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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 01/14/2010• • CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING / PORT ANGELES FORWARD COMMITTEE Vern Burton Meeting Rooms / Port Angeles, Washington Meeting Minutes for January 14, 2010 Mission Statement: To create a strong economically and culturally vibrant community that will enhance the lives of our citizens. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Kidd opened the meeting at 7:30 a.m. ROLL CALL: City Councilmembers Present: Patrick Downie, Cherie Kidd, Max Mania, Don Perry. City Councilmembers Absent: Mayor Di Guilio, Brooke Nelson. PA Forward Members Present: Chair Cherie Kidd, Co -Chair Don Perry, Mike Chapman, David Miller, Terry Weed, Larry Morris for Doug Nass, Mike Edwards, George Schoenfeldt, Linda Rotmark, Terry Smithton and Kaj Ahlburg, Sonya Tetnowski and Donna Lucas for Frances Charles. Members Absent: Paul "Buck" Gieseke, Terry Roth, Willie Nelson Staff Present: Kent Myers, Nathan West, Scott Johns, Teresa Pierce Others Present: Tim Boyle, Russ Veenema Public Present: Dick Goodman of KONA, Mike Gentry, John Miller, Greg Halberg, Erin Simmons, Wayne Feiden. Others in attendance did not introduce themselves or offer comments. Approval of Minutes Motion made by Perry to approve the December meeting minutes. Second by Edwards. Motion passed unanimously. AIA SDAT Team Visit to Port Angeles West introduced Erin Simmons and Wayne Feiden of the AlA SDA Team. The Team has returned to Port Angeles to see what accomplishments have been made and to also find out the Committee's thoughts on how the process was for the City. Later today the Team is scheduled to meet with the Mayor and City Manager, conduct walking tours of the downtown area, view facade improvement winners, meet with local architects regarding private sector projects, and meet with City staff. West recognized Mike Gentry's contribution to the success of the project. 6585 65t 6 Port Angeles Forward Meeting Minutes January 14, 2010 West continued that a complete sign inventory has been conducted marking where signs are now as a starting point. A request for proposals will be going out for the design of the waterfront promenade. This project consists of six phases combining into a $4.5 million project. Downtown parking changes are being considered including the possible elimination of the $7500 charge per space for new construction projects. A revitalization district could also be considered. Another barrier to be addressed is residential parking downtown and how the current code does not provide for this type of parking. The Signage and Wayfinding project will be funded by Lodging Tax for 2010, along with entryway monument design, and the shoreline master program will include a view shed analysis to find areas most appropriate for taller buildings. The next round of Facade improvement Grant applications will be in 2010. West further reported that the City is working closely with Black Ball to coordinate their terminal improvements with the Waterfront Promenade project. West noted that the focus for today's meeting was for the SDA Team to gather feedback on the process the Team used to gather the information for their report. Chair Kidd thanked West for his hard work on the project. Wayne Feiden reported that the Team was very impressed on the progress since their visit. He would like to know what the Committee thought worked well in making the process so successful. Myers responded that timing is everything and this was the right time for the community to be open to this outside assistance. He added that a critical part included all of the partners that were involved in so many ways to work together. The City just could not have done this on its own without this heavy involvement from the community. D. Miller added that the Team's recommendations were the catalysis. Perry added how important that was to get the work on track and gather these ideas in perspective. Edwards added that momentum was a critical factor along with moving forward quickly and coordinating with budget opportunities to get a number of initiatives in place to coordinate with planning requirements. He added that this interest is still on the front burner. Smithton added that having this opinion from an outside perspective made the community more accountable and really helped to point out things that we may not notice. Discussion continued as to whether this momentum will continue into the next several years. Perry responded that many of the projects have been put out on an extended time line so they are in place to be considered and used for many years to come. Kidd added that the SDA Team's presentation included such excellent illustrations of changes that needed and how they resulted in "Ah Ha!" moments for the community to provide a new perspective to focus on. Perry voiced extreme satisfaction in the process and did not believe that it could have been done any better. Kidd added that the SDA Team brought a wide variety of expertise with them for each of the different areas of town. Gentry added that the measure of success will be the level of continued participation of the public and the importance of keeping participation and interest for new projects yet to come and to move forward with a cooperative spirit. Feiden noted that the painting project was a great motivator for getting the interest started. Edwards spoke on the sub - committee's effort to prioritize projects and the process in matching them with the executive summary. Downie asked what the Team's biggest concern would be on obstacles. Feiden responded that the long- term projects are the ones that can be daunting and can get lost just because of the time factor needed to implement them. He stressed the importance of keeping these projects fresh in the memory of the current Page 2 of 5 • • Port Angeles Forward Meeting Minutes January 14, 2010 Council and other area organizations as those members change. Mania stated that this report was one of the main reasons that he ran for office and the great support that he heard from the public. Downie agreed and stated his focus is to keep the momentum going. Feiden suggested yearly follow -up sessions. West stressed the importance of the volunteers, the PA Forward Committee, City Manager, and the hard work that his staff put in contributing to this success and stressed that this has truly been a group effort. Kidd added that the suggestion to change Front and First to two -way streets seemed to spark a lot of conversation and interest within the community and discussions on other ways to improve transportation. Feiden mentioned that transportation is another key to keep people in town. He suggested the mindset of "taking ownership" of the roads and deciding what you want the roads to do. Current street configuration is fine for moving people from east to west, but is that the desired result or should be or how to better direct traffic to offer more benefits to businesses. Developing better north and south routes was also recommended to join neighborhoods together. Edwards would like a transportation study to be done. West responded that there are a number of planning issues to be addressed and they have been included in the Capital Facilities Plan so study items can be addressed. 2010 Census Opportunities for Involvement - US Census John Miller, Community & Economic Development Director for Clallam County, reported on a meeting last week with the Census Bureau in Kitsap County. The County will also be serving as a Complete Count Committee. Eric Davenport of the Census will be returning to Port Angeles to meet with the County. J. Miller stressed the importance of counting everyone and how the County will be using GIS data to coordinate the efforts. He suggested keeping a level of enthusiasm going so people will either return the census form or be counted in another way. Myers stressed the importance of reaching out to those difficult to count groups and to consider meeting with those agencies at next month's meeting. J. Miller added that there is a special event already scheduled for the end of January that will focus on these particular groups. Juan de Fuca Statue Project At the December 2009 meeting— committee moved to table issue to February 2010 meeting. Economic Development /Downtown Port Angeles Edwards reported that work had continued over the last several months on trying to determine the best method for conducting the survey. A meeting was held yesterday with a draft to be developed in the near future for a survey that will be simple and short, and be well- advertised to get the best response possible. Perry stressed the importance of following through from last January's seminar and to get businesses involved to state what they need to be successful and how things can be done better in Port Angeles. Continuation — Discussion of 2010 future topics ner City Council recommendations Hurricane Ridge: Myers reported that City Council approved the contract with the Farmers' Market to be located at The Gateway. Greg Halberg spoke on the issue of keeping Hurricane Ridge Road open more often as this would be a tremendous benefit to the community. Visitors to the Park add to our economy so when the road is not open; it makes a huge hit on our overall economy. Halberg stressed trying to find ways to work with the Park, and for the City and County to possibly work together to keep the road open. Kidd asked what the obstacles are. Halberg responded that funding is the biggest and also safety issues. He offered that it costs $300,000 annually to keep the road open, and perhaps it would be better to continually plow to keep the road open rather than wait until the weekend to begin plowing. Olympic National Park (ONP) is discussing ways to establish public transportation year round to the Ridge and other Page 3 of 5 6587 658 Port Angeles Forward Meeting Minutes January 14, 2010 areas of ONP. Myers offered that ONP Superintendent Karen Gustin will be at the next Council meeting and will be available to answer questions. Myers suggested a PA Forward sub - committee could address the issue. Item to discuss a possible subcommittee will be added to next month's agenda. Kidd recognized Terry Smithton and thanked her for her service on the Committee. Smithton will be moving out of the area. She introduced Kaj Ahlburg as her replacement as the representative for the PA Business Association. Member Reports Rotmark announced the Economic Development Council's annual dinner event. New Business No discussion. Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 8:32 a.m. Next MeetinL' Date: • Next regular meeting - February 11, 2010, at 7:30 a.m. in the Jack Pittis Conference Room, City Hall. Dan 15iGuilio, Mayor Page 4 of 5 a Hurd, City Clerk a O • • Port Angeles Forward Meeting Minutes January 14, 2010 DATE 2 -9 -06 3 -13 -2008 1 -08 -09 12 -10 -09 12 -10 -09 DATE 3 -9 -06 April -May 2006 February 2007 May 10, 2007 October 11, 2007 October 2007 December 2007 January 2009 March 2009 April 2009 Summer 2009 August 2009 1 DESCRIPTION Continue Discussions on Housing / Jobs "2010" Theme Adopted Follow -up & Survey for Business Resource Event Complete Count Census Committee Participation 1 Juan de Fuca Statue Project NEW AND ON -GOING ACTION ITEMS DESCRIPTION Letter to City Council, Planning Commission and County regarding Southern Cross -Route Strategic Planning Meetings with Jim Haguewood Make recommendation to City Council regarding Harbor Plan Determine PA Forward representative to Lodging Tax Committee Determination of PUD Representative Gather input regarding Cross - Route issue Give Recommendation to City Council Regarding Cross -Town Route Host Business Resource Event / Council Chambers AIA Team Grant Visit Forward Recommendations to City Council regarding CFP & Policy Issues AIA Grant Final Report Roll Out 2010 Census Bureau Presentation 1 1 RESPONSIBLE PARTY Page 5 of 5 Group Group Subcommittee 12 -12 -2009: K. Myers All Staff COMPLETED ACTION ITEMS RESPONSIBLE PARTY Mark Madsen Group Group Group Group Group Group Subcommittee Group Group Subcommittee N. West 1 TARGET DEADLINE On -Going On -Going Immediate Spring 2010 February 2010 RESULT Completed Completed 5 -11 -06 Completed 2 -8 -07 Completed 5 -10 -2007 Completed 10 -11 -07 Completed 10 -11 -07 Completed January 8, 2009 March 2009 1 April 9, 2009 October 2009 November 2009 6589