HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-12-13 City Council Minutes Approved Anacortes City Council Minutes - December 13, 2021
Call to Order
Mayor Laurie Gere called to order the Anacortes City Council meeting of December 13, 2021 at 6:00 p.m.
Councilmembers Jeremy Carter,Ryan Walters, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Carolyn Moulton,Bruce
McDougall and Matt Miller were present. Councilmember Anthony Young participated in the meeting remotely
via Zoom.
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.
Port/City Liaison Committee: Ms. Cleland-McGrath reported from the Committee meeting held the previous
week. The topics discussed included COVID response and three major agreements currently being negotiated
between the Port and the City.
Public Safety Committee: Mr. Miller reported from the Committee meeting held the previous week. For the Fire
Department, topics discussed included Fire Department budgeting, a possible boat purchase,wildland
firefighting capabilities, staffing changes, and the anticipated ladder truck purchase. For the Police Department,
topics discussed included two new officers now on duty, departmental accreditation in 2022,new legislation
affecting law enforcement and an additional officer for the drug task force.
Finance Committee: Mr. Walters reported from the Committee meeting held the previous week. The topics
discussed included budgeting for an additional police officer, leveraging the skate park donation to refurbish the
park, the Heart of Anacortes,the final 2021 budget amendment,and the annual audit.
Housing Affordability and Community Services Committee: Ms.Moulton reported from the Committee meeting
held the previous week. The committee discussed its upcoming presentation to Council scheduled for January
10, 2022.
Planning Committee: Ms. Cleland-McGrath reported from the Committee meeting held earlier in the evening.
The topics discussed included potential fee waivers for early learning facilities.
Traffic Safety Committee: Ms. Moulton reported from the Committee meeting held the previous week. The
topics discussed included an upcoming parking code update, a one-way directional on 6th Street west of the
Guemes Ferry terminal with an adjacent pedestrian lane, crosswalks at 15th Street and D Avenue, and
constituent concerns about speeding.
Mayor Award of Merit Presentations: Mayor Gere presented Awards of Merit to Wastewater Treatment Plant
Supervisor Steve Doebler, Wastewater Treatment Plant Lab Supervisor Corrin Hamburg, Stormwater Program
Manager Diane Hennebert, Police Records Service Manager Katie Ingram and Firefighter/EMT Tristan Lucas.
Civil Service Commission Reappointments: Mayor Gere announced that she had reappointed Vicki Stasch and
Mary-Ann Gutierrez to the Civil Service Commission for terms effective through December 31, 2024.
Anacortes City Council Minutes -December 13, 2021 1
Public Comment
Mayor Gere invited the public to comment on any item not on the agenda.
An unidentified speaker asked why the missing person case of Laynee Westbrook had not been resolved. Mayor
Gere advised that the Anacortes Police Department was actively investigating the case. The speaker disagreed
and expressed dissatisfaction with the department's effort on the case.
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 December 6, 2021
b. Approval of claims in the amount of$482,861.10
The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment:
EFT numbers: 101897 through 101935,total$114,448.69
Check numbers: 101936 through 101949, total $92,142.11
Wire transfer numbers: 294890 through 295310,total $130,621.14
c. Contract Modification: Former Anacortes Water Treatment Plant#21-024-LEG-001
d. Contract Modification: Periodic Review of The Shoreline Master Program(SMP)#19-111-PLN-001
e. Contract Modification: 32nd and M Avenue Intersection -Construction Management#19-002-TRN-001
f. Interlocal Cooperative Agreement with Skagit County Sheriffs Office: Grant Funding for Purchase of
Less Lethal Tools#21-263-APD-001
g. Interlocal Agreement with Skagit County: 2022 Senior Services Program#22-017-ASC-001
h. Resolution 3051: Adopting Updated City Council Procedures
CLOSED RECORD DECISION HEARING
SDP-2021-0005: Anacortes Wastewater Treatment Plant Outfall Relocation (SSDP/SCUP)
Planning Manager Libby Grage presented a shoreline substantial development permit and shoreline conditional
use permit application made by the Anacortes Public Works Dept. for the relocation of the Anacortes
Wastewater Treatment Plant outfall from its current location(in Guemes Channel at Pier 2) east to Guemes
Channel within the U Avenue right of way. Ms. Grage reported that on November 24,2021, after an open record
public hearing on the application,the Planning Commission recommended approval of the permits subject to the
conditions recommended by staff. Ms. Grage's slide presentation was added to the packet materials for the
meeting.
Mayor Gere invited the applicant to address the council. The applicant did not wish to address the Council.
Mayor Gere invited parties of record to address the Council.No parties of record wished to comment.
Ms. Grage responded to councilmember questions about ensuring survival of plantings and suggested modest
revision of the condition requiring a five-year monitoring period with corrective action as required. Mr. Walters
urged specifying a minimum square footage of the pocket park. Ms. Moulton stressed the importance of direct
communication with neighbors of the project. Mr. McDougall asked when construction would start. Public
Works Director Fred Buckenmeyer said the marine portion of the work would begin in August 2022,best case,
and the upland portion would begin in April 2022. Mr. Buckenmeyer outlined the variables affecting that start
date.
Mr. Walters asked staff to bring the permit back to Council for action with revision to two of the conditions,the
park square footage and the plant survivability. Staff agreed to do so.
Anacortes City Council Minutes -December 13, 2021 2
OTHER BUSINESS
Resolution 3063: Renaming of"N" Avenue Park as O'elech'ilhch Park
Mayor Gere introduced Resolution 3063 to rename N Avenue Park in honor of a Samish village called
Q'elech'ilhch, or Ironwood Village,that once existed on the north shore of Fidalgo Island. Parks and Recreation
Director Jonn Lunsford recommended approval of the resolution. Samish Indian Nation Chairman Tom Wooten
also recommended approval.
Mayor Gere invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item.No one present wished to address
the Council.
Mr. Walters announced that he would abstain from voting on the resolution because he was employed by the
Samish Indian Nation.
ANTHONY YOUNG moved, seconded by JEREMY CARTER,to approve Resolution 3063 as presented. Vote:
Ayes -JEREMY CARTER,ANTHONY YOUNG, CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH, CAROLYN
MOULTON, BRUCE MCDOUGALL, MATT MILLER.Nays -None. Result: Passed
Contract Award: 2022 Prosecution Services#22-021-LEG-001
City Attorney Darcy Swetnam requested Council authorization to enter into Contract 22-021-LEG-001 with
Craig Cammock and Julie Walters for prosecution services in 2022. Ms. Swetnam summarized the changes from
the contract terms in effect for prior years.
Mr. Walters announced that he would abstain from voting on the contract because he is the cousin of Julie
Walters, one of the contracting parties.
MATT MILLER moved, seconded by ANTHONY YOUNG,to authorize the Mayor to sign contract number
22-021-LEG-001. Vote: Ayes -JEREMY CARTER,ANTHONY YOUNG, CHRISTINE CLELAND-
MCGRATH, CAROLYN MOULTON,BRUCE MCDOUGALL, MATT MILLER.Nays -None. Result:
Passed
Anacortes Historic Preservation Board Appointment: Bob Ross
Mayor Gere requested Council confirmation of her appointment of Bob Ross to the Anacortes Historic
Preservation Board for a term effective through December 31, 2023.
BRUCE MCDOUGALL moved, seconded by CAROLYN MOULTON, that Bob Ross be appointed to the
Anacortes Historic Preservation Board. Vote: Ayes -JEREMY CARTER, ANTHONY YOUNG, RYAN
WALTERS, CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH, CAROLYN MOULTON,BRUCE MCDOUGALL,MATT
MILLER.Nays -None. Result: Passed
Library Board of Trustees Appointment: Nancy Fisher Allison
Mayor Gere requested Council confirmation of her appointment of Nancy Fisher Allison to the Library Board of
Trustees for a five-year term effective through December 2026.
CAROLYN MOULTON moved, seconded by JEREMY CARTER, that Nancy Fisher Allison be appointed to
the Library Board of Trustees. Vote: Ayes -JEREMY CARTER, ANTHONY YOUNG,RYAN WALTERS,
CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH, CAROLYN MOULTON, BRUCE MCDOUGALL,MATT MILLER.
Nays -None. Result: Passed
Anacortes City Council Minutes -December 13, 2021 3
Anacortes Arts Commission Appointment: Todd Young
Mayor Gere requested Council confirmation of her appointment of Todd Young to the Anacortes Arts
Commission for a term effective through December 2023.
CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH moved, seconded by BRUCE MCDOUGALL,that Todd Young be
appointed to the Anacortes Arts Commission. Vote: Ayes -JEREMY CARTER, ANTHONY YOUNG,RYAN
WALTERS, CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH, CAROLYN MOULTON,BRUCE MCDOUGALL,MATT
MILLER.Nays -None. Result: Passed
Forest Advisory Board Appointment: Kit Gerwels
Mayor Gere requested Council confirmation of her appointment of Kit Gerwels to the Forest Advisory Board for
a five-year term effective through December 2026.
ANTHONY YOUNG moved, seconded by JEREMY CARTER,that Kit Gerwels be appointed to the Forest
Advisory Board. Vote: Ayes -JEREMY CARTER, ANTHONY YOUNG, RYAN WALTERS,CHRISTINE
CLELAND-MCGRATH, CAROLYN MOULTON,BRUCE MCDOUGALL,MATT MILLER.Nays -None.
Result: Passed
Ordinance 4002: Establishing New Salary Schedule for Mayor's Position
Administrative Services Director Emily Schuh invited Council to continue consideration of Ordinance 4002,
which had first been considered at the December 6, 2021 meeting. Ms. Schuh presented the additional
information requested by Council at the earlier meeting. Ms. Schuh's slide presentation was added to the packet
materials for the meeting.
Mr. Young moved to approve Ordinance 4002 revised to set the mayor's 2022 salary equal to the actual 2021
mayor's salary. Motion died for lack of a second.
CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH moved, seconded by ANTHONY YOUNG, to adopt Ordinance No. 4002
to establish a new salary schedule for the Mayor's position. Mr. Miller announced that as mayor elect,he would
abstain from voting on the motion. Vote: Ayes -JEREMY CARTER,ANTHONY YOUNG,RYAN
WALTERS, CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH, CAROLYN MOULTON,BRUCE MCDOUGALL.Nays -
None. Result: Passed
Ordinance 4003: Adopting a Fund Balance Policy for the City of Anacortes
Finance Director Steve Hoglund invited Council to continue consideration of Ordinance 4003 which had first
been presented at the December 6,2021 Council meeting. Mr. Hoglund discussed the revisions to the draft
ordinance that had been made since the prior meeting,referring to the packet materials for this agenda item.
Councilmembers discussed the policy at length.
RYAN WALTERS moved, seconded by CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH,to approve Ordinance 4003
adopting a new fund balance policy,with one revision to the policy to state "... targeted balance equal to
17%2O%of the annual expenditures of the chosen governmental operating funds ..."
Vote: Ayes -JEREMY CARTER,ANTHONY YOUNG, RYAN WALTERS,CHRISTINE CLELAND-
MCGRATH, CAROLYN MOULTON,BRUCE MCDOUGALL, MATT MILLER.Nays -None. Result:
Passed
Ordinance 3999: 2022-2027 Capital Facilities Plan and Ordinance 4000: 2022 Budget
Mr. Hoglund invited Council to continue consideration of Ordinances 3999 and 4000. He summarized the
revisions to the documents that had been made at Council's request after the December 6,2021 meeting. Mayor
Gere clarified that the proposed budget ordinance did not include salary increases that were still in active
negotiation with bargaining units so a budget amendment would be needed once negotiations were complete and
Anacortes City Council Minutes -December 13, 2021 4
collective bargaining agreements were signed.
ANTHONY YOUNG moved, seconded by CAROLYN MOULTON,to approve Ordinance 3999 adopting the
2022 -2027 CFP and Ordinance 4000 adopting the 2022 budget.Vote: Ayes -JEREMY CARTER,ANTHONY
YOUNG, RYAN WALTERS, CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH, CAROLYN MOULTON,BRUCE
MCDOUGALL,MATT MILLER.Nays -None. Result: Passed
Resolution 3064: Urging the City of Seattle to Commit to a Regionally Equitable Salmon Investment in
the Skagit
Mr. Walters presented Resolution 3064,referring to the packet materials for the meeting.
MATT MILLER moved, seconded by CAROLYN MOULTON,to approve Resolution 3064 as presented. Vote:
Ayes -JEREMY CARTER,ANTHONY YOUNG,RYAN WALTERS, CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH,
CAROLYN MOULTON,BRUCE MCDOUGALL,MATT MILLER.Nays -None. Result: Passed
Ordinance 4005: Amending the 2021 Budget
Mr. Hoglund presented Ordinance 4005, explaining each line item of the proposed amendment to the 2021
budget.
RYAN WALTERS moved, seconded by JEREMY CARTER,to adopt Ordinance 4005 amending the 2021
budget. Vote: Ayes -JEREMY CARTER, ANTHONY YOUNG, CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH,
CAROLYN MOULTON,BRUCE MCDOUGALL,MATT MILLER.Nays -RYAN WALTERS. Result:
Passed
Adjournment
There being no further business, at approximately 9:20 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of December
13, 2021 was adjourned.
Anacortes City Council Minutes -December 13, 2021 5