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Home My WebLink About02/01/06 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, February 1, 2006 -- IfRfMI FF8 '.i ZOOfJ DIGITAL RECORDING The weekly meeting of the City Council of the City of Bremerton was called to order in the City Council Chambers, of the NORM DICKS GOVERNMENT CENTER 345 6th Street, Bremerton, Washington, Wednesday, February 1, 2006, at 5:30 PM, with Council President Cecil McConnell presiding. Council members present were Nick Wofford, Will Maupin, Carol Arends, Dianne Robinson, Mike Shepherd, Wendy Priest, Adam Brockus, and Brad Gehring. Also present were City Attorney Roger Lubovich, City Clerk Paula Johnston, and Legislative Assistant Lori Smith. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Council Member Brad Gehrina, followed by the invocation provided by Pastor Eric Roberts of New Life Assembly. President McConnell announced the following: · A Pre-Council session was held in Council Conference Room 603 from 5:00 to 5:30 PM; which included a presentation on a "Purchase & Sale Agreement between the City of Bremerton and HOTEL CONCEPTS, INC. for the Sale of Old City Hall at 239 4th Street" by Gary Sexton, Redevelopment Project Administrator; · Clarified that citizens may only comment on Item 6A on the agenda tonight if those comments relate to the status of the moratorium; · The Council would hold an exECUTIVE SESSION following COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS to discuss "PENDING LITIGATION" per RCW 42.30.110 (1)(i); and · Citizens were informed that they could receive information on upcoming Council meetings on the City's website at www.cLbremerton.wa.us. or by calling the Council Office at (360) 473-5280. MAYOR'S REPORT Mayor Bozeman asked Jim Svensson with the Department of Community Development to provide a briefing on the damage reported around the City Le. sewer overflows, mudslides, and potholes due to the excessive rain. PUBLIC RECOGNITION & SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS - "A Call to Citizens..." Randall Tanaka, with Boy Scout Troop 1512, stated that he and his fellow troop members were here to observe how municipal government runs; and they stated their desire to be a part of any plans for improving Forest Ridge Park. Gordy Byrd was concerned with recent announcements by Kitsap Transit that several popular stops were going to be eliminated. Don Larson was pleased to see members of the Boy Scouts in the audience tonight; and mentioned that he sent an e-mail to the Mayor and the Council with suggestions to enhance the newly obtained Chevron property at Evergreen Park. The following citizens expressed their concern that the City has raised the allowed building height- limit to 60-feet in the PleasantlHighland A venues: Brad Rucker; Annie Barrus; Mary Matso; and Rachael Zeialer Helen Miller was concerned that proper process was not followed in advertising the most recent District 3 meeting. CONSENT AGENDA A. Check Numbers 305707 through 305763; and EFT-8808; EFT-8812 through EFT-8824; in the amount of $1,257,006.57; Retiree Payroll in the amount of $74,591.06 for the pay period ending January 31, 2006 (#AB06-024) City Council Reg. Mtg. Minutes Wednesday, February 1, 2006 Page 2 of 4 B. Minutes of Meeting - January 25, 2006 (#AB06-025) There were no comments from the public. 5:57:20 M/S/C/U (Priest/Arends) Move to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. SA - PUBLIC HEARING and RESOLUTION NO. 2987 TO CONTINUE THE MORATORIUM ON DEVELOPMENT OVER 40-FEET HIGH IN THE HIGHLAND/PLEASANT AVENUES DISTRICT (#ABOS-02S): Chris HUGo, Community Development Director explained that on November 30, 2005, the Council approved a 60-day moratorium on development over 40-feet high on Highland/Pleasant Avenues District between 6th and 11th Streets until design guidelines could be developed. The moratorium went into effect on December 13, 2005. Continuing the moratorium until April 13, 2006 would allow the public process to conclude, and allow sufficient time for Planning Commission and City Council public hearings. Mr. HUGO also provided a brief history on how the City arrived at the 60- foot height limit, which he described as a "compromiseD between neighborhood values that exist there, and the old zoning, which had allowed a 120-foot height limit for the last 20-years, but was revised on November 30 of 2005. President McConnell reminded the public that only comments regarding the request to extend the moratorium would be allowed... Don Larson provided comments in support of extending the moratorium. WendY Priest provided background on this issue as well since there were people here now that were not present on November 30 of last year. She discussed how the Planning Commission originally proposed a 40-foot height limit, but then a very vocal group attended the November 30 Council Meeting to state that they had projects that would not work if the height limit was not at least 60-feet. Ms. Priest continued to explain that at that meeting, she asked specifically if while going through the neighborhood planning process if it was determined that the 60-foot height was not appropriate, could it be changed, and she was told "yes it could". So while the Council is extending the moratorium to set design standards, she thinks there is still an opportunity to study if the 60-foot height limit is appropriate, and that zoning changes can be made in the future. Brad GehrinG stated that he supports the action to extend the moratorium because it is important for the citizens to have an opportunity to express their opinion on this matter. Mr. SheDherd and Mr. Brockus agreed. President McConnell stated that if the moratorium was extended, citizens should take advantage of the opportunity to provide input on the design standards by attending the Public Workshop and Meeting scheduled next Tuesday, February 7, 2006 at 6:00 PM in the Chambers of the Norm Dicks Government Center. Will MauDin asked what the City's Comprehensive Plan says about this area; and what options were available to the Council at the end of this 60-day extension. Mr. HUGO stated that the Comprehensive Plan for the entire City was adopted in 2004, but unfortunately it c;jid not include details at a sub-area level, lacking development parameters. Therefore, the Council can use its discretion to do several things... .adopt the 60-feet height limit with guidelines... without guidelines... go back to 40-feet height limit. .. or even 120 feet... . whatever the Council believes fits in a "Regional Metropolitan Center". Mr. HUGO added that it would complicate things greatly if he was asked to develop guidelines for multiple proposed height options. City Council Reg. Mtg. Minutes Wednesday, February 1, 2006 Page 3 of 4 Mr. Lubovich clarified that if the moratorium was not extended, development can occur in that area up to 60-foot height limits without design standard guidelines. Mike Shepherd asked if the Planning Commission should reexamine this issue prior to the end of the moratorium. Mr. Huao added that the Council has the option of extending the moratorium longer than the 60-days that is being proposed tonight; and if the Council chose to send this issue back to the Planning Commission to reexamine the height limits, the Planning Commission would now have the additional information from citizen-comments that it did not have previously to assist them. 6:17:43 M/S/C/U (Priest/Robinson) Move to pass Resolution No. 2987 continuing the !l1oratorium on permits for development over 40-feet in the area designated 60-feet on Figure 20.74(a) of the Bremerton Municipal Code until April 13. 2006. COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS Will Maupin discussed his attendance at the Bremerton Housing Authority Board meeting last week; and announced that the City Council would be holding a Joint Study Session with them next Tuesday, February 7, 2006 at 5:00 PM in the Mayor's Conference Room; and thanked Alycia Cohen for the invitation to the Grand Opening of POSEY'S HOME COOKING, which is located on Wheaton Way. Carol Arends enjoyed the New Council Orientation Tour held yesterday afternoon; and the food served by POSEY'S HOME COOKING at their opening night on Saturday. Dianne Robinson also enjoyed the New Council Orientation Tour and thanked the owners of POSEY'S HOME COOKING. Mike Shepherd discussed his attendance at the One Church One Family meeting with co-Council Member Dianne Robinson; provided a briefing on the topics discussed at a few Neighborhood Association meetings held in his neighborhood; asked if there was anyone interested in joining the Ferry Advisory Committee, to contact the City Council Office at (360) 473-5280; and lastly, he was excited to see that the Seattle City Council would be hosting a Reception & Dinner with the Bremerton City Council on Thursday, February 2,2006 at the Bremerton Harborside Conference Center. Wendy Priest encouraged citizens to go to the City's website at www.cLbremerton.wa.us to fill out the survey, which would provide helpful information when the City studies the new cable franchise renewal agreement with Comcast. For citizens without cable, they may call the City Clerk at (360) 473-5323 to obtain a copy of the survey. Adam Brockus reported on his latest District 3 meeting held last Tuesday; announced his next District 3 meeting would be held Tuesday, February 28; and invited all Seahawk fans to attend the rally to be held Friday at 11 :45 AM at the Roxy Theater. Brad Gehrina was pleased to see the Boy Scouts of America in attendance at the Council meeting tonight; discussed his attendance at the Kitsap Search & Rescue Explorers Annual Banquet and the City Legislative Action Conference in Olympia sponsored by the Association of Washington Cities; and reminded citizens to vote for the Bremerton School District Levy. SA - EXECUTIVE SESSION ON "PENDING LITIGATION" t#AB06-027): Cecil McConnell asked the Council members to convene for a 20-minute Executive Session to discuss "Pending Litigation" at 6:35 PM. The Executive Session was extended for an additional 1 O-minutes. The Council reconvened at 7:05 PM. City Council Reg. Mtg. Minutes Wednesday, February 1, 2006 Page 4 of 4 Council Member Adam Brockus recused himself from attending the Executive Session as well as from voting on the following action. 7:07:24 M/S/C/U (Maupin/Arends) Move to authorize the City Attorney to negotiate and settle Lassister vs. City of Bremerton, et aI., United States District Court for the Western District of Washington Cause No. 3:05-CV 5320, for an amount within the City of Bremerton's Self-Insured Retention. Voted in favor of Motion: Priest, Shepherd, Arends, Maupin, Wofford, Gehring, McConnell Abstained: Robinson Motion carried: 7-Yes; 1-Abstention With no further business, the meeting of the City Council was adjourned at 7:08 PM. Prepared and Submitted by: ~~/ LORI SMITH Legislative Assistant Attest: ~ CM/PJns/cge