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Home My WebLink About2021-06-07 City Council Minutes Approved Anacortes City Council Minutes - June 7, 2021 Call to Order Mayor Laurie Gere called to order the Anacortes City Council meeting of June 7,2021 at 6:00 p.m. Councilmembers Anthony Young,Ryan Walters, Christine Cleland-McGrath,Bruce McDougall and Matt Miller all participated in the meeting in absentia via video conference. Councilmembers Jeremy Carter and Carolyn Moulton were absent. Councilmember Jeremy Carter had been excused in advance at the May 24,2021 regular City Council meeting. RYAN WALTERS moved, seconded by MATT MILLER,to excuse the absence of Carolyn Moulton.Vote: Ayes-ANTHONY YOUNG,RYAN WALTERS, CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH,BRUCE MCDOUGALL, MATT MILLER.Nays -None. Result: Passed Announcements and Committee Reports City of Anacortes Town Crier Introduction: Mayor Gere introduced Town Crier Richard Riddell who announced that he was retiring on July 4,2021 after 14 years in the position and that he would be replaced by incoming Town Crier August Wolff. The mayor welcomed Mr. Wolff.Mr.Wolff performed an introductory cry. Mayor Gere read a proclamation naming Mr. Riddell Honorary Town Crier. 4th of July Update: Mayor Gere announced that Independence Day would be celebrated beginning with a town photo at 10 a.m. at 5th and Commercial,then a patriotic program,then the parade at 11 a.m. starting at 3rd and Commercial and ending at Causland Park, all observing social distancing. She advised that parade participants should sign up on line and must not throw or distribute anything during the parade. The Mayor added that the traditional fireworks display would occur at dusk over the bay. COVID-19 Update: Mayor Gere announced that City Hall would reopen to the public on Monday,June 14 for half days from 9 a.m.to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday,with full opening beginning on July 6 if the State reopens on June 30 as anticipated. She advised that unvaccinated citizens would need to wear masks while inside City Hall. Mayor Gere then shared current case statistics and vaccination progress for Anacortes, Skagit County,Washington State,and the nation. Museum Committee: Ms. Cleland-McGrath reported from the Committee meeting held the previous week. The topics discussed included reopening of the Carnegie Gallery,the Maritime Heritage Center, and the W.T. Preston,the new roof at the Carnegie Building,the Anacortes photographers exhibit,the Bill Mitchell murals, the upcoming cannery exhibit, and public research opportunities at the museum. Mayor Gere advised that the Tommy Thompson train would come back before full Council on June 21. Fiber Committee: Mr. McDougall reported from the Committee meeting held on May 27. The topics discussed included the EDA grant,pursuit of other funding opportunities,AWC inviting fiber staff Emily Schuh and Jim Lemberg to participate in a panel, and updated customer statistics. Port/City Liaison Committee: Ms. Cleland-McGrath reported from the Committee meeting held the previous week. The topics discussed included COVID re-opening schedules,the new Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jessica Stickles,updating the Maritime Strategic Plan, and the Whale of a Sale event planned for June. Public Safety Committee: Mr.Miller reported from the Committee meeting held the previous week. The topics discussed included the community paramedic program which would be addressed later on the agenda,the Anacortes City Council Minutes-June 7,2021 1 SAFER grant,the Fire Station 3 needs assessment,the ladder truck needs assessment, addressing T Avenue homelessness,the new police officer and new records clerk,legislative news affecting the police department, particularly body cams, and the police chief transition.Mayor Gere announced that Police Chief John Small would retire June 30,that the position would be posted for a full community hiring process, and that Police Captain Dave Floyd would serve as interim chief beginning on June 14. Housing Affordability and Community Services Committee: Mr. Walters reported from the Committee meeting held the previous week. The topics discussed included the committee's ongoing gap analysis, a presentation by Unite Us coordinated referral service which will launch on June 22 in Skagit County, ongoing work by the committee and upcoming presentation to full Council of the committee's work to date. Personnel Committee: Ms. Cleland-McGrath reported from the Committee meeting held earlier in the day. The topics discussed included Ordinance 3090 which would be addressed later on the agenda,the personnel policy update currently under way,the new remote work policy being developed,the lack of response to the RFI for a compensation and classification study,and strategies for filling the Human Resources Director position which has been vacant for a year. Public Comment Brian Wetcher observed the 40th anniversary of the Anacortes Community Forest Lands and reflected on the evolution of the community's attitude toward the ACFL. He encouraged Council to keep the spirit of the community in mind in all its deliberations. Mayor Gere observed that 38%of the city's land area was community forest. Consent Agenda Mr.Miller moved, seconded by Mr. McDougall to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. a. Minutes of May 24,2021 and May 27,2021 b. Approval of claims in the amount of$1,154,369.45 The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment: EFT numbers: 100236 through 100296,total $672,690.45 Check numbers: 100297 through 100314,total$424,084.41 Wire transfer numbers: 284850 through 285328,total$56,968.87 c. Interlocal Agreement 21-122-PRK-001 with City of Marysville: 2021 Outdoor Video Services PUBLIC HEARINGS Continued Public Hearing: Critical Area Regulations Draft 3 Senior Planner Tess Cooper continued the review of Draft three last undertaken at the regular City Council meeting on May 10,2021.Ms. Cooper's slide presentation was included in the packet materials for the meeting. She observed that the public comment period had closed on April 23, followed by Council review of the public comments at subsequent City Council meeting. She summarized the work plan for finalizing and adopting the ordinance. Ms. Cooper then reviewed some examples of how the proposed regulations would apply to real world examples. Ms. Cooper responded to councilmember questions and requests. Mayor Gere invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item. Brian Wetcher asked about the first Real World example presented by Ms. Cooper. He asked how someone would come up with a mitigated no net loss solution,and noted that he didn't see any access to the garage. Ms. Anacortes City Council Minutes-June 7,2021 2 Cooper agreed that more analysis would be required. Kyle Loring,representing Evergreen Islands,thanked Ms. Cooper for her final slide on streams. Mr. Loring also addressed buffer reduction and buffer averaging and the distinction between the two terms.Ms. Cooper responded to Mr. Loring's comments. Councilmembers continued discussion of the draft. Brian Wetcher cited two projects on which he had installed landscape buffers. He said neither one had been thoroughly maintained and both are subject to invasive species. He urged that future buffer regulations require rigorous long term maintenance. No one else wishing to address the Council,Mayor Gere closed the public hearing. She asked staff to bring the draft back to Council for continued discussion at the June 14,2021 regular City Council meetings. OTHER BUSINESS Board and Commission Reappointments Mayor Gere announced her reappointment of Betsy Humphrey and Marius Hibbard to the Arts Commission and requested Council confirmation of her reappointment of Deane Brazas to the Museum Advisory Board. RYAN WALTERS moved, seconded by ANTHONY YOUNG,to confirm the reappointment of Deane Brazas as Museum Advisory Board Member retroactive to 1/1/2020.Vote: Ayes -ANTHONY YOUNG,RYAN WALTERS, CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH, BRUCE MCDOUGALL,MATT MILLER.Nays -None. Result: Passed Mobile Integrated Healthcare Pilot Program Fire Chief Bill Harris provided a presentation of the proposed Mobile Integrated Healthcare Pilot Program, referring to the packet materials for this agenda item.Mr.Walters and Ms. Cleland-McGrath supported the idea and underscored how it integrates with the work of the Housing Affordability and Community Services Committee. Mr. Miller agreed and urged Chief Harris to track program statistics carefully to inform future decision making. Ordinance No.3090,An Ordinance Amending Ordinance No.3078 Adopted On December 21,2020, Entitled "An Ordinance Adopting The Budget For All Municipal Purposes And Uses For The Year 2021" As Amended By Ordinance No.3079 Adopted On April 26,2021 Administrative Services Director Emily Schuh presented Ordinance 3090 to amend the 2021 budget to hire five positions: 1 Firefighter/Paramedic,2 Fiber Technicians, 1 Information Systems&Technology Technician, and 1 Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition(SCADA)Technician. Ms. Schuh explained the rationale for each position,referring to the packet materials for this agenda item. Mr.Young reported that the Personnel Committee had discussed the request earlier in the day and expressed his support of the ordinance. The other four councilmembers present explained their reasons for also supporting the proposed positions but Mr. Walters and Ms. Cleland-McGrath urged rethinking IT staffing more globally. ANTHONY YOUNG moved, seconded by CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH,to approve Ordinance No. 3090, an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 3078 adopted on December 21,2020 entitled"AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR ALL MUNICIPAL PURPOSES AND USES FOR THE YEAR 2021" as amended by Ordinance No. 3079 adopted on April 26,2021. Vote: Ayes -ANTHONY YOUNG,RYAN Anacortes City Council Minutes-June 7,2021 3 WALTERS, CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH, BRUCE MCDOUGALL, MATT MILLER.Nays -None. Result: Passed Adjournment There being no further business,at approximately 9:09 p.m.the Anacortes City Council meeting of June 7,2021 was adjourned. Anacortes City Council Minutes -June 7, 2021 4