HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 03/10/2015 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
Port Angeles, Washington
March 10, 2015
CALL TO ORDER SPECIAL MEETING:
Mayor Di Guilio called the special meeting of the Port Angeles City Council to order at 5:02 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Members Present: Mayor Di Guilio,Deputy Mayor Downie,Councilmembers Bruch,Collins,Gase and Whetham.
Members Absent: Councilmember Kidd
Staff Present: City Manager McKeen,Attorney Bloor,Clerk Veneklasen,C. Delikat,K. Dubuc,C. Fulton,
T.Gallagher,B. Olson, S.Wright and N. West.
WORKSESSION:
City Manager McKeen conducted a brief PowerPoint presentation on Priority Setting.He spoke about the City's
Long Range Financial Planning policy and the basic elements of the Priority Setting process which will allow the
City to focus on services that matter most to the majority of citizens.Manager McKeen said the format for the work
session provides an opportunity for Council to listen to public input.
PUBLIC INPUT:
Larry Hueth,CEO of First Federal Savings and Loan located at 105 West 8°i Street,thanked the Council and Mayor
for allowing him to speak about priorities that are important to his business and employees. He congratulated the
Council on holding agencies that receive City funds accountable. He noted that resources are finite and it's always
difficult to say no. Mr. Heuth said six years have elapsed since the depression and that nationally the country has
recovered;Clallam County has not fully recovered.He recommended Council narrow its focus to infrastructure,
safety,and vital health issues. He asked them to consider growth projects that will enhance revenue and establish an
adequate reserve for the next"rainy day".
Kevin Russell,PO Box 1509,President of the Building Association,thanked Council for having the foresight to
direct the City Manager and City staff to set priorities. He said doing so shows that Council is looking out for
residents and business owners which are very encouraging. He said the local building industry is just starting to
recover. He asked Council to set fire and police services as a high priority. He further said that any human services
funds should go only to Port Angeles residents. He greatly appreciates the Council's vision and their moving away
from a reactive approach to governing.
James Mason, 102 East 5th Street,Captain in the Port Angeles Fire Department,read from a letter sent to Council by
himself,two other captains and three lieutenants.He said the call volume at the Fire Department has greatly
increased yet there has been no personnel added to meet the rising demand for services.Mr.Mason said that
personnel are losing hope that any help will ever come;they are frustrated and discouraged. He said overtime costs
and sick leave usage are increasing and morale is decreasing.He quoted Jack Pittis as saying"the primary role of
government is to provide for the safety and security of its citizens."Mr.Mason said they wanted Council to know
that they are raising the alarm and need their help. (Letter included in final packet).
Richard Stephens,Vice President of the Port Angeles Downtown Association(PADA), spoke on behalf of the
PADA board saying that as business people they recognize the vital importance of fiscal responsibility and prudent
budget planning practices.Mr. Stephens requested the City not eliminate the position of the Downtown Resource
Officer. He said that during difficult economic times businesses become attractive opportunities for thieves looking
to make and easy score.He said that as the association continues to recruit businesses to try to move into the
Downtown Retail Core,as a matter of sustained economic growth and development,they need a safe,lawful place
in which businesses can grow and be profitable. He also asked Council to preserve the Parking Enforcement Officer
PORT ANGELES CITY COUNCIL MEETING—MARCH 10, 2015
who serves many important tasks beyond just checking how long someone has been parked downtown or writing a
ticket. (Letter included in final packet).
Alan Barnard,697 Lemmon Road,spoke as chairman of the Public Safety Advisory Board and as a private citizen
and realtor who regularly gets questions from people and businesses looking to relocate in Port Angeles.He said
there are many aspects of quality of life in Port Angeles that are wonderful to have,and then there are the aspects
that are absolutely essential to living here—at the top of the list is public safety.He asked Council to ensure that the
police and fire departments are adequately funded. He thanked Council for its leadership and dedication to the City.
(Letter included in final packet).
Becca Korby,Executive Director of Healthy Families of Clallam County,928 West 15`h Street,thanked Council for
maintaining Health and Human Services funding, saying that domestic,sexual and child abuse are also community
health and public safety issues. She said sexual assault numbers are increasing and so is the need for her agency's
services including their children's advocacy center that has served 165 children. She thanked Council for their
thoughtfulness and asked that they not cut Health and Human Services funding.
Amy Falls, 1210 East Front Street,said that she came to Healthy Families for help when she was battered,beaten,
abused,and pregnant. Since then she has gotten everything back that she lost,went to college,and has become a
strong and independent woman.
Jan Butler, 1310 South I Street,thanked the City for its informative website. She said she lives on an active street
where the Police and Swat team have had to come to deal with issues. She said the police have always been there to
help and that she can't see the City growing if it cuts back on Police or Fire personnel because no one will want to
come to a place where they don't feel safe. She asked that Council not cut back on Police and Fire funding.
Edna Peterson,217 North Laurel,president of the Port Angeles Business Association(PABA),congratulated
Council on its vision and courage as they listen to opinions from the public on how to spend the City's money. She
said the PABA leadership has two major concerns—public safety and the cost of living in Port Angeles as it relates
to rising utility rates.
Phillis Olson,Foundation President of the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center,spoke about the many types of art the
Center brings to Port Angeles including painting,sculpture,poetry,performing arts,theatre,dance,film,
photography and print making. She said that PAFAC has events that bring in people from all over the world and that
it takes 50 docents to keep the center open. Mrs. Olson said the Center's exhibits and events are free—that the center
provides joy at no cost even during hard times. She requested that the City support the PAFAC's continued growth,
noting that the Board of Directors is willing to make adjustments,but that they need a phased approach.
Ray Gruver,2802 South Laurel,thanked the Council for the opportunity to speak.He quoted a saying: "When
everything is important,nothing is important."He told Council that establishing priorities creates focus,vision and
predictability—and he believes there isn't anything better they can do for Port Angeles. He asked Council to please
be bold and courageous when making these difficult choices that will be creating much-needed clarity. He further
encouraged Council to build a healthy reserve of funds,noting that the future is far more important than what is
happening right at this moment.
Nita Lynn,director of First Step Family Support Center,323 East 6`h Street,said the role of government is the safely
and security of its citizens which is what Health and Human Services is all about. She encouraged support of those
services which are a small portion of the budget but have a big impact in the community. She said last year the
$4,000 the City awarded to her agency helped pay for the Drop-in Center which had 5,363 visits. She said that many
nonprofits have employees and that the agencies bring in outside grant money.Nonprofits, she said,not only help
citizens to be safe and secure but are also adding to the community in many different ways.
Jim Creelman, 1101 East Second Street,spoke in favor of the Police Department which he said has responded to
many break-ins at his property.He said emergency services are over taxed. He spoke in favor of suicide prevention
fences on the Eighth Street Bridges. He asked for more Police presence.
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PORT ANGELES CITY COUNCIL MEETING-MARCH 10, 2015
Kim Leach,25 Christmas Tree Lane,director Serenity House of Clallam County,said the resources that the City
provides to Health and Human Services are invaluable. She spoke about the citizens that Serenity House serves
through that funding. She thanked City staff for meeting with Serenity House to come up with a plan for its utility
costs and for referring them to the City's weatherization team.
Mary Budke,132 Sunset Place,Executive Director of Boys and Girls Club,thanked Council for the 2014 funding
that allowed them to serve food to hundreds of kids during the summer. She said that if funded again the agency will
use the money to support the summer food program and Teen Center. She said Health and Human Services funds
are well spent.
Cindy Tumey,530 West 8`"Street, said she sees a lot of drug activity. She requested more of a police presence and
more solutions for theft,drug use and mental health issues.
Jody Moss,73 Bridge Lane,told Council that the$46,000 budgeted for Health and Human Services serves close to
20,000 people. She asked that they please consider how the funding helps prevent problems that impact public safety
services. She further encouraged them to continue Health and Human Services funding in some fashion.
Torn Harper, 122 West First Street,said funding for public safety and preventing crime should be the City's top
priority.
Karen Brown,423 East 7"' Street,Executive Director of Peninsula Dispute Resolution Center,said the Health and
Human Services Funding is very important to the community. She said PDRC takes the mystery out of conflict
through mediation and works with other agencies to serve parents and youth.
Rob Gunn, 102 West Fifth Street,Fire Fighter/Medic,described Fire Department calls which include rescuing a dog
underneath a house,plumbing breaks,and citizens locked out of their house.He said the Fire Department is the first
contact for all the mental health issues in town,noting that the department is not only an emergency but social work
group.He said much of a firefighter's time is spent making a difference in the lives of people who don't know
where else to turn. He said the department needs more resources and personnel,not less.
ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Di Guilio adjourned the meeting at 6:10 p.m.
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Dan Di Guilio,Mayor `" fennifeiNeneklasen,City Clerk
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