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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-07-25 City Council Minutes Approved Anacortes City Council Minutes - July 25, 2022 Call to Order Mayor Matt Miller called to order the Anacortes City Council meeting of July 25, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. Councilmembers Jeremy Carter,Anthony Young, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Carolyn Moulton,Bruce McDougall and Amanda Hubik were present. Councilmember Ryan Walters participated in the meeting remotely via Zoom. Pledge of Allegiance The assembly joined in the Pledge of Allegiance. Announcements and Committee Reports Mayor Miller shared current COVID case statistics for Anacortes and Skagit County, describing a decrease in hospitalizations and an increase in cases with one person currently under care at Island Hospital. He then provided a construction update,reporting that the 32nd Street and M Avenue project would be wrapping up next week and water line maintenance projects starting this week in the Skyline area on Sands Way and Parkside Drive and in the east side of town on 37th Court. He then concluded by mentioning places to cool down during hot weather days, including the splash park from 11 am-6pm,the library from 1 Oam-6pm and the senior center from 8am-4pm. Planning Committee Ms. Moulton reported from the Planning Committee meeting held earlier in the evening. The topics discussed included a presentation from the Downtown Anacortes Alliance that covered their Main Street initiative,which focuses on revitalizing the downtown, and an upcoming Planning, Community and Economic Development department update. Housing Affordability and Community Services Committee Mr.Walters reported from the Housing Affordability and Community Services Committee meeting held the previous Thursday. The topics discussed included the Anacortes Family Center social worker contract,the First Step Center in Burlington,the Housing Action Plan and associated survey, and the draft Housing Conditions Report. Public Comment Mayor Miller invited the public to comment on any item not on the agenda. Mr. David Duff of West 3rd Street in Anacortes spoke about a traffic issue in his neighborhood,which he posited is due to development occurring in Rockridge and other area construction projects. He cited a street grid bounded roughly by Lovrics marina and Anacopper Road that is completely developed except for a two-block area on Kansas Avenue which,he asserted,was intended to be the main access for the neighborhood. Mr. Duff pointed out that the area is unused today except for a graveled area being used as a private parking zone. He recommended that this area be converted to a city street and provided the Council with a written proposal, asking that the matter be placed on a future agenda. Consent Agenda Mr. Young moved, seconded by Mr. McDougall,to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. a. Minutes of July 18,2022 b. Approval of claims in the amount of$400,516.27 The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment: EFT numbers: 103763 through 103810,total$282,724.74 Anacortes City Council Minutes-July 25,2022 1 Check numbers: 103811 through 103838,total$106,592.16 Wire transfer numbers: 307275 through 307579,total$11,199.37 c. Street Fair Application-Open Streets 8/28/2022 Mr. Walters removed Item 5.d. Contract Modification: Social Worker Agreement#21-061-IDS-001 from the Consent Agenda. Contract Modification: Social Worker Agreement#21-061-IDS-001 Mr. Walters mentioned the commitment the Council made to re-evaluate the contract when approving the initial term last year and then detailed separate discussions held at the Housing Affordability and Community Services Committee,with Police Chief Dave Floyd and Family Center Director,Dustin Johnson to reconsider the contract extension. Mr. Walters expressed that following those conversations he is in favor of moving the contract forward. Mayor Miller mentioned that staff could have timed the progress report to better coincide with the Council's consideration of the contract. Mr. Young expressed support for the social worker agreement,but asked for data points regarding contract performance to assess what type of work was performed during the initial term of the contract. Ms. Cleland- McGrath pointed out that on February 22,2022, Chief Floyd and Director Johnson provided a detailed presentation that included some of the data that Mr.Young was seeking. She continued, emphasizing the importance of having a social worker conducting training for key city staff, such as the library and parks, in conflict de-escalation and being available for in-person contact for prompt treatment of those in need. Ms. Cleland-McGrath, as a member of the Anacortes Family Center board,recused herself from the vote. Mr. Young added that Anacortes is at the forefront of providing social services to those in need. Mr. Walters pointed out that Director Johnson provides social services statistics to the Police department on a quarterly basis and that those numbers can be made available to the Council. He concluded the discussion by mentioning that there is more work to be done to extend human services to those in need,but that what is in place is working at present. RYAN WALTERS moved, seconded by AMANDA HUBIK,to approve Contract Modification: Social Worker Agreement#21-061-IDS-001.Vote: Ayes-JEREMY CARTER,ANTHONY YOUNG,RYAN WALTERS, CAROLYN MOULTON,BRUCE MCDOUGALL,AMANDA HUBIK.Nays-None.Abstain-CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH. Result: Passed Closed Record Decision Hearing CUP-2022-0003 Anacortes Readiness Center Conditional Use Permit Planning, Community and Economic Development Director,Don Measamer introduced Associate Environmental Planner,Nathan Goldschmidt,who presented an application for a Conditional Use Permit with Site Plan Review from the Anacortes Readiness Center. Mr. Goldschmidt summarized the project,referring to the extensive packet materials for this project. Mr. Goldschmidt reported that the project meets all code requirements and that one public comment was received requesting that the project be completed during normal working hours. Mr. Goldschmidt reported that the Planning Commission and Staff recommended approval. Ms. Moulton reported that she received a phone call from former Councilmember Erica Pickett with concerns about the razor wire and fencing,which she pointed out is normally not permitted under the Anacortes Municipal Code. In this case,however, since the applicant represents a sensitive government facility related to homeland security,razor wire and fencing are permitted if the facility operator demonstrates that security needs cannot be reasonably met with other fence types. Ms. Moulton wondered if the current fencing had been previously considered and if there might be reasonable alternatives available that would be less foreboding or prison-like in appearance. Mr. Goldschmidt responded that the fencing is required to house or store mechanized Anacortes City Council Minutes-July 25,2022 2 prison-like in appearance. Mr. Goldschmidt responded that the fencing is required to house or store mechanized equipment. Mr. Measamer pointed out that there have been a couple of past exceptions made to the barbed wire ban to ensure physical security of mechanical equipment and that the current applicant's needs meet these criteria. Ms. Moulton offered that it is unfortunate there could not be an alternative type of fencing that could be employed. Mr. Measamer said that there could be a couple of alternative options that could be considered in upcoming code amendments that would be brought before the Council in the near term. Ms. Cleland-McGrath pointed out that this type of fencing makes sense for the applicant's mission,but that perhaps there are other means by which it could be kept secure and make it less foreboding. Mr. Young also understood the facility's security requirements,but suggested that further discussion could reveal other options and allay community concerns. Mr. Walters voiced concern about the chain link fencing,which is allowed in this case,but advocated that perhaps the Council could require some landscape buffering between the property line and the existing fencing. Mr. Measamer expressed appreciation for former Councilmember Pickett's comments and reminded the Council that she is not a commenter of record on the Closed Record Hearing prior to the closure of the Planning Commission hearing,but that it would be possible to work with the applicant to come up with alternative measures that would address community concerns. Mr. Walters expressed appreciation for Mr. Measamer's point,but as a voting member of the Council he would have raised the same concern and asked Mr. Measamer if some conditional language could be added to the permit. Mr. Measamer offered proposed language that the applicant shall provide landscape screening somewhere between the sidewalk and the fencing at the Director's discretion that does not adversely impact site security. Mr.Walters suggested that the landscaping could be placed in the City right-of-way to minimize the impact on the applicant's property. Mr. Carter proposed that the applicant might prefer to add a fence surrounding the entire property, as the applicant currently experiences members of the public walking freely throughout the unfenced portions of the property. CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH moved, seconded by BRUCE MCDOUGALL,to approve CUP 2022- 0003 Anacortes Readiness Center Conditional Use Permit subject to the conditional language offered by the Planning Director,Don Measamer. Vote: Ayes-ANTHONY YOUNG,RYAN WALTERS, CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH,CAROLYN MOULTON,BRUCE MCDOUGALL,AMANDA HUBIK.Nays - None.Abstain-JEREMY CARTER. Result: Passed Public Hearings Amending the 2022 -2027 Capital Facilities Plan (CFP) Finance Director, Steve Hoglund, mentioned that the hearing was preceded by a required two-week notice period as required under Anacortes Municipal Code Chapter 19.16 that was posted on the City website and published in the Anacortes American. He then outlined the amendments to the 2022-2027 Capital Facilities Plan including the 32nd Steet and M Avenue roundabout and the Skate Park replacement project. The complete materials were included in the packet materials for the meeting. Mayor Miller invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item.No one present or online wished to address the Council. Mayor Miller closed the public hearing. Other Business Lodging Tax Advisory Committee-Recipient Presentations Ms. Schelleen Rathkopf of Whidbey Island Race Week presented her organization's use of Lodging Tax Advisory Committee(LTAC)funds. She mentioned that through substantial marketing efforts enabled by LTAC funds to rebrand the event as Race Week Pacific Northwest,that it is sometimes referred to as Anacortes Race Week. She mentioned that Race Week adopted creative marketing strategies, including having the Rockfish Grill open a beer garden,which in turn resulted in a donation to the Anacortes Family Center,the commissioning of Anacortes artists Terri McDonald and Jennifer Bowman to produce event trophies,race posters and merchandise for participants and spectators alike. LTAC funds also allowed Race Week to run full page print ads and a digital campaign to re-brand the event. The strategy was successful in promoting Anacortes Anacortes City Council Minutes-July 25,2022 3 and the event as highly desirable,virtually promising strong revenue for local hotels and businesses during future events. Mayor Miller thanked Ms. Rathkopf for her presentation. Mr. Young commended the event and characterized it as fitting in well with the goals of LTAC. Ms. Cleland-McGrath thanked Ms. Rathkopf for her presentation and commended the group for their positive comportment and expressed her appreciation for the event being scheduled as a mid-week event. Ms. Rathkopf mentioned a possible expansion of the event to other age groups and experience levels, and that they are working with the Coast Guard to accomplish appropriate permitting to facilitate the expansion. Second Quarter Finance Update Finance Director, Steve Hoglund,presented the Second Quarter Finance Update. The complete materials were included in the packet materials for the meeting. Mr. McDougall asked about Real Estate Excise Tax charged per sale to confirm his understanding that sales are down,but values are generally up. Mr. Hoglund responded that his understanding of the data as presented was correct. Mr. McDougall followed up by asking if some streams of sales tax revenue were up in an exceptional way. Mr. Hoglund responded that tax revenues from online sales went up during the pandemic and have remained high,but other streams are performing as expected. Mayor Miller added that marine services and sales have experienced significant increases over the past couple of months. Mr. McDougall wondered what portion of the private utility sales tax revenue stream is comprised by phone and cable. Mr. Hoglund answered that natural gas and electricity make up the majority of the category by a large margin. Mr. McDougall then offered that with phone and cable decreasing,that it would not represent a significant negative impact on private utility sales tax revenues. Mr. Hoglund agreed. Ms. Moulton wondered about the low revenues in the Anacortes Community Forest Land fund. Mr. Hoglund responded that the quarry contract had completed and therefore that revenue stream was no longer coming into the fund. He pointed out that the fund should remain healthy for the next several years with a balance of more than$400,000. She wondered if there were any possible replacement revenue streams coming in the near future. Mr. Hoglund was not aware of any replacement funding for the quarry contract. Mayor Miller invited the public to comment on the agenda item.No one present wished to address the Council on the agenda item. Ordinance 4027 Amending the 2022-2027 CFP Finance Director, Steve Hoglund,presented Ordinance 4027: Amending the 2022-2027 Capital Facilities Plan. The complete materials were included in the packet materials for the meeting. Mr.Walters pointed out that future budget amendments that could be more complicated should include more detailed funding data to comply with a statutory requirement that budget amendments be considered concomitantly with the Capital Facilities Plan. Mayor Miller invited the public to comment on any item not on the agenda.No one present or online wished to address the Council on the agenda item. ANTHONY YOUNG moved, seconded by JEREMY CARTER,to approve Ordinance 4027 amending the 2022-2027 Capital Facilities Plan as presented.Vote: Ayes -JEREMY CARTER,ANTHONY YOUNG, RYAN WALTERS, CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH, CAROLYN MOULTON,BRUCE MCDOUGALL,AMANDA HUBIK.Nays -None. Result: Ordinance 4026: 2022 Second Quarter Budget Amendment Finance Director, Steve Hoglund,presented Ordinance 4026: 2022 Second Quarter Budget Amendment.He explained that after further consultation with the Mayor and staff that he pulled the significant edit for Fiber Anacortes City Council Minutes-July 25,2022 4 from the Ordinance, as there will be time later on in the fiscal year to consider the matter further. The complete materials were included in the packet materials for the meeting. Mayor Miller invited the public to comment on the agenda item.No one present or online wished to address the Council on the agenda item. AMANDA HUBIK moved, seconded by JEREMY CARTER,to adopt Ordinance 4026: 2022 Second Quarter Budget Amendment as presented.Vote: Ayes -JEREMY CARTER,ANTHONY YOUNG,RYAN WALTERS,CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH, CAROLYN MOULTON,BRUCE MCDOUGALL, AMANDA HUBIK.Nays -None. Result: Passed Adjournment There being no further business, at approximately 7:18 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of July 25, 2022 was adjourned. Anacortes City Council Minutes -July 25,2022 5