HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 09/16/2014 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Port Angeles, Washington
September 16, 2014
CALL TO ORDER-REGULAR MEETING:
Deputy Mayor Downie called the regular meeting of the Port Angeles City Council to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Members Present: Deputy Mayor Downie, Councilmembers Bruch,Collins,Gase,Kidd and Whetham.
Members Absent: Mayor Di Guilio
Staff Present: City Manager McKeen, Attorney Bloor, Clerk Veneklasen, C. Fulton, N. West, T. Gallagher, K.
Dubuc, S.Wright,C.Delikat and P. Lusk
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Councilmember Collins led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
CEREMONIAL MATTERS PROCLAMATIONS & EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS
1. Constitution Week Proclamation
Deputy Mayor Downie read the Constitution Week Proclamation. Janis Flanagan, Chairman of the Michael Trebert
Chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution received the proclamation.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Melrina Worman, 224 Hawthorne Place, spoke in opposition to a utilities rate increase. She said rate increases will
lead to more businesses that won't be able to hire,more unemployment,and more people unable to pay bills.
Todd Hokin, 1203 Craig Avenue, proposed adjusting water rates in the summer to allow for people to water and
green their lawns.
Ron Erickson, 934 South Lauridsen Boulevard, spoke about smoking in apartments that are advertised as non-
smoking.Mr. Erickson asked that smoking in public subsidized housing be illegal.
Steve Zenovic, 767 Black Diamond Road, spoke in favor of renaming Lincoln Park Field#1 as Jim Lunt Memorial
Field.Mr.Zenovic spoke about Mr. Lunt's many far-reaching contributions to the Port Angeles community.
Dr.Thomas Locke,267 Pike Place,Clallam County Health Officer,gave testimony about the oral health crisis in the
Port Angeles community. He thanked Council for continuing to fluoridate water and cited health benefits associated
with fluoridation.
It was moved by Whetham and seconded by Bruch to move item I up in the agenda.
Motion carried 6-0.
RESOLUTIONS NOT REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. Renaming Lincoln Park Field#1 to the Jim Lunt Memorial Field
Corey Delikat, Director of Parks&Recreation,read resolution and stated that Jim Lunt was a community leader, an
advocate of youth baseball and softball, and someone who volunteered in the community for more than 25 years.
Council discussion followed.
PORT ANGELES CITY COUNCIL MEETING—September 16,X813 O r
RESOLUTION NO. 19-14
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the City of Port Angeles, Washington, approving the renaming of Lincoln
Park Field#1 to the Jim Lunt Memorial Field.
It was moved by Gase and seconded by Collins to:
Approve the resolution as read by title.
Motion carried 6-0.
PUBLIC HEARINGS—OTHER:
1. Electric,Water,and Wastewater Rates
Craig Fulton,Director of Public Works and Utilities,reviewed key points of rate adjustments for 2015. Staff handed
out an updated ordinance to Council that included minor modifications,mostly clerical.
Director Fulton spoke about utility subsidies that are available to low income residents and free efficiency incentives
programs. Council discussion followed.
Deputy Mayor Downie opened the public hearing.
Edna Willadsen, 1719 Lambert Lane, spoke about delinquent utility charges and her concern that people who are
paying their utility bills are being taken advantage of by having to subsidize all those who are not paying.
Peter Ripley, 114 E. 6`" St., spoke in opposition to proposed hikes to utility rates. He said it's going to get to where
no one can afford their light bills and people will have to choose between paying utilities or buying medicine.
Judi Hangartner, 1815 E. 4°i St., said she strongly opposes rate increases and said they would impose a hardship on
residents. She noted delinquent utility accounts on the City's records and said citizens will soon have to choose
between eating,medicine or paying utility bills.
Todd Holm, 1203 Craig Avenue, asked questions about base rates and usage rates. Director Fulton noted that 85%
of utility cost is paid to Bonneville Power Administration. City Manager McKeen spoke about traditional method of
billing and noted that since 2011 BPA went to a tiered rate methodology. Phil Lusk, Deputy Director of Power
Systems and Telecommunications, explained the tiered rate methodology. Mr. Holm then spoke in favor of green
lawns and possibly increasing revenue by selling water.
Steve Nordwell showed Council a graph that charted his utilities rates from 2005 to 2009 in comparison to BPA's
costs. He questioned where the dollars were going and encouraged cost control and restraint.
Cindy Turney,430 W, 8° St., stated that utility bills are too high and that rent and utilities take up all of her Social
Security benefits. She also spoke in favor of green lawns.
Lavonne Huffman,West 5°' Street, reminded Council that they live in a depressed area and that the Salvation Army
feeds 300 families a month. She urged them to consider poor working people, those on social security, widows and
others on fixed income. She asked Council not to raise utility rates.
Deputy Mayor Downie closed the public hearing at 7:51 p.m. and conducted the second reading of the Electric,
Water,and Wastewater Rates Ordinance.
Council discussion followed.
It was moved by Collins and seconded by Bruch to:
Adopt the ordinance as read by title. Council discussion followed.
Motion failed 4-2,with Councilmembers Collins and Downie in favor.
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PORT ANGELES CITY COUNCIL MEETING—September 16, 9-1-3,a2a I w
Manager McKeen reminded Council that staff is required by law to bring a preliminary balanced budget for 2015 to
the Council by the end of October. Council asked for a work session to further discuss the utilities ordinance.
Deputy Mayor Downie recessed the meeting for a break at 8:21 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 8:33 p.m.
CONSENT AGENDA:
It was moved by Kidd and seconded by Collins to approve the Consent Agenda to include:
1. City Council Minutes:September 2, 2014
2. Expenditure Approval List: from 8/23/2014 to 9/5/2014 for$4,292,403.09
3. PenCom Dispatch/Computer Records Service Agreement with Quileute Tribe/Lapush Fire Department/
Approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the service agreement between PenCom and the Quileute Tribe in
respect to dispatch and computer records services.
4. Port Angeles High School Homecoming Fireworks/Approve:
5. South Point/Lofall Ferry Property l Authorize Mayor to sign a letter of support to retain State fern)landing
property
Motion carried 6-0.
ORDINANCES NOT REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. Ordinance to repeal PAMC 13.65.035,Harbor Study Surcharge
City Attorney Bloor gave a summary of the ordinance and history of the Harbor Study Surcharge,noting that the
City implemented a surcharge on utility rate payer's effective January 1,2013 to fund the Harbor Study Remedial
Investigation/Feasibility Study. The surcharge was to last for 18 months. Since then,the City has successfully filed
claims against prior insurance carriers and secured a grant from DOE making it possible to repeal the surcharge
early.
Deputy Mayor Downie conducted a first reading of the ordinance by title,entitled,
ORDINANCE NO. 3512
AN ORDINANCE of the City of Port Angeles,Washington,repealing Chapter 13.65.035 relating to wastewater rate
surcharge for harbor study mandate.
It was moved by Kidd and seconded by Gase to:
Approve the ordinance as read by title. Second reading waived. Councilmember Bruch recused herself from the
agenda item due to her employment.
Motion carried 5-0 with Councilmember Bruch abstaining.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:
1. Jail Contract Amendment
Manager McKeen outlined strategies for keeping jail costs down. He stated that Sherriff Bill Benedict worked with
City to provide predictability in jail costs that included a flat fee methodology which was supported by Jim Jones
and County Commissioners. Manager McKeen thanked Clallam County Sherriff Bill Benedict, his staff and the
County.He projected a$250,000 to$300,000 savings in 2015 budget. Council discussion followed.
It was moved by Gase and seconded by Collins to:
Authorize the Mayor to sign the contract amendment, and direct the City Manager to begin negotiations with the
County for a future fixed-rate jail contract.
Motion carried 6-0.
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PORT ANGELES CITY COUNCIL MEETING—September 16,-26-1-3
FINANCE:
1. Ediz Hook Erosion Repair,Project TR05-09
Director Fulton outlined construction contract to repair Ediz Hook damaged during storms in 2008 and 2009. FIMA
will pay 75% of project costs and the State another portion, leaving the City costs at just over $12,000. Council
discussion followed.
It was moved by Gase and seconded by Collins to:
Approve and authorize the City Manager to sign a contract for the Ediz Hook Erosion Repair,Project TR05-2009,
with Primo Construction,Inc., of Carlsborg,WA, in the total bid amount of$99,339.13,and to make minor
modifications to the agreement if necessary.
Motion carried 6-0.
2. City Hall South Parking Lot Repair
Director Delilkat outlined repairs needed in City Hall's south parking lot. Council discussion followed.
It was moved by Kidd and seconded by Bruch to:
Approve and authorize the City Manager to award and sign a construction contract for the base bid for the City Hall
South Parking Lot Repairs,Project#GGO110,in the amount of$104,911.69; and to make minor modifications to the
contract,if necessary.
Motion carried 6-0.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS:
Councilmember Gase said he and Deputy Mayor Downie recently represented the City of Port Angeles at
Esquimalt's Ribfest.
Deputy Mayor Downie said he served as a judge in the rib tasting contest. He commended leadership in Victoria,
B.C., for promoting regional tourism events, and he expects many citizens and leaders from Victoria to attend the
Port Angeles Crab Festival in October. He also noted that the Civic Field Steering Committee is still working to find
funding for upgrades to the field.
Councilmember Bruch attended a shingle recycling meeting as part of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee.
No other reports were given.
INFORMATION:
1. August Building Report
2. Facade Program Update
Manager McKeen noted reports included in Council Packets that updated them on the City's August Building
Report and Fagade and Sign Grant Program. At Council's request, he said a Utility Rate Work session will be held
on September 23.The Budget Work Session will be October 28.
ADJOURNMENT: Deputy Mayor Downie adjourned the meeting at 9:17 p.m.
Dan Di Guilio, Mayor Jennifer Veneklasen,City Clerk
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