HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-09-20 City Council Minutes Approved Anacortes City Council Minutes - September 20, 2021
Call to Order
Mayor Laurie Gere called to order the Anacortes City Council meeting of September 20,2021 at 6:00 p.m.
Councilmembers Jeremy Carter, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Carolyn Moulton and Bruce McDougall
participated in the meeting remotely via Zoom. Councilmembers Anthony Young, Ryan Walters, and Matt
Miller were absent.
CAROLYN MOULTON moved, seconded by BRUCE MCDOUGALL,to excuse the absence of Anthony
Young. Vote: Ayes -JEREMY CARTER, CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH, CAROLYN MOULTON,
BRUCE MCDOUGALL.Nays -None. Result: Passed
Pledge of Allegiance
The assembly joined in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Announcements and Committee Reports
COVID-19 Update: Mayor Gere shared current case statistics and vaccination progress for Anacortes, Skagit
County and Washington State. Ms. Cleland-McGrath acknowledged the exceptional service of the Skagit
County contact tracers.
Public Comment
No one present wished to address the Council on any topic not already on the agenda.
Consent Agenda
Mr. McDougall moved, seconded by Mr. Carter,to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion
carried unanimously by voice vote.
a. Minutes of September 13,2021
b. Approval of claims in the amount of$1,798,466.74
The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment:
EFT numbers: 101188 through 101241,total$1,696,824.78
Check numbers: 101242 through 101264, total $88,042.21
Wire transfer numbers: 290209 through 290391, total $13,397.29
c. Contract Modification: Fidalgo Avenue Emergency Repairs#21-138-STM-001
d. Contract Modification: FEMA Funding For Stormwater Repairs#20-152-STM-001
OTHER BUSINESS
Resolution 3051: Adopting Updated City Council Procedures
City Clerk Steve Hoglund introduced Resolution 3051 adopting updated City Council procedures. Mr. Hoglund
summarized the changes and the rationale for allowing the special COVID-19 procedures adopted by Resolution
2082 to lapse,referring to his slide presentation which had been included in the packet materials for the meeting.
The four councilmembers present discussed whether there should be limits on how many meetings could be
attended in absentia(paragraph 4.3(e)),whether there should be a limit on the number of councilmembers
participating in absentia for any one meeting(paragraph 4.3(d)),which means Council would have for allowing
exceptions to whatever procedures were adopted, and whether it was appropriate to make any such changes at
the present time or to extend the current practice of universal councilmember participation in absentia due to
Anacortes City Council Minutes -September 20, 2021 1
current COVID case rates.
Ms. Moulton moved, seconded by Mr. McDougall,to adopt Resolution 3051 amended to remove paragraph
4.3(e). After additional discussion, Ms. Moulton withdrew her motion and Mr. McDougall withdrew his second.
Mr. Carter moved to adopt Resolution 3051 as presented, with an expiration date of December 31, 2021. The
motion died for lack of a second.
Ms. Cleland-McGrath suggested adopting a separate resolution to extend the special procedures of Resolution
2082 through December 31, 2021 and revisiting new permanent procedures at that time. Mr. Hoglund agreed
that staff would prepare such a resolution and present it to Council for action at the September 27,2021
meeting.
Resolution 3052: Establishing the City's use of American Rescue Plan Act Funds
Mr. Hoglund introduced for a first read draft Resolution 3052 establishing the City's use of American Rescue
Plan Act Funds. He summarized the rationale for the resolution, a draft of which had been reviewed by the
Finance Committee on August 25,2021.
Ms. Moulton supported the resolution as presented. Mr. McDougall asked for approximate dollar figures for the
first two bullet points,which Mr. Hoglund provided. Ms. Cleland-McGrath asked if any screening or qualifying
process would be required for forgiveness of utility billing arrears. Mr. Hoglund indicated that staff was still
investigating that question. Mayor Gere concluded that Mr. Hoglund would bring a possibly revised resolution
back to Council for action after further consideration of the draft resolution by the Finance Committee on
September 22,2021.
R4 Bonus Height Draft Concepts
Planning Director Don Measamer explained that staff would like to begin the review process with the Planning
Commission on possible concepts to mitigate the impact of a potential 5-story building in a predominately
residential neighborhood. He reminded Council that the City Council had adopted Ordinance 3054,Declaring an
emergency and Adopting a Moratorium on acceptance of building permit applications or land use applications
for the R4 Area west of the Commercial Use zone proposing to use the bonus height provisions of AMC
19.42.050. Mr. Measamer's slide presentation had been included in the packet materials for the meeting.
Mr. Measamer,Mayor Gere and councilmembers discussed a number of the draft concepts in more detail. Mr.
Measamer indicated that staff would begin working with the Planning Commission and eventually bring a
recommendation from the Planning Commission back to City Council after additional public hearings.
Adjournment
There being no further business, at approximately 7:30 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of September
20, 2021 was adjourned.
Anacortes City Council Minutes -September 20, 2021 2