swetnam presented Ordinance 3087,which had been revised per Council's direction
following a public hearing concluded at the May 3,2021 regular City Council meeting. Ms. Swetnam noted a
needed correction to the second recital from"10th Street"to "11th Street". Ms. Swetnam also displayed a map
demonstrating the slight adjustment of the vacation boundaries to align with current property boundaries; she
said the legal descriptions in the revised ordinance reflected that adjustment.
MATT MILLER moved, seconded by ANTHONY YOUNG,to adopt Ordinance 3087 vacating right-of-way of
a portion of 11th Street adjacent to blocks 242 and 243, "Map of the City of Anacortes",with the correction of
"10th Street" to "11th Street" in the second recital. Vote: Ayes -JEREMY CARTER,ANTHONY YOUNG,
RYAN WALTERS,CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH, CAROLYN MOULTON,BRUCE MCDOUGALL,
MATT MILLER.Nays -None. Result: Passed
PUBLIC HEARINGS
CDBG 2021 Annual Action Plan
PCED Program Coordinator Joann Stewart presented the 2021 CDBG Annual Action Plan,referring to the
packet materials for this agenda item. She noted that the plan had previously been presented to Council at its
regular meeting on April 26, 2021.
Mayor Gere invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item.No one present wished to
address the Council. Mayor Gere then closed the public hearing.
Ms. Cleland-McGrath announced that she would abstain from voting on the plan because she serves on the
Board of the Anacortes Family Center, one of the funding recipients under the plan.
ANTHONY YOUNG moved, seconded by BRUCE MCDOUGALL,to accept the proposed projects and direct
staff to submit the draft Action Plan to HUD no later than May 15, 2021. Vote: Ayes -JEREMY CARTER,
ANTHONY YOUNG,RYAN WALTERS, CAROLYN MOULTON,BRUCE MCDOUGALL,MATT
MILLER.Nays -None. Result: Passed
Continued Public Hearing: Critical Area Regulations Draft 3
Senior Planner Tess Cooper resumed the line by line review of the comment matrix that Council had begun at its
May 3,2021 regular meeting. Ms. Cooper responded to councilmember questions and noted items for follow up
revision or investigation.
Mayor Gere invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item.
Kyle Loring addressed the effectiveness of mitigation, Section 19.70.340.A.1, Section 19.70.380,wetland
protections,buffer sizes and buffer averaging, and riparian management zones.
Asa Deane,Executive Director of Friends of the Forest, addressed the importance of wildlife movement
corridors,referring to his comments that had been submitted prior to the meeting and added to the packet
materials for the meeting.
Catherine Houck addressed buffer potential rather than strictly buffer quality at the time of assessment. Ms.
Houck supported the comments of Evergreen Islands generally but argued against excluding biking from passive
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outdoor recreation. She also quoted from the San Juan County critical areas ordinance which includes upland
buffers around shoreline areas and asked why the Anacortes CAO does not. Ms. Cooper responded to that
question.
Kathleen Lorence-Flanagan spoke in support of removing bicycling from passive recreation and asked whether
City Council or the hearing examiner decides. She also asked that"biking"be struck because that could be
interpreted as motorcycling rather than bicycling. Ms. Lorence-Flanagan also addressed the importance of
buffers and tree relocation.
Brian Wetcher spoke in support of staffs request for software to monitor mitigation and said that mitigation
consistently leads to net loss of habitat. Mr. Wetcher spoke against allowing mitigation except as a last resort,
for a clear and overriding public benefit,and with a successful mitigation plan executed prior to implementation.
Tom Glade addressed the mission of Evergreen Islands and said Mr. Loring's comments had been submitted in
the spirit of those goals. Mr. Glade thanked staff and council for carefully considering those suggested changes.
Marlene Finley, speaking on behalf of Evergreen Islands, congratulated staff for the great mapping tools
available on line. Ms. Finley urged continuing to improve mapping both baseline and trends for critical areas,
wetlands, and habitats. Ms.Finley also addressed passive recreation language, saying that was an artificial
construct that is unnecessary. She suggested following San Juan County's language instead. Ms. Finley also
urged careful consideration of buffer setbacks in light of wildland fire risk.
Mayor Gere said that the discussion of the CAO would continue two weeks hence, at the May 24, 2021 regular
City Council meeting.
Adjournment
There being no further business,at approximately 8:40 p.m.the Anacortes City Council meeting of May 10,
2021 was adjourned.
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