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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 08/10/1998 379O CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING Port Angeles, Washington · August 10, 1998 CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Braun called the special meeting of the Port Angeles City Council to order at 7:30 SPECIAL MEETING: p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Mayor Braun, Councilmembers Campbell, Doyle, Hulett, McKeown, Wiggins, and Williams. Mem bets Absent: None. Staff Present: Manager Ibarra, Attorney Knutson, Clerk Upton, B. Collins, J. Pittis, T. Smith, and S. Roberds. Public Present: M. Pearson, A. Pearson, G. Coffey, M. Coffey, T. Schmid, C. Rowland, D. Hayes, K. Hayes, D. Schmid, S. Kraft, S. Grainger, D. Hart, M. Gustaf, J. Abram, A. Gustafson, C. Gustafson, E. Johnson, and K. Nielsen. PLEDGE OF The Pledge'of Allegiance to the Flag was led by Mayor Braun. ALLEGIANCE: Grant Application for Other Considerations Deerpark Gateway Grant Application with Clallam County for Deerpark Gateway Mayor Braun reviewed the information provided by the Public Works Department relative to a previous grant application submitted by the City and County for the Port Angeles Scenic Gateway Center. Tim Smith, Projects and Grants Administrator, advised the Council that the original grant application to the U.S. Scenic Byways was not approved for funding; however, it will be considered again in 1999. In the meantime, however, another opportunity for grant funding has been identified through the U.S. Public Lands Highway Discretionary Program, and Clallam County has again asked that the City partner with the County for this application. If awarded, the grant funds would allow Clallam County to do additional work with regard to the Olympic Discovery Trail. City staffhas recommended that the local match remain the same as that included in the original grant application to Scenic Byways. In the ensuing discussion, Mr. Smith responded to an inquiry fi.om Councilman Doyle that the County would still function as the lead agency. It is intended that the City's match would not be any higher than that included in the previous application. Councilman Campbell queried as to whether the County would own and maintain the facility over the long term. Mr. Smith indicated that the County would assume responsibility for construction. However, the matter of long-term maintenance has not been finalized as yet. This issue must be addressed by written agreement. Mr. Smith reviewed the status of the Olympic Discovery Trail, noting the City's Waterfront Trail has played a large role in setting the standard for the trail that will ultimately end in Port Townsend. Planning Director Collins reported on funding received by the County - 1 - 3791 CITY COUNCIL MEETING August l O, 1998 Grant Application for wherein they will have the ability t~ continue the trail fi-om Morse Creek to the new bridge Deerpark Gateway on Old Olympic Highway. This interpretive center is being created to go around the trail. (Cont'd) Councilman Wiggins recommended that the maintenance issue be clarified, and Manager Ibarra concurred that the City needs to work out the maintenance issues with the County. However, the deadline for submission of the application is this Friday. Because the City previously participated in a joint grant application, Manager Ibarra felt it appropriate to place the matter before the Council to determine if there was still interest. He suggested the possibility of the City making a lesser contribution in exchange for ongoing maintenance or, altematively, financing more of the match and not having responsibility for the maintenance. Manager Ibarra felt the County would be receptive, and he noted the City should not pay the entire match and still be held responsible for maintenance. He suggested the Council approve the application and then work out details if the grant application is successful. Councilman Wiggins moved to proceed with the grant application as presented. Councilman Boyle seconded the motion. Councilman Doyle expressed the hope that the City would not have to be responsible for the maintenance, to which Councilman Campbell agreed. Councilmember McKeown felt the Parks Department is taxed to the limit with responsibility for parks maintenance. A vote was taken on the motion, which carried unanimously. Rezone Application - Ordinances Not Requiring Public Hearings Northwest Permit Rezone Application - REZ 98-03 - Northwest Permit, Ninth Street between Lincoln and Laurel Street: Request to rezone property designated RS-7 (Residential Single Family) to CSD (Community Shopping Distric0 Mayor Braun and Councilman Williams excused themselves from the consideration of the Northwest Permit applications due to conflict of interest and appearance of fairness. They departed the meeting at 7:40 p.m., and Deputy Mayor Doyle proceeded to chair the meeting. Deputy Mayor Doyle reviewed the City Council meeting of July 21, 1998, at which time a tie vote was taken on those matters relating to Northwest Permit. The matter was continued pending the return of Councilman Hulett. Councilmember McKeown spoke in opposition to the rezone request, noting that two vacant lots do not mean the area is not a neighborhood. Further, she felt it important that the Council not make a decision that corporate dollars are worth more than the individual citizens of the community. Attorney Knutson suggested that, for the record, Councilman Hulett clarify what he has reviewed in order to prepare for this consideration. Councilman Hulett referenced the specific documents previously distributed to the City Council relative to the Northwest Permit applications. Further, he listened to the taped proceedings of the meeting missed in order to be prepared; he felt he was fully prepared to make a decision. Councilman Hulett referred to his service on the Planning Commission, during which time a decision was made to avoid the rezone of Lincoln Street in strips. To approve this request for a rezone would accomplish the undesirable strip mall effect. He referenced Ninth Street, as well as the entire Cherry Hill area, much of which is served by very narrow streets. He cautioned against taking an action that would result in increased traffic. Each rezone must be considered on its own merit, and he felt the traffic impacts would not prove to be a win- win situation for all involved. The only solution Councilman Hulett could foresee would be to redirect traffic away from the area, which would be contrary to the very reason Rite Aid wanted to be sited at 8th & Lincoln. He fin-ther surmnarized his opposition to the rczone, -2- 3792 CITY COUNCILMEETING August 10, 1998 Rezone Application - Councilman Wiggins concurred with Councilmembers McKeown and Hulett. Approval Northwest Permit of this rezone would literally place a commercial business in the living rooms of the (Cont'd) neighbors. He felt there was no question that the City was paying the price for having the vacant lots serv~!i'bl!ffe~he was certain the lots wouldn't be developed or at least wouldn't be used for the puipose proposed by Rite Aid. Councilman Campbell noted he had not changed his view since the last meeting. He felt there was no question that the block is 75% commercial at the present time, and he felt the impacts of the proposed development could be minimized. Deputy Mayor Doyle maintained his position of support of the rezone, as he believed the area in question is 100 feet offHighway 101 which is a major U.S. highway. He didn't believe this rezone would be as detrimental as has been presented. After further limited discussion, Deputy Mayor Doyle read the Ordinance by title, entitled ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE of the City of Port Angeles rezoning property located in Block 268 of the Townsite of Port Angeles from Residential Single Family to Community Shopping District and amending Ordinance No. 2801, as amended. CoUncilmembel: McKeown moved to not agcept the Ordinance as read by title and to direct staffto prepare Findings and Conclusions in support of denial of the rezone request. The motion was seconded by Councilman Wiggins. A vote was taken on the motion, which carried by a majority vote, with Councilmembers McKeown, Wiggins, and Hulett voting in favor, and Deputy Mayor Doyle and Councilman Campbell voting in opposition. Discussion followed as to when the Council could take action on the Findings and Conclusions in view of the fact two Councilmembers will not be present at the next regular Council meeting. It was agreed, therefore, that the Findings and Conclusions should be prepared for consideration at the September 1 Council meeting. Street Vacation Petition - Street Vacation Petition -STV 98-01 - Northwest Permit - Request to vacate a portion of Northwest Permit the 8th/9th alley between Lincoln and Laurel Streets Deputy Mayor Doyle summarized the meeting of July 21, 1998, regarding the Northwest Permit application for street vacation. Again, a tie vote was taken on the application. Deputy Mayor Doyle then read the Ordinance by title, entitled ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE of the City of Port Angeles vacating a portion of the alley between Lincoln and Laurel Streets located in Block 268 of the Townsite of Port Angeles. Councilmember McKeown moved to reject the Ordinance as read by title and to direct staffto prepare Findings and Conclusions in support of denial of the street vacation for presentation at the September I Council meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilman Hulett and carried by a majority vote, with Councilmembers McKeown, Wiggins, and Hulett voting in favor, and Deputy Mayor Doyle and Councilman Campbell voting in opposition. -3- 3793 CITY COUNCIL MEETING August 10, 1998 Street Vacation Petition - Councilman Campbell shared his thoughts with the Council in that it appeared to him that Northwest Permit (Cont'd) one of the things a developer needs to do in coming before the Council for an action of this kind is to prepare an application that is accurate, complete, and extensive. He felt this to be impommt so that everyone involved would know what is being proposed. Of paramount impomnce is that the applicant needs to work with the neighborhood residents and to hear and address their concerns. Further, the applicant needs to work with the Planning staffto make sure the maximum amount of information regarding the application and the benefits to the community and neighborhood are well understood so that they can be balanced against the impacts. Councilman Campbell expressed the opinion that the Rite Aid principals, who were not present at any point in the process that he could detect or understand, made aver7 poor presentation about what it was that they needed and what their intentions were with regard to this enterprise. He didn't feel this was a way that a company that wants to operate a successful business in any community should conduct itself. He was hopeful that Rite Aid and others in the future would do a more complete job of working with the community and the neighborhood to ensure that this kind of business can be successfully located in the neighborhood. AI)JOURN~ENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. B~cky J. ~pl~--t~ Cle~ --- Gary Br~[un, MaWr' '-'~ -4-