HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-08-21 City Council Minutes Approved Anacortes City Council Minutes - August 21, 2023
Call to Order
Mayor Matt Miller called to order the Anacortes City Council meeting of August 21,2023 at 6:00 p.m.
Councilmembers Ryan Walters,Anthony Young, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Carolyn Moulton, and Amanda
Hubik were present. Councilmembers Jeremy Carter and Bruce McDougall were absent.
Ms. Moulton and Mr. Young moved, seconded by Ms. Hubik,to excuse the absence of Mr. Carter and Mr.
McDougall. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Pledge of Allegiance
The assembly joined in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Announcements and Committee Reports
Mayor Miller shared an update on the following topics,including technical difficulties with the audio of
meeting video via Channel 10 and the city's website,removed item 6.b. from the agenda to allow for staff to
further coordinate contract details with a major wholesale water customer, and announced that Open Streets will
occur on August 27th from 11 am-3pm.
Public Works Committee
Ms. Moulton and Mr. Young reported from the Public Works Committee meeting held earlier in the evening.
The topics discussed included testing results from the Water Treatment Plant for unregulated contaminants,the
Pass Lake water main design contract,the Skyline and 29th Street reservoir study, changes to lead and copper
rules on drinking water from the Environmental Protection Agency,an update on the former Water Treatment
Plant demolition project,the R Avenue contract modification, and the 12th Street and Commercial Avenue
roundabout project update.
Personnel Committee
Ms. Cleland-McGrath reported from the Personnel Committee meeting held earlier in the afternoon. The topics
discussed included a city-wide hiring update, efforts to fill existing police and fire department vacancies,the
new Public Works Director position being filled,NeoGov recruiting software implementation, ongoing
diversity equity and inclusion training, and staffing to ensure public safety in the Anacortes Community Forest
Lands.
Public Comment
Mayor Miller invited the public to comment on any item not on the agenda.No one present wished to address
the Council on any topic not already on the agenda.
Consent Agenda
Ms. Moulton moved, seconded by Mr. Young,to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion
carried unanimously by voice vote.
a. Minutes of August 14,2023
b. Approval of claims in the amount of$1,026,218.70
The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment:
EFT numbers: 107068 through 107120,total $970,857.05
Check numbers: 107121 through 107153,total$34,575.63
Wire transfer numbers: 329261 through 329853,total$20,786.02
c. Contract Award: Washington Park Shop&Residence Roof Replacement#23-224-FAC-00 1
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Other Business
Commercial Avenue Complete Streets Project Phase 1 Update
Interim Public Works Director, Tim Hohmann,presented the Commercial Avenue Complete Streets Project
Phase 1 Update. He introduced the project manager,Mr. Brandon Gonzalez of Alta Planning and Design,and
Ms. Michelle Mach of Transportation Solutions Incorporated,who provided a project update referring to a slide
presentation that was added to the packet materials for the meeting.
Mayor Miller invited the public to comment on the agenda item.
Public comment was given as follows:
Eli Barrett of Anacortes and the Downtown Anacortes Alliance expressed support for the project, including
making the center of the roundabout a location for celebrating the city's character and history.
Warren Tessler of Anacortes, co-chair of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, expressed support
for the roundabout project, especially in making the intersection more useable for pedestrians and bicycles,
including separate bicycle channels and lighted crossing indicators for pedestrians.
Discussion topics included:
• Signage, crosswalk placement relative to the roundabout,the view corridor around Commercial
Avenue,the southwest portion of the Safeway parking lot,how the roundabout affects 1 lth Street and
Commercial Avenue,how the design impacts the American Dream building,reducing the impact on the
area stakeholders,possibly making it an exit only into the roundabout from Safeway,how the project
impacts the 1 lth Street and Q Avenue intersection,modeling to gauge how many more vehicles would
travel down Q Avenue, and future regular project updates.
Contract Modification: R Avenue Long-Term Improvement Project-Engineering#20-127-TRN-001
Interim Public Works Director, Tim Hohmann,introduced proposed contract#20-127-TRN-001 for the R
Avenue Long-Term Improvement Project-Engineering. He provided an update that the construction portion of
the project is fully funded and would go out to bid next week with bid opening within three to four weeks. He
discussed project design details, including$176,000 in grant funding from the Skagit Council of Governments.
Discussion topics included:
• Beautification considerations for the project,and continuity and pedestrian improvements between
Commercial Avenue and R Avenue.
RYAN WALTERS moved, seconded by ANTHONY YOUNG,to authorize the mayor to sign the contract
modification#20-127-TRN-001 with HW Lochner.
Vote: Ayes-ANTHONY YOUNG, CHRISTINE CLELAND-MCGRATH,RYAN WALTERS, CAROLYN
MOULTON,AMANDA HUBIK.Nays-None. Result: Passed
Interlocal Agreement#23-244-LEG-001 with the City of Burlington,the City of Mount Vernon,the City
of Sedro-Woolley, and Skagit County Establishing the North Star Leadership Team
City Attorney,Darcy Swetnam, introduced the proposed interlocal agreement#23-244-LEG-001 with the City
of Burlington,the City of Mount Vernon,the City of Sedro-Woolley, and Skagit County establishing the North
Star leadership team. She introduced the guiding principles and outlined the agreement's scope of work,
clarifying that this agreement does not create a separate agency and any action associated with the agreement
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would need to be taken by the individual parties.
Discussion topics included:
• Formalizing ongoing engagements,periodicity of meetings under the agreement, compliance with the
Open Public Meetings Act,how human services are delivered in Skagit County, leadership for the
county-wide provision of services, statement of purpose,the meaning of"joint board", coordination
between local jurisdictions, information flow from Skagit County,workplan and reporting
requirements, status and authority of the advisory body,balancing discussion of issues with
implementation of solutions,broadening interaction with the community, and utilization of resources.
Ms. Swetnam promised to communicate the Councilmembers'concerns regarding the proposed interlocal
agreement to the other parties.
Adjournment
There being no further business, at approximately 7:44 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of August 21,
2023 was adjourned.
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