HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-10-18 City Council Minutes Approved Anacortes City Council Minutes - October 18, 2021
Call to Order
Mayor Laurie Gere called to order the Anacortes City Council meeting of October 18,2021 at 6:00 p.m.
Councilmembers Jeremy Carter,Ryan Walters,Anthony Young,Christine Cleland-McGrath and Matt Miller
participated in the meeting remotely via Zoom. Councilmember Carolyn Moulton attended the meeting in City
Council chambers. Councilmember Bruce McDougall was absent.
Ms. Moulton moved, seconded by Mr. Young,to excuse the absence of Mr. McDougall. The motion carried
unanimously by voice vote.
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.
Housing Affordability and Community Services Committee: Mr. Walters reported from the Committee meeting
held the previous week. The group met briefly with 42nd legislative district representative Alicia Rule regarding
mental health services.
Public Works Committee: Mayor Gere announced that the committee meeting scheduled for earlier in the
evening had been cancelled so there was no report.
Public Comment
Mayor Gere invited the public to comment on any item not on the agenda.
Jeff Graf commented on property value assessments mailed out from Skagit County the same week that the
Finance Director had called for a 1%property tax increase for 2022.Mr. Graf questioned the 1%property tax
increase since the city was in"sound financial condition." He offered three reasons to reject the tax increase and
suggested several specific cost saving measures.
John Delourme expressed a grievance against modified mufflers on vehicles that are very very loud, louder than
chain saws,traveling at high speed on 0 Avenue and Commercial Avenue,particularly at night. The mayor
invited him to call her office so staff could respond to the concern.
Consent Agenda
Mr. Miller moved, seconded by Ms. Cleland-McGrath,to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The
motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
a. Minutes of October 11,2021
b. Approval of claims in the amount of$1,051,573.25
The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment:
EFT numbers: 101447 through 101508,total$842,064.46
Check numbers: 101509 through 101525, total $67,965.62
Wire transfer numbers: 291788 through 292134, total $141,084.64
c. Contract Award: 2022 Janitorial Services#22-004-FAC-001
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d. Assignment, Assumption, and Approval Agreement with Shell Oil and HollyFrontier
e. Agreement on Sales and Use Tax Revenue between the City and the Anacortes Housing Authority
f. Interlocal Agreement#21-239-WTR-001 with the Washington State Water/Wastewater Agency
Response Network(WAWARN)
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Anacortes Community Forest Lands Comprehensive Plan Update
Parks and Recreation Director Jonn Lunsford and Parks Manager Bob Vaux introduced the packet materials for
this agenda item. Mr. Vaux noted the three written comments received on the plan,which had been added to the
packet. Staff recommended that addressing eBikes in the forest lands be deferred to a future revision following
Forest Advisory Board consideration. Mr. Vaux explained staffs recommendation that Forest Board
membership no longer require a member of the Planning Commission. Mr. Vaux described the recommended
closure of Trail 132 at the south end of Little Cranberry Lake.
Mayor Gere invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item.
Steve Charvat applauded the city for protecting the forest lands and maintaining the integrity of the forest for
public use.
Brian Wetcher urged Council to move forward to adopt the plan as presented, including the closure of Trail 132
and the language changes proposed by staff.
Asa Deane, Executive Director of the Friends of the Forest, spoke in favor of the plan,but did support updating
page 4,paragraph 10,regarding how long FOF has been providing education. He supported closing Trail 132
and supported removing the requirement that one Forest Board member also be a Planning Commission
member. Mr. Deane suggested adding language addressing the impacts of climate change on the forest.
Mayor Gere invited Council to deliberate,which it did.
Sara Holahan referenced her written comments that had been submitted for the record and added to the packet
materials for the meeting earlier in the day. She asked Council to commit to another plan update in 2022 given
that the current proposed update was begun in 2014. Ms. Holahan noted that the Forest Advisory Board is not in
the municipal code and should be. She objected to allowing commercial use of the ACFL at the discretion of the
Parks Director. Ms. Holahan suggested that the plan needed a lot more work before it was adopted.
Maureen Scheetz expressed concern about allowing commercial activity in the ACFL. She urged taking more
time to review and establish the parameters for commercial activity before adopting the plan.
Mr. Lunsford responded to questions about the extremely limited permission for commercial activity in the
ACFL in the past.
Sandra Starbuck, Forest Board member, spoke to the extensive public process that resulted in the present draft.
She urged adopting the plan now and pursuing another revision in the near future.
Brian Wetcher reminded that comprehensive plan changes can be proposed annually using the regular process.
No one else wishing to address the Council, at 6:41 p.m. Mayor Gere closed the public hearing. She invited staff
to bring the plan back to Council the following week for action,revised based on councilmember requests.
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OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
Adjournment
There being no further business, at approximately 6:45 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of
October 18, 2021 was adjourned.
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