HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-07-05 City Council Minutes Approved Anacortes City Council Minutes - July 5, 2022
Call to Order
Mayor Matt Miller called to order the Anacortes City Council meeting of July 5,2022 at 6:00 p.m.
Councilmembers Jeremy Carter,Ryan Walters, Christine Cleland-McGrath,Carolyn Moulton,Bruce
McDougall and Amanda Hubik were present.
Councilmembers Carter, Cleland-McGrath and McDougall participated in the meeting remotely via Zoom.
Councilmember Anthony Young was absent.
Pledge of Allegiance
The assembly joined in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Announcements and Committee Reports
Mayor Miller shared current COVID-19 case statistics in Anacortes and Skagit County,reporting a decrease in
case numbers from last month and an increase in hospitalizations county-wide to 10 per 100,000, including 1 in
Island Hospital. He then provided a recap of the Independence Day festivities including the winning groups
from the parade, including the best marching group winners: Twisted Pixies -3rd place,OARS -2nd place,
Soroptimist International of Anacortes- 1 st place. He then announced the awards for best floats: Anacortes
Masonic Lodge- 3rd place,Mermen of Anacortes -2nd place,Anacortes Rotary Centennial Float- 1 st place.
All six groups will be recognized at the July 1 lth City Council meeting.
Mr. Carter moved, seconded by Mr. McDougall,to excuse the absence of Mr. Young. The motion carried
unanimously by voice vote.
Housing Affordability and Community Services Committee
Ms. Cleland-McGrath reported from the Committee meeting held the previous Thursday. The topics discussed
included the influx of RV's into Old Town,using surplus church property for affordable housing or addressing
homelessness. Preliminary results of a survey of Skagit County churches show some churches in Skagit Valley
hosting RVs with no participation thus far in Anacortes. Ms. Cleland-McGrath mentioned that previous
Councilmember Eric Johnson,a member of the Episcopal Church,reported that they are looking at options for
converting the Gentry House to assist the homeless,which is currently closed due to recent water damage.
Other items discussed included the possible purchase of a shower trailer to be positioned at the Salvation Army
in Anacortes for public use in late July, committee member participation in a recovery-based model of
behavioral health presentation hosted by the City of Mount Vernon, a rapid re-housing grant application to be
submitted in August,low barrier shelters in Skagit County, and the 22 North project in Bellingham.Ms.
Cleland-McGrath concluded by mentioning the committee is considering holding meetings on a weekly or bi-
weekly basis.
Public Works Committee
Ms. Moulton reported from the Committee meeting held earlier in the evening. The topics discussed included
the Whistle Lake Dam and possible solutions for site improvement, including a Department of Ecology
recommendation to apply for a disaster mitigation grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA)to perform a planning study that will assess current conditions and recommend possible courses of
action. Additional topics included a contract modification to be presented and discussed later on the agenda, an
update on the June 22nd Fifth Street water main emergency, and a pending contract with Robinson Brothers
Construction for aerial fiber construction on State Route 20 near Campbell Lake.
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Public Safety Committee
Mr. Carter reported from the Committee meeting held earlier during the day. Topics discussed related to the
Fire Department included no injuries from fireworks or fires, Chief Kennedy's announced retirement at the end
of July, an imminent budget amendment, and the Community Paramedic agreement with Island Hospital.
Topics related to the Police Department included all recent promotions settling in and earning accreditation for
their new roles and a new hire eligibility list coming soon.
Personnel Committee
Ms. Moulton reported from the Personnel Committee meeting held the previous week. The topics discussed
included labor relations and the Police collective bargaining update moving forward with mediation, changes of
outdated job titles and descriptions for Teamster positions, and current employment openings.
Port-City Liaison
Ms. Hubik reported from the Port-City Liaison meeting held earlier during the day. The topics discussed
included the Wastewater Treatment Plant Outfall Project,the Economic Development Plan and the
establishment of the Economic Development Committee,recreational vehicles being used for housing,an
update on summer events, fiber expansion,the ferry system, and MJB property development.
Public Comment
Mayor Miller invited the public to comment on any item not on the agenda.
Pat Gardner thanked the City and Mother Nature for a beautiful 4th of July celebration and commended the
teamwork that went in to putting on a successful event. She then commented on the waterfront development,
recommending that a billboard sign describing the development in statistical and geographic terms,including
height limits,be posted at the end of the roundabout on 22nd Street and the end of 17th Street to help defray
misleading or false information about the project.
Mayor Miller responded that the Planning Department has issued curb-gutter-sidewalk permits thus far and that
there are no known identified businesses for the area. He continued that the City has platted the area and that the
area is zoned as Marine Mixed Use.
Consent Agenda
Ms. Moulton moved, seconded by Ms. Hubik,to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion
carried unanimously by voice vote.
a. Minutes of June 27,2022
b. Approval of claims in the amount of$655,538.40
The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment:
EFT numbers: 103568 through 103608,total$445,276.08
Check numbers: 103609 through 103616,total $24,861.56
Wire transfer numbers: 306048 through 306347,total $185,400.76
c. Street Fair Application-Rock Ridge Chili Cook Off
d. Street Fair Application-Anacortes Gut Run
e. Interlocal Agreement: Economic Development Grant Award for Guemes View Fiberoptic Expansion
Project#22-175-FBR-001
£ Resolution 3094: Updating Council Procedures to include new Council Committees
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Other Business
Contract Modification: Wastewater Treatment Plant Outfall Permitting Services#20-032-SEW-003
Engineering Services Manager, Tim Hohmann, introduced Jordan Widener,President of Widener and
Associates,who provided a presentation on her business, including its history and development as an
environmental consultant firm. She detailed the company's project history with the City of Anacortes and
associated permitting and emergency response services they provide. Mr. Hohmann then pointed out how
Widener and Associates' expertise helps the City respond to disasters or emergency events through coordination
FEMA funding and the associated documentation and environmental permitting requirements. These services
help to ensure reimbursement for emergency construction projects subsequent to a disaster. He then detailed the
contract modification for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Outfall Permitting Services (#20-032-SEW-003)with
Widener and Associates, explaining that that this contract is for the marine portion of the project.He added that
the project was recently selected by FEMA for reimbursement, and thus there will be multiple contracts coming
before Council for design, construction management,and permitting. He concluded that the current
modification was an expected change in contract scope and corresponding fee increase, and recommended
Council approve the contract modification.
Mayor Miller reminded the public and Council that the City does not have adequate funds to execute these
multimillion dollar projects without federal assistance. He invited members of Council to comment on this
agenda item.
Ms. Moulton commented that they had discussed project timing and received details on the amount of FEMA
funding coming to support the project at the recent Public Works Committee meeting. She asked Mr. Hohmann
to provide more details on federal funding. Mr. Hohmann responded that FEMA approved the new outfall
alignment and will fund$16.1 million for the project plus project cost overruns,which comprises approximately
90 percent of the project cost and will be supplemented by an additional 5 percent from the state.
CAROLYN MOULTON moved, seconded by JEREMY CARTER,to Approve contract modification to
Wastewater Treatment Plant Outfall Permitting Services(20-032-SEW-003)with Widener and Associates.
Vote: Ayes-JEREMY CARTER,RYAN WALTERS, CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH, CAROLYN
MOULTON,BRUCE MCDOUGALL,Amanda Hubik.Nays -None. Result: Passed
Ordinance 4023: Source Control Program
Stormwater Program Manager,Diane Hennebert,presented draft Ordinance 4023 establishing a Source Control
Program. Ms. Hennebert reviewed the plan and the schedule for adoption,which had been included in the
packet materials for the meeting.
Mayor Miller invited the public to comment on the agenda item.No one present wished to address the Council
on the Source Control Program.
Mr.Walters commented that the draft ordinance looked good overall,and mentioned desired revisions
including a new definition of'illicit discharge',code numbering reference changes and other changes specified
in committee. He expressed concern about citizens reading the code changes who are not familiar with the
Stormwater Management Manual might be unaware that their activity or business might be affected by the code
section. He also clarified that the Source Control Program is not a change to development regulations and that
there will be no'grandfathering' for concerns that do not comply with the new code.
Adi ournment
There being no further business,at approximately 6:44 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of July 5, 2022
was adjourned.
Anacortes City Council Minutes-July 5,2022
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